Canoeing the Green River!

This couple went floating by just as I entered a small park along the Green River in southcentral Indiana. I think you probably can guess why it's called the Green River. The weather is balmy here for a change. Hope you are having a great weekend. ENJOY!

AND LEAST IT GO UNSAID: For those who are passed away and those missing and for those who are in the process of being rescued, attempting to recover or rebuild in the wake of Japan's natural disasters and the natural disaster that struck our own United States, I pray for you today, I will pray for you tomorrow, and I'll pray for you each and every day thereafter.

Grazing, Calumet Farms

About a month ago I trekked to the Bluegrass Region as you will recall from past posts to photograph the horse farms. It had just snowed several inches and I wanted to take a few picks. Here's two photos I took of the thoroughbreds grazing. In the one photo you'll notice a white barn trimmed in red in the background. That barn is one of many, many barns of Calumet Farms. Calumet Farms is probably "the" the most famous farm in the Bluegrass. It's situated right next to Manchester Farms and the Keeneland Racetrack. I never tire of watching the horses grazing in the fields. They're so beautiful. Forgive me for the not so great photos. Enjoy!

Frozen Pond, Kentucky

Yesterday I posted an image of a frozen pond I took while out on Saturday afternoon. But the photo really didn't reflect what I saw while I stood taking the photograph. With the help of Lighroom I pulled the blue cast out as much as Lightroom would allow and what was revealed was a photo much like the scene I saw as I stood looking out over the frozen pond. Happy Valentine's Day! Enjoy!

Winter Scenes, LaGrange, Kentucky

Today was the perfect day to make a trek to LaGrange. LaGrange, is a quaint, little town just northeast of Louisville. It is known for it's small town atmosphere and quaint shops. There are a several places I frequent throughout the year, especially in the fall and during the holiday season. With a great deal of snow still covering the ground and the beautiful country setting, I felt a few photos were in order. Since I have an infinity for barns and trees, I couldn't resist the temptation to shoot a few photos. The pond which is situated behind a furniture store, called the Cherry House, appeared to be frozen solid. The barn sits right beside the store. The temperature only reached about 30 degrees today. More snow is expected in northern Kentucky and southern Indiana late Sunday and early Monday morning. Arghhhhh. Enjoy!

Birds' Snow Day

This little guy graced my patio today perhaps seeking refuge. Just outside my patio door this morning sits a fresh "new" layer of snow right at five inches and it's still coming down. I opened the blinds this morning to discover a snowburst. Big huge flakes coming down, fast and hard. Wow! You have to realize in Louisville, south of the Ohio River, we seldom get a lot of snow. Perhaps we'll get one to two snowfalls a year and those might be one to four inches. However, right across the Ohio River in southern Indiana, they will receive 3-4 sometimes more snowfalls and usually twice as many inches. Something about the river valley I guess normally shields Louisville. So getting all of this snow in January and February this year is a little unusual.

Steve at http://shootingmyuniverse.blogspot.com told me a few weeks ago that winter was just settling in. Steve, I believe you now! Normally in February you'll start to see sprouts of spring in the later weeks. Perhaps not this year.

On another note, I wasn't feeling the love for the new header I posted so I'm experimenting. Hang in there until I find my creative happiness. Enjoy!

Leftovers, Bernheim

During my walk a few weeks ago I discovered various leftovers from Fall hanging around. The leaves from the trees are so beautiful in the summer in their green splendor and even more glorious in Fall in their shades of red, rust, orange, yellow and browns. I felt it appropriate to show you a few of the leftovers least we forget the beauty they brought into our lives for a short time. Enjoy!

Brown County, Indiana

Here in Kentucky we are the proud recipients of several more inches of beautiful white snow. However, I'm posting a collage I put together of images from Nashville, Indiana, a quaint little arts and crafts village located in central Indiana, which I posted about back in the summer of 2009. Why am I posting this summertime image having just received another significant snowfall, you might ask me? Because while I love snow, and I do, don't get me wrong, I think I've about had my "fill" of winter. Please let spring sprout soon, I plead to the weather Gods. Enjoy!

Fir Tree, Bernheim Arboretum

Just a pic I took while at Bernheim recently. I love fir trees and just about any tree with unusual bark. I have no idea why. They just intrigue me. It's supposed to snow here tonight but I haven't seen a flake yet. On the radar it appears its all around me which means shortly I should see a snowflake. I do know Kentucky is getting pounded farther south as is a great deal of many other Southern states. Perhaps I'll have photos of the snow later this weekend. For those of you who don't like snow or get far too much of it, sorry but I love snow. Enjoy!

A Gaggle, Bernheim

Bottoms up!

The squawker!

Brrr!

A gaggle of Canadian Geese were having a high old time at the lake at Bernheim last weekend while I was visiting there. Enjoy!

Silos, Bernheim

These two silos sitting next to the small stage and nature area in Bernheim are so cool looking so I decided to post a photo for you to see. Obviously, they are left over from Bernheims farming days. I tried to find some historical reference about them online but came up blank. Enjoy!

Nature's Postcard

While on my trek this weekend at Bernheim Forest, I photographed many of the patterns I found in the branches and leaves, and well, everywhere I looked and put a little postcard together to show you what I discovered along my walk. Visiting an arboretum in the wintertime is truly a treat. Enjoy!

