More Birds

Yes, I do have more bird photos to post. It's big fun to try to catch a photo that is remarkable.

I am constantly on the watch for the male cardinal to give me a photo opportunity, but he is spooky and seems to hear the camera when I turn it on. I caught him peeking around the tree stump and then tried to catch him as he flew off. Well, I'll keep trying.

He perched on this branch, just out of the range of my zoom lens...he's wise to me.

Mrs. Cardinal was hanging around with some of the other birds. Maybe it was Ladie's Aid.

The Juncos are so pretty this time of year.

I am always fascinated by the shadows that the trees throw on the snow.

I think I took this same picture last winter!

Here's an update on 'the forest'.

My little pines are soon to be out of sight for the winter.

Happy Birthday Laila!

Laila's Birthday Blizzard

For the second year in a row, Wisconsin is having a blizzard on Laila's birthday. All the schools in this area are closed, this morning we have about 8 inches of snow and no signs of stopping. The wind is causing some nice drifting too. I have been enjoying some hot coffee while I watch the birds at my feeders. I will have venture out to move some snow and refill the feeders, but not until later on.

Standing room only at the backyard feeder.

Both kitties have to spend hours watching the birds, hard work, then they sleep for hours before their next shift at the window.

A downy woodpecker at the feeder yesterday.

Barley is the professional bird watcher, she likes this Christmas rug as her perch.

The Blue Jays are hungry too.

Always a welcome sight is the male cardinal, I saw several female cardinals in the snow this morning too.

It is good that the birds share.

Don't Recycle on Monday

I tried to take the recycling to the drop off today. Yikes, don't try to do that on Monday. The container in Cameron was so full that some cans tried to fall out when I opened the door. So, I decided to drive North to another drop off location that is more out in the country and since it was a nice day, figured the drive would be enjoyable. I was right, but the drop off at Stanfold was almost as full, note to self...no recycling drop offs on Monday.

On my way back into Rice Lake on Hwy 48, I saw this beautiful blue spruce, all dressed up for the holiday. This beautiful tree is at the end of a long driveway. It is just spectacular and I had to stop and take a few snaps of it. I really appreciate the work that went into decorating this tree and it seems like people driving by will really enjoy it more than the home owners as it is located quite a distance from the house. Nice! And, if the recycling had not been full, I would not have driven past this tree today, so...things happen for a reason.

I ate lunch at the park on Rice lake. The ice is just starting to form, it won't be long until the lake is littered with cars and huts and fishermen, but for now it has a special beauty.

I also want to observe & remember that today is Pearl Harbor Day.

Veteran's Memorial Park, Rice Lake

Be Prepared

Ever since I bought my Pentax Digital SLR Camera, I have been pretty religious about having it with me wherever I drive. I also intend to have it on the passenger seat, easy to grab, ready to catch a snap of some wildlife or scenery.

So....

Yesterday, I headed off on my drive to Menomonie to see the UW Stevens Point women's basketball team play the UW Stout team. My camera was on the seat according to plan. On Hwy 25, I came upon this big guy having a snack. I drove by, turned around and circled back, and drove up the shoulder slowly to see how close I could get to him. He really didn't care that I was there until I got pretty close.

I got a few snaps off, but nothing great. After he flew off I realized that the camera was not in automatic and I was probably lucky to get any kind of a picture at all.

When he flew off, his wing span was about my arm span.

Wow. Awesome. Wow.

Next time, I'll be sure the camera is in auto.

Little Beauties on December 1st

We had some sunshine on December 1st, so I opened the living room door and put the cat condo in the sunshine. Both kitties decided to catch some rays.

Barley is such a beauty. And she loves to strike a pose,

but all that photography can be exhausting.

It Takes a Village

Yesterday I worked on decorating the rest of the house for the holiday. Some years ago I (after professing that I would never) started collecting a few 'village' buildings for a brewery Christmas display.

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I loved my brewery life and this little village is my tribute to my Coors family and through it I take a little walk down my Coors memory lane.

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I worked most of my Coors career in the brewhouse. The copper kettles had an aura of romanticism. I also spent a fair amount of time in the 6th floor bar at the brewery 'tasting'. So, any respectable brewery village must have a Bierstube.

The cuckoo clock maker makes me think of the hours I spent at the brewery, and even on my worst day there, I knew it was the best job in the world for me. But, all brewery workers need rest so there must be an Inn in the village.

Malting and milling the barley is key to any great beer. I worked in the Malthouse at Coors for a few years, and spent much of my career planning and scheduling the production in the Golden Malthouse. The 'barley guys & gals' at the brewery and in Idaho, Montana, Wyoming and Southern & Northern Colorado are still some of my best friends.

Handmade decorations...well this has nothing to do with my Coors career, I just thought he was cute and clever. I bet the little bugger will be thirsty for a cold beer after doing this all day.

Lastly, the most important ingredient in any great beer is the water. These two buildings that have a stream running under them remind me of Clear Creek that runs all through the Coors property and the many springs which supply the Rocky Mountain Spring Water for Coors Banquet and Coors Light.

And of course most villages have a few stray cats, especially in a brewery town. Mice often come with grains and so a cat is a needed resident. Somehow my cat is a little out of proportion to my little village.

Or maybe it was just a camera lens deal.

Both Hops and Barley have been curious about the village, Hops decided to take a rest so she could really study all the little characters.

Barley wanted to take a closer look at what was what with this new addition to our living room. It made me think "Honey, I shrunk the brewery!"

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It will be two years on January 18th, 2010, since I retired from the brewery, but not a day goes by that I don't remember all my friends still working and my pals who are retired. For 31 years I loved working there and I hope I have at least 31 years to love living off my Coors retirement!

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Every day is a gift, Thank You Coors!