Tree with sun Feb 8

Early Sunday morning, Alayne was leaving the house to start barn chores when she noticed the sun lighting up the frosty trees around us.  We had a brief ice fog over night, and it coated everything in white crystals.  I was at Widget's House taking care of the dogs before heading over to the horses when she took these photos.  It was 3 below zero (-19 C), but no wind … and with the sun shining, we put a morning like this in the "brisk" category.

In the photo at top, you're looking southeast with the sun having come over the top of Marcum Mountain and making a clump of our cottonwoods incandescent.

In this next shot, you're looking northeast from behind Lena's Barn.  The peaks are in the Scapegoat Wilderness.  The berm of snow is from keeping our lane to the back of the barn open:

Winter scene 1 Feb 8

Here's another set of frosty cottonwoods:

Winter scene 2 Feb 8

That's our vehicle barn on the left and Lena's Barn in the back, with the roof of Scout's Barn on the right:

Winter scene 4 Feb 8

This is a young aspen outside our back door … you're looking due south here:

Winter scene 5 Feb 8

And finally, here's our little house with Ovando Mountain behind it.  Alayne took this shot from the lane to the sighted horse corral.  You can see that small frosty aspen from the photo above at the corner of our house:

Winter scene 3 Feb 8

Once we got done with the chores, it was time for a Sunday morning breakfast — pancakes, OJ and coffee!

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13 responses to “Winter Travelogue At The Ranch”

  1. Bibi Avatar
    Bibi

    As much as I long for Spring/Summer, when I see these photos I feel blessed to experience the four seasons !
    Stunning shots !!!!!!!!!!

    Like

  2. Leila from Washington Avatar
    Leila from Washington

    Lovely pictures! But PLEASE keep it there…we are hearing about snow coming to our area tomorrow, but I’m sure nothing like that…I won’t complain! Blessings to both of you and the critters!

    Like

  3. Jamie Avatar
    Jamie

    Wonderful, wonderful, wonderful. Thanks for sharing such beauty.

    Like

  4. Carla Polastro-Nigro Avatar

    Thank you, Alayne & Steve, for taking these wonderful, wonderful pictures and sharing them with us!

    Like

  5. Gindy Avatar
    Gindy

    I just love this when it happens here in SE IN, rarely of course compared to your neck of the woods. Our fog frost usually does not make it down to ground level, so the trees look like sticks with ice cream on their branches while most of the trunk remains bark colored. Lovely.

    Like

  6. Debbie Avatar
    Debbie

    There is such stark beauty in those pictures…I envy your landscape…but you can keep your cold!

    Like

  7. Boundforglory Avatar
    Boundforglory

    You’d need a great breakfast after morning chores!
    It’s too bad a lot of people aren’t able to rise with the sun and find chores, or even have such a thing. It’s a great character builder, very wholesome and fulfilling.
    Beautiful pictures Alayne. Thanks for the share!

    Like

  8. Linda Avatar
    Linda

    Winter is truly beautiful, isn’t it? Hope you all stay warm!

    Like

  9. Bunny Avatar

    Truely, Heaven on Earth.

    Like

  10. Colleen & Sweet Kitty Erin Avatar
    Colleen & Sweet Kitty Erin

    You do have some beautiful landscape. I’m sure it’s hard sometimes to deal with the extreme cold but when you see scenes like this I bet it makes it worthwhile. And, of course, a breakfast for Champions.

    Like

  11. Consuelo Larrabee Avatar
    Consuelo Larrabee

    As they say, “If you’re lucky enough to live in the mountains, you’re lucky enough.”

    Like

  12. Donna Avatar
    Donna

    Absolutely beautiful photos! Your property and surrounding area is truly God’s country. Too bad your winter’s can’t be just a few months shorter though. We’re starting to warm up here in the East, and I’m glad of it! You are both definitely hearty souls!

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