3 Quarters Today

My Life, my photography, my passions

Elmwood-Murdock

Day 65/365: Winter Snow Drift in Nebraska

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Day 65: Nebraska Snow Drift

In Nebraska snow plus wind equals amazing snowdrifts. I love how the wind creates works of art. The wind travels across miles of empty fields collecting snow and deposits the very dry fine snow into very high drifts. It only takes a few inches to create several feet worth of drifts. This last storm was only six inches but resulted in a few 4-6 foot drifts.

Day 65: Waves of Snow

 

Nothing you want to be out in while it’s blowing, white out conditions with zero visibility created black ice this time and resulted in hundreds of accidents in Omaha and Lincoln. The interstate was closed for a short time. The Elmwood-Murdock school district, and other surrounding towns were closed for two days, one day for the storm, the next to open the many miles of country roads so the buses could get through.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Day 60/365: Window Shopping

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Day 60: Bit's & Pieces

I love my local thrift store, Bit’s N’ Pieces.  I really do, not only have I gotten great bargains, but I can count on friendly conversation on Saturday morning when I go in to browse. It’s not often, ok never, that I leave empty handed. This is just one of the beautifully decorated windows that change with the seasons.

Bit’s and Pieces Thrift Store is operated by the Elmwood Christian Church in Elmwood Nebraska. I don’t remember how long it’s been in business but it was originally opened as a way to raise money for the church that had burned down. Kinda of an indoor-garage-sale concept. Well, the success was overwhelming. At first it was only going to be open long enough to pay back the loan for the church. It became such a fixture that no one wanted to see it close. So volunteers still operate the store and profits go back to the church to benefit the community.

Elmwood has a population of less than 800 people and soon it was the place to find Christmas presents, birthday gifts, and just about anything you needed, or didn’t need, you could get there. My latest find was a LL. Bean Woolen woolen dress coat for $4.99, retail price $199.00.

I think this may be another topic I’ll highlight, Thrift Store finds…hmmm the treasures we will find. Remember my Uggs?

Day 57/365: Winter Icicles

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Day 57: Edited top right eave (thanks Anglin)

Icicles aren’t as easy to photograph as I thought. I tried to get the glistening of the sun and the drops melting off, but just couldn’t get it right. I do like the stained glass window of the church in the background. This was taken at the Christian Church in Elmwood, Nebraska.  Between Elmwood and Murdock (6 miles away) we’re a community of less than 1000 people, but we have five churches which are a crucial part of our lives.

Day 34/365: Lonely Homestead

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Day 34: Lonely Homestead

This old neglected homestead catches my eye every time I drive by on Highway 34 heading to Lincoln Nebraska. Depending on the season and time of day,  it looks lonely, forlorn, beautiful,  stubborn, or even sometimes as if it’s playing hide-and-seek.

It’s my goal to capture each of the personalities from the same vantage point and mark the seasons.

Day 23/365: Ice Skating

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I loved ice skating when I was young. During the 1970’s in Connecticut the best skating was outside, a field would ice over and all the neighborhood kids would gather with skates and hockey sticks. Cities and parks would sponsor outdoor skating rinks by flooding fields and bonfires would be lite to keep skaters warm.

It was wonderful.  I learned to skate with my Dad. He skated backwards and held my hands. Didn’t matter if the ice was bumpy, or cracks made one fall down. It was the whole experience. Even when it  snowed, then shovels came our clear the skating area.  Always thought figure skating inside was cheating in a way, although I liked the smooth ice, it’s just not the same.

Ice skating
Day 23/365: Ice Skating

This rink at Eugene Mahoney State Park in Ashland, Nebraska combines the best of both worlds. A prepared, maintained surface gives the luxury of skating on “good” ice, while the open air pavilion maintains the natural feeling of skating outside. I taught my daughter to skate here and it’s a annual tradition around Christmas to spend a few hours on the ice. The park is located halfway between Omaha and Lincoln and we are very lucky and fortunate the park is so close, skating in the winter and swimming in the summer.

Learn More about Ice Skating in Omaha

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Con Agra Ice Skating Rink opens

(OMAHA, Neb.) – Friday night the Con Agra Foods Ice Skating Rink will open for the season, the latest aspect of the Shine a Light on Hunger Campaign. Mayor Jean Stothert will be on hand to help cut the ribbon on the rink at 6:00 Friday night. The rink …
Outdoor Riverfront ice rink to open Saturday

This year, Wilmington is hoping to get a little taste of that feeling of excitement, wonder and community by importing its own outdoor ice skating rink, which will open Saturday at 11 a.m. on the Riverfront. Millions of skaters aren’t expected in …
Con Agra Ice Skating Rink opens

(OMAHA, Neb.) – Friday night the Con Agra Foods Ice Skating Rink will open for the season, the latest aspect of the Shine a Light on Hunger Campaign. Mayor Jean Stothert will be on hand to help cut the ribbon on the rink at 6:00 Friday night. The rink …
Ice skating! 4 cool things to do in Omaha this week

Show off your skating skills and head to the opening night of the Conagra Foods ice skating rink at 10th and Harney Streets. The rink opens Friday, and you can lace up your skates nearly every day through Jan. 4. (It’s closed on Christmas and New Year …