PhotoHunt - Daily routine

After many years rushing off to work in the early morning, my daily routine now starts with a bowl of cereal, coffee and the morning paper.

Sky Watch - February 20-th skies

Sunrise - our house

Late afternoon - sky above Lutheran Church

Late afternoon - looking west along Church Street in Frederick

Window Views - Downtown Frederick

The City of Frederick held its First Saturday last Saturday due to the two snow storms earlier in the month. Here are some windows I spotted on my walk through the celebration. Above are some windows of the old Hendrickson building.

Volunteer Fire Company

Jewelry

Brewery

Piano store window

My World Tuesday - First Saturday, twice delayed

With heavy snow predicted for February 6, Frederick's First Saturday celebration was postponed to the 13-th. We got around 2 feet of snow that weekend. Then with snow still piled high everywhere, another foot of snow fell on the 9-th and 10-th. So First Saturday was delayed until the 20-th. Appropriately, the theme was fire in ice. Thirty ice sculptures sponsored by businesses and other organizations were on display. Businesses were open late, hot chocolate was served, and music was performed at several locations. Here are a few of the ice sculptures and one metal sculpture that I found in a walk around town.

Geometry - Lines, curves and circles

Some basic geometry used by architects to design beautiful buildings. This is a view of the Frederick library from Carroll Creek Linear Park.

PhotoHunt - Cuddling cats

Our Buster (seal point) and Zoey (tortie shell) don't cuddle much any more, but back in 2005 they did.

Sky Watch Friday - After the storm

Last Sunday, I found blue skies above the snow.

A few clouds appeared in late afternoon,

which made for a nice sunset.

And an interesting shot along the road home.

Window Views - Winter windows

We have had an extra dose of winter this year, especially with the record setting snow. The image above was taken during our second major storm. The second image was taken as the third snow storm began. The last image was taken on the 12-th in downtown Frederick.

My World Tuesday - Frederick snow

Two days after our third snowstorm, I ventured into the City of Frederick to see how the snow was affecting downtown. Roads outside the downtown area were in fare shape. In the narrow streets downtown, snow was piled high. Market Street was closed so that snow could be loaded on trucks and hauled away. The parking deck near Carroll Creek was open (and free!). Paths had been cleared along the frozen creek making an easy access to the beautiful snowy scene.

Market Street - closed for snow removal

Church Street

Patrick Street - no parking today

Snow pile near creek (from parking deck)

Carroll Creek from pedestrian bridge looking east

Geometry - Frozen curves

Snow swirls on the frozen Carroll Creek. To see more geometry, go to Katney's Kaboodle.

PhotoHunt - Broken bushes

Our two snowstorms this week dumped too much weight on some of our trees and bushes. This weeping maple by our deck is broken. Two rhododendron are flattened. We will have to wait for the snow to melt to see if any can be saved.

Sky Watch - White sky and sunrise

The first 2 shots were taken last saturday during the second winter storm.

By late afternoon, the storm had passed and blue skies returned.

And Sunday morning dawned with the sun casting a golden glow over the snow.

Window Views - White everywhere

Views through a window in every room in our house taken today between 9AM and 2:30PM. We have about a foot of new snow on top of the 18 inches still on the ground from last weekend.

My World Tuesday - Digging out

The snow started Friday morning about 10:30 AM and did not stop until Saturday afternoon leaving 18 to 24 inches in our neighborhood. Our neighbor across the street started shoveling before noon. I started shoveling around 1:30 PM and had cleared the walk and reached the van by 2:30.

I started shoveling around 1:30 PM and had cleared the walk and reached the van by 2:30.

Sunday afternoon was bright and sunny. To the east neighbors had machinery. One with a riding mower and snow blade was hard at work.

A large county plow arrived and cleared the intersection, then continued down the street past our house.

And another neighbor continued with his snow blower.

My shovel and I still worked our driveway (stopping often to take pictures).

The county plow came down the street. He would come back up the street later, followed by a second plow and they got a wave and thank you from me as they passed.

And at 5:30, we could leave if we wanted; however roads all around were still in bad shape, and it was nearing Super Bowl time.