bold snow dog
Terri Webster Schrandt

Sunday Stills: #Fresh Needs a Bold Refresh

For many, Spring is just around the corner, at least in the Northern Hemisphere. February has been a challenging month for severe weather! Are you as ready as I am for spring’s beautiful colors and the warmer weather? Not to mention the freshness! For now, we’re enjoying what’s left of winter while eagerly awaiting the promise of spring.

“Sunshine is delicious, rain is refreshing, wind braces us up, snow is exhilarating; there is really no such thing as bad weather, only different kinds of good weather.” – John Ruskin

pink sunset on white winter's day
Winter’s Pink Glow

Although northern hemisphere temperatures have been downright cold lately, the brisk air feels and smells fresh and clean.

I might give you the impression I LOVE the snow and all things winter, but I have my limits. We spent a few weeks in warm Arizona between Christmas and the end of January. But winter waited and met us at the door upon our arrival home. This is the view of the nearby ridge from my front porch.

winter ridge

Remembering Fresh Winds in Mexico

“Breathing fresh outdoor air is a known detoxification protocol.” ― Steven Magee

Sand

Years ago, we vacationed in La Ventana in Baja, Mexico, for sunshine, windsurfing, and a respite from the cold, gray Northern California winters. We visited three times between 2010 and 2016. It was a fresh and memorable winter retreat!

walking with windsurf gear
water start windsurfing

Although I committed to hours of water time while wind-surfing, I preferred the peace and certainty of stand-up paddling on the peaceful mornings in the Sea of Cortez!

“I love the feeling of the fresh air on my face and the wind blowing through my hair.” – Evel Knievel

stand-up paddling
Swimming in Ocean
An unplanned refreshing dip

If I can’t be in the water, I try to enjoy other forms of refreshment.

beverage

Bold Hummingbirds Need Refreshment

“Be bold, be brave enough to be your true self.” – Queen Latifah

hummingbord
hummingbird
hummingbirds
Boldly sharing refreshment

Dogs and College Students Need A Fresh Perspective

When I taught parks and recreation management courses at Sacramento State University, I encouraged students to be bold in their leisure choices. The fall semester found us on the much-anticipated field trip to the Aquatic Center.

students
Sporting life vests, students eagerly await their turn in the kayaks

“Be bold. Do what the ordinary fear.” – Anonymous

Brodie wasn’t at all annoyed to play in the fresh snow.

snow dog

“Tomorrow is always fresh, with no mistakes in it.” – Lucy Maud Montgomery

Sharing for Bird of the Week, Johnbo’s Cellpic Sunday, and Lens-Artists: Bold. (Hummingbird images were taken with my Lumix FZ300 camera)

blue swatch

Sunday Stills Photo Challenge Reminders

The Sunday Stills weekly-themed photo challenge is easy to join. You have all week to share and link your post. Please use your own original images, whether new or from your archives.

  • Remember to title your blog post a little differently than mine.
  • Please create a new post for the theme or link a recent one.
  • Entries for this theme can be posted all week.
  • Tag your post “Sunday Stills.”
  • Don’t forget to create a pingback to this post so that other participants can read your post.
  • I also recommend adding your post’s URL to the comments.

Comments are still a bit twitchy, but please check out Hugh’s post for information: How to Fix Commenting Issues on WordPress Email Notifications: A Simple Solution

I can’t wait to see how you interpret this week’s theme! Creativity is encouraged, so please share your own photographs (old or new), poems, original short stories, and music inspired by the theme. Join me next week as we explore STARK for March 2.

March themes are available on my Sunday Stills Photo Challenge page. Have a wonderful week!

Bitmoji snow signature

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94 comments

  4. What a fantastic view to greet you on the front porch, Terri. A winter wonderland, indeed.
    Thanks so much for linking to my post about the comment problem. This morning, WordPress messaged me, saying they think they have fixed the issue. We will see if this comment goes through the first time, as your blog is one I have a problem leaving comments on. If not, I will follow up with another comment and let you know.
    In the meantime, here’s an image of something fresh – fresh fruit salad.

