Here are my favorite (nature) photos from the past year.
I’m looking forward to what 2014 has in store.
Favorite Photos Of 2013
Long Cold Winter
It is still not officially winter per the calendar, but since we had the huge snow storm after Thanksgiving, the temperatures have either been below zero or single digits. We took our holiday card photo on a day with a high temperature of 3, wind chills below zero and snow flurries. I usually try to get several shots so that I know that we have the perfect photo. Not this time. Our remote shutter stopped working because the battery was too cold. I did make the kids stay outside for an extra minute or two after I took the camera off the tripod so that I could make sure to get a good shot of just the two of them.
Days and days of temperatures 25 degrees below average is getting old really fast. Rumor has it that there will be a day or two of 20 degree temperatures soon. In the meantime, here are some pictures from the cold “tundra” of northern Minnesota.
Here is a preview of our holiday card photos. Notice the white snow dots on our clothes and faces.
It was too cold for Daphne to join us for the family photo so I snapped a picture of her indoors where it was nice and toasty.
Out on Lake Superior, the evaporation of lake water created “sea smoke” in the subzero air.
It certainly makes for a cold work day for the people working on the ships coming into port.
What I want most for Christmas is to be able to enjoy all of our new snow without the unbearably cold temperatures. Are you listening Santa?
Snow Daze
The snow began on Monday morning and continues yet tonight (Wednesday). We have had over two feet of snow. The yard stick on the deck is measuring nearly 33 inches, but the local weather forecaster said that we have had 28.6 inches. Either way, it’s a LOT! The schools are already canceling classes for tomorrow. This is the third day in a row. I have been working from home the past two days. Mike ventured into work yesterday, but opted to take a vacation day today to try to keep up with snowblowing and enjoy a little outdoor fun with the kids. The winds have been blowing the snow and pelting the windows with a slushy mess. The blizzard-like conditions made picture-taking difficult and had Mike and the kids using their ski goggles while working/playing outdoors. My camera got wet even huddled next to the shelter of the house. The photos look a bit blurry from the heavy snow falling along with the water spots on my lens.
Mike and the kids took a break late in the afternoon and then went back out after dark to sled some more, build a snowman and a snow fort.
We are hoping the plow comes through by morning. It has only gone by once since the snow began. That was yesterday morning. Several neighbors with AWD have gotten stuck on our street and had to dig or snowblow themselves out. The forecast is for the snow to end by morning and then cold temperatures (-15 degree lows) are coming at the end of the week. It is hard to believe that the calendar says it’s fall. If this is fall, what is winter going to be like?
M. Sullivan Photography 