Early Spring

It has been a very mild winter.  I haven't used the new snow blower, and I only plowed the driveway twice.  Even then, we only got a few inches of snow.

Last year we had a lot of snow . . .
 

. . . as we did two years ago!

This year there are just a few piles on snow by the barn.

I checked by the rock wall near the barn, and the daffodils are starting to push up.  They should be emerging in a few weeks.

I went cycling today, and heard the call of red wing blackbirds.  I was lucky to see one displaying. I also heard robins, though I haven't seen any yet.

I am sure we will get more snow - maybe even a significant storm.  But you know spring has arrived when the red wing blackbirds appear!

Did You See It?

There have been some spectacular astronomical conjunctions lately.  The Moon, Venus and Jupiter are very close tonight.  They will be close tomorrow night also.  Look to the west after sunset.

I shot this with my camera (a Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ4) at 3X.  This was a composite of a 15 sec "starry night" exposure and a 7 second "night scenery" exposure.  I replaced the Moon (which was overexposed) in the 15 second exposure with the image of the Moon from the 7 second exposure.

Jupiter is the bright object on the top of the photo.  The crescent Moon is obvious, with Venus nearby.

Go out and enjoy the scene!

Maybe I Need to Remodel My Barn

I spent the last week in China on business.  I was able to take in some sights, including the famed Terracotta Warriors, Tienanmen  Square and the Forbidden City.

While visiting the gate buildings and temples in the Forbidden City, I marveled at the detail of the structures.  The building were originally designed during the Ming Dynasty and were of wood construction with tile roofs.

Maybe I can redesign our gardens . . .

. . . or build a new ramp to the hay mow!

I could add some decoration to the gables . . .

. . . or paint the post and beam timbers.

I could add some decorative door hoods . . .

. . . or replace the door pulls and latches to the hay mow!

Maybe I should have put on a tile roof instead of a metal one?

What do you think?

Back Home

The past year has had us splitting our time between a job in Vermont and back at our home.  Work has brought us back to the farm!  We are so happy to be able to spend more time here with our old farm and barn!  We are much closer to family, and will have more time to putter about the barn.

I'll miss Vermont, especially the people, mountains and Lake Champlain . . .

. . . but we'll continue to enjoy the Finger Lakes area.

 It's good to be home!

Still Looking

There was a big solar flare this week.  There were reports that we might see Northern Lights!  I have never seen them (it is one of my bucket list items).

I went out after dark.  I drove out of town out to a small rise by an open field.  It was cold and windy.  There were a few inches of snow on the ground.

I set the camera up on a stand, pointed it to the north, and tried some 60 second exposures.  After a half hour of freezing my hands and feet, I came home to see if I had anything.

Nothing.

You could see the glow of the city to the north.  Some of the shots were away from the glow of the city, but they did not show the Northern Lights.

I spun the camera around and took a few shots of Orion.  Kinda nice . . .

You got to keep looking up!

Happy Birthday Mom

We wish you were still here with us!

Winter Has Arrived

The last few days have seen some snow and cold temperatures.  Finally, I can experience the beauty of the winter.

Saturday -

I went snow-shoeing yesterday.  The temperature was at 16 degF, and expected to continuing to drop as the day progressed.  I went to the Robert Frost trails, and then headed up the Water Tower Trails.

There were a few snow showers up on the higher peaks.

The Middlebury is still flowing.  In time, it will ice up.

I started the climb up the Northstar Trail.  I kept my head down as  slogged along.  I told myself to stop and listen.  I could hear my breathing, feel my heart beat.  The low rumble of automobiles climbing the Green Mountains off in the distance was the only other sound I heard.  I looked up, making sure I took in all the sights.

The trails went on.  In time I had reached the top of the trail and had an easy time of descending.  Other had went on before me . . .

I stopped at Widow's Clearing.  I climbed the small rise there and just took in the mountains.

I turned around and headed back.  I came to the top of the Water Trails.

I descended down the Trepidation Trail (very very steep), and then cut over on Afternoon Delight.  No one had been there in the last few days.  The snow was pristine.  The sun would peak through the clouds, and the shadows of the trees on the terrain were interesting.

I even took a self portrait!

I got back down to the Middlebury.  I rested for a while, just listening to the water.

Back on the Robert Frost trails, I came across a copy of his poem "The Road Not Taken".  I have had a lot of things to think about the last month, and I found the idea that I could be following a new path comforting!

I decided to take a different road back home!

Sunday -

I decided to visit Kingsland Bay.  I temperature was 1 degF!  The rivers are iced up, and the bays are starting to get iced in.  I could see ice fog rolling across the mouth of the bay.

I followed she shoreline.  I came across flocks of Robins!  Lately, I was wondering if they go south.

There were platter-sized chunks of ice by the shore.  They looked like frozen lily pads.

I followed along the shoreline.  I walked the trail by the cliffs.  The water looked cold, and the trail was slippery.

I came across a stand of trees, shattered by some fierce wind this past year.

I came around a bend in the shoreline.  I could see the ice fog moving across the bay towards me.

Ice was coating the rocks.

It was quiet by the water.  The only signs of bird-life were some gull tracks by the shore.

The cold wind and ice fog were bitter.  I would take my gloves off to shoot some photos, and quickly loose feelings in m fingers.  My eyes were tearing up.

The ice fog left delicate crystals on the trees . . .

. . . and the rocks.

After shooting some more photos, and freezing to death, I decided to head back.

I followed a trail through the woods.  I had some respite from the winds.

I could here birds about.  I stopped and took my hood down.  Birds were all around me.

Chicadees . . .

. . . Cardinals . . .

. . .  and Robins!

I followed the trail back to the car.  I looked out, and saw a pair or Mergansers in the water.  I don't know how they do it!

I passed by the South Slang.  It is iced over.  It will be months before I can paddle there again.

Time to go home and thaw out!

A Wintertime River Walk

We've had a warm winter so far, but the Otter is starting to ice up.  The river continues to run by the falls...

... but is starting to close in downstream.

I like walking by the water this time of year.  There were a few snowflakes in the air.  The birds were silent, and the river was quiet.

I stopped to look at some of the old brick buildings by the basin.  A few of the buildings used to be old warehouses.  They were converted to homes years ago.

I came across an old print that showed a number of buildings along the river by the basin back over 100 years ago when the steamships came up the Otter.  The brick buildings were in the print, but a number of other warehouses were there.  They are long-gone, but a few of their foundations still exist.

It amazes me how much things have changed over time...

Start of Another Year

Got up.

Made a pot of coffee.

Went to the auction house.

Did some shopping.

Decided to clean out the barn...
  -  Yes, it is nearly 50 degF outside.
  -  Opened the doors to the hay mow.

  -  Opened the doors by the stalls.

  -  Nope, the owl doesn't keep the bats away~

  -  Yep, I had to sweep up a lot of bat poop!  (I cheat - I use a leaf blower!)

The rain is coming in.  It will cool off over the next few days. A little snow is predicted.

Happy New Year!