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Snow in Central Texas?!

Last Thursday was a magical day. We had the perfect weather conditions with a fast moving cold front and precipitation to produce real snow here in Central Texas. It started with light flurries after school that I noticed when I picked up Anna. Curtis picked up Dominic because the boys were headed to Wassailfest in downtown New Braunfels. This annual event is one in which the Boy Scouts work every year selling hot chocolate and s’mores on a stick to festival-goers. By 5:30 p.m., it was snowing earnestly and by 6:30 p.m., we had accumulation. The boys headed back a little early and I’m so glad they did because it was coming down so hard they could hardly see the road. I was like a giddy little kid! I kept going from door to door with my camera taking dozens of photos. I wasn’t sure how long it would stick around and I didn’t want to miss a second! Eventually the snowfall slowed, then stopped. Almost immediately, it began melting on all the sidewalks, patios, and roads. We went to bed with the news that school would be delayed by 2 hours the next morning, so I turned off my alarm clock. When I woke up the next morning, I literally gasped when I looked outside. It was stunningly beautiful. A thick, rich coat of snow blanketed everything. It had not melted yet and it didn’t turn to ice. It was perfect. I spent the next hour taking over a hundred pictures just on my property, finally stopping to get the kids up and ready for school. Dominic was so excited that he went out and played a little, throwing a few snowballs at me and helping Nana make a tiny snowman. Anna took a photo to show her teacher but didn’t want to go out and play in it. The dogs were hilarious! Charlie seemed not to care, Lola walked with dainty little steps, but Stuart was suspicious and took a long time to wander into it. The bus came and picked up Dominic then I drove Anna to school. It was after 10:00 a.m. when we left and the snow was already starting to melt. I stopped at the Devil’s Backbone on FM 32 on my way home and got a few more photos before it disappeared. It truly was pure magic and wonder!

Coming Down Fast

This was about 5:45 p.m. on Thursday, December 7th. It was already completely dark outside so I had to bump my ISO way up but I used a tripod. This is by our pool looking at our back patio. You can see how many flurries are in the air by the light and how much snow has accumulated on the grass.

New Braunfels nature landscape snow photographer

Nikon D750 | 105mm | f/3.2 | 1/160 | ISO 5000

It’s Sticking!

A quick video showing the snow coming down!

It's Sticking!

iPhone 6S+

Accumulating Quickly

My mom came outside to join me in the wonder of how quickly the snow was accumulating. I had my macro lens on because capturing an individual snowflake is still on my photography bucket list. This pile of snow was on the wooden boards that surround our central AC units out back. It was really, really dark so mom held up her iPhone’s flashlight to get me some extra light.

New Braunfels nature landscape snow macro photographer

Nikon D750 | 105mm | f/5.6 | 1/250 | ISO 3200

Boys Made it Home

I went to the kids’ side of the house and opened the garage door. The driveway was completely blanketed in snow as were as our trash cans. As I was happily snapping photos, the boys arrived home. Curtis’s headlights were completely covered and they described 306 as a nightmare of slippery hazards. Curtis said once he got in the neighborhood, he was literally blinded by the snow and had to turn off his headlights in order to see where the road was at all.

New Braunfels nature landscape snow photographer

Nikon D750 | 20mm | f/1.4 | 1/160 | ISO 4000

Master Patio

We had some dinner and turned on the fireplace. I kept looking outside and taking photo after photo. Just before bed, the snow had stopped coming down. I went out one more time and got a few more photos. This is our private master patio… you can see we got a good couple of inches! I love love love the big green trees in the background sporting a thick layer of snow.

New Braunfels nature landscape snow photographer

Nikon D750 | 20mm | f/1.4 | 1/20 | ISO 3200

Palms in the Dark

I went out to our backyard and was enchanted with the palm trees, laden with snow and drooping nearly to the ground. Mom’s outside light is bathing the backyard in yellow light which adds to the magic.

New Braunfels nature landscape snow photographer

Nikon D750 | 105mm | f/2.8 | 1/8 | ISO 4000

Nighttime Snow

Our outdoor table and chairs had a bunch of snow covering them. This is one of the chairs looking down at the seat. I know it’s really dark but it was still beautiful to me.

