Snow On The Prairie

Old unused windmill- once used the power of the wind to pump water.

Saturday, unexpectedly, it began to snow. It wasn’t in the forecast, and when the first flakes came floating down, I thought that was all we would get. But the snow set in, and continued through the afternoon.

Dirt road bordered by dried grasses.

A gate lies open to an old farmstead where a house once stood.

It was a nice snow too. Not terribly cold, and no wind to blow it into drifts.

Rows of corn stubble curve over the hills.

Just gentle flakes falling to earth and clothing everything in white.

Foxtail

Velvetleaf seed pods

Wild sunflower seedheads

I hopped into my car, and took off around the back roads between the farm fields and pastures.

Gravel road bordered by pasture and farm fields.

Haybales neatly placed in rows. Will be used to feed cattle this winter.

Field of native grasses overlook a wooded valley.

I passed old barns, windmills, and crossed over old bridges.

Old barn and silo.

Red barn at the edge of a harvested cornfield.

Old bridge over Mulberry creek.

I stopped often to look and take pictures.

Red barn

"The woods are lovely, dark and deep."

Cow and calf.

A neighbor’s calf, born in the fall, takes little notice of it’s first snow. She’s more intent on nursing from mama.

Old barns, unused and neglected for years, seem to take on a new dignity in the snow.

Old unused barn.

Red barn between the oaks.

A cattail, half of its fluff missing, wears a new white cap.

Cattail

While a small bird huddles in a snowy bush.

A White Throated Sparrow

As I took pics, neighbors passed by and waved. Strangers passed by and waved. One of them stopped and asked if I had car trouble. I had expected this. In rural areas, if you stop you car someone will sooner or later stop to see if you’re ok. Just one of the perks of living in the country.

When I was in school, the bus would often get stuck on snowy days. The driver would leave the oldest kid in charge, walk to the nearest farm (no cellphones then), and come back with a farmer in his tractor. The farmer would pull the bus out of the snow drift, and we’d be on our way again. I used to love it when the bus would get stuck. It was so exciting.

What are your most exciting snow travel memories?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

——> UP NEXT: Canada Geese on Pony Creek Lake.

——> LATER THIS WEEK: How to make a delicious fruitcake. Yes, there is such a thing as delicious fruitcake.

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Suzanne

Cattle, corn, wheat, beans, mud, snow, ice, and drought. Plenty of fresh air and quiet. Our life is sometimes heartbreaking, sometimes joyous, but never boring.

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17 Responses

  1. Elizabeth says:

    Once again your photos are amazing, I love the one with the fence and the one with the bridge the best. I am thinking you should do a calendar, there has to be a way to enjoy these photographs everyday!
    Merry Christmas to you and your husband…..

  2. Tanya says:

    Wow I love these photos, especially the ones with the trees (the bridge, woods, etc.) They are just beautiful!

    Ha! Snow travel stories! Well, since I live in the south I don’t have those, but when I was little, around 5 or 6, we lived in Newfoundland and one day the bus couldn’t make it up the hill to our house and my brothers and I walked the rest of the way home, in a large field behind some houses. To me, the snow was already waist high but only knee high to my oldest brother. He was so impatient as I tried to keep up by jumping from one of his footsteps to the next. What fun that was!! Of course, Mom had hot cocoa waiting for us. Great memories!

  3. Linda C says:

    Wonderful pictures!! Takes me backk to my growing up years in central Illinois and the farmland. Love it!

    You truly have wonderfully talented eye for photography. Thanks for sharing your gift with us.:)

    Merry Christmas and enjoy the snow!

    Linda C

  4. Kerry Hand says:

    Thats the post I have been waiting for. I just find it amazing to get those from the other side of the world where it is so different right now. Summer here. 31 degrees yesterday. (= 87 Farenheit) Blazing blue skies and a couple of months until it gets really warm.

  5. Joani says:

    Awesome. Life in all its glory. When it rained we used to get in the car N go N C which wash/river was running. Merry Christmas.

  6. Glenda says:

    Wonderful photos! The ones of the red barn next to the field and the bridge and the sparrow in a bush are Christmas Card quality.
    Having printed several calendars for folks here in the last week or so I can vote for a calendar from your talents!

  7. Michaele says:

    Really nice photos. I think all your readers would like a calendar!

  8. Teresa says:

    I love the pictures! It really is a beautiful peaceful snow. We’re expecting snow here on Thursday into Friday, just in time for holiday travel.

  9. LOVE~LOVE~LOVE them all!! I want to be added to the calendar list. Third from top is my absolute favorite!

  10. I never thought I’d say this about snow, but your snow pictures have a romantic quality about them. Simply divine.

    You are so talented at capturing the beauty of the prairie Suzanne… wow.

    I love them all (as usual), but really love the long lanes that never end, as well as cow and calf. And the old barns…

  11. Sally Bishop says:

    I remember the bus being bitterly cold on the ride to school. Even if you were lucky enough to sit over the heater vent there was no getting warm.

    Beautiful, peaceful pictures.

  12. Doe of Mi. says:

    Totally Beautiful.

  13. Lee Ann L. says:

    You make me wish for snow. Kind of. Sort of. Actually, I can live without the cold. It’s going to be 71* today and 73* tomorrow — definitely NOT winter; but, typical of south Texas.

  14. Janet says:

    I agree with the calendar, and also these are Christmas card quality.The woods, the old gate, the red barn, the bridge and the hay bales all make me so homesick. Thanks for sharing your talent.

  15. I love all of these photos. It’s so magical when it snows and everything looks so different. My favorite photo is the one with the red barn and the harvested corn field!! It is so beautiful!
    I loved your story about riding the bus in the winter snow when you were a kid! That’s awesome!

  16. Cherie says:

    Beautiful Pictures! I always look forward to reading your blog.

  17. Gretchen says:

    Beautiful pictures. Thanks for sharing. I’m just beginning in photography and love the way so many talented women share their pictures. It gives me a goal to reach for.

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