Skipped January

Never have I been a fan of January. I care little if anything transpires in January. That is probably quite evident by the attention not paid to this blog. Well, it is now February and the days are getting longer. It is after 5:00 p.m. and it is not completely dark yet. That is a very good thing. But, not much has happened or going on so far in February. We have spent most of the last five days bemoaning the abundance of snow that has come and is forecasted to continue to come and blanket us here. The natives are restless. School has been cancelled or delayed all week. Looks like a pretty ordinary snow scene to me. Friends in the west would surely laugh at the inactivity here in this snow. I wonder if I will ever get used to the differences in climate.

Saturday it snowed a bundle here. It was lovely powder and reminded me of Idaho winters. The guess-timators say we got 10 inches. That must be pretty close because in places it was above my knees. We ventured out on Sunday. We drove south to Ocean City, Maryland and turned around shortly after entering Maryland because the roads had not been cleared there. We then drove through Rehoboth Beach and then to Cape Henlopen State Park where folks were sledding and cross-country skiing. Many accesses to the beaches were closed because of the snow and possibly to discourage folks from sledding on the dunes. We enjoyed getting out and seeing the area in a different light.

Snowy roads at Cape Henlopen

Cold seagulls at Lewes Beach

On Monday, I drove to the Broadkill Beach area and to the Prime Hook Wild Life Refuge. What a surprise to see so few birds. This is where we have seen hundreds and hundreds of snow geese before and there were just a few this day. It was not that cold but the fowl had obviously sought different places to shield themselves from the foul weather. I was able to capture a few photos of on the outing including some of the geese and seagull enjoying the sunshine at Wagamons Pond.

A few snow geese

A gazillion other birds

Cold seagulls on Wagamons Pond

Can It Be? Christmas has Come and Gone

Bent and Bill strolling the beach

Here it is December 29. It is 20 degrees cooler than yesterday, the sky is clearer and the wind is not blowing as hard. It reached 72 yesterday. It was off to the beach time for us and several hundred, I am sure, other water loving souls. We went to a beach we have not been to since we moved here. It is one of the nicer areas in Cape Henlopen State Park. Herring Beach appears to be the beach where surfers congregate if yesterday is any indication. It also has distinctive rock out-croppings that make for more a secluded feeling of the area. It is very difficult for me to get down to the beaches here because the sand at the accesses and to the shoreline is so deep. That was a problem at this beach also but because of the great overlook I was able to enjoy the wind and the view without the sand. Bill and Bentley got in their requisite time walking the beach. I think we will return to this beach soon because I want to spend more time exploring some of the history, flora and fauna.

"T'was the night..."

Our Christmas was a very quiet affair. Bill and I spent Christmas Eve and Christmas Day opening gifts and talking with family and friends on the telephone. The most special time was when Erica called on Christmas Eve and read The Night Before Christmas to her Dad and baby Jacob. Bill read Erica the poem every year from her first Christmas (she was four months old) until she started reading it to him sometime between the time she was 8-10. That has continued each year since and even the years when she is away she telephones and reads through the wires. Now Jacob is part of the tradition. I do not know about Erica but I do know that Bill probably looks forward to that moment more than any at Christmastime.

Our decorating frenzy this year was quite subdued when compared to other years. I think that was wise. The tree held all of the eclectic ornaments collected through the years and has been a comfort to have in this season. It will be up for a few more days and then all the ornaments and other decor will be carefully stored away for another year. Getting them all out and up and then down and stored is a whole lot like opening an old family album, full of precious memories to share and recapture year after year.

A Break in the Action

Last weekend we were delighted to have Erica and Geoff's friends John, Alexandra and Katrina visit for the weekend. It was their first trip to "our neck of the woods" so, of course, the beach was on the agenda. It was chilly and a bit windy but nice. We also went to the Goshen UM Chicken-'n-Dumpling Dinner and mostly just sat back and enjoyed the the quiet.

We went to Cape Henolopen State Park. I like the beach better there than almost anywhere we have found in this area. Here are some photos taken of our beach excursion.

Katrina was not so sure about the whole thing. This was her first trip to the ocean and with the roar of waves and the biting wind she needed momentary reassurance from Mom.

Bill and Bentley strolling along the water's edge.

Heading toward the boardwalk.

Alexandra enjoying some sun and taking pictures.

Kiki pointing at the waves.

This is better now.

Part of the boardwalk blocked off.

Alexandra and Katrina enjoying a big hug.

John gathering it all in.

Beach from the boardwalk.

More beach from the boardwalk.

Kiki, with Dad's help, taking Mom's picture.

Summer Silliness

Erica, if she has never been anything else, has been silly. She and Geoff together are frequently very silly together. Add to that just one friend and then you wonder "What were they thinking?" This is especially true when considering that they are bright, extremely hardworking adults. Case in point: They and another friend think that their friend Mike should have a tattoo. The tattoo should reflect on his famous wings. So, a trip to the Miltonian Pizzeria and Wing House was in order for Mike to sample their wings and for Erica and Geoff to get him a gift of a new shirt. Their suggestion for the tattoo -- the logo for the Miltonian.

The request from them was to put Mike's picture on my blog for all of their other friends and family to see. So, I have succumbed to the silliness.

Nor' Easter with a Surprise

Today has been a very dreary day. We have had storm warnings all day and it has rained most of the day with strong gusts of wind every now and then. We have been waiting for the storm for a few days now and it has come from the south and from the west but it changed it colors and as it headed east the winds changed and are now from the northeast. Or, at least that what the weather folks tell us. We have gotten a lot of rain but I think those to the south and northeast of us are getting hit harder. It has been the type of day when you know should just stay tucked in and not venture out much but that doesn't seem like the fun thing to do. So, we headed over to Lewes and the beach and found a whole lot of other people doing the same thing. The water was not as churning as we have seen other times. The temperature is a little warmer than it has been the last couple of weeks. The most distinguishing thing is that it is a very, very gray day.

Yet, though all of the gray of the day we saw something very amazing -- a white deer. While driving through Cape Henlopen State Park we saw deer grazing where we often see them and there with them was a white deer. We turned the car around for a better look and sure enough there it was -- not pure white but white nonetheless. Yes, there is something special in every day.