The woods are lovely, dark and deep . . .
These are the woods beside my building at 9 pm this evening. The snow and pinkish white sky keep the dark at bay on a blustery night.
It started snowing around noon, but not really sticking until 4 pm. I got off work early, met Ostra hanging out around my car in the garage and fed her some tartar treats, then drove out to the Amish market in Annapolis and got some yummies for the snowed in weekend. The drive back from Annapolis was stunning, as the trees and grass were just starting to hold the snow, but the roads were fine. When I went out to clear my car around 8 pm, my car already had 4 or 5 inches on it. We're getting a minimum of 2 feet of snow, and maybe 3 before it ends tomorrow night. I've got purring furry ballast bags strapped to either side of me, so I'm snug for riding it out.
These are the woods beside my building at 9 pm this evening. The snow and pinkish white sky keep the dark at bay on a blustery night.
It started snowing around noon, but not really sticking until 4 pm. I got off work early, met Ostra hanging out around my car in the garage and fed her some tartar treats, then drove out to the Amish market in Annapolis and got some yummies for the snowed in weekend. The drive back from Annapolis was stunning, as the trees and grass were just starting to hold the snow, but the roads were fine. When I went out to clear my car around 8 pm, my car already had 4 or 5 inches on it. We're getting a minimum of 2 feet of snow, and maybe 3 before it ends tomorrow night. I've got purring furry ballast bags strapped to either side of me, so I'm snug for riding it out.
So the excitement this week was waking up early Wednesday morning with severe congestion blocking my breathing and then I coughed up some blood. Oh noez, I haz comsumshun! I'm going to die a diva's death!! Who knew? It wasn't very much blood, and I had a slight nosebleed, so figured it was probably just a sinus rupture, but it was still a little scary and I figured I was going to need to go to the emergency room just in case. I decided to call my doctor's office first to try their emergency number, and my doctor actually answered. That gave me new respect for her. She said it sounded like a bronchial infection, told me to get some mucinex, and come see her for an afternoon appointment.
( Exciting adventures continue here )
( Exciting adventures continue here )
Stray cat update: they are using the shelter! I saw Ostra disappear into it on Friday, so they are learning the joys of fleece. This pleases me. I guess they are alternating between the Kitty smial and the sewer for hang-outs now, and I wouldn't be surprised if the only reason I've seen them going into the sewer and then the smial last week is because they've decided they can let me.
And Saki update--I started her on her thyroid pills this weekend, and she is doing fine thus far. I put the pill in a little ball of cheese spread, so she scarfs that baby right up.
I had 2 fun outings last week: I went to a sex toy party for my bi women's group in DC Thursday night (like a Tupperware party but with sex toys and lotions) and saw some fun new stuff on the market. I like this particular group--it's much more diverse than the bi women's group I used to attend several years ago--so I'll be going to more of their events. I did a hike with them back in November that was fun. Then Friday night I went to a new Amish market in Laurel and got some yummy Lancaster milk, cheese, breads, cookies, and the best soft pretzel eva.
I had a sinus headache this weekend from the lousy weather. But I did write my first piece of RPS yesterday, which I'm very happy to have been inspired to do now in light of the current fandom argument going on around here. (-: I'll have to post it here later. And I'll save more of the State of the Lavendertook update for another post.
Here's the last of the set of pics from the day of sunlight on snow the other week.
( It was blue with silver trimming . . . )
And Saki update--I started her on her thyroid pills this weekend, and she is doing fine thus far. I put the pill in a little ball of cheese spread, so she scarfs that baby right up.
I had 2 fun outings last week: I went to a sex toy party for my bi women's group in DC Thursday night (like a Tupperware party but with sex toys and lotions) and saw some fun new stuff on the market. I like this particular group--it's much more diverse than the bi women's group I used to attend several years ago--so I'll be going to more of their events. I did a hike with them back in November that was fun. Then Friday night I went to a new Amish market in Laurel and got some yummy Lancaster milk, cheese, breads, cookies, and the best soft pretzel eva.
I had a sinus headache this weekend from the lousy weather. But I did write my first piece of RPS yesterday, which I'm very happy to have been inspired to do now in light of the current fandom argument going on around here. (-: I'll have to post it here later. And I'll save more of the State of the Lavendertook update for another post.
Here's the last of the set of pics from the day of sunlight on snow the other week.
