The smaller of the two big oaks we had to have taken down is now split and stacked ready for next winter. That dog just won’t stand still!
Nature
Waiting for spring
Snow day
Through the kitchen window at lunchtime during the snowstorm which closed schools at least three days. We only got three inches (Elspeth and Tim got six) followed by unusually low temperatures for the rest of the week. An opportunity to snap both the male and female cardinals at once — my Kodak Easyshare, hand-held, on maximum optical zoom.
Our biggest red oak tree is no more
We had it taken down last week for fear insect infestation had weakened the base enough to threaten the house. Two days of rain and mist followed.
Big snow storm hitting north central and north east
Initially not expected to reach south of Washington DC, but we got two inches by 9pm, then almost another half inch overnight, followed by howling winds.
Frost on the pumpkin
Mid-morning, new year’s eve. Apparently the deer don’t eat dead pumpkin.
Stafford Regional Choral Society, Dec 15th
Photo by Nikki Piner, forwarded by Elspeth from Facebook.
Autumn
The dwarf Japanese red maple in the blue bench garden on Sunday morning. Also in this picture is one of our largest white oaks, directly behind the blue bench. Sadly, it’s so badly damaged at the base by boring insects that it has become a hazard to the house.
Play ball!
Nationals 3, Mets 2
The winning final moments of the Washington Nationals/New York Mets baseball game Tuesday night. Charlie says he can just make out the ball, a tiny white smudge beyond third base. It does look as though there’s an outfielder starting to run in that direction, but I can tell you it didn’t do him any good. See the next day’s Washington Post game report. This was my first time at a major league baseball game, thanks to my sports fan friends who took me along. What fun! I took the picture with my cell phone.
Clematis overwhelming the light sensor
