Sunday, January 23, 2011

Canadian Folk Song

...performed by --

The Canadian Tenors!



Enjoy

Thursday, January 20, 2011

Full Moon at Dawn


Waning gibbous -- 98% full.  Or so says my moon watching widget!

I saw this scene as I glanced out the back window this morning before school.  I had to run for my camera and try a few shots.  
Gorgeous view though bitterly cold.  I hope this spell snaps soon.  


If nothing else, it keeps us inside.  
I don't even find the energy to get out for a cup of coffee with friends and family these days. I just decided that I might, but no -- at 9:20 PM, people will not appreciate my company!
And no -- of course I do not go for walks!  
I must say I felt guilty an hour ago when I heard my parents come back from their's. 

This book was a much appreciated Christmas gift from one of my sisters.  It was my first read of the year and  made me search the library for other L. M. Montgomery books.  
I decided on the Emily series and was not disappointed.  It has been years since I read the books.  A great read though I picked them out of the school library.  I do not know of many juvenile literature authors that I enjoy and won't even review most.   
I would not recommend the video series if you enjoy the books.  They are nothing like the books which is a shame.  Hopefully someone will see the value in the series and remake it into a truer version.

The basket above was another thoughtful gift.  
It was immediately filled with the want-to-read pile that litters my bedside cabinet and drawers.

Now what will it be -- Elizabeth Gaskell (a late used bookstore find) or George Macdonald?

Wednesday, January 12, 2011

Wintery Grey Wednesday

The title should have read 'Wintery White', but I had to change it.  Things are really grey around here lately.  We are having such a classic winter.  Snow is constant, even if only a fine mist of it!  It should also have been 'wordless', but no -- I had to do a bit of writing!
How else would you know that this is a Hairy woodpecker and not a Downy woodpecker as I've pictured before?  They are almost identical but for the Hairy to be a lot bigger in size.
These are Bohemian Waxwings; my first sighted.  Or I might have seen them before and mistaken them for Cedar waxwings.  They cleared off the small crabs from our front lawn apple tree one morning this week.  The pictures were taken through a window.
On this picture you can clearly see (if you enlarge:) the yellow tail markings, grey belly, and the brownish red under-tail feather that are common field marks for identifying the Bohemian waxwing.
 Chickadees are always in abundance.

 The woodpecker again.
 These guys are hibernating for the winter.
And so are these ancient implements. 
They are still brought out and used for the potato seeding and harvest each year!
Back from our walk!