Black Earth Wisconsin
It was a blue evening for several reasons.
Reason one. Within ten minutes of the sun’s disappearance below the horizon, the sky had turned a blue shade and the snow seemed to pick up a blue reflection. Yes, definitely a blue evening.
Second reason. It was shivery cold outside, and I had half of my shooting hand uncovered so I could turn and adjust all those camera knobs and thingamajigs. My thumb and first finger turned an ugly shade of blue and throbbed with a rather angry pulsation for a good hour after I had suitably warmed them. And I swear, the thermometer said it was only 14˚F, not nearly cold enough to begin applying extreme methods during my photo-shooting forays in and out of the car.
Third, I was blessed to have my three children home for at least a part of the holidays, and it is lovely to interact with them as young adults, and to see them enthusiastically enjoy each other’s company. But this was the night of goodbyes, and these goodbyes added a bit of the blues to end of my day.
And, reason four, even though I repeatedly tell myself it is way too early to be developing a bad case of the winter blues, I appear not to be listening to myself. Maybe I need a vacation in, say, a desert clime, or some other such place that evokes feelings of warmth and well-being. I’m thinking loudly to myself on that idea!
Airport Departure
At the end of every holiday comes the time for good-byes.
Though there is motion blur in this photograph, there was some teary blurring on my part that obviously didn’t show up on the photograph. This, however, is a perfect capture of what I saw as my children headed into the airport to fly to their homes halfway across the country.
Overlooking Wisconsin Farmland
On warm, summery days, this seating is at a premium. On snowy wintry days, not so much…
Wisconsin State Capitol
Hans Christian Heg, a statue of Norweigian immmigrant who was a soldier in the Civil War. A prominent statue on the grounds of the State Capitol, and one I’ve photographed repeatedly without ever liking the results. Somehow, the snow and the white stone set the dark statue off to its best advantage, and I finally have my photo.
Wisconsin State Capitol Building
The Wisconsin State Capitol rotunda has a painting on the ceiling by Edwin Howland-Blashfield entitled “Resources of Wisconsin.” The painting has a central female figure, depicted as “Wisconsin”, enthroned upon clouds and swathed in the American flag. Interesting how states were symbolized a hundred years ago.
Dane County Wisconsin
Just settling in for a long winter’s nap.
under the Wisconsin Capitol's Christmas Tree
For as many years as I have been visiting the State Capitol in Madison, Wisconsin to see the Christmas Tree filling the rotunda, it has always had a certain simplicity about it which I love. The tree sparkles with lights. There are hundreds of hand crafted paper ornaments made by Wisconsin school children. And there has always been a model train circling the tree. Nothing fancy – this year a Wisconsin & Southern replica engine and a few cars are traveling ’round and ’round along a circular track – but it follows a rather nice tradition.
Capitol Christmas Tree
Wisconsin State Capitol
A walk around the Capitol Square usually provides a few views of the State Capitol in the office building windows. I love a good reflection.
Crossroads at Old World Wisconsin
How did it get so late so soon.
It’s night before it’s afternoon.
December’s here before it’s June.
My goodness how the time has flewn.
How did it get so late so soon?
Dr. Seuss
Ah, the shortest day of the year. Cloudy, cold, gray outside.
Lots of lights are on inside though, for today only I’m ignoring the electric meter. The lights on the tree are glowing – all those bright LEDs in their sapphire blues, and ruby reds and emerald greens. They truly look like jewels.
Outside looks rather like the above photograph. But the photograph I’m keeping safely tucked inside my mind looks rather like the following one:
Lights like Tiny Jewels
Ah, that is so much better!
