Just A Dusting

OK. Winter can be done now. But nooooo...today we're due for a "dusting" of snow. So far:

 But the snow makes for good fox sighting. Here's the big guy in my neighbors yard last week.

With the snow on the ground you can see where he scaled the chain link fence.

And made his way across the yard...

 I had just opened the front door, camera in hand, to take a s now picture when I sighted him as he crossed. He saw me and put on more speed before I could react. I went out and followed the tracks.

 Behind the row of evergreens to the corner of the fence and back into my yard...

 Past the shed and under the blue spruce...

 Through the boxwood row and into the field...

 Down the path....

 Back out to cross the field...

 Into the brush....

 And out....

Finally into deep cover where I could not follow. I could see the older tracks he had made on the way into the yards. He seems to have a routine path. The last snow I saw him playing in the snow in the field but he was too far away to get a good picture. Maybe next time.

Valentine

 Be my grilled cheese Valentine.

The Rifleman (Christmas Delay)

Well, Christmas has come late this year for some of us.

Thanks to an ice storm knocking out power in Philadelphia my son and his family finally made it to Alexandria as ice refugees. And I finally get to tell this story since it involves a Christmas present for my son.

I gave this classic lunchbox to PFS for Christmas. Back in the day at grad school at Penn State we watched the TV show while we ate dinner. TV stations offered few viewing choices in State College.

Now the box sit in the back entry and will hold first aid supplies.

In turn, PFS gave JBS his classic 1957 Browning light weight 12 gauge shotgun. Made in Belgium by Fabrique National, it was bought in Milltown, NJ for $180 when he was 16.

 The serial number also dates it to 1957.

Not fired in over fifty years.

 Cleaned and restored.

His Philadelphia country club has skeet shooting so it may still have a life left. We are generally not into gun play, I just hope he doesn't shoot himself in the foot.

Sunday Flowers and Raspberry Pruning

 Outside this was the scene...gray...as I pruned the first berry patch.

 Prettier inside.

Stop by Today's Flowers #282 for a spot of color.