Down on the Farm

The sun is coming up as I write this, and it looks like it's going to be a good day. I woke up a little later than usual this morning. I think the flu has hit Sandpiper's nest. So far, I'm okay, but not great, so if I disappear without warning, you'll know why. I always seem to get these little "gifts" that are brought home. ;-) Here's hoping this is the exception! I'm feeling a little rocky this morning, so if I don't make it by your blog today, that's why. I'm going to have some breakfast and see if that improves how I feel. I'm hoping it's just hunger!

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Yesterday, a few birds stopped by for a visit, but it's not always easy to take pictures of them. See bird, grab camera. Focus. Whirrr, zzz, whirrrr, zzzz... darned thing won't focus! Oops, it's on auto-focus. Take off auto and set it to manual. Good. Bird is still there. Focus... click. Arrrrgh! Buzzy (indoor cat) jumps onto the sill. Bird flies away! Get blurry picture of cat's rear end.

Anyway, once in awhile, when the cats are sleeping, I do get in some shots, so I guess I can let them have their fun, but I hate when it's a pretty bird like the not regularly seen red breasted nuthatch that came to my window yesterday, or the little wren, or a gorgeous red cardinal. It's COLOR in an otherwise dull winter landscape, and it's snatched from my reach. Thanks, kitties.

I got outside to take pictures. Played with macro a little. Saw a teensy loopty-loop piece of grass caught in this icy lace. Okay, that's exciting. What next? More ice and snow? Ugh. So, I decided to get creative.

I talk so much about going out into the farmlands that I decided to stop at one of the farms and take some pictures. This is a place I pass by when I drive up into the hills to watch the sunrise. I've been told that the animals are all rescued from injuries, abuse, or just not wanted anymore for one reason or another. Many of them are exotics. On a summer day, I might see rheas or peacocks, or an interesting mammal that isn't normally seen around these parts. When I got there, there were seagulls in the sky right over my head. I practiced catching birds in flight with my camera and got three pretty good shots. Here is one of them.

There were a number of young calves there and the mamas were all grooming them. They were adorable, but this mama hogged the camera, so I couldn't get a picture of her little one.

This deer lives on the farm. I've heard two stories about her. One is that she was injured and can't live on her own in the wild and the other is that she jumps the fence freely. I don't suppose it matters. She seems very content there and is well taken care of. She has lots of room to roam. Sometimes she comes up to the fence for a carrot or apple. She stands off just a bit from the rest of the goats, ducks, cows and whatever crowds in, but toss her a carrot and she gets excited. It took her awhile to get to know me, but I think she recognizes me now.

Here she is, relaxing in the snow near one of her pals.

A baby approached the cow

And it was bath time. Lots of lickies. Do you see she has her little tongue out too?

Most of the birds and animals I saw were too close to the fence to get pictures or I would have to get the chain link fence in the picture, but this one finally got into a position so I could take a picture.

I left there, and on the way home, I stopped at a park and noticed that the trees were getting buds. Spring hasn't forgotten us.

There were some nice shadows and light in the woods

Some interesting textures on this White Birch tree.

A crow flew over

There were hundreds of them and what a noise they all made.

You saw the blue sky. Toward the southwest though, it wasn't quite so pretty. The clouds moved in to cover up the sun. I snapped this as the sun was just peeking out and a crow flew past.

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Time to go home.

Winds, Puffed Critters, and Eerie Light

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Overall, it was a grey winter day, with bitterly cold winds that swept right through the layers of sweaters and coats, mittens and scarves.

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There have been much lower readings on the thermometer, but that wind and dampness just made it feel so much colder.

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The birds were puffed up and squirrels warmed their backs with their tails. When they didn't need to be outside in the open, they hid away in their little forest homes, tucked away, to get out of the wind. As did I.

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It was a quiet day here yesterday. I just couldn't bring myself to go outside. I read for awhile, sipping hot chocolate... oh boy, there goes the diet, but actually, I've found a way to make it so it has fewer calories, so I don't feel too guilty.

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The sunrise this morning won't happen for another half hour. For those who live in the northern hemisphere, have you noticed that it's staying light longer in the afternoons now? Spring is on its way! I love that it's not dark at 4 pm anymore!!!

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Above is a male Red-Bellied Woodpecker who was perched on the tree outside my window. He was getting ready to chase away a little Downy Woodpecker, to have his turn at the suet that is hanging nearby.

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One of my little buddies, hunkered down against the cold. A Northern Grey Squirrel

A little Fox Sparrow was hopping across the snow

A male Downy getting ready to fly over to the feeder next to my window

Getting darker and later in the day, some crows showed up. Boy, are they a noisy bunch!

At the end of the day, I finally bit the bullet and headed out to see the sunset. The lake is only about a two minute drive from my house. If I can't do at least that much, I'm pretty bad!!!

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Next to the lake is the road that leads to the farm country where I like to go

There was sort of a misty look as the road disappeared down into the hills, but really, it was just the clouds in the sky. The road drops off pretty steeply there.

I followed it along, back out into the farm country

I just took pictures here the other day, but the light was so wonderful last night, I couldn't resist taking more.

Even though it was dark, I liked the sort of eerie atmosphere

Still a bit of color in some directions

And it was getting too dark to take pictures, but I watched swarms of crows getting ready to head back to their roosting trees for the night. There is a place a couple of miles down the road, where they all gather. For about a mile or so, every tree is FILLED with crows. It's a scene that Alfred Hitchcock would have loved!

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So, with darkness falling, & the crows heading back home, so did I.

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.

Blue Skies & Sun in the Hood

I awoke yesterday and looked out my window. The water in the brook behind my house was flowing strong and there were ice formations at the edges.

The sky was as blue as any sky could be

The bittersweet berries stood out against the blue sky and added color to the white landscape around them

A house finch came to my window and posed nicely for me

While playing with the settings on my camera, this vulture flew right into the frame.

Late in the day, I went out into the farm country about ten minutes from my house and saw a large flock of Canada Geese. Note the single Snow Goose. For the past three years I've seen this flock. Usually, they are about a 15 minute drive up the road, but it seems they've moved into my neighborhood now.

They just kept coming. Even pulled back with my lens, that one Snow Goose stood out against the sky.

The late afternoon sun was shining nicely on this barn

Some geese took off from a hillside as I approached. Disappointing because the light had been shining on them so nicely.

A farmers road running through a field

This was looking out in the direction toward where the sun was setting.

An old barn, still in use. I liked the way the sun was reflecting off the snow

A horse came up to greet me as I stopped to take its picture

It was lovely the way he stood in front of the sun for me and I could see only the highlights around his russet profile.

I didn't go far yesterday... just down the street, but I was happy I got out and saw what I did.
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