A Michigan winter is at once silent and pristine, even inviting. I love this old shed. Gertrude, who is in her 80's and lives alone, still tends the yard and garden from this old farm. It was a very cold morning when I shot this.
Lake Michigan is just beyond the treeline in the background.
Often, our cotton-candy snow is soft and fluffy. Overnight, it powders everything it touches. This is the park on the river by my studio. The sculpture has a nurse's dog tag around its neck. I hope this angel floated her to heaven.
When the sun does come out, it reflects off the snow crystals creating blue shadows. You can climb a tree without your feet ever leaving the ground! This is the corner of my studio.
One evening at sundown when I looked out my apartment window toward Lake Michigan, snow vortexes swirled over it.
Sometimes, all one needs in life is a red bird feeder covered in snow.
My cat, Chalk, dreams about that birdfeeder ...
By January, we already surpassed our yearly average of 100 inches of snow. Some records just shouldn't be broken. Soon I won't be able to see anything out of my kitchen window!
They bring in the heavy equipment to haul away mountains of snow. On this day, they worked all through the night. Often, they release prisoners from the county jail to help.
But in just a few months, things will warm up and birds will return.
The Lake will give up its ice cover that looks like a moonscape. And . . .
. . . pixies will cavort with pansies and ferns in the springtime.
The End
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Comments
Aaron: Yes, it's bordering on the absurd. Actually, global warming is to blame. True. There is so much fresh water in the oceans from melting ice caps that it floats on top and pushed the salt water to the bottom. Fresh water cools faster and so the jet streams are all screwed up. We had 40 inches of snow is just a few days last month!
Visualize a Michigan-shaped mitten here, giving you a big thumb up.
so much depends
upon
a red wheel
barrow
glazed with rain
water
beside the white
chickens.
L, next time you're in Motown post a few of the snow piles covered in black soot that linger in the parking lots into late April/May
rated
(I say once it's below 32 degrees it's just a number!)
We are having a roller-coaster winter here in eastern Kansas, going from record highs (70 on Saturday) to very cold (a high of about 15 Monday) and very dry. I'd be happier with some snow.
ktm, I thought of that poem as I wrote it. Love WCW.
SuznMaree, I'm a painter, so maybe that explains the painterly quality.
Thanks too all for all of your nice comments. I almost didn't post this.
Ben, like I said, winter here can be "inviting." It's quiet and peaceful. And, really, it's quite beautiful. The snow can hypnotize. Sometimes the flakes are as big as quarters. I admire your mom and wish her well!
Here's looking to Springtime, so you can gather the herbs...
Rated
GARY
Mother: I have a matching set of those pixies and everyone wants to buy them. You've guys in MO have had your share of winter, for sure. I have friends in Kirkland who give me daily reports.
Jane: that cat was a stray and pretty wild. But he wouldn't leave! It took several years for him to calm down. Now we are devoted to each other!
I do envy you being able to quit teaching to pursue art. I'm working on a plan to do the same, but it includes that little problem of $$$.