( It was blue with silver trimming . . . )
A belated happy birthday to ![[livejournal.com profile]](http://s.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
melyanna_65!!! Saki, Tuxie, and Moo send their purred greetings and are standing in for a hobbit pic that I ran out of time for this weekend, but soon.
melyanna_65!!! Saki, Tuxie, and Moo send their purred greetings and are standing in for a hobbit pic that I ran out of time for this weekend, but soon. Am tired, so I'll let more pics from Friday say my greetings to ya'll today. Hope you enjoy!
( Click for more sun-burnished snow )
( Click for more sun-burnished snow )
We didn't get enough snow on Friday to close things, but since it was largely a crap and crazy-making week for me and my throat was feeling a little scratchy, I took off Friday from work to have a do-over weekend and de-stress. Saki does have hyperthyroidism, but it's mild and we've caught it at the start, so we don't have to rush the treatments, but start her on pills this week and see how she does with that.
I'm already feeling lucky I had a day saved up to take off, and more relaxed, so it was a good plan. The sun came out at rising on Friday for a little while and made the little bit of snow we got glisten. So here are some pics of the pretty out my apartment windows:
( More sun-trimmed snow . . . )
I'm already feeling lucky I had a day saved up to take off, and more relaxed, so it was a good plan. The sun came out at rising on Friday for a little while and made the little bit of snow we got glisten. So here are some pics of the pretty out my apartment windows:
( More sun-trimmed snow . . . )
First I want to thank dear ![[personal profile]](http://s.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
belleferret for the cute card and lovely Sean postcard. Yeah, it didn't get here until today, almost 2 weeks after you sent it--boy those sled ferrets were tired--pulling that mail cart all the way from Ohio!!! I'm glad though, because it was lovely to get it now unexpected. *squooshes you*
Here are my garage sister strays when I visited them on Christmas Eve:
You can see the family resemblance. ( Just more kitty nattering . . . )
belleferret for the cute card and lovely Sean postcard. Yeah, it didn't get here until today, almost 2 weeks after you sent it--boy those sled ferrets were tired--pulling that mail cart all the way from Ohio!!! I'm glad though, because it was lovely to get it now unexpected. *squooshes you*Here are my garage sister strays when I visited them on Christmas Eve:
You can see the family resemblance. ( Just more kitty nattering . . . )
Bingo: To the Professor's eleventy-eighth birthday today!
Sam & Bingo: To the Professor!
More of the Toast 'n' Post can be found here.
Tags:
OK, 2010 is already On Notice. A little over two months and I was hoping I got off easy into menopause with just a week of constant hot flashes. NoooOooo! It decides to goddamned come back today to start off the new year just riiiight--gee thanks. Cramps and all.
But still there's the lovely kitties I get to snuggle with every day. So here's some snuggly spam of my furry brood to start off the new year right--first with Ms. Moo:
"Oops, I stepped in the rainbow!"
( You want the cute!?! You can't handle the cute . . . !!! )
But still there's the lovely kitties I get to snuggle with every day. So here's some snuggly spam of my furry brood to start off the new year right--first with Ms. Moo:
"Oops, I stepped in the rainbow!"
( You want the cute!?! You can't handle the cute . . . !!! )
Tags:
We've come to the end of our autumn walk around Greenbelt Lake at year's end. If you tilt your head sideways to the right while looking at these pics, you will again see a chalice--thank you for filling it for me. The good things I've shared this year with my hobbit posse especially, all my friends here, and my kitties I want to take with me into the new year. *squooshes you all* Much else can happily be left behind, thank you very much.
The sun bids us goodnight with a burst of reds and golds.
( To year's end and around the corner . . . )
Here's a patchwork quilt of bright colors in the narrowing light of twilight, sans sparkle vampires 'cause this be hobbit country, a well garlicked place.
( Follow the fading light . . . )
Here are more pics where the reflections double the fun. I probably wouldn't have gotten these if my camera didn't have such a great low light setting. It's so cold here today with high winds, I was cold at work for once, but right now I got a Saki cuddling against me with her head tucked in against my leg, and a Moo is curled up at my feet.
( Follow the last burst of color as the light fades . . . )
I have some more thank yous--what fun going to the mailbox has been this holiday season! Thank you to melyanna_65 for the fabulous card of our favorite plastic hobbits in their wee santa hats, and the trading cards, and the very cute fic. Thank you to dear mews1945 for the pretty sparkly card. And thank you to frodosweetstuff for the adorable F/S manip card, which was riches enough, but also the wonderful doll clothes--Bingo and Sam are so delighted--and the gaydar--about time I had some, too. (-; Gosh!
