Life Is A Reflection

#1

Christmas is a season 

not only of rejoicing but of reflection

                                        Winston Churchill

#2

#3

The real man smiles in trouble,

gathers strength from distress,

and grows brave by reflection

                                 Thomas Paine

#4

#5

Love is a reflection of intent.

Love reflects love.

Hate reflects hate.

                                          Jonathan Lockwood Huie

Joining

Willy Nilly Friday Five
Weekend Reflections

On the crest of . . .

the new fallen snow.

Thankful for seasonal changes.

When feathered friends come to call. ♪ ♫ ♪

I estimate about seven inches overnight.

The snow brings out the best in the Blue Jays plumage. 

The snow peaks on the branch caught my eye.

Apparently he prefers the challenge of the snow covered ear. 

Our chances of a white Christmas 

are usually in the 50/50 range.

So it's always nice to have a pretty snowfall 

in the weeks ahead as we prepare for the holidays.

All work and no play . . .

(Trust me he will find time)😉

Joining

Wild Bird Wednesday

Thankful Thursday

Black and White . . .

by default

When I saw the branch of this dogwood tree 

after the overnight snow,

it reminded me of an outstretched hand.

"God has given us two hands, 

one to receive with and the other to give with." 

Billy Graham

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Outdoor Wednesday

Duck the Halls

The Duck Song - 1

I got hooked on this song and had to watch all three 

just to hear the punch lines.

A friend whose hobby was taxidermy 

hiked about in search of specimens.

 I like that their beauty is preserved after their untimely deaths.

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Foto Tunes

A Family Pet . . .

from long ago.

Meet Ricky

Old Photo, Old Camera, Old Friend

Always a favorite picture to see 

when looking at Christmas photos of days gone by.

He found the reindeer the RG had constructed

a comfy place to hang-out.

He politely asked to go outside from day one.

(no litterbox)

He lived a long adventurous life

and died quietly under a his favorite rhododendron bush. 

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Saturday's Critters

Are Hornet's Nests . . .

weather predictors?

“When hornets build nests near the ground 

a harsh winter is expected”. 

or  . . .

“the higher the nest, the more severe the winter will be”. 

Hornets build their large, gray paper nests in late spring and at the end of summer. The bees (except new queens) die at the end of the season, and the nests are abandoned. 

So . . .

it's more likely that when building their nests, they prefer dry weather. If the season has been wet, they build higher! And when winter comes they r.i.p.

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Outdoor Wednesday

Found on a Branch Every Christmas

Sixty Eight Years and Counting

Can't Ya Hear Them Bells a Ringing . . .

Christmas Time's a Comin'

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Foto Tunes

Macro Monday 2

I Found the Answer

use her tennis ball as a prop.

To round out my fall photos, it's Lucy again.

It was a perfect fall day to practice my camera skills.

I was concentrating on her eyes.  

And one action shot.

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Saturday's Critters

One Month Left . . .

more or less

The fading shades of Fall

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It's Not Over Yet . . .

atMuldoon

Joining

Outdoor Wednesday

Little Chick

I've related this tale before but while browsing around for a photo challenge, one popped up with the topic for the day as 'a toy'. With all our grandchildren in other locations, toys aren't very abundant atMuldoon these days. But this little chick is always present in the kitchen because he was a gift from my children for a very specific purpose more years ago than I want to remember.

Back then kids could roam safely and mine were out checking the yard sales and returned with this treasure and its tale.

Mom, this is an 'earthquake chicken'. If you seeing it bobbing it is a warning that a quake is on the way.

Fortunately we've only experienced a couple of minor tremors in this area over the years. (Although with all the gas well fracking going on currently, it is a little more worrisome.) 

But so far this little chick only bobs when prompted.
I often wonder if the person holding the yard sale took delight in their tale to curious little kids, of the purpose of this chick. 

(It's a line I could easily hear the RG spinning)

Joining Tuesday's Treasures

'tis the Season . . .

Joining Ruby Tuesday Too

Breezy Day

Spinning Wheel

Playing with my iPhone camera

I've been watching a few tutortials.

This is a long exposure shot.

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Lost Your Marbles?

Some people collect beach glass

The RG collects marbles

Joining Monday Macro 2

A Prediction . . .

or just a colorful 'woolie' coat for winter?

according to the National Weather Service the answer is no. But the color bands do tell a story of their own. It's all about the past and not the future.

The Banded Woolly Bear occurs in the United State and southern Canada. 

In order to survive the weather's freezing temps, their cells contain a self-produced antifreeze.

Joining Saturday's Critters

Itsy Bitsy . . .

but not a spider

Itsy bitsy snowflakes caught in this spider's web 

Itsy-Bitsy Spider

The itsy-bitsy spider

Climbed up the water spout

Down came the rain

And washed the spider out

Out came the sun

And dried up all the rain

And the itsy-bitsy spider

Climbed up the spout again

---lullaby

Joining Outdoor Wednesday

Oh Fudge . . .

Closed for the season.

Joining Signs, Signs

Any Other Color . . .

would seem odd.

Tail Lights

Joining Ruby Tuesday Too

Retirement - Good, Random, Fun

Where We Go; What We See; What We Do

Pymatuning Lake

Linesville, PA.

The Good

Live - Fish - Live

Pretty much his philosophy

House Specialty Ham and Cheese Wedge 

between thin crispy Pizza dough.

The Random

Renovation of the Gatehouse at the main dam

The propagation spillway where 

the 'ducks walk on the fish's backs'

(love the gull's interest in what's to come)

The Fun

These Mallard Ducks were having blast!

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Feeling Fall #7

A fallen maple leaf

Joining Macro Monday 2

Stand-off

No

O.K. but no smile

 Long Suffering

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Saturday's Critters

The Willy Nilly Side of Retirement

It's Where We Go . . .

It's What We do.

Tools of the Day - a pole (or 2) and a camera

The RG planted this maple (and a few more)

over twenty years ago - 'just because'.

(perhaps a distant relative of Johnny Appleseed?)

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Yes or No . .

Thankful this Thursday for 

this exceptionally grounded young woman.

to cut or not to cut?

Our granddaughter just turned eighteen

and is debating cutting her hair.

She will make the right decision.

If she goes with 'cut' she will donate it.

(Nana is keeping silent - let the adult decisions begin)

Joining

Thankful Thursday