Sparkles like Diamonds

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(Edited)


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Hail to the beauty of this glorious day! Oh, there is nothing to fear, I say. For the winter is melting away today; arranging for the unsympathetic cold of the morrow. Behold! I decided not to care. For there are things much more important than the weather report. It won't stop me from living and breathing this glorious day in.


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Ice, ice, baby! Oh, the sunshine has greeted us with a frosty look, but, I turn my face the other way, ignoring the obvious. The first snow of the season! Whose idea was it to mix it with rain and throw a litle colod over it all? Even in its less than perfect state. I have to admit, I am grateful for this day. Every day is a gift. Every day. Even if you have to shovel your way out of it to find it.

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Her words were unspoken whilst the snow rained upon her shoulders of stone; but I believe there was a smile of sunshine in her eyes when the first of day began to break.


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"Today is a brand new day. A fresh start. Replace any negativity with positive. Think happy thoughts. Exercise. Drink lots of water. Fill your body with fuel. Healthy is happy. Inspire yourself. Create. Laugh. Play. Love. Learn. Give someone a compliment. Make a new friend. Do a random act of kindness, it creates good karma. Take chances and finally start living life to its fullest. But no matter what’s thrown at you today, smile and remember, tomorrow’s always a fresh new start" Author Unknown


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Some places were plowed and cleaned up, some were not. There was a layer of snow left on the trees and it had gotten cool enough to keep it in place. Later today, it would probably melt and turn those piles of snow into a puddle. I decided to give it a go and see if I wouldn't slide all the way.


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The snow had drifted here, and there were places with inches and some where there was more than that. Kids were starting to build snowforts and snowmen. You could hear the sound of joy running through the neighborhood. I answered the call. :)


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The gentle look of snow on the trees, all is calm, all is right. It gives me a sense of beauty and lovliness. I will admit that the blizzard cought them a little off guard in the Washington, DC metro area. The road to Washington, DC became inpassable and people were stranded in their cars without food and water overnight. A Schmidts Bread truck got permission to open up the back of his truck and pass out loaves of bread to people, to stave off the hunger.Some of those parts of the road had over a foot of snow on them. Hey! We don't fool around with the small stuff here. One of the biggest problems is the blizzard started after commuters had hit the road. It doesn't pay to be the early bird in this case.


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I want to thank @tattoodjay for hosting the #WednesdayWalk challenge! Show where you walked today, I want to see what you got to see. I hope you had a fabulous time and I think we should meet up here again next week! Until then, keep on smiling!! If you want to do the challenge, drop him a link on his #WedensdayWalk post so he can try to visit yours! Whatever your day looks like, it is worth a walk through it. You can't always have sunshine and rainbows, but, you can always have a #WednessdayWalk!


Ice, ice, baby. Dripping off a tree.The warm weather that we had up until this point was having a hard time supporting the ice and snow. It started to melt, and the walkways all started to melt right away. Not fast enough, I am afraid. If you didn't get it off immediately, it will catch a refreeze for tonighht. Oh, winter! You keep me on my toes, but, then, you give me reason to make some hot cocoa and snuggle up to something cozy by the fireplace.


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“He who cannot put his thoughts on ice should not enter into the heat of dispute.” Friedrich Nietzsche


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All I have are my words, armed in my mind, written in pen, stand by stand. Oh, yes. Still by hand. It has a different feel. Altered not by keys, backspace, and delete, I write, erase, tear it to pieces and start all over again. And again.

It’s my way. I walk out to the deep end of the page and dive right in.


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It came...it went... it never said good-bye.

A short lived blizzard of sorts that was a total white out. The wind was howling, the trees were shaking. After all this 70 degree weather, it's official. It is winter. Can you spot the stop sign in the picture? This was just before morning broke and the lighting was, let's call it interesting. It wasn't really a blizzard, just a quick shower of snow. I wasn't even sure there would be a walk at this point.

Even though it's dark and cold there is always a shade of light ― Angela Bernabe


Snow falling soundlessly in the middle of the night will always fill my heart with sweet clarity ― Novala Takemoto

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The Road Not Taken

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;

Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,

And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I -
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.

Robert Frost


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Lovely post and I am glad I went through it as well

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Bang, I did it again... I just rehived your post!
Week 87 of my contest just started...you can now check the winners of the previous week!
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So much beautiful snow right now. How bout those hydrangea there isn't a season they don't wear with grace. Love the natural positivity you always radiate:)

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Hey, Beauty! Thank you so much for your words. Can you tell how all sorts of busy I am when I have to post at 3 am?

