Life is not about waiting for the storms to pass.
It's about learning how to dance in the rain. - Vivian Greene
This evergreen tree is on the peripheral of the neighborhood, standing alone, covered in ice this morning.It was warm enough to wear shorts and a light tshirt yesterday and this morning, I got up to rain, which turned into a raging snowstorm. Come on, Mother Nature! Easy doesn it. We aren't used to the harsh treatment. We are meant to be treated with kid gloves. It snowed and snowed and, actually it was quite pleasant from the inside. My neighbor called and said we were having a snow removal party in 30 minutes. We help each other and he has a snowblower, so I am all in! The snow was killer snow, wet and heavy. We have a couple of neighbors that shouldn't be shoveling their own, especially when it is heavy, but, of course, they are the first ones out to help.Isn't that always the way?
We hadn't even finished shedding the fall leaves, although to be fair, it is January. I'm not quiet sure what to do with that. The snow will surely break the branches; which will only be fretted about come spring when it will be more evident. Divide and conquor, we worked together, much like we always do, with the brand new neighbor in tow. They loved the idea and it doesn't seem so bad when there is a group effort. Where many hands make the load lighter. For sure, we can all do our own, but, everything being shut down gives us an excuse to see each other and have a little social time.The kids were in charge of hot chocolate and cookies. Chocolate chip, with nuts.
Is there something that you and your neighbros do together? Would you like to? We have a person every week who volunteers to be the collection center for the local food kitchen. We actually just collect food from our neighborhood and one person has that box every week, so you go to their house. People that may need temporary help making ends meet. Next week is my turn. It was my project and everyone got involved. I did it to meet the neighbors that didn't live near me, but, were in our community. I met some awesome people that way.
I have come across people that speak without worrying how it sounds or how it makes people feel. If their heart is as cold as stone, wrap them up in the warmth of your love.Oh, baby, it's cold outside.
Oh, the beauty there is, in the air outside. The start of the wind driven snow has only just begun. Sometimes being beautiful can be hazardous. Be careful out there. The snow is heavy and wet. Take care if you are shoveling the snow.
Baby, it's cold outside!
Where, besides gardening, do you find such rich colors? That is why I love flowers so. They color my world with joy. #awaysaflower And just like that, this post is done. Come back tomorrow and we'll do it again! Haave a great night.
All I have are my words, armed in my mind, written in pen, stand by stand. Oh, yes. Still by hand. It has a different feel. Altered not by keys, backspace, and delete, I write, erase, tear it to pieces and start all over again. And again.
It’s my way. I walk out to the deep end of the page and dive right in.
The Road Not Taken
Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;
Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,
And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.
I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I -
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.
Robert Frost
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Oh yeah it is cold outside. Let me say welcome...to my world of an endless loop if snow followed by shoveling over and over again. BUT, it is pretty LOL! Makes for some great shots, once you can feel your fingers again!
You cannot ruin my joy. It is firmly planted. :)
It was pretty, but unfortunately after one day it's gone. From my yard anyway. Even though it's not warm out by my standards oh, it doesn't take much to melt it when the earth is so warm. Don't be disappointed because I think we should be getting some more tonight. Bazinga!
The sharp perhaps changes in weather seem crazier than they ever were don’t they
When I lived in Jersey city and Milford we had a good community that worked together after snow storms not so much here but have a couple of neighbors that we help each other out at times
That idea of a group collection to donate food is awesome
The snow missed us pretty much all day yesterday the apps said snow in thirty minutes but it never came here I looked at the radar it it was just missing us all day which I don’t mind at all
Because there are only 300 houses in this community, we all know each other and it is a private community where we don't have thru traffic, so it makes it easier to get to know each other, perhaps?
The food collection is awesome, I think. On the community board, it names the person (or address) of who is doing the collection that week. We actually do it every other week. The collector brings it and delivers it to the community kitchen. (community as in the town food bank) I think every town can probably use one, no matter how well off you think your town is.
It is cool how the neighborhoods come together. Even taking the lights down is a group effort and it makes the job not so miserable. LOL Not that it would ever be! :)
I think your snow will come on Friday maybe?
