Winter Light

There has been ample winter this year and all the variations of light that come with the various weathers forging their way through the high Carolinas. Gardening Gone Wild's Picture This photo contest for the month of February is called Winter Light. This month's judge is Roger Foley of Foley Foto who chose the topic. Winter Light, no problem, I got that.

I have certainly taken enough pictures of the numerous iterations of winter. What is a person to do when they are stuck in Siberia? So it was difficult to choose just one picture to submit for the contest.

I have gotten a sad amount of pleasure on those few days when the sun decided to make an appearance and shined brightly on a world encased in winter's grip. The strong shadow lines it created on the near daily freshly fallen snow were an entertainment in a more often monochromatic existence. I choose the light and shadow picture below for my entry because I enjoyed playing with these images so much.

A Shadow Of Its Former Self



There were a lot of other possible choices as well. More often than not, winter light is a suffused light dispersed through layers of chilled forms of moisture. I think the judge was more after actual light than a mere notion of it. When the fog, snow and rime sit directly on the land a haunting beauty exists, but is it light?



The walking sticks left no doubt that actual sunlight was involved in the dance.



It was fun looking for interesting patterns as I trudged to and fro.



The garden large in winter is certainly an acceptable subject for a garden blog photo contest. A certain mystery pulls you in despite the cold and the likely hood that the coyote tracks I was following could lead to a real coyote.



Waking up to sunshine after the storm. This is light, but the scene is too big to be garden.



The setting winter sun lights the mountains from a different angle and often uses a more pastel palette of colors.



I love this image and was very tempted to choose it as my entry even knowing that it may not be the kind of light being looked for. For me and this winter, it totally encapsulates the dominant light form of winter high up in the clouds.



The glorious beaming sun in the middle of the day with not a cloud in the sky glitters through the freshly frozen tree tops. I take a picture of this scene often enough in all seasons. It has good bone structure.



These are the many moods of winter light.

Just One More

Walking The Line

It Is Over

For now.



The sun came out and a melt has commenced.



The tongue and groove ceiling is complete except for the last board that goes in the peak. First some kind of something needs to be fastened to the roof structure to provide stable support for a ceiling fan. Then the final board will have the edges cut at 45 degree angles and the board will sit flat in the peak for the base of the fan. That will require some figuring and maybe even a decision on a fan. For now the ceiling is done.



Ignore the plywood sheet sitting in the rafters. That is not a permanent feature. It is really looking like a home now.



For now it is done. A construction holiday is in order. I will have the next week to prepare for the arrival of the resident gardeners and my own needed visit to Maui. There may even be some time to squeeze in some spring cleaning at Client #1's before I go if the weathers stick with this melting trend. And just maybe it might even be possible to paint the long exterior wall of the cabin. Maybe. The temperatures need to be just right.



There is a lot of snow that needs to go so Bulbarella can check on her 10,000 daffodils and equal number of minor bulbs for the Bulbapaloozathon to come. Maybe by the time I get back the first crocus will be blooming.



The snow pack better be gone.

But it ain't over. I know better than that. It can snow here all the way to the first of May. That is fine as long as the snow and cold has the good manners not to linger. It is time for the return of a proper southern winter.



Y'all are probably very tired of snow pictures by now.



Wouldn't it be nice to see some brown leaf covered ground with green hints of 10,000 emerging daffodil bulbs.

The Persistent Flow

At night



Doing what it does.

A Persistent Moist NW Flow

It has been snowing now for a solid week. Intermittently perhaps, but it has not missed a single day. I prefer taking the path over the hill into the forest, through the dale of the sunny utility meadow and around the bend of the roadside vegetable garden to walking along the scenic byway to get to the cozy cabin. The snow is getting deep though and I have been walking along the road more often. Frances from Fairegarden visited this path in what now seems like ages ago. It was certainly a different world back then.



There are things to do while the world outside endures a persistent and moist Northwest flow. The ceiling will be nice when the R-38 insulation is no longer in view.



The persistent and moist Northwest flow has kept two kitties fairly well captive inside. The snow on the deck that is approaching two feet in depth works just fine for taking care of business when there is no intent what so ever of spending any time out in that flow longer than necessary.



The persistent and moist and cold, did I leave out the cold, Northwest flow drops most of its snow during the night. There was another inch on my freshly hand plowed driveway this morning. It can just stay there for now.



The extended diagnosis is hinting there could be a little more sunshine and warmth in the coming week. I sure hope this persistent and moist Northwest flow takes a permanent hike before the resident gardeners get here to kitty sit while I am gone. I will get the house all cleaned and try to improve the functioning of the water system before they get here, maybe even a few other chores, but I can't help them if they get stuck in the persistent and moist Northwest flow once I am gone.

The Tale Of Two Driveways

Either I am dressing properly or my blood has turned to the consistency of a slurpee. With temperatures some where in the teens I was out there shoveling the driveway again, to make my escape for more lumber for the cabin's ceiling. I didn't really notice the cold.

I had shoveled half the drive the day before. Two more inches of snow fell in the night so I had to start over at the beginning. The growing tunnel effect transports my wandering mind far from the south to high alpine regions of the world. I shovel.



A persistent and moist northwest flow continues to drive snow showers through the high peaks of the Tennessee border counties. That would include me. The snow never quite stops even when the sun comes out to dance shadows across the elevating snow pack.



Some how it seems just a bit unfair that when I drive to town there is barely a dusting of snow at the bottom of the mountain and no new snow at all in town. Up on the mountain, huge boulders turn to pebbles peaking through the drifts.



Despite the better traction than expected in the thin layer of snow left after shoveling the drive next door, I do not trust the steeper incline of the driveway down to the cozy cabin. Besides shoveling one long driveway is enough. Tongue and groove lumber was trudged down the hill through a foot of powdery snow.



Inside things are taking shape. Outside the constant cold grip would have prevented any progress. Good thing it was time to move inside .



Enough of a second driveway was shoveled to be able to pull off the road for lumber trudging and same strange new forms took shape. I wasn't really feeling the cold. What could they become?



There is certainly more than enough snow. Should inspiration strike something monumental could take shape.



The persistent and moist northwest flow is picking up wind speed and the chill of temperatures some where in the teens is starting to penetrate.



Tomorrow ceiling work will continue. When that is done there may be time to play in the snow.

So Much For Bloom Day

February's Bloom Day has been ruined. Not even a snow drop has managed to make its way through this Colorado ski resort style snow pack that just keeps piling up higher and higher. The extended diagnosis shows no sign of warmth. I am beginning to think spring will be delayed.

Now it is a good thing you need not rely on me for a bloom fix. Carol has the goods.

I have nice red bricks.



The sun has been toying with me, making appearances between waves of snow filled clouds. There is even minor melting while the sun is about.

The second coat of primer on the drywall is done and tomorrow I will make a break for it to go fetch the last bit of lumber needed for the ceiling. The next project will be the sub-flooring for the tile. I really do not think I want to walk twenty eight pieces of that heavy stuff down a snow covered driveway. It may have to wait until I return from Maui.



A little trip to the tropics may be just what I need.

Another World

My world as you may have guessed is about snow and more snow and then snow again. And why yes that is the next round of snow arriving over the horizon.

With a little tree clearing and a simple tow rope there is a great potential ski run in the back forty. I'll add that garden feature to the list. In the summer it could be another nice wildflower meadow.



But life goes on.

A world in miniature seems not to even notice it is partially encased in ice. It is just as green and perky as if it were the height of summer.



A window into another world where the geological processes go about their business at a pace unknown to mere mortals.



Doing strange serpentine things.



In another world.