Not Exactly What I Was Planning
It’s been a wild week weather-wise — temperatures up in the 40’s a couple days, lots of rain, then frozen pellets. Our lovely snow now has the consistency of butter brickle. I was so looking forward to going skiing, snowshoeing, and sliding over New Years weekend, but have you ever tried to do any of those things on butter brickle? It made me a tad cranky.
Yet the weekend was not without its perks. New Years Eve, I went to lunch with three friends. Well, one woman I hadn’t met before but I’m going to go out on a limb and call her a new friend. I hope so anyway.
My friend Sue expressed how I’ve been feeling in the friendship department so well, that I’m not even going to try here. 2010 was the year of meeting incredible women and developing friendships — many of them I’ve met because of Sue and I am so grateful for that. I hope 2011 will be more of the same.
No New Years Eve party for me. Instead, I did some cooking with a friend. I made brownies first that took forever. Makes a girl long for a new stove… Then we made roasted salmon with fennel, red onion, and grape tomatoes. That’s a recipe I’ll try again.
Today the high was only about 12 degrees and it was very windy so the “real feel” was in the negative numbers. That made it a good day to clean house and try to catch a few photos of the birds at the feeder.
I have never seen so many cardinals flocked together as I get at my feeder at my new house.
I put on my telephoto lens to try and get some closer shots. Like with all things to do with photography and operating a camera, I need some work with that lens. That’s one of the things I want to do in 2011, understand my camera better and develop a better eye and technique with my photos.
Java was exhibiting signs of cabin fever, so despite the biting cold, we took a walk down by the river.
It looked like the river had risen quite a bit, maybe during the thaw from the warm temps. The ice was piled on or around some of the trees.
The first photo in this blog post is a closeup of the trees shown in the photo above. The ice had formed steps up the trees.
When the wind blew and the trees swayed, they made a sound like whales calling to each other — kind of eery and sad.
Maery Rose. You have had some real weather out there. That last shot is fabulous…so are the others, but I can see why that one is so special. You had the right idea for New Year’s Eve. So glad that you have met new friends and seem to be so happy. Boy, have you turned the corner! I have a feeling 2011 is going to be even better for you. I wish you all the best.
Those photos are incredible, it seems to me you are mastering the camera rather well. I pretty much just aim and shoot:-) Your salmon looks like a huge success. My gorditas were a bit disappointing ~ it was a texture issue ~ right up there with powdery flour on pizza crusts:-) Remember, embrace embrace ~ no violence to loving caring friends:-) You crack me up! The river is so beautiful these days, albeit stark and frigid. We have about a dozen trumpeter swans that have taken up residency in the river behind our house. Beautiful, but a bit messy…oh well. Thanks for sharing Maery! See you soon:-)
I am jealous of your Cardinals..they are very pretty! Happy New Year..the river looks cold:)
brrr…. i saw a cardinal in a tree at the park that was so vividly bright i thought it might be something else–a child’s toy ball caught in the branches, maybe. and then it flew.
Lori – We were supposed to get 5 inches of snow. So disappointing. I hope you have a wonderful 2011.
Kathleen – I’m trying to figure out which jealous, competitive comment you are referring to. There have been so many. I marvel whenever I see and hear the trumpeter swans, but mainly that’s been them flying overhead. I’ve never had to deal with messiness. Certainly they are too elegant to fall into the mess factor category of geese.
Far Side – The river definitely looks frigid but I wish I would have been on a walk when it came up high enough to create the ice steps around the trees.
Laurie – I’ve wondered the same thing when I’ve seen the bright red in the trees. These cardinals seem to be so much brighter than the ones at the old house, or maybe it’s my perspective.
Very very glad you have found your way into the tribe Maery. This will be a good year, i know it. 🙂 That salmon looks yum!
Brrrr. But very nice pictures.
I have always had a fondness for cardinals. And in the snow, they are even more captivating.
Happy New Year, Maery.
I adore feedin’ the birds but they are about to eat me outta house and home!!! Heeehehe!
Your pictures are just amazing sweetie!!! Especially your favorite!
God bless ya and have a cozy evening!!!