Finally a Sunset #SkywatchFriday

The United States, including my area, is experiencing unusual fall weather.  A year ago today, where I live in the Southern Tier of New York had a 44 inch snowfall (111.8 cm).  Meanwhile, yesterday it reached 63 F (17.2 C).  Go figure.

As part of this warm spell, we got to see the sun several times this week.   Mostly clear skies!  Not that common for us.

I missed a lovely sunrise the other day, but I got to see a couple of sunsets.  Let's go down by the Susquehanna River.  We need to hurry!

The sun gets ready to disappear behind a hill.

Just in time for a bit of afterglow.

But wait, the show isn't over yet.

Even after the sun disappears, its last rays linger.

And to all, a good night.

Joining Yogi and other sky watching bloggers for #SkywatchFriday.

In the Hidden Rooms

Please enjoy some more pictures of my visit to a Home to the Holidays (mostly) Christmas exhibit last week.

The Roberson Museum and Science Center in Binghamton, New York was once a mansion owned by Alonzo Roberson, a lumber magnate, and his wife Margaret.  Some claim the mansion is haunted. It certainly is full of history.

The International Forest I showed you Tuesday is from the main museum.  But now we will go into a different part of the building .

At Christmas time, visitors can enter the mansion portions that are not used for museum exhibits and enjoy some of those decorations.  In fact, we nearly missed this entire part of the exhibit.  It's only by accident (next time, we really should read the brochure you are given when you pay your admission) that we found these hidden rooms.

Shall we enter?

Announcing our entrance to the red rooms.

One of the main fireplaces.  And, to the right, a room with white curtains...

Let's leave the red for a moment.

Back to the red.

Finally, a detail of the walls.

More beauty from this exhibit in the following days.

Garden Bloggers Bloom Day December 2021 and Wordless Wednesday

It's the 15th of the month, and time for Garden Bloggers Bloom Day.  It's also Wordless Wednesday, and I welcome readers of both features to today's post.

Like much of the Northeast, we've had unseasonably mild weather.  Yesterday and Monday it was sunny and near 50.  I think Nature has swapped our weather for someone else's and we are going to pay dearly for this soon. Saturday, our high was 60, although it came with high winds - the remnants of the horrific storms that hit Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas and Illinois on Friday night.  My heart goes out to all those who suffered loss of homes, injuries, or worse.

Despite all that, it is still December in my zone 5b Southern Tier of New York, and outdoor flowers are almost nonexistent.  

I found a couple of violas blooming in a basket I've kept outdoors.  It's gotten down to 24 F (-4 C) so these, fortunately, are hardy.  I also have buds on my early blooming Lenten Rose, buried under leaves.

Indoors, an amaryllis bulb I purchased already forced is getting ready to bloom.

Some impatiens I took a cutting of from my outdoor garden in late October is potted and blooming. 

I bought this Calandiva (a relative of the kalanchoe) at a nursery open house the end of November.

At the same open house, I bought the Thanksgiving cactus on the right.  The one on the left is from the same nursery but from last year. 

Another of my Thanksgiving cactii. I think I overwatered this one.  It's several years old and is ailing but it gave its all producing this one bloom.  This photo is from last week; I just wanted to show it to you.

Speaking of kalanchoe, my two kalanchoe, after having been on strike the last couple of years, have decided to bloom.  They are still in bud.  These plants are several years old.  I took cuttings this year and replanted in new soil.

I am one of those soft hearted people who can't let plants just die.  These poinsettias are from last Christmas.  I had them outdoors in a large pot, and we brought them in before frost.  They don't seem to be that happy (losing a lot of leaves from the bottom) but they are trying to color up.  You can't see the tiny, tiny flowers trying to corm in the center of the reddish brachts.

And that's just about does it for December.

Thanking Carol at May Dreams Gardens for hosting Garden Bloggers Bloom Day each 15th of the month.

 

Also joining Sandee at Comedy Plus for her #WordlessWednesday

The International Forest

It's time to spread some joy and beauty of the season to counteract the grim news we've all been hearing recently.

Our community is fortunate to have the Roberson Museum and Science Center.  This is not a large museum but, then again, this is not located in a big city.  Spouse and I go several times a year, as some of the exhibits change.

Treasure what your community offers. 

