Good morning!
There’s a lot of snow on the ground. Last night, when I shoveled a path for Scout around 9:30 pm, the ruler told me we had 7 inches on the ground. We easily had 3 or 4 more inches overnight, so 10…11 inches?
We have a lot of shoveling on the agenda today.
I trotted out to the porch in the early evening to take this picture. I love the not-quite-dark-deep-blue of the light. Gosh, that’s a pretty contrast to the snow. You can see how I do our lights – simple and effective – one of the perks of having a porch like this. It takes me all of 5 minutes to set up.
Snow falling.
We shoveled a couple of times during the day, but you wouldn’t know it this morning. The first real snowfall of the year is always beautiful and magical, especially when it seems to guarantee a White Christmas (which was airing on television last night but Don didn’t want to watch it. Boo.) As I’ve said many times before on this blog, I love snow through Christmas and into the first week of January. After that, I find I’m not nearly so enamored of it.
I spent a couple of hours playing with the Christmas lights and with bokeh. Bokeh: the visual quality of the out-of-focus areas of a photographic image, especially as rendered by a specific lens (from my laptop’s dictionary.) This is one of my favorite things about my Nifty Fifty lens and is one of the first things I learned about when I got the camera right around this time last year. Oh my goodness, I love bokeh. I’m going to share one with you each day this week because they are so Christmasy. First up:
Eeek! Isn’t this pretty? It took some body contortion on my part to come up with it, but it was worth it.
I’m feeling a bit better. Still sinusy, still congested, and the hardest thing about it all is that I feel rather exhausted. But each day, I improve a little. Thank goodness for online Christmas shopping. I don’t have the energy to deal with stores and shoppers and crowds. Even if I was feeling tip-top, I wouldn’t want to deal with all of that. No malls. No big box stores. Local, if at all possible, and online.
Time to start thinking about digging out and shoveling our long, uphill driveway…
Happy Sunday.
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Lovely Bokeh Claudia…I’m enamored with those trees…still searching for a tiny truck to carry one of mine in a mason jar.
We have lots of snow, but hey, I think you win, congrats on having more. LOL. I’m with you on it being lovely until just after Christmas.
Jen
Oh, a tiny truck would be so cute, Jen. Now you’ve got me thinking about one! xoxo
The contrast of the deep blue with the white of the snow is so beautiful. Glad you’re feeling better. We had a Christmas concert at church this morning that would have put Scrooge into a Christmas spirit. Enjoy the snow and be careful when you’re out there shoveling. Have a great day Claudia!
Isn’t that a striking contrast, Janie? Sounds like your concert was lovely!
You got quite a lot of snow…now remember…take it easy, don’t overdo, drink plenty of water…and throw a snowball at Don! ;)
Yes we did! Hot Chocolate will be my reward for shoveling.
Beautiful Bokeh. Amen to on-line shopping. So easy, and I do love those smiling Amazon boxes on the porch as they arrive!! Looks as if the forecast was right on for you. Hope that you can enjoy the *loveliness* of the first real snowfall of the season. Will you reward yourself after all the shoveling w/ some hot chocolate or some tea? Does Scout like to join you when you shovel, or does she keep tabs on you from the inside? Hope you have a good day!
Hot Chocolate for sure, Chris! Scout loves the snow, she loves to frolic in it. She did a lot of that yesterday and is tired today, so we’ll keep her inside.
We were supposed to get 8 inches..got a couple..and then it rained so there’s a little crust on top of it..Made walking Mollie a little difficult this morning..I broke the crust…she did once in awhile..There are places that we can still see the grass peeking through..Feel better Claudia..
Feeling a bit better every day, Missy. But this sure hangs on for a long time.
It sure is beautiful out. Makes it feel more like Christmas, unlike here where it is way too warm.
Hugs,
Meredith
We’re definitely going to have a White Christmas, sister.
I didn’t know what bokeh was, so glad you explained it. Love learning new words. Spell checker tells me it doesn’t exist and my dictionary doesn’t have it. Must be from another language. I love your snow and lights. Snow is not my favorite. I like it up in the mountains where it belongs and people love to ski on it. But when it does snow I make sure I look out my windows at all its beauty and watch all the kids having such a good time.
Tana
Bokeh comes from the Japanese language, Tana. It’s absolutely beautiful outside today – sun on the snow is gorgeous.
I did some shoveling this morning and was happy to find it was the lovely light, fluffy kind of snow. There are beautiful, big flakes falling in that gentle, slow manner. It goes well with a pot of bean soup on the stove. Enjoy your Sunday and I hope you feel better as the day progresses.
Just in from shoveling – took us at least an hour and a half! But we’re done, thank goodness.
I love it when that blueness of evening appears..the bokeh in that picture is lovely..We ended up with 8″ of snow..and we are still in frigid temperatures..you two be careful out there while shoveling and enjoy your hot chocolate..I think I will go make a cup for myself..Warm hugs to all of you..
I’d say 8 or 9 inches after having gone outside to shovel. Not too heavy, thank goodness. A shower, then some hot chocolate.
your image captures the enchantment of a white Christmas! Love the blue and great bokeh.Continuing wishes that your recovery proceeds well and peace of mind along with it.Especially at this time of year.
Thank you, Grace. Shoveling has been completed for the day and I can relax and rest.
Hi Claudia,
Do you miss the weather in San Diego or do you prefer the snow? It’s sunny here today!:)
Sheree
I miss the weather in San Diego in late January and February, but only then. I much prefer the seasons. I was born in the Midwest, after all!
We have that white stuff coming down like crazy too. Hubby just used the bobcat and plowed us out. I can’t imagine shoveling, that’s a lot of work girl when you’re not up to snuff. Love you Christmas photo.
Took us over an hour and a half with constant shoveling. But it’s done! Now I can treat myself to hot chocolate.
OH I love the beautiful snowy view from your porch…winter lighting is wonderful!
Your porch photo is so pretty! The blue and white and the lights! The Bokeh photo is so sweet….just makes me smile!
You taught me something today, Claudia. Again. I’ve always been drawn to the effect of out-of-focus images – especially lights – but I never knew there was a word for it before. Bokeh. Hmmm – wonder how that’s pronounced? PS – isn’t online shopping the best? One of the best things about the Internet in my view. No driving, no parking, no tramping around crowded stores lugging a heavy coat, no standing in lines. And I love being able to read product reviews [which have saved me from many an unwise purchase]. Last week I finished all my shopping in about 4 hours online. Never could have done it that quickly in a brick-and-mortar. Hope you feel all better soon!
This is gorgeous… Both the snow shots and the light effects.
xo
Love the pictures, so peaceful, glad to hear you are starting to feel better!
The photos are just beautiful!!
I have a lot of sinus problems and what works for me is using a neti-pot, and taking generic Mucinex on the really bad days. Use distilled water with the neti-pot. My doctor advised me to try these for my sinus misery, and it really helps! Keeps me from developing an infection and thus needing an antibiotic. Drinking a lot of fluids is helpful too.
Hope you feel much better soon.