Happy New Year.

May the beauty and tranquility of this scene find peace and happines in your heart at the close of this year. Several years ago when we lived at this location shown in this photo it was a New Year'sEve tradition for my husband and children to go for a walk in this snowy meadow to welcome the New Year. May the peace and tranquility of the memories of those earlier years message across the miles . The kind elderly man who owned the meadow was referred to by my children as Grampy. May the memories of those New YearEve walks in Grampy's meadow renew peaceful feelings and happiness as we enter this New Year with hope and optimism that 2010 will prove to be a better year than 2009.

Sreetlight on snow for mellow yellow Monday

There is no warmth from this yellow light scene, there is just the beauty to enjoy This photo was taken on a cold winter'snight . But I feel optimistic today."If winter comes, can spring be far behind?This is my favourite line from Percy Bysse Shelley's"Ode To The West Wind" Happy Mellow Yellow to all! The complementary colours of purple and yellow in the photo remind me of the promise of Easter, a season of rebirth and spring.

Winter in the Woods, Oh Deer!

Ater the Snowstorm

This statusstorm was more than a few shovelfuls. It definitely was a heavy equipment snowstorm. Next, we must bundle up and venture outside to clean off our vehicles. " brrr." The street looks good: black and clear, making it possible for us to plan on doing some Christmas Day visiting tomorrow. We are having Christmas dinner tonight so the festive days are definitely beginning A sunny day is forecast for tomorrow and the next few days! Hopefully this storm system has rid itself of all of its snow by now. All the best of the season to all. Have a safe and Merry Christmas! Hopefully some little northern bird visitors will make themselves known to me today in Bird Alley.

Northern Shrike today

Today has been and still is a very snowy day, fulfilling the weatherman's winter storm warning prediction of up to 25 cm of snow for today!making our trees in Bird Alley a winter wonderland scene! Whwn "lo and behold", much to my surprise I saw a handsome first winter sighting of a Northern Shrike in our trees in Bird Alley. Thses pictures are from an old 2007 photo file but they show the bird and trees exactly as how they looked today. The only action we saw from this predataor was of it flyingabout from branch to branch,. Th only other birds we saw today were little Tree Sparrrows and Goldfnch. I'm wondering where all the little Redpolls are?Tomorrow will be a very busy day digging our vehicles out from under all this snow!

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A ANorthern Cardinal for Ruby Tuesday

This Northern Cardinal is very beautiful and seasonal but yet its not a recent photo. Cardinals are rather infrequent visitors to Bird Alley but it is always a special occasion when I do catch a glimpse of one among our trees. We have not fared too badly from the recent snowstorms that visited the New England coast. The bare street I see outside my window gives me an invitation to venture out today to get my Christmas shopping done. I have been having big computer problems recently so have not got around much with individual season greetings and wishes. So I wish all a very happy and safe holiday and extend all the best wishes of the season to you all for a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Thasnk you to all for your support during the past yera. Ann

To check out other postings on Ruby Tuesday just click on the Ruby logo on the side bar. My appreciative thanks to Mary/the teach for hosting this meme.

Spider Web for OSI

This is an old, but favourite photo of mine, of morning mist beaded upon a spider web.

I caught a glimpse
of nature's jewels
beaded on a web so fine
these translucent crystals
these watery orbs
their transitory beauty was mine!

This post was created in response to the word, 'spider web', which is this week's prompt at One Single Impression. For more poetry on this theme please visit the hosting site
.

Chickadee outside my window for Camera Critters

A little Black-capped Chickadee is always a welcome sight outside my winfow. Its soft pastel breast colouring adds a gentle tone to the view of cold snow and harsh black of the ever popular peanut feeder.

My appreciative thanks to Misty for hosting this site. To see other participant's photo contributions just click HERE or on the Camera Critters logo on the side panel

GreySquirrel for Monochromne Weekley

Thr black and white format enhances the natural colour of this grey Squirrel outside of my window!
The theme for this meme is monochrome, no colour. to learn more about this theme or to maybe post your own contributionplease click here.

At the end of the day for Skywatch Friday

At the end of day for Skywatch Friday

The street lights have come on, workers are returning home for the night and the sky suggests it still may continue to storm as it has earlier today
Happy skywatch Friday to all. My appreciative thanks to Sandy, Klaus, Ivar, Wren and Fishing Guyand Louise for hosting Sky Watch Friday

MyWinter Bird Wish List: Tree Sparrow

I have been waiting for this little species: 5 American Tree Sparrows visited Bird Alley today To see what other species I am waiting for, you can see my winter bird wish list at the top of the right hand coloumn on this page. I will include the date when I first see each species

Streams freezing over for Watery Wednesday

A quick drive over my area this morning looking for winter birds revealed very few birds to me.tho I did see two Pileated Woodpeckers in flight. What I did see was the effects of our colder snowy weather and the influence it was having upon our streams. Many of them were showing signs of freezing over. There is a beauty to the patterns of freezing ice beginning at the banks of streams and then accumulating width inwards towards the middle of the streams as the freezing process progresses.I thought these would be appropriate for Watery Wednesday's theme.
The theme of Watery Wednesday is water; for a wonderful variety of watery scenes from other bloggers around the world, just click on its name.


Above the Merancy Stream

above: The Little Yoho stream

Minature strawberry tea set for Ruby Tuesday

Out of season you might think," yes , maybe," but it is the season of giving and I have a sweet little two year old grandaughter who loves strawberries and serving me pretend tea and when I bought this tiny ornamental tea set I thought of her. but it looks too realistic and I think it will stay in my china cabinet until she is older. the strawberries look too realistic and yummy. They might be too tempting to her. In the picture below you can see the little sugar bowl is rather bitesize, so I will continue on with my plan of making her her own personalized ABC book and include a picture of the tea set for" S is for strawberries"


To check out other postings on Ruby Tuesday just click on the Ruby logo on the side bar. My appreciative thanks to Mary/the teach for hosting this meme.

