January colors

January is proving to be a tough month but it can only get better right? So now the gripping cold has for now just turned to regular cold, it almost feels like normal winter and I thought I had better get out there and take some pictures. It's a great way to actually "see" what it really is like and I am amazed by the colours that are present in such a gloomy month. Hope these cheer

These red berries really warm the heart

I thought this morning sky was just beautiful, the lacy tree branches  and those vapor trails, of course that blue sky just beginning and the light in the window; just lovely

The moon was still up. This was taken at the same time as the previous photo

I thought the lines of different colour in this sunset were again just beautiful and the black trees just emphasis it

More black branches and golden horizon

It's the shapes that catch my eye

This one is pretty brilliant, it stretches 

But even redundant buds have colour in winter

I heard the honking and tried like mad to get the shot

I just love geese they are just ace. I love the collaboration and how they get into their formations, both comical and brilliant

Then there was the wet snow fall and no one had walked our path that morning at 6 am

As it was a wet snow it stuck to everything

Even the canon house got a coating

Pompom decoration

Leaves were highlighted too on the beech tree

This is a nest that was revealed as the dogwood lost it's leaves and as the winter goes along it gets randomly decorated with snow. It is the prefect birds nest. I think it is a robins and it is directly outside Damian's office window

The snow fell all day

Just coating everything, including the dormant buds

But it's the startling colour of this tree, a maple I think, with tulip trees either side

This tree is so bright

Yup a maple

Oh those hydrangeas. 

I pass this several times a day, I just had to get a photo in the snow

How about that for texture

Like a blushed tonal plum colour in the snow

Sunset delight

Stark shadows. Just wow, the tree is very present against the building and look at that blue sky. Seriously intense. I especially like how the shadow gives way to the actual tree at the very top of the picture. Just a great effect

The sun was going down and it lit up the sky and the flag was just brilliant blowing away. That was the view behind the view above

As Louie keeps telling me, I don't have the right camera to take the moon. But I will continue to try and so the fingernail moon above the trees called for a photo. It's towards the left of the middle of the picture

As the trees are bare we see their secrets, so here is a birds nest

This is squirrel nests

Wasp nest

This one tree has two !

What a funny tree to have such huge wasp nests!

The leaves are clinging on

I loved how the tree was trimmed but regardless has continued to grow and look at that sky!

More squirrel nest, that tree has two. They do just look like a bunch of leaves but actually they are a something

Hello birdie, is spring coming?

Hope you enjoyed the brief look at winter in a 2 mile radius of my house :) Seemingly you don't go far in winter. 

Grip of winter

And just like that a new year begins. The New Year is like a blank page with the story yet written and I do like that feeling at least it bats away that feeling of OMG we're on the precipice and we're about to fall off....No it's a nice thing and for my family those nice feelings are re enforced by the birthday of Louie. I always felt that it was such a gift to have someone in the family born at the very beginning of a year. He of course may feel very differently about this and has on occasion voiced that, especially in the summer, when the rest of our birthdays are celebrated. But I'm nothing if stubborn and haven't given him the royal second birthday he deserves and he just gets the one birthday like the rest of us. But he has the best thing of all looking out at a new year with a new birthday, sort of tidy that way. It is also a great incentive to get that tree out of the house and make the day a birthday and not the hangover of Christmas.

For this New Year we have had bracing start to the Year and the cold we have had here is nothing like I have ever felt and we're not even in the coldest areas! But I thought looking back on December there was some cheer to share, so here goes and thank you for reading and yes typing does make you warmer, it's a distraction if nothing else.

Somethings don't want to go anywhere and this baby pumpkin I spotted early December is in that category.

