The Changing Seasons, February 2022
This was the first month I can remember where I did more drawing than photography. It was just as well. We don’t usually go out much this time of year and this year, after two years of lockdowns, we’ve been even more unmotivated than usual.
The Drawings
Garry got to know a bluebird — I didn’t know they were around all winter, but obviously, they are.
I am doing more drawing and less photography and that will probably continue into the spring months when the snow finally melts and we can enjoy the out-of-doors again. Right now, it’s very cold and the snow of a couple of days ago has turned to ice. It looks like snow, but it’s hard as a rock. At least the driveway melted!
In between snows, we had unusually warm — 70 degree (F) — that set records. It was followed by below freezing weather and sleet and then back to sunshine again. At least we had a real winter with snow more or less normally.
I’m usually chattier, but it has been a very quiet month interrupted with a major war in Europe that has me unsettled (to say the least).
About The Changing Seasons
The Changing Seasons is a monthly project where bloggers around the world share their thoughts and feelings about the month just gone. We all approach this slightly differently — though generally with an emphasis on the photos we’ve taken during the month. Given the changing weather patterns, this is probably one of the more important challenges, giving us an opportunity to actually see what is happening — and where.
For many of us, looking back over these photos provides the structure and narrative of our post, so each month is different. Some focus on documenting the changes in a particular project — such as a garden, an art or craft project, or a photographic diary of a familiar landscape.
But in the end, it is your changing season, and you should approach it however works for you.
There are no fixed rules around post length or photo number — just a request that you respect your readers’ time and engagement.
Tags and ping-backs
Tag your photos with #MonthlyPhotoChallenge and #TheChangingSeasons so that others can find them
Create a ping-back to Brian at Bushboys World or The Changing Seasons, February 2022 so that our sponsors can update your posts with links.
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Categories: #ChangingSeasons, #gallery, #MonthlyPhotoChallenge, #Sketchbook, Anecdote, Arts, Drawings
SERENDIPITY - SEEKING INTELLIGENT LIFE ON EARTH 
Thank you for sharing you beautiful drawings. I am very taken by the Image Compare you displayed of the Bluebird. And I LOVE the portraits of your very cute scotties!
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Thank you, Ju-Lyn. I didn’t do much photography in February. It was cold and snowy all month and there was little motivation to go and and take anything new. I hope March will provide more opportunities.
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I hear you … hope March is allowing you outdoors more …
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We’ve had some nice days, but we’ve also had ones like today — COLD and soaking with icy rain. But, I keep saying, this really isn’t spring yet. There are lots of signs of spring showing up, but really, for humans anyway, it’s the end of winter. A few more weeks and there will be real changes in the weather. Depending on the years, it can get really warm in April, but sometimes, it stays pretty chilly until the beginning of May. New England is just like that. It isn’t far away — but there are a few more weeks, though we’ll have some nice weather between the rain and cold. It will come. And meanwhile, we have dozens of tiny baby finches around the feeders. I’m not kidding. DOZENS of them all trying to get into the feeders at the same time. Our neighbor across the street used to feed the birds too, but he recently died. We seem to have inherited his birds. They miss him. WE miss him. He was a really good neighbor.
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I read your response with a sadness for the losses you (and we all) face. And yet with a hope that there are better days coming – I am glad the baby finches still have you.
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Beautiful drawings! And far preferable to going outside with the camera and freezing.
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I must admit: every bird that has wandered onto the deck and stayed put for more than 30 seconds has been photographed. Most of them many times and in all seasons. When spring comes, new birds will come which might be inspiring — or not.
I’ve been feeling that anything I want to say I’ve said before and not just once. Using different words, but still basically the same material. Even though I realize not everyone is going to get all excited about my artistic pretensions, I really needed to not keep doing the same things. If I have something new and interesting to talk about, I will. But if it’s another version of the same old same old? Hell, I’m tired of me, so I can only imagine the weariness factor for everyone on my “list.”
There’s a boatload of political crap — not to mention an actual ground war — going on, but I’m not ready to jump into that leaking lifeboat. I’ve served my time. Despite my best intentions, I did not save the world. I didn’t even save a tiny piece of it.
It’s fun to do something different. It has been a while since blogging felt like fun. It has moved from fun, to serious, to an obligation. Whether or not anyone else will be interested in what I’m doing, I have no idea. But maybe that’s not so important. I think after I passed the one million hit mark, I felt I’d reached a goal. I didn’t know it was a goal, but I knew it when I got there. Now it’s time for other folks to manage current disasters. It’s not that I’m too old to keep fighting. It’s that I’m too old to keep fighting the SAME battles. Again and again and again. This world goes round and round and round…
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A good way to spend on cold winters days Marilyn. Happy there are a few birds that brave the cold. Thanks for joining in The Changing Seasons 🙂 🙂
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I really love this challenge. I think it was the first challenge (other than the one originally supplied by WordPress) with which I became involved — back when the fellow running it was living in Norway. It has moved around a lot, but I’m glad it has stayed. It’s especially important now as we watch the weather to see how it has changed. This is our first “real” winter in three years and much as I don’t like snow, I’m very glad we got winter back. We never really get spring here, so without winter, the year feels all wrong.
I’ll be looking for your “last of the month” tomorrow. We’ve got taxes in the morning, so I won’t get to it until Tuesday but i always look forward to it 😀
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Thanks Marilyn. Maybe a bit of climate change has affected your part of the world? Glad you are almost prepared for Last on the Card 🙂
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It definitely has — which is why I was so glad to see an actual winter with snow. We went three years of weather with almost no snow (or really no snow). It s more like late fall than winter. The ground never froze which meant we had a massive infestation of bugs. This year, at least, although we’ve had warm weather breaks, we’ve also had weeks of really cold weather and the ground froze quite solidly. If all goes well, we will have a hot, steamy summer about which we will all complain until it’s over, after which we’ll complain about the next season and the one after that. We complain about our weather a LOT.
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Don’t forget the mosquitos in Summer either 🙂
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No one can forget the mosquitoes. And THEY never forget US, either!
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All your drawings are lovely, Marilyn, but the dog portraits are amazing.
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Thank you. I worked harder on them than the others I supposed because I wanted them to actually look like my dogs. In fond memory. I may try to do these in watercolors later.
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Beautiful drawings and photos.
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Thank you, Sadje. From an artsy standpoint, it was fun. I got better at the things I’m good at and discovered what I’m not so good at. It’s a beautiful day outside — but very cold. Sometimes in the winter, our skies are as clear as crystal and today is one of those days. Gorgeous, but very cold.
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Without the cloud too trap the sun’s heat, it can be very cold on clear days.
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Yes, especially THIS time of year!
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Yup
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