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This too shall pass. What is it about hydrangea? They do look good, all the time! Thank you for coming over even though I have been so remiss, with all. I need to make some time... such a precious commodity, for sure!

Love to you! ❤️

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It was only midnight where I was;) Get a wink or two of sleep in there:)

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I know! Tonight. I have to. It has been months of little sleep. Everything has been too busy!

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This is an outstanding view. Snow looks so amazing. You have captured those photography beautifully. First snow of season but looking amazing.

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Thank you so much oh, I appreciate your kind words and yes I love snow!

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I'm about to start my Wednesday Walk, when I can muster the strength to get out of bed! I'm so jealous of your snow! X

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(Edited)

I know, right? I love my snow! My brothers and sisters think I'm nuts because I love it and I love Four Seasons. It was lots of fun and I threw some snowballs and some kids. They thought it was hilarious so I kept throwing them. I hope their mothers didn't see me. I say get your self up! It's 4 a.m. and I'm headed off to bed and I say that j.j. is up already and headed out for his walk. It would be really sad if he beat you. LOL have a great day and thanks for stopping by!

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I saw the huge line of vehicles stopped on a very long road in the Washington, New York area. I felt so sorry for them, no fuel, no bathrooms and food. A truckie very kindly shared his food, so nice and so very generous, this is what the world great.
I love looking at cold photos, helps me feel cooler in the hot summer heat we are experiencing here as a cyclone is hovering on our coastline.
Keep warm Denise.

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Do this license now will not last long oh, so I am enjoying it while it's here. They usually shut down everything in the Washington DC area when it snows. However oh, it didn't snow until after commuting time started. They also did not pretreat the roads this time, another fatal error. There were literally thousands of cars stuck and 20 to 24 hours later, they finally reopened the highway. It was a generous gesture on the part of the truck driver and his company. I will remember that the next time I go into a store and support the brand. Thank you so much for stopping by and I hope you have a most wonderful day.

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Every day is a good day lovely Denise. Little mistakes mount up to catastrophic ones with people suffering.
Enjoy the cold while you can and if like send some my way. I will be happy to share the heat. Blessings my dear friend. ❤️

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Indeed.

Shardies!! Sounds awesome!! Have a blessed day!

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You make Winter and the cold and ice look so beautiful

and I totally agree we have to be positive and make the most of each and every day
The other day I said when you mentioned snow for me on Friday we would only get a dusting, well the forecast has changed they are now saying 3 to 6 inches, maybe I will get some winter shots :)

Thanks for joining Wednesday Walk :), I truly enjoy exploring the world virtually each Wednesday seeing walks from all around the globe and feeling I am there and experiencing it all myself, such as I did in your post just now :)

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Our forecast was so different every time you looked at it that I didn't really believe them. The government has closed down before the snow has come and once everybody was home on a snow day and it didn't even put out a flake. So they are hesitant to you do that anymore. This time they actually just shut down the government so there was a lot less people on the road, and even the Metro was running. The Metro does not run when there is a certain amount of snow on the tracks.

I do love a little bit of snow now and then and the best part is I know that ours will go away pretty soon. I didn't get too much of a walk but I did get out so I was happy about that. Have a great day and thank you for hosting such a great challenge.

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The forecast has been all over the place for here earlier today at one stage it was saying 6 to 9 now saying 1 to 2 I suspect all we will see is our dusting lol

NYC got caught a few times closing down and nothing coming and then got less cautious and then got it wrong when we got slammed
I always felt fir those that had to make that call

Totally my pleasure to host the walk

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Beautiful snow and ice… it has been to long ago since the last time I saw snow.
It’s just to warm where I live now.
Think I miss the seasons. 😊

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Where did you live before?

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Hi @dswigle
I lived in 5 countries so far. The snow was in Northern Europe, The Netherlands and Germany. But nowadays it gets rarer there too.
Now I live in the south of Spain, I think I do miss the seasons. The more defined seasons I mean. So it is lovely to see your photographs and let me recall memories 🥰😊

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So lovely! I lived in Germany and the Netherlands too! :) The south of Spain sounds lovely! I love it there, but, I do love the defined seasons myself!

