Autumn Still Life

This time of year most people post pictures of leaves, October blue skies, barnyard scenes and so on.  I'm not most people.  My autumn still life is thus:  a bottle of La Vieille Freme.  A red table wine from the slopes of Mount Ventoux: a final backwards glance at a summer well spent.  Days of warmth.  Days spent racing my boats, lazing on the beach, peddling bikes, barbecuing.  To the extreme right we have the future.  A fine bottle of Linie Norwegian Aquavit, the harbinger of Jul which will be here in ten weeks.  Here's to a groaning board with herring and Jasson's temptation!  Linie is aged in sherry casks and is sent on a voyage, crossing the equator (the line or "linie") twice.  This particular batch went to sea on the 12th of January, 2012 and returned home on the 14th of May the same year.  The Dogfish Head Punkin' Ale and the the little nip of Fireball cinnamon whiskey speak to the sudden chill in the October air.  My kind of trick or treat!

Governor Bridge Park

Today was a dull, chilly day with temps in the low 40s.  I worked on one of my boats and then took a quick walk around a local natural area about five miles from home.

In warm months this park is a favorite of bird watchers and canoeists.

The small ponds were frozen.  I just missed a photo opportunity with a bright red male cardinal.  The winter berries will have to stand in as a substitute.

The snow from last week was still around in the shady areas on the path to the canoe launching area.

All quiet at the launching site.

The Patuxent River was ice-free.  The Patuxent flows into the Chesapeake Bay.  You can read more here:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patuxent_River

This woodpecker was one of the few birds seen today.

He was busy doing what woodpeckers do best.