USPS under Stress

(Note: Our mail lady delivers the mail in a gold Jeep, but you get the idea.) How is your USPS doing these days? Ours is really struggling. It has to be hard, with workers out with Covid, so many shipping issues and failures on the Federal level. They cannot deliver the mail to every house every day right now. On Thursday, they had to close the Post Office altogether (a first!). I'd be fine with a weekly delivery if it would help. I'm so grateful for our small group of carriers and clerks. Every day they risk their lives for us. I hope they come through it okay. Wondering if we should get a PO Box, so they won't have to deliver to us.

 

Magical Light

 

"Magical light at day's end"

by Lisa Lovelette, used with permission

One Year Ago...

     The Vermont teacher who knitted Bernie's mittens was stunned at the recognition they engendered. She has teamed up with Vermont Teddy Bear Factory to make mittens based on her design, and a portion of the proceeds are going to charity.  During the past year, there have been a number of fund raisers with her mittens which also raised money for the Vermont Food Bank and other charities.  VPR spoke with her today: https://www.vpr.org/vpr-news/2021-01-21/meet-jen-ellis-the-woman-behind-bernie-sanders-inauguration-day-mittens

Where to buy authentic Bernie mittens: https://www.vermontteddybear.com/aboutberniemittens.html
I'm buying a pair for a nephew's January birthday. 

The Top of Vermont Before the Storm

Full Moon

 

Winter Bonfire

 

Mug Shot

 This was sent to me by a Methodist clergy friend! 😄

The original wording:

“Do all the good you can

By all the means you can

In all the ways you can

In all the places you can

At all the times you can

To all the people you can."

Creativity?

 

One Month to Go!

I mostly HAD to post this here today because it's Maine*Grandson's 6th birthday, and he is really excited about getting a ride in Grandad's new red hybrid truck when it finally arrives (about one month from today)!  Only, you need to picture this truck with a black textured hood protector, black side window deflectors and mudflaps. But this "hot pepper red" is the colour.  It will also have a tailgate assist...because eventually we get old. LOL.  We have never pre-ordered a vehicle before.  If it really does arrive for Valentine's Day, it will have been an 8 month wait exactly.

Ice and Snow on the Crabapple

 

Female Downy Woodpecker

 

Male Goldfinch in Winter Plumage

 

😹😸😹😸😹

 

Delicate

 

Steller's Sea Eagle

Steller’s Sea Eagle, Georgetown, Maine. January 2, 2022.  Photo by PhD*Son who made the trek to see it.  This eagle, with 8' wing span, normally lives in Asia or Russia, and has been spending time in the Canadian maritimes after crossing the continent from Alaska.  Currently it's hanging out in Maine. Amazingly rare, this was a Life Bird for PhD*Son!  Read all about it here: Press Herald article

And!  Here's a video presentation that is really well done.  https://www.newscentermaine.com/article/news/local/rare-stellers-sea-eagle-spotted-in-midcoast-maine-audubon-russia-five-islands-georgetown/97-52cc6511-fd40-47c1-a027-2ec00619d92b?fbclid=IwAR32KJ2pAO2Ll72mb-vpWSBsE3O6DgE150UunMR1s5cQaFdVXPQDfudQkM

NASA's James Webb Space Telescope crew DID IT! 
                                      Full Deployment! 
https://www.npr.org/2022/01/08/1071563942/nasas-james-webb-telescope-completes-its-final-unfolding-in-space

An Adult at the Helm

 "I will allow no one to place a dagger at the throat of democracy."

~ President Joe Biden, 6 January 2022

For Hannah (and all) from Alan:

Screenshot 215 shows how to post a clickable link with title and comment.

❤️HAPPY BIRTHDAY, CATREONA! 🌟

 

Hoping your birthday is not as nationally exciting this year. 😉

🎉HAPPY BIRTHDAY, RENEE! 🌟

 

Star Gazing

 

PLAYTIME!