Refined?

Every now and then you will see an empty beer bottle sitting in a parking lot.  But this time it was a cognac bottle.  Is this a higher level of littering?

Bluebird

This little bluebird was just watching all the people stroll by on a sunny day.

Falls lake outflow

Falls Lake is very full with more rain in the forecast.  The Army Corps of Engineers is releasing a lot of water out of the dam.  It was quite dramatic.

The water below the dam was 4 1/2 feet above normal.

Looking down from the top.

This sign needed no explanation.

What century?

Having only lived west of the Mississippi and north of the Mason-Dixon line, I never took the civil war seriously.  Here in North Carolina some people are still fighting it.

Doggie Party

On the first sunny day after Christmas everyone and their dogs were out walking  Falls Lake Dam.  

Vulture tower

 This very tall cel tower was covered in vultures.  The one flying in is a turkey vulture, but there were black vultures as well. Birds of a feather flock together...?

Merry Christmas!

No, we aren't having a white Christmas, but we did have snow earlier in December.  Surely that counts.

Solstice moon

This year there was a full moon on the solstice, along with a meteor shower.  I got the moon, but couldn't see any meteors.  Of course it was cold, and I didn't stay outside too long waiting.

What's wrong with a red Christmas tree?

There's been a lot of discussion about the White House's red Christmas trees, but I found this one in the airport in Spokane.  It's totally made up of poinsettias and looked amazing.

Red and Green

I can see why holly became a symbol of Christmas.  The berries are bright red and the leaves are evergreen.  Color in the winter when everything else is brown.  Some say the Christmas colors of red and green came from the holly.  NPR says it was Coca Cola.  See here for the story.

Evening sky

The sun sets so early these days, that an afternoon turns suddenly to evening.  

Found while Christmas shopping

While browsing in a book store in Wake Forest, we found these gems.  How could I choose just one?  

There's a whole website devoted to misheard lyrics, called, of course, Kiss this Guy.  See here.

These were my favorites.

What is it?

Give up?

It's the reflection of my camera lens on a shiny door handle.  I was practicing with my new camera to see how close an image I could get.

Everything is mysterious in close up.

Camoflage

I found this anole hiding out on the brick wall.  I've found her before, green on green leaves.  This day she was hanging out on the red bricks.

Nostalgia

Do you remember these?  You would get out the bottle, open the cap with the bottle opener in front.  There would be a place to put your empties nearby.

These crates look old, but I know that Cheerwine is still sold in the grocery stores in North Carolina.  It's a sickly sweet cherry soda drink.  Some people drink it, but it's also a favorite for barbeque sauce recipes.

Naughty or nice?

In amongst pillows with sugary sweet sayings on them, was this gem.  Might be something you wouldn't show to small children, or maybe you would.

Don't sit too long...

This bench looks like it's growing around you.  As if you sat too long you'd be engulfed.

Warning

This shop keeper was serious about watching your children in the store.

Cardinal and his wife

One more picture of birds in the snow.  The male cardinal is flashier, but I think Mrs. Cardinal is beautiful too.

Not so heavenly

This bush is called Heavenly Bamboo, or Sacred Bamboo, but it's not bamboo. Or heavenly.  In fact it's deadly poisonous.  See here. Cedar Waxwings have been known to die in flocks due to eating the berries.  

Why do we plant non-native poisonous plants when there are so many wonderful native species?  

Angels, but not the good kind

I think what I found here is a Destroying Angel mushroom.  It is very deadly, and accounts for most of the mushroom eaters' deaths, according to Wikipedia (Here).   They were popping up all over from under the pine needles before the snow.  

snow birds

Our feeder was a busy place during the latest snowstorm.  

Cardinals and a Towhee,

Juncos

and even a Mourning Dove watching the show.

Snow!

I thought we woke up in Denver this morning!  It snowed over night, and the trees were covered in lace.  The Southerners stayed inside, and all of us transplants from colder places were out shoveling.

Feathers

It reminded me of a dream catcher, but these feathers were caught on a trailing vine.  Maybe the heron left them for us?

Leaves

As fall comes to an end, it's leaf raking season.  Here in Raleigh people can rake the leaves into the gutter and a giant sucking truck comes by and takes them away.  It must be scheduled soon, the neighbors all have their leaves out.

Serenity

On a quiet stroll, we came upon a heron strolling along as well.

End of Fall

I know that most of the country is now covered by snow, but here in Raleigh, fall is just finishing up.  

Old Homestead

We came across a sign for the Old Homestead on a trail in Durant Nature Preserve.  This pile of stones is about all that's left.  The park used to be a boy scout camp, and I can find history for that era, but this building was much before that time.  Who lived here, and what did they do?  It's a mystery so far.

Our past is our future

We found this "new" product in the grocery store yesterday.  I remember (probably about 1960) how excited my mom was to buy wax paper bags for our lunches so that she didn't have to fold up the wax paper every morning.  Now they're a new product with stickers to keep them closed.

After the latest climate change report came out, I've been thinking about how our lives will have to change.  Maybe the clue is to look to our past.

Why?

I like to puzzle out vanity plates while I'm driving.  Every now and then I can grab my camera at a stop light and get a picture.

This one seems to be asking an unanswerable question.

The Juncos are back

We only see juncos in the winter here.  They've been back for a little while now.  They're very distinctive with their white beaks and dark eyes.

Theme day: Joy

The theme for this month is Joy.  

This little garden sculpture may be rusty, but joyful.

Troll Stroll

This path is part of the outdoor play area at Wilkerson Nature Preserve.  Following the path you can find and count the trolls.

Fun for two year olds.

Autumn textures

Namaste

This is our neighbor's lawn ornament.  Much better than a pink flamingo!

Harvest Moon

I've been trying to get a decent picture of the moon.  And on Thanksgiving night,  walking off a too big dinner, I saw this harvest moon.  

Hawk in the forest

This hawk is enjoying the fall sun.

leaves

Fall comes slowly here, not like the Northeast or Midwest in a blaze of glory, but one tree at a time.  First the yellow tulip poplars, then the red sweetgums.  Finally the oaks.