My USB port is not working today, so this is an archived pictured.
click photo to enlarge.
It is from December 2007 when we went with some friends to their condo at Purgatory Ski Village. I used this photo on my Christmas cards last year because I did not get my regular stamped ones made and someone had the nerve to say, “Your card just wasn’t as cute as I was expecting.”
I’m not sure what could be more beautiful than this!
To see LOTS more terrific sky pictures or to find out how to participate in this meme, head to the SkyWatch blog.
Note: Please do not think I was offended by the comment about the Christmas card. I realize the world is full of people without a clue, and that was one of them! After reading some of the comments, I thought I should tell you this. It takes a lot to make me feel attacked. A WHOLE lot more than that! I mostly put it in because I thought it was funny.
Potted Frog 
January 29, 2009 at 1:28 pm
Perfect photograph, I can’t believe someone would say that. I would be thrilled to recieve a card with this image on it.
January 29, 2009 at 1:36 pm
Wow, didn’t realize that “cute” was a requirement LOL!!! Well, we live and learn.
Tink *~*~*
My Mobile Adventures *~*~* presents – Doo, doo, doo, lookin’ out my back door at the SKY!
January 29, 2009 at 1:47 pm
Clouds are rising behind the hill, but blue is still deep and beautiful. 😉
January 29, 2009 at 1:52 pm
A gorgeous, blue and white picture 🙂
January 29, 2009 at 1:54 pm
This is so pretty. I can’t imagine anyone complaining that it’s not cute. 😉 Just goes to show that some people have certain expectations of us.
January 29, 2009 at 1:59 pm
Awesome photo!!
Thanks for sharing.
January 29, 2009 at 2:01 pm
We can thank your USB port, then !
great shot !
January 29, 2009 at 2:06 pm
Ahhh… This is really beautiful, and soooo cold 😉 Great SWF post 🙂
By the way: Have a nice weekend 🙂
January 29, 2009 at 2:19 pm
I can’t imagine anyone not liking that for a Christmas Card. It’s perfect. Great shot.
January 29, 2009 at 2:22 pm
Gorgeous photo, Louise! All I can say about the comment is that some folks need to have their eyes checked! No, it’s not cute; it’s beautiful!!!
January 29, 2009 at 2:23 pm
Haha… that is a bit nervy! I’m pretty sure none of our Christmas cards have been “cute” either.
That is a gorgeous photo! It would make an AMAZING Christmas card!
January 29, 2009 at 2:27 pm
Purgatory Ski Village? What a name. I like this picture. As an archive user, I think you should bring out everything that you have.
This is a perfect Christmas card photo.
My skywatch is at http://calrat.blogspot.com
January 29, 2009 at 2:30 pm
As a true admirer of your photography, I am once again blown away. As for the person that said it wasn’t as cute…Just say, “Well, I noticed you weren’t as cute as last year so I decided to step it down a bit.”
January 29, 2009 at 2:30 pm
Simply awesome, you captured the beauty of winter perfectly, thanks for sharing.
Cheers!
Regina In Pictures
January 29, 2009 at 2:31 pm
Lovely picture postcard.
January 29, 2009 at 2:44 pm
Don’t you worry about critics.
A standing phrase of my best buddy when viewing my images is: “Nice! But I’ve seen better!” All good fun and the both of us now deploy that as a standard phrase and even sport baseball caps with that wording! 🙂
So don’t let anyone say anything against your pic, just smile.
Cheers, Klaus
January 29, 2009 at 2:51 pm
WOW! So clear, I feel the cold! It is wonderful and very good for Christmas cards.
January 29, 2009 at 2:51 pm
Well I would be happy to get that.
January 29, 2009 at 2:51 pm
Well there’s one less card to send next year.
Funny, when I first saw this I was thinking how much it looked like a Christmas card. So whoever the *ahem* person was who dissed it, I’d say print out the comments from this august body of skywatchers and include it in the text for your next batch of cards.
January 29, 2009 at 2:57 pm
THAT photo? That OUGHT to be on a calendar for a winter month!!
January 29, 2009 at 3:08 pm
Great scene!
LOVE IT!!!
