Shadow Shot Sunday - Spring, ideally

It is Shadow Shot Sunday 2 and seasonal change should be in order. Spring is a season of contrasts, a new beginning. After a cold and snowy winter, we look forward to an improving picture of nice weather. Not today, alas - it is snowing again (see this morning's pic on the left). Yet, we have proof, sun as opposed to gray, turf instead of snow, and of course shadows, So we hope for bluer and drier skies...someday...

SOOC - Snowy Bird

It has been an unusually cold winter in Southern Connecticut, the coldest on record (since 1905) in some towns in this small state. However, this Straight out of the Camera (SOOC) capture of a bird in a tree in the back yard with a mere hint of snow seems to suggest that Spring may be here soon. Warmer temps and melted snow would feel like seasonal change was in fact here...but the bird lets me know that the change will be soon :)

Shadow Shot Sunday - Soft Snowy Shadows

Shadow Shot Sunday 2 this week occurs after a snowstorm on Tuesday of 13 in / 33 cm of the fluffy cold precip falling upon our abode in the Ansonia Uplands. I am not a fan of the cold nor of winter except for the fresh snow adding a nice canvas for sun and shadow.

Given that it is unusually cold for southern Connecticut, about 17°F (-8°C) with a stout chilly wind falling upon us. At least there is sun over the front (L) and back (R) yards. Another 10 in / 25 cm for Monday. I can wait...

Wordless Wednesday - Snow Day Scene

It's snowing this morning - and our 12in/30cm of powder is being plowed by Ansonia Public Works quite nicely...see WW and WW

Whimsical Windows - Pushed Aside

City Hall and Main Street, Ansonia CT...11 Feb 2013 after the plows pushed the massive snow aside

Toby kindly hosts the architectural meme Whimsical Windows/Delirious Doors, and we look for portals and such in any weather. And that includes winter too...we have had a lot of snow this season, not large amounts in each storm, but in a large number of storms. However, last year, we had the biggest single blizzard I can remember in many a decade -  40in (102cm) on 9-10 Feb 2013. Every city and town in Connecticut had to hire many construction company vendors to assist on clearing the roads. Here, Patti captured the scene on along Main Street in downtown Ansonia after the initial plowing. The architecture sits alone as nary a pedestrian or vehicle are found. Spring is close, or at lest we hope :) 

Shadow Shot Sunday - Snowy season shadows

Obviously, we are full of snow this winter season - nothing huge at one time, but an endless (or it feels like that :) series of 6-9 inch (15-22 cm) snowfalls since December. With a hint of freezing rain to add an icy crust that inhibits melting...

Yet, for Shadow Shot Sunday 2, I revert to snowy scenes from 9-10 February 2013 and that 40in/ 102cm snowfall, a record in our small city of Ansonia. With that much depth, and with the snowy canvas of snow, shadows fall nicely upon the land. And thus make for a fun post. With the hope that melting and warmth arrive concurrently and Spring begins!

Shadow Shot Sunday - More of the same

Friday morning...

Pretty (if invonvenient)

Shadow Shot Sunday 2 is back after yet another snowfall in southern Connecticut. Not so much in depth, the Thursday snow was at 7 in / 18 cm, but with a hint of sleet that froze on top to make a crunchy top that really taxed our small electric Toro snowthrower. Happily the kid from across the street plowed the icy snow pile by the street to make the work of our designated snow clearer (Allegra) a bit easier...

Yet, sun, snow and shadows do offer an artistic impression for SSS2, as this has been an oft posted theme for (see below). Snow in any amount can be an inconvenience - but with a bit of style...

1963 (here)

1978 (here)

Shadow Shot Sunday - Monochrome Winter

Out the front door on the Ansonia Uplands.

From the bedroom of our son now residing in Brooklyn, NYC...

Shadow Shot Sunday occurs after our latest snowfall, and with the sunshine we can see shadowy art forming before our eyes. So with cheap droid phone in hand, the snowy canvas was observed and captured for SSS2. To compensate for the quality, a B&W edit corrects some flaws while allowing the shadows to stand out a bit more. In the bottom one, the screen in the window even adds a kind of texture to the scene. Yes, it is much colder than normal around here today...merely a small price to pay for well-defined shadows!

Tina's WW - Winter has passed...

We had way too mich snow this past winter. As a comparison, check the snow yet to be removed from our driveway on 10 Feb (and he is 75 inches/191 cm tall :). Happily it has now melted...see Tina's WW

Snow removal. 10 Feb 2013, Ansonia Connecticut

Ruby Tuesday - Unburied red

A 1996 Neon is unearthed on 9 Feb - captured by Patti

Ruby Tuesday 2 returns on a crisp and sunny day of 60°F/16°C today (only 8°C tomorrow though...)

