Amazing PA Baby Wildlife Photos Spring 2012

With the warmer than usual Winter, Spring came early to our PA region.  We had a very warm April spell, which prompted many of the wildlife to breed and produce early in the season.  When I was a young child,  I tried to rescue a baby bunny much like the one pictured above.  40 years later, I'm still trying to save the animal world. 

My Lab Bruno Leo found this sweet thing underneath one of our huge pine trees.  Luckily bunny wasn't a snack for my Bruno Leo.  The nest was dug out all over the ground.  I put the nest back together the best I could, and placed baby bunny back underneath it.  I tried not to handle baby bunny much, as the mother would smell my scent.  I hoped the mother would come back to tend and feed her baby.  That night was very cold, and the next day my daughter found bunny stiff underneath the nest.  I'm not quite sure what bunny died from, hunger, already internally damaged from another animal, or just froze to death. 

Sometimes I have to let nature take it's own course, and sadly bunny didn't make it to grow bigger.  I know I can't save the world, but at least I gave it a shot!!  Baby bunny's beauty will be forever preserved in my photo! 

My sister's dog Kikko found these adorable baby robins, in a backyard tree.  They weren't nested up very far, and they would've been doomed for sure had I not intervened.  I put Kikko in the house and moved the nest to another tree.  That night a storm came, and I worried about the baby robins, I went back to check on them, and one had fallen out of the nest and the nest was leaning almost falling from the branch I shoved it in.  So I picked up baby robin and moved the nest to a more secure tree location.  I checked their progress every few days, and yes they survived and all flew from the nest!

Hubby found these adorable Mom and baby Salamanders in Bruno's huge plastic water dish.  Not sure if they would've of survived in the water, as the nights are still freezing.  The sides of the plastic bucket very slippery and hard for them to get out.  Salamanders are said to go into the water only to breed.  The baby salamander kept sticking to it's mothers tail!  I put them on a sheet of white paper so I could get a decent shot of them together.  Arent they too cute!!  We let them go into the wooded area behind our home! 

Pictured here our sneaky Binx cat,  a stray we adopted last year brought me a fine present!  A baby gardner snake, which he kept repeatedly tossing over his head.  The snake just laid there and didn't move much!  Isn't he ornery looking, as if to say "Mom look at the prize I caught for you!"

A closer shot of the baby gartner snake, with all it's incredible markings.  The cement a color complementing it's stripped body!  I let Binx in, and the snake just slithered away!  So another snake survived to live around my yard.  My nephew spotted another one sunning  itself near my home, which was much bigger than this baby one!  I've learned to tolerate them, as they have as much right to be here and exist as we do.  We've many of them around here, and I find snakes quite intriguing to look at!  Snakes love the sun as we do to get warm! 

In conclusion, I went to reach for our water hose and who was lerking on the wrapped hose but this huge spider.  Luckily I looked before I grabbed the hose!  The spider legs spread were as big as my hand about 4 to 5 inches in length.  Hubby and I were able to get him in a bucket on a piece of plastic,  so I could grab a couple shots.  I was very afraid he would jump up at me, and better to be safe than sorry some spiders are very poisonous.  Found this interesting link for pics of PA spiders .

Growing up in the city, I rarely witnessed wildlife such as these pictured on my blog.  I noticed the wasps are already building their nests too, all around my house and pool.  So I must knock them down when the temps get lower at night.  One thing I don't like is bees building huge nests around my home. 

Enjoy your Spring and have a safe and happy one!  Respect and preserve our world, and Stay right here Literally In The Moment.

Valspar~ Love The Look ~ Love The Paint!!

With anticipated thoughts of Spring just around the corner, are you planning to paint or remodel a room in your own home? I recieved my Valspar sample the beginning of February, and I was impressed. Of course I'm already a fan of Valspar paints and colors because I used Valspar paint previously 2 years ago on our Purple Bathroom Remodel. The light purple we used is still very appealing to this day!!

