Tuesday, January 26, 2010

January's Gift


Even the cold gray month of January has its beauty!
The ocean continues to caress the shore....

....while the bare tree branches trace feathery lines across the sky..

....and the pine trees tenderly hold the snow in their boughs.
A dark steely sky teases us with brief glimpses of color....

...and the whole city slows down...

...and is as silent as a cemetery.

In the black and white backdrop of winter
we rest,
we dream,
we wait...
and we appreciate the simple things
of life which bring us warmth and comfort.


I am joining Christina of the blog Soul Aperture for her Wednesday
For each person that shares their Simple Things in a blog post today, she and her family are donating $1 to Doctors Without Borders, to help with the disaster in Haiti

 

And also Susan of the blog A Southern Daydreamer for her Outdoor Wednesday event.





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57 comments:

Kathy said...

Pat, These are awesome photos and your words so true, I am off to the UK, will blog along the way and pop in here of course, hugs, Kathy.

Ebie said...

Hi Pat, your photos are beautiful! I can feel peace and tranquility of the skies and ocean, and everything around!

Take care!

Light and Voices said...

Lovely...simply divine photos.
Joyce M

Gracie said...

Yes, winter has its own beauty too....beautiful photos btw.
I'm sorry you had trouble posting messages in my blog, sometimes it gets on my nerves...but all your comments are there, no worry.
Gracie at http://mylittleplace.blog.com

My name is Riet said...

Beautiful photo's Pat and they honestly gave me a feeling of peacefulnes. Wonderful
Have a nice day

Jay said...

I can feel the peace flowing from those pictures. I love the first one best, I think, but the 'ivy-covered windows' one is so evocative of the way nature silently reclaims a building.

Nice!

Jenny said...

Beautifully written Pat. Like a poem in praise of January. Love the photos. Just really lovely. Thank you.

RNSANE said...

Lovely picture, Pat. Nice to see things slow down a bit, even around the big city.

Kat said...

Beautiful photos as always Pat. The ocean shot is gorgeous. The B & W shots are perfect for the subject, I can "feel" the silence. Beautiful post. Kathy

Arlene Delloro said...

A poetic post and such gorgeous photos. I'm especially drawn to the shot of the water.

Lorrie said...

Beautifully done Pat--your words and photos create a feeling of calm and peacefulness. I often think of January as a roadblock to spring, but it has a beauty all its own that should be appreciated.

La Petite Gallery said...

WHAT is in the windows??
The photo's are great. Love the
ocean and sky shots.
CAN YOU BELIEVE MY SNOW MELTED!!!!
Thank GOD.


yvonne

Foodie with Little Thyme! said...

Your pictures are always so beautiful. Thank you for sharing them with us.

Chubskulit Rose said...

The second shot is gorgeous!

Frosty

SE'LAH... said...

the ocean caressing the shore...it never stops, does it?

coming over from Soul Aperture to share in your simple things.

one love.

Pat @ Mille Fiori Favoriti said...

Thanks everyone!

All photos were taken in Manhattan, Brooklyn, or Queens New York...and all photos were taken in color.

The windows of the house in Greenwich Village are filled with Ivy plants...a natural way to shield the inside from the outside?

Anonymous said...

I love New York!...your pictures take me back to this wonderful place! Thanks

Sea Witch said...

There is nothing like the beauty of the monocrhomatic sky and scape that you will only find in a wintery north location. This, to me, is always Sleepy Hollow time. Sea Witch

LV said...

There is beauty in everything. Sometimes, you just have to look harder and longer to see it. Nice job on all your pictures for today.

Char said...

i'm visiting from christina's - beautiful shots - thank you for sharing with us.

Anonymous said...

Girl, you do have an eye. . . !

Vee said...

It's amazing when all the green is gone how much other things pop. The statues and architecture...even the architecture of the trees themselves with their bare limbs. I'm learning to love this season...slowly learning.

(One of those pine trees is an Eastern spruce. ;> )

Tracy said...

So very glad to see you joining in on Simple Things today too! These photos really express the heart and glory of wintertime--simply breathtaking... And I love the sea in winter! Happy Day, dear friend :o) ((HUGS))

Yiota said...

I love the rare moments when the city is silent; great photos!

Judy said...

Great winter pic's of NYC!

I'm thinking you must have your computer issues worked out...and are able to upload your photos.

Have a fine day.

Nola said...

I LOVE the ivy over the windows in that one shot! I wonder how they accomplished that; is there a planter at the top of the window? I've gotta go back and zoom in on the photo; I'm in awe!

Claudia said...

I love the winter photos. I actually take a lot of frozen White Bear Lake. It is so beautiful. But when we hover below zero - it hurts to be out!

Cyndy said...

