By Joann M. Ringelstetter
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Looks like it’s been about two years since I last wrote a rhyming post. Since April is National Poetry Month, here’s my April poem.
Old Man Winter
Today is the 18th of April,
Which means it’s been 29 days
Since the first day of spring was declared,
But, sadly, we’ve had some delays.
It snowed on the 15th of April,
It’s snowing today as I write,
The earth is supposed to be greening up,
But instead it’s totally white!
The birds are returning for summer,
They come at the same time each year,
They’re cold, they’re confused, and they’re starving,
I pray that they’ll all persevere.
The squirrels and the rabbits are hardy,
But they must be wondering, too,
If this winter will ever come to an end,
So that springtime can finally break through.
It appears that the Groundhog’s prediction
Was sadly and horribly wrong!
He said six more weeks of winter
But it’s gone on for twice that long!
Mother Earth, Father Time, can you help us?
We are weary of the winter without end!
Could you please send the Old Man packing,
So that Spring can become our new friend!
Happy Shunpiking!
Joann
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Shunpiking To Heaven Backroads Blog
Showing posts with label snow. Show all posts
Showing posts with label snow. Show all posts
Wednesday, April 18, 2018
Monday, March 4, 2013
Airy Knoll Farm
By Ruth A. Ringelstetter
In January of 2011, we had new-fallen snow, so Joann and I decided to head west to Sauk and Richland Counties. We have covered so many of the roads in these counties, but the scenes along every road look different depending on the season.
As we drove around, we passed an old farmstead that was no longer being used. The farm had a for sale sign in the front, but we could tell no one was living there.
The farm was beautifully maintained, and the snow was pristine. Since no one was living there, the driveway was unplowed and no tracks marred the fresh snowfall.
The farm had one silo next to the barn with an interesting silo room attached. For some reason, we hadn’t paid much attention to silo rooms until recently. What a treat it was to find this one!
Without the machinery, cattle, plowing, and tracks of a working farm, it looked like an idyllic place to live. I don’t know what Joann thinks about as she takes her photographs, but I was looking around the farm and wondering what it had been like to grow up on this gorgeous farm.
We could tell how much the owners had loved this farm. So much so that they had given the farm a name and proudly displayed it, as well as their name, on the barn.
We don’t know what circumstances caused the farm to be put up for sale, but we hope the next owners love it as much as the family that gave the farm its name of Airy Knoll Farm.
With more snow on the way, it’s hard to believe that winter is almost over. We have to believe that and just try to enjoy the snow that comes our way until spring finally makes an appearance.
Happy Shunpiking!
Ruth
In January of 2011, we had new-fallen snow, so Joann and I decided to head west to Sauk and Richland Counties. We have covered so many of the roads in these counties, but the scenes along every road look different depending on the season.
As we drove around, we passed an old farmstead that was no longer being used. The farm had a for sale sign in the front, but we could tell no one was living there.
The farm was beautifully maintained, and the snow was pristine. Since no one was living there, the driveway was unplowed and no tracks marred the fresh snowfall.
The farm had one silo next to the barn with an interesting silo room attached. For some reason, we hadn’t paid much attention to silo rooms until recently. What a treat it was to find this one!
Without the machinery, cattle, plowing, and tracks of a working farm, it looked like an idyllic place to live. I don’t know what Joann thinks about as she takes her photographs, but I was looking around the farm and wondering what it had been like to grow up on this gorgeous farm.
We could tell how much the owners had loved this farm. So much so that they had given the farm a name and proudly displayed it, as well as their name, on the barn.
We don’t know what circumstances caused the farm to be put up for sale, but we hope the next owners love it as much as the family that gave the farm its name of Airy Knoll Farm.
With more snow on the way, it’s hard to believe that winter is almost over. We have to believe that and just try to enjoy the snow that comes our way until spring finally makes an appearance.
Happy Shunpiking!
Ruth
Sunday, January 8, 2012
Waiting on Mother Nature
By Ruth A. Ringelstetter
Friday afternoon, as I worked at my computer, I glanced at the thermometer and was surprised to read 48 degrees! How is that possible in January in Wisconsin? We’ve barely had enough snow this year to make a snowman, although I have seen some small attempts by neighborhood children.
After several days, the snow and the snowmen were gone.
Usually by this time, Joann and I have made multiple winter trips out into the snow-covered countryside to help us unwind from our office jobs. No such luck for us this year, but we have our prior years’ photos to look back on.
So far this winter, we’ve had one rain event where, had it been snow, we would have had a foot of snow on the ground, along with several small snows of one to two inches. Those small snows whitened the ground for a few days and then the roads were clear and slowly the temperature rose again and the snow melted quickly.
Winter in Wisconsin is usually cold and snowy. I know that the official winter season has several months to go yet. Since we have already passed the winter solstice, the days are slowly getting longer again and we’re gaining about two minutes of daylight every day.
The majority of the country is experiencing the same lack of snow. According to David Robinson, a professor in the geography department at Rutgers University, December of 2011 was the 11th least snowy season of the past 46 years across the United States.
We’ve had winters like this in other years, but our memories of Wisconsin winters are filled with snow. We’re spending our time this winter catching up on some other things. Joann is busy working down her photography to do list, while I continue to research new locations to explore. There never seems to be enough time for either of us to get all of our “to do” items done. Although this downtime without snow is not feeding our backroads passion, it is allowing us some time to catch up.
I have no doubt we’ll still get some snow this winter. Some years March is our snowiest month, so if we can just wait it out, Mother Nature will deliver some snow. I’m sure the winter enthusiasts can’t wait.
