Sunday Stills: Flowers and Wildflowers

The Sunday Stills Challenge this week was flowers and wildflowers.  There is nothing blooming yet here in Minnesota. 

The Pussy Willows popped out yesterday. We still have snow on the ground and the lakes are still frozen.

It has been a long winter here in Minnesota.

Here are some photos from my archives.

Bee on Liatris.

White Lady Slipper, I hope this patch blooms this year..it has been several years since they have been allowed to bloom.  The Deer eat off the buds just as they are forming..they must be tasty.

Hydrangea one my favorite flowers.

These Yellow Lady Slippers bloom along our back driveway in mid June.

Yesterday and the day before we finally made it over 50 degrees.  It will be awhile before much of anything blooms in Minnesota.  The farmers are not able to get into the fields yet..they are covered in snow.

Here are two catch up photos from last weeks challenge which was something hot.

The fireplace.

A power pole nearby.

I go back to work this week.  I am not sure how busy and or tired I will be, so I don’t know if I will be able to keep up with the challenges..but I will try  my best :)

Sunday Stills: Hand Tools

The Sunday Stills Challenge this week was Hand Tools.

These are some of my hand tools.

These are some of my favorite wood carving knives.  My old standby a Palmer, a Mike Shipley, and the other two were made by my husband.  I help him form the walnut handles so they feel real nice in your hand.  Making knife handles is an art..as is making knives.  I make birch bark sheathes for all my knives.  ( That is my favorite knife under that sheath..it has a busted tip and needs to be reshaped and sharpened.)

 

I like to carve little houses/churches/buildings out of Cottonwood bark..the thicker the better.  Underneath the knives is my carving glove,  I wear it on my left hand, and I wear vet wrap on my right thumb..just in case.  I belong to a wood carving group, we meet once a week and carve.  Have a good week everyone!  I put up the last two challenges Easter and Trains..I wanted to catch up! :)

Sunday Stills Catch UP : Trains

This is my catch up post for Sunday Stills Challenge Trains.

These are some of my best train shots!

Trains..my husband collects them… we go to as many train shows/sales as we can:)

Sunday Stills : Catch UP: Easter

I have gotten a little behind with posting my Sunday Stills.  Busy, busy.
The what Easter means to me Sunday Stills Challenge:

A beautiful old church the day before Easter.

Eggs the sign of rebirth and renewal.

Time spent with family.  Our youngest daughter, her husband and our very handsome grandsons! :)

Sunday Stills: Green

The Sunday Stills challenge this week is green.  I suppose some of you have green grass or green buds..not so much in Minnesota.

Here is the green at my house.

The roof is green steel..the snow slides off.

The sauna is painted green.

Chance posed by the green grate in the walkway.  Our soil is sandy..the grate catches some of the sand.

This is the last defense against the sand. Just so you know Border Collies always wipe their feet off on the grate before they run willy nilly into the house.  Have a great week everyone:)

Sunday Stills : Potluck

The Sunday Stills Challenge this week was potluck.

Here are some of my best shots this week.

A White-Breasted Nuthatch

The road home.

Chance in a snow bank.

We got an additional six inches of snow this past week.

This is a snow bank in our yard.

I hope some of the white crap melts this week:)

Sunday Stills: Fruits and Vegetables

The Sunday Stills Challenge was to photograph fruits and or vegetables.

 

I made a trip to the grocery store to photograph some of my favorites!  You all have a great week!  We are hunkering down for another blizzard here in North Central Minnesota:)