Merry Christmas 2013 and Happy New Year 2014

I haven't posted much toward the end of the year here. I was busy; who wasn't? :P
Guess, it's a time for a resume.
Mostly I was busy all year writing stories for an anthology series called Theme-Thology on G+.

We, as a team, even managed to get a book out this year. More had been planned, but this got delayed.
So, I am now looking forward to get those stories published with the others in their respective anthologies -
or, if it gets cancelled, will try to publish them on my own in the coming year.

Another story of mine will come out at the start of 2014 in another starting anthology series:
NovoPulp. This one will be a print magazine/book. I have not only contributed my story Journey to this,
but also helped a lot to get the project rolling and along to the finish line. What we did get done before teh end of the year is get some fan articles out.

I want to thank all of the others in those two projects for working together to get our "dreams" into reality.

What I did neglect a bit is the painting and drawing. I hope to get the two birds, I started at the beginning of this year, finally done - and do more of those kind of paintings during the year.

I did manage to regularly take photos - and take part in diverse challenges and communities about photography on G+: Scavenger hunts and Treasure hunts to name some. Not all of those photos are public though; they are not always the best to show. I did join a new photo site too. Viewbug -- with contests. Mine never will win against all those amazing photos, but it's sure nice to get recognition from total strangers on your little works.

And I did a lot of handicraft too: crocheting, knitting and sewing (which is also my work).

So, the coming year, switching from writing, painting, photographing and creating things with my hands, I just hope to have enough time to relax and rest and recover new strength for all my little projects. Oh, and to learn new things as well Coursera and Udacity are great online places to learn in your own speed most of the time - and with people from all over the world.

And keep up with reporting about my activities, of course. If not, be assured, I will have fun and laughter and happiness anyway.

Wishing you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year 2014.

Yes, I remember Mr Rabbit and his visit to me at the beginning of this year - and I really enjoyed taking those photos with him. 

Be happy, don't worry and keep the Love in your hearts.

From Autumn to Winter - TREES

So, finally Winter is here WITH snow.
It's just not the same without it.
I need snow to have the true feeling of Winter.
We did have a snow in November. That was a bit early and it didn't stay.
December and January were rather dull and with no snow.

Now, in the height of the season the snow has returned.
Also with some frost; cold enough for the snow to stay and a bit of sun to come out for the photos of the trees.

Now, I can finally make this last of the season set for the trees:

at the home train station 

at the home train station

the walnut tree 

the walnut tree

at work train station

at work train station

group of Beech trees

group of Beech trees

the Linden tree

the Linden tree

I hope you enjoyed this set.
To review the last ones I add the links to the other sets:
Summer to Autumn
Spring to Summer
Winter to Spring

Snow

pure snowflakes

pure snowflakes
all perfect in form
drift down from the sky
to cover the imperfect

pure snowflakes

pure snowflakes
all perfect in form
each one so perfect in form
they come down together,

but each separately you see
each one different
all floating free
drift down from the sky
the many become one
yet each one alone
alone in its fun
till they land gently
each one in turn
to land on the place
where we get as we earn
to cover the imperfect
or to veil over the good
each without judgement
in dale, vale or wood
till all difference is gone
and all are cloaked in new brightness
despite covering all cold

Another Sun Halo - Partial

Yesterday, 13th of December 2012, a day after the ominous 12.12.12 date, I was on my way to work as usual with the train. Sun rises are late at this time of year; and with cloud cover even later.
And we had just gone through the coldest night of this season (so far). It was still -6°C at 8.45.

Arriving at the train station and getting off the train I took a moment to look at eh sun peaking out behind the haze of clouds and trails left by the plans crossing the sky. I suddenly saw it. A faint rainbow to the left of the sun. I had to take a snapshot of it.

Then, as I look to the other side I saw another faint rainbow like shine to the right, just above a tree slightly higher than the rest of them. I also took a photo of that.

And then, of course, although the "rainbows" fragments were so far apart from each other, I wanted to have both of them and the sun on one photo. I barely managed to get that.
When I looked at the photo later, I was amazed that I actually had caught three of these sun bows. One right over the sun as well. =))

Even the cable can not diminished the beauty of the sun and the sun-bows!! Thank you sun for this beautiful light.

Here a NASA link to explain this phenomena a bit more in detail:
Sunrings

Winter time is coming

So, today November 29th is the day we have first true snowfall in this Autumn to Winter change.
There had been a little bit of snow already on October. The palm tree in the garden had to be covered fast.

The first snow in October.

Now it's better prepared for the snow - all caged in.

Now caged in and leaves bound together to help it survive the winter,

To give you a sense of what it is like when it snows here (wet snow though at around 2°C above zero / freezing) I made a short video:

Enjoy it - snow is fun!! Have a great day.

From Winter to Spring - TREES

(Well -- just catching up with nature; from the temperatures it nearly could be Summer by now.)

Trees in the turn of seasons: (there surely will be an update on this too -- as times passes ;-))


First pair is a Walnut tree at the train station close by my village:

still Winter and snow

now in Spring - the Cherry trees in blossom

Second pair is a Linden tree close to my house I pass by every day:

early morning mist

May sunshine brought out the leaves
(and the flowers too -- what a smell!!)

Third pair is the Bloodplum tree at my house:

Spring flowers - one of the first trees to have them

and the typical red leaves