Valspar is giving away free sample kits which include a 7.7 Fl Oz paint sample in the color of your choice, color chip, coordinating colors envelope, rollers, and a coupon for $5.00 off your next gallon of Valspar paint. You can't beat that for a great advertising deal, and you can even try out a color that you choose. Hurry over to get your Free Sample kit, I believe the kits are still being offered!

After much debate, I chose the color Dancing Rose-1005-6A, which is the first color to the left in the color chip pictured above. Valspar offers you a choice of a million rainbow colors!! It's like literally being in a color candy store, and believe me there's no lack of choices here!! You'll find it difficult to pick one, as all are so inspiringly beautiful. I dare you to try to pick one!!!

You can trust in Valspar to give you a quality paint, and most of all a finished look you'll cherish for many years to come. I can say from my own experience with Valspar~ You'll love the look, and Love the Paint!!

Go grab your sample and let me know what color you decided on. My whole house really needs done. With the cost of living prices and gas on the rise, I'll have to settle for one room at a time! :)

Think EARLY Spring and stay right here Literally In The Moment!!

Summer's Final Reflection Photos

With Summer steadily winding down, comes the climax of many beautiful reflections. I hardly know where to start with my own. First my bountiful vegetable garden has yielded many lovely treasures. I layered my perfections on metal skewers pictured above, creating a splendid barbeque feast for our dinner tonight!

Mouth watering cherry tomatoes, zucchini, green bell peppers, pearl onions, and carrots, were all my garden veggie delights surrounding chicken breast chunks. I used a special dry rub sent to me by my good friend Nazarina, paired with a terriyaki marinade. To say the least, I couldn't grill them fast enough to fill my families plates.

I've had an abundance of greenbeans, which are still coming strong! I've frozen a good bit of these vegetables for my soups, sauces, ect for the Winter months ahead. I started drying out my sunflowers to make sunflower seeds as in the past.


My daily walks with Sierra dog has given me wonderful solitude, gazing along the countrysides of my farmer friends farm. Isn't the view just breathtaking? The corn is about a good 6 to 7ft, ready to harvest shortly. This farm goes on for miles, carrying into another farm.


The sun was setting on an evening this past week, when I shot this photo at a different angle. The soybean field directly in front of me, and the rolling hills that Pennsylvania is know for far off in the horizon. Farming is a unique and beautiful art in itself, these great folks work hard to keep this farm looking immaculate as it does.

My flowers seem to always look their most beautiful at the end of Summer, and through most of Fall. The flower plants are at their fullest and most brilliant color. My hotpink petunias just light up my flower garden with their elegant and delicate presence.

I only had one set of my purple coneflowers come back this year. These beauties are one of my favorite flowers. The birds love pecking and eating the centers out of the daisylike flowers.

School is starting in a couple days, and the nights are growing cooler. It's been a hot and humid summer, and I look forward to cooler nights walking with Sierra dog.

Soon the flowers will fade, and the leaves will start turning. But I won't rush a moment, not too fast or hastily. I'll take them as they come and revel right here Literally in the moment!!

The End Of A Swimming Era!

Sadly our Esther Williams pool of 16 years has bit the dust! All my beautiful memories are going to the scrap yard! I was pregnant with my first child when we purchased this pool. It's been through 2 generations of dogs, and most recently my nephew and great nephew. We enjoyed many wonderful summers in this pool, and I'm certainly going to miss our favorite summer recreation right in our own backyard. We were going to purchase a new liner, and upon examing the walls my hubby found a bunch of pin holes all through them.

It couldn't of happened at the worse time, as we're experiencing one of the hottest summers here in PA. We've spent a lot of the past month, driving over to my sister's house to swim in her pool. Though it's been really nice to go there, it's not like swimming right out our own back door! Winter took it's toll on our roof, so we had to have all the shingles replaced this Spring. So purchasing a new pool is quite out of the question.

