Winter's Gifts

Winter's Gifts

Thursdays are my “work-from-home” days. No commute, good coffee,

and (at least when the kids are at school) few interruptions.

One of the side benefits is that it’s easy to pop outside when the

opportunity for a photo presents itself. I was standing at our kitchen

window when I noticed these flowers (bee balm) basking in my

neighbor Eric’s back yard.

It has been a very cold, snowy week and the visual geometry of the

landscape has shifted dramatically. Some days, the cold can really

sap your spirit; but I’ve also noticed that when everyone is wearing

a fluffy white cap it’s not all that hard to spot winter’s gifts.

~ Hal

First Snow

 

First Snow

This has been the week when November’s grey skies finally gave way 

to the first real snow of the season. A truly welcome sign... Hallelujah!

Now that I’m a few weeks into this project, I’ve been thinking about

the small changes it has brought to my life. For one, I’ve been studying 

sun’s schedule and the shifting windows of opportunity for capturing 

its magic. I find myself checking the sky and bringing my camera on 

quick trips to the grocery or when I’m hauling the kids around town.

I took this photo on an errand to pick up art supplies for my daughter’s

school project. However instead of taking a proper left at the shopping 

center light, I detoured down the gravel drive marked “fishing access” 

and got lost for a while along the banks of the Kinnickinnic River.

~ Hal

Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving

This past week we traveled to Milan, Illinois to celebrate Thanksgiving

with Maggie’s family. The children were looking forward to pulling on

their rubber boots and walking down the hillside and across the field to

Mill Creek, dogs in tow.

Maggie and her brothers grew up messing around in this creek. When

the kids returned, wet and hungry, we listened to their stories.

I headed down to the creek myself after a few chores were checked-off

the list and the afternoon light began to soften. The laughter of adventure,

somewhere around the bend, was muted in the sunlit afternoon.

~ Hal

The Dance

The Dance

What a great week. I sent out my “announcement” and was warmed by 

a slew of encouraging emails from friends and family across the country. 

Thank you!

One of those notes was from my friend Lauri, who sent me a photo in return, 

a wonderful close-up of a juniper branch and berries that she had taken last 

week. Lauri’s photo had a vital, joyful quality that raised my spirits.

I kept that in mind this evening as I took the dog for a walk. When the light

began to fade, I looked over my shoulder and noticed this oak and cloud 

dancing across the sky.

~ Hal

Echoes

Echoes

I can imagine, but I can’t honestly remember what this flower looked like a the height of summer. Maggie cast some handfuls of mixed seed at the back fence in early spring. What returned to my eye was a profusion of beautiful confusion.

Now it has come ‘round again, and everything is turned upside-down, reversed, potent.

~ Hal

Bittersweet

Bittersweet

I guess winter is really here. I stepped outside to examine the 

bittersweet growing to the side of our patio and was pelted by sleet.

I love this plant, it reminds me of our wedding. Maggie and her 

mother gathered bittersweet together and then used it in the flower 

arrangements.

On our patio it grows really well. And at this time of the year, 

entwined with honeysuckle, it is by far the brightest thing seen 

from our kitchen window.

~ Hal

The End of Autumn

The End of Autumn

Today is the first real day of my photo journal project. It seems like a bleak time of year to start taking photos, the glory of autumn is past, although there is still a touch of color to be found.

I had my eye on a few remnants in the garden over the weekend and on Sunday I stepped out the back door to take a closer look.

~ Hal