Yes they are snow for friday but just a dusting
We have been lucky so far I wouldn’t mind one nice snowfall to get some winter shots
It’s great there is such a community feel there I think it happens more in smaller places
What a great idea to get together with neighbours and help the needy.
It works out really well! Most of my neighborhood is very community-minded, so it makes it easier to approach people and gather people to help. We even got a collection of unwrapped Christmas gifts to donate to a local chapter for disbersement.
I love my neighborhood!
Lucky! We were supposed to get a big snow storm but by the time it came through it only dumped about two inches on us and it was the really light powder stuff that just blows away. I was pretty disappointed. I had to run over to my parents and shovel their driveway while my wife did ours. It wasn't even enough snow to bother starting the snow blower. It is good that you have people who can help with that. So many people have major cardiac events from shoveling snow. It is scary.
That is true. They do. We have four here at home, so shoveling is no big deal. I am pretty fit and thankfully don't get that much snow, but, our neighbor loves snow blowing and does a bunch of houses here, while the rest of us do porches, vehicles, and the hot chocolate/snack brigade. When it snows in the Washington, DC area, they close it down and as everyone is a government worker, everyone is off. :) Indeed, the wet, heavy stuff is always a cardiac threat that many people don't take seriously. You don't have to be 50 - it easily strikes younger people.
It's a win!
Beautiful photos. It’s such a great idea to volunteer all together with your neighbors to help those who are in need. I’m sure people appreciate your help.
I am sure they do. Most people around here are not used to needing help, so when/if it happens under not-so-normal circumstances. they usually are, because they don't have to go through a huge amount of paperwork just to tide them over for a temporary setback.
Thanks for stopping by and leaving your words.
The sharpness and neatness of those ice caught my attention. In the first photo, they look like they are about to slowly drop like rain drops.
Well, thank you for such a thoughtful comment. I hope you are having an amazing night!
A snow removal party is a good idea,especially when one member has a snowblower. Win!
It is pretty cool as he is not stingy with it and gladly blows everyone's snow. I passed out cookies and banana bread to anyone who helped (family) after it was getting close to the end.
It never seems like work when there is a party going on! :)
Hello Denise. How are you today? Looks like perfect idea for a neighborhood effort. Best way to connect with the community. Last neighborhood effort we had here was like 20 years ago when very strong typhoon hit us and a lot of trees has fallen. It was community effort to get it all cleared out. Snow would be nice and I wouldn't want to wish for a typhoon again as strong as that.
I lived in Florida (a job transfer) for a couple of years and some of the hurricanes were hair raising. In actuality, it was the tropical storms (the lower category for a hurricane) that made the most damage as the winds moved much slower and could stay there for a long time, so the area sustained more downed trees and building/room damage. Hurricane Michael took away my house right on the water in Mexico Beach, Florida on October 18 in 2018. I wasn't living in it at the time, but, it shook me up.
Anyway, it is nice to see communities getting together and working together and I hate to think that the only time they do that is during disasters!
Hi, @mhel !! :)) I hope you are doing awesome! Catch me up!!
That is frightening. I'm glad you were safe. The are a few typhoons headed our way this year but we are used to it. Sad to say but in our community people only work together during disasters and Christmas party lol.
They are used to hurricanes down there and I am used to them, only the deadly ones that wreak havoc are a bit scary. I have slept in the bathtub with three kids waiting out a hurricane. The things we have done with these outrageous storms.
Stay safe and maybe the neighborhood needs someone like you to spearhead working together. :)
Hello Denise. It's always wonderful to read and feel your uplifted spirit and see the beauty in your photographs. Such a beautiful frost covered angel: And snow covered branches: And such magical icicles.
On new years day, I heard the whispering to come back to Hive and start writing again. I'm still finding my way: And have a lot of catching up to do but it feels really great to be here once again. ♥︎♥︎⚖️♥︎♥︎
ALLY!!!!! @allyinspirit I have wondered where you went to!!! So many have gone the way of the wind, although, surprisingly, many are still here. I look forward to your posts and stories!
Welcome back and if you need any help with anything, let me know! ❤️
I'm finding that many people I loved connecting with at Steemit are still here Denise. Sadly some aren't, but maybe like me, life is taking them into all sorts of new territory. I've been looking at some of the new communities and it just feels so wonderful being here again.