I've been having a run of bad luck for the past two weeks. I fell one day while walking Sierra dog, along a country field and almost broke my arm and wrist. The ground was so hard, it might as well have been cement. My wrist is still black and blue almost halfway down my arm. Of course I didn't go to the doctor, and have been nursing myself. Still walking Sierra 5 days a week, very gently I may say. Still doing all my chores slowly and gently! To say the least my spirit has been broken, and I know I must be very careful in my footing from now on. I push myself very hard always, and most things can't bring me down. But the pain has gotten to me this time!!

Our luck changed today when a friend of ours stopped over. It just so happens he had an extra pool, and he decided to give it to us. He had moved and thought he lost some pieces to it, and bought another pool. In the meantime, he found the lost pieces. It's a round pool not like our oval, but we'll still be able to swim. My hubby went and picked up the pool this evening.

I'm not sure if we'll get the pool up this Summer, because we want to move it to another location. Where we had the pool before, the leaves would always come in and make it turn green!! Too many trees, shedding too many leaves, especially during thunderstorms!! Plus with my bum arm, I'm limited to how much I can help!! Yet I sure would like to have the pool up and running, as the temps don't seem to be going down anytime soon! Unfortunately Summer is halfway over already.

Time sure flies, how's your Summer going so far! Our vegetable garden is coming along, with beets, zuccini, onions, radishes, and garlic. My flower garden is blooming beautifully too, and those glorious Sunflowers are back! Still working hard on the animal front. A reminder to keep all your pets cool in these hot Summer months!!

Stay right here Literally In The Moment with more updates to come!

Marriage Twenty Years In The Making~ Photos Then And Now!

June 2, 2010 marked our twentieth wedding anniversary. Time sure flies, and so much has happened in twenty years. We were a stunning young couple back then, working hard for our future together. I can't say it has been total bliss, or a storybook marriage. There were times I thought to leave, but stayed because of my deep love for my husband and child. I couldn't survive in a loveless relationship, or one which lacks passion and intimacy. I think most couples go through rough times, and if they're lucky come out together even stronger and closer.

If I can say one thing we lacked was taking time for ourselves to nourish our relationship. Helping family, kids, and work always came first. It was almost if we eventually didn't have real time for each other.

If I could share a word of wisdom it would be make time, before it's too late. Before you just become friends, and not lovers anymore! That doesn't mean just sex either, although intimacy is very important too.

It's just the little jestures I miss, like the long French kisses, a hug now and then, and just plain hand holding! Yes I did marry my best friend, but I can find a friend anywhere. Like the Lady Gaga song goes "I want your love, I don't want to be friends!"

I want it all, just like so many other women out there, alittle bit of the fairytale dream wouldn't hurt!! No one is perfect and I'm far from it. It takes a lot of patience and love to stay commited to each other. True love will always prevail, and you must work at it!! I always like a good fight, making up is the ultimate pleasure!!

Still the love of my life even after twenty years. There is no other man I'd rather be with.

Before we left, I wanted to venture back to our special day at the church, where the wedding photos above were taken by the fountain. As you can see the water is not running! The Mother Mary statue is still as beautiful as it was then. I hope to rescan my wedding photos at a later time, as my scanner is getting old and my bigger photos came out distorted. The reason I had to use smaller images than usual. The photos have a special finish to preserve them, and my scanner picked up on the coating!

We celebrated with a long awaited romantic weekend last weekend. We took a long drive into Pittsburgh and stayed at the Sheraton Station Square Hotel where the Gateway Clipper tours up and down the three rivers.

It rained so hard the whole time we were there, and we were under tornado watches. We worried about home, as we're putting on a new roof!! The shot above taken from our hotel room dark clouds looming! The beds were very comfortable, and the room was very nice. We had dinner at McCormick & Schmick's, of course I had seafood, and the food was fabulous! My honey surprised me with a beautiful tiger ring, that I had wanted!

The Pittsburgh Pirate game was sold out, so we went to check out the new Rivers Casino.

The casino was beautiful inside, and part was still under construction. We needed a players club card to play the slots, and the line was at least an hour wait. So we just looked around and left!

