Life in the Bristolwood

Today’s awesome weather with sunshine and mild temperatures threw not only me, but Mark and Ben into “let’s skip out on our responsibilities today” mode!

After dropping Michelle at school today, we went over to Lowe’s and WalMart to bide some time until Mark’s doctor appointment at 8:30.  We then headed to the doctor’s office as Mark had an appointment to get a tetanus shot.  Last year, Ben, Michelle, and I all got our shots, but Mark needed a booster as well.

I went in with Mark to see the doctor and she is just the most wonderful doctor, ever!  Since Mark was her first patient of the day, she sat down and chatted with us as well as giving Mark his shot.  We had such a nice visit, it was almost like seeing our friend instead of going to the doctor! She is leaving on Friday to go to Haiti for several days to help.  Her heart is so good and I pray she has a safe and productive trip.

After the doctor’s visit, Mark and I came outside and the weather was beautiful!  We got into the truck with Ben and the two Scotties, and I mentioned perhaps a day off would be beneficial.  I didn’t have to twist any arms….Mark and Ben both agreed!  I mentioned a drive down Routes 5 &20 and Mark thought that would be great.

With no particular predetermined destination in mind, we set off.  We drove through Geneva, Waterloo, and on to Seneca Falls.  As we drove along,  I mentioned to Mark that there was a new WalMart down a side road.  Mark turned and thought we should just take a drive around to see what stores were there.  It was then that I remembered Priscilla, a visitor to this blog, had mentioned a Mennonite store located “somewhere” nearby.  Mark entered the store name into the GPS and we were only about 1/4 mile away!

We drove over to the store and all three of us went inside.  WOW! This store is even bigger than the other store I often visit. They are really a big grocery store with goods from food to a nice assortment of books including many on Mennonite and Amish living and beliefs.  I could have spent hours and hours there, but it was so crowded, it was tough getting around! The young Mennonite girl who checked out my order said that the fine weather brought customers out in larger-than-normal numbers.

We will definitely be visiting this store again. (and again!)

After looking around in the store,  we pulled around the back of the store so Mark could look up sites of interest on his GPS.  I looked down the small hill below us and saw a little stream meandering along.  In the stream were a few Canada Geese.  Now, in and of itself,  that is nothing unusual, but these geese were acting ***weird***!  They were splashing about in the water as though they were taking a bath to get good and clean!  I do know that geese need water to breed, but this didn’t appear to be in the minds of these geese. (unless a good bathing was needed prior to courtship!)

One of the geese was hysterical….comical…such a comedian!  The goose did a barrel roll several times…..round and round and round.  Don’t believe me? Click twice on this photo and it will PROVE I am not exaggerating!! Honest!

In all my hours and hours spent watching geese, I have never seen the likes of that before!  I didn’t bring my telephoto lens with me so I had to crop this photo in order to catch the barrel roll!

As an aside, Mark laughed as we drove out of the store parking lot.  The employees are all Mennonites and their autos were all parked in one area.  There must have been 20 cars….maybe a couple trucks….all black!  There was nearly every make represented in…..black!

We drove on a little further, keeping our eyes on the clock, as we needed to pick Michelle up again from school.

After arriving back home,  Mark wanted us to rinse all the salty dirt off the truck.  As we pulled into the driveway, there were some spots in the gutter next to the driveway that had dammed up, sending water spilling over the driveway.  While Michelle went down the driveway with shovel in hand to remedy the driveway,  Ben got out the pressure washer and rinsed off not only the truck,  but also the Explorer.  Ah, both the driveway and the vehicles look much better now!

I helped Ben wipe off the hose and wind it up, then put the pressure washer away.  By the time we were ready to go in the house, dusk was quickly settling in.  As I walked from the garage to the house,  I had to grab my camera.  This solar lamp is in the side garden next to the house.  The little lamp had been buried under snow from the last storm.  I wondered about it, but was surprised when I saw it glowing this evening! It just poked through the snow today, so you can see how much the snow sank down and melted today.

I think Ben, Mark, and I are all refreshed from taking this unplanned vacation day.  One of the greatest benefits about homeschooling is that we are able to take off a day every now and then without losing a day….Ben always makes up his work when we get back home.

Angus, feeling a bit benevolent, allowed his photo to be taken with Murphy. Of course,  Angus is front and center….

Today, we traveled to Rochester.  Never mind the warnings of bad weather!

