Crystal Lake

Crystal Lake is a mile west of my house. Hardscrabble Mountain is the mountain on the right in the background. A company in Boston wants to put many industrial wind turbines there. Despite the outcry of most of our population, they may be able to begin construction after mud season. When clicked, these photos will open, full size, in a new window. These photos are part of this week's Digital Photography assignment — Scenics. We have to do a series of five scenics for Thursday night's class. I don't like to take landscapes. They are difficult and, for me, boring. The weather is bad for scenics in the winter and it is always dark out when I leave school in the winter. You can see my sets for Willoughby Gap and the Missisquoi River.

Technorati Tags: Crystal Lake, Hardscrabble Mountain, Barton, Vermont
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Sunday Spire: Brownington Congregational Church

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Technorati Tags: Brownington Congregational Church, Vermont, Sunday Spire
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Atheniun Hall, Brownington

OLD STONE HOUSE
Historical Society Museum

In 1836, Rev. Alexander Twilight, the schoolmaster of the Orleans County Grammar School, on a main stage route to Canada, built this structure, Athenian Hall, as a dormitory for his pupils. It now holds the interesting collection of the County Historical Society. Open to the Public.

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Technorati Tags: Brownington, Atheniun Hall, Alexander Twilight
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Birding Is Over

Birding at my bird feeder tree is over because of this robin-sized predator. Everyone has disappeared. The snow is unbroken now. No silly red squirrels, no chattering chickadees. They know how bad this pretty bird is. He appeared about 3 PM on January 21, 2008. For more details, see Northern Shrike on my main blog.

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Technorati Tags: Northern Shrike, Lanius excubitor
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Crystal Lake and Pageant Park

Crystal Lake at Pageant Park in the falling snow. Sepia tone.

Frozen springs at Pageant Park which is one mile down the road from the house.

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Technorati Tags: Crystal Lake, Pageant Park, Barton, Vermont
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Rising Full Wolf Moon

Full Wolf Moon — January 

from Farmer's Almanac (not the Old Farmer's Almanac) Full Moon Names and Their Meanings:

Amid the cold and deep snows of midwinter, the wolf packs howled hungrily outside Indian villages. Thus, the name for January's full Moon. Sometimes it was also referred to as the Old Moon, or the Moon After Yule. Some called it the Full Snow Moon, but most tribes applied that name to the next Moon.

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Technorati Tags: Full Wolf Moon 

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Woodpecker Tongue

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Technorati Tags: Downy woodpecker, Picoides pubescens,
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Sunday Spire: Plymouth Congregational Church, Charleston, Vermont

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Yet Another Jay Peak View

With the ever present power lines. Unbelievable.

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Technorati Tags: Jay Peak, Missisquoi River, Troy, Vermont 

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My Woods and Brooks

I am indulging my love for my land today. On Sunday I was able to get higher into the woods than last week. The January thaw has done damage to our snowpack, but on the brighter side, I was able to have an early peak at spring. The brooks are running full, even flooding at some points. I saw deer, snowshoe hare and turkey trails.

I love to sit and listen to the music of the water as it flows.

The cats still won't go up with me. They waited down at the house, sunning in the open garage.

Do you see the green fern above?

This is one of the glacial erratics on my land. There is another group of them with caves underneath for small animals. I couldn't get up to those.

Finally, I left the woods and returned down to my house. This is the most beautiful and peaceful place on earth. The snow is finally back. A small snowfall today and a heavier snowfall at the end of the week. The temperatures are returning to normal, also. When clicked, these photos will open, full size, in a new window. Thank you for allowing me to indulge myself with these photos.

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Sunday Spire: Westmore Community Congregational Church

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Technorati Tags: Westmore Community Church, Vermont, Congregational 

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Squirrel Tongue

For a full explanation of this tongue photo, please see Squirrel Alarm.

