The media is calling it “Blizzard 2011,” and they claim it’s coming in three parts. Yesterday was the freezing rain, today is the massive amounts of snowfall and wind, and the next couple of days are the frigid temperatures. Here is an account of small ice accumulation from yesterday’s rain.
1/60 sec., F4.5, ISO 400
18-55mm lens (35 mm), no flash fired
I’m going out of town for a few days, so I’m posting both yesterday and today’s photos. I’ll post this weekend’s photos when I return.
After a slow and slick drive home from work yesterday afternoon in the rapidly accumulating snow, I attempted to capture the falling snow in a photograph.
1/180 sec., F8, ISO 400
18-55mm lens (24mm focal length), flash fired
About 7 inches of snow later, I woke up early this morning to find that work was closed. I planned to help Jerod get ready for work so he could get an early start on the road. I started his car, but instead of helping him clean it, I just took pictures as he worked away in the cold. So much for double the fun! Spring, I’m not so patiently awaiting you!
.5 sec with tripod, F4, ISO 400
18-55mm lens (20mm focal length), no flash
Before the 6 inches of treacherous snowfall, before the morning commute with dozens of car wrecks, before the school cancellations and the worrying, was a peaceful snowfall. I’m glad I could capture the beauty of it rather than the danger.
This was taken on an accidental 65-mile detour trying to view Castle Rock. We ended up driving through the La Sal mountain range after taking a wrong turn. (You can see Castle Rock way off in the distance.)
Taken at Dead Horse Point State Park.
At the top of Whale Rock in Canyonlands National Park.
My husband Jerod on a hike in Canyonlands National Park. He likes to get as close as possible to the edge of the cliff.
Whitewater raft trip in Westwater Canyon. (Obviously in the calm part of the river.)
Beautiful view from Red Cliffs Lodge in Moab, UT. Our cabin was about 50 years away from here.
Another view from Red Cliffs Lodge.
Beautiful rock formations in Arches National Park.
The Fiery Furnace section of Arches National Park requires a permit beyond the fence because there are dead-end canyons where you could get lost.
Skyline Arch – half of the middle section fell out only about 60 years ago (very recent in rock formation years).
I think this is the South Window arch.
Unfortunately it was cloudy and rainy while we were at the Grand Canyon, but we did see a beautiful rainbow …
… and a beautiful sunset. What a great way to end our trip!
I have some unfortunate news: my husband’s grandfather (Buck) passed away a week ago. We traveled to Southeast Kansas for his funeral on Wednesday, and for the first time Jerod took me to see his grandparents’ farm. They live on beautiful land, so I couldn’t resist taking a few photos. We picked some vegetables from his grandpa’s garden, too. I know he and his garden will be greatly missed; he was always generous with sharing his veggies and anything else his family, friends, and neighbors needed.
Baby prairie dog
Roadrunner
The aquarium was incredible!
Gondola along the Riverfront
In two states at once
One of my other passions besides photography is animals. If I didn’t completely love them, I would have gotten rid of my red-eared sliders in their two 35-gallon tanks long ago. (See below.)
Ducks live at our apartment complex, and they love to play in the mud!
This is our sweet cat, Esme. (Ez-May) We stole the name from the “Twilight” series.
I guess she’s not always sweet. She plays rough!
My two turtles, Michaelangelo and Leonardo, are quickly growing to the size of a dinner plate. When I bought them in college, they were the no bigger than a quarter, and they were swimming around with hundreds of other little guys in a mall aquarium. I felt sorry for them, and the salesman said they wouldn’t grow bigger than my hand. I quickly discovered his lie as soon as I walked into PetSmart with the little creatures and heard gasps from the associates. “You know how big they get, right?” Well, I do now.
This may not be the best photo I’ve ever taken, but it shows the daily battle between my pets.
Photographic Rhodes 