Browns & Greens

From two very different climates:

Browns along the Pennsylvania Turnpike last month, on our return trip from Dayton (same trip as the Cloud post ... I was entertaining myself taking pictures out of the window).

Greens in Arches National Park last May, a desert wonderland. I took the pictures because, in each case, different shades of one particular color caught my eye. I'm also trying to pair pictures up, and I'll have a few more sets for you all here shortly :)

Ansel the Red-Nosed ReinCat

Ansel's "grandmother" got him a laser-pointer toy for Christmas. He loved it! However, he couldn't see it when it was pointed at his face, even though it made his nose glow like a certain famous reindeer. I just had to nab and share this picture :)

So, once again (just in case the moose wasn't enough), the ReinCat says MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Happy Holidays ...

and a Merry Chris-Moose!

Mr. Moose is wishing everyone a very happy holiday season and hopes everyone is safe and sound and having good times with family and friends. And sends a big thank you to all the well-wishers who stopped by, too!

Christmas equals family and tradition in my eyes, so I'm going to share this picture of my grandfather. I'm looking through a door in his house, out across the porch to where he's doing some chores. My grandmother (or maybe even my great-grandmother) hand crocheted the pineapple-pattern lace that covers the glass.

When I was younger, I would hang small bulbs and wreaths and other decorations all over the window coverings. Grandma and I would also bake hundreds of cookies, especially sugar cookies, on the days I had off from school. It would take Pap quite a while to get through all those. I made a double batch of sugar cookies last night; we'll see how long it takes Pappy this year!

Acrobatics

Cedar waxwings having a ball:

There's actually six birds in the shot, but a few of them are just blurs. I guess this is feeding activity?

Lately, my creative energies have been directed into other venues. I've been shopping for Christmas presents, making jewelry for Christmas presents, wrapping those presents, and cooking, among other things. I love the holiday season, but it's amazing how zapped all that can make you feel. Blogging has taken a bit of a back burner, but I'm eager to get back to it full force :)

Starlings

Part of a big flock of starlings, hanging out on high voltage power line supports. It amazes me how birds can line up on these kinds of wires and not get toasted.

Not too long ago, we saw an IMAX movie on helicopters. One segment showed the local electric company, PPL, performing maintenance on its electric lines. A person scooted out of a helicopter (already something I wouldn't do!) and crawled directly on to the wire. As long as the person and the helicopter touched no other objects, the whole technique worked just like a bird sitting on the line - no getting electrified!

It probably goes without saying that you could not pay me enough to take on that job :)

Thanks Everybody - Its a Beech!

Anybody know what kind of tree these leaves belong to? I am curious to find out.


It may not be a native tree. We found it in the woods, but close to an old stone foundation. So it might've provided shade for the yard in years long passed. Something kept it from being logged, it was by far the largest tree around.


ETA: I don't think anyone will be logging it anytime soon, although some people would probably love to get their mitts on it - the tree is now on state park property :)

Attention to Detail

This is a shot of a window blind pull at the Dayton Aviation Heritage Visitor Center (the one with the vintage wallpaper). They had every last detail worked out. These days it seems like we rarely make something so utilitarian so beautiful.

I've really enjoyed finding out what others envisioned in the cloud formation I posted - I think I can see most of them, but a few I have to squint real hard with one eye and close the other :P