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Our Winter Is Here, But How Long?

I was taking the opportunity to take photos while we actually had snow on the ground and on the trees. Even back in 2007, the first full winter we were here, there was more consistent snow on the ground then had been the last couple of winters. Cold yes, but very little snow staying around more than a few days after the snow occurred. It usually warms up and begins to rain within a few days of most storms the last few years, the new normal with warming. 
This year we had a few inches on Christmas eve with about 8 inches a couple of days after. Then all of this week the cold that settled in right after the holiday kept the snow around although by Monday (01/05) it might be freezing rain or just rain as a warm moist front from the southwest is to be impacting the northwest as the Canadian arctic front moves east. We even had a few mornings of below zero with highs in the 7 to 9 range. 
This all made for some great shots though!
The top photo is our place in a very nice winter shot after we'd plowed and cleaned up from the new snow.
Below, Stacy by the entry gate out front looking on our driveway.
Below is just past that gate still going down the driveway. This time of year I think it's truly beautiful, Stacy, not so much. She likes how it looks she just doesn't like living in it anymore which is why we've been talking snowbirding it in a few years. 

The last two photos- above is a View off our deck out into the forest. 
Below, I lucked out that with a partial moon came actually clear skies, something that doesn't happen too often in the wintertime when it's usually overcast much of the season. Again off of the deck I took quite a few photos, slightly long exposure with a high iso to get shots like this one. I like this type of photo, with the clear sky and bright, but not even full moon, reflecting off the snow, it makes it look like a daytime photo except for the star field. 
No trick photography needed here, just standing on the deck in +6 degree (-14.4 C) weather taking photos!
The night after getting a few like this one above and not being too happy about some of them, I thought I was done since it was overcast that next night even with it being sunny every day for several days. I then lucked out on the 30th with another crystal clear night like this one. I fine tuned my photos and was happy with the set. Don't be too surprised to possibly see a photo like the one above on our Christmas cards next season! 

Till next time, Tad

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