First real snowfall Bob was helping our daughter clear the snow from her driveway. What a relief when a man named Otis came along and agreed to clear it with the plow on his truck for a reasonable fee. As far as I was concerned, Otis was a life saver. This was our first real …
First snowfall
Put together the first snowfall of the season with blustery wind and very cold temperatures. Then throw in a brand new brush pile that the birds are absolutely loving, and suddenly you have open house at the Bird Buffet. The juncos, mourning doves, blue jays, sparrows, titmice, chickadees, and more all spent an exciting day …
Hey, people, what’s happening?
This little house finch is curious about the changes we're making to the back yard buffet in preparation for winter weather. A new season of back yard birding is about to begin, so we purchased a beautiful new hopper feeder from Wild Birds Unlimited, my favorite store for all things bird-related. Bob installed the pole and feeder …
Something worth celebrating
Bob and I exchanged our marriage vows 57 years ago at my family's church in Cardiff, Maryland, a half mile down the road from the home where I grew up in the very small town of Delta, Pennsylvania. So today, November 27, 2016, we were discussing how we wanted to celebrate the occasion.. Bob-Where would you like …
Baking Christmas cookies
Baking cookies (and eating them) is a time-honored tradition in our home during the holiday season. What would the holiday be like without tons of cookies stored in tins, waiting to be consumed by family and friends? That at least was my mother's conviction when preparing for the holiday. She was fortunate to have a …
A fun photoshoot
Two of our grandchildren, Michael and Emmy, siblings as Emmy described them today, are home from college for the holiday weekend. After our family Thanksgiving dinner yesterday, I asked if they would be interested in visiting the Arboretum today for a little photoshoot. They agreed, so off we went this afternoon. My goal was to replicate a …
Gingkos, baldcypress, and other trees
With all the wind, rain, and near freezing temperatures we've "enjoyed" in the past five days, I wondered what I would find when the sun came out yesterday and I went to Holden Arboretum to walk some of my favorite trails. My first stop was the gingko tree. I had waited for weeks, since Autumn began, …
A late afternoon surprise
Since we turned our clocks back to standard time, I have to watch myself or dark will descend before I am ready for it. Some days I have barely started my trail walk when some photo opps present themselves, and I don't have enough light to get a good shot. Here is one example: Two things …
Could we ask for more?
The day dawned with fog which gradually lifted during the 2 1/2 hours I wandered the trails at Holden Arboretum. After snapping the picture above, I headed down the trail toward the gingko tree. Eager to find out if it was finally dressed in the rich golden hue I remembered from previous years, I was delighted …
I take trail walks because…
Part three of my three part series from the Holden Arboretum My top five reasons for trail walking I love to be outdoors, yes, even when it is cold and snowy (Although not so much when the weather turns hot and humid). There are amazing sights to be seen along the trail...and with so many parks …
SEEN ALONG THE TRAIL 