Snow Has Arrived

It has been late in arriving, but it has finally made it's appearance.

And from the temps that are predicted for this upcoming week, it isn't going anywhere either.

With daytime highs in the mid teens it will become solid cement shortly.

So, outside we will be, shoveling, clearing, and making big piles of snow.

The older we get the harder it is to deal with it.

But we are New Englanders and are tough.

And the thoughts of spring to come is in the back of our minds, making it all worth it.

Happy Holidays!!

The holidays seem to come quicker each year - and this one is no exception.

Wishing all my friends a beautiful holiday celebrated in each your own special way!

Family and friends are what make these days the most memorable and we will be enjoying ours to the fullest.

Happy Holidays to all and be safe in your travels!

Surprise Visitor

For those that have followed my blog, you know that last spring we had an opossum problem.

They were living under our house, and we repeatedly set a have-a-heart trap to catch and relocate them.

After catching nine opossum, we caught two skunks and one very hairy and large raccoon.

We figured we caught all the opossum.

We started hearing noises again this fall and put the trap back into action.

The opossum have returned - but only one so far.

This morning we looked out the window to see the trap had sprung.

And what was in there?

A Blue Jay.

Having a fit and making his loud calls of protest at being caught.

And sitting on top of the trap was another one watching him flap back and forth inside.

Seventeen degrees was too cold for my camera and me, but what a sight it was.

He was set free and the trap is ready again - hopefully that bird learned his lesson.

And we can get back to relocating another opossum family - one by one.

ABC Wednesday W is for Weeds

Seen as weeds by most, I was quite pleased with this particular dandelion.

Caught before it shed all its seeds, it was standing alone in the morning sun.

This was a couple of years ago, and I am sure he is part of the large population that we now have all over our yard in the spring.

Beauty is in the eyes of the beholder, and it was sure posing it's best that day.

This is the eleventh round of ABC Wednesday. If you would like to join in please visit this site for the details. 

ABC Wednesday - V is for Vista

We were very lucky on this day many years ago.

It was clear and the view was astounding.

The vista spread before us at the top of Mt Washington in NH.

We took this trip on a motorcycle, and the temp at the base of the mountain was close to 90.

Up here was very cold - glad to have brought the leather and the layers under it.

The auto road was dirt back then and the drop on the sides of it were quite steep - especially once we were above the treeline.

Someday we hope to get back up there again.

This trip will be in a car though - and hopefully the weather will be just as cooperative as that first time. 

This is the eleventh round of ABC Wednesday. If you would like to join in please visit this site for the details. 

ABC Wednesday - T is for Tractor

It was old and green and had been sitting out in the elements for who knows how many years.

The rust had taken over most of this antique tractor, and the seat was missing - whatever it had been made of was long gone.

She had a lot of good hard to find parts on her that someone who restored these old tractors should have wanted.

But we couldn't find a taker for this old girl.

So she ended up at the scrap yard.

A sad ending for a once fine machine that was someone's pride and joy back in the 1940's.

This is the eleventh round of ABC Wednesday. If you would like to join in please visit this site for the details. 

ABC Wednesday - S is for Savory

The aromas around the house today have been just the best.

And tomorrow and the next day they are going to be just as good as today's.

The savory smells coming from the oven have had our mouths watering all day.

Preparing for the Thanksgiving Day meal might be a big job, but it is certainly one that is appreciated by the nose.

And the tastebuds will be too happy to have their turn on the big day.

Hope you each enjoy your Thanksgiving Day holiday in your own special way!

ABC Wednesday - R is for Ramp

It has been a while since I have contributed to the ABC Wednesday, but I do have a moment to make a post for this week.

Not a spectacular post, but an R one nonetheless.

This little ramp is located along the edge of the river by the mouth of the harbor.

It is right off the road, and to be honest, I really don't see how anyone cold use it without tying up both sides of the road - and the corner it is located on.

Bet there are some annoyed drivers when someone is launching a boat on this ramp!

This is the eleventh round of ABC Wednesday. If you would like to join in please visit this site for the details.

Light Snowfall

It is that time of the year again.

Time for autumn to begin her change into the next season - winter.

The first light snowfall has already arrived, but the remains only lasted a couple of days.

A small taste of what is to come.

The seasons come and go quicker now.

And as much as the cold sinks more into the bones as one gets older - I wouldn't change it for a warmer year round climate.

Although it does seem tempting at times.

Mother Nature's beauty abounds at all times, and how glorious the spring season is after the winter one takes it's leave.

Busy Busy Times

I know there is no excuse for the few posts lately - but I really have been quite busy

Too many irons in the fire is how it goes, and I think it will be staying this way for a while.

We are making plans for a move - hopefully in a year's time.

We work out of our home and have more than just our home things to think about.

Once we get it under control, then the looking for a new place can begin.

Over thirty years we have been in this spot, so it will be a change for sure.

And sometimes changes are hard.

But this one is just what we have been working towards all these years.

