Pictures: the next chapter- Nature at it's best/worst

There has been a lot of whining, crying and complaining about winter this year, but so far it looks like perhaps it won't last into freaking MAY like last year.  I am ever so optimistic. 

So I have been keeping a daily, photographic diary of Lola, mostly on Instagram, and I have seen some of the deepest snow levels up here, ever!!  It was pretty incredible to have Lola to measure it against.  I can't wait for the plant growth to begin so we can see how high the daffodils and lilies and poppies get.  Better than snow for sure.

The best shot that I got of this super quick trip to Holy Hill

However, there are no photos of that yet, so we will have to make do with a couple of Lola and of course other parts of the Northwoods- and even a pic or two from southern WI.

Lola at her deepest

Ambience?

Early morning after the snow

Waiting for spring

Glow

Favorite tree

Trio

Winter stone house

Melting is started

Shadows

Sparkle

The ongoing beauty of the sunflower

Spring is here

While in Janesville, we swung past the old GM plant that is in decay.  It was a major part of the Janesville economy and it is so SAD that it is in disuse.  Next time I will get a better pic of this cool 50's style, deserted, gas station.  We were in a hurry.  This was a stunning thing to see in many ways.

After the baby shower was finished Greg led us to Holy Hill.  He knew I would want to photograph that building.  It was after hours for the grounds, but church was just letting out, so all was good.  I got a few good pix against an amazing sky that lovely day.

My buddy the stone house- in the melting stage

3 seasons in one pic

Hang on Lola, spring is coming

I loved the sparkly sun hiding behind the clouds of this last one.  So much hope for a new season.  And with hope there is bound to be some joy!

Walking and shooting and things going on

This was a bit of a monochromatic weekend, as you can see by the pictures here!  I did notice the sun was out while I was in the gym (of course it was) but by the time I got home, threw on additional layers of clothes and clicked into the snowshoes- it was gone.  Oh well.  It was OVER 0 so that was a plus.  In fact, I ended up changing my clothes a lot as I really did get pretty sweaty- under all those wind proof outer layers.  It was a pleasant change of pace.

The MA and I went snowshoeing on Saturday night and I have absolutely no pix of that as I left the phone by accident in the house and I am such a putz getting all of my stuff on anyway, I didn't want to take the time to go get it.  We used the head lamps that the kids gave us and off we tromped around the field.  We have a really nice trail made, so the snowshoeing will continue!  

The other interesting thing I did this weekend was take a concealed carry class.  I debated about telling people this, and did not post it on facebook.  But as this was my decision and it affects no one else in the world (well other than the guy who has all the ammunition!) I thought it was somewhat blog worthy!  :) My main motivation is not fear of people- it is fear of walking in remote areas with lions and tigers and bears, oh my!  Seriously.  I am assuming I will never use it, but I am practicing so at least if I have to I will accomplish what I need to.  I do enjoy the target practice.  It is pretty fun to be able to improve my aim in a very short time.  I am apparently a pretty quick study.  

The other shooting I did this weekend is I FINALLY WENT FOR A LONG WALK!!!  and of course that involved a camera as well.  I MISSED the stone house and my favorite tree so much!!  It has been at least 6 weeks, but I think more, since I have walked on the road.  Winter has not been kind for that.  It hit hard and with a vengeance.  If the weather wasn't terribly cold, the roads were awful.  Things shaped up out there quite a bit with 2 days of just barely above freezing.  YES!  

I made sure I got pictures of my landmarks, plus included here are a couple from snowshoeing. The house from across the field is quite fetching, and then the MA likes it when I take cabin pictures.  I don't think he has ever even seen this blog, other than the rare times I show him something on it, so he won't see the cabin here, I'd venture to guess. BUT I try to get it on facebook occasionally.  Makes him feel important and proud.  Lol, he and the Barber are working on bed frames for the cabin now.  Busy little beavers that they are.

My pretty grey house and the garden shed

Little cabin in the woods

Favorite tree 

The old abandoned house across from the stone house

Stone house

I really wanted to hike up the side of the hill to get up by the house, but it really is deep snow.  REALLY DEEP However, I have a feeling that will not work next time.  I want to get up there again and shoot it in that snow.

I am in "training" with my snow shoes for the "Book Across the Bay" from Ashland to Washburn in a month.  It is a walk/run across Lake Superior- which scares the heck out of me. But I'm going to do it!! So I am needing to get in some long walks to repair my endurance and work on the snowshoes for the muscles needed.  I like the idea of this bookin', I will be a skeered skeeter when I am walking though!!

