Friday, February 25, 2011

Winter blahs be gone !

In my virtual travels around blogland I've seen people take different approaches to winter. [I need to digress momentarily and let you know that this is the first year we voted with our feet not to enjoy the many pleasures that winter can offer by heading to warmer climes. We're also all too familiar with the dreaded feeling that usually sets in around this time of year that winter simply will not end.]

Some people tackle winter head on: they strap on skis or skates, or hurtle downhill on toboggans and other conveyances and later gather round a bonfire with rosy cheeks while defrosting various parts of the body. Others ensure a good supply of books and firewood and hunker down to wait for spring. Still others deny the existence of winter altogether and pass the time viewing and posting photos of happier (read 'non-winter') times. But most of them by this point in the winter are more than willing to close this chapter and get on with spring.

So I thought I'd share a couple of shots made today to help move the yardsticks forward - no, nothing that will affect the weather - I'm talking about the mental yardsticks. And no, these aren't growing outdoors here (although our bougainvillea are lovely).

Enjoy - spring is just around the corner ! It's never failed to come yet.

(60mm  f6.3  1.6 sec  ISO200)

(60mm  f5.6  1.0 sec  ISO400)

20 comments:

Ruth Hiebert said...

Thanks for sharing these beauties.Yes,I know spring will come and soon enough I will think it is too hot.What a complaining people we are.Really it is good to have all the seasons.Have a wonderful weekend.
Blessings,Ruth

Regina d'Ávila said...

Momento único...
Que foto maravilhosa,
Um brilho delicioso, alegre...
Um amarelo vivo..
Parabéns pelo blog...e pelas lindas imagens.
Obrigada pela visita no meu blog,
Abraços,
Regina d´Ávila.

Scott Law said...

These are definitely looking a lot like spring.

Gabriela Pana said...

wonderful photos

darlin said...

Rick THANK YOU! I love yellow flowers and I appreciate seeing the hope in these shots. Thank you for thinking of us who are still sitting in snow! I was trying to see which category I fit into in the winter people and I don't seem to fit into any of them. We need a new one just for me! lol It's so much fun being different, I've always been the black sheep so I've adapted quite well to this role in life.

Cheers!

Marty said...

the sun is now in my home with those beautiful yellow flowers ! thank you Rick ! so gorgeous, so warm ! wonderful shots !
wish you a lovely warm weekend
sunny bisous for you

Katherine said...

Rick you've captured the beauty of these flowers so perfectly. We don't experience the stark contrast in seasons here in Queensland like you do over there ... moving from one season to the next is much more subtle here but even so my favorite season is Spring .. the most fragrant, colorful, life filled season of the year.

Katherine said...

Hey Rick ... you've reached 170!!!

Romantik Seelchen said...

lieber Rick, your beautiful photos ....
Here shines the sun of the heart,
greetings Jasmin

Elizabeth Grimes said...

For a second, I actually felt warmer.Lol. Those are stunning photos.

Soraia said...

Amazing! :D

Yes, all the white things in the background are houses.

imac said...

They warm the heart - with Glee, Rick.

becky said...

I do love that bright yellow color! It looks like the 2nd photo may be a sunflower, which I believe to be the happiest flower! When I was living in Oregon, I had that feeling of sadness in the winter... but that's cause the sun hardly ever came out & it rained a lot. Here in NM, it may get cold & snow, but then the sun shines & it makes a HUGE difference!
Spring is just around the corner. :)

magda said...

Your photos are as the sun shines !!!!
So beautiful !!!
Have a nice weekend !

Carolyn Ford said...

The light...the golden light! these macros are simply divine, Rick...warm and divine! Although, I can't complain about winter out here in so. Cal! I LOVED the big rain storm we had yesterday and especially over the night! Very cool...

Unknown said...

Uff, these pictures are from a hardcore non winter place . . . :-D They open up the heart immediately ;-)

The second one is very special . . .

Greetz,


Joseph

Michelle said...

Very beautiful. We are having a bit of green around here with some tree buds. A welcome sight.

Karin / Southern Meadows said...

Beautiful perspective on the blooms! It is indeed interesting how everyone approaches the seasons differently. I like my short winters :)

Dawn said...

Ahhhhh....I just want to continue staring at that first photo. I can feel warmth radiating off of that flower and light......
(Thud, my notebook computer just fell off my lap and I was brought back to reality as I picked it up and my window view caught my eye.
Blowing snow....wind howling....-25C.....)

Looking at your photo once more.
It's absolutely lovely.

Rick said...

Hi everyone, and thanks to each of you for visiting and leaving a wonderful comment. I have read (and re-read) all of them but haven't been able to respond, nor to visit many of you. Now that we are 'company-less' for a few days I hope to get around and visit as many of you as possible !