Snow today, still on the ground

Our snow covered ground this morning has prompted this winter memory for me:

piecing together
computerized visual art
fragments from my mind

Remembering the brief rapture of stolen moments
between after school chores and suppertime

cold wind on my face
exhilaration of speed
sliding memories

rushing headlong, down the snowy hill
climbing up again, only to fly downward once more
each time the upward climb becoming slower and s l o w e r

then the call to supper

with red rosy cheeks and chaffed wrists
from snow clotted mittens
we would rush indoors to the parlor wood stove
remove our felts from snow clogged boots
and hang our melton snow pants nearby to dry
in readiness for another winter's day



note; I have posted a link to my daughter, Riel's new blog at the top of the right hand column.

Rainbow Curves for Photo Hunter

some of the most interesting curves nature throws us comes with the shape of a bird's bill, the curved turtle's dome, the beautiful curve on hilly slopes, but by far the most beautiful natural curves displayed in nature are those of a rainbow arched in the sky after a gentle summer rain.

Some of you might remember my daughter, Riel, who was my guest blogger while I was ill earlier this year. Riel's NEW blog can be foundHERE


For more photos on this weeks theme of 'curves just click on Photo Hunter or you many click on the icon in the side bar. My thanks to tnchick for hosting this site. Happy Photo Hunting to all! just click on Photo Hunter or you many click on the icon in the side bar. My thanks to tnchick for hosting this site. Happy Photo Hunting to all

A Sepia kind of day for sepia scenes

It was a seepia kind of day, you know like rainy, seeping wet! Colourless, damp and misty, like foggy in the distance. It was much better than a white kinda day which we must accept will be Falling on us someday soon. brrr.... Rather a nice sort of' stay at home day 'to launch a new blog'. Some of you might remember my daughter, Riel, who was my guest blogger while I was ill earlier this year. Riel's NEW blog can be foundHERE.
Sepia Scenes is a meme hosted by Mary/the Teach and it offers the opportunity to share with others; beautiful scenes in sepia tones.Just click on the badge on the side bar to view what others have posted in sepia for today.

Scenic Sunday

November hills are dark and drear.
Lacking in colour as winter draws near.
Soon they will be a beautiful sight
all dressed in snowy white.
To view other beautiful scenes drop by Scenic Sunday and take a look

Sunset for Skywatch Friday

I have a special photo folder titled sunsets. The photos are not current but some I think are worth posting regardless of when they were taken. This spectacular fiery sunset was taken in November 2007.
Happy skywatch Friday to all. My appreciative thanks to Sandy, Klaus, Ivar, Wren and Fishing Guyand Louise for hosting Sky Watch Friday

Red-breasted Nuthatch

Another very welcome bird visitor in Bird Alley this morning was, a red-breasted Nuthatch. Its softlycoloured rufus, reddish belly easily makes its naming understandable. its cousin a white-breasted Nuthatch is a daily visitor.

shown above a White-breasted Nuthatch
The peanut feeder being the main attraction for both of these nuthatch species, Its always a special event when I see either of these species outside my window. its cause for me to put down my book and pick up my camera , which is always nearby.

S is for Sunlight

Strong sunlight in Bird Alley highlighted the branches and trees in our birdfeeder area a couple of Novembers ago. To view other contributions representative of the letter"S" or maybe make a contribution of your own please go to the ABC Wednesday Meme round 5 here.
Thwnks to Denise Nesbit for hosting this meme.

Female Goldfinch and a dandelion Blossom for Mellow Yellow Monday

The only birds around Bird Alley so far this morning are female Goldfinch and luckily for me they are just right for the mellow yellow category. I had thought of going out in search for a ***yellow Hawkweed blossom which I had seen the other day but there was a heavy frost overnight and the ground foliage is all covered with white. Perhaps I will put "look for yellow blossoms on my 'to do' list for the day.
e:note*** After the frost cleared I found a late dandelion in bloom to photograph. How lovely it was to find such a spring thing in late November!
I like this Goldfinch capture above as the bird to the left forefront is almost escaping from the picture frame. I love the surprises that sometimes appear in photos taken of birds, their movement in a frame is often unpredictable as to what results.

Happy Monday to all. To view a wonderful variety of yellow-themed photos from other bloggers around the world, just click on the link below
mellow yellow

Playground Shadows for Shadow Shot Sunday

Baby swings



My appreciative thanks to Tracey, at Hey Harriet, the host of Shadow Shot Sunday for this interesting idea; for more information on this shadow meme,please click on the icon in the side bar.

Gray Squirrel for Camera Critters

One feature of our property that often enhances my picture taking is that we have a pergola attached to our house nearby our bay window. Often birds will perch here as if they are posing for my camera. Today it was a furry. chubby, well fed Gray Squirrel looking in at me.

My appreciative thanks to Misty for hosting this site. To see other participant's photo contributions just click HERE or on the Camera Critters logo on the side panel

Weekend Reflections

Usually you can trust a reflection to reflect the objects or subject as it is. However, this is not the case of this gull. The gull appears to have its beak open in the reflection, whereas in reality the gull's beak remained closed.... strange?!Please click on the photo to see an enlarged version.
To learn more about weekend reflections and perhaps post your own go to:Weekend reflections