Saturday, January 02, 2021

WELL AT LEAST FOR A FEW DAYS ANYWAY......AND ANOTHER WINTER WONDERLAND

 LOOKING WEST FROM OUR PARK ENTRANCE THIS MORNING
Knowing a snow-laden storm was headed our way Friday we didn't even notice as it passed quietly through our area under a cloak of darkness.  On awakening this morning we were welcomed by a beautiful Winter Wonderland outside our windows and I knew right away all the snowy sculptures before my eyes could only have been created by a whole host of whimsical little Snow Fairies.

 MORNING'S FRONT YARD

HEADING OUT OUR DRIVEWAY I TURNED RIGHT
 TURNED RIGHT AT THE STOP SIGN OUT OF OUR PARK
 HEADING OFF OUT INTO THE WINTERY COUNTRYSIDE
I've been a little surprised area snowplows haven't been out early clearing our snowy roads.  I'm sure if the school buses were running the plows would have been out even before the crack of dawn.  I again had to keep the Jeep in 4-wheel drive on the ice and snow-covered roads.

 A FEW SECTIONS OF PORTERS HILL ROAD WERE BARE
 BUT MOST OF THE ROAD LOOKED LIKE THIS
The countryside was beautiful and even more so when an occasional burst of sunlight popped through the clouds and lit up the white landscape with snow hanging heavy on the tree limbs.  Temperatures were rising so I knew the winter grandeur I was seeing would soon begin to melt and drip off all those snow-covered bare limbs and green tree boughs.

 NOTICED A PIECE OF MACHINERY BACK BY THE BUSH LINE
 CAN YOU SEE THE LONESOME HORSE??
Home again around 10:30 I quickly got onto the end of my snow shovel and began clearing my paths.  Had only snowed a couple inches but now that temps had come up the snow was wet and very heavy.  Each snow shovel full weighed about 3.6 tons and by the time I finished the paths and half the driveway, I could feel my muscles beginning to protest.

Kelly needed a few things at Bayfield's Foodland so all three of us piled into the Jeep and headed into town.  First stop was to pick up some birdseed at the Porter's Hill Birdseed Company  While in Foodland Kelly picked up a couple chicken wraps at the deli counter and while stopped at Michael's Pharmasave Pheebs and I got into the wraps:))


I have noticed over the past few months I have slowly been turning into a bit of a night owl.  Wasn't that long ago I was falling asleep usually around 11 but lately I am finding myself wide awake well past midnight sometimes.  Last night the clock was pushing 2 a.m.  I think the last time I was ever up that late was probably in my drinking days over 40 years ago.  No wonder I fell asleep in my sunroom recliner this afternoon for nearly 3 hours.

 I DIDN'T SEE THE HAWK IN THIS LONG 300mm TELEPHOTO SHOT UNTIL I EDITED THE PHOTO TONIGHT
 THERE IS SOMEONE WALKING ON THE ROAD AHEAD
 HEADING HOME AND THE ROADS ARE STILL NOT PLOWED
 OUR SUNNY FRONT YARD THIS MORNING
Only one more day to go before my daily internal time clock returns once again to some form of a normal routine.  These Christmas holidays not only messed up my own sense of time but many other folks I know as well.  Although I have a habit of complaining about 'dull and boring' I will be glad to have both feet back on some predictably scheduled dulled boringness again.  Well, at least for a few days anyway..........................  

RURAL MAILBOX
GROANER'S CORNER:(( A little girl asked her father:  "How did the human race appear?"  The father answered, "God made Adam and Eve; they had children; and so was all mankind made."  Two days later the girl asked her mother the same question.  The mother answered,  "Many years ago there were monkeys from which the human race evolved."  The confused girl returned to her father and said, "Dad, how is it possible that you told me the human race was created by God, and Mom said they developed from monkeys?"  The father answered,  "Well, Dear, it is very simple. I told you about my side of the family, and your mother told you about hers."

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A kindergarten teacher asked: “What is the shape of the earth?"  After a pause, a little girl spoke up: “According to my Daddy…terrible!”

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15 comments:

  1. Your pictures are breathtaking Al!

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  2. So I was thinking you got the leftovers of the weather system that came though here in Texas. But looks like we just got the appetizer part and you got the full dinner. Still it was a beautiful snow here, and a nice new year's eve present (no shoveling here, it always disappears the next day). Yes, the holidays close together just throw a person off. As usual, thanks for the beautiful photos.

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  3. Here I sit spending another winter in the desert southwest in our home (RV). WE ARE FULL-TIME Rvrs and my lungs are so bad I can hardly breath at 40-50 degree weather. I look at your pictures, they are so beautiful. I've been missing winter lately. I just keep thinking, if I could just spend a month or two in winter and snow.
    I know you are longing for what I am experiencing right now, but I think missing something sometimes keeps you from enjoying the moment.

    I love all your pictures every day.

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  4. Sure is pretty. Sure glad I'm not there. :-)

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  5. Al, thank you for the marvelous and wonderful winter wonderland photos. You have such an eye for capturing the moment. Happy New Years to the Bayfield Bunch.

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  6. Wonderful photography Al. You've always had a knack for snapping the shutter at the optimum times. Wonder what the Cochise Stronghold weather is like today? :-)

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  7. Gorgeous pictures, lots of blue in the sky and even some yellow! Love that aqua house, I'll have that! Hope the yellow continues for you... or the coffee is hot.

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  8. Winter Wonderland is a very apt description for your photos today. Thanks for sharing.

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  9. Beautiful Winter Wonderland Photos.
    With the colder nights and daytime highs above freezing you may see less plowed roads which also means less Salt damaging the vehicles.
    Be Safe and Enjoy the beauty of nature.

    It's about time.

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  10. Beautiful. I love the contrast with the turquoise house.

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  11. Your whimsical fairies did a great job of creating such a lovely winter wonderland. Your photos bring us right into each lovely scene.

    I wonder if there is something in the air. December 31st/January 1st I went to bed close to 2AM and again the next night and last night about 1AM. Strange for me. Oh well I have no where to go any longer so I am just oging with the flow.

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  12. Wonderful pictures of your winter wonderland.

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  13. What a treat!! Those snow tunnels are beautiful. Love the teal house in all the pure white. Not fun for driving, but the unplowed roads make for stunning photos. Still no night owls in our nest - we're tucked in and dreaming before 10 every night :-)

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  14. Al: You outdid even yourself with these fine pictures. Doctor-Zhivago-caliber for sure.

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