My neighbor smokes on his front porch. I think he might find me peculiar. You know, like times when I go outside in my short sleeved t-shirt and yoga pants on a freezing January day to take a picture of my tree and my deck table. I'm thinking maybe not everybody does this.
You see. . . I'm drawn to contrast. Both in books and real life. And this, is tell-tale of a NC winter. It's warm enough to make the trees bud. My picture is nothing. There are red bud trees on some other roads that are bright purple and ready to sprout leaves. But this is the best I can do in my front yard. Buds! Buds in January. 
However . . . last nights temperatures were so severely cold, that it shattered my deck table! I rarely need more than a sweatshirt to keep me warm in the winter (I"m from Illinois/Wisconsin) But it's cold today. Cold enough to freeze us to bits. Literally!
Another winter phenomena I experienced last week was a full-arched double rainbow. It was a stormy day and when the sun came out, the clouds turned golden and a full arched double rainbow graced the sky. I was driving and I could see the start of the rainbow on the road where I was driving. Imagine a long straing road, and at the end of where the human eye could see, the rainbow started. It looked like if I kept driving that I would drive right up the rainbow. What I wouldn't give to have had my camera with me!!!!!
I don't usually like winter. I prefer warm beaches. However, I can totally appreciate the rare winter phenomena.
What winter rarities have you enjoyed? I'd love to hear!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Leave me a comment or I'll .. . . . ummm . .. I don't know what I'll do . . . but you won't like it! ;0)
I can't believe it shattered the table.
Texas doesn't have much in the way of winter wonders (at least Austin doesn't). But I remember one day in Chicago so cold I had to scrape ice off the inside of my car windows!
Cool! Rainbow Road! (that's a road on Mario Kart :0)
Your table! In pieces! I think I'd crack into pieces if I stayed outside too long. It was -19 on the thermometer this morning! I love the beauty of snow, but so dislike the cold!
Oh what did you think when you went out and found your table like that! :o
I live in NC, too, and it IS cold! I'm originally from Miami. I hate cold.
I'm in NC, too.
It's so cold that it is 11 degrees outside...but with wind chill of -25 degrees!!!!!!!!
Gonna go wrap up more.
The only winter rarities that I can think of is that today was so cold that Koda wouldn't go outside to potty...I guess his fur coat wasn't thick enough...grin...
Wow -- look at that table! I'm a Californian living in NW Montana, so I've been enjoying the extreme weather. Funny though, but we're missing out on this cold snap all of you are having. We've actually had nice temps lately. But like you, I totally appreciate it and find it all fascinating.
I did not know severe cold could shatter glass like that!
Where I am in Texas there hasn't been much in the way of unusal winter weather. But in 1985 we had 13 inches of snow! Now that was a treat. I also liked the fact that it only stayed around for a day or two.
Another Wisconsin girl here. My favorite winter scene is fresh, new snow heaped up on bare branches, showing their "architecture."
Sorry about your table. I'm also drawn to contrast.
I love taking pictures of row houses where one of the homes is restored and the others are "not"
I also found and photoraphed a double rainbow after a huge storm on the coast of Italy. It was so cool because the sky was light grey.
Two days ago I saw a car susspended on a guard rail....two right tires on right side of guard rail, two left tires on left side (somebody took the exit ramp too fast? a little ice on the autobahn now and then?)
And I DIDN'T have my camera.
Driver, car and rail all appeared well...but it would have been a great shot!
That is a great picture of you outside taking pictures as if it were a sunny day but it's freezing.
I prefer beaches too- warm ones that is. But pretty snow capped mountains are fun to visit.
Hi Christy! I nominated you for the Kreativ Blogger Award over on my blog. I hope you can come check it out. :)
Your table shattered? Whoa.
About a week ago I saw my first winter double rainbow. It was so cool, but of course I was driving and didn't have a camera or camera phone with me. My son was there tho, so at least I had someone to share it with.
Hey everybody! Thanks for stopping by! I wish I had been able to reply to all your comments!
Rena, I'll go check out your blog! Thanks for the nomination!
My deck table did the same thing - on a hot summer day!
See, I love winter, and that's where I get myself into trouble. I love the snow, and sleeping under huge blankets, and frosty air.
I DO NOT like -40 wind chills. Yuck yuck yuck!! But I can't move anywhere that doesn't get snow. I just can't.
A few nights ago, we got a little dusting of really fine, icy snow on top of the 24 or so inches already on the ground. When I peeked out the windows before bed, the whole yard was glittery in the moonlight. I love that winter brightness.
Sorry about your table!!! I don't like winter all that much, but the snow today was beautiful. Big, huge flakes swirling down; the whole sky was white. Plus I didn't have to drive in in, which makes it look even better.
We've got double rainbows here too.
Where I used to teach in Japan, we used to get long icycles hanging from the station eaves every winter. They were enormous and weighed a ton; towards the end of March, just walking underneath them got to be pretty nerve-wracking.
ohmygoodness! i'm sorry about your table. that is pretty crazy that it shattered
:)