What Will Jack Aidan Be For Halloween?

What Will Jack Aidan Be For Halloween?

In 2008 When He Was One Year Old

He Was A Minnie Mickey Mouse.

Washington--Another Year, Another Sniper Creating Havoc

Washington Metro Area--Another Year, Another Sniper Creating Havoc
We had a sniper in 2002.
We have a new unknown sniper right now.
FBI and police investigators think it may be a disgruntle marine.
So far just shot out windows and nobody hurt.

Take A Trip To Huntley Meadows Park

Take A Trip To Huntley Meadows Park

3701 Lockheed Blvd, Alexandria, VA
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Huntley Meadows Park in Fairfax County was created when the authorities decided to build Dulles International Airport way out west in Centreville, VA. If this land which borders a Coast Guard facility and Telegraph Road in the eastern part of Fairfax County had been chosen for the new international airport, they would have had to bring in lots of fill dirt because this land is really a wetlands. Every time I come here for a walk it always amazes me that this huge wetlands is right in the middle of a high traffic area of the county.

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Bird and wildlife watchers come here in droves toting huge cameras and tripods to photograph all the wildlife that lives here amidst a very bustling suburban environment. Fairfax county school children come here too to experience the wetlands and to visit the nature center.
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The other day when Jack and I came we were also amazed by something else. This huge stand of cattails that grew this year in the park. Thousands and thousands of eight foot tall cattails line the boardwalks that take you out on the wetlands.

The cattails are ripe and spilling millions and millions of seeds in the water so next year most likely there will be another bumper crop of cattails.

The autumn leaves on the trees that border the wetlands are very pretty in late October. If you look closely you can see a blue egret standing in the water in the middle of the photo. Jack and I also say lots of Canadian geese and ducks and various water birds here the other day.


If you look in the murky water you might spot a water snake. That happened to me on another visit.

And look at this house of wood among the cattails. The beavers have built a beaver dam home here in the wetlands.

To learn more about the history and wildlife of Huntley Meadows click here: www.fairfaxcountygov.parks/huntley/

Girls In The Hood With Boy Hidden In Hat Plus Big Black Dog

Girls In The Hood With Boy Hidden In Hat Plus Big Black Dog

Equals

Halloween Mayhem Silliness

And Boy Hidden In Hat Is Drinking Apple Cider From A Sippy Cup!

What Does Grandma Shipley Think?

Halloween Is Getting Near

Because The Spookies and Sillies Are Here!

Girls In The Hood

Girls In The Hood
Equals

Spooky! Spooky!

Fall Color in Virginia

Fall Color in Virginia

Skywatch Friday = Con Trails In My Skies

From Planes Taking Off From Dulles International Airports Two Runways

Have a great weekend!

Now go visit some other Skywatch Friday memes by just clicking here:

http://skyley.blogspot.com/

Barney and Jeanine on Sunday

Barney and Jeanine on Sunday

Give that girl a hand.

She can drink coffee, handle Barney and carry on a conversation with Mom and Dad.

All at the same time.

You try that.

I know I couldn't do it.

My World Tuesday = Barney's Jack-O-Lantern

My World Tuesday = Barney's Jack-O-Lantern

Barney is our daughter's 8 month old black Labrador retriever.

Barney and Jeanine paid us a visit on Sunday.

I gave Barney a stuffed jack-o-lantern.

Here is the pumpkin waiting for Barney to notice it.

Barney looked.

Barney sniffed.

Barney chewed and tossed.

A dog has got to do what a dog has to do.

Explore and investigate.

That's it.

Not go visit some other My World Tuesday memes by clicking here:

http://showyourworld.blogspot.com/

This Was Good: Cowboy Caviar Salad

This Was Good: Cowboy Caviar Salad With Avocado Slices

2 cans black-eyed peas,drained

2 cans of white corn, drained

4 Tablespoons of fresh chopped cilantro or fresh chopped Italian parsley

1 bunch of green onions, chopped

2 cloves of garlic, chopped fine

1 cup of cherry tomatoes (or any tomatoes) chopped

1/2 cup to 3/4 cup of any Italian style dressing

salt and pepper to taste

Combine above ingredients in bowl. Let marinate for at least 1/2 hour to blend.

***

When serving garnish salad with freshly peeled and sliced avocado slices.

(I bought 2 avocados--used one for first serving, and one for second serving. If making for a crowd, place salad on platter and garnish with avocado slices at last minute.)

Note: I Adapted this recipe from one I found on blog of second cousin Mike Gariety of Modesto, CA.

Look Up/Look Down

Look up.

See the October blue skies.

Then look down.

See maple leaves on the ground.

October Book Club Read

October Book Club Read

The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, by Rebecca Skloot

To learn more about this book go to my book club blog: http://piedmontreaders.blogspot.com/

Have A Happy October Weekend Everyone!

Pumpkins

And More Pumpkins

Have A Happy October Weekend Everyone!

Red Hot News Flash

Red Hot News Flash: Check Out Jenn's Blog

I know I'm partial but our daughter Jennifer has just posted several cute blogs with pics of our grandson Jack Aidan. Check my blog list on the right and click on Jenn and Terry. And while you are blog surfing do also go to Abe Lincoln's My Bird's Blog posted in my blog list. He has just posted a really cool photo of a hummingbird at his honeysuckle vine.