Nevertheless, a ruby view from 9 February and the massive Blizzard of 2013. It is of course Allegra's 1996 Plymouth Neon beginning to be unearthed after the 36 inch/ 95 cm snowfall. Why this ruby memory now? So we can more fully appreciate the exit of Winter...Happy and warm RT greetings to all :)

Whimsical Windows - Snowy Scenes

Toby hosts the great meme Whimsical Windows/Delirious Doors in which we looks for portals of interest. As Connecticut is awash in snow, the results of the Friday Blizzard of 2013 leaving about 32 inches/81 cm of the fluffy white on our town - the most from one storm that I remember, and that includes the storm in Feb 1978. So I haven't been outside the garage door but am using the old iPhone for today's post; views from L-R are: through front storm door, yesterday 15:40 EST (snow has been removed); out front window today about and out rear slider door. Roads are still being plowed, so I will stay another day looking outside at the snow...I do hope the groundhog was right about Spring soon :)

SOOC - The clearing commences...

SOOC - Straight out of the Camera - is back and the recently delivered snow is more than I have seen in CT before. Even with two big kids and a meager snow thrower, the cleanup will extend through tomorrow. However, straight out out of the phone shots at wheelchair height from the garage door are impressive as clearing the snow starts to be cleared...The reward for their effort will be roast chicken and mashed potatoes - comfort food a small price for their labors :)

Shadow Shot Sunday - Snowy Suburban Memories

8 February 1978, Wickham Drive, East Hartford

December 1963

Shadow Shot Sunday 2 arrives in the winter season up here. I am not a fan of winter so much these days, yet photos of long ago in East Hartford CT do leave lasting memories. These seen before and recently re-edited photos do reinforce memories...

Since we are near the 35th anniversary of the 'Blizzard Larry' (as Channel 3 in Hartford called it) of February 6-7 1978 on Wickham Drive in East Hartford. With no snow-thrower at home, many kids were needed to finally move the 24 inches (61 cm) of not-so-fluffy snow. At least we were left with snow Alp shadows. 

The old picture is from around Christmas 1963 and maybe 4in/10cm, a far more pleasant snowfall. I believe Grandpa is in the window, directing my father in taking the picture from the road. Seasonal snowy shadowy scenes both...

Tina's Pic Story - Light

Tina's fun meme Pic Story is back with the simple theme, we post to the weekly theme she kindly provides. This week the theme is light...I like the idea of many lights at night being on. During a previous snow storm, a picture taken by a point-and-shoot with the flash on, it was a snowy and windy night. However, not just the street light is illuminated, but many individual flakes were illuminated almost as orbs floating in the air. Lots of lights in the air - I hope the theme has been met with this story!

Shadow Shot Sunday - Snowy canvas

The rewarding morn after the snowstorm. 27 Jan 2011

Snow, sun, shadow - a trifecta. 27 Jan 2011

I may be a fan of a four-season climate, but not necessarily one of the cold and snow. The current winter is a bit warmer and not as snowy as this year. So for this Shadow Shot Sunday 2, I am commuting back in in time to 2011 where we received way more snow, as these pictures attest. These pictures have been seen before, yet the untouched blanket of snow under a brilliant sun is pure white with the dappled shadows intruding nicely. Tonight, it is raining - not nearly so attractive. The snowy scape is much nicer looking if not so nice to live with...see seasonal shadows at SSS2!

Shadow Shot Sunday - Sequential Stowing

Shadow Shot Sunday 2 returns and since it is winter in our four-season climate, it is cold outside again. Time to turn the clock back to the summer of 2010, and a revised remake of an SSS post from back then - with more knowledge of editing photos in this blogging format...the subject today is the wheelchair ramp on my Grand Caravan from closing up in sequence, from ramp out to fully folded and the door closing. The photos were taken in a parking lot/car park surrounded by shady and shadowy trees...contrasted on the left to a snowy night recently, I feel warmer already! Happy SSS2...

Shadow Shot Sunday - Pre Halloween

The pumpkin maintains its composure despite the odd weather. Photo by Patti

Shadow Shot Sunday is back at an odd time - what is it with weather systems and Halloween? Usually the end of October is cooler but not full of weather phenomenon it seems. Last year, it was the Saturday before Halloween (29 Oct 2011) and just before the spooky holiday, a coastal storm left lots of snow in southern Connecticut. 

This year, megastorm Sandy is churning up the Atlantic coast about to hit the area Sunday (28 Oct) - I hope our power stays on with the massive winds and rain forecast, too warm for snow this year, the only plus I see to a hurricane/cyclone in 2012.

But perhaps it is the time for weird things to happen...the Perfect Storm in 1991 also started on...28 October! Spooky coincidences or worse - who knows? Anyway, snowy ground does make for nice shadows. Trick or treat I guess...

Tina's Pic Story - Textural

Tina's Pic Story is back, and we are reminded of that old saying about a picture having 1000 words. Naturally, we are not looking for quantity but instead looking to Tina's weekly theme for our inspiration - which this week is Texture.

For me, I am looking to the leafless shrubs and dormant or dead vegetation in winter's snow. On top, our forsythia has no leaves in the the cold season - we are used to seeing this full of leaves and trimmed. Now minus the foliage it looks wild as the snow weighs it down. The branches and dead leaves add a unique texture...

On top, our forsythia has no leaves in the the cold season - we are used to seeing this full of leaves and trimmed. Now minus the foliage it looks wild as the snow weighs it down. The branches and dead leaves add a unique texture...

Below, the modern wall is made of concrete blocks that are not smooth, the dead weeds above the wall from the previous summer are golden under the March sun. I hope winter stays away for a few months...