Thursday, January 18, 2007

A Day to Remember

 

 

I’ve always believed that life tends to balance itself out – sometimes over days, sometimes over a lifetime.  I never correct anyone who falsely blames me for something I didn’t do unless its particularly egregious, because I know that there will also be times when I’ll get credit for something I had little or no control over.  Sometimes its best just to smile and move on and let the natural order of things take care of itself.

 

Yesterday, nature created its own balance – and in record time.  Tuesday was cold and blustery, leaving 8 inches of wet snow in the driveway by the time it was over.  But yesterday more than balanced the scales – bright sunshine and clear blue skies framed the new-fallen snow, and there are few combinations in nature’s vista that can match that spectacle.

 

I had already decided to venture forth, camera in hand, to see what wonders I could record.  But before I even had the chance to leave the house, nature served up a bounty of visual riches just outside the window.

 

It began asa blur of movement caught my eye, drawing me to three deer foraging in the woods only a few feet from the house.  I watched as they nuzzled the foliage, gently brushing the snow away from the evergreens in search of a morsel to nibble upon – and leaving a white powdery moustache upon their fur in the process.  Methodically they moved through the woods, oblivious to the cars passing on the road just down the hill, the morning sun casting painterly shadows - dappling their coats and the snowy ground around them with random shades of light and dark.

 

As they slowly moved down into the valley and away from the house, a woodpecker began noisily pounding away on the suet feeder and the chickadees and nuthatches began swarming the seed feeder nearby.  I parked with my lens close to the window glass and waited to see what nature had in store for me.

 

Only moments later, I smiled widely – and knew the day was destined to be memorable.  For there, framed perfectly in my lens, was a brilliant red cardinal – an eternal symbol that on the greyest days of winter there is always the promise of the color of summer to come.  He lingered for but a moment, but time enough for me to capture his image.

 

Knowing that the best part of any show I could hope for from this vantage point had already come in the opening act, I packed the camera and headed out for the rest of the day – knowing, no matter what I might find, that nature had already more than repaid any debt from yesterday’s snow with a brilliant day to treasure and remember.

 

 

12 comments:

Anonymous said...

Looks like you had a wonderful day.  It is pure magic when everything falls into place...especially when you have your camera close by to document it.

Greg

Anonymous said...

Hey,
I wanted to ask you about the "eternal" comment you made about the cardinal.  Is that your opinion or a symbol of sorts for cardinals?  I have a very special relationship with cardinals.
This entry was quite beautiful...in MANY ways.  Thanks for it all.

Nancy

Anonymous said...

Both of those are great photos. That red cardinal really stands out with a spot of beautiful color. Helen

Anonymous said...

Your winter days could have mimicked what we had here, except we only got a couple of inches of snow- not 8.  Your pictures are delightful and the words you use to discribe them are lovely too.  We just cannot find beauty like nature provides anywhere else on earth.  A couple of my son's live in surroundings somewhat like yours, I wonder, did they take the time to enjoy it like you did?  Thank you for sharing your day to remember.  'On Ya' - ma

Anonymous said...

You have a wonderful eye for the minutest details of life around you.  No wonder you take such beautiful photos and write so clearly that I could almost be there with you, breathing the same cold air, seeing the self same things.  Well done!

Anonymous said...

what a perfect day!  i love the photos!
gina
http:journals.aol.com/rbrown6172/ginasspace/

Anonymous said...

What a beautiful moment in time.  Nature's blessing, shared and received with a smile...  Thank you.  

Michelle

 

Anonymous said...

Beautifully written as always -- I too feel the balance of nature when the cardinals that frequent our backyard feeder stop for just a moment for me to catch a glimpse.

Anonymous said...

Your descriptions of your day were wonderful Rob, I love that cardinal! We don't get them here in the UK so it's great to see such a beautiful close up. I love the deer photo too, they're such shy animals, it's always special to get a good photo of them! Happy new year, I hope you get many more photo opportunities like this one! Jeannette xx  http://journals.aol.co.uk/jlocorriere05/Welcometomytravels/  

Anonymous said...

What a BEAUTIFUL and vivid entry!  I didn't want it to end...

Anonymous said...

Those were some really great pictures! I am jealous of the snowfall and the fact that you saw such beautiful things simply by looking out of your window. I wish we ALL could do that!

Anonymous said...

What an amazing photo!  Cardinals were my grandmother's favorite bird.  She had a house full of figurines and knicknacks with images of these beautiful birds on them.  When she died, each of her grandchildren got to pick one as a keepsake.  I've never had the joy of seeing one of these beauties in person.  You are a lucky man!
Thanks for sharing your bounty.
Kathy