~Hugh MacMillan
Rejuvenance
The Ministry of Nature, 1873
Well, if you follow me, you might have noticed I took several days off from blogging, right after the new year. I was ill, and a little tired in general I suppose. Trump is making every single day of 2018, so far, stressful, and at times, downright absurd. That's a strange combination, created by a truly strange man... Donald John Trump. Anyway, between being ill, and being stressed out, I haven't had a chance to get out yet with the camera, and document the winter, but hopefully I will be able to soon!
If possible, I hope Alan and I can go up to snow country! That's one good thing about having the Sierra foothills practically in our backyard, it's not as long a drive as it was when we lived in the Bay Area! And now I feel better about going on those long drives, because we recently installed a basic home security system. Our contract was up with Xfinity and I was going to downgrade a lot of the channels we had been getting, but as it turns out, there was a pretty good deal that gave us more channels, faster Internet speed, and the basic home security system, for only about $10 more a month.
So, when hubby has to work late, or we do take one of our long drives, I can feel better about leaving the house, and returning! When we lived in the Bay Area, I had a few people who could check on things, but out here I haven't made any new friends, because, you know, it's difficult after a certain age to bring new people into your life. I am at the age where either my pals in real life have either died, moved, or are living just far enough away, that it makes it difficult to make new pals.That's life. Lots of doors open and close, it's just the nature of things.
Anyway, winter is a lonely time of the year, but I kinda enjoy the solitude. I read more. Watch movies. Listen to music, and cuddle with the furbabies a lot more. All terrific things, including the alone time, but I admit I feel that old familiar urge to get out with the camera and see what the winter has to offer! Clouds. Sunshine. Rain. Snow. Whatever happens to be waiting for me. Like the other day, when we had a rainstorm come through most of California, and the Central Valley became absolutely soaked. Cold, but definitely relaxing, and quite photogenic!
That's what the picture above is all about, making art out of a cold, rainy day. I like the way it turned out. I took it right here in Stockton, in fact right in the front yard! It's the top of my neighbor's tree next door. Most of the trees in the neighborhood have, of course, lost their autumn leaves, but there are still a few with, with enough color remaining, that I thought it gave the photo a nice look, then I added a "vibrant" filter, to give it a somewhat artsy, ethereal look! I am looking forward to doing some fog or snow photographs soon, but I will definitely take a rainy day too!
Mood: Quiet/Tired
~Me
