Snowing Too Much for You?

Here's some color to bring to the long, cold, dreary days of winter.

Paaarrrrrtay Boat!

My friend's twin daughters.

A Baltimore Oriole trying to hide from me.

A dew-kissed African daisy.

Snow, Snow, Beautiful Snow

Yes, I am a snow lover. It's pretty, it's bright, it lights up the greys and browns of winter. This is the pump house of the tree farm just down the road from us. I love this view ... and I see it every day on my way to work.

In any of the seasons this snippet of country scenery gives me a slight smile ... the view changes so often due to light or snow or leaves ... making it one small pleasure in each day.

During our real storm of the year, not quite winter yet, but just before the official start, we received 10" of snow in our area.

Slim Pickings This Week

... but not for this goldfinch. Typically the male goldfinch is beautiful yellow and black and the female is exactly this color ... all year long. I did read an article somewhere that stated the male goldfinch tends to look more like the female once the cold weather sets in. I've no idea if this article was full of fact or fiction and I've no idea if this bird is male or female.

The picture, however, is the only decent one of a couple of dozen and at that, it could use some work. :::sigh:::

Some weeks are just like that.

Goldfinch at the thistle feeder.

Bradley Palmer State Forest & The Ipswich River

View toward the Ipswich River from the parking area on Wheelock Street. The buildings barely discernible to the right are the home and offices of Foote's Canoe Rental.

A different angle out to the field.

The Ipswich River as it meanders under the wooden bridge on Wheelock Street. Now that I think of it, it might be Wheeler Street. Darn. If I don't right things down ....

Today was an unusual weather day. Here we've gone from bone chilling cold to warmer temps with rain and then into this afternoon -- 49 degrees, no sun, but lots of clouds and as you leave town and head into Ipswich following along the river and heading to the coast, the mist rises off the river and gives the drive an ethereal quality.

Not sunny and bright, but pretty just the same.

Since I Was Out & There Was Christmas Music Playing

A hint of spirit hit me as I drove through the Village on the way home from errands. I actually stopped and took three shots ... all the while freezing and knowing they wouldn't turn out all that well.

So be it. But an interesting thing happened. The trails of light ... resemble folk art style reindeer. Or cookie cutter reindeer.

Being honest here I'm actually glad the town has the lights up and in working order. Every year we have a tree and menorah lighting ceremony and every year the Christmas tree is missing lights. So maybe, just maybe this year ... the lights will go on ... all at the same time!

Hey! Everyone! It's Time For Dessert!

Pumpkin pie, easy as can be -- I had lots of help, her name is Emily!


I opened the oven and what did I see?
Why! An apple pie, calling to me!


Fresh from the oven, its scent fills the air.
Amy & I made it! Enjoy it! We'll share.

Happy Thanksgiving folks! May you have much to be thankful for and may you be blessed with good health, meaningful days, friendship and love.

The Capen Road

Being a late fall day, after a night of tremendous rain and high winds, the gloom that comes through in the pictures was, in truth, the day. The sky maintained its ominous dark clouds and smatterings of rain could be felt off and on.

I'm sure there is a story behind this relatively small, but intriguing waterfall system. As I drove along The Capen Road (because it is not referred to as Capen Road, but in true Mainer fashion is referred to as The Capen Road) I spied this stream flowing downhill and then over a man-placed wall which created a waterfall. The stream then flows around trees and islands of duress to another retaining wall with a spillway smack in the middle of the expanse.

From this spillway the water flows under the bridge and at the other side of the roadway flows over or rather through, another spillway. The stream then continues on down through the woods where it eventually supplies a small lake.

I'll have to stop one day during the Spring and speak to the old farmer who lives just two doors up the road from this fall system. I'm guessing that it may have been built to provide electricity or run a saw mill some time in the past.

I was not going to walk the woods today. Too damp, too wet, too cold! Although my sister thinks a nice spring walk is in order, I'd prefer the fall walk without the black flies and mosquitoes. I do keep wondering why I've not noticed this stream before. The Capen Road is a back road I travel to my sister's house from the interstate ... in order to shave off a few miles, minutes and downtown traffic. Such as the traffic is in a small community.

Further along the road ... some cattle ... this breed I've seen at the fair in early fall but cannot recall the name.

This May Be The Last Golf Day

Today's blue sky was just beautiful and the day was warm when the clouds allowed the sunshine to reach us. The air was crisp and clean and brrrrrr, cold!

Going to seed Cat-O-Nine tails.

My drive on my sixth hole today. Maybe the last good one of the year.

Time to move on to other spaces and places and photos of late fall.

Golf Course ~ Bittersweet

As the end of golf season approaches here in the Northeast we continue to golf on what we New Englander's call nice days. A nice day here could simply mean the temp is above 40 degrees or it's 20 degrees but the sky is blue or the sun is shining.

Today while my sister-in-law and I golfed I brought the camera along to take a few pictures of the bittersweet that grows throughout the golf course.

My pictures don't do it justice but it is so lush and beautiful this year with vibrant orane outers and red, red centers on the berries.

Grapes of Maine

Nope. Not a bird. Hopefully that theme has flown the coop for a while.

These are the concord grapes my brother-in-law grows in his garden. The vines have finally gotten to the point where an expansion or a move will be necessary.

He brings many bunches of grapes to the VA hospital where he volunteers and shares them with the patients and other volunteers.

The left-overs are here for the wintering birds.

But they look yummy enough to eat!

I've posted these photos here http://womenon.blogspot.com/ and here http://flamingofeathers-kathy.blogspot.com/ as well.

Check out Women On. Things can get lively over there, although generally you'll find me hiding in a corner, I am trying to spread my wings a bit. Once bitten, twice shy.

Duck, Duck, Goose!

Shaking a leg at the passersby ... silly goose.

Watch Out You Turkeys!

In our town, it is not uncommon to find a flock, large or small, wondering about a front yard.

Sauntering through a front yard.

Run, run, run as fast as you can! I can't catch you, but the hunter man can!

As Seen On The Golf Course

You just never know what you'll see on the golf course. Usually, the wildlife is plentiful and interesting. Today's feature presentation is a Great Blue Heron that spent some time stalking me.

It kept creeping over in my direction and when I would look, it would stand stock still until I moved on.

Now it is coming directly at me and I was wondering if it was going to go into attack mode ... but it didn't.

It started to bend forward and then straighten up and then bend forward again.

Lo & Behold! BRUNCH! It wasn't stalking me, it was stalking its meal.

Then it walked into the pond with this little mole and washed it off a couple of times.

Eeeuuuwwww!

Yummy! At least, it filled his tummy.

Yup ... see that fat neck?

Following My Own Blogs

Now I've got myself here in this blog, I'm following myself on my own two blogs. Go figure. But that way, I won't misplace the links.

I've got a ways to go before I sleep, I think.

Well, Well, Well.

Here I am with my Unedited Me Blog and no where to go. I'm probably going to delete half the old posts and eventually transfer the few I keep to my other blog. :::sigh:::

I don't enjoy having to make decisions, choices or moves so quickly. Must be my age.

Or something.

Anyway, I'm here. The move to Blogger was as easy as eating a banana. Pretty easy, huh?