End of February

The Forest Dragon explains to his brother that Spring is still on its way.

I'm thinking someone is still pretty Grumpy.

The Forest Dragon welcomes his new little one into the world.

I sat down by the creek Saturday afternoon and listened to the oak leaves rustle in the wind. By May the oaks should start budding and push the old leaves off the branches.
Sometimes I just wander about and look around. I stop and look at rocks. Or moss.

Or gaze at trees and let my mind float up and away. 
I listen to the breeze and the creek.

There is peace in the creek and of course nature's drama. Life goes on here and isn't bothered by Out There.

So ends February, the month of snowstorms and some very cold weather. A month that seemed to stretch on forever.

Time well spent on walks in the creek enjoying the snow and ice.

Days of amazing frost that touched the trees on the ridge.

Mornings of fog and ice.

...and learning more about Infrared [my current passion].

A LOT of time spent studying Still Life, lighting, and other avenues of photography to work on some skills. I've watched quite a few training videos for tips and ideas. I told my son last night that this seemed to be my only saving grace this winter when I couldn't get out and about.

What will March hold for us? 

Couldn't sleep

And it all is another blogger's fault. 
I'm laughing because really it isn't anyone's fault.

But I woke up suddenly and thought: What if the Heater quits all of a sudden?

So I sat up and went out to the living room to listen to the heater. We have a cabin heater for our tiny cottage. It does just fine. But I was obsessed with the thought of it not working. 

I decided to read a book on my Kindle.
Then I got to thinking about Moss and Lichen and spring and summer.
So I started a search on books about Lichen and Moss. Identification guides.

...and then there was this Grumpy Dragon:

I decided to stop looking at things. This was no good!

I gathered some blankets and laid on the loveseat with Charlie and started to drift off. I checked the outside temps. -10 with a wind from the North. The mules were playing and chasing each other in the pasture. Must have needed to warm up a bit.

Guess what? The heater worked even when I wasn't watching it.

Hot Cocoa & Making Friends

Sometimes I get a notion and just go with it. 
Chores were done hubby was napping and Charlie was looking for his early afternoon walk. 
It was dreary and overcast.

So I had a notion to try something with one of the Teddy Bears.  

Off we went.

It was cold and damp in the valley so I decided to stop and have some Hot Cocoa.

The past 10 months haven't been easy. Isolation makes a person feel a bit lonely. 

I asked Bear to join me.
He didn't complain.

Bear may not be the best conversationalist but I can tell him anything and he won't tell my secrets. He says he can keep mum. That's the sign of a very good friend.

I tell him I like poetry and I adore the woods. He points out that bears like woods too but he could try to like poetry.

We drink Hot Cocoa and listen to the creek making music over the rocks behind us. It is okay. 

We just sit and watch as Charlie trots around smelling things under the snow.

I ask Bear if he knows Winnie the Pooh. He tells me of course he does. I smile and  think of Winnie the Pooh. Bear is quiet.

When it's time to leave the valley Bear asks for a favor.

I consider it, and then decide it is only fair.

After all, he is such a nice new friend.