We took a wrong turn on the highway and I saw my life flash before my eyes as we crossed three lanes of traffic. So glad to be back at our hotel, we decided to drive no further. We walked around Station Square, and the fireworks at the Pirate Game were lighting the sky. The Hard Rock Cafe was just down the block from our hotel, so we walked there! A band played Fleetwood Mac, and they were good, but the Doors tribute band wasn't so hot. We left and called it a night, after a couple drinks.

The weekend seemed to go so fast, just like the flash of the last twenty years. Glad to be back where the parking is free, and not $3.00 an hour. The city is beautiful to visit, but we don't belong there!! I belong here on the beautiful countrysides walking Sierra dog, along this beautiful dairy farm above. I'm older now, enjoying the peaceful life, here where natures view is always beyond breathtaking!!

PA Twilight ~ Sunset Photo And Haiku ~ Mother's Day 2010!

Unveiled

Life's beauty unveils

memories become moments

withering in twilight

©Jo A. True-Burkholder 2010

Mother nature like many women cannot make up her mind! In the 80's yesterday and in the 50's today! Typical crazy Pennsylvania weather. I took this twilight shot right out my front door, the first part of February. We had rain, and temps dipped way down to zero, and the rain froze during the day covered by a light snow! One of my favorite shots with the sun in the backround! We're close to freezing tonight!!

Talking about Mothers, Mother's Day is bittersweet for me, because my mother passed four years ago. I've many great memories of her, filling our home with great cooking smells. It was my mom who made our house a home. Her mere presence always brang a smile into our lives and always will. Her talents and love were unprecedented and irreplaceable. To say I miss her would be an understatement. The years haven't been the same without her, and I can say my life hasn't been the same either.

Yet life truly goes on and all mom desired most was for her family to be happy. Holidays seem to be the hardest to celebrate, even years later. It's almost if I miss her more the longer she's been gone! If you're lucky enough to have your mother, treasure her for every moment that you have. People say it, yet few realize how short our time here on this lovely earth is. Embrace life with every breath, and never regret a moment you have together loving each other. Memories are everything, never cease making them.. Lastly never stop taking photos. You don't know when our loved ones will make their final exit far into the twilight.

I'll be planting my Mother's day flowers soon, picked out 42 little flower gems to brighten my Spring flower garden. Happy Mother's Day and stay Literally In The Moment!

Read my other Mother's Day posts here:

My Mother's Day Flower Planting Ritual

Siberian Crabapple Blossoms ~ Tree Sappling For Unique Mother's Day Gift

Early Spring Flowers II & Gardner Snake Photos

I had transplanted these lovely deep orange poppies last Fall. I was excited to see them bloom the earilier part of the week. Poppies add a touch of beauty to your Spring flower beds! These are my first poppies to grace my flower beds!


My hot pink tulips bloomed for the 3rd year in a row. The tulips have spread and are a gorgeous compliment to my purple phylox to the right!


The centers of the tulips are a bright yellow, giving a stunning contrast to the hot pink petals and long green leaves.


I stepped out to check laundry on the line yesterday, and guess who was back. My friendly gardner snake, was almost underfoot. Surpisingly he let me get this close with my camera! I was almost afraid at how close I was! These snakes have red tongues, which slide in and out of their mouths so fast. So now I must watch where I step, because one of these snakes could be lurking about! Gardner snakes love to bask in the sun too!

Were expecting storms today, the weather has been grand in the upper 70's. A cold front is coming through and we'll be 20-30 degrees colder! So is the crazy seesaw weather of Pennsylvania! How is your Spring going! I've been very busy featuring dogs on death row, here and on facebook. Some have gotten homes, and others have been rescued or sponsored. I'm elated to help these sweet dogs.

More photos and great stories to come, as always stay Literally In The Moment!

