A Mississippi Snowfall

A couple of days ago, several of our blogging friends in Texas were lamenting the fact that they were expecting snow where they live, and I commented saying I wish they could send some to us here in Mississippi. Well, Friday night my wish came true. Here's a look at what greeted us early Saturday morning ...

I know it's not a lot, but I thought it was pretty and wanted to capture it with my camera before it melted, which it was doing as I shot these pictures.

Although it was pretty, I was kind of sad to see what it was doing to my pretty lantana plants in the back yard ...

And to my pretty green ferns along the path leading from our courtyard to the back yard ...

And my sasanquas in the courtyard (hopefully, they will bounce back and keep blooming for a while) ...

But to every thing there is a season ... a time to plant and a time to pluck up that which is planted, and it seems that the season of winter is upon us. My ferns and lantana will rest for a while, then come back in the spring, as pretty as ever. Isn't God's plan for our world truly amazing!

Hopefully, this won't be our only snowfall this winter. Sometimes we get snow in January, February, or even early March. It would be nice to get some pictures of a heavier snowfall in and around Vicksburg, especially the Military Park and Cemetery. But for now, I'm happy that we received ... and I was able to capture ... this little bit of lagniappe.

Just Pictures

Cypress Trees, West Monroe, Louisiana Vicksburg National Military Park Cemetery Church Bell, Raymond, Mississippi Sisters of Mercy Garden Statue, Vicksburg Soaking up the Sunshine, Vicksburg Rusty Window, Vicksburg Cross at Cedar Hill Cemetery, Vicksburg Urn at Cemetery on Natchez Trace Church near Port Gibson, Mississippi Barn near Lake Providence, Louisiana Rocking Chair at Cotton Processing Plant, Louisiana Delta Chimney near Bovina, Mississippi Dogwood branches, Vicksburg, Mississippi Old Church in Mississippi Delta Barn and Silos near Rolling Fork, Mississippi Mississippi Roots Bumblebee on Chaste Plant

Hidden Nature

I recently bought a macro lens for my camera, and have been trying to learn how to use it. Yesterday afternoon after a rain shower, I looked out and noticed that the sun was shining and everything looked so pretty and fresh after the rain. I grabbed my camera with the macro lens and went outside to see what was going on.

I thought it would be fun to take some closeups of ordinary things in our yard, and I started with our Lorapetalum plants which are covered with fuchsia blooms.

Here is a close up view of one of the blooms [you can click on the pictures to enlarge them, if you'd like].

Our Little Gem Magnolia trees have almost finished blooming for the summer, and when I took the picture of the Lorapetalum, I noticed the seed pods on the magnolias.

Here is a close up shot of the pod ...

Rocks in our pond ...

And the "macro" view ...

This is a Sasanqua plant on the side of our house. As you can see, it's loaded with tiny buds.

My "macro" skills still leave a lot to be desired, but, hopefully, practice will help ...

It's hard to believe that all those buds will look like this in just a couple of months (I took this photo last year) ...

I think seed pods are sometimes as beautiful as flowers in full bloom. I captured these Cleyera seed pods after they had burst open to reveal the fruit inside ...

I have several Lantana plants in a flower bed in our back yard, and the Gulf Frittillary Butterflies love them. I was literally walking amongst them when I took these pictures.

This close up of a Lantana blossom that's not fully open reminds me of a kaleidoscope.

Ivy growing in and amongst the Majestic ferns in the flowerbeds along our path leading to the back yard.

These two close ups are Mexican Petunia blossoms ...

When I went back outside later to get a full view shot, I was upset to discover that the wind had blown all the blooms off. I found this picture that I took a couple of summers ago which shows the Mexican Petunia in the background. Notice the butterflies were swarming the lantana then, too.

My pictures aren't perfect (and probably never will be), but I'm having fun discovering all kinds of "hidden Nature" through my macro lens. I'm going to get my tripod out which will help, but it's kind of hard to drag a tripod around when you're chasing butterflies!

Lagniappe is All Around You

I've discovered that my interest in photography has literally opened up a new world for me. I've always loved and had an appreciation of Nature, but now I am even more aware of everything around me -- not just the scenery -- but sounds, and smells, and the way light and shadows give new dimensions to trees, grass, flowers, and buildings. I "see pictures" everywhere I go ... like this old wooden cross leaning against an abandoned building. I'd love to know the story behind how it got there. Or this clump of wildflowers growing out of a crumbling brick wall at a cemetery. I wonder how many people walk by and never see it, much less appreciate its simple beauty. One of the most touching things that recently caught my eye was this sweet little angel watching over a cross on the side of a country road, marking the place where someone lost their life in an accident. How many people drive by it every day and never really see it, or wonder about its significance? And speaking of not seeing things, I never would have gotten these pictures if I had not stopped to take pictures of the flowers these little creatures were on: They were beautiful, and I was so excited to get a little glimpse of their world through the lens of my camera. I love venturing "off the beaten path" on my photo shoots, and one of the things I enjoy is the little metal "scripture signs" that people put in their yards beside the road. Not long ago, I began taking pictures of some of the signs, and now I find it hard to pass one by without capturing it with my camera. Here are a few of the scriptures I've collected during my wanderings. Life is filled with lagniappe, and I encourage you to slow down and take the time to see it and appreciate it. Enjoy a sunrise or sunset, notice how the early morning sun highlights the treetops, turning them to gold, start your day by watching the birds at your feeders ... and if you happen to drive by a scripture sign in someone's yard, slow down and read the message. You never know ... it just might make a difference in your day.