Moon 122809

This moon is three days from Full. The Full Moon of 123109 will be the second in December and if it's not totally overcast I'll get some pictures!

Digging Out

I've made it out at last! Thanks to living on a snow route, and an enterprising dude with a shovel who wanted to make some cash today, I am down at Lola's enjoying coffee, food, and good company. I had not been out of the house except to try to shovel in the past 48 hours. I believe we had over nine inches of snow. Not out in my car, which is obviously not going anywhere just yet. And let me not forget to credit Rich, who also dug himself out and very kindly came and rescued me from my housebound condition.

The 2009 Christmas Blizzard

I'm certain that's how this few days is going to be characterized historically. A huge chunk of the middle of the USA is under snow, in some cases, lots and lots of snow. These were from my world today in Topeka. Mitzi hates snow and cold and is dedicated to the notion that Winter is for naps. Major naps.

White Christmas, 122409

Rather too much of a good thing, probably...but the snow still has its charms, even when you know it's going to be a pain in the butt...and the back...and the fingers...

Different Shade of Winter

The Winter sky in Kansas is amazingly mutable. It can change from one day to the next and be something so unlike the day before you can't believe it's so closely related to time and place as the first one. This picture is from Dec. 17 and these clouds were all over the eastern sky.

Cold Birds!

Canada Geese, standing on the ice on the cemetery pond, drinking ice water. Apparently they are filled with antifreeze.



This is a Swan Goose with a Mallard drake and a Canada Goose. Not of a feather, but flocking together at the cemetery pond, where there is a "bubbler" to keep some water open.



Interesting bird, the Swan Goose, Anser cygnoides. Not native to this country, this male is either domesticated there at the cemetery or living in a feral state. He seemed glad to be in the company of the other birds, and was the only one who talked to me at all, other than the general muttering of the ducks.

Cold

Yesterday in Topeka the temperature began to fall. By the time I was going out to take pictures of The Cold, I believe it was about 15 F. I do not want to address the wind chill. That is the Sun, struggling to shine against the gray.

Ice Ice, Baby!

Prettier on the porch than on the road! It's all gone as of today, from the porch, anyway...

The close-up shows the magic of Sun changing ice back to water again. Nice.

Some More Weather

I could have gotten some better pictures of the snow. We had about six and a half inches total in the storm that hit most of Kansas between Monday Dec. 07 and Wednesday Dec. 09. However, it was cold. And snowy, and blowy, and I didn't feel like dealing with it, really. So, here's some Mitzi tracks in the snow Tuesday night, after the first little batch fell. She really hates the snow, so she'll just run out, do what dogs gotta do, and run back in. I would too.

Catching up...first, The Moon, 120109

The first Full Moon of December 2009. There will be another one at the end of the month.

I tried a couple of different things this time; some B&W pictures, and a shining Moon Path.

Dear (Weather) Diary...

Today it snowed.

Laid To Rest

This is the time of year for memorials, for remembering those who are walking in another world now...not in the summer when everything is burgeoning and blooming, but in this quieter, more somber part of the year. Everything falls, everything rises again. So it is. These leaves, this grave, let them stand for everyone.

Bonus--Fall Rainbow

Two more from Memorial Park Cemetery. This was my reward for getting sprinkled on. I punched the color up just a bit in the zoomed-in one so the rainbow is more visible. I can't help myself, digital image manipulation is so much fun!

Time for some fall color!

Here ya go...pictures from Memorial Park Cemetery, 6th & Gage, this late afternoon, when I realized driving by that I was looking at the best fall color I'd seen so far, without poles and wires in the pictures!

Skyline, October 3, 2009

Forgot to post this one the other day along with the Moon from Skyline Drive. I learned that the gate to the road up to Burnett's Mound has been closed entirely for a few months due to major problems with illegal trash dumping. I know people who would do that won't be reading this, but people! Don't be assholes, OK?

October Moon, Part Two

More Moon shots, and some Fall color at Lake Shawnee this evening. It's getting cold of an evening, out there by the lake!

October Moon

Shooting the Moon again, this time from Skyline Parkway. We tried to get up on Burnett's Mound but some idiot had the gate locked and it was not sunset yet! A letter to the Parks & Rec director is in the email already. But the Moon was still beautiful from as high as we could go.

Nice Sky, 092309

Cheryl Unruh of Flyover People told me to "look up" one recent evening, so the next afternoon I carried my camera around, and I did look up to find this fine-looking sky. I like the subtle colors.

Today's Cuteness

Was out at Rees Fruit Farms store buying peaches on our way to supper with our sister in Lawrence when we saw this cutie hanging out in the flower planter. Don't know her or his name, but s/he made a good picture! And I love the sign.

OK, technically Rees Fruit Farms isn't exactly IN Topeka, but it's darn close, OK?

More balloons (see previous post)

Fire in the hole!