Gorgeous Purple Stripped Crocuses Photos

I couldn't resist taking a couple more shots of these beautiful crocuses, on my nightly walks this week with Sierra dog. These lovlies were growing in a small cluster beneath a maple tree. The colors so stunning they grabbed your attention immediately laying your eyes upon them!



The yellow centers resembling the cheery sun and the long awaited arrival of Springtime! They seemed to close up as the light of day faded, and the petals closed together as if they were going to sleep. I've seen many dark purple crocuses, but not many like these with the fine stripes!

We've had some awesome weather here in Pennsylvania as temps ran up to 85 degrees today! Of course I hung clothes on the line! Getting ready for a busy Easter weekend, nursing a horrible cold I caught!

Wishing you all a great Easter Holiday, and stay Literally In The Moment!

Early Spring Flower Photos

The delicate Crocus is one of my favorite Spring flowers. Crocus flowers have been blooming everywhere here. I picked this purple and white beauty one evening walking Sierra. This crocus was blooming along a creek near a huge maple tree. I put the crocus in the leaves of my poppy plant, which is also coming along soon! I love the fine lines on the petals!


First daffodil has graced my flower bed with white petals and yellow center! Great to have flowers which come back on their own every year!



More yellow growing by our pool. Nice too see yellow and green after our long cold, snowy Winter! I've many tulips, lilies, dianthus, and poppies coming! I can't wait for them to bloom. What Spring flowers are blooming in your area! The baby bunny in my header I took late Spring last year! I was surprised how close the bunny let me come, to get this great shot!

Our Newest Critter ~ Possum or Opossum Photos!

Living out here in the country has many advantages, but also some disadvantages. My husband has a business, and over our long cold Winter he's had some critter guests move in underneath the trailer building. My husband was especially concerned about a skunk who has been spreading his lovely perfume everytime someone walks near the trailer. The skunk smell is literally coming up through the floor inside the building!

So needless to say my honey went out and purchased a humane cage to trap the skunk! He didn't realize that there were also Possums living under there too. So far he's caught a feral cat twice and two possums. The photo above is the second possum he caught, the first one was smaller possibly the spouse or baby to this one! The other critters were caught with food bait, but this guy just wondered in on it's own, maybe smelling it's buddy from the day before!

I approached the cage with caution, and this cute thing was sleeping like a baby. He wasn't even a bit concerned at my presence! He was just so cute sleeping there, I almost wanted to pet him, but didn't dare!


The possum was not at all pleased to be awakened from his deep nap! My husband had tied a rope to the cage to pull the cage out. The possum was growling and hissing not happy to see us at all! I told my husband to release him in the same spot as the other one, just in case they were related!

I'm always putting everything together as lovers, family, kids, even when it comes to animals! The possum was banging his head and nose against the cage, especially when the truck started moving. He bloodied his nose a bit trying to escape!


We relocated our big possum buddy in a nice wooded area, where the other one was released the day before. I was very apprehensive to get too close, as these are wild animals and you never know what they'll do. At least he was free and not a nuisance to our close home area! Still no sign of that dang skunk, but you can sure smell him! I've since quit feeding the feral cats near my home, because I don't want to attract other wild animals!


On another note the weather has finally broken here in Pennslyvania. The big snowmelt, and rain of last week is but a memory. A chance to dry out we're having the most beautiful early Spring weather after the hardest of Winters in many years. As I said we ran out of wood, and had an electric bill of $240.00 last month. I know my sister paid over $600.00 for her electric bill this cold Winter! We cut a lot of wood last Fall, but ran out due to the coldest of Winters. I was pissed that we had other logs, but they were buried under over 20 feet of snow!

So now we've a break in the Weather I've been bugging my husband to cut some wood. Above is the first pile I stacked today. The sun feels wonderful and it's a great way to work off some Winter weight! At least we'll have some ready to burn, in case the weather turns cold once again. I wouldn't put it past this global warming!

One last note, I've been following the Tiger Ranch story for almost two years now. Yesterday Linda Bruno was back in court again. with allegations that she violated terms of her probation. Just when you think it's over, the saga continues on! They were saying that the Defend Tiger Ranch site was soliciting for cat litter, and T-shirts. The website was taken down as of last night!

