Have a mystery!

This was one mystery Nancy Drew couldn't figure out.

Spock and Capt. Kirk had an idea but they weren't talking.

 It's Microfiction Monday at Stony River.  Join in the fun!

As Emerson said, "Live in the sunshine..."

For a few brief hours this morning the sun came out between the clouds to light up the snow and frost.

I managed to haul in some wood before the sun disappeared behind the haze.

The days are getting a little bit longer.  The blackbirds arrived. Tomorrow marks the half-way point between winter solstice and spring equinox.  There's hope for a greener tomorrow!

Visit Harriet to check out Shadow Shot Sunday or Scenic Sunday to see what's happening around the rest of the planet.

Morning Clouds

One morning this week we had skies of a different color than gray!  The rest of the week of consisted of dark skies, snow and cold.  Winter is just not my favorite season.  Usually I try to have a positive attitude towards winter but this year I didn't even try.  And you know what?  It's ok!  I'm practicing acceptance instead.

Hope you have sunny skies where you live.  Look and see if there are any at Skywatch Friday.

Winter sky

"Walk on a rainbow trail;

walk on a trail of song,

and all about you will be beauty.

There is a way out of every dark mist,

over a rainbow trail."

--Robert Motherwell

Visit SkyWatch Friday if you like to see beautiful skies from all over the world.

My camera is baaaaaack!

Oh happy days!  My camera actually returned to me on Monday when it was supposed to return.  And, no spots!  Also, I learned that my shutter count is over 9,000 which means I'm good to go for another 75,000 shots give or take a few.

I missed a few golden photo ops over my weekend of deprivation.  This afternoon I came home early enough to take a few pictures of the pea soup outside.  Because I live in the Uintah Basin, it means that we are sometimes subjected to inversions.  So I can only post what I have to post and this is it.

See what I mean?  Or maybe you can't....

Hazy icicles.

At least the prayer flags offer some color and prayers for all the suffering people around the world today and every day.  May they be healed, may they be at peace, may they be safe from harm.

Vanity Fair

Do you think this toga makes me look fat?

I'm getting a zit.

Who do you think Zeus prefers?

Not me.  I fancy Thor and his lightening bolts!











It's time to play Microfiction Monday again at Stony River.

Smith Lake, Alabama

My camera and I went to Provo today, but my camera did not return home with me.  The repair guy told me, "Oh, no problem.  I can have it done by 3 p.m."  But when I arrived to pick it up, he told me he just didn't have time to clean it, too many interruptions!  I was not a happy camper.  He suggested I go do something else for a half an hour and come back.  I decided to leave it there because I had to head home and I wasn't sure that he would get it done in another half an hour.  I would just be that much later getting home after 3+ hours of driving.  I hope I didn't make a mistake.  With any luck I'll have my camera back by Monday.  I hope I don't go through withdrawals over the weekend.....

I am posting this picture by my BFF Susan in Alabama who has a wonderful lake house.  They have beautiful sunsets and she takes pictures of them with her iPhone.  There are many more skies captured by all different cameras and people at Skywatch Friday.

It's a bird! It's a plane!

It's a spot that won't go away!  Look at the left center, it shows up perfectly in sky shots. Oh no, what about Skywatch Friday??

Perhaps this happened when I was changing lenses in California.  Maybe some sea salt attached itself to the sensor?

I'm going to Provo for my job on Thursday and have a date with the camera repairman.  If he can clean the sensor, great, $45.  If I scratched the sensor by doing a stupid thing like trying to clean it with my lens cleaner and soft cloth, Big Trouble!  Yikes.  Who knew?  I imagine that some of you know not to open up your camera and touch the sensor with anything but a special sensor tool.  If you are ignorant, but not stupid, like me, heed the warning!

In the Coal Miner's Daughter, Loretta Lynn says to her husband, "I may be ignorant, but I'm not stupid."  It's one of my all-time favorite movie quotes.