Winter's Light, Bernheim

The sun tried, not very successfully I might add, to peek out between the clouds yesterday at Bernheim Forest & Arboretum, but didn't quite make it. These two images I photographed as the sun attempted to make a show. I love the blues of winter skies. They have a demure quality, not quite that bright baby blue you see in summer. If you look closely, you will catch the glimpses of last winter's ice storm as it obviously took out some of the branches on the right side of this beautiful stately tree. The second image is looking out towards the lake. Just to the left were a gaggle of Canadian Geese which I got a few pics of and will poster later. I honestly didn't like winter nearly as much, until I started visiting Bernheim and Mustatatuck in central Indiana during the winter months. The things you see in winter that you don't see most times of the year are abundant. So I guess I'm advising all to get out and walk and look around you this winter. Enjoy!

Jared Sutton who follows my blog requested the bridge image from yesterday in black and white, and well, I just had to give it a try. I'm torn as to which one I like so you guys decide for me. Thanks for your support Jared. Enjoy!

Bernheim in Winter

Bernheim Forest & Arboretum can be an interesting place to visit during winter. The pine cones hanging off the trees, and strewn across the ground, various shapes and sizes of berries, the trees with all their leaves gone show their unique shapes. The best part of my trip today, upon getting out of my car, I immediately smelled pine cones. Oh, how I love that smell. I shot a few photos of Bernheim in winter today which I'll share with you this week. I hope you enjoy them. Come visit Bernheim if you get to Kentucky. This is the bridge that crosses the lake on the far side of the arboretum. Enjoy!

Barn, Bluegrass Scenic Byway, Lexington, Kentucky

What is it about barns? They're intriguing. I think because they come in all shapes and shapes, and all colors. Old warn barns are especially intriguing to me. This barn I photographed several years ago in the fall months when it was filled to the brim with tobacco (it's in a previous post). Now it sits with a wagon in the middle of it. This photograph was taken a few weeks ago during my trek along the Bluegrass Scenic Byway in Midway and Lexington, Kentucky. Any season, any weather, any where along the drive, you will see something to photograph. I think that's why I keep going back. It's really a nice drive and beautiful country. Enjoy!

Manchester Farms, Lexington, Kentucky

What a difference a season makes! This is Manchester Farms, snow covered, and looking a little bit cold, I might add. If you want to see this horse farm in all its beauty in the summer just take a peek at the image on my header. Like I said, what a difference a season makes. I tried to put some color in the photo, but honestly, there's not a lot of color there to work with. I took this photo while driving the scenic byway a few weeks ago the weekend after we had had about 4-5 inches of snow. It was still 20 degrees outside so needless to say, I took these images quickly. Really quickly. Brrrrrr! And just a quick side note, if you look closely, you'll notice one of the spires on the top of the barn isn't sitting upright, but is slightly bent. As I drove along the route, at some points, the spire was "reallly" bent over. So I tried my best to stop along the road where it was least noticeable. No doubt the horse farm will repair this spire, hopefully before the big day arrives this spring, "that's Derby Day" for those of you who don't know what I'm referring to. Enjoy!

Horse Farms, Bluegrass Region, Kentucky

I decided to take a drive yesterday if for no other reason than to get out of the house in spite of the subzero temperatures and snow on the ground, not to mention, constant snow flurries throughout the past few days. The Bluegreass area of Kentucky, around Lexington and Midway, is only about a 40 minute drive from my home, so I decided to make that my destination. I wanted to see how the horses were holding up under these frigid conditions. There weren't many horses out grazing, but I did happen across this beautiful guy who was happy to see me stop to take a gander. And, I might add, even happier to pose for me. I hope you enjoy these as I enjoyed taking them immensely. I especially love the ice crystals hanging off of his whiskers. Adorable. Enjoy!

Woodie!

This is woodie. I believe there are two of them that frequent my feeder but have only seen two at one time once. It's snowing here in Louisville. Perhaps 4 inches is expected. We'll see. I'll try to get some photos to post. Enjoy!

First Cardinal of 2010!

Don't you just love cardinals. It is Kentucky's state bird so perhaps that helps. This is the first cardinal I've seen this year. This particular little fella is especially red. I took this while standing in my bedroom looking out. The window is a little dirty. It's 9 degrees wind chill here and 22 degrees Fahrenheit. I went outside earlier today to fill the bird feeders. Brrrr. Enjoy!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

I wish you all a great New Year and a fabulous new decade. Take a look back at a few of my best of the best photos taken during the past decade. I'll be posting more of the decade's photos throughout the coming year. Enjoy!

Happy New Year!

This little bird was all fluffed up in an attempt to keep warm from the cold the other day as I photographed him.

The year is drawing to a close. As it does I reflect back on the past year and what I've accomplished. I continue to be employed which is something a lot of folks weren't fortunate enough to do. I settled into my new condo. It feels like home now. I started this blog in the middle of the summer. And as a result of this blog, have forged many new friendships which is something I had hoped for.

So I leave you with this parting thought for 2009 and wishes for 2010 . . . may you all have good health, much happiness and great riches in the New Year. Enjoy!