Hannah

This is little Hannah. She is the daughter of my friends Gabe and Kristen and the granddaughter of my friends Joe and Marie. Last summer, I crocheted a blanket to welcome her into the world.
She didn't really need the blanket during the summer, though. It was already toasty warm without a heavy purple and pink blanket. So I took the blanket to the "America's Fair" and won an honorable mention ribbon for it.
In the fall, I gave the blanket to Grandma Marie, and she brought it to Hannah's mom and dad in Virginia.
Just recently, I was sent some pictures of Hannah playing on the blanket. As you can see from these pictures, Hannah loves her books and her toys. She is well dressed for the occasion, as she matches her blanket quite nicely.

Upside down books

The world of literature looks a little bit different when seen upside down.

Baby's blanket

Hannah enjoys her collection of toys.

snowstorm!

When I went out to bring the garbage cans back, this is what I saw across the street!
And this is nothing compared to other places, where the snow has been falling for days on end...

jewelry making fun

Last night, I went to a continuing education class at Grand Island High School. The title of the class was "Beaded Watch Bracelet."
Jewelry making is an art form with which I have no experience. I have been interested in learning how to do it for a long time, however. The teacher, Joyce Klima, made the class a good deal of fun. First of all, she had beads of all sorts of shapes, sizes, and colors. Going through all of that treasure was a treat... and picking out the parts to the watch bracelet... well... it was good...
I chose a silver watch face with a design that made me think of the sun... and I chose blue and green as colors for the bracelet, because they made me think of the sea. And they were glittery and bright, just like the sea with the reflection of the sun in it.
After I finished my sea dream watch, I had plenty of time left over, and Joyce encouraged me to play... so I made a matching necklace and bracelet... a sea dream set... for alice, who misses her walks by the water.

frozen wasteland: images of winter

The warm, springlike days of December and January ended abruptly when lake effect brought snow, wind, and bone-chilling cold to Western New York. February ushered in arctic air and a monochromatic world. The groundhog's prediction of an early spring... could that be real...
February has a reputation for being the coldest month, but, fortunately, it's also the shortest month of the year...

another image of winter

There is nothing left here to eat for the animals who live in the nearby woods. Deer can be seen on front porches, looking for food. Early in the morning, deer prints can be spotted in people's yards.

still more images of winter

Moving all of that snow seems like a task for Sisyphus. It has to be taken away from the driveway and the street and the sidewalk... but the trees... there, it looks pretty and is welcomed!!!

my trip to georgia

On January 25, I got on an airplane and headed down to Atlanta, Georgia, where I met two friends. We drove down to Columbus, Georgia and stayed there for nearly five days. Below are some of the pictures and impressions of my adventure in Georgia. For more information about the trial, feel free to check out my other blog, Alice in SOA land. You'll find a link on the right-hand side of the webpage.

sculptures in atlanta airport

In the Atlanta airport is an interesting exhibit of sculptures, all made by artists from Zimbabwe. The sculpture with the one head rising above two other heads is titled "Caring Mother" and was sculpted by Lameck Bonjisi (1973-2003). The sculpture with the giant hand above the three small faces is titled "Protected Spirit" and was sculpted by Sylvester Mulabyi (born 1942). The sculpture depicting a large group of people, is titled "Generation Pyramid" and was created by Gedion Nyanhongo.

a view of alabama

Across the Chattahoochee River is Phenix City, Alabama. When you cross the bridge, you discover that you are living in the past... one hour in the past, to be exact. While Columbus, Georgia, is on eastern time, Phenix City and the rest of Alabama is on central time. This can be the source of much confusion!

the riverwalk!

The Riverwalk extends a great distance. Last year, when it was a good deal warmer, I walked from near the convention center to the entrance of Fort Benning on the Riverwalk, a distance of eight miles. It is a beautiful walk along the Chattahoochee River. Part of the Riverwalk is a brick sidewalk, while the majority of it is a paved bicycle path.
Unfortunately, this year, the weather was not quite as cooperative.

bridges

A view from the riverwalk of the Chattahoochee River.

near the riverwalk...

... is parkland, with interesting things to see, such as old cannons, a small outdoor theater space, and a number of gazeboes. Above is one of the gazeboes. Further down the riverwalk is a solar clock. During this visit to Columbus, I did not get very far down the riverwalk because it was so cold!!!

interesting house

This was a great house, with that enormous porch and with the columns in front. It is very close to the river, in the historic section of Columbus.

park in Columbus

After leaving the Riverwalk, I walked by this park. I was fascinated by its design and by the use of water and machinery.

january flowers

On one of my walks through Columbus, I saw these flowers. All of that bright color was a treat for me, coming from the frozen wasteland known as Western New York!

the open door community

This is Dick, one of a number of people who told me about the work and the history of the Open Door Community, located in Atlanta, where I stayed from the evening of Monday, January 29, until the morning of Wednesday, January 31. I was grateful for the warm welcome that I received there after my trial was over.
The Open Door Community is a place where homeless people can find hot meals, a shower, clean clothes, and medical help. It is a place where all are accepted, both the homeless and wayfaring strangers, such as me.

puppies!

Mike and Amy Vosburg-Casey recently acquired two puppies. They are seven weeks old in this picture and are referred to as the jumpers because they bounce up and down. They like to wrestle with one another and make all sorts of growly noises. They love people and are eager for more and more attention. They are learning new skills, such as... um... doggie bathroom skills (take that outside, please).

chickens!

Mike Vosburg-Casey is a chicken farmer and a piano tuner (not simultaneously). He talked about chickens at his trial before Judge Faircloth. I think that he was probably the first defendant that Judge Faircloth has ever had who talked about chickens!
The chickens seem to take great delight in the culinary treats offered in the compost heap!

breakfast at Mike's house

Mike, Melissa, and I had the opportunity to enjoy some extra time together after our trials were over. We had a delicious breakfast at Mike's house, which included, among other delicacies, scrambled eggs made from the fresh eggs that his chickens laid. We enjoyed one another's company and the company of other friends.

view from airplane

On my way home from Georgia, I saw this body of water through the window. Shortly after I took this picture, the plane flew into a bank of clouds.

seatmate

This is Ewe. He is originally from Germany, but now he lives in Mexico. He said that he was tired of the weather in Germany so he moved to Mexico to get warm. He has lived in Mexico for ten years. Since he moved there, he got married and is the father of two small children.
He travels regularly to buy cars at auction. He drives them back to Mexico and then sells them. This was his first trip to Buffalo to buy cars from a car auction place. After we arrived at the Buffalo airport, my dad and I drove him to the car auction place to pick up the vehicles.