New Braunfels nature landscape snow macro photographer

Nikon D750 | 105mm | f/3 | 1/8 | ISO 4000

Spot the Bloom

I walked over to the palm trees to get a closer look at the snow covering the fronds. Just peeking out on the bottom just to the right of center is a blooming red rose. We hit a record high just three days earlier of 84-degrees. You can understand just how excited we were!

New Braunfels nature landscape snow photographer

Nikon D750 | 105mm | f/2.8 | 1/8 | ISO 4000

Front Yard

I woke up at 7:00 a.m. and literally jumped out of bed to look outside. Yassss… the snow had stayed overnight! I had to take a video of it!

Front Yard

iPhone 6S+

Back Yard

And the back yard… the sun wasn’t even all the way up yet. Wow it was so pretty!

Back Yard

iPhone 6S+

Front Porch View

Once the sun rose, the world turned to a winter wonderland. The blue sky, the bright sun, and gleaming snow… it was like a painting everywhere I looked. Standing on my front porch, I breathed deeply feeling very grateful.

New Braunfels nature landscape snow photographer

Nikon D750 | 20mm | f/5 | 1/400 | ISO 50

Front Yard Tree

There were no tracks in our front yard yet, I’m not sure where the deer were hunkering down, but they hadn’t yet come out to say hello. I don’t know if I will ever see our front yard tree laden with snow like this again.

New Braunfels nature landscape snow photographer

Nikon D750 | 20mm | f/5 | 1/400 | ISO 50

Our Home

From near the road, I turned around and got an image of the front of our house. It looks so pretty covered in snow!

New Braunfels nature landscape snow photographer

Nikon D750 | 20mm | f/5 | 1/400 | ISO 50

Wintery River Chase

Turning back toward the road, I got this beautifully framed shot of the corner of Falling Hills and Appalachian Trail. You can see a bit of the Texas Hill Country in the background. What a beautiful morning!

New Braunfels nature landscape snow photographer

Nikon D750 | 20mm | f/5 | 1/400 | ISO 50

Appalachian Trail

Standing beside our house, I walked out in the middle of Appalachian Trail. Not many people were out yet and the neighborhood was quiet. I love this view looking to the back of the neighborhood.

New Braunfels nature landscape snow photographer

Nikon D750 | 20mm | f/5 | 1/400 | ISO 50

Back Yard

Wandering all around our property, I found myself in our backyard again. The dogs had made some tracks through the snow but I just love the blue sky, the green trees, and the white snow. What a pretty palette!

New Braunfels nature landscape snow photographer

Nikon D750 | 20mm | f/5 | 1/400 | ISO 50

Pool and Palms

Nearly the same spot as the shot I got the night before, the palm trees had not yet shed the snow from their fronds. It had melted on all the patios and concrete but was sticking pretty good on the greenery.

New Braunfels nature landscape snow photographer

Nikon D750 | 20mm | f/4.5 | 1/400 | ISO 50

Rose Bush and Palm

Our huge rose bush which blooms year round is on the left with one of the palms in sun on the right. Even the clouds look like they are painted in the scene!

New Braunfels nature landscape snow photographer

Nikon D750 | 20mm | f/5.6 | 1/400 | ISO 50

Snowy Bokeh

I was surprised by how much snow ended up sticking and making it through the night without melting or blowing away. This is the edge of the master patio wall with the snow-covered trees in the background.

New Braunfels nature landscape snow photographer

Nikon D750 | 105mm | f/4 | 1/400 | ISO 160

Fence Line

Standing on the far left side of our property line looking down the fence line toward the rear of our property. So pretty!

New Braunfels nature landscape snow photographer

Nikon D750 | 105mm | f/6.3 | 1/400 | ISO 100

Snow in Shadow

I changed my focal point to be closer and shot the same image again. I couldn’t decide which one I liked better and thought well this is my blog so I’ll share both!

New Braunfels nature landscape snow photographer

Nikon D750 | 105mm | f/6.3 | 1/400 | ISO 100

Field

The field to the left of our property, which we also own. It was exquisite in the early morning sun all covered in wintery snow!

New Braunfels nature landscape snow photographer

Nikon D750 | 105mm | f/6.3 | 1/400 | ISO 100

Snow Laden Palm

A close-up of our palm tree… this isn’t something you see every day!

