Preparations for the Season

While the sun was shining and the temperature climbed to 42 degrees, Norm got busy hanging bird feeders and relocating the bird bath near the garage electrical outlet so we can plug in the heater (after we find it.) Here, he checks out the oil sunflower feeder at the back of the yard, with his own patented system of baffles to keep squirrels out of the seed.
We also have a thistle feeder just outside the office window.

This afternoon I ran errands and shopped for groceries (what every St. Louisan does when even a dusting of snow is forecast.) When I got home, Norm had the holiday lights and red bows decorating the euonymous bushes out back and the little Alberta Spruce that Doug and Matt gave us a few years back. Finally, it's big enough to be decorated for Christmas!


Two versions of the same scene. Above, the lights as they appeared when my camera was set on auto flash. The photo at right resulted when I turned off the flash and shot available light. (Our neighbors' solid brick garage looks good in the background.) Both photos were put through some of iPhoto's adjustments, but neither does justice to how cool the lights and bows look.