You're building stairs where, now?

So we’ve told family and friends about the steps we’re having built from the deck down toward the road. But it’s hard to visualize, so here are some photos to help you see what the heck we’re talking about.

Looking down from the deck (as you turn left when you exit the patio doors)

Same view, only moved over to the left

Looking back up at the house

Next phase: heading down toward the road (if you look carefully at the upper left-hand corner of this photo, you can actually see the road); of course, we're not literally taking the stairs all the way down to the road - just in that general direction

A profile shot (heat pump in the foreground)

Taken from the deck, this tries to show as much of the project as possible

Hope this helps orient you. I’ll try to update photos as construction progresses. Keep your fingers crossed for good weather so building can continue!

Happy Halloween!

While not particularly spooky, the colors in these images are just about right for Halloween, wouldn't you say?

FeederWatch calendar update

I just found out yesterday that recently (last week, I believe), Martha Stewart had David Bonter from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology on her show, talking about bird watching, bird feeding, and Project FeederWatch. David brought along several items of print media, one of which was this year's FeederWatch calendar. A little over halfway through the segment Martha holds up the calendar, and there's my photo! Good exposure for Project FeederWatch, and good exposure for my photo. Check it out at marthastewart.com by typing Project FeederWatch in the search field.

Fall nappin'

This is how our dog Emmett spent part of a recent lovely autumn afternoon.




I'm with ya buddy.

Grateful, excited

In less than a month, I will be starting my 3rd season as a participant in Project Feederwatch, a citizen science project put on by Cornell University's Lab of Ornithology. I'm really looking forward to logging my bird information this year. I already know that we'll have Red-breasted Nuthatches this year (we had none last year, and 2 at the most the year before). The Dark-eyed Junco used to be my favorite winter bird, but I think that the RB Nuthatch has officially taken that honor now.

Interestingly, participating in Project Feederwatch is what finally spurred me to buy my Nikon D50 digital SLR camera and to get into photography as a serious hobby (I wanted to take pictures of all of my beautiful birds!). It seemed only natural that these 2 interests should complement each other so well. Luckily, the people at Cornell University want to see the pictures that people like me take of their birds. Sometimes they will even use them on their website or in their various publications. Several weeks ago I learned that one of the photos that I submitted from last winter is being used in the official 2007-2008 Project Feederwatch calendar! Not only did they choose to put one of my photos in their calendar, but the photo is the front page photo. Holy cow! I was truly stunned to see my Cardinal photo right there, staring me in the face, on the front of their calendar. Thank you, Cornell University birding folks, for allowing me the chance to share my love of birds with all the other Feederwatchers!

The photo Cornell chose to use for the Project Feederwatch calendar

For any of you reading who have never heard of Project Feederwatch, you should check it out. The count season starts on November 10th and runs through April 4th. It's great fun, and it's a great way to get to know the birds in your area.

out and about

This is our outdoor chillin' spot

New River photo

The grist mill at New River Gorge

Post the Second

A picture I took up in Michigan (September 2007).

post the first

Whatchyou lookin' at Willis?!