A Snowy Morning

Friday, it snowed all day, and into the evening. Heavy wet snow that clung to everything! I really should have woken up earlier on Saturday, knowing that. The lighting was absolutely beautiful while I pondered going out with my camera. Everything was covered in white! Of all the storms this winter, nothing coated the trees like this storm. My husband took my truck to go plow at work, so I then had two cars to clean off the like 7 inches of snow, to get my son's car out. In the meantime the sun was coming up and snow started falling off the trees in clumps! I figured I better go to the closest cemetery to me – Harbourton Cemetery.  I often visit there in the snow and fog. I often visit there because it is a very special cemetery to me as my father and mother are laid to rest there. From the main road, the cemetery slopes upward and at the top of the hill is the Second Baptist Church of Hopewell, no longer in use. This rural cemetery was established in 1803. The older gravestones are closest to the church, where I most often photograph. I must explore this area more thoroughly, as there are a number of fieldstone markers, and I know those can date way back. When I arrived, the snow still clung to the trees and gravestones, in a picturesque and peaceful beautiful landscape. The snow was deep enough, that I had to watch my step not to step on any covered foot stones or covered fieldstones. I did not want a repeat of the Friday before where I fell on the ice in Lambertiville Cemetery – my elbow is still bruised and hurts. I made my way up to the highest boundary of the property where I played with some images taken through the snow covered branches – with clumps of snow falling on my head! I made my way through the stones, where I often stop and ponder – it always fascinates me as to the ages of some of these graves and I think of those that lived here in Hopewell Valley way back in that day. Although I know that if I go up north, the stones get much older! Someday, although we did visit Sleepy Hollow Cemetery in NY!! I also studied the way the snow related to the gravestones, some with speckled patterns of the way the snow blew on tho the gravestones. Some with snowy patterns with green lichen peeking through. The way the snow drifts up the gravestones. The way the snow started to sag from the sun's rays and it looks like the visor of a baseball cap, just hanging there. And the way the shadows fall onto the snow. I love photographing shadows! I was very glad that I decided to visit here, as it may be our last snow of the season. I couldn't miss this photo op. Spring is now here, and I look forward to visiting many cemeteries with my camera as the flowers start blooming. Photographing cemeteries in the different seasons, can give you different feelings. Photographing in the fog, and in the winter with the leafless silhouettes of the gnarly trees can give you a solemn almost stereotypical scary feeling that cemeteries give most people. And in the blossoming spring, and summers lush greenery, a feeling of rebirth and hope and happiness, that they really are places of peace and beauty. And the fall's colors are simply just beautiful and spectacular in any setting. But nothing like a stark contrast of a simple grey stone up against a bright orange and red tree. Sorry, I got off my original snowy day topic. I hope to return to a new blog very soon as I have past stories that I have not had a chance to blog yet!