2011 Christmas House Tour

 
Hard to believe another Christmas come and gone. Sigh.

I always find the week after New Year’s to be a little sad since I know the time is near to take down the garlands, box up the ornaments and lights and put away all the dressings of the season.

But before we do, let’s make the magic last a wee bit longer with a tour of this year’s holiday decorations. I guess you could say my style is traditional with just a bit of whimsy for the part of me that refuses to grow up! Enjoy! 🙂

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It’s s(no)w joke

Anyone living along the east coast who thought the weather forecasters were kidding about the Nor’easter woke up to find the joke was on us! My city faired better than many with only a few inches, BUT it was the heavy, wet kind of snow that downed many branches including a large one off of my (already damaged) Coral Bark Maple. 😦 I must admit, Mother Nature got me since I didn’t see that one coming or else I would have strapped the branches together (as I intended to do before ‘winter’ arrived) when we were scurrying around yesterday covering furniture and moving in fragile perennials that I had yet to get planted into the ground. Sigh.

Not wanting to dwell on what was damaged, I decided instead, to look for the beauty of the day. It isn’t often we get the combination of gorgeous fall foliage, crisp blue skies, brilliant sunshine AND a bed of the white stuff. As the winds whipped, I walked the landscape, shooting until my hands were frozen.

Folks who don’t experience snowstorms often ask how we ‘deal’ with it.

Well, I think the last photo pretty much sums it up. 🙂

"S(no!)w Welcome" (Welcome Flag with Urn) Canon PowerShot SX40 HS, 11mm, F/4.0, 1/100s, IS0 125, Built-in Flash, -1.3EV

 

"Duck, Duck, Snow!" (Resin Ducks in Snow) Canon PowerShot SX40 HS, 13.5mm, F/4, 1/250s, ISO 100

 

"When Seasons Collide" (Backyard Shed in Snowy October) Canon PowerShot SX40 HS, 6.8mm, F/4.0, -0.3EV, 1/320s, IS0 100

 

"S(no)w Swimming" (October Pool) Canon PowerShot SX40 HS, 4.3mm, F/8.0, 1/125s, IS0 320

 

"Snow Birds" (Copper Swans with 'Cardinal Red' Hydrangea) Canon PowerShot SX40 HS, 21.8mm, F/4.5, 1/80s, IS0 125

 

"Seasonal Confusion" (October Backyard, Far View) Canon PowerShot SX40 HS, 4.3mm, F/8.0, 1/60s, IS0 160

 

"How to Weather Snow in October" (Backyard Vignette) Canon PowerShot SX40 HS, 7mm, F/4.0, 1/00s, IS0 100

And the snow came

The first major Nor’easter of the season arrived last night and raged on into today, ending around mid-day. Now according to meteorologists, the storm didn’t quite reach ‘blizzard status’ in our city but still managed to deliver a significant amount of the white stuff along with major wind gusts that knocked out power and caused other problems in many areas. Luckily, we have no issues to report other than the normal woes that come along with such a storm. 

Earlier today I forced myself outside into the howling winds to snap some photos before gettin’ down to the business of snow removal (the things I do for this blog… 😉 )

Nikon D300, 18mm, F/9, 1/320s, ISO 200

I soon learned it was heavy, wet snow, the kind that weighs down all the branches. Good for snowballs, bad for shoveling!

Nikon D300, 36mm, F/8, 1/250s, +0.7EV, ISO 400

A snowblower (and a man to run it) is a good thing to have… 😉

Nikon D300, 50mm, F/9, 1/320s, ISO 200

While the Audi sits snug in the garage (see first photo), the Jeep bears the brunt of the storm. No worries… my girl can take it! 🙂

Nikon D300, 26mm, F/8, 1/250s, +0.7EV, ISO 200, Nik Color Efex Pro B&W Filter

The studio took a snow day…

Nikon D300, 75mm, F/6.3, 1/160s, ISO 1EV under 200

I do have to admit it does make everyday things look oh-so-pretty!

“Snow Chalet” (Snow-covered Birdhouse) Nikon D300, 120mm, F/6.3, 1/160s, +0.3EV, ISO 200

“Neither Rain Nor Snow” (Snow-covered Mailbox) Nikon D300, 82mm, F/6.3, 1/160s, +0.3EV, ISO 200

“Frosty” (Snow-covered Holiday Wreath) Nikon D300, 82mm, F/5, 1/60s, +0.7EV, IS0 200

Okay, I’ve had enough and my fingers are frozen. Definitely time for a steaming cup of cocoa! 🙂

Yeah, we got snow

It has snowed here the last two days, and looking out my window now, I see the flakes are flying once again. Sigh.   

Much different from this morning when we actually had some blue skies and sun! I chose to head out early in search of snow-covered landscapes and found myself near the site of the old Johnson Christmas Tree Farm.   

Each year in early December we used to cut down our own christmas tree at the farm, which is conveniently located only 2 1/2 miles from our house. It was always a thrill trudging through the field, hacksaw in hand, looking for the ‘one.’ 

Alas, it was very sad for us then, when a few years back the farm was sold. 😦

“Winter Farmhouse” (Red Farmhouse at Johnson Christmas Tree Farm) Nikon D300, 60mm, F/22, 1/160s, ISO 640

Fortunately, the new owners did not sub-divide the beautiful acreage (which isn’t the norm around here as land is incredibly valuable), but instead, chose to build a gorgeous farmhouse on the site of the old barn and, are currently in the process of restoring the farm! Rumor has it they have already planted over 10,000 christmas trees on the site!   

Does this mean the farm will once again offer cut-your-own-christmas-trees in the not to distant future? 

One can only hope! 🙂