Friday, January 21, 2011

The Forest Speaks

Three storms later...
 
 
 Yes, we've had 3 storms, including freezing rain, since my last post.  The first one dumped about 18" on us, the second about 6" with a "creme brulee" crust on top due to the freezing rain. It covered every living branch and twig, every blade of dried weed and grass with ice.


 
The next day, as I got out of my car at the office building, I could hear the forest speaking. The wind was breaking and shaking the ice off the branches. The ice was hitting the crust and sliding through the forest. It was constant noise for 2 or 3 days.



 

Yesterday's 6 more inches of light pouffy snow quieted it down somewhat, but the dazzling sun this morning had crystals raining down on my car.


Three snowstorms in 10 days is pretty significant for us here, but we take it in stride. Most of us have plows or snowblowers or little tractors to clear our driveways. I bought a Subaru Impreza last winter, and the traction with all-wheel drive is amazing.  I don't know why I waited so long!


The wonderful thing about traction is...I can go for rides even when the roads are snow-covered...without worrying about getting stuck in a snowbank or "doing donuts" in the road.  (A donut is when you spin around in a circle-out of control, usually when other cars are coming toward you!)  I can get up the long steep driveways at Mom's & Trisha's without getting a running start or spinning out.  I can't tell you how challenging they were in the old Saturn wagon!


I always try to remember my camera so I can show you the beauty of My New England. I don't love being out in the cold, and I'm not the sporty type. I'd be happy kayaking on a balmy lake, but snowshoeing or cross-country skiing, not so much!  But I love to drive around and find wonderful places to share with my friends.


I've been invited to put a dozen or so photos in a show at the end of February. My problem is trying to figure out which ones! My iPhoto file has almost 7000 pictures in it at the moment. I really need to spend a couple of weeks weeding them out-I'm overwhelmed when it comes to categorizing and renaming all those pictures. Do you have any suggestions for me?


Well, that's my winter storm tour of Western Massachusetts-in a nutshell! I hope your Winter (Summer for Rina!) is going well.

Take a closer look around you and see the beauty that abounds!

Sherry

8 comments:

  1. Hi Sherry, I'm a southern girl and have lived in a desert country so long that I cannot even imagine being cold and surrounded by snow all the time. It certainly is beautiful. Good news that you got a car that can handle the icy roads. Take care and be safe. Best wishes and blessings, Tammy

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  2. Such lovely photos! We too have had a very very snowy Winter and I am loving it. But like you, tho my family are skiing fanatics, I just love to look at it from the comfort of my home. Kit

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  3. Sherry your photos are so beautiful - achingly beautiful. I especially love the berries iced over. No snow here, just gray fog (which does have its own kind of beauty). You mentioned your photo exhibit. Maybe you have enough to do a series on the road with the trees along the side. I love how even in winter that view changed from this post to an earlier post of yours. Glad you've got wheels to maneuver through all that snow!

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  4. Your pictures are so beautiful, that I truly lack words to describe the impressions they leave with me.
    You are an artist and choose your subject so delightfully.
    Enjoy the snow - ours have vanished thus your images are so appreciated.;))
    xoxo

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  5. You are terrific! Love the forest speaking! I went out on my snowshoes on top of the 2 feet of snow. The only thing missing up here in the winter are the horse and sleigh!

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  6. Hope you are staying safe and warm under all that snow!! we sure got our fair share of winter around here, too.

    Your photos are stunning!

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  7. Hi Sherry, What a beautiful post. The pictures are awesome and so are your discriptions. I have heard many sounds in the forest, but can only imagine the speaking of it from the ice. Thank you for showing. Gerry

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