Hello, Pat. I am visiting in the wake of Christina's love. How glad I am that I stopped by here! Your photos and stream of consciousness are lovely. How wonderful you have captured still moments in a place that can be so busy. Thank you!

Jeanne said...

Hello dear Pat, thank you for coming by today. I have not visited like I want to either. I have been gone for nine days and had company for nine or 10 days. It left me little time to visit. Posting is not as hard as visiting my many dear blogging friends. After this weekend things should slow down for me.

I scrolled down to catch up on your posts I have missed. The Utube backwards singing was amazing. I watched both videos. Loved it!

The travel posts were fun because I have been in all those places too. We took a bus tour that went through the tunnel and I have a photo of the bus filling every inch of that opening. Scary. The Black Hills are awesome. We visited the Black Hills North as well. They are totally different. Wild horses and buffalo abound. Also a huge prairie dog village. Thousands of them. So interesting.

The outdoor pics of NY are great. So calm and quiet. Good post Pat.

I hope your computer woes have improved.

Hugs, Jeanne

Gayle at Planet M Files said...

Pat, your photos are amazing! You have certainly found plenty of beauty in January!

PAT said...

Beautiful images, Pat! Definitely January gifts!

Old Kitty said...

Hi

What a lovely, lovely blog. I adore your photos but I am quite partial to the ones of of Maynard & Bartleby, My Buddy Bo and Maurizio (awwww!). I'm so sorry about Pepper - a beautiful cat. And the quotes you use are lovely.

Take care

x

pam said...

WAY TO GO Pat....this is a WONDERFUL post...beautiful images.

Marg said...

I love the mood of this day...except we have such sunny warm days right now...that it makes me anticipate spring...I need more days like you portrayed.

~Lavender Dreamer~ said...

What amazing photos! I love thinking of life in Black and White...simple and serene! Lovely!

Elisa Day said...

Wonderful images. I love the first one with the ocean

Sam Hoffer / My Carolina Kitchen said...

Gorgeous winter scenes. I particularily like the windows with the trailing ivy.
Sam

Beverly said...

Pat, this is a gorgeous post. I love the quiet beauty which is winter.

Sherry said...

Your photographs told a truly beautiful story.

dianasfaria.com said...

So very beautiful Pat!
Regarding your question about the City Daily Photo portal, I'm not sure what the rules are since I am not a member because my blog is about a region, not a city.
As far as I know there can be more than one person representing a city, so it doesn't matter if there is more than one Brooklyn daily photo blog.
It is a great way to get your blog exposure and meet other bloggers with similar interests.
I would definitely recommend it!

Michelle said...

Stunning photos!

suzanna said...

lovee these photos!!

Sarah said...

I love your cold and beautiful photos that have made me appreciate sitting here in the warm. Thank you!

ellen b. said...

Hello Pat! These photos are just beautiful. I'm glad you showed us the beauty of winter in January :0)

Betsy Banks Adams said...

Hi Pat, You have showed just how pretty winter really can be. I am one who really loves winter ---but I do miss the greens of spring/summer. BUT--that too will come!!!

Thanks for the great pictures.

My favorite is the evergreen with snow on it.. WOW!

Hugs,
Betsy

christina said...

these photos are positively breathtaking!
oh my just lovely.
xo

Sandi @the WhistleStop Cafe said...

Beautiful photos... but for some reason I feel the need to put my gloves on. ~Brrrrr~

Manuela@A Cultivated Nest said...

January has it's own beauty. Even the light is unique. Those were really lovely photos!

Manuela

Penny from Enjoying The Simple Things said...

What beautiful photography Pat! This is a wonderful winter post.

Thanks for stopping by for a visit earlier!
Penny

My Farmhouse Kitchen said...

Oh Pat...just beautiful. What a lovely blog...i couldn't hit the follow button fast enough..

thank you so much for stopping by Farmhouse today...what a gift to get to meet you today through our beloved Christina....

your words and photographs are stunning....leaves me breathless...

so good to have you as a follower...i have a new friend..WELCOME...i think we're going to have alot of FUN together..

more later, dear one

fondly,
kary
xxx

The Quintessential Magpie said...

Pat, amazing photos and equally beautiful prose. Great job!

XO,

Sheila :-)

GailO said...

You have made the winter grays look simply beautiful:) Love your list....

Kathy said...

Beautiful, beautiful photos of the city, Pat!
xoxo...Kathy

Regina said...

Wow absolutely beautiful!
Great words too.I enjoyed so much. Thanks for sharing Pat.
Have a warm sunshiny day.

Tuty said...

Hi Pat,

My first time to visit your blog filled with lovely photographs. It's been so long since I visited NY. Time for me to save up and explore outside Manhattan.

Relyn Lawson said...

Your images are just beautiful. You have a terrific eye.

Joyce said...

I enjoyed your post and posts today. Very calming.
Joyce