The blue sky against the white snow.
Wonderful! 🙂
January 29, 2009 at 3:14 pm
Hahahahaha… Why would someone name that place “Purgatory?”
The blue and whites in that shot are wonderful to gaze at. It’s great to have different seasons, isn’t it?
January 29, 2009 at 3:25 pm
Archived on not, it’s a good picture. I tend to use archived pictures myself because I don’t appreciate the beauty of a picture until is has marinated a bit.
January 29, 2009 at 3:27 pm
It’s unfortunate that some people just don’t have a clue or lack the sense to appreciate beauty.
BTW, that image is awesome. Before I read your post, I thought I’d like it in a card.
January 29, 2009 at 3:34 pm
Beautiful!
January 29, 2009 at 3:39 pm
That is a simply gorgeous shot! I also like to let shots marinate. They, like anything written, benefit greatly from distance when I can sometimes see things in them I could not before.
As for people who don’t get it – we all have those oblivious people in our lives!
January 29, 2009 at 3:40 pm
Truly beautiful photos! Happy weekend and SkyWatch :o) I hope you get the usb port fixed!
January 29, 2009 at 3:43 pm
Neat tree… and a great capture.
Tom
January 29, 2009 at 4:35 pm
There’s just no pleasing some people. It’s a great shot. (Hope you get your USB problems worked out too.)
January 29, 2009 at 4:54 pm
I thaught “christmascard” at once when I saw this picture! Beautiful composed and shows what winter is all about! What did they expect; you providing the snow and sunny sky for them? 🙂
January 29, 2009 at 5:08 pm
Beautiful and cold! BRRRRR!!! You are a good sport about the comment!
January 29, 2009 at 5:17 pm
It looks as though someone from up above sprinkled powdered sugar all over the trees……just lovely
Gill in Canada
January 29, 2009 at 5:24 pm
Great photo for a Christmas card. I can’t imagine what the naysayer was thinking.
Really beautiful frost and snow.
January 29, 2009 at 5:46 pm
Louise, sometimes others don’t see the beauty that you yourself see in it. 🙂 It’s just so eyecatching, the tree, the snow, everything. Very perfec for Skywatch!
January 29, 2009 at 5:59 pm
I think it’s wonderful. The colours are so bright and clear, just great!
Have a good weekend.
January 29, 2009 at 6:42 pm
The photo is stunningly beautiful and would make a great card. But, remember, I’ve seen (and have received) some of your stamped cards and they are SO SPECIAL. I’d be happy with either one.
– Suzanne, the Farmer’s Wife
January 29, 2009 at 7:04 pm
That was a great pic to put up for SkyWatch. It made me shiver, though. I enjoyed looking at your cousins and other posts, too. I love that idea of the aunt reading books with the girls over the phones.
January 29, 2009 at 7:27 pm
That is breathtaking!
January 29, 2009 at 7:35 pm
It’s amazing what some people will say when they’ve been given a great gift like this one. Beautifully done, Louise. I would be happy to get any kind of card with this photo.Happy SWF!
January 29, 2009 at 8:35 pm
Lovely blue. Gorgeous snow. I think the person was giving you a backhanded compliment, about your past stamped cards. Just came out all wrong.
January 29, 2009 at 8:39 pm
That’s a brilliant picture perfect shot and most suitable for a holiday card or just to marvel at that crisp blue sky and the icy white snow.
January 29, 2009 at 9:02 pm
I’d say a beautiful December winter sky! 🙂
January 29, 2009 at 9:50 pm
I think your picture would make a great Christmas card.
January 29, 2009 at 10:50 pm
This is an absolutely great picture. It definitely fits a Christmas card or an art gallery.
January 29, 2009 at 10:58 pm
“Beauty is in the eye of the beholder” someone once said. I personnaly like the photo very much.
January 29, 2009 at 11:18 pm
Great sky and a lovely composition. I wish I would have received such nice Christmass cards!
January 29, 2009 at 11:37 pm
so glad you did not feel attacked. The white of winter against the beautiful blue is amazing!
