Overcast Winter Morning On Konza

I realized recently that I haven’t been doing much photography lately. So I decided that I was just going to have to make a point to rectify that situation. An early riser, I decided to head out to the prairie to catch the sunrise this morning. (I hadn’t thought to consider the weather conditions first.) I got there just as the black of night was starting to lift. It was freezing cold and quiet, except for the sound of gravel crunching beneath my feet. As I headed uphill toward some of my favorite views, I was startled by a pair of does. It was exciting to be so close.

As the sky started to lighten, I could hear, but not see what I believe to have been a flock of turkeys, their calls so loud in the stillness.

 

darkmorningonkonza2

The morning decided not to treat me to the colorful sunrise I had hoped for, yet the gray sky and low clouds made what color there was seem all the more vibrant.

It was a challenge trying to get good photographs this morning. I don’t do much low light photography.

riverfog

lowcloudsoverkonza

 

 

This tree always strikes me when I pass it on the trail.  It reminds me of a rhinoceros.

rhinotree

 

A little bit of unexpected color … .

magentaberriesdriedgrasses

A few more hills to climb … .

windyhillykonzatrail

… and a bit of woods to pass.

couldntseeforest

Crossing the creek … and  then heading home to warm up before the rain.

treereflectionsincreek

Wishing you a lovely weekend and hoping that you get a chance to do something that you’ve been wanting to do too!

 

Blood Orange Lemonade for the Season(s)

I  usually think of lemonade as a summer libation, but we have been having unseasonably warm weather and the citrus fruits at the market have been so good, that making lemonade in the middle of winter seemed like a brilliant idea. So with a bag of lemons and a bag of blood oranges in the ‘fridge, I was all set. Yum, yum! Oh, and it is so pretty.

BloodOrangeLemonade2

Blood Orange Lemonade

1 1/2 c. fresh squeezed blood orange juice

1 1/2 c. fresh squeezed lemon juice*

1 c. raw sugar (turbinado sugar)

4 c. cold water

Pour the juices into a 2-qt. glass pitcher. Combine the sugar and water in a medium size pot and heat, stirring frequently until sugar is completely dissolved. Carefully pour syrup in juice blend.* Stir. Chill until serving. Serve over ice.

*If you are worried about the relative strength or sweetness of your lemonade, you can add the syrup in stages, tasting along the way.

BloodOrangeLemonade

Cheers to you!

In season or not, we’re enjoying Blood Orange Lemonade at The Morning Star today!

Weekly Photo Challenge: Seasons.

Abbey’s Rose, Pt. II

Back in December, Abbey’s rose was the last one blooming in my garden. I repotted it and brought it inside for the winter, unsure of what to expect. Happily, it just started blooming. A small victory over winter! (Pun intended: this cute bloom is about the size of my thumbnail.)

RoseMiniWhiteDarkBack

A lovely day to you!

Waking to a White Christmas

Though we did not get Christmas snow overnight, we awoken to a white Christmas in the form of hoar frost. The fog and the frost are making everything seem hushed and peaceful on this Christmas morn.

FrozenHedgerow2

 

 

 

House&BranchesChristmasFog

 

FrozenGrass2

FrozenJuniper

FrozenSedum

FrozenPine

Now it is time for hot chocolate and presents and thoughts of loved ones near and far. Wishing you a most lovely day filled with peace and joy!

AluminumTreeLitUp

Christmases Past:

Christmas Snow, A Few Days Early

A Holly, Jolly Christmas

Merry Christmas

Hot Chocolate:

Chocolat Chaud

Candy Cane Hot Chocolate

 

Abbey’s Rose

Nature can be a crazy, beautiful thing. As amazing as it is, I still have one rose blooming in the garden – in December, a week after an ice storm.

RoseForAbbey

This is a delicate miniature rose that a friend gave to us as a memorial to our Boston Terrier Abbey after “Abbs” passed away in the summer of 2014.  I thought that I had lost it last spring when it didn’t come out of dormancy with our other roses; but I dug it up and put it in a pot, hoping that it would come back. Here “she” is, still blooming.

I am thinking that maybe I will bring the pot inside for the winter to see whether I can keep Abbey’s rose alive, since I have never successfully overwintered a potted rose outside. (I purchased roses in pots during winter months and transplanted them outside in the late spring, but have never gone in the other direction.)

In the meantime, on this December day, I am delighted to see Abbey’s rose and to think of our sweet girl.

An Icy Day

With the freezing rain that we have had over the last 24 hours, it is a good day to stay inside, have a warm drink and read a book … or go outside and take pictures in the garden for a wee bit first if you are someone like me! These are quite a contrast from the photos that I took just 12 days ago. It is so dreary out today that I had to use a flash to get a few of the shots, something that I almost never do outside.

IceOnMarilynRose

IceStormHouseNov2015

IceEastSideNovember2015

IceOnMagentaRose

IceOnLion

IceOnViburnum

IceOnCrapeMyrtle

IceOnCrapeMyrtleBerries

IceOnPumpkin

IceOnSandCherry2

 

IceOnViburnumLeaves

IceOnBeautyBerries

Wishing you a warm and lovely day … and safe travels to anyone out on the road in this area today!