Some days are diamonds

Sometimes when the sun comes out at the ski area, it is so pretty and the view is so sharp it hurts. Same view different day.Yesterday afternoon was one of those days. I could see the lift. The lodge stood out in great clarity. Same lodge, different day.I could even see the top of the course from the lodge. This is where the kids race, even though the gates are not up in this shot.This is what I usually see when I look out the window at the lodge. This is the race course on a normal day. The gates are actually up in this shot, not that anyone can see them. I hope the skiers can find them.
The trees laden with snow looked ready for a Christmas card when I took my walk in the afternoon.Who could imagine a scene so beautiful hidden in all that fog?

What to do the day after a White Christmas

My brother took a long bike ride the day after Christmas. He does not dream of a White Christmas because he likes warm sunny things. He made a wise decision to live in a warm sunny place. My children and I love the snow, as does my dog. We made a decision to live somewhere that there is snow to shovel, walk in and ski on, in that order as you go out the driveway. Shadow took me for a walk as she does every morning. I stumbled along after her with the camera in video mode so I could share this with you:

Many wishes for even more snow in the new year. Until May when it all melts and I get my bike back out.

In other news, last night at about 10:30 two graders made a couple of passes up and down our street, turning what once was packed snow we could drive on into a berm in front of our curb. We went out this morning and moved the stuff onto the lawn. If you leave it long enough, it will melt, like about in June or July. In the meantime, it blocks passage of other stuff melting down to the drain at the corner. If they do come by often enough, there will be no street left in the middle. I doubt that will happen, since this is the first time the county has noticed that we have snow on our street and done something about it. How sweet of them to sneak by in the middle of the night to do the nefarious deed. If you can call all that noise and the flashing lights sneaking. My cars were not in the street. Those that were have a nice hill of snow all the way around them. I told my husband that we will win the snowball fight with the neighbors across the street, because we have a better fort. I will take pictures of that later. For the moment, I am up at the ski hill using their WiFi to communicate with the outside world that is lost in the fog.

Getting ready for Christmas

There it is, my shiny new car down there in the parking lot. Why can't you see it, she is right in the middle above the ski box. Oh, there is some fog up there on the hill at times. I guess yesterday morning was one of those times.Last night, Shadow and I took a walk to see the lights. There were some cute inflatables too. Our neighbors like to put on a good show. I did not shoot them all, but here are a few samples:There is nothing like excess when it comes to lights, lawn decorations and such in the middle of winter.I like the way the bulbs carve out spots in the snow to shine through. The effect of the lights on the bushes is charming.This morning, on my walk through the woods, I noticed that the local kids had been using this bit of the trail for their sleds, so I walked down the side. It is nice and steep even when it is not icy.
A boy loves his present from his Aunt Kangamoo. He was out practicing again this morning. No box is safe from him. Look at all those holes! Later this afternoon, he went out again and lost an arrow in the snow. He has one left, so he will need to watch it well when he shoots.
This twisty thing seems to turn me on my side. The trees seem to have fallen over too. My what a big lens you have, my dear. Always on the outlook for squirrels.
We have had three chances for a White Christmas. It snowed at the end of November, just after the shed went up in the back yard. Then next week it rained and it all melted. Then we had another nice snowstorm about the time I drove to the other side of the state to seem my niece dance. Then it rained and it all melted. Fortunately for the guy with the flatbed who came to pick up the old car, he came during a rain phase. Two days ago, it snowed again. Beautiful Christmas snow, the kind that should last and look pretty for a while. Last night, it rained again. Some of the snow is still with us, but not as much as there once was. We take what we can get. At least the rain is staying below the ski hill. All they have up there is lots and lots of snow and plenty of fog.

A gifted tree. There are a few more now. I took this shot last night. We wait to put the gift wrapped ones under the tree until the last minute in case a certain four legged member of the family chooses to investigate. She seems to leave the ones that come in the mail alone, but one year she chewed through some of the wrapping. Now that she is older and more ladylike, maybe the gifts are safe again. And a Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night.

The end of an era

All good things must come to an end. Last night, this fine truck pulled up in front of our house to take away an old friend. We tried to keep our friend in the family, in fact when we adopted the car in 2000 we allowed it an extended retirement within the family.
With the addition of a new vehicle in our fleet, the old gas loving limousine needed a new home. It is still in good running order, and in fact made the trip up the ramp without assistance from the winch on the truck.
There it sits.
And off it goes. . . to benefit the nice folks at NPR, with a donotion program organized by Click and Clack the Tappet Brothers on Car Talk.
I think even Mom would approve of where her old car went in the end.

My weekend

Saturday was foggy.
Sunday was sunny.My favorite skiers.I took a walk while the kids skied. I found the original of the "frosted" trees they sell in stores. This one was prettier, and the frost was backlit by the sun.
A little ice fall by the side of the road.
If I lived here, I would be home now. Clearing winter storm. Yesterday I could not see the little buildings up there.

Somebody left his gloves out there.
What a view when the weather is clear!
Some cars are brighter than others.