Actually, we were advised that the bad weather would probably arrive mid to late afternoon.

We arrived in Rochester to clear roads and an annoying precipitation that felt more like “rainy snow” than anything.  It was just wet and somewhat sticky.  We did our shopping and then Ben and Mark went to the Guitar Center to check out some “stuff”.  Ben got a bass guitar for his birthday, which he is doing well playing. Mark wanted to check if perhaps they might see a better model. Thus, the Scotties and I awaited in the truck about an hour and forty-five minutes while the guys played.

Mark had commented one day that Mendon Ponds Park is located closer to Henrietta than our house.  So, I asked if we could stop just for a few minutes to feed the birds on our way to pick Michelle up from school. 

 Ben and I hopped out of the truck and walked just a few yards away to an area where there were trees and some brush.  We placed a few seeds in our hands and the birds immediately appeared!

Oh, come on, can you *really* imagine a chickadee perched upon your thumb?

I didn’t bring along the Nikon today, as I was traveling lightly.  We had an early morning appointment at eight to have the truck inspected.  It turned out kind of fun as I had to “occupy” the Scotties for about half an hour while the truck was taken in the garage for inspection.  Snow was falling, but it was rather mild and calm, so we walked a good bit, then went back to the store to see how things were going.  The poor Scottie boys had frozen beards and snow all over their skirts.  How happy they must have been to return to the warm and cozy truck.  I wrapped Murphy in a blanket in the back seat and he barely moved all day, sleeping soundly! 

One of the things I noticed right away that was different about Ben feeding the birds was that most people open their hands flat, whereas Ben cupped the seeds in his hand, creating  a sense of awe…As the tiny chickadees landed in his hand, he would raise and lower his hand from time to time, and the little birds would remain perched. 

As I worked snapping photo after photo,  I suddenly distinctly felt two birds land on the knit hat I was wearing.  Ben began to giggle and then I did, too.  It was nearly impossible to continue taking photos with the two of us laughing. Then, Ben did such a funny thing.

Now, remember, a strong storm was on its way.  I know the birds and animals know when bad weather is coming.  As we were feeding chickadees and titmice,  there were cardinals around.  Many cardinals!  They will not come to hand feed, but they surely did make their presence known.  While they were extremely flighty the last time I was at the park, this time,  they seemed not to care as I took photos of them.  They seemed almost focussed on getting their fair share of food before the winds kicked up and the snow began falling heavily.

And here is my favorite photo of a cardinal taken today….

It would have been nice to have had the SLR with me instead of my little Panasonic point-and-shoot,  but I was happy to have gotten the photos I did.  The snow began to come down a bit heavier as we were there.  Ben and I scattered a considerable amount of seeds on the ground as we left.  I am sure they were put to good use by the many birds we left behind!

As we made our way to Canandaigua, the road conditions worsened.  Mark tried his brakes a couple of times and the anti-locks came on and we went much further than he expected.  Many people were driving as though there was no problem whatsoever, making Mark even more cautious!

The wind is howling now and there is snow blowing all over, although visibility remains maybe two hundred feet.  Thus far, I don’t think we have much more than maybe six inches of snow, but it is hard to tell as the winds are terrific! I am so happy we got to feed the birds today!

After my serious post last night, I figured I would show you the nonsense I pull with my camera from sheer boredom! (did I say that???)

The Christmas wreath still hangs on the front of the garage, but if you have read here during previous Christmas seasons,  you will know that it is very difficult for me to remove said wreath each  year.  Oh, it isn’t actually “hard” physically….it is just that we seem to have some warped emotional attachment that renders it hard to take down and put away the pretty bright lights of brilliant colors!  But then again, with lights malfuctioning after a year in storage, perhaps there is a subconcious reason, reckoning that we had best enjoy ALL the lights while they are still **lit** since next season,  I will probably threaten to throw them into the trash! (No….the replacements this year are LED’s and they are supposed to last a very, very long time….which we shall see!)

Surely, I digress…..

Yes, it was fun, winging the camera about in circular motions.  But don’t tell Mark….he wouldn’t understand! After all, this is purely artistic!

It is nearly 10:30 and we still have a ways to go before we reach home for the night.  And the worst part is I took my contacts out and forgot to bring a pair of glasses. So, if this is full of errors, don’t blame me!

Here is a clue as to where our day’s wanderings took us…

as I can imagine, here on this corruptable planet!

