Week In Review

A quick recap of our week and a few gratuitous photos…

My Valentine’s bouquet still has blossoms.  The irises finished last week, but the lilies are still blooming.  Here is one of the stargazer lilies a few days ago.

Stargazer Lily
Close Up

The ice in the harbor made an unusual pattern last week.

Ice Pattern
Fenced In

The kids enjoyed a week off from school during their winter break last week.  They spent three days with some old daycare friends.  Mike and I took the other two days off from work to make for a long weekend with the kids.  We spent Thursday skiing and enjoyed a night away from home by using a gift certificate for a local hotel (with a pool for the kids, of course).

Ski Team 1
Ski Team II
Swimmers

Sophia had a playdate with a good friend on Saturday.  They built a snowman in the front yard.

Building A Snowman

Sunday was spent at Chester Bowl.  Mike was volunteering as a ski patrol while Sophia competed in her first ski race of the season.  Sebastian wasn’t feeling well, but came with to help cheer her on.

Down Hill
Finish!
Friendly Competition

There was a near full moon on Sunday night.  I was with Sebastian while we took Daphne for a walk.  The moon was golden while it was rising up from the lake.  This is what it looked like by the time we got back to the house.

Moon

Yesterday’s sunrise was quite beautiful.  I wish I had been down by the lake taking photos.  Instead, I stood outside my front door in my bathrobe snapping a few pictures before I got too cold and had to go inside.

Tuesday Sunrise
Multitude of Colors

These ducks have been hanging around in open water near the slip bridge at the harbor.

Winter Ducks
Perfect Landing
Cool Swim
Headed For Open Water
Iced In

Mike just informed me that it is after ten o’clock and time to wrap it up.  My alarm at 5:30am comes way too soon.  Until next time.

Boreal Owl

We had an unusual visitor to our backyard this morning.  I noticed something odd in the old crab apple tree shortly after I got up.  Just yesterday my Mom gave me two sets of my Dad’s binoculars.  I took out a pair and saw this guy ten feet up in the tree.  I did a bit of Google searching and the best match I can come up with is a Boreal Owl.  Although some of the pictures make him look rather large, he was only nine or ten inches tall.  I tried my best to get him to open his eyes all the way, but to no avail.  He finally got tired of me taking pictures and saying “Hoo, hoo” to him and he flew off.

Surprise Visitor
Sleeping Beauty
Catching Some Z’s
Looking The Other Way
From Below
All Tucked In
Still Resting
Hanging On
Got My Eyes On You

There were several chickadees around too.  I couldn’t help but take a picture of one of them.

Chickadee

The surprise visit was a great way to start our Sunday morning.

More Flowers

Okay, one last shot of the amaryllis and then I’m done.  Or maybe just two.  And then that’s it…I think.

Close Up
Close Encounter

These arrived for me at work today.  I snapped a picture with my iPhone.  They came fresh from the grower according to the box they arrived in.  The irises are much more open this afternoon than they were this morning.  I can’t wait to see what they look like tomorrow.  The stargazer lilies are going to be amazing.  They are one of my favorites.  My Dad’s too.  I didn’t know that until my Mom mentioned it recently.  I imagine I will be taking a few photos of these flowers once they open.  I really need to get outdoors and look for things to photograph.  Or maybe snap a few more pictures of the kids?

Valentine Flowers

p.s.  Happy Valentine’s Day to my Valentine, Mike.  Looking forward to a nice, romantic dinner (for four)  tonight!  xoxoxoxoxoxox