To be closer to the ocean that we love so much.

Enough for now - back to work I go!

Entrecard Droppers

It seems that the days of using Entrecard have come to an end.

It has been down almost a week now and from what little I can gather across the web - it will be staying that way.

I am glad that most of the blogs I visited on a daily basis are still available in my browser's history.

I have made a new folder in my bookmarks and have added many of them to it.

I will continue to visit them off and on as I have always enjoyed reading what many of them had to say.

I had four blogs in the system, and doing my drops brought decent traffic to them.

I do hope that those who dropped on my blogs will continue to stop by occasionally when they have a minute.

I thank you all who visited these past few years through Entrecard - it was good while it lasted!

ABC Wednesday - H is for Hand

This was taken during my grandson's 1st birthday and he was really enjoying it - cake and frosting was everywhere.

Hard to believe that he is now over 2 1/2 and heading for another birthday in just a few months.

He loves to sit with me on the computer and look at photos - especially when they have people he knows in them.

Next time he comes I must remember to show him this one.

He will not be impressed with the mess - he doesn't like them and let's us know all about them when they are around.

I wonder what his thoughts will be when he finds out that that messy hand is his.

This is the eleventh round of ABC Wednesday. If you would like to join in please visit this site for the details.

ABC Wednesday - G is for Gnawed

If you look closely, you can see all the teeth marks.
I could not believe the size of this stump.
The beaver did a tremendous job with his gnawing to bringing it down.
He must have worked on it for months - after all, he had all winter to do it.
You can also see the shavings he left behind on the ground .
It is easy to see where the saying "Busy as a Beaver" comes from.
And from the size of those teeth marks, I was glad that we didn't run into him!



This is the eleventh round of ABC Wednesday. If you would like to join in please visit this site for the details.

ABC Wednesday - E is for Estuary

ABC Wednesday - E is for Estuary

The Great Bay Estuary is one of the largest estuaries along the Atlantic Coast.

It is broken apart into two areas - Little Bay and Great Bay.

This image was taken where Little Bay ends, and Great Bay begins.

Home to over 162 species of birds, fish, and plants, the estuary was once the commerce hub of many seacoast towns.

Pollution ended many of these activities in the mid 1900's.

Great Bay has a very dramatic tidal range - over 50% of the bay is exposed at low tide.

The tide was over 1/2 way in in the above image.

ABC Wednesday - C is for Cannon

ABC Wednesday - C is for Cannon

This cannon sits at an old fort that is at the entrance to the harbor in Kittery Maine.


It is located at Fort McClary, which was built back in 1715.


This old beast of a weapon now sits behind a grassy bank, no longer aiming down the river it once protected.


The front of it has been filled with  concrete - perhaps to keep out the youngsters small enough to crawl inside it .


This cannon is quite large and very heavy - I wouldn't have wanted to be the one to set it off in time of war - it must have had one heck of a kick-back!

This is the eleventh round of ABC Wednesday. If you would like to join in please visit this site for the details.

Quiet on the Blog

Quiet on the Blog



 

It has been a bit quiet around all my blogs lately.


The summer has been a hot and busy one.


And we are another year older and don't move as fast as we used to - especially in the humid heat.


It sometimes takes twice as long to do something as it used to.


But we have been enjoying this time of the year - a swim at the lake each afternoon has become a welcome ritual.


The bones and joints sure appreciate the weightlessness that only being in the water can bring.


Hope you all are finding a way to enjoy this summer season too!

 

ABC Wednesday - Z is for Zone

Z is for Zone..........




 

This construction zone has been this way now for over two years.


There used to be a walkway beside the ocean that went under these two bridges.


My boys have spent much time in the past fishing from this spot.


Of course, it is barely recognizable now.


The walkway is blocked off, as one can see by these signs - it is only accessible to the construction crew.


It will be interesting to see how this whole project turns out .


Hopefully it will still be available for walking and fishing when it is someday complete.

 

This is the tenth round of ABC Wednesday. If you would like to join in please visit this site for the details.

ABC Wednesday - Y is for Yankee

Y is for Yankee..........




 

I think I have used this word before for "Y", but it is just perfect for today.

Today is Independence Day in the US - a celebration of our country's birthday.

It was in 1776 that the we won our freedom from England.

 We were known as the "Yankees" and we defeated the "British" during the Revolutionary War.

Fireworks, cookouts, and parades are celebrated in many towns, large and small, across the United States.

Happy July 4th to my readers - keep safe as you enjoy this holiday!

 

This is the tenth round of ABC Wednesday. If you would like to join in please visit this site for the details.

ABC Wednesday - X is for Xography

X is for Xography..........




 

A new word for today - Xography.


Which means: photographic process for producing three-dimensional images.


 Now, I do not have any equipment that does this.


And this photo has nothing to do that with that process either.


But I can't help thinking how pretty this one would be if it was three-dimensional.

 

This is the tenth round of ABC Wednesday. If you would like to join in please visit this site for the details.