RAINBOWS

We've been having a warmer than normal winter so  far.

This week is frigid.

Yesterday, Sunday January 10, 2016, it was warm - upper 40's to low 50's. YAY!!!

It was raining at times, and drizzling at times.

The sun started peeking out around 11am, with a drizzle. then...

RAINBOW!!!

As we traveled from Plains by the river, past Wilkes-Barre, 

there were some dramatic clouds in the clearing sky. 

 Early afternoon, here's the SECOND STUNNING RAINBOW!

Looking through the barren winter branches in the back yard.

Weather drama

After missing most of the snow and stormy weather this winter season, we're getting some snow now that is actually sticking to the ground, here in NE PA, USA.

BEAUTIFUL!

Stay safe out there! The photo is a different day,, still as exhilarating as any beautiful wonder of nature!

Sunshine is delicious, 

rain is refreshing, 

wind braces us up, 

snow is exhilarating; 

there is really no such thing as bad weather, 

only different kinds of good weather.

John Ruskin

RAINBOWS!

A few days ago we had warmer than normal temps, with rain.

just before a cold front moved in.

I saw TWO BEAUTIFUL RAINBOWS, one late morning:

 Then we got back on the road. Dramatic clearing clouds in the sky while passing Wilkes-Barre.

 Early afternoon, here's ANOTHER rainbow!

Views from our backyard. 

The entire arch touches down in front of the mountains on the west side of the Susquehanna River.

the sky tonight!

It was a tremendously humid day.

We've had record-breaking temperatures here in the NE of PA.

then.... AHHHHHH!

A beautiful sunset, with everchanging patterns and color combinations,
ending with purple accents on bluish-turning grey clouds.

Then the moon, almost full,
peeks out from behind the clouds.
hanging low in the sky.

  

good night moon!

GOOD NIGHT ALL! Sleep well.

JOY - LIFT THE CLOUDS

Before you think it, or say it, Stop.

Open up to the peace inside you.

Help lift the clouds, ease the darkness.

Many people I know are facing difficulties lately.

seems like more than before.

dark clouds.

And many others seem to react more often with anger or fear.

more dark clouds.

I've been able to learn to pause,

block out all the noise, 

feel some peace and quiet.

happiness ~ JOY ~ sunshine

I said a prayer that each of us can can feel that same joy.

bright skies.

And share it with those we love, and with those we don't.

more bright skies.

This photo is a recent sunset. the clouds were beautiful... 

how they were lightening & brightening after a dark rainstorm,

letting the sun shine through before it lowered down behind my mountain.

Inspiring.

BERRY TIME!!

The camera draws me in closer... closer... 

from the branches, 

to a berry, up close and personal. 

(the last is a macro photo - very close)

I don't know - What kind of berry is this?

early autumn canopy

amazing - the enjoyment from standing under a tree along the street - 

experiencing the early Autumn colors on a crisp morning...
then getting out ofthe way of a passing car.

and love the smell of the leaves 

as the morning dew 

is evaporating in the sunshine.

This is how much the leaves have changed down in "The Valley", along the river.

sunset last night

A lovely #sunset last night.

8-15pm, shortly before a thunderstorm, bringing in a coldfront.

Very humid. 

There are thunderstorm warnings for all surrounding counties.

LOVE those rays.

the sun is disappearing.

This is a few minutes later. 

winter snow

 ** Beautiful snow (even if we've had TOO MUCH of it this year) **

3rd photo below is the mountain range view,

but from the other end of town, at a higher elevation.

Here's the mountain range. 

The arrow below, indicates that dip in the range we've seen often in my mountain photos. It's where the Cross Valley Expressway (Rte 309) cuts through, connecting the "Back Mountain" (Dallas, Trucksville, etc.) with Kingston (parts seen below) on the far side of the Susquehanna River. Can't see the river here.

You  see  a bit of the corner of the city of Wilkes-Barre, close to us.

(((I posted a map in an earlier post)))

A couple of winter snow shots.

PRETTY nice if I say so myself.

This is on the turnpike. I-476 

A typical scene, where the highways (and many other roads) cut through the rocky mountains,

creating interesting patterns, and lovely contrast when there's snow.

I'm putting together a portfolio project of fog lifting one cold day in January 2014.

There's one view at Market St. Bridge looking  towards Wilkes-Barre that I'm not settled on yet.

WHICH DO YOU LIKE BETTER?

here's the link:

Choose which photo is better.   

Here's part of another photo that may be in that photo-documentary of that surprisingly beautiful day.

Ducks at Market St Bridge

Mid January - a frigid cold snap

I was photographing the fog lifting, looking toward Wilkes-Barre

from Nesbitt Park on the Kingston side of the Susquehanna river.

They happened to fly overhead

(the birds, not the words ;-)

I'm putting together a collection of photos from that morning:

"Fog Lifting"

They will be posted one of these days at

www.behance.net/christina-v

and a few will be chosed for: http://christina-verdgeline.artistwebsites.com/ 

FRIGID FLOW

We've had some frigid weather, 

and some ice in the river as a result.

AWESOME!

December sky & Christmas tree

below, the Christmas tree on Public Square in Wilkes-Barre looks like 

it's been celebrating already - a "tipsy tree"

MERRY CHRISTMAS! 

Winter in NEPA

Late November is when we started to get seasonal snow. Here are a few shots, all 3 a little North of the My Mountain location in Wilkes-Barre area.

First, here's a view I shared in an earlier post. Same viewpoint, different time of year.

Still beautiful. Here, its quiet calm serene, with a light snow, late November.

 Energetic cheery red berries - kind of an abstract of color.

This is a tree that my father planted many many years ago.

We call it "The Dedo Tree"

(Dedo is 1 way of saying grandfather in Croatian.)

The cool visual cacophony of this composition would have been his style :o) 

Fall bounty - chestnuts

Some Autumn bounty from our area.

A colorful rustic birdhouse with an apple and a pear, from 2 trees nearby.

A version of this photo is available at:

http://christina-verdgeline.artistwebsites.com/art/all/natural+with+man-made/all

This is what CHESTNUTS look like, freshly picked after they fell to the ground in their protective cupule.

Beware! 

Those outer burrs are so spiney & prickly.

interesting note: Chestnuts are a typical delight in Croatia, where they are sold , roasted, by street vendors. There's also a delicious whipped-cream dessert I wish was available here in the States.

(Yes, there is a pear hiding in this basket.)

Orange sunset

Here's a recent very colorful sunset. Deep orange and some purplish hues in the clouds.

BEAUTIFUL!! DRAMATIC!! SPECTACULAR!!

... (you get the idea) 

I wish photographs could capture the atmosphere better sometimes. This one comes close.)

And when I walked closer, standing under the trees I saw this beautiful sky:

This time of year, the sun sets further South along the mountain ridges, 

off to the left of the original sunsets I posted. 

These 2 photos were taken from a different vantage point, in Wilkes-Barre, not all the way down in the Wyoming Valley near the Susquehanna river as usual, but from a little higher altitude.