New Years Day Neighborhood Stroll

Yeah, I know.  It's nearly the end of January and I'm posting about New Years Day.  Yup - that's my MO - terminally behind on blog posts (I'm sure you'll all be shocked if I ever catch up!)

Partially frozen pond

New Years Day dawned in my neighborhood, sunny but cold.  I have a tradition of spending NYD on the ski slopes, but this year opted to stay home.  (Thin snowpack and the fact I'd just returned from Montana and didn't relish another drive on slippery roads were deciding factors.)

Red berries

I thought about driving somewhere for a quick hike, but it was too soon after my trip.  I wasn't ready to sit in the car for an hour or two.

Artsy fence

Not wanting to waste this wonderful sunny winters day (a rarity in western Oregon!) I decided to grab my camera for an impromptu stroll around the neighborhood.  Since we no longer have a dog, and I haven't been running, I realized how much I missed my daily trips around the block.  Time to reacquaint myself with the 'hood!

Bare trees

I feel fortunate to live where I do.  A mere half mile from home sits a wonderful recreation complex.  This large facility boasts numerous soccer and baseball fields, a huge gym, an Olympic size pool, and - best of all - a wonderful network of walking trails.

Wonderful light streaming through the woods

The local park district has left small pockets of wooded areas intact, and walking trails run right through them.

Moss adds color

Sunlight filtering through the trees created lovely patterns on bare branches.  It also lit up a patch of fuzzy green moss brilliantly.

Loved the sunshine

A few hardy blackberry leaves still clung to their vines, backlit by the bright sunshine.

Backlit leaf

A tiny duck pond sits near the soccer fields.  The previous night's chilly temperatures had created a thin skin of ice across it's surface. 

More pond pics

The partially frozen water created many interesting patterns.

Abstract

I especially liked the above image.  Fuzzy reflections in the icy surface make for a wonderfully abstract photograph.

Everything is brown and dry

Even dried, brown weeds gone to seed were photogenic (at least I thought so!)

Except these bright blackberry leaves

No, it wasn't an epic hike to some jaw-dropping location.  But my home turf provided a good hour's ramble and enough interesting photo subjects to keep my shutter finger busy.

Who knew on this cold January day I'd find such beauty in my own neighborhood?