Frozen Brandywine

I was lucky enough to go on a quick trip to another institution here from a another Du Pont family member (Longwood is another of these places), Wintertur is a museum created by Henry Du Pont and is sometimes a nice change to go there. Although seeing what the chap amassed can be bewildering and dazzling. It truly is mind blowing to see the house and all that he did with it. It's hording with taste. I can't believe that the family lived with the collections. That's the bit that is truly amazing. I am pleased we are so lucky to see and enjoy it all, that's a fantastic legacy. It is in it's own way a snap shot in time not only of his life but that of the times he lived in and the history before him too. Wow

At the house there are many rooms, it really is huge and this is one of the initial rooms showing a representation of European Christmas back in the day (not my day I might add)

I was rather taken with these paper trees myself

This is the Chinese room and it is my favorite as I think this is the room that he changed to accommodate the wall paper. Yes he changed the dimensions to fit it in. He amassed a lot of stuff in the lean 30's years as there were deals to be had and no one else could afford to collect. That said it's sad and brilliant at the same time. Maybe in a depression it's a good thing someone is making money and needing workers....never the less apart from social commentary, it's a staggering room and the fact that the wall paper is so special and his obsession so complete, makes for a great story and something that people can continue to enjoy.

The other splendid thing at Wintertur is the staircase. He got this somewhere too and installed it, well a band of workers did, it's massive....! It's just super brilliant and you just can't help but love it. It's an oval staircase

On our way out it began to snow and we caught some wreaths along the way that decorated the green houses and out buildings. I loved this one the most

Ok not Wintertur but snow and wreaths!

This is when I thought winter was cute

Morning skies

fantastic colours

This looks like a golden blanket in the sky

Christmas day snow!

Again along with the light and starkness of winter, is beauty

This is my lights on the cherry trees in the morning as I come back from waiting for the bus with Louie. I loved the fact it looks like the morning sun from a distance and there is something so lovely in the bleak morning of that warm glow, even if it is man made. 

The frosts coming in the mornings really were getting quite crispy

But it's like a natural glitter in the street light

I can't quite believe the complexity of the tiny water droplets freezing and this is our lawn....

But Longwood and it's festiveness and lovely warm green houses beckon and we are very lucky to somehow miss the crowds in my favorite room, the cactus room. It has a glow all year round of blueness. 

The roses look pretty happy

as do the poinsettias. I'm not a fan but this colour is interesting

But outside the grasses are just lovely and delicate and I've been seeing them all around and not yet got that picture that captures them

Dog wood is the best! This is real folks

The light in winter both fading and emerging is really the thing in winter. This sunset grabbed me and luckily I got it. It's amazing how fast the sun goes down. 

This is just ace, the light and the colour in the window and the sharpness of the light all contributing to this

Even the moon can't wait to make an appearance in the early afternoon. Great blue and yellow combo there (a personal favorite)

But back at Longwood, the orchids bloom and everything is rosy in this particular garden

Finally get those grasses

and they had an outside fire. The volunteer is there all day! Lucky duck

again the light play is startling

You can't make people smile like that and oh well maybe it was cold and this is the huddle, you know like penguins, I wonder if they smile too...

So some more snow

Just amazing how light plays on snow....

and we go again to Longwood for some colour and warmth...yes there is a pattern it's called being indoors going crazy and outings to Longwood...

It really does look st if this bird of paradise is looking away

Fab red berries

Look at these cuties

Still doing that decor thing. But it is effective 

Brilliant hot pokers

These really were spectacular

The light in this one got me and of course white and red pretty cool

They had a twisty twiggy plant and they had these glass droplets on them and wow I loved the reflected image on the glass, if you look closely

Like a mini world

Oh those boys! what jokers!!! But Isaac is making sure Louie is wrapped up warm...honestly I didn't make him do that and Louie didn't bat an eyelid

The elusive picture and this time got some pods too

Great lines

So even those this is dried, it's still lovely. 

The grasses again, think I have now hammered that one

The snowey walk where once again I donated to the earth a lens cap... literally two seconds outside and I manage to lose it...even retraced the steps and the snow had eaten it. But I got pictures

It was bitter!

But very picturesque

These leaves were making a tremendous racket

But worth the quick step outside in 0 degrees

It was time to head home

I love this stand of trees. They do look like figures though and I think there is a creepy story about them

As I step out to the gym one morning, the moon is still up. It was quite amazing

But this little bird was a cheery spot in the coldest of days

The homestead looking very pretty with it's decorative snow...

Happy New Year. I hear today is warmer than yesterday...19 degrees..... yippee it's a heat wave