Milkyway Coming Down

Milkyway Coming Down
Originally uploaded by CaptPiper.

Born in the wind with a thousand rare brothers who
Stretch out their arms and then slip from the womb,
Dashing and swirling, this effortless journey a
Feathery fantasy, crystal in bloom.

What a wild glide this invisible slide for a mile
Then two all they do is surrender and fly -
Hysterical, holy Carmagnole, to music my ears
Cannot hear. Dance – dance, silent black ice.

Drift at Sunrise

Drift at Sunrise
Originally uploaded by CaptPiper.

I saw this drift on Thursday on my way to school. On Friday I stopped and took this just as the sun came up. You wouldn't know it from this view, but winter can be so devoid of color - just black and white and all the grays in between, maybe some brown thrown in.

We are in the depths of winter - cold, snow, all plants in a form of death or hibernation. I can enjoy it most of the time, but some days you just turn the page without reading it, and wait for this chapter to be finished.

Sun Halo

Sun Halo
Originally uploaded by CaptPiper.

On my way to Tecumseh I noticed this halo forming around the sun as clouds moved in. I desperately tried to find a place to pull over and shoot where there were no houses, trees, or telephone lines between me and the sky. Finally I found a spot.
I shot for about a minute, and then had to get back in the car quick.
My hands were beginning to get frostbite.

School has been cancelled for two days now due to 20-25 below zero wind chills. I'm enjoying the time off. I needed to get rested after "Spirit Week" at school. Those kids have too much spirit.

Daybreak Through the Trees

Daybreak Through the Trees
Originally uploaded by CaptPiper.

Every morning on my way to work, I get to watch the sun rise. As the year progresses and the days get longer, the sun rises earlier, so eventually it's in my eyes as I drive to school. Finally it's up high enough to where my sun visor functions adequately.
Then we go to "daylight savings time".
Again I go through the process of watching the sun rise until it blinds me.
I hear we are thinking seriously about dropping daylight savings. That means little kids will be walking to school in the dark. Or in the summer that the sun will be rising at 4:30 A.M.
We live in the north.