Northern Utah In Transition

The darkening sky and the last traces of snow felt like two seasons holding the landscape at once — spring below, winter still lingering above.

Notes to Self. The Stubborn Survivor

 

Utah barns may not dress fancy, but they sure know how to outstare a storm. Rust, wind, and time tried to take this barn down—yet here it stands, still squinting at the horizon like a weathered cowboy.

***

Once upon a time I stumbled upon a blog called “Barn Charm” (yes, apparently barns get their own fan clubs), I thought—why not me? So off I went, on a noble quest to become a barn collector.

My first “treasure” was a small, decrepit barn that looked like it had seen better days. But I was thrilled—I had officially became a barn hunter.

True, I realized something very soon: Utah barns are a different breed entirely. While barns in other states wear fancy painted doors, decorative trim, and practically wave at you saying, “Look at me, I’m Pinterest material!”—our barns are very modest.

Utah barns are plain and gray but they’ve their own charm. They don’t waste time on frills; they’re too busy standing tall through blizzards, strong winds and scorching summers.

***

The blog "Barn Charm" vanished years ago, but I’m still out here photographing barns. Somebody’s gotta keep the legacy alive, right?

Generally, life is good.

A Spa Day for a Red-eared Slider

 

I came across this turtle by chance at our local pond, it was basking in the sun on the log.

Turtles love to rest on logs in the sun because they're cold-blooded animals and they rely on the sun to warm up. The sun helps them stay warm enough to be active, digest food, and move around.

So when you see turtles all lined up on a log, they're basically having a spa day—warming up, staying healthy, and soaking up the sun!

***

In winter as the weather cools, they slow down and sink to the bottom of the pond and stay buried in the mud. While they’re under there, they stop eating and barely move.

They breathe through their skin.  The mud at the bottom of the pond is insulated enough to keep them from freezing, and their metabolism gets so slow they barely need oxygen.

Turtles are just chilling quietly in the pond muck, waiting for spring. 

Generally, life is good.

Time Pauses Its Flight

 

Silence fills the air

Snow crowns mountain peaks

The moment held by the breeze

Time pauses its flight.

haiku #2

Generally, life is good.

Red Barn and Horses

 

I remember it as if it were yesterday.  The first frosty and misty morning, I am not dressed properly for cold weather and shivering from it. 

High in the mountains a red barn and horses. I try to figure out what are these low hanging clouds.  Does anyone burn dry fallen leaves or it's fog that spreads low on the ground. 

But it really doesn't matter The main thing is the charming red barn, the horses and the silence.

Generally, life is good.

Notes to Self. Not All Rivers Want Our Close Presence

 

This mountain river was shallow and quite noisy.  I was looking at this beautiful river and tried to remember when I last time photographed our mountain rivers. 

***

A warm summer morning emerges from my memory.

I carefully walk down the steep hill to the river, choose the most comfortable stone, sit down on it feeling its warmth and listen to the river. At some point I suddenly see how tiny we are in our huge universe. Two grains of sand that suddenly became one.

***

This time there was no way to go down to the river, to be on the shore, get comfortable and to feel, as on that distant morning, that the river and I again became an inseparable whole. 

Probably, not all rivers want our close presence.

Generally, life is good.

On the Country Roads. In the Valley

 

It is unusual to see white barns in the Northern Utah. Usually most of them are a modest brown or loud red color.

Generally, life is good.

October in Utah

 

In autumn I always return to the same places and I am amazed every time at how different they are and how many endless discoveries they carry within themselves.

Generally, life is good.

On the Rocky Shore

 

Generally, life is good.

It's Lonely Out There

 

Generally, life is good.

Better Late Than Never - I

 

This morning I took my old Nikon D90 and my Sigma wide-angle lens and headed north to the places I have not been in a very long time.

Returning to places from your past can evoke interesting emotions in you and puts you in a unique position because you are both an insider and an outsider, and it allows you to reveal something special that was hidden from your eyes before.

Generally, life is good.