Back to the lake--I want to get us to the end of this set of fall pics this week before the year ends. I walked around the lake today since this weekend's rain washed most of the snow away. There's just so much green underbrush still not willing to relinquish this Rainy Year of Yay for Green Things. There are more kinds and shades of lush, gleeful moss covering the trees sending up luxuriant spikes of spores. And the holly trees are more full of berries than I remember seeing any year before--folk wisdom says that means we can expect lots more snow and cold this winter. At the end of it, I'm still hoping for an early, sunny, and riotous spring in reward for this dark, dreary year. But back to 2 months ago:
Here's a sweet gum tree cascading over the lake. I think that's willow oak still green in the foreground. At this point, that camera was picking up more light than my eyes were in the dusk.
( And another pic of the cascading sweet gum . . . )
melyanna_65 for the fabulous card of our favorite plastic hobbits in their wee santa hats, and the trading cards, and the very cute fic. Thank you to dear mews1945 for the pretty sparkly card. And thank you to frodosweetstuff for the adorable F/S manip card, which was riches enough, but also the wonderful doll clothes--Bingo and Sam are so delighted--and the gaydar--about time I had some, too. (-; Gosh! Back to the lake--I want to get us to the end of this set of fall pics this week before the year ends. I walked around the lake today since this weekend's rain washed most of the snow away. There's just so much green underbrush still not willing to relinquish this Rainy Year of Yay for Green Things. There are more kinds and shades of lush, gleeful moss covering the trees sending up luxuriant spikes of spores. And the holly trees are more full of berries than I remember seeing any year before--folk wisdom says that means we can expect lots more snow and cold this winter. At the end of it, I'm still hoping for an early, sunny, and riotous spring in reward for this dark, dreary year. But back to 2 months ago:
Here's a sweet gum tree cascading over the lake. I think that's willow oak still green in the foreground. At this point, that camera was picking up more light than my eyes were in the dusk.
( And another pic of the cascading sweet gum . . . )
Here's an interesting special effect nature produces that I hadn't noticed before. Sunday, the day after the big storm, it was sunny, cold, and windy. In the early afternoon, I watched wisps of snow blowing off branches and through the trees out my window, and as they'd pick up sunlight, they looked like someone took a handful of gold glitter and tossed it into the wind.
That spot of light in this pic is not the sun, which is higher in the sky above the confines of this pic, but a sungold snow cloud. Specially ordered for Philip Pullman fans. There's a couple more pics of the effect under the cut.
( Follow the billows of gold dust above the silver white blanket . . . )
That spot of light in this pic is not the sun, which is higher in the sky above the confines of this pic, but a sungold snow cloud. Specially ordered for Philip Pullman fans. There's a couple more pics of the effect under the cut.
( Follow the billows of gold dust above the silver white blanket . . . )
Snowed in for a 3 day weekend is full of win, even if I have to take my only leave day for snow days. Today, I got out to the metro garage to check on the strays and was greeted by Ostra. A. had been there, but I cleared more of their feeding area and then dug out their shelter, which was snowed in, but dry inside. I'm well exercised and well slept. And I finally got a chance to do a hobbit photo shoot--yay!
Some of my holiday cards--most of the international ones--are in the mail, but most will go out this week and will hopefully make it before the new year. If you'd still like one, please leave me your address on the screened post here or send to my inbox.
Thank youfrolijah_fan_54 for the pretty sparkly card, hildigard_brown for the card and shiny S/E love, jan_u_wine for the pretty card, cute oliphant, and wee hay bushel (which can be spotted in the pic below), and lbilover for the pretty, cool card, the wonderful Frodo stats card, the fic I'm looking forward to reading, and the most exquisite little Fro box, sweet on the outside and in--eeee, so beautiful! <3 *sknishes you all* :-D
Chanukah chobbits wish you a happy solstice! A little late, but they finally got a chance to sit down and celebrate Chanukah.belleferret, this one's for you! :-D
CHOBBITS PRELUDE TO A CHANUKAH CHISS
"If you keep looking at me like that, we're never going to get this one lit before sundown . . ."
Below the fake cut are 8 pics of the moment from different angles--let me know your favorite. Candle 1 would be mine, but there's one thing the light does that I'm not happy with there.