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Technorati Tags: red squirrel, Tamiasciurus hudsonicus
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Self Portrait Sunday: At the Northwoods Stewardship Center

I returned, with the dogs, for a nice photography outing at the Northwoods Center. I thought. After this photo, Scout, whose thirty foot lead was tied around my waist and is seen behind me here, saw a red squirrel and pulled me off my feet. Sophie went on the ice where she ate who-knows-what that was frozen in the pond. I won't ever do that again. The building is where the Coffee House was last night. When clicked, this photo will open, full size, in a new window.

Thank you for visiting. View the other participants by clicking Self Portrait Sunday

Technorati Tags: Self Portrait Sunday, East Charleston, Vermont, Northwoods Stewardship Center 

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Sky Watch Friday: One January Sunset

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Technorati Tags: sunset, January, Barton, Vermont, Sky Watch Friday
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Three Hens

I saw these three hen turkeys on Tuesday, which was the day I forgot my camera. I never thought I would see them again, but I did, today. They were very calm as long as my car was moving, but as soon as it stopped, they dashed off the road and into the woods. I never have gotten a good shot of a turkey yet, but these will do for now. 

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Technorati Tags: wild turkey hens 

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Barn In The Thaw

One of my favorite barns is shrouded in mist caused by the January thaw. The roads are simply awful so that driving home this afternoon was an adventure. I wallowed in muddy ruts up to my hubcaps. Cows were lose in the road at two farms — they frolicked in the warm wind while farmers tried to herd them back to their pastures. Branches were blowing off trees and caused me to worry that they would damage the car. The wind is from the northwest again. Black ice will be the problem tomorrow, but winter is coming back. When clicked, this photo will open, full size, in a new window.
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January Thaw

The high temperature today was over 50°F (10°C) but I managed to still keep some snow on the roof. Last week the temperatures hovered around zero (-18°C) all day long. This is the back of the house. Garage roof on left. Kitchen window above the kerosene tank. Big empty rooms are straight ahead behind that wall between the garage and the kitchen.

I messed around with color with a photo of a red sunset. You can see the sunset on Friday. I enjoy the silhouettes of the trees here.

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Car Repairs

Taylor's Automotive, Barton

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You know last week when it was -18°F (-28°C) and the windchill was twice that? That's when the heater blower motor in my car decided to stop. Friday the part was in so I stopped at Taylor's to have it installed. But the wrong part was sent (this happens every time to me) so they had to put the car back together and sent me home until this week when another part will come from Burlington. But now the motor works. And it is warmer. It'll be replaced this week sometime. Taylor's is the best car repair place I've ever used.

Technorati tags: Technorati Tags: Taylor's Automotive, Barton, Vermont
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Sunday Spire: St. Paul's Roman Catholic Church, Barton, VT

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Technorati Tags: St. Paul Roman Catholic Church, Barton, Vermont, Sunday Spire
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Sky Watch Friday: Jay Peak

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This photo of Jay Peak was taken on Thursday morning at 10 AM at an elevation of 530 feet (161.5 meters). The wind chill at the time I took the photo: -31°F (-35°C); actual temperature -4°F (-20°C). Jay Peak is at 3858 feet (1176 meters). I can imagine what the wind chill was like up there. The cloud that you see there isn't. It is blowing snow. (Same text, different photo from yesterday's post on the main blog, meeyauw.)

Technorati Tags: Jay Peak, Vermont 

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Covered Bridge

Over the Missisquoi River, Troy.

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Technorati Tags: covered bridge, Vermont

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Frost

A view from my attic window in the fall, before the snow fell.

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Frost

Frost, cold, lacy ice

Coats all in crystals and light.

Frostwork coverlet.

Thank you for visiting. 

Click One Deep Breath and enjoy the haiku of other participants.

Technorati Tags: One Deep Breath, frost, haiku

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The Rainbow Farm

This farm is one mile from my driveway. It is a landmark that is so well known that everyone in the county uses it as a landmark when giving directions in this area. When clicked, this photo will open, full size, in a new window.

Technorati Tags: Rainbow Farm, Barton, Vermont 

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