Life in the Bristolwood

It just seems like life keeps getting busier and busier lately! Yikes!

The kids had a Superbowl party tonight with six of their friends coming over.  It was a nice little gathering…Michelle made four different kinds of dips to serve with Nacho Chips.  The biggest hit must have been the Hamburger Dip she made, as that one disappeared quickly!  There were also chicken wings, Buffalo style, and Italian sausage in sauce with peppers and onions that could be made into sandwiches on rolls.  All in all, the party was a success.

I have a hard time sitting still and since I am pretty clueless when it comes to football,  I went upstairs at one point, and fell sound asleep.  Now, I am not a schlep!  Mark and I were out late last night…the kids went to see a few bands play in Canandaigua, and since they were out late, we drove them.  We picked them up at 11, so we didn’t get home til nearly midnight.  I was up this morning before the sun rose, so I didn’t get a lot of sleep.  So, a Superbowl nap was in order!

Here is a photo of a beautiful Orchid Mark got me the other day.  I have never had an Orchid before, so we will see how it grows.  (haha…pun intended!)

This plant is so pretty!  I love the streaks in the blossoms.

Well, we still have no snow on the ground.  This is so bizarre for February.  And the temperature is supposed to be 40 or more tomorrow.  I think we are supposed to get some snow later in the week.  I just wish we could get in a month or two of snowmobiling.   Even the traditional trails in the Adirondacks and Tug Hill are a mess with the fluctuating temperatures and precipitation we have had this year.  We read a couple days ago that the trails are icy and just a general mess.  I wouldn’t mind if it didn’t get frigidly cold, but just snow a couple of feet!  If it would just stay a tad below freezing with snow, we would finally have some snowmobiling weather!!  I really feel sorry for the folks selling snowmobiles and parts and such….what a BAD year!

Well, I had better get to bed.  Even though I snoozed some during the big game, I will be up and at it, bright and early tomorrow!

you know just how much I love feeding the waterfowl up on Irondequoit Bay.  I look forward to seeing the birds, particularly the Swans.  They are so big and awesome, I just love to see them up close and feed them.

When we went to Rochester today, I asked Mark if we could head north to see the Swans.  The last visit, we only saw a couple of geese and some ducks. It was such a disappointment.  I was so sure we would see some Swans today, though.  So, off to the bay we headed!

Mark pulled up and to my dismay, all we saw was Mallard Ducks.  Lots and lots of them.  Almost as many as the Seagulls above!

The gulls just kind of swooped and dived, but seemed to understand I was there to feed the ducks!  I walked down over the stone wall along the shoreline and broadcast some cracked corn out into the water and over the rocks closest to the shore. It doesn’t take much to get the ducks coming….they are pretty curious and hungry little critters!

The ducks are so funny to watch as they land. They can make some pretty BIG splashes!

The little fellow above had some difficulty with his big feet getting him out of the water and up the steep slope, so he used a bit of wing power to climb the rock!

And so, the little Mallards dined on the sand on the shoreline, on the rocks, and….

This fellow found a handy crevice between two rocks where he found lots and lots of cracked corn!

This little drake decided he was “King of the Rock”, perching himself high up on the rock to oversee the activity!

This little Mallard apparently had enough, so he headed off!

I decided to try to get some photos over by the boat launch, where there were no rocks.  I walked over and spread out some corn.

Just like hungry little puppies, the ducks followed me over and began plucking up the tasty little kernels. It was then that I spotted something so disturbing, my heart sank to my feet.  Although I am not particularly fond of having a cat,  I respect people that love them and agree they are pretty animals.  And so, I almost cried as I spotted a beautiful grey and white striped cat, wrapped in a blanket, lying on the shore, dead.  I don’t know the details, but how sad that someone thre the cat there instead of burying the poor thing.  I just will never understand….

I immediately returned to the car, feeling sickened.  I told Mark and he said there really was nothing we could do. I sat there, trying to warm up from a frigid outing and feeling so sad.

After a bit,  I looked up and saw what seemed like zillions of gulls all sitting on the parking lot on the opposite  side of the boat launch.

To the left of that photo is the lake. As I looked that way, I spotted some white……

I quickly jumped out of the car, grabbed the bucket and scotted down toward the water! I’ll let the photos speak for themselves.

It sure was a treat seeing the Swans.  By the time I saw them, my cracked corn supply was greatly diminished.  I only had a couple of scoops left, so I tried to use it sparingly.

I will leave you with my favorite shots of the day. Strangely enough, it is not of a swan, but of these colorful little Mallards, all looking so cute!

I said I would show a few more photos, but somehow time (and energy, possibly!) slipped away!

While I was in Woodville, this is a shot of the cottages and hill across the lake.  I was amazed in looking at this photo in its original size. (BIG)  The trees that provide such fantastic lush greenery in the summer months look like PINS in a pincushion! They all look so tiny…like toothpicks.  Funny the things one notices!

