Snow covered

Celine's post last night with her snow-covered picnic table reminded me of this, that I took a few days ago before the rain began and the snow started melting. They are patiently waiting for the season to turn.
We even had icicles! I don't ever remember having icicles here, so this was a big treat. I absolutely LOVED these snowflakes clinging to the side of the icicle. What a treat!!

Pre-Meltdown

It's raining. All our beautiful snow is turning to slush, and has already disappeared in the lower elevations. These are from Christmas Eve, and Christmas Day, when we still had snow...

Note to self--next time, no matter how cold or how deep the snow, use a tripod! This is a little shaky, but I loved the way the light backlit the branches.

Ornaments

When I was a kid, every Christmas my mom put up a sleigh pulled by reindeer like this one. I managed to save 2 of them, and they have been on my tree every year. My kids think they are the UGLIEST things they have ever seen, and would gag every year over them...except the one year I didn't put them up because I was tired of the kvetching. THEN they complained that the reindeer WEREN'T on the tree! A few years ago I managed to find one on e-Bay and Santa left it for my DD in her stocking. The Ugly Reindeer Tradition now moves down another generation.

A couple of my other favorites--I love the Swarovski snowflakes...

and this is a new one--I thought it was such a CLEVER design. The use of the old typewriter keys and symbols just make me smile.

And the Blurry Tree Light shot. Our tree is near the window, and I took this during the day. I LOVE the blue background that shows up.

Merry Christmas, everyone!!

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

Don't you love it when everything gets on its holiday best? (Of course, these were really cool doors anyway!)

let it snow...

I'm sure if someone hears me saying that, I will be stoned. We have had more snow here this month than I've seen in the 22 years that we've lived here. I LOVE it! Of course, with compacted snow and ice on the roads, and little or no plowing on the secondary roads, it is hard to get around, but oh! It is a winter wonderland out there, and everything, even bare tree branches, are transformed by layers of snow.
Don't you just want to follow those footsteps under that archway (and hope the wind doesn't come up and throw all that snow down your neck?)
Just think how boring this reflection could be if not for the snow...

On the other hand, it is cold, and I don't do cold well. (Too many years in the Midwest, especially Minnesota...) We did lose power the other night, for only (only!) 14 hours. Let's hear it for gas fireplaces, gas stoves, and a generator, and a neighbor kind enough to come over and start the generator for me, since R isn't able to do so right now.

A few volunteer Doug firs lining the road to my house. They look so pretty with all the fresh snow on them! Even caught a stray beam of sunlight shining down.

Tonight we are hunkered down, waiting for more snow and a big windstorm. They are predicting winds of 60 mph, with gusts up to 90 mph. I am praying that the house doesn't get hit, and that the power stays on--or, if it goes out, it is only for a short while, not days and days.

Sled Dogs and Snow

Our neighbor had a pretty creative idea for exercising his Scotties today! Grabbed this as we drove by. I would've loved to have gotten a shot of him coming towards us. The dogs were loving it!
The top of our mountain is covered with snow--even all the rock formations are covered with white, and the trees look like a forest of flocked firs (just a little alliteration there)

Drove up to get a view across the valley late afternoon today. I haven't done anything to this, other than sizing for the web and a little contrast. The haze, clouds and late afternoon sun made this look so impressionistic. The layer of clouds at the bottom looks downright freezing (and it is!)