We still have several locations we are waiting to capture in winter, so when we do get snow, we’ll try to head out and capture those scenes.
Until then, Happy Shunpiking!
Ruth
Friday afternoon, as I worked at my computer, I glanced at the thermometer and was surprised to read 48 degrees! How is that possible in January in Wisconsin? We’ve barely had enough snow this year to make a snowman, although I have seen some small attempts by neighborhood children.
After several days, the snow and the snowmen were gone.
Usually by this time, Joann and I have made multiple winter trips out into the snow-covered countryside to help us unwind from our office jobs. No such luck for us this year, but we have our prior years’ photos to look back on.
So far this winter, we’ve had one rain event where, had it been snow, we would have had a foot of snow on the ground, along with several small snows of one to two inches. Those small snows whitened the ground for a few days and then the roads were clear and slowly the temperature rose again and the snow melted quickly.
Winter in Wisconsin is usually cold and snowy. I know that the official winter season has several months to go yet. Since we have already passed the winter solstice, the days are slowly getting longer again and we’re gaining about two minutes of daylight every day.
The majority of the country is experiencing the same lack of snow. According to David Robinson, a professor in the geography department at Rutgers University, December of 2011 was the 11th least snowy season of the past 46 years across the United States.
We’ve had winters like this in other years, but our memories of Wisconsin winters are filled with snow. We’re spending our time this winter catching up on some other things. Joann is busy working down her photography to do list, while I continue to research new locations to explore. There never seems to be enough time for either of us to get all of our “to do” items done. Although this downtime without snow is not feeding our backroads passion, it is allowing us some time to catch up.
I have no doubt we’ll still get some snow this winter. Some years March is our snowiest month, so if we can just wait it out, Mother Nature will deliver some snow. I’m sure the winter enthusiasts can’t wait.
We still have several locations we are waiting to capture in winter, so when we do get snow, we’ll try to head out and capture those scenes.
Until then, Happy Shunpiking!
Ruth
Sunday, December 19, 2010
Another White Christmas
By Ruth A. Ringelstetter
I'm dreaming of a white Christmas
Just like the ones I used to know
Where the treetops glisten,
and children listen
To hear sleigh bells in the snow
The famous Christmas carol, White Christmas, was written by Irving Berlin in 1942. We’ve enjoyed the song and the Christmas movie of the same name every Christmas season for years.
In the 1990’s as Joann and I began photographing more and more, we lamented the fact that we just didn’t seem to get as much snow as we did when we were growing up on the farm. Some years we were out photographing winter when there was only an inch or two of snow to be found. Winter in Wisconsin just didn’t seem right without a larger amount of snow like we had years ago.
The last few years, there has been no such problem. In other words, no dreaming required for a white Christmas. We’ve been blessed the last few years with early December snows that have lasted well past Christmas.
As soon as the roads are clear after a big snow, and we have a day off from work, we head out. Sometimes our mission is small towns, and sometimes it’s rural farm scenes. We love to find red barns against the background of all that white snow. In fact, any color of barn except white is enhanced by a blanket of snow.
In the winter, navigating changes a little bit. I can still pick a road to turn on, but we never know until we get right up to it whether or not we’ll really turn. That decision is made based on how well plowed the road looks. In all our winter travels, we’ve only gotten a little stuck and that was just last winter. A couple of minutes later we were back on the road.
Everything looks different in the snow, so we often travel roads we’ve been on before. Usually the scene looks better, since the blanket of white is covering what we often wish we couldn’t see in other seasons of the year.
As you travel down the roads this holiday season, look around at the blanket of snow and notice how different the world looks. And if you dare, when you feel a little cabin fever setting in, go out and explore some backroads. Maybe we’ll see you there!
Happy Shunpiking!
Ruth
I'm dreaming of a white Christmas
Just like the ones I used to know
Where the treetops glisten,
and children listen
To hear sleigh bells in the snow
The famous Christmas carol, White Christmas, was written by Irving Berlin in 1942. We’ve enjoyed the song and the Christmas movie of the same name every Christmas season for years.
In the 1990’s as Joann and I began photographing more and more, we lamented the fact that we just didn’t seem to get as much snow as we did when we were growing up on the farm. Some years we were out photographing winter when there was only an inch or two of snow to be found. Winter in Wisconsin just didn’t seem right without a larger amount of snow like we had years ago.
The last few years, there has been no such problem. In other words, no dreaming required for a white Christmas. We’ve been blessed the last few years with early December snows that have lasted well past Christmas.
As soon as the roads are clear after a big snow, and we have a day off from work, we head out. Sometimes our mission is small towns, and sometimes it’s rural farm scenes. We love to find red barns against the background of all that white snow. In fact, any color of barn except white is enhanced by a blanket of snow.
In the winter, navigating changes a little bit. I can still pick a road to turn on, but we never know until we get right up to it whether or not we’ll really turn. That decision is made based on how well plowed the road looks. In all our winter travels, we’ve only gotten a little stuck and that was just last winter. A couple of minutes later we were back on the road.
Everything looks different in the snow, so we often travel roads we’ve been on before. Usually the scene looks better, since the blanket of white is covering what we often wish we couldn’t see in other seasons of the year.
As you travel down the roads this holiday season, look around at the blanket of snow and notice how different the world looks. And if you dare, when you feel a little cabin fever setting in, go out and explore some backroads. Maybe we’ll see you there!
Happy Shunpiking!
Ruth
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