Traveled through the farmland to visit my friend Rachel (see “Roads”). Winter brings a harsh beauty to Wisconsin.
The landscape dazzles thanks to snow and subzero temperatures. The first sunlight in days, too, and a clear sky.
For some reason, this river refuses to freeze over.
Silence holds the air, numbs fingers and lungs.
I think of winter, how it halts life here. To press forward, to even breathe, is to struggle against Nature. I think of Rachel, whose progress has been halted by cancer’s return to her brain stem. She struggles to speak, to walk, to eat. She fights against that which Nature has planted in her. Twice. I think of her, and winter, and remember that the thaw has to come, and with it, life, and hope.
Jean Lee's World 
Beautiful Shots
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Thank you very much! Luckily for me, the landscape does all the hard work. 🙂 For a true photographer, you should check out inesephoto. She’s brilliant!
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Reblogged this on MDellert-dot-Com.
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So sorry that your friend Rachel has to go through this illness.
Beautiful photographs. I can feel the cold and hear the silence.
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Thank you–your compliment means a good deal! It was a struggle to take any picture with numb fingertips, so I’m happy I got the good ones I did. 🙂 As for Rachel, that girl’s a fighter. I know she can beat this. Thank you for your thoughts!
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A friend of mine is about to start a radio therapy after six months of chemo. Blessings to all fighters!
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Amen to that!
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Jesus H , these images steal my breath. I spy your mill again, teetering on the water’s edge. And your words are, as ever, wonderful words. I was keeping till last, a quick visit to your blog. I see it was the best.
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Shucks. 🙂 Actually, talking to you has really spurred me to get that trip to the bluffs mapped out with my husband. Hoping to go this summer and have a photo shoot of one of my favorite childhood places: Devil’s Lake.
Ooooo, doesn’t it sound awesome? Cuz it is. 🙂
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Devil’s Lake. WOW!! I love places with names like that. I hope you get that photo shoot. I can’t wait already.
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I KNOW. I believe it was so named because the lake’s depth is pretty crazy by lake standards. I’ll have to look it up.
And if you think that’s great, I’ll have to see if I can get some photos of the nearby Circus World Museum. AKA: Nightmare Fuel Land!
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Yes puleaze!! Excited already xxxx
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Pingback: Tone Deaf – Jean Lee's World
Stunning pictures. Love the semi-frozen river.
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Thank you! I lucked out with my meager smart phone that day.
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So sorry to hear about your friend. I can see both pain and hope in your accompanying photographs. They are beautiful.
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Thank you for your kindness, and for your kind words. x
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I’m behind the times here. I do hope the thaw has come for your friend. The photos are stunning. Even in really cold places like the Tundra a growing fertile season comes every year.
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She’s doing better, thank you, but has also plateaued–her speech will never be what it was, nor her strength.
Yeah, life goes on hold here…except for the ice fishermen! They’re out with trucks on the lake and everything, the crazies.
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I’m pleased she is doing a bit better. Hopefully she can make a new happy life.
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