Sunny Saturday report

Yes, pictures below as promised, but first, another word about hockey, from the hockey blog Puck Daddy yesterday:

Last night was the best and worst night of the National Hockey League season. It was the best because we all got to see the greatest championship presentation in all of sports when the Stanley Cup was awarded to the Pittsburgh Penguins and skated around the ice at Joe Louis Arena. It's the worst because now we have to wait a whole three and a half months until another meaningful hockey game is played.

Right on.

Now, my Saturday. Stopping by the library first to return and pick up, I noticed some pretty flowers outside:


Aren't they lovely? I so appreciate a spot of beauty where there might easily be none.


Next, I went to a local pond that has a trail around it, making it a beautiful place to take a walk. And benches all along, for when you want to stop and soak in the view.


The summery scents of water and woods made me think of going to camp. There were other walkers, and people fishing, but it was still peaceful.


Well, except when I encountered someone on a cell phone. Good lord, people, turn it off! Look around you for a change.


More interesting flowers. See the bee on the left bloom?


I think this plant has a sense of humor.


I'm not sure if this one is poofing up or down, but I caught it in between.


The next time I see, "the pollen forecast for your area is high", I'm going to think of this:


Such a charming tribute, on one of the benches.


Now, I mentioned waterfowl. There were a few ducks, like this pair napping by the water's edge.


There were geese, like these enjoying the shade.


And these, out with the young family.


Cute little fuzzies!


Still, the swans were the highlight for me.


I don't often see them, so it was a treat. And guess what they had?


Babies! Young swans the size of adult ducks, only fuzzier.


Papa swan thought I had seen enough, so I decided to leave them to it. Boy, they're big!


It was a lovely day. It was raining again this morning, and though the sun is trying to come out now, the clouds to the west indicate that this will not last. I'm grateful for yesterday. The sun recharged my batteries, which were getting very, very low.

Saturday again

Today's been a decent day so far. Any day that starts by sleeping late has an edge, in my book. Here's some of my day, in pictures.

A nice walk on a pretty day.

Nature disregards human intention.

The trunk of the tree is inside the fence. At least part of the top is outside.

A path in the woods.

View through trees to the water.

Back inside, and a completed project.

Crochet, actually. A friend asked if I thought I could make hanger covers. I thought I could, and it turns out, I can! She was pleased, gave me dinner, and sent me home with more hangers.

One car, two unusual bumper stickers.

Book shopping!

Happy, happy. My Discover card gives me back a small percentage of what I charge, and when I have accumulated $20, I can cash it in, or exchange it for gift cards to various places, some of which raise the stakes. Thus, my $20 earned became $25 at Borders, so for $1.23 cash I got three books I've been wanting to own. Yay!

I'm off to watch game 5 of the Stanley Cup finals. No one's winning the Cup tonight, but I have to soak in the hockey before it goes poof for the summer.

Aside: I just read a "trashy" romance novel with a hockey theme (trophy wife inherits $50 million and an NHL team when her aged husband dies), and though it wasn't bad, one of the things that bugged me was when it referred to "the cup." Excuse me, but when we talk about Lord Stanley's trophy, that would be the Cup. Capital C, thank you.

Look at the pretty pictures (talk later)

I'll (try to) write about yesterday tomorrow--no, no, nothing bad, just that it's writing, and it's after 10, and I'm tired, so I'm going to be photographic tonight and wordified tomorrow. Mmkay?

Mr and Mrs Cardinal in the tree at work today:


My mitten, Mark 2:


It's a much snugger fit that Mark 1 was!


I think I'll keep going ... but I reserve the right to sleep on it and change my mind. (I probably should have stayed with the size 6 needles ... shhh.)


I made chili over the weekend. I put carrots and celery in it, but I don't want big pieces of either. Enter the little food processor:


Voom! It does a number on the onion, too. Love it! And the result, a big honkin' pot of chili:


(Lookit that ... I photographed steam!)

Bath time at the zoo
Pan: I will wash you. Hold still.


Harold: Help me.

Aches, Pains, and more Winter

Plus, Whack-a-Vole?

So I twisted my left ankle yesterday, and with the shoveling this morning, my back is a little sore now. My right shoulder has been bothering me, to the point where I'm going to go to the doctor to see if it's arthritis like my hands, or something else. Tonight my right quad muscle is also sore, which I imagine is compensation from the left ankle.

I'm a mess!

Then there's this:


Just when the improved weather had melted most of December's contribution (not even all of it, but most), we get more. I probably cleared 6 inches off my car this morning, and shoveled around my car, plus thanks to the plow guy not having arrived*, I got to dig out enough of the driveway end (you know, where the heavy wet stuff from the street plowing is) to get my car out. Thrilling.

*By 9:15? WTF?

In addition to the above photo, I caught a bird-in-flight at the feeder we have at work:


See?


Finally, I noticed holes in the snow below the feeder, and caught glimpses of some little guy darting in and out. I am assured that it's a vole, although I don't know on what authority, exactly. He did, however, prove that the holes are a network, by popping between them in rapid succession.



Whatever he is, he's small, dark, and super-fast!