Thanks to Gene, the neighborhood snow angel, the sidewalks on my block are clear and I'm able to get in and out of my driveway even after the plow goes by and dumps what I'm sure is the accumulated snow from several blocks.
Sometimes I'm convinced the snowplow driver waits until I've already cleared a path just to make sure I'm out there again with shovel in hand. But that driver doesn't know I've got a secret weapon. It's Gene.
Our area is blessed with lakes and woods but very few places where photographers can photograph moving water showing motion in the winter.
The exception is Stony Brook in Fritz Loven Park in the City of Lake Shore. With your tripod in hand, head for the rushing water as it tumbles over the rocks in the brook.
My teens and tween may be too old to wish for their two front teeth, but surprisingly, one gift still tops their Christmas list every year--a new book. From the Sandra Boynton board books to Dr. Seuss and on to chapter books, the gift of reading has become a tradition.
It was hard to hear Santa's bells over the squeal of kids at the Brainerd Public Library on Monday evening. Nearly 40 kids and their parents came to hear Santa read books to them with Mrs. Clause at his side. The kids then got a chance to ask questions ranging from "Do you know the tooth fairy?", to "How many marshmallows do you like in your hot chocolate?" After a chance to sit on Santa's lap or pose for pictures the kids had refreshments and took part in many Christmas, Kwanzaa and Hanukkah crafts.
If there is a break in the clouds tonight the show in the night sky will be worth a trip outside and a good reason to stay up. The longest night of the winter is matching up with a lunar eclipse as the Earth blocks the sun's rays. As the Earth's shadow is cast on the moon, the lunar body is expected to change from gray to orange or deep red as indirect sunlight passes through the Earth's atmosphere. NASA said the eclipse will last 72 minutes beginning about 12:32 a.m. With the winter solstice marking the shortest day and longest night, the moon will be high in the night sky.
Many, many times I have heard from people how they photographed something during a snowfall and it turned out really dark and the snowflakes were not visible.
First of all, your camera turns everything medium gray because that is what a meter does. So to turn the snow white, go to the compensation dial and plus up the exposure to overexpose the scene. This will make the snow white.
I'm not really a football fan. I watch it, but only because the men in my life love it. I usually find a book and a blanket and go to my happy place while the neanderthals smash their heads together any given Sunday.
I know, so un-American.
When I heard the news that the Vikings would be playing their final home game at TCF Bank stadium I laughed...outdoor football game in December in Minnesota!? That sounds about like the worst thing ever. Those people will freeze their faces off.
Before Facebook was invented my mom exchanged Christmas cards with far-flung friends for decades. If one year she didn't receive a card from the family it meant that their status had been changed to: Wife died.
Book Review of Jane Smiley's Private Life
by Linda McIntosh
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