    Liked by 1 person

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    • Thank you, Hugh! If you can believe that snow is mostly gone now. I’m glad we had some winter here. Temps are going to be much warmer here than usual, I believe spring is here.

      I wonder why my blog gives you trouble with comments? It’s the same for me on a few other blogs, but most comments have been going through.

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    • Hi Terri,

      It’s the same for me. I have no problems leaving comments on some blogs (like Masha’s blog), but I was always getting that error message on others, like yours. It’s always the same blogs.

      Anyway, today, I don’t seem to be experiencing any problems leaving comments on any blogs, so it looks like WordPress has fixed the problem (I’m keeping my fingers crossed).

      As for the lack of image, I will try again and see if this method works. I see the image in my draft comment. If it does not work, I’ll have to report the problem to WordPress.

      Liked by 1 person

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      • Phew! Glad it worked, Terri.

        The first time, I used the image block.

        This time, I copied the image’s URL from my media library and pasted it into my comment.

        WordPress has reverted to the Classic WP Admin dashboard, so I wonder if that’s the problem. When I asked, they recommended that I use the Classic WP Admin dashboard instead of the default option, which is similar with just a few differences.

        Liked by 1 person

      • It’s similar to the old dashboard we all used before the Block editor, Terri. There are a few differences, and they have updated and added additional information based on which WordPress plan you have. Initially, it felt like a step back, but I’m getting used to it.

        Liked by 1 person

  7. Terri,

    I envy your skills with an SUP. I’ve seen a lot of them during our stay here in Oceanside, CA. I’ve also seen a lot of surfers in thick wetsuits. I didn’t stick my toe in the surf, but I’ll bet it was very fresh…and COLD. Until next time, Joe

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  15. It was fun to see all those cold, blue, snowy photos, and then suddenly switch to sunshine and beaches! Phew. That made me yearn for spring (and summer). This hasn’t been a gloomy winter, but it’s been cold. Thanks for the fun, Terri.

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  19. What a beautiful view in your front porch. I agree with the different beauty of weather. Its all good, as long as it’s not harmful or dangerous. Enjoy the snow there, terri

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  24. Terri, that’s a beautiful view you have of the mountains there … it’s always nicer to view the snow from inside the warm and cozy house.

    This Winter has been challenging for me. Shortly after Winter arrived, we had our first brutally cold weather and some ice and it cleared away nicely, but we’ve been walloped time and time again since then. The snow is one thing, but combining it with multiple bouts of freezing rain and a Polar Vortex, plus several bouts of below zero temps – well it’s been no fun. My driveway is still a sheet of ice, but tomorrow we may get to 40, so I am hopeful some of this ice melts. Brodie looks happy in the snow anyway. I can tell you enjoy the warm-weather sports so much that’s it is difficult to be a snow bunny too. 🙂

    Here is my post, a different take on fresh, all about my first long walk in the Spring, all the sights and even the smells.

    “Despite the forecast …

    Liked by 1 person

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    • Thanks, Linda, I can’t complain about the views of the mountains here. But our snow is quickly melting with the onset of the atmospheric river in full swing here. Brodie loves the snow but it’s mostly melted. This may be it for the season. 🤞

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      • Lucky you if the snow is done for the season, but hopefully the atmospheric river does not wreak havoc in your area, like I’ve seen in videos of California. I was looking at the NOAA forecast for meteorological Spring which begins March 1st and our area is going to be very rainy – ugh. Not to be a malcontent, but my walking regimen is taking a beating.

        Liked by 1 person

  37. I liked your gallery and how you wove your stories along those photos. The ridge scene contrasting with the beach was my favorite. Oh, how I’d love to be on the beach now. Wait! I’m going to the beach this week. It probably will be cold (Texas gulf coast), but it’ll be nice to see the ocean.

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  42. I love your take on ‘fresh’ Terri. What I wouldn’t give for some snow right about now as the rain is lashing the windows and the wind is howling. It certainly doesn’t inspire any outdoor activities. Gorgeous humming bird shots and don’t the dogs just love the snow!

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