On my way to Sistah Kate's house on Saturday I decided I might as well check out Montezuma for signs of winter wildlife. Nothing much at the refuge, but I was surprised to see the eagles at Mud Lock sprucing up the nest and trying mightily to generate a new brood of young. I was … Continue reading Building the Next Generaton at Mud Lock

I've been meaning to get out to Beaver Lake to take pictures of the winter birds. So yesterday I picked up Sarah and we headed out. It was probably not the best day to go since it was very gray and overcast, but I had procrastinated too long! I'd heard that there was a snowy … Continue reading Who-o-o-o Done It?

This is it: my solution to the winter doldrums. Every winter I find a challenging jigsaw puzzle for those days when it's just too cold and/or wooly to do anything else. Trouble is, this year my only puzzles were old ones, far too easy to assemble. I was done in a couple of days and … Continue reading How to deal with the l-o-o-o-o-ng winter

My musings on the Inauguration:Interesting that Obama , a biracial man, is referred to as "black." He is equally white. Yes, I know that traditionally a person with at least 1/64th (I think that's right) black ancestry is considered black, but doesn't that seem foolish? If I am 1/64th Russian and 63/64ths Polynesian, does that … Continue reading Mr. Obama Goes to Washington

"Would you guys like to come visit tomorrow?" It was my daughter in law calling. "All Kelsey talks about is, "Oma, Oma, Oma. Amia, Amia, Amia." Music to a grandmother's ear. The shy clingy toddler has left her cocoon, emerging as a mischievous social butterfly. She is asking for Oma and Aunt Amelia to come … Continue reading The Continuing Adventures of Oma and Kelsey

Last night Max and I were talking about relationships and how hard it is to find a good mate. What is it about men, I wanted to know, and where are the good ones? Ask any woman that question and she will roll her eyes, pausing at an upward glance as if to say, "God, … Continue reading Where’s My Lobster?

For those of you who won't have a white Christmas this year, I'd like to share a piece of mine. You see, this is Central New York, affectionately know as "Lake Effect Country." The snow you see in these photos has all fallen since Friday. That's right - in four days we've accumulated at least … Continue reading Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow

....a Christian observance? a Pagan celebration? a commercial holiday? the most stressful season? We could argue from now 'til New Year's about who "owns" Christmas and what it's all about, but that's not my story for today. My story is a personal experience and it defines what Christmas means to me.1961 - yeah it was … Continue reading Christmas is…

A few years ago I saw a therapist to help me cope with some issues in life. One day we were discussing a particularly intense topic. I was scared - no, I was terrified. And the therapist said to me, "Barb, you need a safe place where you can't be hurt. Where is a place … Continue reading Where is your safe place?