Early Evening Photo

Last night Philip and I walked down to the local Greek Pizzeria in town. It is a home-grown restaurant right on the circle and serves the best pizza in town.

It was a beautiful walk with quietness being our companion for our journey. I stopped to do a little photography and took this of my neighbor's house down the street.

We walked the rest of the way home down the middle of the street just enjoying this great beauty. School is off again today! Emergency three for my little town, everyone home!

Early morning photo of my yard on this Winter Storm in Indiana!!

I woke up early as usual to start my day without a school delay, however, by the time I was ready to go, the cancellations were pouring in to the local radio and TV stations. Everything appears to be shutting down here in the tiptop of Indiana where I call home.

I stepped onto the back porch just to take an early morning shot. I will post during the day if things change dramatically. What a lovely day to write and bake cookies and catch up on reading.

I loved these blizzards when I was a kid, who doesn't??? It is just as great as a grown up, only I don't sleep in. I am up wide-eyed and ready to enjoy this beautiful world out my windows.

An afternoon walk through Pokagon State Park

It was the perfect day to take advantage of the fresh snowfall and hiking at Pokagon State Park, just ten minutes away from my house.

Philip, who lives on the Outer Banks with sea and sand, is visiting for a few days and I thought it would be a great experience for him to share the afternoon with a crisp snow and the winter birds of Indiana. Fred Wooley, the park interpreter, shared the history and lore of the snowshoes and then sent us on our way into the woods for exploring

It was so quiet as we went deeper into the woods listening to the woodpecker hammering away as we shuffled our way across the snow.

If you get up here to Angola, Indiana, go to the State Park and look up Fred or Aaron. They will delight you with their knowledge and share stories as smooth and sweet as falling snow.

Philip will definitely take home memories of the day deepened with the poetry of Frost....

"The woods are lovely, dark and deep,

But I have promises to keep,

And miles to go before I sleep,

And miles to go before I sleep."

Friday's Haiku

I promised my kids at school that I would write one Haiku a day for a year. If you want something to get done, tell children what you are going to do because they never forget. I put the poem up on the board for all the classes every morning. They don't always understand the words, but they do understand the cadance of the language. Here was yesterday's Haiku!

sustaining beauty

rising from earth's cold shadows

winter solitude

Photo by Colleen Karas/Photography Student

Photo used with permission from Colleen Karas

Tuesday afternoons after I shoo out the kindergarten students and clean up the room a little bit, a handful of fifth and sixth grade students come for after school photography class. There are 14 of them and two teacher/students as well. They quickly take their seats with their gear in hand and patiently, or not so patiently, wait to share their photo journals and photographs with the class.

The class is Shadow and Light of Winter in which we all don the boots and winter woolies as we head out to find beauty in northern Indiana. Their enthusiasm and excellence in the class shatter any misconceptions about today's young people.

Colleen is a friend, colleague and teacher at our school as well. She has a technological brain and has helped me so many times in the past with projects. She also has the side of beauty of which she is just now uncovering. This photo is of her neighbor's driveway last week end. She graciously gave me the permission to print on my blog.

Darkness is descending, I best get my camera and take a photo or two.

A view at dusk..

With camera in hand, I caught the view at dusk from my front porch. I was actually waiting for my ride to line dancing as I was watching the end of day. It was so quiet and peaceful. I hope I was able to catch those feelings in this photo.

As for line dancing, a great evening for dancing with friends and burning a few calories as well.

Waiting for the Wolf Moon in January

Trine University Professor, Tim Carver

Friday evening at dusk I bundled up to do a photo shoot of the full moon coming up over my downtown. I packed my camera case with all the things I tell my students to take: camera, cleaning cloth, plastic bag (in case of rain or snow in this case), business cards, and money.

It was still early by the time I walked the few blocks and I was so cold that I stopped into Rachael's coffee shop to a quick cup while peeking out the front door waiting for the darkness to deepen.

There was a gentlemen working and drinking coffee. Within a few minutes he began to pack up and bundle up. He then went outside. So, I am waiting for the full moon, but this gentleman all bundled up for this frigid evening checking something in his pocket was too rich for me to pass up.

I gathered up my supplies and quickly went out asking if I may photograph him. He was so kind to say yes. The picture is so rich...it is all about my small town, the coldness of the evening and the thoughts that when waiting for something, keep your eyes open to other possibilities.

His name is Tim Carver and he is a Professor at Trine University.

Thanks for a great shot and the conversation, Tim!