A Snowy Farm - Part 2

I was taking a walk around the farm house and barn, snapping photos of the wintry beauty (see also Part 1, posted yesterday). These were seed pods on the huge lilac bush in front of the house:

 And just across the driveway from the lilac was this Eastern White Cedar:

 Another view of the Eastern White Cedar, a tree which seems almost magical to me:

I walked out into the road for a view of the farm house and lilac bush:

 And I had to tromp through knee-high snow to photograph the Mock Orange bush. It's hard to imagine that this will be covered in beautiful white flowers in the spring:

The dogs were wishing they could come with me, but they had to wait in their fenced yard:

 I again trudged through deep snow to get a closeup of these apple branches:

 I had plowing to do, so I put the bucket on the tractor and began moving snow. When I noticed the snowy cattails along the gravel road, I drove to them and climbed down for a closer view. Alas, the snow disguised the deep drainage ditch beside the road and my right foot suddenly sank through the snow and ice, landing in the cold water beneath it all. The ice surrounded and trapped my leg, requiring quite a bit of struggling to extricate myself:

My foot was now soaked and cold, but I photographed this snowy Red Pine before I went back indoors:

And on the way back to the house, I photographed my own cattle on the east side of the barn. I put their bale feeder there in cold weather so the barn will break the chilly west winds:

I parked the tractor inside the barn, but first I snapped one last picture, showing the piles of snow I'd moved with the tractor:

Catherineville State Forest, Santamont Trail - Part 1

Our winter took a break, with temperatures rising to 40 degrees (F). The snow was all melted at the farm, so I took the dogs to Catherineville State Forest, about 8 miles away, where there was still plenty of snow. We began walking the trail, following a Coyote's footprints. The dogs were not concerned, so neither was I:

They began with their usual exuberance, though I am happy to report that they stayed a bit closer than usual and required less hollering on my part. Fergus' ears were flopping as he bounded along the trail:

Jack was just getting over a bad cough, but that didn't slow him down, especially when it was time for him to do his traditional rolling for joy in the snow:

The dogs investigated everything, covering much more ground than I did:

With five dogs going in five directions, I had all I could do to keep track of them all - and that's why I want them to stay so close to me:

Fergus wondered if that tiny tree was worth peeing on:

Seamus led the way for awhile and his little buddy, Jack, ran joyously behind. If you click to enlarge this photo, you can see that Jack's feet were not even touching the ground when I snapped this photo:

There were some interesting smells for the dogs and beautiful sights for me:

And every so often, the dogs collected in one spot with much enthusiasm. We saw no wildlife, though, not even a mouse:

The forest was mostly Red Pines and Balsam Fir, with an understory of golden leafed Beech trees:

The dogs took occasional side trips off the trail, but I stayed where the snow was worn down:

They ran and played, while I concentrated on not slipping - and on keeping track of the five of them. I'll post Part 2 tomorrow:

One Day After Our Snow Melt - Part 2

I was driving along the gravel road near my house to see the wintry beauty of new fallen snow (see also Part 1, posted yesterday). These tall Red Pines held the snow on towering heights:

Down lower, the bushes and saplings created a pearly lacework:

The small tree in the center of the photo was bowing gracefully:

A Cedar added a bit of green to the otherwise black and white tableau:

And the coppery leaves of a Beech added color in other places:

This was all private property, but some places sure looked inviting, seeming to say "Come walk around and explore:"

Red Pines and Beech trees:

A luminous filigree, created by snow covered branches:

Pines and hardwoods:

Beech trees and an old barbed wire fence:

White Pines have long, soft, flexible needles - five per bundle, and drape themselves artistically under a heavy, wet snow:

I turned onto another road to make my way home and began following a former field, now grown up into woodlands, as I continued to admire the wintry beauty. I put my camera away, however, for I had work to do at home:

One Day After Our Snow Melt - Part 1

If you saw yesterday's post, you know that our snow had almost all melted. The very next morning, I woke up to a winter wonderland - and the snow kept falling:

I took a drive down the (unplowed) gravel road alongside my pasture fence to see the wintry beauty. White Birch were plentiful. That's my pasture on the other side of the trees:

The scenery became mostly forest as I continued on past my property line:

A small, unused field was backed up with woods which looked as if they'd been dusted with powdered sugar:

A neighbor had cleared out around some old apple trees and pruned them:

Much of the tall Red Pines along the road have been cut, but some remain, and they are beauties:

A Beech tree had grown up outside the old fence which shows that there was once a pasture here:

It's hard to tell from the photo, but I think I remember that this was an Eastern White Cedar, a common tree in these parts:

An old stone wall, gradually being swallowed up in tree growth. I once live-trapped a mouse and released it here, hoping it found a good place to live:

The snowy tracery of small brush:

A White Pine had sprung up amid the hardwoods and Red Pines:

A golden leafed Beech behind an arabesque of snowy branches. But there was still more wintry beauty to see, and I'll post Part 2 tomorrow:

Days Mill Road, Hopkinton NY - Part 3

I was approaching the end of my driving tour of Days Mill Road (see also Parts 1 and 2, posted previously), and stopped at this country home with outbuildings:

There was a bird house in the top of that old tree and a tire swing hanging below. The outbuilding on the right was in the style which always causes me to think it was once the main residence on this farm:

Lots of firewood and a hay field:

An old style country home:

This wonderful barn had an orange and white cat grooming itself in the open hayloft door. If you click to enlarge the picture, you can see it:

A large, well maintained home with an enclosed porch and several outbuildings:

A tiny cottage behind the trees, possibly someone's weekend getaway:

New England Asters and Goldenrod between the road and the forest:

Tall Red Pines along the road:

A large and elaborate home in a woodsy style, with a brook right behind it:

I turned off of Days Mill Road onto the state road, which was lined with corn fields:

And across from the corn fields were old apple trees, apparently untended and dropping their copious fruit all over the ground. It was all wondrous autumn scenery. But this was the end of my driving tour and I had dogs at home who were anxious for me to return. I put my camera away and headed homeward: