photography – Page 3 – New England's Narrow Road

Pink Peonies and Other Flowers From Long Ago

Pink peonies make me happy. Even if I can only view this picture and it seems like I will never see a flower again. It seems long ago that the yard was blooming and the grass was green, and this ugly time of year always makes me feel this way. Today is gloomy and raining. The cat is bored and goes in and out every five minutes, so he is now locked in the basement. When I look outside (I try not to), I see dirty snow that is covered with old sunflower seed hulls and a messy deck that is worse for the winter wear. I see gray skies and bare, wet trees and of course the mud.
I’ve been trying to get some work done today, but the cat caught a bird this morning and that put me in a bad mood and this gloom hasn’t helped.
So I thought it was time to view some happy flowers. Do you need some sunny thoughts of summer? (Forget Spring) Then I hope my flower photos give you a smile.

Walking By The Lake in “Spring”

I’ve begun walking each afternoon just before the bus comes. It is officially Spring, but you wouldn’t know it by the cold 30 and 40 degree temps we’ve been having. Since I have to drive the 1/4 mile to the bus stop each day anyway, I decided I’d go early and walk for about an hour or so around the lake. Our road is too muddy for easy walking, and the road around the lake is paved.

Working online keeps me sitting for too long each day, and even though I try to get up and do something each hour or so, all I end up doing is checking on the fire, laundry, or washing dishes. Not exactly good cardio moves.

The weather has been quite cold for this time of year and we have been getting snow showers off and on over the past couple of days. It’s always windy at the lake so I’ve been dressing warmly with a hat especially, and other than my face feeling numb by the end of my walk, it’s pretty pleasant. I enjoy walking this time of year because the houses are mostly empty. Only about 2 or 3 of the 20 or so houses around this side of the lake are occupied year round so it’s quiet and peaceful. And on the colder days almost no one goes out walking. On nice days, people from town drive up and park to walk their dogs

The lake is covered in ice and snow, but the bob houses have been removed and in certain areas along the road that get lots of sun, I can see the ground! Yesterday I saw an otter (?) cross over the bridge as I was getting out of my car and then I caught sight of my favorite type of duck – a Hooded Merganzer (like the one in the picture) – as I was heading back. There are a few areas of melted ice for them to swim and he was near the bridge where the water is moving.

I’ve only walked a couple of days but already feel better. Maybe it is only in my head, but the fresh air is refreshing and I figure that as long as I can walk, I will. Soon the lucky people who actually own two homes, will be coming back to enjoy their summer by the lake and traffic will pick up and it won’t be a nice peaceful walk any longer. I am grateful for the beautiful place where I live and the time I can spend enjoying it.

Between Fall And Winter

log home black and white — The Gray Season

In some areas I suppose it may still look like Fall and technically it is, but this is really the gray season if you ask me. The leaves have been blown off the trees and raked up out of the yards and their gray branches mingle with the hemlocks and pines on the hills. I think it’s pretty cool to be able to see so much now with the trees bare. All the houses that have been in seclusion all summer are now easy to see up on the hills and back in the woods. It’s easier to go for walks in the woods (wearing bright orange of course, because it’s also hunting season) because the weeds and tall grass has died.

We had another beautiful Fall here in New Hampshire and I truly enjoyed it and now we have our wood stacked and the chimneys are clean and ready to go. This weekend some cold weather is hanging around and I’m thinking of starting up the wood stove for the first time this season. I have one cord of firewood, which isn’t a lot, and I had some left over from last year, but it should help to supplement my oil burning and help with the cost.
I am waiting for the snow. In my opinion, if it’s going to be cold, then I want some pretty snow to look at. I don’t have to go out and drive in it as much as someone who goes off to work each day, but I do have to take my son down the road to the bus stop each morning and I don’t have a garage so that means shoveling, brushing off the car and melting the ice off the windshield. I still like the snow. Bring it on..!!

Orange Mushrooms A Few Days Later

I posted a picture of these mushrooms in my previous post and they were just little, orange buttons. Now, a few days later they have “mushroomed” into flat heads as you can see in this photo.

I don’t know why, all of a sudden, I am so interested in mushrooms, but I find myself on the lookout for them at this time of year especially when I am walking in the woods.

Maybe it’s because I am surrounded by places where they are easily found, but I just never paid much attention.

I have no idea what type of mushroom this is. If I had to guess from the pictures and description in my book, I’d guess they are the Jack O’Lantern because they are orange and grow from many stems joined at the base. If that is what they are, then they are poisonous.

In fact most of the mushrooms I ever find turn out to be poisonous. I hope I don’t have to live off the land around here, because there is little to eat!