New Braunfels nature landscape snow photographer

Nikon D750 | 105mm | f/7.1 | 1/500 | ISO 100

Looks Like Colorado

With the sun shining on the lamp, the rose bush, and the palm tree, and with the trees in blue shadow in the background, this scene looks like something from Colorado! Crazy that we are in Central Texas.

New Braunfels nature landscape snow photographer

Nikon D750 | 105mm | f/7.1 | 1/500 | ISO 100

Snow and Ice

The snow had begun melting on the palm fronds and it was still cold enough that the drips turned to ice.

New Braunfels nature landscape snow macro photographer

Nikon D750 | 105mm | f/7.1 | 1/500 | ISO 100

Frozen Fence

Mom had come outside to join me in wandering the property. She noticed the ice and snow on the wire of the fence. Isn’t it a cool effect?

New Braunfels nature landscape snow photographer

Nikon D750 | 105mm | f/7.1 | 1/500 | ISO 100

See Through Snow

Getting super close-up to the snow lining the top of the fence, you can almost see through it with the sun illuminating the snow from behind.

New Braunfels nature landscape snow macro photographer

Nikon D750 | 105mm | f/9 | 1/500 | ISO 100

Do You Wanna Build a Snowman?

Mom and I threw a couple of snowballs at each other and then Dominic came out before he got on the bus. Mom started building a tiny snowman on the outside table.

New Braunfels nature landscape snow family photographer

Nikon D750 | 20mm | f/4.5 | 1/500 | ISO 50

Making it Snow

Dominic went over to the live oak tree and started shaking one of the branches to make it snow. He really enjoyed pelting me with snowballs!

New Braunfels nature landscape snow family photographer

Nikon D750 | 20mm | f/6.3 | 1/500 | ISO 200

Nana’s Snowman

Here is Nana’s little snowman. She found a sweet leaf for his hat and perfect little sticks for his arms.

New Braunfels nature landscape snow photographer

Nikon D750 | 20mm | f/4.5 | 1/250 | ISO 200

The Backbone Memorial

The snow really started melting around 10:00 a.m. I took Anna to school and after I dropped her off, I stopped at the Devil’s Backbone Memorial on FM 32 to take some photos. You can see a little snow on the crosses hanging on the fence. It was about 10:45 a.m. at this point and a lot of the snow was already gone.

New Braunfels nature landscape snow photographer

Nikon D750 | 20mm | f/5.6 | 1/320 | ISO 50

Backbone Picnic Area

This is the picnic area and rest stop where the Devil’s Backbone Memorial is located. It really was a beautiful morning.

New Braunfels nature landscape snow photographer

Nikon D750 | 20mm | f/8 | 1/320 | ISO 50

Texas Hill Country

I drove a little further down the Devil’s Backbone on FM 32 and pulled off to get this beautiful shot of the Texas Hill Country all covered in snow.

New Braunfels nature landscape snow photographer

Nikon D750 | 20mm | f/9 | 1/320 | ISO 50

Riley’s on the Backbone

This is definitely not a sight you see ever! Snow covering the cactus in front of Riley’s Tavern on the Backbone. Located at the end of the Devil’s Backbone on FM 32, I drive by this bar every day taking Anna to school.

New Braunfels nature landscape snow photographer

Nikon D750 | 20mm | f/8 | 1/250 | ISO 50

Wegner and Shannon Lee

Almost home from dropping Anna off at school with a delayed start due to the snow, I had to stop at the corner of Wegner and Shannon Lee to get this shot of the snow-covered cedar trees.

New Braunfels nature landscape snow photographer

Nikon D750 | 20mm | f/8 | 1/250 | ISO 50

Winter Water Tower

The December assignment theme for the New Braunfels Photographic Society was Water Tower. This water tower is in our neighborhood and I love that I was able to capture it with snow on someone’s nearby roof.

New Braunfels nature landscape snow photographer

Nikon D750 | 105mm | f/9 | 1/320 | ISO 50

By the time the kids got home from school, the snow was all gone. I am so glad I got out and took so many pictures. Who knows when we will see this again? Thanks for looking!

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