Woodpecker

IMG_0167 (41 of 49) – Version 2 (1), a photo by victry1 on Flickr.

I was so excited to be able to get this shot of a pileated woodpecker. I watched him work for a while, and, boy, those were no small, gentle pecks. If you enlarge the photo, you can see the woodchips flying out of the tree he is working on.

A Herald of Winter at Hedden Park

As I stole a few minutes today, just before 5 pm, the dark hues of the sky, the barrenness of the trees and the nip in the air reminded me that Old Man Winter is just around the corner. I snapped a couple quick shots with my iPhone in the hopes of freezing (no pun intended) the moment.

This tree always looks like it is welcoming whatever comes along:

A few weeks ago, in the same park, we had these beautiful scenes and mild temperatures:

Orton effect applied. This effect is one of my favs.

But, then, on October 29th and following, we had scenes like these:

Snowstorm in north Jerzy on 10/29

The Morning After

Hanging On

Fortunately, we had warmer weather the week following the storm.  We had almost a million people who lost power as a result of the storm.  Today, 8 days later, there are still a few without.  I can only be grateful that this didn’t happen in the dead of winter.

The return

Hipstamatic shot

The older I get, the less I like winter and the cold and snow that accompany it.  Perhaps this winter, I will learn to see the beauty that is not as apparent or as easily appreciated.  Winter does have a dark beauty that speaks to life of a different sort.

Butterflies, Birds and Flowers in Hedden Park

I love that there are little pockets of nature and beauty all around.  One thing that’s happening because of photography is that – I SEE more.  I may  not be able to translate what I see but I notice and appreciate more.  Who can complain about that?