Friday, December 31, 2010

Snow Daze

The strength, the purpose, and the flowering of the coming months start here, in the depths of winter, and the icebound month of January~~


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This beautiful prose~ a lovely musing about snow~~ was written by my friend Paula. Her blog Tattered Gold is a stunning backdrop for the heartfelt prose that she so elegantly writes. You must visit Paula and read her enchanting verses. She has the ability to truly transform the spirit of all that she writes about. When you read her prose - you can effectively feel the emotions that she has captured. Her words move me - they make me feel raw emotion - they are deeply stirring~~

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Some winter scenes from around our home~

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My snowy walk - straight up the middle of this highway - (desolute of any traffic) - to visit my friend Mary. The walk was exhilerating - the air was crisp and clean - the world was quietly muffled by the freshly fallen snow~~



~~ with my camera in hand - I took these next few photos during my visit. Don't you find it amazing how a fresh coat of snow makes everything look so soft and delicate?


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More photos from around my house~~


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How about some snowy day cookies? I gave these cookies as gifts over the holidays, so I left them in their individual wrappings.

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You can find this snowy day collection of sugar cookies HERE.


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And these precious little snowmen cookies - tied with a pretty bow and all ready to gift to your friends can be found HERE.


My photographer friend, Elaine Dale recently sent me one of her amazingly beautiful calendars. These calendars feature a sampling of her stunning photography. Elaine does nature photography like no one else - her photos take my breath away~~

Elaine lives in Ontario, Canada. Her view of life as seen through the lens of her camera is simply amazing. You can find Elaine and her gorgeous photography at her blog, A Scattering.

January is a stretch of peace when we simply live in the moment, forced by weather and whim to sit still and do some accounting. The month of January is named for a Roman god who had the ability to look both forward and backward. A perspective on the year that was and a reflection on the year that is to be.
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If the weather is threatening and you can't go out ---
perhaps you can find yourself within~~

Vicki

36 comments:

Petite Michelle Louise said...

just so beautiful and so well-said mon amie! I wish you a year of health, happiness, love and magic! I am blessed to count you as one of my "friends"in this wonderful world of blogging!

Caprice said...

I can't believe you walked to Mary's! in all that snow! I would have been curled up in a blanket!

Kathy said...

Such a joy to have bonded with you this year Vicki...
My life will be the richer for it forever.
Your generosity and caring nature is a fresh gift...to be treasured for a lifetime.
May 2011 be a glass half full always...and overflowing.
Love on the Gardener and renew your spirit at the oceans edge...as much as humanly possible.
Life is the best gift...the valleys make the mountain tops even more spectacular.

This year the Lord shall bless me with the secret to happiness while rising out of grief.
I am waiting with open arms.
I love you my friend and hope to one day spend time with you marvel at the wonders of this life here on earth.
God Bless this New Year,
Hugs, Kathy @
Sweet Up-North Mornings...

Love of the Sea said...

Beautiful photos. Love your red barn. So pretty!!!

Nancy said...

Absolutely stunning Photos Vicki, so serene as if I were taking the walk too! The colors of the Cookies looked more like Ornaments the designs are perfect! I will have to seek out your Baker. I do believe 2011 will be a Dream~Come~True Year, how exciting don't you think? I hope it brings you a wealth of health, and happiness too!!
Happy New Year my Sweet Blogging Friend,
Huggs, Nancy
coeurdalenegifts.blogspot.com

paru's_circle said...

awesome photos..i would like to take thsi opportunity to wish you and yours all the best fro 2011 and its been a pleasure meeting you 'online'..

T's Daily Treasures said...

Happy New Year Vicki! I think these winter scenes that you have just shared with us are calendar worthy. The serenity of white with the pop of the red barn and the red chair is just magnificent. What a lovely walk to visit a friend. I can just feel the fresh crisp air! and those cookies are just the cutest. Love the very last line of your post - find yourself within. Wishing you and yours many blessings, Tammy

Jacoba said...

'Gelukkig Nieuwjaar', Vicky!
I wish you a lot of creativity in the new year and so enjoy reading your blog.
Greetings from a sunshiny Holland, where the snow has now melted.
Jacoba

Dorthe said...

Dear Vicki, you took the most beautifull photoes of your surroundings- the snow makes all things magical- and and you captures it masterly.
The cookies looks so perfectly done, small masterpieces :)
Sweetie, -happy ,happy new year ,again-
Love and big hug to you, from me in little Denmark.
Dorthe

SuZeQ said...

Finishing up 2010 is bittersweet for me. Enough of that ... on to 2011 with full gusto. Beautiful photos (love me that barn!) ... thank you for sharing. Happy New Year to you and yours.

sophie...^5 said...

Absolutely awe-inspiring and the snow is truly beautiful...I love snow..it's so refreshing. Happy New Year to you and yours for 2011! Waiting for more gorgeous pics!

A Scattering said...

Hi Vicki, Happy New Year to you and the Gardner! Thanks for the shoutout, I've had one new visitor already. Hope you have a wonderful day. Elaine

myriamkreativ said...

Happy New Year my dear Vicki,
we had a great turn of the years yesterday and celebrated up to 3 o`clock am - with the kids *gosh*. We had lots of wonderful food and drinks and laughter and so it was just the right saying goodbye to 2010. Hope you had a special time too. I also look very forward to start another year reading about you my dear friend. And I do hope you will join in the "Multicreative moments 2011" which I will introduce tomorrow. Love & Hugs Myriam
PS: My header shows a tin-ornament which my grand-grand-mother gave to each of her grand-grand-children and love it for its simple beauty.

Paula said...