Powerful and Confident

 

Some people confuse bison and buffalo.  Both are large horned animals of Bovidae family.  Antelope Island is home to American bison.

Contrary to the song "Home on the Range", buffalo do not roam the American West.  Instead, they are indigenous to South Asia (water buffalo) and Africa ( Cape buffalo).

The main difference between bison and buffalo is the presence of a hump.  Bison has one on its shoulders, the buffalo does not.

Generally, life is good.

Trees in Winter - III

 

These trees seem a little jumble, but if you take a closer look at them, they are actually harmonized perfectly.

Generally, life is good.

Female Common Rosefinch

 

It was quiet on the North Arm Wild Trail that early morning, except for birds singing.

I was about to find out how the Osprey family was doing when I spotted a bird I have never seen. The moment was exceptional, the background wasn't cluttered, the light was great and the bird wasn't about to fly away.  The brave bird turned out to be a female Common Rosefinch.  

By the way, an adult male has a bright rosy head and chest.

Generally, life is good.

Let's Go For a Ride

 

I was once told that your new horse will test you for as long as he sees fit and then he will teach you the way you teach him. And if the horse trusts you he will bring out the best of you.

Generally, life is good.

Notes to Self. In the Desert

The desert with its clean air, wildlife and its silence always transports you to another world and tells stories you will never forget.  

Generally, life is good.

On the Country Roads -V.

 

I thought for a long time whether to post this photo or forget about it.

When I got out of the car, the cows disappeared from sight very quickly but the curious one lingered for a couple of seconds and helped to create a country atmosphere. I am very grateful to her for her curiosity.

Generally, life is good!

Tundra Swans During Autumn Migration

 

The autumn migration of Tundra swans is now in full swing.  There are already thousands and thousands of them in Northern Utah. These majestic birds will soon head to Northern California for the winter.

This evening I was lucky enough to watch Tundra swans until they are gone.  My only regret was that these birds were so far away and I didn't have binoculars with me.

Well, I will wait patiently until February arrives and the Tundra swans will return to the Bear River Migratory Bird refuge, where they will remain for a few weeks during their long migration back to their breeding grounds in Alaska.

 Migration Map of Tundra Swans

Tundra swans who are breeding in Western Alaska

every year migrate to Northern California for winter.

In February they move to Northern Utah and stay there for a few weeks

and then return to their breeding grounds to Western Alaska.

Generally, life is good.

Notes to Self. In a Fraction of Time

 

There are people who cross our path in a fraction of time and in the briefest encounter they leave a deepest mark on our heart.

***  

Recently, while leafing through one of my old diaries, I came across an entry that took me back to the distant past, where one cold autumn day I met an elderly woman in Vingis park, in Lithuania, my then country. 

Our conversation began unexpectedly with completely insignificant phrases but soon grew into a conversation that I wanted to write down without missing a single word said by this woman. 

Now, more than ever, I understand what this eldery woman wanted to say to me, a young and naive girl, about life and loneliness.  Loneliness is not a situation, it's a feeling and we are strong enough to change it.

There were days when the woman had a hard time to stay in empty house and, not knowing how to deal with this emptiness, one summer evening she opened the window and began to listen to the ringing of church bells, and the feeling of loneliness disappeared.  She and the world became one, they belonged to each other.

On those days when the church bell didn't ring, the woman listened to the rustling of leaves, to the wind and the voices of birds and just silence. 

When I feel lonely, I read books, watch wildlife documentaries, look at the mountains and plan my next trip to my favorite bird locations.  And at such moments I know that I belong to this world and we are one.

Generally, life is good!

On the Country Roads - IV.

 

A few more warm autumn days and next week the temperature will drop and autumn won't not be as friendly as it is now.

This morning I headed into the mountains and drove along the back roads in hope of seeing Turkey Vultures sitting on the fences and "waiting" for me to photograph them but there weren't Vultures around.  

But, to my delight, high in the mountains, autumn still had its festive colors.

American Crows. 

I have a soft spot for red barns.  This one was hidden behind the trees, only half visible. 

Generally, life is good.