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Cool, what a coincidence 😊
Living here now since 2015, but with a year in Malta in 2019. Spain is lovely.
The defined seasons I love too, that is probably why I miss them.
But who knows, we might move this year 😉

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That's a long time! I live in the Washington, DC Metro area. It has everything and usually minimal snow. There is no perfect place. Actually most people call Andalusia perfect.

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Beautiful area you live in.
Yes, most do… but it is getting to hot here the last years. The difference between summer and winter are getting larger too. And with no insulated houses with no heating it gets cold till your bones around now.
But like you say, there is no perfect place… and all people are different to what they would like also. 😉

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It is really nice and I am happy here, but, I don't discount being moved again. No heat? I would have to buy a wood stove or install a gas fireplace for those odd days.

It beats moving again, or the cost of it.

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It’s a rental and so far we never came across a landlord that would want to change anything. Houses are build around the Costa del Sol for holidays, not permanent living. So no insulation or heating.

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Oh, I am familiar with that. Yikes! That can get bone chilling if you have a cold snap.

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Yep… but soon the spring starts again ☀️ (I’m thinking positively 😊)

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Love those icicle shots on the trees.

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Special, huh? That is because they really want to melt, but, Mother Nature won't let them. It is still a little icy today, but, tomorrow will be warmer.

And I just heard it might snow tonight?

Now, they are just playing with us. LOL

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Yes, those weather folks seem to like that. We're supposed to get more on Friday, Started as 5 inches, but now they are saying 2 inches. Got the plow ready to go!

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OH, no! That means blizzard!

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Love how water and ice take on so many different forms and your photographs of ice and snow illustrate them so well Denise. Love how you can actually see the crystalline ice formation on the hydrangeas. And the icicles and drops of water are such magic to the soul that can take it all in. Such beauty on planet Earth to be appreciated by all who take the time to observe all these changes. Love the quote by Nietzsche especially. ♥︎♥︎⚖️♥︎♥︎

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Me too. Love the quote!

There is so much beauty, all we have to do is look for it. I am sorry I haven't been over yet, it is that time of year that life is inundated with everything it seems. I hope all has been well with you?

No Covid or anything? Tell me what you have been up to?

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So true and the more we see the more expansive our life becomes in so many other ways too.
Lots of crazy lockdowns but I've enjoyed the quiet spaces and not having to go anywhere other than the local bush. Have explored my local area so much more and it's been wonderful and a huge blessing.

Not having a regular 'job' I haven't had to contemplate having 'the jab' or face losing my 'job' like so many here in Oz. No-one in my sphere of friends has been sick for the last few years ~ Apart from the usual seasonal colds. I usually get a cold every 2 to 3 years ( the body knows when it needs to relax and just get rid of any buildup of toxicity) but I haven't even had a cold ~ Although I do follow a protocol for having a healthy immune system.

Mostly I've been up to developing new art work which I hope to share here at Hive now. Working with mixed media and making small art journals ~ which I LOVE doing.

I'm taking a year to just be a 'student' again and have registered for 2 year long courses: One would have been ample but I really want to do both of them. Hope to share some of this work too.

Online I've been at Minds and IG and loving them both: Easier to share there without all the elaboration, but I feel the need to write more now and share the processes and thinking behind things I make.

Doing a lot of preparation for the courses but hope to get started here really soon now Denise. Excited about being back here again. With much love to you. @dswigle ♥︎♥︎⚖️♥︎♥︎

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That sounds awesome!!! I am really happy for you! Good luck with the classes! I have an IG account and I hate to say it, but, it doesn't feel as authentic, if I may say that. Everyone always gushed over my pictures or words and it just never felt right. I have had an account there for years and years and years. Minds and I didn't mesh, but, I also discovered something about myself. I like social media, but, not more than one site and perhaps a peek at one other, but, not get too involved. Just read.

So glad you are back!❤️

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Denise what beautiful pictures. I don't like the color white, but in the snow it looks fabulous. I loved the way of writing the publication, a little history, a little verses, poems, what a wonderful writing and it shows that it comes from your heart. Happy New Year friend Denise Wigle.

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Happy New Year @isabelpena ! Thank you so much for your wonderful words and kind thoughts. I appreciate it and you!

I hope you have a wonderful day!! Happy New Year!

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Wow, in just that one dump you have already gotten more snow than us the whole year so far. Very lucky for you in my opinion. I am still holding out hope that we will get at least one big storm this year. I just love seeing everything blanketed. Driving in it, not so much...

