Field Day

Today the PA Draft Horse and Mule Association held their field day at Landis Valley Museum.

I had so much fun watching all those big, strong animals plow the fields. 

Middle Creek

Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area - Kleinfeltersville, PA

Friday, February 10

So far there are about 15,000 snow geese. The numbers can climb to over 100,000. Wild bird enthusiasts

from all over the globe come here to watch the annual migration. I saw a camera lens pointing out of a SUV that looked like a bazooka!

"The tree which moves some to tears of joy is in the eyes of others only a green thing that stands in the way. Some see nature all ridicule and deformity ... and some scarce see nature at all. But to the eyes of the man of imagination, nature is imagination itself."
William Blake (1757-1827)

When the snow geese decide to go from one area to another it is the most intense noise you will ever hear. 

I get chills just thinking about it. 

I have a few more snow geese photos on my Flickr page. 

February Moon Magic

Last night after dinner I thought I would take a drive to find the moon.

I went down my street for a few miles and turned right. 

Then I saw it, a beautiful magenta moon coming up over the local country market. 

I quickly pulled over in an Amish farm driveway and started snapping. Within minutes it had gone from red to orange to golden. You can even see in the middle photos as it's making the transition, rising above the atmospheric particles that give it the red color to our eyes. 

Here's what it looks like when a car passes, kind of neat.

And two shots of the moon a few days earlier before it was full. 

You can find more of my photography on Flickr!

Drafts and Sheep

Despite the cold and threat of snow flurries, it's always fun to walk around Landis Valley. 

They had several activities for children today including a lesson, 1892 style, in their old school house.

This black Clydesdale was really keeping his eye on that sheep!

An adorable Percheron was checking out my camera. He was interested in the noises it was making. 

Tanya the Turkey is one of my favorite Landis Valley residents. She's so ugly, she's cute!

This is inside the school house. I was never able to go in the classroom before! 

The teacher did a wonderful job telling as all about what school would have been like in the late 1800's.
The flag had a few less stars on it and The Pledge was different, no mention of God.

Wrought iron detail from one of the desks. 

They don't make 'em like they used to!

I love the rusty hinges on the gun shop door. 

Peeking in the tavern window. 

Love the Christmas cookies.

 Hanging inside, you can just make it out in the photo below, is a German style tree, hung upside down, with cookies and pretzels for decoration.

I just opened a pro Flickr account. I have an album with my favorite Landis Valley photos HERE.

Mr. Owl and the Christmas Moon

There's a great hiking path near me and I was told 2 weeks ago I would see a lot of owls. 

Well, I did but I didn't have my camera with me. 

Fast forward to tonight and I am so happy I was able to get a few shots!

‎"To the artist, the forest is an asylum of peace and 

dancing shadows."

 ~ John F. Carlson

The full moon was incredible tonight. At first it was really orange, much more so that this photo. 

This is the Christmas moon or also called yule moon, long night moon, bitter moon or, in English medieval times, the oak moon. 

Another woodland creature I recently came across...