| Thursday, March 8, 2018 |
| Winter Wonders |
So much for my intention to write at least one blog every month. You'd think I would have more time in the winter when the galleries are closed, but this winter we have been busier than usual--not only has there been less time to write, there has been less time to be outside, period, certainly less time to photograph, which is what fuels these blogs to begin with.
January began cold enough, with not one but two winter storms. You saw scenes from the last one in the year's only blog thus far; a couple from storm #2 are below. Early January also brought--on the same glad day--a report of a humpback whale at Jennette's Pier and a resting harbor seal on the beach. I was blessed to hear about both and to see both before they each continued on their journey.
The end of January gave us a 2nd full moon in the same month, colloquially known as a blue moon, and there were nice clear blue skies as the moon climbed up over the horizon, looking like a Chinese lantern. In mid-February three of my staff accompanied me on my annual buying trip to Philly. We were treated to a brief snowfall Friday night that lasted all of about an hour and melted in the ensuing rain overnight. But while it lasted, my companions agreed it made the city look magically like Paris. A token travel pic is below as well.
I thought surely the early cold and snow pattern would continue here on the Outer Banks in February. Instead, we had some warmer days in February hopscotching with colder days but not cold enough to snow, and several stretches of wind. The wind to top it all, though, came in the form of In Like A Lion early March, with a days-long nor-easter that closed NC 12 on Hatteras repeatedly and pushed up seafoam like whipped cream. The most disturbing sight I saw was a couple that carried two very young children out to the end of Avalon Pier as the waves were breaking high right at the pier's end. They stayed long enough for what looked to be a couple of selfie photographs and then hightailed it out of there. When they began walking back I realized from the ache in the center of my body I had been alternating between panic-breathing and holding my breath. Glad I was not present to witness what could have been a real tragedy. I was photographing from shore--and really surprised the pier was open to walkers.
Winter skies are usually my favorites of the year. I look for vibrant sunsets (and if I am really ambitious, vibrant sunrises). So far this winter, the sky that got my attention the most was a beautiful and unusual cloud formation over Kitty Hawk Bay right at dusk. By far the cutest sight of the year has been watching a young couple string a hammock under Nags Head Pier while their faithful spaniel companion stood sentinel. They were busy enjoying the breeze and using their cell phones for under the pier photos while I was busy photographing their hammock. |
click for larger image | The second storm of the year left measurable snow on the dunes! We had about 10 inches back in Colington where I live. |
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click for larger image | The Blue Moon--the second full moon in January--looked like a Chinese Lantern as it rose above the horizon. It's an optical illusion I love. |
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click for larger image | Speaking of winter visitors, I loved seeing this Parisian scene, however briefly, in Philly. |
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click for larger image | This sort of whipped foam is too salty for my taste! It was piled thick under the piers and beach road houses in Kitty Hawk. |
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posted by eturek at 10:29 PM |
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