My friend, Kim, called a couple of days ago, wanting to know if we could get together to “shoot”. (Photos, that is! We are both shutterbugs!)  I was so thrilled, I jumped at the chance.  And, it happened that Carly told me about a public park  a day or two before.  The park is located not far from the city of Rochester, New York,  and it has trails where one can feed the birds and they will actually land on your hands.  I don’t know about you, but I find that remarkable!

The weather could not have cooperated more wonderfully, with the temperature rising up above freezing.  Thankfully, Kim knew the way to the park and we hopped out of her car.  The next question was Where do we go from here?  There happened to be some women going into a nearby building, so I asked.  Follow the path in front of you!

And so we did.

We wandered along a wide snow-covered path and it wasn’t long until a tiny Chickadee landed in a tree branch above our heads and called out Chick-a-dee-dee-dee!  We figured that translated to something like Feed me!  Kim and I both had brought along some seeds, so we placed them in our hands and waited.  Within seconds,  the birds came.

Feather along the path….

Bird taking flight from Michelle’s hand…..

Nuthatch feeding from Michelle’s hand…..

Timothy Titmouse posing (quite nicely, I must say!)….

Chickadee resting on Michelle’s glove before grabbing a seed….

We found that as the birds excitedly announced our arrival,  some other critters became very interested as well.

After that little squirrel nearly climbed into my ziplock bag of seeds, Kim generously left him his own little offering before we moved on!

We chatted with a very nice couple along the path and shared bird stories.  And, Michelle just kept loving the fact that the birds came so freely and willingly to rest upon her hand for some more seeds!

We passed several more people who were also quite taken by the birds.

Then we began working our way along the path towards Kim’s car. As we moved along, we suddenly came upon a lively flock of bright red birds! 

Yes, there were Cardinals! They didn’t come to our hands, but they were certainly much tamer than the Cardinals found in the Bristolwood!  They actually sat still enough for long enough so I could get some fairly nice photos of them!  I was over the moon!

I didn’t take the 200mm lens with me. I should have because I could have done much better.

In the meantime, am I happy with the photos I got?  Yes, yes, YES! 

Paradise, I tell ya.  Okay, so not everyone dreams of a snowy Paradise, but in my mind…..P-E-R-F-E-C-T!

Having two Scottie dogs means that I get out early in the morning.  I know a lot of people would consider this more of a “curse” than a “blessing”,  but for me, it is no problem at all. And, sometimes, it even *inpsires* me! Truly!

This morning was inspiration for sure! I looked out at the thermometer and decided on some warm outerwear! According to the information I have on my desktop, it is 8 degrees Fahrenheit in Canandaigua, or -11.8 degrees Celsius.  Well, whatever the temperature there, we are colder because of our higher elevation. 

I left my warm and cozy bathrobe on and tugged on a down filled coat over it.  Most assuredly, I sat on the stairs and pulled on my winter boots.  No hat or mittens were necessary, as the wind is negligible!

The Scotties and I walked out on the porch and it was evident right away that it was cold….the kind of cold that if you inhale deeply through your nose, you can actually make your nostrils stick together.  The kind of cold that when you walk, there is no way to be silent, as the snow crunches under your weight no matter how lightly you step!

The boys love the cold and snow, but this morning, they did not linger,  tending to their business and then making a beeline for the house!  And as I followed behind their tugging leads,  my mind was racing as I felt breathless at what greeted us! Yes, I hurried into the house and grabbed the camera….

(This is one time when I wish the background on my blog was black!)

As I walked in the snow,  listening to it moaning under my feet, a sort of rhythm formed…

I am one of the wealthiest people I know, for I own acres of diamonds, diamonds in the snow!

So, for those who have a “poetic bent”,  I was thinking…would you like to add on to my “poem”?

Today we went on a little unexpected day trip!

The phone rang shortly after 10:30…it was my mother. 

Today’s my birthday. Do you want to meet at Sprague’s?

Of course!

And so we were out the door and on our way!  The temperature was nearly balmy considering the time of year it is.  I remember so many snowy and blowy Thanksgiving Days in the past. Warm sunshine and breezes are a sharp contrast to driving rain and snow along with bitter blustery weather!

We arrived and I was happy to see a thermometer hung outside the restaurant….

