It's almost embarrassing, this great weather we're having.  We should be at very least experiencing dark and dreary days, but instead we've had beautiful sunshine and very reasonable temperatures.  When I went for my walk this noon, I spotted a lovely stem of milkweed pods at the side of Jamie and Marie's driveway.  The sun was hitting it and it fairly glowed.  I didn't have my camera with me, but after lunch I went back up to get a picture.  The sun was behind some big spruces, so the effect wasn't the same, and I'm sure with wind and possibly rain during the next couple of days, the ripe seeds will have left the pods - so the moment has been  missed.  I took a picture anyway - but not that impressive.

When I got back to the house, I went out in our back yard hoping there might be a similar display with the sun on it, but apparently we didn't have much milkweed around our house this year.  I should bring some of those seeds over . . .  Never mind. I noticed the apple tree is bare of leaves and apples, except for one. Wind, rain, freezing nights and sunny days have taken a toll and left this one apple looking tough as old leather.  It's hanging from a low branch, so some hungry turkey or curious deer may find it tempting after other food is buried under the snow - if the apple manages to hang on that long.

And then there's Woody.  Every now and then when I unload pictures from our camera I find a surprise.  This picture was taken sometime this weekend when I was absorbed in reading the newspaper and didn't realize Woody was apparently "reading" it, too . . . and both of us were unaware Fred was taking pictures.  I thought our cat was only interested in TV, preferably the commercials, but I guess he has other interests, as well. 

Speaking of cats - Fred found this interesting article about how cats, dogs and other animals find their way home, sometimes over long distances. We've all read about and perhaps experienced a pet having been lost for a long time and finally making it's way home.  This article sheds some light on how they probably do that.

As I was going through more photos today, I found this one.  I don't know if the car was disabled because of muddy roads, had run out of gas or had some mechanical breakdown, but oxen to the rescue!  They seemed to be effortlessly moving it along.  I suspect the Barretts were a little embarrassed, but those early motor cars with narrow wheels and not much power were often stranded on the unpaved roads of the time.  This next picture was taken somewhere in Cabot.  I have no idea where it would have been, but that is some big culvert!  These photos are from a collection belonging to Erma Perry.