Save the baby humans!

I'm sure glad I don't put my trust in men or I'd be hiding under the bed after Obama's win. But God is still God and he will not be mocked. I'm afraid all the people who voted their pocketbooks will find out that socialism doesn't improve anyone's lot. As for me, I'm going to renew my efforts in defense of the unborn -- because they are the brothers and sisters of my own precious babies. Just think 1/3 of the children in every birthday year since 1973 have died in U.S. abortion mills. Look at your children's classmates and consider all the missing young ones. What a tragedy for our country: the future doctors, economists, teachers, inventors, writers, composers. All missing -- all those gifts planned for us by God denied.

I am so thankful that one message Larry and I got across well was the value of human life. Thank you, Lord, for our eighteen grandchildren. Please protect them and all the babies who are their brothers and sisters in Christ.

Loving the free lunch.

I love my birds. This feeder is outside my office window. Larry took the screen out to wash the window and never put it back. So now I open the window wide enough to get my camera out slightly and go at it. Get some great pictures that way!

If you're a birdwatcher I won't need to tell you to stick with it for the entire three minutes because you'll enjoy it. If you are not a birdwatcher, but like chipmunks hang on until the greedy little bugger shows up. He's a stuffer. Stuffs those cheeks until they can't hold another seed, leaves to unload, and then comes back for more. If he could have voted today I'm sure he would have voted for Obama to keep the free lunch coming. He is definitely engaging in income redistribution. Bird seed has gone up incredibly. Two years ago it was about $12 for 50 pounds. This year it's $28.

Laura's photos from Arizona - what a country!

While Larry and I were hiking here in the east, sister Laura was in Arizona. Quite a bit warmer I'd say judging from her apparel. I thought you would enjoy seeing her photos. What amazing country that has such a variety of flora and fauna depending on where you are.

Hiking and Praying on All Souls Day

Sunday is a great day for hiking! Larry and I like to pack up our hiking poles, put rosaries in our pockets and head out for an adventure in God's great outdoors. Today we planned to hike the Mudhole Gap Trail on the western side of the Massanutten Mountain, but we overshot the gravel road and ended up at the Fort Valley Road. So we changed plans, turned left, and headed off to Elizabeth Furnace and the Signal Knob Trail up to Buzzards' Rock Overlook. Signal Knob (a site the Confederates used as a lookout during the Civil War) is a ten mile round trip and too much for our old knees, but the overlook is perfect - three miles up and back with a nice resting place for a Zone bar and an apple. The trail is rocky and all uphill, but that means it's downhill heading back so we weren't complaining. And what a beautiful day! Perfect weather - 60s and sunny. It wasn't even too cool walking in the woods - just beautiful. And the leaves are still colorful. See for yourself. On the way back down we met two men with a young boy and a dog that made us do a double take. She was Shaley sans her beautiful tail. She had the big white blaze in front, again just like Shaley. We thought it was her reincarnation. I just had to take her picture. I forgot to ask her name, but she is beautiful no matter what you call her. Her owner said she wasn't a border collie; she's an aussie. But she sure looked like our Shaley. Almost made me cry since we only put Shaley to sleep in the Spring. We ended our All Souls Day outing with a stop at the cemetery near our home where we prayed the Chaplet of Divine Mercy for all the Poor Souls, and especially prayed for Mom and Dad Kreitzer and Mom and Dad Schneider and, of course, all our brothers and sisters, in-laws, and friends who have gone before us. We hope they are praying for us as well. Every time I see this gravestone I wonder if George Stevens fought in the Civil War. He was the right age and he would probably have been in Stonewall Jackson's army. Think I'll end this with a little video I did through the car window on the way home. Didn't get the prettiest spot on the route, but even so it's beautiful. Come take a hike with us. No matter what your level there's something for everyone and we don't mind if you leave us in the dust. We'll meet you in the parking lot with a snack.

New birdfeeder

Larry and I visit a nursing home every Sunday where I take Communion to the Catholic residents. One lady, Madeline, is 97 and feisty as can be. She is pretty much bedridden. Larry wanted to put up a birdfeeder outside her window and we bought a nice one, but when we got to the nursing home with it they said no. The maintenance man thinks the seed attracts mice to the building and they come in through the heating vents. Hey, mice will find a way in if they want. But our good deed will have to wait until Spring when we'll put up a hummingbird feeder. For now I have replaced my old feeder with a new squirrel-proof feeder. When the squirrel jumps on his weight closes all the doors. He hasn't given up and I hope to get a video of one of his acrobatic acts. In the meantime here are a few photos of the old and the new. I love my little birds! I'm mostly getting chickadees, tufted titmice, and nuthatches. Although the video below is a house finch. The goldfinches (who are brown for the winter) are coming as well. The perches may be too small for the cardinals. I hope the downy woodpecker can use them because they are one of my favorite birds. We'll see over time. Happy bird watching!

Ben and Sara's wedding - The Best is yet to Come!

If you missed Ben and Sara's wedding poor you. The Mass was beautiful and the reception was lots of fun! Don't miss the bagpiper video after the photos of family. (Take note of all those cousins? And that was just a few of them from the Schneider side of the family!) Don't mind the shaky video. I was trying to manage an umbrella that blew inside out while I was shooting.

The Groundhog Buster Strikes Again

Well, we caught another groundhog and took him down to the dam. So it's Paka two, groundhogs zero. This one was happily eating tomatoes in the cage and didn't seem too upset about his condition. Guess he heard he was about to go on a waterfront vacation. I held the camera properly this time and got him heading straight for me. Hope you enjoy this, Brendan.