Hello dear Vicki,
What a glorious montage of winter's magic you have captured! Indeed, the snow does tend to quiet Mother Earth to a most gentle hush ... those billowy flakes frost the entire landscape into one dreamy picture ... one's that you have so well apprehended. Even the delicious cookies look as though they have been frozen between layers of ice ...

Thank you, ever so much for thinking my words worthy to accompany such a beautiful post ... I am honored!

May the coming months fill your heart with untold happiness and may each day shine luminously bright! Hugs, P. :))

yaya said...

Your photos are beautiful! Our snow, which was abundant in Dec., has melted and yesterday and today it's around 55de! Crazy Ohio weather...however I know that snow will come back and make the mud look clean and you are so right about it being a month to take stock, so to speak...Happy New Year!

Jody Hammer said...

These pictures are beautiful. They almost make me miss the snow...but then I remember how cold it has to be to snow and I don't miss it so much! LOL. I woke up this morning to the sound of an Osprey in a tree behind our house. What a beautiful creature! I wouldn't trade living in Florida for anything, except maybe living in Australia.... ;-) Please be careful in all that white stuff!!!

gigi knits said...

Beautiful pictures.. Winter snow makes very look so calm & peaceful just as nature planned.

Love my nest!!!

Donna said...

You photos are absolutely gorgeous...just love them! They make you almost love winter...and THAT is saying a LOT for ME!! And your cookies are each a work of art!!! Who wouldn't want to get one of these for a gift?
And now things are quiet and I would love to come take your lovely walk with you!! Happy 2011!!

marcia @Child in Harmony said...

Beautiful photos! LOVE the red!
Happy new year to you!

Low Tide High Style said...

What a beautiful post! I love your photos of the snow and the ones with the icicles are particularly beautiful! Those cookies look too yummy to eat and your friend's calendar looks amazing!

Thank you for your support throughout 2010, and I wish you health and happiness in the New Year!

Kat :)

Elizabeth and Gary said...

Happy New Year Vicki,
Your snow photo's are beautiful! How fun and what a great way to see the beauty of the fresh fallen snow as to take a walk in it.
Your post is so pretty and heartfelt today..I have enjoyed it very much..
Your sweet spirit just shines right through your post.
Much love and hugs, Elizabeth

Lili said...

Vicki, you've captured some really beautiful scenes within that blanket of white! I love how you captured the icicles on that cool weathervane! Your barn is GORGEOUS and that red bench is so pretty. There is something so serene about walking amidst a snow covered world. And I think a snowman cookie would make the perfect reward for a long walk! xoxo ~Lili

Pat said...

Vicki, I see by these photos that the little 'piece of paradise' you and the gardner inhabit is even more beautiful under a blanket of snow. Such lovely photos to begin a New Year....enjoy in good health...pat

Jo said...

I would love, so much, to see snow like that. It would be so wonderful. Instead I have the cooler on and wearing summer clothes as it is hot. There is something about winter snow that turns photos into a fairy land.

Happy new year dear bloggy friend.

Blessings

mairedodd said...

the quietude of a snowfall feels like a huge exhale... everything so still... giving rise to introspection just as you noted... your pictures are beautiful... and I must look into those cookies... just read your holiday post as well - you have a beautiful family... happy new year!

myriamkreativ said...

Hi Vicki,
.... yes, we had a fabolous start with 2011. The party was great. Did you read about "Multicreative moments 2011"? Im counting on you! You have first of all definitely to participate - because I simply love your creative moments... and please to tell me if the translator is explicating it right. Because sometimes it is translating the funniest things... Hugs&love Myriam

Carole said...

Oh Vicki your yard and the way you've photographed it makes me wish we still had some snow here. The warm weather has taken it all away. I enjoyed visiting your friends. They both are so talented. How I wish I could write! but somethings are best left to others that are blessed.

Thanks for stopping by yesterday....I so enjoyed reading your comment. It was a silly post but I hope it got everyone laughing a little. I love that you "get" me!
I wish you much love and happiness in 2011!

xo,
Carole

Karen Taylor said...

"Beautiful BLOG! I love your adventures!! I did not get a white Christmas but you photos were amazing!!
I am now following your blog. (I hope you will visit my blog too and follow if you like what you see. :)"
www.creativeyearnings.blogspot.com

Completely Coastal said...

These pictures are all wonderful!!!! Snow is so peaceful too.

Happy, happy New Year, Vicki!!!!

The Painted Garden said...

Hi Vicki,

Thank you for the beautiful winter tour - your photographs are always magical.

Wishing you and your family a Happy, Healthy and Blessed New Year.
Erin

Bumpkin Bears said...

Happy New Year to you and your family :) LOVE these photos, especially the icicles on the fir tree, pure magic! That red barn is so charming too! Hugs, Catherine x

Zuzu said...

A beautiful winter wonderland! Enjoy, and Happy New Year to you and yours, Vicki!

made-and-found said...

Oh what a beautiful post.I could hear the silence and I'm trying not to be envious!!!!Such gorgeous pictures.Thanks for brighteneing a dull and dreary day in Northern England.Anne x

Conny's Cottage said...

Hello Vikki,

wonderful photos you make.And the switis like so jamie.


greatings send you Conny

elvira pajarola said...

Ciao cara Vicky......all my VERY BEST WISHES for a
WONDERFUL NEW YEAR!!!!!!!

...oh, all the snow....MAGIC WINTERLAND....I can really feel the silence and peace....GORGEOUS...SPECTACULAR WINTER WORLD......!!!!!

Un abbraccione elvira

Beedeebabee said...

Happy New Year Vicki! Oh, this is such a pretty post! I just love the snow, and your neck of the woods looks so magical in it's white winter coat! I love the umbrella girl with her dripping icicles!...Your blog is always so beautiful! Wishing you many happy blessings, and oodles of giggles in 2011! xo Paulette :D