This weekend, temperatures are plunging here due to a Polar Vortex spreading south from Canada. Anticipating windchill of -30 degrees tomorrow morning, we need to be prepared.
Walking along the Shug trail in Dryden today I spotted some beautiful ice crystals and floes on a patch of beaver damned water by the trail, which in the spring is the nesting ground for snapping turtles!
And, at the 1 mile mark I spotted this beautiful patch of red against the gray.
We could not linger long because my ears were becoming numb, but it was a fabulous sight to behold!
Nicholas
This morning, Misty and I walked by Dryden Lake which was iced over and splendid in the sunshine.
From time to time, strange moaning sounds emerged from the space around the lake... it was the cracking of ice sheets echoing the entire length and breadth of the place.
And there were winter photographs everywhere... frozen twigs, a farm above the lake, ice crystals below a water pipe...
Gorgeous winter...
Nicholas
This morning, a beautiful Northern Harrier came by and sat on our garden fence for a while.
The colder weather seems to have brought it closer to the birds in our garden.
Sensitive to the slightest movement, it flew off just after I had taken these pictures.
Two nights ago we had an ice storm: all night long we could here the ice falling against the siding and windows, and, in the morning, they were covered with a sheet of ice.
Tomorrow, the year turns.
Nicholas
Last night and today, we have been blessed with a spectacular full moon!
Hanging over our fields and home it has been a beautiful sight.
Once again, I am reminded of the astonishing balance between light and darkness...
between horizon and zenith:
Here at the turning point of the year, this brightness blesses everything.
Nicholas
We've had some gorgeous sunsets the last few weeks, almost impossible to capture in just a few photographs...
Meanwhile, here is a tribute to the last of the leaves at Dryden Lake a few weeks ago, before the frosts...
Nicholas
I spotted a Monarch butterfly feeding at the end of our garden two days ago.. we had planted some Milkweed Aesculapius plants which it finds irresistible.
But, sadly, I've only seen about three or four of these butterflies this year... lets hope the population recovers.
Nicholas
This morning I spotted a kettle of hawks soaring over the fields between us and Dryden Lake. They are red-tailed hawks, flapping occasionally, but mostly just soaring round and round above the landscape. There were at least ten birds today.
We have now purchased some additional land to increase the size of our garden. Next year we plan to build a 24 foot labrynth! Pictures to come.
Meanwhile, here are some gorgeous flowers from this season.
The white iris was most unusual at this time of the year! Its delicate petals lasted a full week.
Nicholas
