Monday, December 29, 2008

Icy in Black & White

Yesterday afternoon, our two married kids and spouses (and Izzy-Dog) left for home, College Daughter left to go shopping.......Husband and Younger Son were snoozing in front of the TV. Breathing a sigh of relief at the sudden peace and quiet, I prepared to settle in comfortably to read more about Dewey the famous library cat of Spencer, Iowa. Within a few minutes, two of the kids phoned to say, "Mom......the ice all over everything looks really cool.......you'd better take a drive and snap some pictures." Sheesh......there is just no rest for the wicked!
Tree branches and ditch weed stems glittered brilliantly in the frigid sunshine. Too bad I can't seem to capture the sparkles very well with the camera. I toured around a few square-mile sections adjacent to the one we live in; it was slow-going as the gravel roads were glare ice underneath a loose layer of snow. Thank goodness the paved roads are now clear and dry for holiday travellers. There was little traffic on the gravel roads, of course. Only an idiot like me and a few pickups crawling along full of orange-garbed pheasant hunters scanning the ditches. Hey......I was hunting, too......hunting for scenes to photograph!
These sparrows weren't wearing ice coats, but they were eye-catching, regardless, perched atop an evergreen tree.

Editing this next photo to black and white brings out the shadowy rays cutting across Crane Creek. I don't pretend to know anything about photography, because I truly don't know anything beyond point the camera and press the button. Maybe someday I'll take a class.

Br-r-r! These photos reflect the fact that it was very cold yesterday! I was frozen and shivering---almost to the point of teeth chattering---by the time I got home........hot cocoa was the first order of business at that point!
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[Hey, let me know if you don't like the embedded comment box. I can easily go back to using the pop-up box. I'm curious to know which one people like better.]
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6 comments:

Gigi Ann said...

I was laying in my lazyboy looking out at the ice sparkling on the limbs, but, was just to lazy to get up, walk in the house pick up the camera and take a picture. It was just to warm and cozy in my chair to even think of leaving it. So I just want to say, "Thank you, for leaving your nice cozy house and snapping some pictures of the sparkling ice for me. You are swell!" Have a quiet day today reading about Dewey. I'll have to look for that book next time I'm in Barnes and Nobles.

Pat - Arkansas said...

Love the photos, Jeannelle, especially the one at Crane Creek! You're a brave soul to get out in the ice, but I'm glad you did.

Re: embedded comment box. It's OK. I was just a bit surprised at the change when it occurred.

DesertHen said...

Great photos! Love the black and white photo of the creek and the birds are so sweet!! I bet you were very, very cold when you got home!

I like the comment box.......

Anonymous said...

Love your pic's. Ice always looks pretty in photos.

Gail said...

Wonderful photos! Now, admit it, freezing was worth these shots! And the coco was a plus!

Jeannelle said...

Hi, Gramma Ann,

Staying in the recliner sounds like a good idea!

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Hi, Pat,

I switched back to the pop-up box, obviously. I guess I like that one the best.

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Hi, Deserthen,

One reason I was so cold is that I was too lazy to put long-johns on before I left. Dumb.

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Hi, Rebel,

Thank you for the kind words!

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Hi, Gail,

Yes, it was worth it!