PhotoHunt - Spotted cow

Most of the Holstein dairy cattle on this farm near us have large spotches of black and white. This trio included one with black spots.

Sky Watch Friday - Weather vanes

These weather vanes are on a church, rescue company and bank. The last shot was taken at dusk looking west.

Window Views - Old farm house

This old farm house goes with the barn I posted for My World. Below are close-ups of the front windows on the left and right side.

My World Tuesday - Brick barn

This old brick barn is in a local park. The park contains bike trails, a nine hole golf course, frisbee golf course, baseball, footbball and soccer fields. The park is used for a number of youth sports leagues. The vents in the loft area create interesting patterns in the brick work .

Odd shots - Broken wheel?

This old wagon has been here like this for several years. The field has been planted and harvested around it.

To see more Odd Shots, start at Katney's Kaboodle and follow the links.

PhotoHunt - Balanced meal

A salad, some tortellini with Marianne's Bolognese sauce, garlic toast and an orange cover most of the food groups. (It was delicious!)

Sky Watch Friday - Contrails and clouds

Contrails on the morning of January 11

and afternoon clouds on January 19

Window Views - Afternoon windows

Wall of windows

Doorway to food

Windows and doors in blue

Window with clothes

Window with a greeting

These are some windows I spotted late Tuesday afternoon. The first is a restaurant I had not noticed until taking the shot. The others are at at shopping center on the south side of Frederick. Fort Detrick is headquarters for the US Army Medical Research and Material Command. Deployments from Fort Detrick tend to be small groups or individuals. Of course there are soldiers from the Frederick area assigned to other bases who have deployed around the world (our neighbor is in Iraq). I add my "welcome home" to that shown on this pickup window!

My World Tuesday - Tragedy near and far

Danny Markham, Marianne's grandnephew, died January 7. He was 41. A memorial service was held Friday attended by many relatives and friends. The service began with the song "Danny Boy" and closed with bagpiper playing "Amazing Grace". There was not a dry eye to be found.

This tragedy was close and personal for us, but at the same time the earthquake in Haiti has affected many lives. We will miss Danny, but will comfort each other within the family and our lives will move on. The people of Port au Prince are in dire need of medical care, and basic shelter, food and water. Many have begun the aide effort and many organizations are responding and can use our contributions. I would like to recommend one for you to consider. SIGN (Surgical Implant Generation Network) is a non-profit organization that supplies orthopedic implants (and training) to surgeons in developing countries without real-time imaging and power equipment. Dr Lew Zirkle (a college classmate) founded SIGN after many years of working with orthopedic surgeons around the world. He got his start in Vietnam treating Vietnamese patients as well as US soldiers while an Army surgeon. SIGN's initial projects were in Vietnam, Thailand and Indonesia. The SIGN team is setting up in Haiti. If you would like to help go to the SIGN web site and donate online or send a check.

Odd shots - Scooter and reindeer

Continuing my cat theme: I was searching for a particular, 20-some-year-old, photo and happened upon this one of Scooter. He loved to sleep atop the TV and one Christmas we received this reindeer from my middle daughter. Naturally, Scooter thought it was his play toy. As I recall we had to move the TV to keep him from pulling the reindeer down.

To see more Odd Shots, start at Katney's Kaboodle and follow the links.

Sky Watch Friday - Winter sunset

We have had cold, blue skies with enough clouds to make for interesting shots this week. The first image is at 3:20 in the afternoon and the other four around 5:20 as the sun dipped below the horizon. It lit up the clouds in a burst of color.

Window Views - Star and arches

Two shots (three windows) from a local church, with the relection of the blue and white sky.

My World Tuesday - Construction

A new road into downtown Frederick opened in early December. It connects to a new I-70 interchange and hopefully will ease some of the traffic on Market Street. On the few times I used this road not many others were. Work is progressing on the new Frederick County Public Schools office building.

I am not sure the purpose of this tower.

And destruction - the Pargo's Restaurant near FSK Mall was demolished. It had been closed since 2007 and site may become new retail stores.

Odd shots - Where's dinner?

That the cats wanting food is not the odd part of this picture. What is odd is that Zoey (on the right) is waiting patiently - usually she is pacing and yowling at my ankles.

To see more Odd Shots, start at Katney's Kaboodle and follow the links.

PhotoHunt - Bulk feed

From granary to farm, there is a large amount of bulk feed moved around Frederick County.

Sky Watch Friday - Skies 2010 style

Sky and tree, early morning, New Year's Day

Southwestern sky at sunset, January 3, 2010

Clouds at sunset, January 6, 2010

Clouds and geese, late afternoon, January 7, 2010

Window views - Two from today

Windows in a white wall

Shuttered window

My World Tuesday - Our snowy street

Our street (looking east) on the morning of December 20 after the big snow and on New Years Eve after a little snow.