Thanks to all who appreciate Gary's craftsmanship and furniture.  And, going all the way back to Microfiction Monday, that wasn't my fairy bridge picture that was posted with the story, it was Susan's from Stony River.  She choses the pictures for the week and invites everyone to write their short, short story.

My husband has good skills!

In my Sunday Shadow Shot I mentioned that my husband makes furniture and some of you asked to see more.  I took pictures today of some of what's downstairs.  THIS IS NOT BETTER HOMES AND GARDENS!  What is it about glossy magazine shoots that makes me think my house has to look the same?  I considered waiting until everything was immaculate, but you know what?  It never is.  We live in our house and there is clutter.  That's just the way it is!  Without further ado, some of my husband's furniture.

This is a secretary he made out of black walnut.  One of his earlier pieces in a style he no longer likes to make.

     The secretary sits in the corner of the library.

The library shelves are done in the Craftsman style which Gary prefers.  You are looking into the dining room where the sun is shining this morning.

You may recognize our prayer flags hanging outside the window.  Gary made the china hutch and the dining room tables and chairs.  For a long time we only had four chairs but eventually he finished the set of six.  After he made the rocking chairs he considered remaking the dining room chairs based on what he had learned but he just isn't that fond of making chairs.

Here's a close up of the table and a chair, with another chest against the wall.

The table, chairs and chest are made of oak.  The hutch is made of cherry.

In the living room we have the latest creations.  A beautiful entertainment center accented with purple heart wood and on the floor some experimental boxes.

This is a close up of the dovetails, handles and accents.

And that's all I've got time for today.  Thanks for joining me in my world, check out other interesting places at My World Tuesday.

The Curse

The Lady of Shalott slowly drifted by after the lure of Lancelot grew too great.  Camelot gleamed at dusk before she sang her last song.

The poem The Lady of Shalott by Tennyson inspired this woefully inadequate micro-synopsis of a lush and beautiful poem.



Visit Susan at Stony River for more brief stories inspired by this picture.

Shadows

My husband makes furniture.  Someday I might feature all the beautiful things he has made.  The rocking chair cast some interesting shadows on the tile.  Skipper seems to be checking them out.

Find more shadow shots at Harriet's.

Blue bird in a blue sky

"When birds burp it must taste like bugs."--Bill Watterson (Calvin and Hobbes)

It's been a long week of working and catching up after a nice vacation at home with my family.  Nothing like a good laugh to lighten the load.  I'm too tired to wax eloquently about much of anything.

Skywatch Friday is full of light-filled skies, check it out!

Return of the icicles

The great thing about cold weather and sun is that icicles grow back!  I thought all the snow had slid off the roof, but apparently there was some left and so we are growing a new batch.  I took this shot in the early morning before the sun was all the way up.

When the sun was up the icicles were all gleaming through my dirty window!

Icicles from a different window.  Anyone bored yet?

Further icicle studies

I was pleased on Friday morning that there were clouds in the sky behind the icicles to make this shot a little more interesting.







The wind which comes from the southwest is moving the clouds along.

I took my camera with me when I had to go outside to feed the animals.  Here is a view of the icicles from outside the window.

This shot is from the top of our driveway.  The second window from the left under the sliding snow is where many of the icicle shots were taken, from the inside looking out.  Sunday the snow fell off the roof and the icicles disappeared. Well, actually they are now a pile of ice on the patio.  

Christmas is done and the new year has started but winter is still here.

That's my frozen world in Utah.  Visit other parts of our fascinating planet here at My World Tuesday.

Lady in red

She thinks: I don't understand designers or hairdressers. My feet hurt. Who would buy this? Can't wait to go home and put on flannel pj's.

Read more short stories at Microfiction Monday.

Jack

Jack is quite obviously part Siamese.  He has trouble keep his crossed eyes open in the sun but he is a very handsome, blue-eyed kitty.  He's the most friendly and affectionate of our three cats.  He's my inspiration for gaining winter weight too.

Other proud pet owners can be found here.

Winter haze

There is beautiful scenery all over the world.  Go see some at Scenic Sunday.