Winter’s End?

Winter's End? Officially, it's still winter, but the sound of "March" lets me know that spring is coming. The trees are still barren and the ground is still brown (and frozen), but the migratory birds are now flying north. That's encouraging. Just hang on for a few more weeks! Thought for the Day: Spring is …

Long Nights

Vitalva River - Prague, 2009 The winter solstice, shortest day of the year, is on December 21st, at the height of the Christmas celebrations. Too many things are going on to notice how short the days are. Now that the holidays are behind us we soon realize how short the days are, how frigid they …

Color

Monet's Garden - 2019 To counter the boredom of winter, the sameness of every day and the totally white mind-numbing landscape, I look for color. I mean COLOR! and lots of it, as many different shades, hues and tones as possible. Thought for the Day: Color in a picture is like enthusiasm in life.Vincent Van …

Siberia

Warm & Toasty In terms of extreme differences between hot and cold, I've read that Nebraska's climate is similar to Siberia. This winter I believe it. The all-white frozen landscape is getting mighty boring, and two weeks of sub-zero temperatures haven't helped. A warm toasty campfire would sure feel nice about now. Thought for the …

Snowbound

Borrrring! Ugggh, will this winter ever end?! Thought for the Day: I was just thinking, if it is really religion with these nudist colonies, they sure must turn atheists in the wintertime.Will Rogers

Rosy Cheeks

December, 2018 Today is the winter solstice, the shortest day of the year. Get your long johns out, we have three more months of winter. Uggh, but a smile like this will certainly warm you up. Thought for the Day: To appreciate the beauty of a snowflake, it is necessary to stand out in the …

Last Gasp

Winter's Last Gasp The calendar says Spring arrived a couple days ago. While the daytime temperatures are certainly warmer and the grass is starting to green up, winter is not giving up so easily. There are still patches of snow hanging on in the shaded areas of the neighborhood. Since the coronavirus has dampened any …

Winter Blues

Cedar Creek - 2019 Uggh, winter is still here. We've had enough winter already, so let's think about spring. Give someone you don't know a nice warm smile. Thought for the Day: One kind word can warm three winter months.Japanese Proverb

Beach Chairs

Oh, the colors of summer. Thought for the Day: Winter is on my head but eternal spring is in my heart.Victor Hugo

Winter Color

Any kind of foliage is a welcome sight this time of year, even in pictures. I found this flower among the tall wild grasses in a sandy Florida beach. I rediscovered it among my photo archives of winter vacations. It will have to do for this cold February day in Nebraska. Thought for the Day: …

Clematis

Clematis We are barely three weeks into the winter season and I'm sick of it already. Three measurable snow falls and three days of single digit temps was a brutal wake-up call. The fields are brown, the trees are bare, the nights are long, the fireplace broken in, the garden a distant memory, the bird …

Winter Zoo Trip

Sky Tram Tickets It was warm for February in Nebraska, 15 degrees with hopes of reaching the high 20's. That was balmy compared to the previous two days and predictions for the next week. So, we bundled up and went to the zoo. There are plenty of inside exhibits at the Henry Doorly Zoo, like …

Winter Storm

Nebraska Winter As predicted a powerful snowstorm hit Nebraska Saturday night; 8-10" of snow with winds gusting 40-50 mph. Thankfully, we have a calm sunny day to dig out. Uggh! Using the words of the Nebraska State Tourism Board's latest slogan: "Nebraska, it's not for everyone."

Umbrellas

Umbrellas - Cape Cod Nebraska's winter has been the worst in a long time. January was bitter cold with light snow, now two heavy snowfalls in the last five days and another heavy snowstorm on the horizon. I thought this picture might cheer things up. Nothing special about the photo itself; I just like the …

Ameritrade Park

Less than six months until the College World Series -- "The Greatest Show on Dirt".  That's the name of this sculpture that sits outside the front entrance to Ameritrade Park in Omaha, Nebraska.  This tournament has been held in Omaha since 1950. Maybe this winter won't last forever, but we need something to look forward …

Summer’s End

Hey!  Where'd everybody go?  It's only mid-September, and I haven't seen a soul for weeks.  I'm hanging here, limp and lifeless, all by myself without anyone to keep me company, not even an occasional rattle from the cottonwood leaves. I have a feeling that I'd better get ready for nine months of loneliness.  I'll hang …

Nature’s Humor

After the crocus, daffodil and tulips poke through the ground spearheading the invasion of Spring, other plants are quick to follow suit. Slow at first, but momentum builds fast as Spring sheds its dark and gloomy shroud of Winter. Before long there is a vertical stampede of growth.  Everything is popping up providing a noticeable daily change in contour of …

Swim Shoes

In the middle of winter, when its below zero outside, and you haven't seen the sun in days, you pine for warmer weather and try to remember fun at the beach. Thought for the Day:  What good is the warmth of summer without the cold of winter to give it sweetness.          …

Polar Plunge

It's Valentine's Day in the Midwest, it's cold, it's freezing, the lakes are frozen, the sky is overcast, the temperature is 22, and the wind is gusting to 30 mph.  So, what do you do for fun?  You pay $50 to jump into the ice water to benefit the Special Olympics. This band of dare-devil …

Sanibel Island, Florida

On the day I returned from Sanibel Island, Florida, the ground hog saw his shadow, which means we have six more weeks of winter.   Ugh!   Last night we had 3-4" of snow, which we badly needed, but I could sure do without the high winds and single digit temps. While processing photos from …