Birds

I decided to go for a ride today. It was gray, the clouds weren't even interesting. But I did have some bird sightings, most of which I didn't get to photograph.

Erin is a very good birder and I'm going to follow her lead and post URLs of other people's good pictures. It'll give you a much better view of them than the long distance blurs I could've gotten.

It's been warm enough for plenty of Canadian Geese to still hang around.
Geese

There were also some Red Tailed Hawks. I got a really good look at the red tail as it flew by.
Hawk

I don't remember seeing an American Kestrel for quite some time. She was really pretty.
Kestrel

Then I went to a place where swans hang out. I think this is the best swan picture I've ever taken.

You can click on it and choose all sizes if you want to see a larger size.

I really enjoy a day that's for the birds. :)

Merry Christmas, Everyone!

Hi. It's Christmas again. It's also been quite a year for all of my friends in blogworld. People have gone through joys and heartaches. The loss has been felt in different ways by many, whether it be of health, loved ones, or some other hurtful thing.

But there've been happy times, too. I think one of the happiest is when our group will get together to make another feel better. We console and cajole. We tease and we comfort. It's been a wonderful year and I wouldn't want to have gone through any of it without you folks.

So remember to keep Hope shining:


And you never know who your angels are going to be:


Photos with help from Susie and Nina. :)

Thank you, everyone, for being part of my life. Have a wonderful holiday and a blessed Christmas.

Sunset time

I felt the urge to post some more sunset pictures. This was the weekend before this one and it was still cold and a bit snowy out. Because it was cold and windy some of these were taken outside and some were taken from inside the car. Inside the car with a dirty, pitted windshield.




Dirty window


Cool colors, very dirty windshield


Got up the nerve to go outside of the car again




I was too cold to stay for more. There were some more brilliant, beautiful colors, but this is all that I got. It was fun.

2nd Annual Blog Cookie Exchange

My wonderful sister, Susie, is hosting the 2nd Annual Blog Cookie Exchange again this year. I got a bit behind, between work and home, and got going a bit late on my part of the party.

The first part is favorite holiday recipes. This picture illustrates the fact that I am not baking anything at all this year. Just don't feel up to it. But I'm sure by next year I'll be using these.


One of my favorite holiday traditions is looking at people's Christmas lights. Here are some I've taken pictures of this year.
This is across the street from my house.

I like this one. It looks like a drawing.

It was raining the night that I took this one. The spheres are raindrops. That's my finger in the upper left corner, trying to shield it from the rain.

It looks like snow here, but I think it's just raindrops.


The next part of this is to tell what my favorite gift to give is. I don't know that I have one. But every year I give a gift card from a local store to my neice and nephews. It's a cop-out, but at least I know they'll get themselves something they'll like and enjoy.

The last part is what I wear when I don my gay apparel. At Curves they're having a sock exchange. You bring in a pair and on the last day you get one back. So, one of these will be mine.


I thought I would just add this picture of a store that's close to my house.


Happy Holidays, everyone!

A quiz

I found this one over at Courtney's and couldn't resist. :)

Your Language Arts Grade: 100%

Way to go! You know not to trust the MS Grammar Check and you know "no" from "know." Now, go forth and spread the good word (or at least, the proper use of apostrophes).

Are You Gooder at Grammar?
Make a Quiz

Sunny day

Yesterday was the first significant snow of the season. A foot of snow was in the forecast, but we probably got more like eight inches. I was a bit depressed thinking about the dreary snow season being here.

But, this morning I was greeted by something that's not usually here once snow season starts in Michigan. It was the sun! The sky was blue. And it was wonderful.

Here's the shot I got when we walked to breakfast.


Here it is a bit later.


Sunshine on the snow. :)


More blue sky


And, later yet, here come the clouds from the West.


The sun decided to peek once more.


Then behind the clouds again.


But the clouds in the East were still pretty in pink.




It's supposed to snow for the next five days but this sunny day should help me get through it.