Purple skies

It was love that brought you to me that cold December morning as I sat out on the porch, gazing out into the purple skies ahead, sleepy eyes watching the lazy dawn unfurl infront of me. It was love that sat you next to me, that stretched the long rays of the early morning sun and filled the empty space between us and brought you closer to me. It was love that filled the silence of that morning and said everything that needed to be said even as we sat side by side not needing to say anything at all because the biggest of little words had already been spoken - I love you.

It is love that sits you next to me right now, watching the sun setting into the sky ahead of us. Is it just me, or does the sky still have the same purple hue it did back then? I still love you.

~vagabond~ © 2009

Wintering geese

Snowflakes continue to fall silently to the ground. I look out into the distance peering through the misty white curtain around me. Bare tree branches dangle in the cold wind, silhoutted by a hazy mist. My footsteps crunch into the soft snow and are drowned into the white blanket around me barely before they form. The cold winter wind stings my cheeks as I walk on, my warm breath fogging up the cold air forming little clouds. The temperature dips down, swaying way below freezing. And then I spot them. All lined up neatly in rows of hundreds, sitting there motionlessly, huddled in the cold. Waiting and watching as the storm passes over head. Wild canada geese braving winter along the river's edge. They sit along the last ice free spots by the river bank, their backs speckled with snow. Old residents that have lived here all year long intermingled with visitors from up north. Honking and calling out loudly to one another, marking the slow passage of time through yet another wintering season.

~vagabond~ © 2009

To hear the calling of the Canada geese, click here

(Sound Byte courtesy of National Park Services)

Winter evenings

Winter evenings. So cold and frigid. And yet inexplicably calm and serene. It's that quiet hour at the end of the day when the sun's last golden light softly spreads into the white. All of the world around me slows down and hushes into a silence as I pause to gaze at nature's own miracle.

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO YOU ALL!

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Psst! Remember this place? It's the same place where I took these photos in fall. It's always amazing to me how the smallest change in season can give a whole different atmosphere to a place.

~vagabond~ © 2008

The Long Nights Moon

A silver beam of light shines from high up above,
brightening up the dark night
as the long nights moon, big bright and gray
waits and waits patiently
for the long night to turn to day

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Did you see the moon today? It was the biggest and brightest that it has been all year. Some Native American tribes call it the Long Nights Moon, because it falls on the longest, darkest and coldest night of the year. This years Long Nights Moon though was extra special, because not only was the moon today the closest it has been to the earth all year round, but also the closest it has been to the earth in fifteen years. It wont be this close to the earth again for another eight years.

It was 4^oF (-16 ^oC) when I stepped outside the apartment. So I layered up in two sweaters, a thick jacket, a warm hat, thick gloves, two pairs of socks inside my shoes. And then waddled awkwardly with a tripod tucked under my arm, and clumsily proceeded on to take these photos. LOL. Any mention of the poor quality of the photos, and I'll have to ask you to demonstrate to me the fine art of taking photos in the cold with heavy mittens on.

~vagabond~ © 2008

This post is a Skywatch post, to learn more click on the photo below:

The Couple

I see the same couple every evening as I walk my dogs by the river bank. Wiggling and waggling their tails, waddling along the way. Some days they argue loudly, squawking and quacking, seems like they've got lots to say. And then there are other days like this cold autumn evening when they seem content to just sit together, and share a moment, brightening up my day. They're quite the couple, arent they? Him in his bright suit and she in her drab gray.

~vagabond~ © 2008

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PS. If you're an animal lover like me, you might want to check out Trisha's photo. It's sad and yet inspiring enough to make you want to make a difference.

Life and Death

They exist only as names etched out in stone
But in memories, they’re still alive
Even amidst death grows life

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The Angel of Hope Garden in South Bend, Indiana is dedicated to mothers who have lost a child. The first picture in this post is my submission to Cuckoo's photo contest of the month. I usually hate photoshop-ing photos, but in this case, I've made an exception - only because I think the photoshop-ing adds to the message of the photo. And it's my first pathetic attempt at photoshop.

~vagabond~ © 2008