Nicole, beautiful flower. I meant to say that your rose pic is gorgeous too!! Everybody, very interesting pics today. Thanks.

Beautiful pictures today!! Even though winter is brutal, it certainly has it's beautiful side. Nicole, redwing blackbird is my most favorite bird!!! I don't get them here at my house, but see them up at the farm. My picture is from last year. Taking a nice ride in the snow on a sunny day. It is way too cold to even go to the farm right now.

View from the top of the ridge from the top of my street. First one telephoto.

Record temperatures around here in recent days, about 60 degrees today. I brought the overcoat - over my arm, for it'll be dark when I leave, I figure ... though I may leave early, for I'm inviting a number of neighbours to contribute to Heart and Stroke research and support, these days (February being Heart Month) and there are only a few days left but a number of doors left on which to knock. I'm slipping, I think, for I invited the old guys at coffee hour at church to participate, and one did, last year: this year - none. Contributed myself, last year, as the stock that I gave to the United Way, which enables me to pay zero income tax on the capital gain, was for somewhat less than usual, so I agreed to write a check for a couple of hundred to four agencies, one of them being Heart and Stroke. Confession time ... I neglected to send a cheque to the other three agencies ... procrastination? laziness? lack of enthusiasm to pay them with after-tax money? Anyway, last year's fund (to go out this year) was somewhat larger than usual, so I'll send a double amount, this year, to those three ... of after-tax money. ole joyful