Linda Bruno is to have no contact with animals, and is said to still have two horses and not paid any of her restitution. Her lawyers say Linda wasn't aware of any wrong doing. There's still much controversy for and against this case. I'm still receiving comments on my Tiger Ranch posts from the past, read all the controversial comments and my Tiger Ranch posts!

To be continued another court date is scheduled for May!

Become an Avian Advocate!

Have you ever heard the smack of a bird flying into your window? Spring migration season is upon us, and birds will soon be making their way Northward! A billion birds have a collision with windowpanes every year. The Wisconsin Humane Society with help from the Jeff Rusinow Family Foundation, are giving away Window clings.

To help with the prevention of birds flying into your home or office, these Window Alert clings will be available free from March 1, 2010 - April 30, 2010 while supples last! Order your free window alert clings on the Wisconsin Humane Society website, and read more about how you can help birds flying toward lighted buidings at night.

Read the story about Peabody, a white throated sparrow who collided with a lighted building. Learn how you can help in the prevention of bird collisions in your home, workplace, and protect birds at night all on the Wisconsin Humane Society Website.

I love to hear the songbirds in my front and backyards, bringing back life to the world around us. Now the snow is finally slowly melting, and I know the birds will be back in no time to build their nests. The hawks like the one in my photo above will be returning to our woods to roost!

Now if I could only keep those pesky blue and red birds from fighting their own reflections on our car and truck mirrors parked outside our home! We use small rags to cover our mirrors, otherwise they scratch the mirrors up!

Desperately Seeking Spring ~ Valentine Red Tulip Photos 2010!

Hoping everyone had a good Valentine's Day. My Sweet Valentine of many moons presented me with a beautiful red tulip plant pictured above. He included a nice cat card, and my favorite chocolates ~ dark chocolate M&M's, and Hershey's special dark chocolate kisses. I've been basking in dark chocolate Heaven since, and gazing into my deep red tulips pining for Spring! Dang he still loves me!

Along with many Pennsylvanians I'm more than ready for an early Spring, wishing for mild Winters we're accustomed to here! We're expecting 4-6 inches today and tomorrow on top of the almost 3ft of snow we already have since the blizzard of Feb 6, 2010, and it's snowed everyday since! Snow keeps freezing into ice as temperatures remain in the teens, and roads and sidewalks remain very slick! I'm glad to have my silky Cuddl Duds, and Land's End winter boots. We've put our winter clothing to very good use in this record breaking snow and cold, in fact this is the 2nd snowiest snowfall per month in history!

The snowy weather is taking it's toll on everything and everyone! Our snowplow is broken, moving icey snow in piles of up to 4ft -5ft. Our huge wood pile stock is almost depleted, and we'll be lucky to burn what we have the rest of this week! The artic blast has continued for almost two months, leaving many folks with high heating and electric bills. Snow piled on homes and buildings are on the verge of collapsing, and our schools were closed all last week! Mail and garbage pick up has been delayed, boo hoo!



I think red tulips are as pretty as red roses! I looked high and low in search of the perfect backround for these lovelies, and it finally dawned on me the snow on my front patio! The light contrast of white snow against bright red tulips was so captivating!

On the bright side, Spring is almost on the horizon hopefully only a month away! I'm longing to see my gorgeous tulips growing around my home! When my tulip plant fades, I'll save the bulbs to plant in my flower garden in the Fall. Aren't these red beauties just stunning? I'll be admiring them for awhile!

My camera is up and running for the moment thank goodness! Thanks for visiting, keep safe, and stay ~ Literally In The Moment! xo xo xo ~

Fourth Largest Blizzard Blasts Pennsylvania Region ~ Cool Record Snowfall Photos Feb 6, 2010!