This next photo shows the “dock installer”. Well, I am not being techical at all here, but this barge-looking contraption is used for installing docks.  So, it would be a dock installer,no?

Looking toward the south end of Canandaigua Lake….

Oh, and I could not leave Woodvile without showing some of the ice formation on the tall shale walls across the road from the cottages.

I left Woodvile and went on up to the “upper road” leading to Naples….County Road 12.  That is where the town carved out an overlook of Canandaigua Lake.  I have taken photos here in the different seasons, but it is always different!

And here is one looking to the east, across the lake.  In this photo, it is clear to see the deep ravines running into the lake.

These certainly aren’t the most attractive photos, but they do give you, Dear Reader, a look at our little corner of the world!

the atmospheric conditions lend themselves to a GREAT day for photography.  Today was one such day, albeit cold and windy! And so, this afternoon, I went off on a photo shoot to see if I could find some cool stuff. 

I did find some nice things, but I am only going to show a few.  (for now!)

The skies this morning were tinged on baby pink.  I was unsure if the shepards and sailors should be concerned or not, but I think the color was an indication of changeable skies.  The weather is changing, but for the better?  We are supposed to be above freezing this coming week.  Strange. Very strange weather.

My little outing today took me down to Woodville.  I was hoping to see some waterfowl, but all I spotted were Canada Geese and gulls.  I did see some ducks a little northward, but wasn’t wanting to traipse into someone’s yard to get a closer look!  Ah well.  While near the boat launch,  I noticed a beautiful arrangement of golden grasses and bright red berries.  Nature’s attempt at a beautiful still life. 

Even in their “dead” state, these “weeds” provide such pretty color against the stark white background offered by newly-fallen snow.

I drove up onto the high road.  This is where the town built a scenic lookout.  I was fiddling around some with the camera when I noticed a big old crow sitting on the top of a conifer,  looking all the world like a black “angel” atop a Christmas tree.  I wouldn’t have paid this rogue any mind, except for the fact that he squawked and complained the entire time I sat there.  Perhaps I was blocking his view?

Mighty haughty chap, that crow!  Perhaps he thinks he owns the road!

Well, I showed you the morning sky.  Now, how about the Bristolwood sunset? It was very, very pretty!

I was like a Mexican jumping bean…I would sit down and review the photo on the camera, when suddenly the sky appeared to have included even more colors in its pallette!  I would hop back up, insert the SD card, then run outside.  I did this a few (ahem) times!

Yesterday, I spent some time at Mendon Ponds Park. I have featured pictures here before of this wonder-filled place where (in the winter months) birds feed directly from one’s hand!

So, what about my talent?  Well, even though I am so dreadfully left-handed, I managed to actually capture a few photos of tiny Chickadees grabbing seeds from my left hand, while holding the camera and snapping with my right hand! Talent? Or no?

These photos are all best viewed by clicking on them to enlarge them…

After I was done feeding the little birdies, I decided to use my horse-whispering talent.  I walked over to the pasture where the wonderful Monroe County Sheriff’s horses are kept.  I had seen four horses in the pasture upon entering the park, and since it is just a short distance from the parking lot, I thought I would at least say hi!

I should have tweaked these photos to brighten the up a bit, but you get the idea!  Only two of the horses wanted to talk to me, so we had our little tete-a-tete, and I was on my way.

And, as I was leaving, horse #1 said, Hey, take me with you! Of course, it broke my heart, but I left the kindly giant behind. He *does* belong to the sheriff’s department, after all!

And here are two random shots thrown in….

One of the great benefits of owning a three car garage that has everything BUT the vehicles stored there is that we can enjoy things like Jack Frost’s lovely artwork. (which seemed to take forever to clear from the windows!)

And, while up in Rochester, we saw a most awesome little shed at a car dealership!

Yes!  A rubber tire building!  No need to fret over falling meteors and such in this shed!  Everything just bounces off!  Watertight, meteor proof….what more could one ask for?  Yeah, I imagine the inside stinks!, but one cannot have it all, eh?

We took a short jaunt to Penn Yan this afternoon.  I had not been shopping at the little Mennonite store there in awhile, so I wanted to visit.

Today was such a gray and dismal sort of day, but I found some photo ops on the way back home.  Most of the photos are of the skies, as the sun tried so hard to make an appearance….

It was a nice day to get out for a bit, but with the temperature so much chillier than yesterday, it sure was nice to return home to a cozy and warm fire in the woodstove!

from parking lots!

Funny enough, these photos were indeed taken from three different parking lots. So, I guess they satisfy the poet from within!

Today, we took our neighbors to the airport up in Rochester.  We had a big green blob of rain ahead of us on the radar, so I was very thankful for my (really intelligent!) choice of footwear today!  I bought a pair of fanciful wellies at Tractor Supply a few weeks ago.  I wanted them for when I tap the trees this spring. After nearly ruining my favorite pair of boots last year, I wanted something that could be easily cleaned and rinsed off.  I love these boots!

