Short Break from Spring

"Old JD Hay Rake"

photograph - © Bruce A. Morrison

(click on image for a larger view) 

We woke up yesterday morning to winter again.  April can have surprises; I remember a few from some years back, and last year it even snowed in May!  We got around a half a foot yesterday though, and it is most welcome here!  (We've been so dry since last summer.)

As soon as I got the lane up to the house and studio cleared, I went out and shot a few photos .  I don't like photographing snow under overcast skies, because of the visual "flatness" of the snow...its just too dull.  But I picked a more graphic subject and went from there.

I picked on the old John Deere Hay Rake that sits on the upper slope of our south pasture, near the old sheep barn.  The image above is somewhat understated, but its growing on me.  

Wonder if this will be my last winter photograph until the 2014-15 season?  I kind of hope so - let the short break from spring end and get onto some real springtime weather! 

Don't think I'm alone on that note!

New Color Out There...

American Robins were having a feeding

frenzy around the studio and yard this morning!

(Click on image for a larger view)

What a busy last couple days here!  Our fist good rain sine June of last year!  We got 2.5" on Tuesday through yesterday, then 4 inches of snow this morning...we were lucky here as we didn't get very much ice.  Those further north and west are really cleaning out of a mess, lots of trees and limbs and power lines down.  We did get covered with pea size hail on Tuesday afternoon, but it melts down to usable moisture just the same!

Even the House Finches are gettin' drop dead gorgeous!

(Click on image for a larger view)

I haven't gotten much done this day except take bird pictures!  Leave it to a snow storm in the spring to bring the hoards in to the feeders!  It is fun to watch and the snow will be gone in a couple days...its spring as usual around here!

Enjoy, it'll soon be hot and humid in the shade!