snow...is it winter?

It finally happened. Winter arrived after a brief weekend of summer. Caine was visiting for an overnight and we all were in our t-shirts with the warm sun and balmy 70 degree weather. Next thing you know, we are getting a snow storm ! School was called on Friday with a 2 hour early release on Thursday, and Martin Luther King Day is Monday, so I had 4 days in a row ! Tuesday and Wednesday are teacher work days, and the kids return on Thursday. Tuesdays high will be in the low 20's. I may be a Yankee, but that is cold by anyones standards. We had a blast 4-wheeling with Caine. He brought his little battery operated wheeler and rode all day! I was hoping the battery would wear down, but no luck. My battery wore out before his.
For some reason unknown to me, I cannot attach my pictures anymore, so until I can figure this out, I am going pictureless! I'll come back when I can show you my photos..

A new year

One thing I want to do for myself in this new year of 2013 is write more often. It's one thing I always enjoyed doing, and something I seem to do less and less. Another thing I want to accomplish in this year is to learn to speak Spanish. I used to be fluent in French, but as with all things, if you don't use it you lose it.
Seems to me that is what happens with all things, both mental and physical.
As with all three of my brothers, I am reaping the benefits of getting older. Arthritis, joint replacements, forgetfulness,failing eyesight, forgetfulness...oh wait, did I say that already?
We have 5 aging cats who are also experiencing the benefits. One is forgetting where the cat box's are. I am not delighted with this.Here are some pictures associated with the old year.

Family and friends ... my lifeblood...
I am hoping for another year rich with visits from my family and friends..Here's hoping for health for us all in this new year..A prayer for peace  and love and brotherhood for all in this new year..
happy new year, with love, Claudia

SILHOUETTES

   The pileated woodpecker rat-a-tat-tatting on the dead tops of the paradise tree woke me. With coffee in mug and fuzzy socks and jacket I went to the porch with my binoculars to investigate. I could see the chips of the bark flying even before I could focus on the big bird. The sun was coming up behind the trees, making the tree limbs and the birds seem like a black and white photo. Silhouetted against the morning sky I watched a mated pair of the huge woodpeckers work the tree.As the sun got higher and the crows and smaller birds became active the pair worked their way down the field line and headed for more cover in the deeper parts of the woods by the creek. Smaller woodpeckers appeared and worked the same area the Pileateds' had been, apparently enjoying the smaller bugs left exposed. Bob and I love to hear the monkey jungle sounds these birds make as they call to each other. We seem to have several mated pairs and are lucky to see them on a regular basis. Most people never get the chance to see them but they might have heard them and not known what was making the loud rapping , jack-hammer sounds on the dead limbs and the jungle noises.

After the visit...rain

Even Quarrie is sad..The family is all gone, back to New England and routine has set back in here...well, partly. The rain is dismal and cold...

But we had sunny days to ride, and ride we did! Adam put over 110 miles on his machine this trip!

Papa, Adam and Dad John.

Heres the back of Mom Keri, Adam in orange, Dad John in the green cap, Papa Clayton and Grandma Janet in the background...three generations of Bemis's.

Heres Clay coming down the hill to "ice bottom".

Heres Adam all smiles !

Heres Grandma Janet in her 'Gator'.

John and Adam were crawfish catchers!

Crawfish hanging on to the stick...

Janet's taking a picture of John holding the crawfish.

Adam is posing in a tree over the creek on the trail ...

Adam is riding Papa's lawn mower...he loves to mow, and even has his own mowing business! Not bad for 11 years old!

He mowed all our property and Papa's field on Bob's John Deere! Thanks Adam!

Penny loves to sit on Adam and be petted, but break out the camera, and her Amish nature shows up!

We had a great visit and thankfully I was able to ride since the shots I had in my hip. I did get in one ride to West VaCo, but the gang did several trips...

Can't believe another year til we ride again...