HoHoHo!

This will probably be my last post for a bit.  Rick and I are off in a couple of days for Christmas with our DD, SIL and the 3 darling GDs, and we can hardly wait.  We are taking AmTrak as far as Minneapolis, so that will be an adventure in and of itself.  We should see some beautiful country--if we aren't going through the beautiful parts at night!  Hopefully I will be able to do a little posting at L's; if not, Merry Christmas, everyone, and I will see you next year!

Bling: Icing on the Falls

I went over to the Falls early this morning and about froze my fingers off, but it was worth it. The cold weather recently has really decorated the Falls. Since winter weather around here is usually in the 40s, with occasional forays into the 30s, the sub-freezing weather this week has really been unusual, and the base of the Falls is thick with icicle formations. The early sun was shining through the mist, and I loved this shot. There was something about the combination of the warmth of the light at the top and the way it reflected off the logs at the top of the falls, and the cold light and ice at the bottom of the falls. Two extremes in one shot for me.

Another angle, slightly different, and tried it in B&W to get a starker look.

Then the color version...

Zoomed in on the ice formation in the shadow of the falls. Yep, they are that blue! Baby, it's cold outside! (Listen, can you hear Angela laughing? I know, 17 is a heat wave to her!)

This was a little later this afternoon, with the late sun shining across the gorge, hitting the wall and turning it that lovely warm color to contrast with all the cool colors there.  Hated to center the falls, but there was only one place to stand and if I wanted to get the Lodge and the pool at the bottom of the falls, there was only one place for the falls to be---dead center.

Sugar-frosted edges

Saw these leaves the other morning and just couldn't pass up the perfectly outlined edges...and that wonderful punch of red!

Cut Glass

Still cold (yes Angela, I know you are laughing out loud) Our little pond has frozen solid and I have the most wonderful cut glass designs on it... The variety of intricate geometric designs are amazing, and they just call out for stark black and white. The pond surface reminds me of Waterford glass.

Bling!

The frost and ice crystals on the edges of the kale leaves turned into the most delicate of lace embroidery... Boy, was it COLD this morning!! (a brisk 19 at 7am--not too common here in Seattle...)

Fire and Ice

To be correct, azalea and frost. I love this variety--the colors of the leaves this time of year, and when we are lucky enough to get a frost--MAGIC!!!

'Tis the Season

I dropped by the semi-local nursery a couple of days ago to check out the poinsettias. They grow all the ones they sell, and they always have an incredible variety. I love the massed display and banks of color, especially at this grey time of year, but even better I like.....
..the rebels, the bracts that just can't conform, that just can't decide WHAT color they want to be!

These are so much more interesting than a plain old solid red or white or pink....

Yeah! Go for it! Be different!! Flaunt it! Stand out among the rest.

Here's one that really got into it--almost a half-and-half!!

It's almost like a treasure hunt, looking for the bracts that haven't properly turned. I'm sure the employees think I'm just a wee bit strange.... (snort!)

Extremes

The difference a day can make--yesterday the leaves of a sweet gum tree caught my eye. They turn really late and the bright color just pops this time of year, especially when the leaves are all nestled in against the green underfoliage.
And of course, the heavy morning dew can't be passed up! Euphorbia leaves catch the drops so perfectly--nice round drops everywhere you look.

But this morning!! FROST!! YEA!!!! Everything was coated with a heavy thick rime and it was gorgeous out--freezing, but gorgeous.

I even had a skiff of ice in places on my little pond. The weather guys are talking about a couple more cold nights, so I am hoping for some more freezing. I may have to go ice puddle hunting, and go see if there's any good frost at the falls. It so rarely gets cold enough here that it's worth the early morning excursion.

Doesn't this look like a fern frond? Amazing what Mother Nature and Jack Frost do when they collaborate.