Blue is Back

Wow sunshine coming in the window this morning woke me up - what is that big bright light in the sky?

Despite the sunshine, swimming is discouraged when the water is hard and cars are driving around on it.

Off to the right you can see some ice-fishermen. To see a summertime view from about the same spot, click here: Bluetiful Noon

Skywatch - if you can see it

Today's sky was, well, not there. Taken about 5pm behind the Three Rivers High School football stadium.

I missed something fun yesterday - local grade school children made pottery bowls in their art classes and sold them at a "Soupless Supper" as a fundraiser for the needy. After the Soupless Supper bowls were all sold, soup was served.

More Friday skies from around the world may be seen at Skywatch Friday, click here: http://skyley.blogspot.com.

Beastie

Inside the city limits, along a river, were these tracks. The webbed footprints are between four and six inches (10 to 15 cm) long, possibly slightly elongated from snow melt. I think I know what it is; any guesses? (Hint: not a duck.) (or goose.) (Hint #2: this wouldn't happen in California!)

Oh I'll tell although I would not have known if I hadn't seen him walking, enormous, low, and wide, rocking up the slope like a huge turtle - but with a deep rich brown coat and a long, flat broad tail... beaver! As weird as seeing an abinobabinabibble snow monster tanned alligator, a Kentucky monster crossed with bigfoot, or a swimfin wearing misguided icy river swimmer.

Pearl Bowl

"Grey", everyone complains, "a grey day". Sometimes it is grey; sometimes it is something else. Driving back to Three Rivers from Centreville, the sky and snow blended together in a pearlescent glow.

(Inside the pearl bowl is a red pick-up truck that I didn't see until I looked at the photo!)

Tax Time

Today is the first day of my annual volunteer job, assisting people in preparing their tax returns for the Tax-Aide program at the Three Rivers Community Center and other senior centers and facilities. I thought I would celebrate by posting my painting of one of my fellow tax volunteers with her apprehensive client. I like the long curl of paper tape coming out of the calculator.

Tax-Aide assists low to moderate income people, emphasizing helping the elderly. I'm sorry that we have a tax system that is either too complicated or too frightening for many people to feel confident about doing their own returns without assistance. Perhaps some day it will be different, but as it is, we can always use more volunteers for next year! The Tax-Aide program is supported by AARP, wbsite here: http://www.aarp.org/taxaide/

Wood

It snowed a little today. In this cold climate, wood brings a warm fire immediately to mind.


"Wood" is the City Daily Photo Theme for February 1; click here to view thumbnails for all participants.

Chef Monochrome

Rick, the owner and chef at Matt & Mike's Eatery, seen cooking through the chrome-rimmed serving window at his new location off Michigan Ave./Highway M60 in Three Rivers. Matt and Mike's is named for his sons, and was downtown for 25 years. A boutique baby store now occupies his old location, and his new address is 103 South Lincoln Avenue. Just in case you were looking.

This was my favorite b/w picture this week. Others I took were more stark and contrasty, but I think this has plenty going on.

To see more of the world in monochrome, just click over to The Monochrome Weekend, presented by Aileni.