My World - Winston and Lewis

Toys for Buster

Two of our grandsons (along with Mom and Dad) stopped by last week on their way back home from West Virginia. Both were fascinated with Buster (Zoey hides when company comes). They are both bundles of energy and active all day, though they settle down easily at bedtime. For another view of my namesake Lewis, see Family Resemblance on Lew's Pics. Thanks all for the visit.

Lewis loves to push buttons

Winston liked the cats' perch

Lewis in the cats' tunnel

Winston and Mommaw build a block house

PhotoHunt - Mostly black reflection

When I shot the sun sparkling on Carroll Creek, I got a mostly black image, with dark shadows of the trees and a few bright spots.

Sky Watch - The hawk and the crow

Last Saurday when I went out to shoot some images of the cat stalking the starlings (My World), I spotted a hawk in a tree nearby. A crow soon joined it. The hawk seemed to object and after some fluttering, the crow settled for a branch further away. After a few minutes they both flew off into the wild, windy blue yonder.

Window Views - Doors this time

Here are some doors in the historic section of the City of Frederick, showing the variation in styles. The bay window above No. 129 appeared in my September 2009 Window Views.

My World - Food Chain

Stalker

Saturday morning, I glanced out our dining room window and spotted one of the neighborhood cats watching something in the field. So I grabbed my camera and went out to see what was happening. The cat had its eyes on a large flock of starlings and began creeping closer and of course the startled starlings took flight.

Breakfast?

High up in a nearby tree, a hawk was keeping watch on the cat and starlings. A crow soon joined the hawk.

Higher up the food chain

No creatures were injured in making this post. The starlings adjourned to the top of a nearby tree. The cat left, still hungry. And the crow and hawk soared away. (More shots of the hawk and crow Friday in my Sky Watch.)

PhotoHunt - Silhouettes against the sky

I love the shape of the above tree and coming up the road near our house its silhouette stands out against the evening sky. The trees below are a little further along the same road.

Sky Watch - Valentine's day skies

Morning clouds in the east

Morning streaks to the southwest

Western clouds at sunset

Window Views - Real or not?

Two of these windows are real; two are not. The first time we noticed the figure in the window we were having dinner at a Japanese restaurant (now the Tasting Room) across the street. After a while, Marianne commented: "that man has not moved". We learned that the bottom two windows are a mural by William Cochran, using a technique called "trompe l'oeil" and it certainly fooled our eyes that evening. Mr. Cochran was also the main force behind the Community Bridge over Carroll Creek that has been featured in many of my posts.

My World - Winter in Frederick

Bench by frozen lake

Cold seating

Signs in ice

Watch your step

Snow along the creek

PhotoHunt - Faux School

I have walked and driven by The Faux School many times and wondered what type of "false" education could be found there. Through the web site I learned that it is a school that teaches the techniques of creating a finish with paint and plaster that looks like marble, wood or some other material. So if you want to upgrade your home painting skills, go to the link above.

Sky Watch - Not all clouds

Blue above the column, February 3

Not all of our skies have been cloudy and filled with falling water of various types!

White on blue, February 6

Sunrise and clouds, February 8

Window Views - First Saturday windows

Ec'clectibles monkey in window

Mood indigo

Strings and things

Wine bar with a view

My World - First Saturday Ice

Downtown Frederick celebrated First Saturday with the theme "Fire in Ice". Mother Nature coorporated by dumping 8 inches of the white stuff back on January 26 and some of it stayed for the celebration. (Last February's First Saturday was delayed by a couple of feet of snow.) Thirty-five businesses and organizations sponsored ice sculptures. I made my tour before the crowds appeared and missed the ice sculpting demonstration (last image). More shots of downtown will be posted Thursday on Window Views.

Ec'clectibles sculpture and window

Cold cash

Clown face

Ice ready for sculpting

PhotoHunt - Fashion art

I found this fashionable art glass in a shop window in Frederick.

Sky Watch - Muted skies

Our skies have looked like this recently, with white sky over white ground (shot February 1). The next three were from January 15 and the last was February 2 in the late afternoon.