Silver Linings for Sunday Skies

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A couple weekends ago, I went out for a walk and was captivated by the clouds in the sky. Each time I raised my eyes to the sky, I saw something beautiful and worthy of a photograph. I think of the old saying "Each cloud has a silver lining." Well, on January 16, 2012, there were silver linings filling the sky. Oh how rich I felt to have the opportunity to witness such beauty.

(c) Misty DawnS

“A cloud does not know why it moves in just such a direction and at such a speed...It feels an impulsion...this is the place to go now. But the sky knows the reasons and the patterns behind all clouds, and you will know, too, when you lift yourself high enough to see beyond horizons.”

Richard Bach quotes

Sparrows & Snow ~ Camera-Critters #199

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You seemed to like my photo of the American Tree Sparrow in last week's Camera-Critters. So, I thought I'd share another photo of a sweet little Tree Sparrow, who was hanging out by the pond.

(c) Misty DawnS

I've got another update for any of you who actually enjoy my constant wonder at the strange weather we've had all winter. Thursday, we got up to 51 degrees. Hubs had stayed home from work to work cattle that day, and he said the weather was awesome. Yesterday, while at work, Hubs called and told me that I may want to start heading home. I asked why, and he said it was snowing and starting to stick on the roads. So, even though there was absolutely no snow at work, I headed home. Boy, was I glad I did! All of a sudden I found the snow and was glad I was driving in it then, rather than later when it was worse on the roads. Now, it looks like a winter wonderland outside. You know how when there's a fairly big snow, if you stand outside, you can hear every little noise? Well, so does Maggie May, who is currently out there barking at every noise she hears. She's giving me a Houston migraine (that's a migraine the size of Houston, for those of you who don't know).

Anyway... That's my weather update for the week. Back to our regularly scheduled program...

The Colors of a Leaf

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(c) Misty DawnS

Nature will bear the closest inspection.

She invites us to lay our eye level with her smallest leaf,

and take an insect view of its plain.
Henry David Thoreau

Flowers in Winter

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Winter is here. Mother Nature has been teasing us a bit with above-normal temperatures for this time of year. Those above-normal temperatures spoiled us and cause the 'normal' temperatures, which we have now, to seem extra cold.

Winter is here now, though. Time for sweaters and winter coats, wood burners and laboratory furnaces, ice scrapers and plows, snow and...

flowers???

(Hey, you'll never hear me complain about

finding flowers in the middle of winter!)

(c) Misty DawnS

To join in on this meme, which is full of beauty, click on the badge.

It's All A Blur

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I was getting ready to delete this image, as it is obviously ummmm... how would you say it? BLURRY!!! Yeah, that's a bit obvious; You didn't need me to tell you that, did you?

However, just as I was beginning to hit the delete key, something stopped me. Yes, it's obviously a photo that deserves to go to the trash bin... but... I dunno... something stopped me, and I kept it. Why? I dunno. But, I kept it.

So, this is what happens when

you quickly try to pan an owl,

who just took flight, and

well, you get just a big ol' mess of an image.

I guess I did capture motion, eh?

(c) Misty DawnS

This photo is obviously, Straight Out Of the Camera!

On another note, I'm considering purchasing a flowering plant, so I'll have something to photograph during the months when I'm stuck inside. However, I don't really have a green thumb. So, what are your suggestions? Does anyone have any experience with orchid plants? I think Orchids are very unique and beautiful, and I'm wondering if someone who doesn't have the best of luck with plants would be able to make an Orchid thrive? Yes, I'm good with bugs, wildflowers, and wildlife, but lacking in the indoor plants department!

Ice Swimming ~ Camera-Critters #198

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We've had an amazing and unique winter this year. I think in the past three weeks we probably broke the records for high temperatures at least three times.

In fact, on Monday, we got up to 66 degrees in our part of Missouri! No, that is NOT a typo!!! The next day, however, the high was 26. Yeah, a 40-degree difference is a bit much.

Anyway, when it was in the 60s on Monday, I, of course, couldn't pass up the opportunity to take a couple walks. Obviously, you won't be getting any hockey trophies on our pond yet, as the ice isn't stable. There is, however, some ice formed. This first photo is of some activity under the ice.

Hello Muskrat!

(c) Misty DawnS

The below photo of the Tree Sparrow was taken back by the pond also

(yes, I'm sure you're shocked).

It was taken on a different day though.

(c) Misty DawnS

Winter Pinwheel

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(c) Misty DawnS

Winter Flower

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(c) Misty DawnS

The color of springtime is in the flowers, the color of winter is in the imagination.

~Terri Guillemets

Barred Owl ~ Camera-Critters #197

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Hubs does it again! I sure love when he finds me things to photograph.

On Monday, I had got home from my day job and was just getting started on quite a bit of work for my second job when the phone rang.

"Hello." I said

"Grab your camera and get ready to jump in the truck." He said

and we both hung up.

and I did as instructed.

and we drove to the end of our road.

and we saw this.

and I photographed it.

and it flew away.

I just love when he finds me things to photograph.

(c) Misty DawnS

Makin' Waves ~ Camera-Critters #196

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(c) Misty DawnS

Giveaway! Giveaway! Giveaway!

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A New Year = A New Zazzle Giveaway!

Three friends (one of which is yours truly) have gotten together and created a really cool blog called Cool-Findz. On this blog, we will feature favorite products we discover on Zazzle. You see... we each have a Zazzle store, so we have spent time there and discovered there are many magnificent products and talented creators at Zazzle. We feel that we should share these 'findz' with all of you... yes, we love ya that much. ;-)

So, I highly encourage you to run over to our new blog and check it out. We've just gotten started, so there isn't much there yet... but you'll want to become a follower so you can see what's in store (pun intended) to come! Oh, and as an extra incentive... Susan, one of my co-blog-hosts (and very good friend) is sponsoring a giveaway at her own blog, City Gal Moves to Oz Land

Here's how the Zazzle giveaway works: You visit each of our Zazzle stores using the links below, or click on the gadget boxes in the sidebar at the Cool-Findz blog, find one item you like from each store, and mention it on SUSAN'S blog in a comment.

Be sure to hike over to Susan's blog

to actually enter the giveaway!

If you want extra entries, you are more than welcome to Tweet out this giveaway or mention it on Facebook, just let her know in an extra comment that you've done so.

The winner will get their pick of any item up to $25 from one of our three Zazzle stores!

Note: This giveaway will end on January 27th at midnight, PST.

The winner will be announced between January 28th and 29th. She will advise the winner of any current Zazzle promotions so that you can maximize the $25 you have to spend!

Here are the links to our Zazzle stores:
Misty Dawn's Photography
By The Becks
Wheatgrass Designs Photography

And check this out... Here's what Susan says in her giveaway post -
Tell you what, I'll make the giveaway pot a lil sweeter -- become a follower of Cool-Findz, add a comment over on my blog letting me know, and you'll get a bonus TWO entries into this month's country giveaway!!

So get visiting, post your comments on Susan's blog about what you'd like to win from each store, and good luck to every one of you!

What a way to start 2012!!!