I lost my WP website/blog some time ago and the prospect of re-building it ~ Well that's all been in the too hard basket ~ Until now when I feel I need to be writing and sharing my art/life again.
I've been able to find the WP plugin to connect my WP blog to Hive so that's a great start but I'll certainly know where to come if I do need any help with anything else. Thanks so kindly for the offer.
I still have so many unedited photographs of our organic farmers market that I'd love to share with you on Market Friday: Especially now that so much has changed since our 'lockdown.' I did manage to take a series of photographs of 'The Rocks' ~ One of Sydney's most popular tourist areas , during the lockdown: Very eery without any people. ♥︎♥︎⚖️♥︎♥︎
Honestly, I have been being very creative on MarketFridays, many are cultural sharings and such. It has become a cultural affair also. :) Actually, when we forked over I started doing that.
I am happy to see you back!
I love that Market Friday shows more than just a market but a way of life too Denise. We have so many interesting markets here that I'd love to share. Some of the best are further north of Sydney: Northern NSW and up the Queensland coast. With all the tropical fruit and carefree people. Wish I'd had my camera when I was there several years ago.
I became a bit lost in the forking over ~ But it's great to be finding my way back now. ♥︎♥︎⚖️♥︎♥︎
I went to an Aquarium for my market today. :)
Thanks @wesphilbin
This was quite a beautiful post. I especially love the quote
I think that is so true and although have heard of this saying before I think sometimes it takes hearing or seeing things as it may not be received in the same manner. What people would find freezing or cold, creates little miracles in the world around us. Like being able to breath out what looks like smoke or the little beauty in nature around. Great post. Happy New Years!
Perhaps. I cannot even remember where I heard that first, but, I truly believe it. That was a great example and I love breathing the smoke! :)
Happy New Year to you also!
Snow accumulation in this way is really remarkable. This scene is really amazing to see, especially on the leaves and the small statues that are snow accumulating. You have done a lot of beautiful photography.
Our trees didn't even finish shedding their leaves! The first snow is always the best.
Growing up in Michigan I am a lover of snow. Living on the East Coast the past 25 years has actually been a bit of a let down in that department. This year it's looking even more like just rain. So thank you for the beautiful images of it! ;)
I am from Connecticut and my family is up there. They have had a few harsh years of winter with snow.
Usually Michigan is rainy or grey! Maybe I am wrong. I am sorry! Time for a scenery change! :)
These are really beautiful views. Snowfall in winter is a very beautiful sight. Especially when the pine trees are covered with snow and the early morning shining snow looks very beautiful.
It really does look beautiful, doesn't it?
Thank you for the repost @pixresteemer! Much appreciated!
Amazing pictures, truly beautiful!
Thanks so much for taking a look at my post.
How could I not with these eye catchers :)
🙂
Nice Post... I enjoyed reading it!
Thank you.
We had snow yesterday. It snowed for about 4 hours. The first three hours it snowed thick and wild and did a semi ground cover, even though the ground was still really warm. The last hour though, the flakes just twirled and danced up and down before hitting the ground, slow and fun, but by the time that hour was done, what had been on the ground had vanished.
It was a lot of fun to watch though. I could see it out my window as I worked and it added a log of happy to my day.
Sounds like a great neighborhood you live, like the old days when neighbors knew and helped each other. You don't see as much of that now.
I have to say that I have been extremely lucky and the only neighborhood that I lived in that was every man for himself was in South Carolina, outside of Columbia. Okay, probably 30 miles outside of Columbia. I know I am lucky. My mom used to tell me that she couldn't believe how lucky I was. I am grateful, every day.
You were lucky yesterday with the show and tell snow. :)
Beautiful message and pics!
Thanks so much!
I too am fascinated by flowers, so the last photo of the yellow flower enchanted me. I liked the way you used narrative to write the everyday of a day in an extraordinary way. Greetings and happy new year ♥.
Happy New Year to you! Thank you!
Interesting one. I love seeing snow pictures. Over here at my end is hot and sunny, we have never experienced snow.
I want to believe everyone is cool at your end?
Yes. Very nice here. Thanks for asking.
You are welcome