(nice thermometer, providing an easy read in both Fahrenheit and Celsius)

We waited for a few minutes for a large corner table that we always like.  Soon we were seated and our orders were taken.  As we sat waiting for our food,  the “Sprague’s Moose” who makes some appearances from time to time entertained customers as they ate.  The moose disappeared,  then reappeared outside the restaurant, dancing about, much to the delight of the tots eating at the tables inside….

The food was as terrific as always.  This restaurant never fails to amaze us, as the food is consistantly consistant!  No matter what one chooses, the food is good!

Our waitress was absolutely phenomenal….she served us with more than a smile! She was so attentive and offered a song when I discreetly confided today was my mom’s birthday!  As we were eating,  the waitresses and waiter came over, offering a round of “Happy Birthday to You”!

We brought along a cheesecake for dessert, as that is one of Mom’s favorite desserts.  Our waitress not only brought small dessert plates, napkins, and clean forks,  but a candle for Mom’s piece of cake!

After finishing our meal,  Ben called to me to go over and “see the birds”.  The restaurant has three large birds in a big cage and they were quite interesting. Two of the birds seemed to be involved in an exceedingly intimate discussion…..

while the third looked like he was flossing his beak!

I snapped a photo of the pretty gift shop as we were leaving….

This gift shop is so cozy, offering not only a vast array of maple products (made there) but all sorts of lovely little gift items as well!

After leaving,  I had to take a little jog (literally!) down near the road to photograph the bear family that graces the lawn….

Aw, look at little Murphy sitting with the bears!

and Michelle and Ben hung out with the Pilgrims and Indians as well!

As we hopped into the truck to head on home,  I took a shot of the beautiful sky and Enchanted Mountains…..

What a lovely day this was and I am so fortunate to have such a wonderful Mom to celebrate her special day with!  Happy Birthday again, Mom!  Thanks for such a fun day!

Our Thanksgiving Day was just awesome!  We got up at about 5 am to get ready to go to visit my parents and Randy, and my older brother, Bob.   We were out the door shortly after 7, and arrived at about 10:30 at my parents’ home. 

We spent the day relaxing,  watching some television (gasp! I never do that!)  and visiting. 

We ate at about 1 and let me tell you, the food was fantastic!  There was turkey, roast beef, and even chicken!  We had tasty cranberry/ jello dish, rolls,  salad, and sweet potatoes, and stuffing.  And speaking of stuffing,  we all stuffed ourselves!  My compliments to the cook….Mom, everything was beyond awesome!

Yes, I took the new camera with me, but we got so busy with all that was going on,  I barely took it out! 

However, there was one little fellow who provided so much entertainment, I found myself laughing over and over!

As soon as I placed the camera bag on the couch, little Fritzmeister began diving in with his long nose.  I have no idea why he was so attracted to the bag,  other than perhaps he smelled “Scottie scents”!

As soon as I rested on the couch, I was pounced upon by Fritz, receiving a rather ambitious cleaning! Fritz loves “kissing”, and he really likes me!  However,  I was not the lone victim!

I know…I should have photographed all the people…the food….the essence of the day.  However, I just plumb didn’t do it. 

As we left to come home,  I asked Mark to drive through downtown because I wanted to see if there were pretty Christmas decorations.  I love the decor they chose….

Well, not much in the form of photos, but we all had such a satisfying day!  We were home again at about 8 this evening.

My mother showed us an article in the local newspaper that announced the official Christmas shopping season has now begun.  Tomorrow is Black Friday.  That means crazed, glassy-eyed shoppers arriving at stores in the middle of the night,  hoping to score big savings on Christmas gifts for themselves and others.  Sorrowfully, I must say, I shall indeed be counted amongst those numbers.  Yup, Miss Michelle has gleaned all the sales flyers,  making her list and well, in a few short hours,  we will be out “there”.  Ah, nothing like a teenage shopping diva in the house!

Wish me luck.  I’m sure I shall be needing it!

As I was walking through the store the other day,  I could have sworn I heard birds chirping above my head.  I stopped and listened….sure enough,  the singing was awesome and so happy-sounding!  I know that a lot of home improvement centers get the birds in because they have their doors open for long periods of time sometimes.  But this was rather unexpected on a November morning. 

I raised my eyes up to the top of the store and was so surprised….

The house reminds me a great deal of a bluebird house.  Now, I’m not sure if the house was installed to accommodate birds who happen along, but this is a rather unusual sight!  I didn’t even think to look around to see if there were more houses installed throughout the store! Oh, and the yellow blur on the left side of the photo is actually a mustard container sitting on the shelving!