Morning Pix

I went out to fill the bird feeders first thing this morning. I've been fascinated by watching the birds recently, especially one that I think is a purple finch. But it's hard to get good pictures from the door--even with my 10x optical zoom I'm still a little far away. So this morning I took my camera and stood very still, as close to the feeder as I dared. I had just put the camera up to focus on the feeder when this bird swooped in and landed. And so I got this completely unplanned shot of a hairy woodpecker.

The squirrels will do just about anything to get in the feeders, (as seen here a couple of weeks ago, attacking the food that was meant for the woodpeckers), so I finally put up a feeder just for them. Here's one of my cute, furry little pests this morning on his/her own food station. I can't help but like them, even if others just consider them pests
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Why Am I Up So Late?

'Cause I'll b sorry in the morning...

This afternoon I observed the time-honored clergy tradition of the Sunday afternoon nap--a long one, about 2 hours. After dinner I snuggled up on the couch to read, and fell asleep again. When I woke up it was midnight--but did I go to bed? Oh, no. I got on the computer to do some research on a disease that a parishioner is being tested for. So here I am. At least tomorrow is (sort of) a day off.

And this sick parishioner--it's going to be a hard one if the diagnosis is what we fear. He's about the age of my father; he's a dear man who helps take care of the rectory and has been very good to me and my son since we arrived here. I'm very worried about him, and about his wife who is of course very worried about him as well.

Meanwhile, we are having the coldest weather of the winter. In the last week we've had a blizzard followed by several days of spring-like temperatures followed by a real arctic blast of cold air. Could we have a little consistency here?

I baptized a baby today--such a joy!

And such a random post. G'night all.

Not to be Left Out

I got one, too--a Johari window So feel free--tell me what you think. And set one up for yourself, if you haven't already.

where are my pictures?

Edited 2/17/2006--I think I have those pictures fixed (finally...) Would someone let me know if you can see them?

The post below about the snow had two pictures--I could see them yesterday, and I could see them this morning at home. But now at work they are gone! Where are my pictures? [Same browser--Firefox--so that shouldn't be an issue].

The Weather Outside is Frightful

But to me it's quite delightful, because it's finally snowing. It started last night around midnight, and I'd guess we have 10-12 inches at this point. It's cold and windy and blowy, and fortunately I don't have to go anywhere.

I've always been fascinated by snow. I grew up in the south where it rarely snowed, but on those magical occasions when it did, we reveled in it. We built snow people and went sledding and ate snow cream--fresh snow mixed with sugar and canned milk and vanilla.

As an adult I've found watching falling snow to be peaceful and calming. I love the first furious flurries of fall, I love the fat flakes of the winter's first big storm, I love the piles and drifts of a fresh snow fall. How can what would be rain be transformed into those fat, feathery flakes, or those sharp stinging pellets? And how does it blanket the ground that way? How can it be so light and airy sometimes, and so heavy at others? (I'm not really looking for scientific answers here, just admiring snow in all its forms).

One of Vermont's local heroes is Wilson "Snowflake" Bentley, who pioneered the photography of individual snow flakes, revealing their unique and intricate six-sided structure. To me, snowflakes are one of the wonders of nature. You can see more of Bentley's images here, and you can even make some snowflakes of your own here.

Making the World a Better Place

As seen at Phantom Scribbler:

If there is someone on your blogroll who makes your world a better place just because that person exists and who you would not have met (in real life or not) without the internet, then post this same sentence on your blog.

Thanks for making my world a better place, y'all, with your wit, your stories, your political commentary, your comments.

Seasonal Factoid

According to the Motley Fool radio show on NPR, the "average American consumer" will spend $97.27 for Valentine's Day.

My planned spending for Valentine's Day: $0.00

Can Someone Please Explain....

why, when the thermostat is set at, say, 67 degrees everyday, it feels so much colder inside when it is 25 outside instead of 40? I mean, the inside temperature is going to stay somewhere around 67, right?

Or maybe I'm just wacky.

Let It Snow

Okay, call me weird, but I miss snow. Although I live in New England, in a place that last year broke all its previous snow fall records, this year we haven't had any snow to speak of--a few small storms in December, and nothing since but rain, rain, rain, rain and more rain.

The forecast for this weekend is for snow.......let it snow, let it snow, let it snow.

Ground Hog Day

Apparently Pauxatawney Phil saw his shadow today, so it's six more weeks of winter....such as winter has been here so far. It's been cold and rainy, but not as cold as usual, and hardly any snow at all (in contrast to last winter which broke all kinds of snow records for this area).



I have my own personal groundhog who hung around the backyard last summer, but I've not seen him/her since fall. If s/he didn't see a shadow today, does that cancel out P.P.?