My grandmother Charlotte in the hat and coat standing in front of the snow and my grandfather Judd with the shovel. Durand, Illinois. We had five inches yesterday in Pittsburgh.
Nothing like this!


My grandmother Charlotte in the hat and coat standing in front of the snow and my grandfather Judd with the shovel. Durand, Illinois. We had five inches yesterday in Pittsburgh.
Nothing like this!
light and heavy. Two red balls in Ohio.
The snow has melted now and I’m back in the Burgh but thought these two pics illustrated light and heavy.
This Pink Toilet Waiting in the Snow was my post on January 29, 2010.
There wasn’t a single like clicked on it all those years ago. Was the “like” button feature not in place then? It’s there now with a big zero.
I used to see a lot of toilets in odd places when I’d drive to school. I guess in retirement I’m not driving around much in the early morning before garbage pick up. If you’ve followed me since the beginning you will remember this one, I know.
This is the way Chuck and Sharon keep their home toasty warm in the winter. There were at least three huge stacks of firewood. I have a little plastic thermostat on the wall that I adjust, no real work involved.
I asked what kind of wood it is and Chuck says “Ash”.
When I got home I ordered this book for Chuck. not that he needs any tips on how to chop, stack or dry wood but just to read about the Scandinavian way. ( It’s a bestseller- click title for article on how it became a “global hit”) – Norwegian Wood by Lars Mytting
I heard about this book when I visited Norway last fall. I sent it to my brother in Okanogan. He heats with a woodstove, too.
Saturday night after the anniversary party, we spent the night at the farm in Crestline. There was blowing snow, drifting across the roads. The roads too bad to drive back to the city in the dark.
Sunday morning we had a nice breakfast and watched Chuck blow and plow the quarter mile drive to the main road. Charlie has fun watching and the dogs were in and out.
Then Charlie bundled up and went outside-tried his hand at shoveling- but not for long.
It was too cold.
My camera lens fogged up with condensation from the temperature change, outdoors to indoors.
and of course, returned to the park. It’s just blocks from my house. And the light was low, the visibility poor. A stark and magnificent beauty in the midst of the storm.
What were the trees doing today? One day winter, one day Spring, one day freezing and dark, one day a warm sun but a chill in the wind. I wanted to see the branches outlined in snow. The dark branches highlighted with the new fallen snow. Actually, falling snow.
I was rewarded with a stunning winter scene, just before dusk.
It had started to snow while I was at school. The sky heavy and gray. Big big flakes. Melting on the street as it was 38 degrees. I drove home in a snow globe.
Oh yes, today I got out of the car, scared off a squirrel and photographed the snowy park bench and my favorite tree. The sounds muffled by the new snow, barely sticking to the road but highlighting the curved lines.
these are unretouched color photographs
Two roads diverged….
Home to tea. Homemade spaghetti and cheese, steamed broccoli. Leftover fortune cookie and a mandarin orange. Winter.
Back to the park after school. I was later today. The sun was sinking in the west and this was facing east. When I wrote taillight it didn’t look correct but I checked it out with Merriam- Webster online and it is spelled right! I thought about cropping out the car end but changed my mind. I think it adds perspective and information, allowing one to judge how tall the pine tree is. It looks dead to me, but I am not an arborist.
Looks like the snow glows from the reflected setting sun.
It is a pine tree, isn’t it?
detail
Scroll down for the crop with the dog walker and his dogs in the distance. Didn’t see him when I shot the photo.
Another color photograph that looks black and white. Shot with a EF Canon 50mm 1.2L Lens- 500 ISO f/16, 125 shutter. Wish I had tried a few more settings at the time but wanted to get home.
Thursday the temperature is to be in the 50’s. Unusual fluctuation- one day twenties and snow and ice, another day about zero, now up to sixty?
Something feels off.
After school I drove into Highland Park, right near my home. I’d taken a series of black and white photos for a film class years ago in this same spot and still have a print on my wall.
With the new snow today, I thought it might look interesting but the light was low and the sky thick and gray.
Found some new trees planted along the path, though.
I plan to return in the Spring.
There weren’t many dog walkers or walkers or runners or any activity in the park. The Super Playground deserted and covered with snow and ice. No bicycles. The fountain turned off. The reservoir a layer of ice. The sounds muffled with the snow, but barely a car driving around the circle today.
It’s in color but almost looks black and white.
It was snowing and really cold. I actually pulled over,got out of the car and took this pictureI. I was headed home from school on Friday.
The idea of going to the regular grocery store was out of the question although the larder was fairly empty. Had to stop somewhere.
I was in the Bloomfield neighborhood and decided to shop at Groceria Italiana and pick up some essentials.
When I got home I cooked the sweet and hot sausage and added the house sauce I had purchased. (Chicago John avert your eyes- if you click his name you get a recipe for homemade meat sauce)
A little fresh grated cheese and a glass of organic wine. Glad to be in a warm house and it tasted just fine!
Snow in the door mat!