Trees At Dawn for @parul2411’s #ThursdayTreeLove

Trees at Dawn Thursday Tree Love blog thumbnail.jpg

Yes, it's Friday. I actually had this post about ninety percent done yesterday morning - I'd gone out first thing to get some photos of the trees at dawn, then had a rare couple of hours of quiet to edit the pictures and get things ready to post. But then distractions popped up (in the form of a long overdue, two hour long catch up call with my mother, as well as some Hive Folks awesomeness that happened) and before I knew it, it was time to hit the hay. But as I know Parul is very understanding of delays, I'm going ahead with the day late/dollar short post today.

But before I get started and speaking of my WordPress blogging friend Parul, as always thank you for hosting this awesome blog hop twice a month. And to those reading, if you want to join in the Tree love blog hop fun, it's wicked easy - here's the description from her latest post, called #ThursdayTreeLove – 119:

Thursday Tree love is a photo feature hosted on this blog on every 2nd and 4th Thursday of a month. The next edition will go live on December 23, 2021. If you would like to play along, post a picture of a tree on your blog, tell me where did you spot the tree and link it back to this post.

If you don’t see the pingback, please leave a link to your post in my comments section. Please make sure that your post’s link is showing up on this latest edition. I will link your posts on my blog in the next edition and spread some love. Let’s come together to appreciate the beautiful nature around us.

And in her previous post, she put forth a request that I thought was wicked awesome. She said -

From now on, I will make an honest attempt to share trees that show you a slice of my life. Can you do that too? I would love to know you more along with your trees.

So like I did last time, I'm going to share a bit about me as I share my tree photography (hey, that rhymed...lol!)

As for the photos, as per my usual FYI - these were taken in the yard of my Durham, NH home with my Nikon, attached to my tripod. All were resized, then cleaned up a bit with PicMonkey - mostly the exposure and sharpness, but with a few other tweaks like vignette filters for the corners here and there.

Now on with the trees...

Trees At Dawn

1. Trees at dawn.jpg 1. It's been a minute since I've been out in the yard before the sun was up over the trees. Don't quote me, but I'm pretty sure it's been since February. And with the light dusting of snow we got overnight (first of the season that's stuck) it's almost like no time passed...lol.

2. Trees at dawn.jpg 2. I know I've mentioned a few times that my husband was offered early retirement from his job at the beginning of the year. Given the company was restructuring at the time (and his boss intimated that it would be a wise choice), he decided to accept, even though we knew we couldn't afford for him to actually retire.

3. Trees at dawn.jpg 3. We'd hoped he find work again in July, as that would mean we'd still have a financial cushion. However, Thursday was just the second day of me wandering around the yard at dawn with our dog Sandy, after Jim had left to go to his new job - about five months later than expected. While I didn't miss the early morning hours, I did miss seeing the sun kiss the branches like this.

4. Trees at dawn.jpg 4. Seems funny to think he's even old enough to retire - there's more white on these leaves than there is on his head

5. Trees at dawn.jpg 5. I mean yes, we have 3 kids in their twenties, but I don't feel all that old. Well, okay maybe I'm not as spry as I used to be (and using the word "spry" probably doesn't help my case that I'm not old...lol), but my brain (and to be honest, my maturity level) still feels like I'm in my thirties. And for the record I don't have this much white on my head either. :P

6. Trees at dawn.jpg 6. Guess I'll go with the thinking that you're only as old as you feel, because walking around in the brisk air, watching the trees being lit up by the morning sun, I feel pretty young.

7. Trees at dawn.jpg 7. And while I'm not exactly a morning person, I appreciate not only the beauty of these early hours, but the fact that my husband is working, and at a place he enjoys.

8. Trees at dawn.jpg 8. Speaking of enjoying, Sandy seems to like being able to sniff around first thing - even though it was chilly, he didn't want to go back in the house when it was time.

9. Trees at dawn.jpg 9. I gave him a few extra minutes of sniffing while I took a few more tree shots.

10. Trees at dawn.jpg 10. Granted, we weren't on a schedule, but I wanted to get back inside before my fingers froze and fell off...lol.

11. Trees at dawn.jpg 11. Looking at this shot though, with the orange glow on the branches, and it almost looks warm and cozy out. Which also makes me appreciate that, unlike his last job, he won't be working outside in all kinds of weather.

12. Trees at dawn.jpg 12. Dawn colored trees and the dawn of a new chapter in our lives.

13. Trees at dawn.jpg 13. And after one last snap of bare branches being lit up (even though I couldn't see the sun over the horizon yet), with a bit of the snowy roof showing, Sandy agreed it was time to head in and get warm. He's not exactly a spring chicken either. 😂