Winter Descends

Winter finally came to visit us in Lancaster County, PA.

 I had to rush out and get some photos this week. 

I am adding my favorite photos to Flickr every day.

Check my Flickriver for the newest images.

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...

Farms from the Car

It's such a beautiful time of year! 

I talked my family into a drive to nowhere on Sunday. 

Mainly so I could shoot some fall farmland during the magic hour before sunset. 

Someone from out of town said to me the other day

 that they bet I take this beautiful landscape for granted.

Never, ever. Not for one moment. I love Lancaster County.

I managed to get a few good shots, even from the car...

We stopped briefly at Lititz Springs Park to see the ducks. 

Zoe had a near duck experience. 

Trick or Treat?

We had a freak snowstorm yesterday. The only bad thing about it is that I had to cancel our Halloween party. 

I'm sure the monarch caterpillar wasn't too excited either so I brought him inside along with some of his food and 2 brothers. 

I also was able to bring in a few beautiful flowers...

Just the night before I snapped these pics at an Amish farm down the road. 

They grow the most beautiful squash...

And always have a pretty display out by the road. 

The cats were happy to stay indoors yesterday.

The snow was pretty but I want my fall back!