January 30, 2009 at 12:23 am
This is a splendid picture! The atmosphere is amazing! 🙂
January 30, 2009 at 12:35 am
I love the color. Great picture. Every thing looks so frozen. Happy swf.
Grammy
Missouri, USA
January 30, 2009 at 12:40 am
wow! i love the color contrast here! Cool pic, indeed!
January 30, 2009 at 12:47 am
Beautiful pic, but cold. Brr 🙂
January 30, 2009 at 1:06 am
What a beautiful snow landscape!!! It’s amazing what nature can do!
We don’t mind the archives as they normally bring out something very beautiful and special. Thanks for sharing!
January 30, 2009 at 1:20 am
This is a perfect SWF shot and a wonderful Christmas card shot. I love the colors and clarity. Hope you had fun while you were in Purgatory! I’m sure your stamped cards are wonderful too…just in a different way – two totally different art forms!
January 30, 2009 at 2:36 am
Gorgeous shot, truly beautiful. Glad to hear that you weren’t upset by your friend’s episode of foot in mouth disease.
January 30, 2009 at 2:36 am
lovely capture!
January 30, 2009 at 3:59 am
Wow ! A beautiful picture !
Great composition.
Gr.
P-TER
January 30, 2009 at 4:36 am
Congratulations for so wonderful blog! I loved this sky picture.By the way your ART blog is great as well!
Thanks for your kind visit and words.
Have a nice weekend!
Regards from Brazil and Luxembourg
Léia 🙂
January 30, 2009 at 5:01 am
What a great idea to use it for a Christmas Card!
January 30, 2009 at 5:15 am
nice snow and sky! love it!
January 30, 2009 at 5:45 am
You’re right, take it as a funny thing, Louise. You’ve got at least 60 visitors including me from all over the world who are charmed by this wonderful winter shot in blue and white.
Now you have to show us your stamped ones, for us to have an idea. Maybe your personal creations have nothing to compare to !
January 30, 2009 at 6:43 am
looks freezing cold! this is a beautiful winter photo!
January 30, 2009 at 6:47 am
I love all of the white, it makes everything seem so clean and pure.
January 30, 2009 at 8:06 am
Beautiful!
January 30, 2009 at 8:09 am
Beautiful winterphoto,love the clear blue sky:o)
January 30, 2009 at 9:04 am
I guess they were expecting “cute” and got “beautiful” instead, and they didn’t know how to handle it!!!The sky is so blue against the white of the snow covered tree – it’s specatacular.
January 30, 2009 at 10:08 am
THANK YOU!
AND YOURS IS A CHRISTMAS CARD!!!!!!
January 30, 2009 at 10:47 am
louise, this is lovely! the way the cloud mirrors the tree is perfect.
January 30, 2009 at 10:53 am
This is a stunning shot. I can feel the ground crunching beneath my feet! This is the only way I like to experience snow these days…in lovely photos!!
January 30, 2009 at 12:35 pm
Simply beautiful!
January 30, 2009 at 12:43 pm
thanks for visiting my sky.
the fish in the tree how can that be is a line from doc seuss…
i was cleaning a paintbrush when I saw the silver flash in the tree. The fish was still alive, madly flopping, while the osprey was keeping her foot down and watching me too.
What say you, pretty good size catfish?
My brother lives in NM. What a blessing to live where your skies are never washed out and so icy blue!
January 30, 2009 at 12:57 pm
Very pretty indeed!
January 30, 2009 at 1:41 pm
so, please remember not to send any card this year… :)) yeah, I am THAT mean. you don’t like, fine! I don’t send it ;))! the photo is so beautiful, I don’t get this person…
January 30, 2009 at 1:58 pm
This is a lovely Winter scene. With some imagination I can see three little angels in the clouds.
Have a nice weekend!
January 30, 2009 at 2:11 pm
Maybe not cute. But definitely GORGEOUS! Truly!
January 30, 2009 at 2:56 pm
Brrr, I’m cold just looking at it!
January 30, 2009 at 3:06 pm
Very nice !
January 30, 2009 at 4:00 pm
Beautiful. It is not common to see such a blue sky above spotless white snow.