The temperature rose up into the 50′s today.  It felt like a spring day more than winter!  Much of the snow we got is now melted and running down into streams and rivers!  Tonight, we are under two weather warnings. One for severe thunderstorms,  and the second for high winds.  I had opened my window to allow some fresh air in, but had to quickly close it when wind-driven rain began blowing in!

Here are some more shots….

Hmmm….seems to be a front moving in on this next one?

All right!  I now have a candle burning. The wind sounds like it is picking up a reat deal outside!  Computer is charged, candle lit,  Murphy snuggling up nearby. Kids safe.  Battens hatched down. 

I think we’re good!

hahaha….

Yeah. The new camera really is cool. It is tiny compared to my big D-SLR, and takes great photos.  Especially if one knows how to burrow down through the many, many layers of  adjustments!  Not being very intuitive  concerning things like computers and electronics, I find myself aimlessly pushing buttons and hoping for the best!  Mark, on the other hand, is very logical and can figure his way through a new *toy* quickly. Bah!

So, last night, while we were out and about, I saw a pretty church in Geneva and asked Mark to stop for a moment.  I hopped out of the truck and took a photo.  I looked at it right after taking it, and to my dismay,  I had changed the picture from “standard” to “monotone”.  Oh joy.

Definitely an “oops”!  BUT,  I was determined to figure out how to get the color back,  AND, I refused to humble myself to the point of asking Mark if he could help!  I got back in the truck and fumbled, er….”worked” my way through the menus and, lo, and behold…..color!

Yuppers, doesn’t *everyone* drive around with an invertor plugged into their vehicle so they can plug in their toys? ….er, electonic necessities?  (that is the eerie green light!)

Okay, so I have shown you some crummy photos taken with the Micro four-thirds.  How about a “good” photo taken a few days ago from the porch?

Don’t you love the colors?  I do, especially since we rarely see anything like this because of the trees and surrounding hills.

So, the bottom line is this…..along with those fun new devices comes the frustration of learning all about how they work!

while I cry my eyes out!

Yeah, I am being totally wimpy today and I just feel so overwhelmed!

I had no idea that the weather was going to take a one-eighty degree turn. While it has been so warm and unusual here lately, it very suddenly turned FRIGID.  No, not even cold. Beyond cold. Frigid!  As in, Arctic cold!  Now, I don’t mind cold weather at all, but shouldn’t the transition be a little longer than a day?

All right. No more bellyaching. 

I shoveled the ramp and knocked the four or five inches of snow off all three vehicles.  I got the Explorer all uncovered and part of the truck.  Then I went in the house to get something ready for dinner tonight. I had thawed a roast, so decided to make just the perfect meal for a bitter cold day…..Hearty Beef Stew, from my book, Slow Cooker Revolution.

Ben and I worked on finishing getting the vehicles cleared and then came inside. The temperature remained well below freezing all day.  I am housesitting so I went to check the house. I decided to take the Explorer. Ben was going with me. We stopped at the end of the driveway so I could grab our mail.  I shifted into drive to go on up the road, but the car refused to move.  Ben hopped out and told me to stop the car right away…..transmission fluid was leaking everywhere!  As we walked up the driveway, there was a streak of fluid all the way. Apparently, a piece of metal broke in the driveway and the gasket fell off.

Mark ended up calling AAA and they sent a flatbed to grab the car.  It was so cold….there is always, always a brisk breeze at the end of the driveway. The operator loaded fast and took the Explorer away. What a pain that was!

Ben and I checked the house I am housesitting and then we came home.  By this time, it was getting near dinner time. I made up a batch of dumplings and put them on top of the stew.  As it worked out, ev eryone loved the stew and it really was the perfect dish for this cold day!

I finally warmed up by taking a hot bath.  I had spent so much time outside today and I felt like I was never going to warm up again! Tomorrow, it is supposed to be warmer….I sure hope it is.  We have so many little tasks that still need attended to.  Mark and the kids just finished putting up the final boards on the new ramp yesterday. The kids were so glad they did it then, instead of today!

So, I will leave you with a couple of birdie photos I took today.

So…tomorrow will be a better day!

(raquetball),  I went to downtown Rochester to take a few photos. I used my little point and shoot and am disappointed by the image quality.  Mark dropped me off so I could walk along the streets of Rochester for a bit.  I am glad for the little camera, though, as I saw some pretty scary individuals….probably most were homeless and a little demented.  I think I would feel more intimidated by these folks if I were carrying a big camera and walking down the street in the middle of the city!

I took these photos near the Corn Hill section of the city.  Corn Hill is located parallel to the Genesee River.  That is the water that is to the right in the photos.

After taking a few shots looking downtown,  I walked back to the truck when I became aware of an awful noise….Swirling all around above the river were hundreds, no, thousands of crows.

It was so cold walking along the streets!  We have become such big sissies with all the unusual warm temperatures we have had most of the fall!