Saturday, December 23, 2006

Finding a tree

















A snowy afternoon and the light in the canyon really was blue.

















On our way into the woods, we surprised three deer.

















We walked down the snowy road and found the tree on a small bench above the river. It was growing with a number of other small fir trees, overtaking a stand of ponderosa pines.

















The dog watched with great interest.

Trudging back in the dropping temperatures of late afternoon, we watched the long black wings of a bald eagle rise up from the river through the trees, and head downstream before of us. A thermos of hot cocoa waited for us in the car.






















We drove home watching the sliver of moon slide down the ridgeline, following the evening star to the southwest.


Click on the photo to see a larger version. It's worth it!

23 Comments:

Blogger Yes said...

Is that your doggie? So CUTE!
Looks smart, too!
Does he love the snow like mine does?

12/23/2006 11:17 PM  
Blogger Tongue in Cheek Antiques said...

Now that is what Christmas tales are made of, journies through the snow and widing ways, finding of a tree and a place to hang our memories, and the warmth of love shared in the moments like these!

12/24/2006 1:24 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Oh, a perfect way of creating good memories.

Merry Christmas/God Jul to you.

12/24/2006 3:48 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Beautiful pics, mb. Love your doggy.

12/24/2006 3:52 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

That blue! Beautiful pictures. Happy Christmas!

12/24/2006 4:45 AM  
Blogger Pat Paulk said...

MB, what wonderful memories ya'll are making for your daughter!! Beautiful country you live in!!

12/24/2006 5:28 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Several years ago we spent Christmas in Lava Hot Springs. On Christmas morning, we watched a solar eclipse through the low clouds.

12/24/2006 6:05 AM  
Blogger polona said...

gorgeous, mb! love the photos!

happy christmas!

12/24/2006 6:07 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Your walk into the woods to find your tree seems how Christmas was meant to be. I love the simplicity of it.

Oh your blue light. Isn't it amazing how the entire atmosphere becomes imbued with color? I've seen the air turn a dusky rose, as the sun set behind the Olympics. It takes my breath away. Such a beautiful blue.

12/24/2006 9:38 AM  
Blogger MB said...

Firebird, yes he is, yes he is, yes he is and yes he does! ;-) He's much beloved.

Corey, it was a great experience. I didn't even mention the black shapes of the elk silhouetted in the misty field between the road and the river on the way home! So lovely...

Britt-Arnhild, thank you! Merry Christmas & God Jul to you, too!

Charlie, we love our doggy too! He's a fine one. Every bit as alert and sweet as he looks — just not as young as he looks. (But then who of us is anymore?)

Pauline, isn't that blue something? In the second photo you can spot the contrast between the golden light on the far hills and the blue light of the shadowed, snowy canyon.

Pat, memories for us all — it's what we have, this moment by moment by moment, after all.

Zhoen, what a great story. I would love to have seen something like that!

Polona, happy Christmas to you, too!

Robin Andrea, we bought live trees for a few years and filled up our yard, so we're back to cut ones. We thoroughly enjoy making the excursion and count ourselves lucky that we are able to. Yes, I love the colors the air takes on, too!

12/24/2006 3:33 PM  
Blogger Lori Witzel said...

MB, what a beautiful Christmas outing! Having spent some time in Flagstaff, I remember the almost-mineral smell of fresh dry-powder snow, and the butterscotch of Ponderosa pines warming in the sun.

But enough of my mind's nose. In my mind's ear, I can hear the shushing-crunching sounds of footsteps in the snow as y'all bring the tree back.

Thanks for this shared gift!

12/25/2006 7:38 AM  
Blogger Sky said...

merry, merry! love the blue...we found it, too, in our front yard near our giant sequoia when we had a snowfall a few weeks ago. was amazing to see the evergreens rising in the blue light.

we are reconnected, by the way! a fabulous christmas gift to us from puget sound energy!

12/25/2006 8:09 AM  
Blogger mermaid said...

Blue is not always the color of sadness, is it? Though I'm sure it was cold, this post is so warm.

12/25/2006 9:28 AM  
Blogger rdl said...

Sounds perfect!! and what a cute dog. beautiful blue. Merry Xmas!!

12/25/2006 7:25 PM  
Blogger floots said...

great stuff
i enjoyed sharing it with you
no snow here (at low level) yet :(
cheers

12/26/2006 4:01 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

MB,

Loved the photo-essay! You've really gone multimedia over here. The previous one is a great seasonal haiku, as well.

12/26/2006 3:19 PM  
Blogger Patry Francis said...

Love your blue light and snow. We had a brown and grey Christmas, but the light shone brightly inside.

Happy New Year to you, dear MB!

12/26/2006 8:53 PM  
Blogger iamnasra said...

Wow the phots are great ..have great new year

12/27/2006 12:50 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

How incredibly beautiful. You live here!?!?

12/27/2006 4:09 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

This dog person is going ga ga over your cutie!
Beautiful blue photos. Glad you had a happy holiday, MB!

12/28/2006 9:13 AM  
Blogger MB said...

Lori, your mind's nose found the right scents!

Sky, I was very glad to read you were reconnecting. I'm sure that improved the outlook on all fronts.

Mermaid, blue can be everything from cold to passion.

rdl, thanks! I hope yours was very merry!

Lee, we kept (mostly) warm. Welcome home!

Floots, we had to go up for this snow, too.

Firehawk, thanks!

Patry, Christmas day was brown and grey here, too, all the patches of snow melting under rain. Happy New Year!

Michelle, we are fortunate to get to do this.

Nasra, thank you — you too!!

Rhea, this is about an hour's drive from my home, up into the mountains.

Gel, we go gaga over him, too. Much loved. Thanks!

12/28/2006 10:32 AM  
Blogger Sue hardy-Dawson said...

What I love about dogs is they always get into the spirit of things. I can just see him thinking "look the biggest stick in the world its going to be a great Christmas!" We never seem to get snow at the right time, even once in June we got it but never at Christmas. Looks like you had a wonderful day

1/03/2007 10:38 AM  
Blogger MB said...

Sue, we don't get a whole lot of snow at our house, either, but up in the mountains, not far away, there is plenty.

1/04/2007 9:48 AM  

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