Vibrant Sunrise, Dull Day

I woke up yesterday to a beautiful sunrise, so I snapped a picture from my window. It only lasted for a few minutes and then the sky turned winter grey. Last night, before I went to sleep, the weather guy spoke of a snow storm coming through, but this morning, I only see a few raindrops on the tree branches outside my window.

Carolina Wren
I didn't get out at all yesterday to take pictures, but sometimes, if I'm lucky, the pictures come to me. This little wren came by and perched on the tree outside my window. He then moved in and sat on the window sill looking in at me - a very tame little bird, and when he's on the sill, he's actually too close for me to take a picture. With his visit, it was "Carolina on my mind" all day. I used to live in Charleston, South Carolina, and at this time of year, it is incredibly beautiful there. The Azaleas, Camelias, Dogwoods, Jessamine and so many other flowers are in full bloom over the next few weeks, and the array of colors is pure eye candy. If you haven't visited Bruce's blog yet, you might enjoy seeing some of her pictures of Charleston. Bruce is a famous wildlife artist, and does wonderful watercolors, so you might also want to see her Toogoodoo Studios website. She paints beautiful African wildlife as well as many other nature-related things. I met Bruce on the internet after I left Charleston, but I have since traveled back there to meet her in person.

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Well, since I didn't go out yesterday, I'll show you some pictures of a early evening walk I took a couple of weeks ago.
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The landscape was pretty much like it is now, with snow covering the ground. This was in Litchfield at a pond where the ice was just beginning to break up and melt a little.

When the ice cracks and moves, it sometimes jams up like this.

And as I walked along noticing little details like the remnant of this dried wildflower, I could hear the ice crackling around me as it shifted.

Fortunately, I wasn't walking on the ice though. This is the same boardwalk I walked on, when I went on the snowy walk I posted here recently. The sun was very low in the sky by now and it made some nice reflections on the water.

I continued walking and noticing the shadows

A bedraggled looking cattail caught my eye

I bet somebody has taken cover in this hole more than once. On this day, however, it was blocked with snow.

I noticed tracks going across the ice.

Isn't it funny how even brown can add color to a landscape in the winter?

One little leaf was laying on the top of the snow

I then went to another lake nearby where I sometimes watch the sunset. These people were out there on the lake talking, and the dog was having the time of its life rolling around on the ice, sometimes on its back with its feet straight up in the air. It was very comical to watch.

The light was beginning to fade, and I didn't have my good camera with the long lens on, but off in the distance, there were hundreds of geese and ducks, and several swans.

As I was leaving, these ducks came up on the shore though, so I was able to get a couple of close shots. Not great because of the lack of light, but at least I got to see them.

A couple more mallards

Those little dark dots in the water are more ducks

One last look at the setting sun reflecting off the ice and then I went home.