Happy 2012!

click to enjoy the rainbow colors of Meleagris gallipavo

Step out into the sunshine of a New Year with all its colors and variations just waiting to show themselves. May yours be one of peace, good fortune and good health.

looking forward, looking Back

Heading East on I-90, looking back West in the mirror. Seems apropos for the last day of 2011, looking back to the Old Year passed, and into the New Year to come.

sunrise Cows

Curiosity is supposed to "kill the cat", but there isn't anything much more curious than a herd of cows. They were wondering why I stuck the camera out the window as I drove by on my way to school. Their backs were still snowy, so well insulated are the bovines that it hadn't even melted off even after several hours.

tigers and monkeys and Parrots

This has to be one of the coolest mailbox posts on the Planet! It is on a gravel road, among corn and soybean fields in a lovely corner of Cottonwood County, MN. 

I kid you not, the folks who live here also raise cattle and own a real, live GIRAFFE!

Your neighbors may have wandering cats and barking dogs, but our grandkids have a giraffe for a neighbor.

here be Dragons

Christmas dragons from the creative brain of Daughter #1

Back after spending Christmas with Daughters #1, #2, #3, Son-in-law #1, Son-in-law #2, grandchildren #1 and #2 in Minnesota. A good time had by all! Hope yours was warm and friendly and memory filled, too.
 We are hard on the heels of 2012, hard to believe New Year's has come so fast.

the Easter Bunny

Greeting the Sun at the Winter Solstice, wearing his best Winter fur coat.

"Solstice Sun, Shining Bright!
Shortest Day & Longest Night.
Solstice Wish of Hope & Cheer:
Peace on Earth, throughout the Year!"

by Selena Fox

a grandfather Tree

Ma Nature sure knows how to build a cottonwood tree!

prairie sunrise December

Sunrise on the short grass prairie, Audubon Christmas Bird Count, looking for the sharp-tailed grouse. They, of course, chose to be in the cottonwood trees eating the buds, instead of being picturesque in the grass. Then again, the grass and alfalfa was picturesque on its own.

tiny little Pots

Little bitty baubles for tiny poinsettias in mini 2"pots.

Wouldn't a bright red poinsettia baby be a screamer in a flashy purple pot or an acid green one!

Audubon CBC/Rapid City, SD

The Early Bird

 Morning Watchman

We weren't the only ones walking along the Creek

 Tangerine Toes!

a break from santa claus Things...

CARWASH!

dear Santa,

These were NOT on my Christmas list!

klutzy move + hopping off stage = spend Christmas vacation from school gimping around.

whatsit?

Photoshop Quiz

late afternoon, December

St. Joseph Street,  Rapid City, South Dakota

moonset at Sunrise

12/11/11       7:15 am     44N  103W

• The Full Cold Moon; or the Full Long Nights Moon – December During this month the winter cold fastens its grip, and nights are at their longest and darkest. It is also sometimes called the Moon before Yule. The term Long Night Moon is a doubly appropriate name because the midwinter night is indeed long, and because the Moon is above the horizon for a long time. The midwinter full Moon has a high trajectory across the sky because it is opposite a low Sun.

from www.farmersalmanac.com

a fishy looking Christmas

Jose

Uncooperative Guppies

While they were decorating our classroom (which is now quite gaudy and spectacular with lights), the guys decided Jose and the Guppies needed to be decorated up as well. Window clings not only cling to windows, but they also cling to aquariums. Love those 9th graders.

we have Company

This little critter is currently residing among the leaves and flowers of the Christmas cactus on the mantel in the living room. She has been seen on an orchid in the dining room and on the light in Rachel's bedroom ceiling. We don't know how long she has been visiting or how she is traveling (unless she has a Doppelganger). She is most welcome to stay.

the journey of Odysseus

Do you remember any cats in the Odyssey?

9th grade English curriculum requires reading and analysis of Homer's The Odyssey, which we have been doing these past two weeks. The students were asked to write about their thinking as they read the story of Odysseus. Here are some of the lessons learned along the way which Odysseus's men should have learned.

I love they way the kids think.

hello, Amaryllis

As soon as the morning sun came in the south window, Amaryllis showed her face for the first time this season.

why would you do This?

at the stop sign Thursday morning

Of all the vanity plate cleverness you could choose, why would you want to advertise that you are annoying and probably obnoxious, to boot????