Happy Winter Solstice and a Peaceful 2006!

We've had several infamous ice storms even before winter has started. That means more snow days than I've ever had in Buffalo! 

 

Let me know when you tire of hiking pics! 

A dusting of snow on Stony Man. 

I spent Thanksgiving on a solitary hike. This unexpected spring along the trail was the perfect place to say some thanks to Mother Earth. 

 

An enormous tree on the path! Thank you, old friend. 

 

There are many stone walls and old foundations from when people used to live in the mountains. 

Typical Shenandoah forest. It is very brown and boring during the cold months. 

Why are there no good uses for used tennis balls? 

Looking for a special last-minute holiday gift? Avoid the malls and not so useful items.

Visit the gift catalog at www.heifer.org where you can make a donation in someone's name to fight world hunger. You can print out a card insert detailing your gift of a Cow, Sheep, Bees, Trees, or other fun items. The communities that receive the animal are taught sustainable practices for raising the animal and using it for its economic resources (milk, wool, honey, eggs, etc.) instead of slaughtering it for meat. The family can then live a more healthful and economically secure life.

And the best part is that it's a gift that keeps giving: each family that receives an animal pledges to 'pass on the gift' by giving one of the animal's first born to another needy family.

Yes, I've been a total slacker on my Blog. How about some holiday-political humor?

FOUR GHOSTS OF THE WHITE HOUSE

One night, George W. Bush is tossing restlessly in his White House bed. He awakens to see George Washington standing by him. Bush asks him, "George, what's the best thing I can do to help the country?" "Set an honest and honorable example, just as I did," Washington advises, and then fades away.

The next night, Bush is astir again, and sees the ghost of Thomas Jefferson moving through the darkened bedroom. Bush calls out, "Tom, please! What is the best thing I can do to help the country?" "Respect the Constitution, as I did " Jefferson advises, and dims from sight.

The third night sleep is still not in the cards for Bush He awakens to see the ghost of FDR hovering over his bed. Bush whispers, "Franklin, What is the best thing I can do to help the country?" "Help the less fortunate, just as I did," FDR replies and fades into the mist.

Bush isn't sleeping well the fourth night when he sees another figure moving in the shadows. It is the ghost of Abraham Lincoln. Bush pleads, "Abe, what is the best thing I can do right now to help the country?" Lincoln replies, -----

"Go see a play."

Earlier today I spied snow that had dusted the mountaintops last night. None on the ground here, though maybe tonight or tomorrow night...

Last month I had returned home for some family birthdays. Our family went up to Niagara Falls for the day. The American Falls are in the foreground, the Horseshoe (Canadian) Falls in the background. They're 150' - 180' high.

picture by: my bro.

the 'rents.

(behind them is a large rapid upriver. this area would probably be underwater if both countries weren't diverting water for the hydro plants. remember those small islands we went walking on, marv?) 

the fam. 

Mystery Fruit

Walking this fall, I took notice of a very bushy tree in a neighbor's yard. It was about eight feet tall and had small green fruits all over it, which ripened to yellow in the heat of September. Since this is Virginia, I wasn't sure what it could be. Tonight I snuck into their yard and picked up a few of the fallen fruits. They're a bit fuzzy, as you can see in the picture. What do you think?

(BTW, I also picked up Proust again, which is at the top of this pic.) 

Is lemon too obvious an answer? In VA?

Homemade granola. Can you say....yummy?! Perfect for cool fall days or nights with warm soymilk. 

I was lucky enough this week to take off at the last minute with a friend to The Homestead resort, which is a national historic landmark tucked in the Virginia mountains close to the WV line. It's an amazing place...prepared to be pampered like you wouldn't believe! The only reason I was able to stay is because a friend had a conference there. These peeps have mad money, yo.

the east wing.

this is only two-thirds of it.

i sat out here for a while reading and waiting for my friend to finish his seminar.

the great hall. no jeans, please.

the spa entrance. the steaming pool to the right are some of the hot springs bubbling up.

a classic sign on the drive out.

yes, more foliage pics! these guys weren't too thrilled either...

the reds and yellows were spectacular this year...we were afraid everything was going to be brown because of a slight drought this fall.

syria valley

hebron valley