Window Views - First Saturday windows

November 7 was the first Saturday in November and downtown City of Frederick celebrated with an open house by the merchants. There was music (stop by my PhotoHunt on next Saturday) in the street, trolley rides, refreshments and businesses open late for our browsing or shopping pleasure. The Frederick Arts Council gallery holds an open house each First Saturday. Christmas wreaths are on display this month. My camera and I wandered around the festivities.

A lower level shop with Christmas items.

Ec'clectibles is a gift shop with a variey of fine gifts. They are now well stocked with Christmas items. I previously posted this window in September.

A few windows are still holding fall displays.

The Museum Shop is the exclusive dealer in our area for Thomas Kinkade paintings. The shop also restores frames and art work as well as framing services.

My World Tuesday - Soybean harvest

Out in the field I heard such a clatter
I looked out the window to see what's the matter.
And what should I spy, but a giant green Deere
Running through the soybeans, a cloud at its rear.

It reaped and it thrashed, and held the beans inside
And then a red truck pulled along side.
The Deere disgorged the beans through a spout
As it continued its work up the soybean route.

Nearer and nearer the giant did come
until the roar made me deaf and dumb.
What will become of the beans now gone?
Tofu or cattle feed I think will be done.

And soon the green giant did disappear
and the dust settled, leaving the field bare.
The quiet returned to our peaceful abode
And I returned to my PC to compose this ode.

(with apologies to Henry Livingston and/or Clement Moore)

Odd shots - What did you say?

Buster probably wants Maxine to move so he can take a nap. A more typical view of this pair is here.

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

PhotoHunt - Veterans

Arlington Cemetery from USAF Memorial, February 16, 2008

When I saw the PhotoHunt theme for this week, I knew that I wanted to recognize the men and women who have served in combat to protect us over the years. I also wanted to recognize one particular veteran of Iraq who is near and dear to me. Though I did not serve in the Armed Services, my work over the years has often been in support of the US military. The first two images are of Arlington National Cemetery. What looks like show through the middle of the above image are the 300,000 headstones. Approximately 28 funerals a day are conducted at Arlington. Some are veterans of WW II, Korea and Vietnam; others are veterans of Afghanistan and Iraq.

Section of Arlington Cemetery, May 30, 2004

My oldest daughter is the individual I want to recognize. During her freshman year of college, she called me and said "Dad, I got an ROTC scholarship." She wanted to be a doctor so when filling out the Army paper work her senior year, she wrote "medical" as her preference. Army Personnel wrote back with "signal." After serving her required four years as a Signal Corps officer, she took the admission tests and was accepted at Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences. Upon graduation and completion of her internship, she served as medical officer in Korea and then entered surgical residency. She also completed a vascular surgery fellowship. During this time most of her patients were retired military. In January 2004 she deployed with the 31-st Combat Support Hospital to Ibn Sina Hospital, Baghdad, Iraq. During this time the team treated US and coalition wounded, Iraqi civilians and enemy prisoners.

Promotion to LTC atop Ibn Sina Hospital. October 23, 2004

photograph by member of 31-st CSH

Upon her return we had a family reunion in Hershey, PA. (She wanted chocolate! It doesn't survive the heat in Iraq!)

Reunion with Dad, Hershey, PA December 4, 2004

photo by Marianne

Since returning from Iraq, her work has focused on the wounded warriors, first at Fort Sam Houston and now at Fort Hood. The shootings Thursday at Fort Hood are tragic, especially since the shooter was one who had dedicated his life to helping others. We were able to talk to her briefly after the first news here and learned that she is okay but very busy. Last night I reread the journal she kept while in Iraq. I was reminded again how much our soldiers have sacrificed and the complete dedication of the medical professionals who care for the wounded. The person who committed the terrible acts Thursday is an aberration.

Ginny, I am so proud of you and I thank you for the service you and your colleagues have given and are giving to our country.

Sky Watch Friday - Sky colors

Gold and silver - October 25

Black and gray - October 31

Purple - November 1

Pastels - November 3

Window Views - Heritage Farm Park

Have you ever looked out one of these moon shaped windows?When I was 4 or 5, my grandparents lived in a house where the bathroom facilities were outside. They did move to a farm house with indoor plumbing. Heritage Farm Park near us is a farm that has been turned into a community park. The historic manor house and barn still stand but most of the land is not used for recreational activities: baseball, soccer, football, golf and disc golf. There are trails for hiking and biking as well as picnic picnic facilities.

The old barn has windows, as well as vents in the brickwork which can be seen through the above window opening. The tractor windows (last image) are of a more recent vintage.

My World Tuesday - Halloween around town

Here are a few of the Halloween decorations for sale at Colorfest last month.

And the haunted house in the middle of town.

A full yard down the street.

And a haunted globe.