January 30, 2009 at 4:14 pm
You are absolutely correct. What could be more beautiful! Wonderful Skywatch shot.
January 30, 2009 at 4:52 pm
I love to stamp my Christmas cards too ~ but using a photo would be so much easier…and just as pretty! 🙂 This shot is fabulous!
January 30, 2009 at 5:42 pm
A great sky photo, and a stunning landscape, for a card or a wall. Nice shot!
January 30, 2009 at 6:58 pm
http://unsealmylips.com/dallasdailyphoto/?p=270
I’m linked.
January 30, 2009 at 7:37 pm
That is a very beautiful winter picture and the perfect Christmas card! LOL- I prefer BEAUTIFUL to CUTE any day!!
Thanks for visiting my blog!
Junie
January 30, 2009 at 9:04 pm
This was my first Skywatch Friday `and I am trying to get to see all of the pics people have posted. You stopped by my blog and I thank you so. Ya know I live in Ca, and yet it never dawned on me that New Mexico snowed like this. I sure think this meme and being able to travel all over the world via pictures is so truly awesome. Just as your picture today is. I feel like I learned a little about geography today, as like I said I just never thought about New Mexico snowing that much. Thanks!
Moon-Writer
A.K.A. Allison
January 30, 2009 at 9:10 pm
Hi Louise, you can send me your pretty card any day! This would have been a nice visit to see what you have here in person. Just be sure to wear your earmuffs and mittens!
Hope your SkyWatch was happy, I have three nice warm pictures posted from when we were in the Caribbean earlier this month..
..
January 30, 2009 at 9:27 pm
It does make a beautiful greeting card.
Love the tree covered with snow rising in to the blue sky.
January 30, 2009 at 10:25 pm
This picture has a great Wow factor. Just beautiful
Smiles B
January 30, 2009 at 11:26 pm
It looks cute to me. Shame on them!:)
January 30, 2009 at 11:43 pm
Nice! Sucks about the PC port.
January 31, 2009 at 4:50 am
Beatiful SWF picture. The white snow against the blue sky makes for an awesome scene. Thanks for sharing and thanks for visiting my blog.
PKH
January 31, 2009 at 7:38 am
what simple beauty —sigh— and hugs from me.
January 31, 2009 at 9:49 am
You are so right. Not much could be more beautiful than this winter scene. It is simply divine. Sometimes one wonders over some peoples brain activity…
January 31, 2009 at 7:09 pm
Wow, that is beautiful, Louise! Great capture.
January 31, 2009 at 9:03 pm
What an utterly gorgeous wintry photo!!! I participated at Happily Retired Gal and Sacred Ruminations on Friday but haven’t had time to do any blog visiting for a few days. I’m doing what I can to catch up this evening after being away from home all day.
Hugs and blessings,
February 1, 2009 at 1:28 am
I love winter; snow and cold. This is a very beautiful photo of winter.
February 1, 2009 at 9:36 am
Louise: That is a beautiful photo for certain.
February 1, 2009 at 11:00 am
Hi Louise! Lovely picture and lovely post on «Cousins»!!
Long time no see you at Blogtrotter! New Delhi waits your comments… 😉
Have a great week!
Gil
February 1, 2009 at 11:52 pm
Thanks, Louise, for your replies always greatly appreciated.
February 2, 2009 at 3:03 am
A weekend in Purgatory? What next, day trips to Limbo?
he he
February 2, 2009 at 8:32 am
This does look like a perfect holiday card! Great contrast b/w the blue sky and white snow.
February 2, 2009 at 3:39 pm
Those desserts look like to-die-for!
Enjoyed your post.
February 2, 2009 at 3:40 pm
Those desserts look like to-die-for!
Enjoyed your post.ooops-I may have posted twice….
February 3, 2009 at 10:44 am
Cute as they expected-thats just crazy talk! The photo is beautiful-I’d be glad to get it or to use it as my christmas card!
February 3, 2009 at 11:54 am
That is a gorgeous shot. It almost looks like the clouds are coming out of the snow.
🙂
February 5, 2009 at 10:01 pm
[…] is another December 2007 photo. It was taken in the opposite directions of last week’s photo. click photo to […]