Slippery Slopes & Feasts

Here...it snowed less than predicted...

but still...my back porch was white...

First thing that morning...

I went out for a long walk.

All the trees out back

were accented

with streaks of white

on their northern sides...

giving the woods a faded appearance.

I wondered to the field...

where the Bamboo

underneath the large Tulip tree

was bowing from the snow...

laying low!

I made my way into the woods and

toward the creek...

it was extremely quiet and still.

On top of this hill

I stood....

looking down a slippery slope

to the creek far below.

Note the hole in the log on the right.



This is the scene
through that hole.






Standing by that log...
getting ready to go down that
slippery slope.






I made it to the creek bed...
where patches of water showed through...




making the only noise there!

Looking around for any movement...







all I found was a print
from an earlier passerby.





I followed those prints...
possibly a fox...
up and over this fallen tree...






I came upon
the faintest spot of blood...

(enlarges)



and then...

discovered a disturbance

in the snow...maybe the fox

pulled something from the ground.

But, I don't really know.

But, I did know....I was going home.

Sooo...back up the slippery slope.

At the top of the hill...you can see

there is another hill in front of me.

It's the hill the house sits on.

I can go down this side and up that side...

or I can turn left and

head for the field...

(enlarge to see faint outline of house)

~

and end up...back where I started...

but on the opposite side...
of the Bamboo trees.

These snowballs are attached...

it seems they were made...

by the wind...

blowing the Bamboo's branches...

back and forth...

first to it's left...

and then to it's right.

At least...

that's what I think I know...

~

and I go home...

...in time to see
three Cardinals and a Towhee

feasting at the sunflower seeds...

and feasting

Sparrows, Goldfinches...
a Junco, and Wren...

plus...

a lone European Starling
patiently waiting his feast.

I then went in...

to make a feast myself...

of a spicy shrimp stir fry

with penne and red peppers...

and...
cornbread baked in an old iron skillet...

I was trying to duplicate

a restaurant meal...

once had by

my granddaughter Amanda!

Did I succeed?.....I don't know!

But...

I do know...

the sunrise this morning

looked promising !!!

.....No Longer January or 7

January ended with lots of rain...

left standing in the field...

with Finches gathering at the top of the Pine...

and flying away in unison!

~

~

Some days that sun...

just couldn't break through....

But...February...

brought early morning skies...

of pink and blue....

and later that day...

a twisty shaped cloud...over the barn...

was the view!

(enlarges)

As we took...

a sight seeing drive...
we saw decorative 'chem' trails...

across the whole sky!

Just down the road...
we passed the new building...

our township fire deparment

will soon move into...

where Grandson Grant...

is a Junior Fire Cadet!

Just across
and on down the road...
is where...
Herhusband grew up.
~
Our
daughter and her family.....
Annette...her husband Rick
their sons...
Dustin and Grant...
live there now.




Speaking of Grant...
Tomorrow...February 4th
is his birthday!




This is
Grant as a small child....
always smiling...

"Grant Alexander"



well...
most of the time!





Not many photos were taken alone....

seems...
there were always cousins...

by his side.

Cousins Katie, Grant(red hat), & Nick & a friend at left!



Here's Grant...

with cousins Dylan and Andrew...
helping with...reviewing words.

They hung out together...

because I "babysat!"

Grant took them on walks...

in the front yard

and as you can see

discovered many things...

just look back...

at that...log shaped tree.

(enlarges)


Such excitement...

they found a snake!

(enlarges)


Grant

took them on many hikes...

deep in the woods

and carved their initials...

in the Beech tree's bark!

A hat...of some sort

usually covered...

his blond hair!

Grant and Andrew...

were often partners in crime!

Looking guilty of planning...

something here!

Growing older...

here...at 13...

you visited often...

sometimes...

sitting on the front porch
to talk with Grannie...

your Great Grandmother...

and there were times
you were here...

even with...your older brother!

(Grant and Dustin)

Another reason
for you to come...

was to get on and ride...

that big dirt bike!

And like the others...

camping in the woods all night!

There once...was an old pig pen...

I guess it was fun...to sit upon...

(cousin Nathan and Grant)


and a backyard pool...

into which you splashed!

But fun could be had...

without "bought" things.

Just going outside...

to see what the day might bring.
~

Different skeletons

and bugs...

and antlers from the woods...

all home...you lugged.

~

But this...

~

at my heart does tug...

a photo of

You

with Nate and Nick...

all three of you...

~

covered in mud!

Grant...Nathan...Nick


You're no longer 7...

You're turning 17!!!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY GRANT