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I love seeing everything blanketed in the snow myself! We haven't gotten snow in a couple of years, but, usually we get nothing or 24 inches in one sitting. :) This fell well short, so perhaps we are due to get more? My brother stopped working and retired before 50 but, he bought a house on the lake in the Upper Peninsula where I had one.

This year? Snow from October until even today!!! Every couple days. He is ready to run away to Florida... wait, That was his wife. :) They feel like prisoners in the place right now.

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Haha, I can imagine. I remember when the first snow came through in October. They were talking about it. We have just been getting the cold and high winds lately but not much snow. If all my family wasn't up here I might be tempted to move to warmer temps.

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Oh, yes! That is why God made Virginia. :) Carolinas are too humid in the summer and anything lower than that is deadly hot in the summer.

:) I don't blame you. Family is everything. Maybe they will all move?

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No. I don't see that happening. I have a sister in Indy and my wife has a sister in Columbus, but everyone else close is here in Michigan. Virginia does sound like a good place to spend time with my wife. It is for lovers after all right?

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It's true!!!!!! Now you know the secret!

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Loving all your icy, snowy photos, especially number 2 & 3.

My niece lives in Quantico. She had been here a couple of weeks for Christmas because her Marine husband had been on assignment. My Sis-in-law had taken her and her two very little children back home and gotten snowed in. Not only that, they were without power for almost 2 days and it was finally supposed to be back on in the middle of last night (I Hope it was)...because round two of snow is said to be on it's way ! Brrrrrrr.....

The stop sign and tail lights, spots of red in the snow.

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I go to Quantico sometimes. Usually, I use Fort Meyer and Henderson Hall Marine Corp base up here, but once in a while, it is fun to go down there. Yes, they changed it to tonight. She gets a lot more than me. But, if she lives on base, it is a much more insulated type of living.

Your poor sister-in-law (and those babies! Most everyone has their power back on. I have lost mine once when they shut the whole grid down but, have never lost power here. Knock on wood. The utilities are underground and save us!

Yees. the stop sign was hard to notice unless you looked for it. Hi, woman! Hope all is well in your day!

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So beautiful. I love this time of year. My favourite.

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I do too. People think I am crazy because I like the snow, but, we get so little of it,

Have you gotten much snow this year yet?

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(Edited)

Not much yet. Only about 3-4” on the ground at the moment. We seem to get most of our snow in late January and February these days. It’s weird.

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They used to get more snow. I remember when I was here before (I think when you were in Georgetown)Now, every other year, maybe. Then in March right before Spring, we may get the one and only. LOL

Go figure.

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Yeah… we moved to Georgetown in 1995 and were hit with the Blizzard of 96 (January) …. It was funny to watch people ski into work. They must have had cross country skis in storage or something. M street and Wisconsin Ave looked very pretty in snow.

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It was crazy to see that I95 I believe it was where people we stuck for like 24 hours. I used to keep a few bottles of water I the car. Now I think I will put a gallon in the corner! Maybe some slim Jims or other food stuff and a blanket or two! Apparently one can never be too careful!

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They were stuck that long, with many people just abandoning their vehicles. No food or water. Everyone in my family has an emergency pack in their trunk for the winter, wherever we live.

I got stuck on a bridge for 7 hours in the summer going to the Shore. The Bay Bridge crosses over at Annapolis, MD. A truck was trying to avoid hitting a grl that crossed over the line and he would have killed, so he turned the truck towards the cement barrier and the truck went into the water. He was killed in the accident. That one broke my heart.

BTW, they speculated the girl had fallen asleep at the wheel and crossed into his path. If she had taken her responsibility a little more seriously, she wouldn't have gotten in a vehicle tired like that.

Back to the people on I-95... That storm was not out of nowhere. It was on the news, they just didn't see it when they got up to go to work, there was no snow. It came on the way to work. That is why so many people got stuck. thousands on the road.

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Thanks for the notification!

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First snow! Wonderful, it must be. I read I saw, I felt... Thank you!

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It is! I do love some snow! I am hoping to see more. It may snow tonight! :) We will see!

Hi, Dan! @bluemoon Let's see if we get more! :)) Did you get any?

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Not yet! Already the most hurried snowdrops are blooming. Mine is just getting ready.

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No way!!! :) I got more snow and it melted less than an hour after the sun came up. My FLOWERS are still blooming. I will have to take a picture of the last of the soldiers.

Crazy weather!

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Yes, really crazy! Flowers in the snow are a good photo subject, I look forward to seeing them.

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