Follow the shamash candle to light the other 8 . . .
Some of my holiday cards--most of the international ones--are in the mail, but most will go out this week and will hopefully make it before the new year. If you'd still like one, please leave me your address on the screened post here or send to my inbox.
Thank you
frolijah_fan_54 for the pretty sparkly card, hildigard_brown for the card and shiny S/E love, jan_u_wine for the pretty card, cute oliphant, and wee hay bushel (which can be spotted in the pic below), and lbilover for the pretty, cool card, the wonderful Frodo stats card, the fic I'm looking forward to reading, and the most exquisite little Fro box, sweet on the outside and in--eeee, so beautiful! <3 *sknishes you all* :-D Chanukah chobbits wish you a happy solstice! A little late, but they finally got a chance to sit down and celebrate Chanukah.
belleferret, this one's for you! :-DCHOBBITS PRELUDE TO A CHANUKAH CHISS
"If you keep looking at me like that, we're never going to get this one lit before sundown . . ."
Below the fake cut are 8 pics of the moment from different angles--let me know your favorite. Candle 1 would be mine, but there's one thing the light does that I'm not happy with there.
Follow the shamash candle to light the other 8 . . .
Thank you aliensouldream, claudia608, and timwb for the beautiful cards, and verangel for the gorgeous angel card, Lijangel pic, and lovely beads.
And Saki wants to thankclaudia608 herself for her pretty little wool blankie:
As you can see, she loves it. :-D
aliensouldream, claudia608, and timwb for the beautiful cards, and verangel for the gorgeous angel card, Lijangel pic, and lovely beads.And Saki wants to thank
claudia608 herself for her pretty little wool blankie:As you can see, she loves it. :-D
Swamp maples cascading over the lake in changing colors illuminated by the setting sun. What's not to love?
( Leaves ablaze before they fall . . . )
A belated Happy Birthday to aprilkat!!! And thank you to rubynye for the terrific self-designed card and to annwyn55 for the lovely card and bookmark I get to plant in the spring. (-:
I spent most of Saturday working on making the extra booda litter box into a kitty shelter for the garage strays, and brought it out there Caturday night, since it was supposed to rain all day Sunday. I wasn't sure if they would find where I put it, so I trailed treats from the garage to the shelter. When I turned back to the garage, I saw these 2 little faces watching me.
"WTF is the hoomin doing now?" So yeah, they definitely saw the new shelter. And keep in mind there is a trail of treats on the ground they haven't touched yet because the entertainment value I provide takes priority for these two. I couldn't tell this morning if they had used the shelter yet or not, but I can guarantee these two checked it out after I left. The blankets inside were dry, so it's working. Once they get used to it, I'll put some tarp over the entrance for better protection from the weather, but I don't want to make the entrance smaller yet until they've claimed it.
( Stray along here . . . )
aprilkat!!! And thank you to rubynye for the terrific self-designed card and to annwyn55 for the lovely card and bookmark I get to plant in the spring. (-:I spent most of Saturday working on making the extra booda litter box into a kitty shelter for the garage strays, and brought it out there Caturday night, since it was supposed to rain all day Sunday. I wasn't sure if they would find where I put it, so I trailed treats from the garage to the shelter. When I turned back to the garage, I saw these 2 little faces watching me.
"WTF is the hoomin doing now?" So yeah, they definitely saw the new shelter. And keep in mind there is a trail of treats on the ground they haven't touched yet because the entertainment value I provide takes priority for these two. I couldn't tell this morning if they had used the shelter yet or not, but I can guarantee these two checked it out after I left. The blankets inside were dry, so it's working. Once they get used to it, I'll put some tarp over the entrance for better protection from the weather, but I don't want to make the entrance smaller yet until they've claimed it.
( Stray along here . . . )
Happy Chanukah!!!
I skipped over photoing the southwest branch this round, and now we're on the south side heading east and back to where we started. The last of the afternoon sun lights the trees on this part of the path. There are some houses off to the right side, so it's not quite as secluded as the view looking toward the lake suggests.
( Along the last stretch of the walk . . . )
I skipped over photoing the southwest branch this round, and now we're on the south side heading east and back to where we started. The last of the afternoon sun lights the trees on this part of the path. There are some houses off to the right side, so it's not quite as secluded as the view looking toward the lake suggests.
( Along the last stretch of the walk . . . )
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