121: Let’s play

(Birthday gift, with special effects.)

It is frigid outside.  Seriously frigid.  The kind of frigid where the folks on the news tell you to stay indoors unless you absolutely have to go out.  What makes it all the more frustrating is that the sun keeps making big, bright appearances.  Everything looks so pretty.  But don’t let that fool you.  It is seriously cold out there.

(Birthday gift, without the special effects.)

It is the kind of  day when one should stay indoors and play.  I had to go out, of course, because of the commitment.  I procrastinated for a while, finding other things to occupy my time.

(Night in the living room.)

I played last night, too.  I’m reading a book about exposure and the best way for me to understand what I’m reading is to sit and play with the camera.  I’m a hands-on kind of gal that way.

Bitter, cruel, heartless and cold

Did I mention it is seriously cold outside?  Oh yes, I did.  And it is.  This is Old Man Winter at his worst.  He’s the kind of guy you want to stay away from.  He won’t just break your heart.  He’ll snap off your fingers first.

(Today’s view of the pond.)

I know.  It looks so pretty.  What you can’t see is the wind whipping the snow around, tall dervishes of white powder twirling around in the trees, in the meadows, and across the pond.

(Coming in for a landing.)

I don’t know how the birds stand it out there.  Why doesn’t their blood freeze?  I was layered and bundled and still, the cold was biting my fingers and toes, freezing my nose, and turning my face blue.  Really.  It was blue when I came inside.  I’ve never had that happen before.  That particular shade of blue is not my color, that’s for sure.

(Playing with clouds and blue sky.)

Even the sun was no help.  There was no warmth there at all.  It was merely a light to brighten things up every now and then as it peered through the clouds.

(The cold, blue sky without the special effects.)

One of the reasons I dared to go out into this arctic cold (other than my commitment) is that we have a hike planned for tomorrow.  The temperature will be about the same, but the wind should not be as bad as it is today.

(Fresh, new snow.)

I guess we’ll make a decision about it tomorrow.  Right now I would vote for canceling.  But I may feel differently about it in the morning.  After I thaw out from today’s outdoor adventures.

(Sunbeams and clouds on a frigid day in the Bogs.)

How about you?  Got any plans for the weekend?

(Note:  The photos with special effects were altered and played around with in Picnik.)