We're still digging out from the 4th largest snow storm in history, which hit Pennsylvania and many other boardering states Febuary 5, & 6th 2010! I measured 20 inches of snow here in the country and notice the amount on my snow gage patio table pictured above! The storm has literally paralyzed cities, here in our region!

I like many other Pennsylvanians had already hit the grocery stores, as soon as we heard of a storm coming. I did my grocery last Thursday, and my store was absolutely packed, and of course the two day meat sale was going on! When a storm is remotely imminent Pennsylvanians hit grocery stores first, and many store shelves are almost cleared bear. We're always well prepared to be hunkered down, and for good reason as many roads are still impassable!



Plowing our driveway of almost 2 feet of snow was a feat in itself. Our friend had his utility truck stuck in the icey slush which was underneath the piled up snow! Took two trucks to pull his truck out, which was a very common occurance all across residential, and state roads. In fact they called for a state of disaster and in many counties including ours, where only emergency personnel and workers were allowed to drive on public roads! Anyone caught driving would pay a hefty fine! We remain in state of emergency as I type this post!



I call these my weeping pines. Alot of the snow had already fallen from these babies! Hundreds of trees in surrounding cities were pushed beyond their brink with snow, and downed thousands of powerlines. Some folks were under water conservation, because waterplants had no power! There're thousands of people without power in our county and counties statewide! We were fortunate to have all our power and utilites in working order!



The snow piled up and was blown to almost the height of our 5 ft fence. The snow was so deep I had to take the photo from the side of our house! Snow is above knee deep in most areas!



The tree above bending all the way down to the ground on the road behind our home! The snow this time around was a heavy wet snow! We only shoveled the back entrance to our home, which was backbreaking enough. I'm still sore from lifting heavy shovelfuls of snow! I tried to build a snowman, but the snow would not pack together!



I took a brisk walk after we finished our driveway and sidewalk! All my neighbors were digging out! I came to the tunnel at the end of our road and shot my photo ~" snow tunnel vision!" Isn't it gorgeous! I love walking here, becoming one with all the tranquility. The sun graced us with her beautiful presence on this gloomy day!



Snow piled along the road up to 3 and 4ft with a glaze of icy slush beneath! Reminded me of driving up to the Laurel Mountains a couple weeks ago! Trees majestically filled in with layers of snowfall, giving the landscape a whole new vision of beauty. The white snow adds more definition and dimension to bare tree limbs!



Our tree with the child swing was picture perfect when I made my way back home. Sun hitting the treetops and the sky turning a stunning blue! The fallen snow also had a pretty blue tint to it!



A fun one for all you basketball players this is my "Snow Dunk," photo! Gave me a smile as I walked beneath it!




My honey on the roof was worried about the amount of weight stressing our roof! He decided to do this after we shoveled off the sidewalk! So gave me more shoveling to do! Check out the guy and the blue sky! The last time we had a snowstorm like this one was in March of 1993.

The last photo here is my favorite I call "Snowlimbs," I took on the way back from my walk as the sunbeams lit the light blue sky. Chunks of snow were falling off everywhere from everything! I find beauty in everyday, it's all right before my eyes!

Everyone was in a rush to get their plowing done, our temps went down in single digits last night with windchills of zero. Another storm is only a couple days away, and we're going to be in the arctic blast for some time! All this wonderful mess is hard frozen now!

My camera is on the verge not sure what the problem is, may have to beg hubby for a new one for my birthday at the end of the month! I've taken hundreds of pictures, so my camera has done very well. I genuinely wore it out!

Hope you enjoyed the visual world through my eyes! Thanks for stopping by! Until next time stay warm, safe, and Literally In The Moment! xxoo ~ Jo

PA Winter Flooding ~ Kingston Dam 2010

We've had a mixed bag of weather here in Pennsylvania, for the last week in January 2010. All the snow we accumulated last 2 weeks melted, with warm temps and rain past weekend caused snow melt and flooding to occur. Many rivers in Pittsburgh and surrounding areas were overflowing their banks, and some roads were actually closed due to flooding!