I got in a lot of activity today, sort of like I used to when I was losing.  I have definitely let myself relax in that whole obsessive watching every morsel I eat and exercise until I want to drop thing. It was awesome to get such a great workout - I truly love it.  I just question this whole idea of starving yourself to become a replica of things/people that are randomly chosen as ways that you are supposed to be and ways  you are supposed to look.  It seriously breaks my heart when sweet, wonderful people are hurting because they don't live up to an ideal that is in their head when they are strong, gorgeous, handsome, amazing, intelligent people. WHY do you need to be 120 instead of 130?  Who came up with this idea that you should exercise for HOURS a day and then not go home and feed your hunger??  How is this logical?  If you have kicked your own ass and had a great workout and you are so starving that you are weak and desperate, I think you should be eating something, the hell with the number on the scale.  Obsession is a wicked, insidious thing. It still haunts me.  Scale obsession lives deep inside me.  I have not stood on a scale since my last major weight freakout.  A lot of things have happened since then, I have come to terms with this idea or at least come to my senses and I am very happy not to know.  It is my way of coping and it is my way of being at peace.  I have been told that it is just a number and I agree- TOTALLY- but I am not able to be happy with or at least not care about whatever that number may be.  Ignorance is bliss for me in this regard.

We are still the same people no matter what we weigh.  I know I may be more self confident, but I am the essence of me still.  I am still the same person who gets distracted by clouds, who loves photography, children, art, animals, smiles, sunshines and lions, reading and gardening and food and cooking.  And whether I am one weight or another really makes no difference. Our character and the way we treat others is far more important than any physical trait that we might have.  I'm having one of those reflective moments apparently!  This type of subject has been rolling around in my mind for quite a while and it has the need to be mentioned again.

But I am beginning to get sleepy now and while there is more to be said - I don't think I am capable of continued coherence.  If I ever had that in the first place.

Anyway, I have to be off to dream land- so I hope that this day has brought you some joy and that you brought some joy and smiles to others!

Cloudy-flower portraits and other dreary day things

This is just a quick picture post- I am seriously so tired I can't even....  

I had a great time editing, but now, I'm just tired.

So you will see that there was something of a blue sky showing here- something I haven't seen much of in person.  Other than in passing- like while passing through the outside from one indoor location to another.  

 

However, I am having a good time this weekend being outside a bit, in spite of the clouds.

So, here are a few pix from the week, and I will be back tomorrow when I can see straight, and write, and maybe continue my quest for a little more joy!  :)

It MUST be almost Spring! Here's proof!

I SAW SOME SURE SIGNS OF SPRING, TUESDAY!!!!

And the first one is PUSSY WILLOWS!

Yep, the pussy willows don't care how much snow is left on the ground, they must be responding to the longer days and increasing sunlight.  Pussy willows are apparently very optimistic, like me!

I went for a walk last night (4.2 miles, so it took an hour) and only had a sweatshirt on.....  it was a bit cold, but I warmed up quickly.  This was after leg day at the gym and then (lordhavemercy) ABS class.  However, as soon as a saw that it was staying sunny, I was all over that walking thing!  

Along the way I had a spring Mad-Accountant spotting!  That's right kids, it is April 16 and you know who has out the chain saw!  Of course he is bundled up like it is mid-winter (he has been known to not be quite as optimistic as I am- hehe), and why in the world he decided to put on his dad's helmet liner from Grandpa Oswald's army days, I just am not sure.  I don't ask.

I AM sure that after spending the last 4 months in the office (the last 2.5 months without a single day off), it just felt good to be out. This is the only the 2nd time or maybe 3rd since we moved up here a LONG time ago that he hasn't been able to rake the lawn on April 15 or 16. 

So off I went on my walk, and noticed a lot of water running, grass patches expanding and the pussy willows popping out.  SUCH an awesome thing to see.  I can't even talk about the forecast for this Thursday night.....  

So given a choice of where I want to walk, of course I headed west to the Stone House, it is a 4.2 mile walk round trip- perfect for an hour plus of exercise.

Grass is showing!  ALMOST to the point that I can head up the ditchline to get some closeups

Beautiful blue skies

And so it goes in northern WI, you just never truly know what each day let alone what each year will bring.  Fortunately, the clues are there if you just keep your eyes open.

And finding them brings me a lot of joy!