It Is Raining Today

It Is Raining Today

We have a northeaster coming up the Atlantic Coast this morning. It is bringing rain and wind.

I will have to check my rain gauge that is attached to the silver bird by these black pots.

Notice the black shadow on the lily bed. That's my shadow.

Look out! The Shadow is watching you today!

(I think I'm getting into the Halloween spirit.)

Jack Aidan At Cox's Farm Pumpkin Patch

Jack Aidan At Cox's Farm Pumpkin Patch

Today Jack went with Mommy to Cox's Farm Pumpkin Patch.

Three years ago the following pics show Jack Aidan having his first encounter with pumpkins.

(Why do I have this underline going thru my writing? Beats me!

And my Jack is too busy today to solve this technical error, so you folks are just going to have to read between the lines, so to speak!

Pumpkins

Pumpkins

Fall of My Blog

Fall of My Blog

I haven't posted anything since late Thursday of last week. Why? Because I got hijacked by Ken Follett's latest book which is a hefty read. Like his previous bestsellers The Pillars of the Earth and World Without End, this book has almost a thousand pages so I had to prop the book up on a pillow in my lap to read it because of its weight. But in spite of the length and weight I managed to read it in five days.
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I love history so I love historical novels that give you new insights into a time period. The Fall of Giants is the first of a series of three books that Ken Follett plans to write about the world history of the twentieth century. The Fall of Giants covers the build up to World War I, the war and the aftermath of the war. It gave me a good picture of the supreme world powers of that period: England, France, Germany and Russia and of the up and coming world power, the United States.
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My thoughts after reading this novel: The more things change, the more they stay the same it seems. Whatever countries are the current world powers feel they have the right to step in and micro manage other countries around the world in whatever way they think fits best for their interests and their concept of the world's best interests. In this case, it was how England and France divided up the middle east for their own benefit including creating the new nation of Iraq and how additional new European countries were created by these world powers to replace the old Austro-Hungarian Empire--countries like Yugoslavia and Czeckosl0vakia. Reading this first part of the three part Follett trilogy gave me a better understanding of how the Treaty of Peace in Paris after World War I and the creation of Wilson's League of Nations which was done with the very best of intentions ultimately led to the Second World War.
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And with that you could state that thru out civilization countries are like people: they are born, they live and then they die or are killed in some fashion. For example,Czechoslovakia is now two countries: the Czech Republic and Serbia. Yugoslavia is now seven various nations. Final thought of the day: I wonder what will happen in the future to Iraq? Will it split into three countries following ethnic and/or religious differences in the land? Something to ponder on this lovely autumn day while I anxiously await Ken Follett's second book in his trilogy of the twentieth century.

Skywatch Friday = Haymarket Days Parade

Skywatch Friday = Haymarket Days Parade

The Skies Were Blue For Moo Cow and The Battlefield High Band

Thanks For Stoping By My Blog

Click Here To Visit More Skywatch Friday Memes"

http://skyley.blogspot.com/

A No Hitter Wow!

A No Hitter Wow!

A Cincinnati Reds player said it was like hitting nothng and called him an ace among aces. So I think the angels in heaven were even celebrating Phillies pitcher, Roy Halladay's no hitter game against the Reds. Wow! First post season no hitter since 1956 when Don Larsen did it. And that was 54 years ago. I can still remember my late brother, Harold Gariety, talking about that game.

A New Rooster In The House

A New Rooster In The House

Look at this. I get to crow about a new rooster in my house. Thank you Hailie! Hailie gave me this plate to add to my rooster collection in my kitchen. I admit that I do have quite a few roosters around my house and they are all here to remind me that I once worked five summers at the now defunt Poultry Producers Association in Versailles, Ohio. It was commonly called "the egg auction". A girl has to find some type of work to afford to pay her way thru college. I owe my egg auction career to a nice man by the name of John Henry who hired me each summer.

Spring Flowers In Autumn

Spring Flowers In Autumn

Clematis In Bloom

I have several clematis vines in my yard. They started blooming this year in May. After the first spring bloom they continued to produce a few blooms and this will continue till a strong frost shuts down all production. All that my clematis vines need are water and sun. I've learned this the hard way. I've killed too many of these vines by fertilizing them with MiracleGro. Just leave them alone and let God look after them.

By the way, speaking of frost I have to admit that we have been so cold this past week that we did another autumn 180 reverse. We turned off the air conditioning and turned on the heat. The furnace is only running at night when the temps drop along with the setting sun. And hopefully the weather in a day or two will be back up in the mid '70s.

Eency Weency Spider Plant

Eency Weency Spider Plant
Grew Up In My Flowerbed
He Bloomed and Bloomed and Bloomed
Til I Pulled Him Right Out Of That Bed
But He Will Be Back Next Summer
To Delight and Feed A Little Hummer
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Note to Reader: Spider Plant and his many cousins left a lot of seeds in my bed that will sprout next spring.

Can Hummingbirds Read Calenders?

Can Hummingbirds Read Calenders?

September 30 Hummers at the feeders

October 1 No hummers at the feeders

Does that mean hummers have a special way of reading the lunar calender to know when to start heading south? Beats me. I just know that they got out of Haymarket, VA overnight. I already miss them coming to the feeders for my suger water.

October 1 Time For A Pumpkin Pic

October 1

Time For A Pumpkin Pic

Have A Wonderful October Weekend Everybody!