Hayley, duck!

I mean, seagull!(Good thing she's wearing her lucky shirt.)

Invasion of the Sandwich Snatchers

1000th Visitor

Congratulations to sarala for being the 1,000th visitor to my blog! I gave her a choice of a cookie or Bozo button as her prize. Since she said a bozo button just wasn't "her", she gets a cookie.

Tracking a Whitetail Deer

What's this? Fresh Whitetail Deer tracks on the trail! Stop and listen. Hear that? It's close by, just to the right of the trail. I can hear it walking over the dead leaves and branches. Let's follow it!

Yep. We're going the right way. Through the woods...Judging by the size of these hoofprints, we're following a doe.Continuing through the woods...And across another trail...
And back into the woods...
Hmm...which way did it go?
Getting a little trickier to follow...
And muddier...
She out-smarted me and headed straight into the swampy area.
End of the line.

Posted for Photo Sharks: Obsession

Sanitary Sewer

Dead End

Dead End, originally uploaded by natural_solitude.

Bordering Marquette's Park Cemetery. It's difficult to see them through the fence, but those are graves in the background (on the right).

Fit Strip Trip

Chipmunk (left) and Black-capped chickadee (right)

I decided to walk over to Marquette's Fit Strip to take some photos of the various creatures who call it home. I wasn't (completely) disappointed! Here are some of the creatures (or signs of) I saw, and lessons I've learned.

What I saw: black-capped chickadees, chipmunks, red squirrels, gray squirrels, red-headed woodpeckers, downy woodpeckers, whitetail deer tracks, common redpoles (birds), mallard duck, canadian goose, and many other birds.

What I learned: I need a better camera!!!!! Next time, bring extra batteries, something to sit on, and something to eat and drink. And watch where I'm walking.

Geese

Heading North

Submitted to Thursday Challenge: Wildlife

Young Artist

Hayley's Hands, originally uploaded by natural_solitude.

Hayley created a neat cherry blossom drawing while we were waiting for our food at Upfront & Company. Actually, in this photo, she's waiting for her cherry Coke, which the waitress forgot to bring. (She originally wanted their bottled rootbeer, but they were all out of it.)

Once again, I've earned an honorable mention in the Tuesday Challenge -- two weeks in a row no less. Thanks (again) to all those who voted for this photo. And congratulations to my fellow Tuesday Champs: jkirlin (The Thing of the Moment), Merlinprincesse (who shares second highest votes with me), and SUBJEKTIV.

More of the S.K. Enterprise II

Future way to "shuttle" your kids off to school:

Photo Friday: Futuristic

S.K. Enterprise II

I'll post a link to information on this space shuttle/bus as soon as I am able to find one. I sort of know the story behind it, but would prefer to provide a link if possible. I'm not even sure if this program is still running anymore.

Merry Kissmas!

Hershey's Bear

Good thing I didn't bring my boxes of Christmas decorations down to the basement yet.

St. Paul's Episcopal Church

Submitted to Thursday Challenge: Circle

Show me the worms

It looks like this guy came back a little too early.

Shopping

Iron City Bookstore
Submitted to Tuesday Challenge: Shopping

Thanks to all those who voted for this photo, which earned the 3rd highest number of votes. And congratulations to my fellow Tuesday Champs, jkirlin (The Thing of the Moment) and SUBJEKTIV.

For jkirlin

Got Peeps?

Submitted to SeeItSunday: Easter
(half-heartedly...and only to be slightly humorous)

Collaboration

A short while ago, I had challenged sarala to create a poem (found here) out of a single line that had popped into my head while taking photos of old homes overlooking new condominiums. Today, she gave me a challenge -- to come up with a poem to go along with her sparrow photos.
My daughter, Hayley, decided to take on this challenge as well. Her creation was so much better than mine that I've decided to use it as an easy out.

Photo courtesy of sarala

Sparrow’s Song
By Hayley M - age 14

The sparrows fly onto
A rock to have a chat.
Though only the coolest of sparrows
Know where it’s at.

Roger’s there, and Meena too!
Also Teana, Seena, and Rocker’s Boo!

They’re in the club, havin’ a blast,
Until it became the past.
They scattered to hide,
Only to bide the time
Of their own demise.

One survivor stood alone…
Until She came along.
She sang a song, so true and
Right, and brought back every
Sparrow in sight!

So the Party began once more,
Until the return
Of Brother Thor.

April Showers

Snowshowers, that is.

I know, I know. "Enough with the snow pictures!" It's either that or cemetery photos. Until the snow goes away again, I'm pretty much limited to the photos I have taken already. All that's left to photograph is the snow.

Childhood Lost

I guess I ought to be thankful that Hayley made it to her teens - no matter how much whining I've got to listen to about her being bored.

Submitted to Photo Friday: Blessing

Books

Submitted to Tuesday Challenge: Books

Peter White

Peter-in-White (Bust of Peter White)
See It Sunday: White

I don't know how I missed it, but Peter White -- a man who not only has the library named after him, but also (according to this mini virtual tour of the cemetery by Q107-WMQT's Jim Koski) "founded the First National Bank, bought Presque Isle for the city, and actually donated the land for this cemetery" -- is buried here, at the foot of the oak tree.

Snow Day

Hayley only looks like she's having fun. She hates shoveling, but is happy about getting the day off from school. And it looks as if she just might have tomorrow off as well. Since "spring break" was supposed to start on Friday, she may actually have started it today. (Which means the Mom-I'm-bored scene will probably start two days earlier than it would have as well!)

I think I'm done with the "snowstorm" updates. I've had enough of this snow, wind and cold (OH MY!) already...and am tired of looking at (and being out in) it!

**UPDATE** It has been confirmed...no school tomorrow either. Hayley is officially on Spring Break. Now all we need is the SPRING weather!!!!

***ANOTHER UPDATE*** Hokey-wah!!! We've just experienced a 20- to 30- minute power outtage!

Storm Update

Submitted to Shutterday: Stormy Weather

Shortly after 12:00 pm.
Heading to the store at the end of our block. (See the Coke truck?) At times, the snow was blowing so much that I couldn't even see to the end of the block.

April 4th, 8:45 am
It's like an ice storm out there!