Last of January, First of February

One of Grandma Wilk's silver patterns. Beautiful Art Deco set, used for special occasions.

 

 

Snow rollers from the weirdest winter ever. These were in my side yard and were about 12" tall. I've seen bigger ones, though. Usually they have a hole in the center, but these are from later in the day, so they may have collapsed a little.

 

Gran Marnier - love the bottle and label design. Couldn't tell you what it tastes like though - no idea why I even have it.

 

One of Chuck's many fountain pens. This one has sepia ink in it. Used and extension tube on the lens to pick up the beautiful detail in the nib.



 

Great Falls of Tinkers Creek, almost completely frozen over. The day I shot this, it started to rain, so we were lucky to get there while the falls were still frozen.



Dreaming

Stuck at home this morning and dreaming of shooting in the valley;

Getting the garden furniture out;

Hot tea and toasty toes;

Maybe a little cooking;

Buds in the trees just waiting for warm air and sunshine:

Seeing eagles and herons, and hearing the first red-winged blackbird of spring.

Random Bits of Life

Another box full of projects, patiently waiting for time that never comes.

 

 

Mourning dove on the deck railing. They're too big to fit in the feeders, so they wait until the smaller birds have thoroughly scattered seed all over the deck.

Two steps to the right and I could have had a branch-free shot of the Rt. 82 bridge - or a chilly slide into the river. Did see blue birds: Great Blue Heron, nuthatches, bluebirds, and a very chatty kingfisher. No eagles, though they are nesting nearby.

 

 

Lots of stuff I love - family photo album, photography books, quirky history, gardening, and, of course, Downton Abbey.

And homemade popcorn. Just popcorn, olive oil, and popcorn salt. Nothing unpronounceable and no fake chemical-butter taste.Sorry, Orville, even you can't make that stuff taste as good.

January Vignettes



The 12th of January, and a goldfinch is still hanging around. He's the only one. The rest of the birds are assorted sparrows, juncos, house finches and cardinals. Wonder why he stayed so late?

 

 

A daisy heart from my January Cure bouquet. So nice to see the sun somewhere during this very frigid winter.

 

Welcome candle in the upstairs octagonal window. It comes out for the holidays and burns until the batteries give out.

 

 

Spode Blue Willow pitcher. There are three in all, all the same graceful shape.

Chubby candle in the lantern which stands next to the fireplace. I rarely think to light it, even pretty as it is when lit.

 

That's all for tonight.



P365, Days 8 - 11

It seems easier this time around to get the shot to look the way I want. With the exception of Sootie on the 9th - his right eye could be a little sharper.

 

Sootie, looking pensive.

 

Serving bowl from Grandma Wilk's Spode. Beautiful cobalt blue against old ivory and cherry wood.

Sootie is a hard cat to photograph - either the black patches are featureless or the white patches are blown out. Plus, he likes to stick his nose in the lens.

One of last year's craft projects. Normally, I hate purple - it looks good against the French script paper, though.

Went to Gordon Park on Lake Erie, wildly underdressed. The wind was howling off the lake and the layers that were comfortable in Kent were no match for the screaming wind. A nice birder kindly pointed out the kittiwake. They're Atlantic coast seabirds and rarely come this far inland.

Christmas Cat, an Heirloom, Petals, and the Polar Vortex

The last of Christmas. Sootie loves hiding under the tree. All the ornaments on the bottom are indestructible, since he thinks they're his toys.

 

Used the flashlight in my iPhone to light the angel - notice the tiny cat she's holding. Thanks, Georgie!

 

Flowers are part on Apartment Therapy's January Cure, a small part. Most of the Cure is cleaning, throwing out junk and organizing. The flowers are out of Sootie-reach up on the mantel. He thinks fresh flowers are the kitty salad bar.

Yow! - The temperature Monday when I ran from the gym to my car. A minute and half to lung freeze.

 

The sugar bowl from Great-Grandma's tea and coffee service. Very reflective - needed a large diffuser to hide my bright red sweatshirt and bring down the highlights.

 

Enough for now - Goodnight!



Before They're Put Away...

P365 is on! I started yesterday and will be taking - and posting - a photo a day. Well, posting if they're not too heinous, anyway.

These are some of the new ornament from this Christmas, before they all get packed away.

Owls from Gale's in Willoughby Hills:

A partridge of mysterious origin:

Cute literate snowmen from Georgie:

A china bunny:

And a Kent black squirrel from Chuck:

It's ok if the Christmas stuff stays up 'til Epiphany, right? How 'bout Groundhog's day?