Wednesday, December 31, 2008

A New Trial of Time

New Year's eve is like every other night;
there is no pause in the march of the universe,
no breathless moment of silence among created things
that the passage of another twelve months may be noted;
and yet no man has quite the same thoughts this evening
that come with the coming of darkness on other nights.
Hamilton Wright Mabie


The new year begins in a snow-storm of white vows.

George William Curtis

Year's end is neither an end nor a beginning but a going on,
with all the wisdom that experience can instill in us.
Hal Borland

And ye, who have met with Adversity's blast,
And been bow'd to the earth by its fury;
To whom the Twelve Months, that have recently pass'd
Were as harsh as a prejudiced jury -
Still, fill to the Future! and join in our chime,
The regrets of remembrance to cozen,
And having obtained a New Trial of Time,
Shout in hopes of a kindlier dozen.
Thomas Hood

The first three pictures were taken today near my home. We had a spectacular New Year's eve sunset. The last sunset picture was taken from my kitchen window on December 29th.

Link here for more Skywatch posts from around the world.

41 comments:

  1. Ruth, you have an eye and ear for all things beautiful.
    Wishing you a healthy and peace-filled New Year.

    Is that a new picture of you?
    Love it!

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  2. Your photography is amazing! I especially love the corn field.

    Happy New Year!

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  3. Wonderful post...great photographs and lovely narrative. Just what I needed.

    Happy New Year to you and all the family.

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  4. Happy New Year, Ruth. Your pictures and quotes and thoughts are among the highpoints of 2008 for me. I wish us all a very good 2009 with lots of birds and photographic opportunities.

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  5. Breath taking photos Ruth.

    Happy New Year

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  6. What gorgeous pictures, Ruth. And I love the poem.

    Happy New Year!

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  7. Guess I should clarify...

    All the quotes were excellent, but I really liked the last one. :)

    Cheerio!

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  8. What a gift Ruth. A very Happy New Year to you. Hope you are fully on the mend and that 2009 is full of happiness and blessings.

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  9. I adore that first photo, but then my weakness for orange tones is will documented...

    Happy New Years Aunt Ruth!

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  10. Ruth,

    The photos are beautiful, as are the quotes and the poem. Happy New Year to you, my friend. I wish you abundant blessings throughout 2009.

    Blessings,
    Mary

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  11. Oh Ruth..perfect series..just wonderful. I find the second photo very compelling...Happy 2009

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  12. What gorgeous pictures of our sunsets. Isn't it great that everyday we have a new sunset to look at. We should never miss a sunset because we will never see it again.
    That first picture would look great blown up and put on a wall (in my house of course lol).

    Body, Soul and Spirit blogspot is a highlight of my day. Thank you for sharing your life adventures with us and I look forward where you are going to take us in 2009.

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  13. Gorgeous photos. I am new to your blog and wanted to say how beautiful it is. All the best in the new year.

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  14. Beautiful collections, both photos and quotes!

    Happy New Year! :-)

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  15. What beautiful photos. They are all so different, but beautiful. They are peaceful and wonderful.

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  16. Just love the colours, great captures.

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  17. I love the fourth photo, the colours are stunning.

    Gill in Canada

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  18. Great photos,perfect!!Happy SWF and Happy New Year 2009!

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  19. Anonymous3:43 pm GMT-5

    A Death In The Blogger World

    A blogger friend lost her husband suddenly last Sunday night. I thought it would be nice to go and leave a message for her on her blog...You may know her as 'mommanator' at grannies ramblings

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  20. Beautiful pictures,the sunsets leave me in awe.
    Blessings,Ruth

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  21. WOW! Wonderful series with beautiful colors!

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  22. Anonymous4:49 pm GMT-5

    Truly beautiful photos! Thanks for sharing! Happy new year!

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  23. Absolutely love the 1st photo. Great SWF

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  24. Anonymous5:22 pm GMT-5

    Great photos love them all

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  25. WOW! You got me. Those are spectacular! And your quotes perfectly picked. Great captures and views where you live.

    Welcome to 2009!

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  26. nice pics and good color . happy new year!

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  27. Those are great pictures, Ruth. Happy New Year!

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  28. A very inspiring post. Your pictures are wonderful.

    Happy SWF and I hope you have a great new year!

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  29. You asked for the job to put the tree on the top.
    It is training for a technical relief organization. I don't know the correct term. Like "Red Cross" but in technical things by earthquakes and so on.

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  30. Each one so very beautiful as well as the words to go with them. Yuou have excelled yourself!

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  31. What a gorgeous series of photos. I love the quotes too. Great collection of words to ponder.

    Happy New Year!

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  32. A beautiful and awesome blog as a climax to a wonderful year of blogs. Dad said tonight that you have inherited the giftings of your paternal grandparents but in photography instead of oils.
    Your blogspot is the first item I open when going on line.
    A special and blessed New Year to you,my wonderful son-in-law and 2 special granddaughters.

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  33. You were so blessed to be able to see that beautiful display of glory right before the new year began. Absolutely gorgeous!

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  34. Anonymous5:49 am GMT-5

    Wow ... what a great start of 2009, Ruth.
    Lovely colours in the sky and the field with the snow is beautiful.
    Happy new year & happe SWF!

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  35. Wow!
    These are fantastic shots!
    I love the word too!

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  36. Anonymous8:35 am GMT-5

    Ruth,

    I wish you all the best for the year 2009!

    greeting,

    NANNE from FRIESLAND

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  37. Hi Ruth
    Thank you for your visit... and thank you for sharing these great pictures... I do like the rows of snow....

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  38. Anonymous3:23 pm GMT-5

    Excellent photos! I can't decide which one is more beautiful! But my favourite seems to be the second one, the field under snow. I wish you a Happy New Year! :-)

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  39. Seems like the skies all over have been rather spectacular by the end of the year. Such very beatiful images these too and the lovely poems go so well to them. I found myself mesmerized by the second shot as it looks very much like a painting. Quite magical.
    Happy 2009 to you.

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  40. Thanks to those who took the time to comment. A Happy New Year to all!

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