The mild air quickly turned cold with yet another artic blast of extremely cold air engulfing our region again. I made my way across the busy highway and stood on the icey bridge to catch the above shot of Kingston Dam Spillway which was brimming over.



This shot taken from the center of the bridge. Here my old stomping grounds, where I used to party in the summer catching a suntan on the cement slab. The view is still quite breathtaking with the rushing Loyhanna lake, and hilly trees along the skyline! These shots were taken yesterday on our way up the mountain again!

This morning we woke to 4 degrees, and we're expected to remain very frigid for the next week. Presently all the water from our thaw has frozen, and turned into a thin sheet of ice on everything! I can't wait for Spring, let's get Winter over with already!

Have a great weekend! Thanks for visiting, and stay tuned to Literally In The Moment!

Pennsylvania Snowfall 2010 Phenomenal Photos ~ Laurel Mountain & Derry Ridge!

Finally a break from all the snow we've had here in Pennsylvania for the past two weeks. I swear we had at least 15-16 inches of snow piling two to three inches at a time every single day! I shoveled snow almost twice daily.

Found this cool site which calculates how many calories you burn, when you shovel snow by hand here: Fitday.com I burned 286 calories per hour! At least I was burning off some holiday calories. You can see my front patio table snow gage above, where over a foot of snow piled like a snow cake!



We've a long driveway at least an 1/8 a mile coming from our top road. The snow kept piling up and we had trouble keeping up. My car sat for a couple days when we had a layer of sleet on top snow becoming too hazardous to drive! You can see how high we had to plow the snow in my header above!



Eventually the snow slowed a bit, then we were hit with an artic blast. Got so cold ~how cold did it get? Well cold enough to freeze our burning logs together! Dang I had a heck of time trying to bust those logs apart! In fact we've put such a dent in those logs, we may have to cut more very soon! You remember how huge our log pile was! The snow kept coming and my hands froze within minutes of shoveling, so I had to double glove!

Spectacular icicles formed like the ones in my photo above. Icicles are much like stalicites formed in caves or caverns, except for the fact that stalicites take thousands of years to come into formation!




Last week we headed up over the ridge, and I was so awestruck over the snow scenery on the ridge. I was terribly upset that I didn't have my camera, so my hubby took me back yesterday to catch some awesome shots on Derry Ridge as seen here in the photo!





It's as if we walked right into winter wonderland postcards. Snow covered the trees for miles, begging me to capture the beauty!





The further we went the deeper the snow and heavier the snow appeared on the scenery! Like we were driving into a totally different world!



As we approached Laurel Mountain, you could imediately notice the difference in snow coverage! It was as if someone had taken a frost gun and frosted the whole area. Totally breathtaking as the towering trees stretch on for miles, looming high in the sky with every frosty branch!

These pines reminded me of my friend Nazarina who posted a photo of the snow in Colorado on her blog last year! Pine branches were so heavy they touched the ground, and even worse were broken from the weight! Many tree branches were bent to the brink of breaking!

We could hardly see the road as we drove further up the mountain, even the powerlines were covered in snow! Still the trees were white glazed in such granduer, drawing us further into it's frozen world!

Each mile more magnificent than the next! Laurel Mountain is an incredible landmark to experience all Four seasons here in Pennsylvania. Each season simply exordinarily capitivating to envision.

Afraid of venturing any further, we decided to turn around when we saw only snowmobile tracks! Hardly anyone in sight but one skier, close to the entrance!

The astounding view was ever breathtaking as we made our second visual round down the mountain. This exemplary shot taken from our truck's front windshield!

Lastly but not leastly we caught one final glance as we exited the mountain. Looking out across frosted treetops lining the mountain as far as you can see. Here dusk was approaching fast, and the snow was still falling. Glad to head home to alittle warmer climate!

Hope you enjoyed looking at the snow world through my eyes here in Pennsylvania! The sun has made her entrance today, a gradual thaw to melt the ice tundra on my driveway!

Stay tuned until next time, remain focused and Literally In The Moment!