Winter Blues?

About this time of year, every year, many people get the "Winter Blues". They are ready for spring to come and can't wait until all this snow is GONE!!!  To me, Winter is one of the most beautiful times of year. I don't like shoveling snow, but I really enjoy what snow does to the scenery. God blesses the land with a white background that is absolutely breathtaking. Today I traveled to Hayward and took some photos of barns and lakes. What an amazing God we serve that makes the world glow in white and blue!!! We can curse the snow or we can praise God for it (even when shoveling it). God Bless!!!

One Word Signs

If there was one tool in my workshop that I have used the most in the past few months it would be the scroll saw. I had a cheaper one and it did all right, but it was not the best. So I bought a Dewalt scroll saw that works great. It cuts so much cleaner, the blades last longer and is just a joy to use. I started out making animal puzzles for Christmas. I sold quite a few of them, especially the alphabet snake puzzles. Lately I have been working on silhouette soldiers praying. Now I am also putting together "one word nature signs". They take a little longer to make and take a little more wood, but I think they come out pretty good. Each one is somewhat unique. You can see some of them below. They are for sale for $20.00 each and most of them measure around 8.5" X 11". Call me or email me at Fdistad@Gmail.com if interested.
  I am also interested in getting together with other people interested in doing scroll saw work to compare notes and to encourage one another in this art. The Dog House work shop is heated and would be a great place to explore the art of scroll sawing.

 

Frozen Swans

On the outskirts of Clear Lake, WI there is a pond that always has open water throughout the year. It is a great place for geese and swans congregate. It is a beautiful place to visit and an even greater place to take photos. BUT in order to get a good shot I have to go down a snowy hill and hide behind frosty branches. The branches you see in the photos below is NOT SNOW. It is frost from the steamy pond. Water from a factory keeps the water flowing, but it also creates frost. Yesterday at -2 degrees the water gave off a frozen mist that to me is simply "mystifying". Either way it creates a great special effect that makes the photos extra special. I stood in the cold for 20 minutes or so just taking one shot after another. No frost bite, but some great shots. God sure knows how to make a great place to photograph swans. To Him be the Glory!(Can you name the insurance commercial that the first swan starred in?)

Beauty of Oldf Barns

What makes an old barn so beautiful? Is it the contrast of colors or the rich patine that only age can give it? Is it the setting whether with snow, flowers, fences or fields? Is it unique shape and structure of barns long ago that they simply cannot duplicate today? Of course all of these contribute to it's beauty. But the thing that makes it a real beauty to me is the history and the story that it holds. Every barn has a story of the people who built it and those who used it. If it's walls could talk it could tell amazing stories of adventure and excitement over the years. Here are a few of the photos from the last few days of area barns. What is there story?And then what is YOUR STORY?