Our Roberson Museum has a yearly exhibit called Home for the Holidays.  Besides the decorated Christmas trees (I'll be showing you more in other posts) it has an exhibit called The International Forest.  Members of various ethnic groups who live in our area share their customs in each exhibits, with artwork, a decorated tree, and food.

Here are some of the highlights.

Scotland.

Ireland.

Poland

I cut off the sign announcing this nationality.  Can one of my readers fill me in?

Finally, there were exhibits from the Jewish community (above) for Hanukkah and one on Kwanzaa. The latter, unfortunately, did not come out.  I've been having a problem with my iPhone camera occasionally blurring the entire picture, and I really need to look into it.

Tomorrow, I will be having a combination Wordless Wednesday/Garden Bloggers Bloom Day post.  I'll blog more about Home for the Holidays sometime in the coming days.

I'd love for you to join me tomorrow for some more beauty, the beauty of Nature.

Fun Christmas Songs #MusicMovesMe

It's Monday, and it's time for me to join the fine ladies and gentlemen of Music Moves Me.

 

Who are the Music Moves Me bloggers? We are bloggers who blog about music each Monday and if you have music to share with us, you are most welcome to join! (Music Posts Only-meaning at least one music video, please!)   First, there is XmasDolly.  Her co-hosts are: Stacy of Stacy Uncorked, Cathy from Curious as a Cathy, and me. 

We'd love more music lovers to join us.  It's easy! All you have to do is join the linky above with a music post that contains at least one music video (there must be a music video).  And that's it!

Each month, except December, we have a guest conductor. For the next few weeks, we devote ourselves to the music of the season - Christmas.

Christmas music comes in all musical genres.  It can be religious, it can be songs about Christmas memories, or it can be just plain fun.

Things can be grim this year, so how about some fun Christmas music today?  But before I begin, a moment to commemorate the death of Monkees singer/songwriter/guitarist Mike Nesmith on Friday, at the age of 78. Micky Dolenz is now the final surviving Monkee.

Here are the Monkees (vocals by Mike Nesmith) covering "The Christmas Song".

Now, onto the fun.

I have to admit, I found the first two songs on other Music Moves Me blog posts, but why not enjoy them again?

This year, Carrie Underwood has given us a brand new fun song, more of a holiday song as it encompasses both Thanksgiving and Christmas.  "Stretchy Pants"  is both a fun song and a fun video.

I can do an entire blog post devoted to the Holderness Family (maybe I should!) but today, I am laughing at their "Honest Christmas Songs".  

One of my favorite Christmas shows is the original "How The Grinch Stole Christmas!" cartoon from the 1960's.  This song, "You're A Mean One, Mr. Grinch". Lyrics by Dr. Seuss, composed by Albert Hague (who played the music teacher on the TV show Fame) and sung by Thurl Ravenscroft, the voice behind Tony the Tiger in Kellogg's Frosted Flakes commercials.

Let's have a commercial break, shall we? A Tony the Tiger commercial from 1959.

And now, back to the music.  From 1948, Spike Jones (not to be confused with Spike Jonze)  and His City Slickers and "All I Want for Christmas is My Two Front Teeth."

 

How about the Canadian version of the Twelve Days of Christmas, performed by Bob and Doug McKenzie? 

For my final selection, I have to admit to a liking for the Dropkick Murphys, and "The Season's Upon Us." 

And that's a wrap!

Join me again next Monday, same time, same place, for more Christmas music.

Mourning The Living

Today, I look in the shadows.

This won't be a light hearted post but let me lighten it with a photo from this fall.

Today was the birthday of a Facebook friend, someone I don't know in real life.

Nowadays, when I get a birthday notification (or, on LinkedIn, an anniversary of employment notification) of someone I don't keep in contact with personally, I inch into it.  I look at their page.

Are they employed?

Have they abandoned the social media platform?

Or, worst of all, are they seriously ill or are no longer in a place where social media exists?

And then, if I ascertain they are alive, there is one more step.  I don't even want to admit it, but I have to do this, just to preserve my sanity.

If they've posted in the last year or so, and I just haven't seen those posts, I look to see if their recent posts are toxic.  If they've gone to a place I don't want to follow.  If...if...if....

A post by minister John Pavlovitz I read today spoke to my heart. It's true, some of his posts may not be what you want to hear, but they all deserve a good read and this one, I think, speaks to all of us.

It's called "A Funeral for the Living".

I think we've all attended those funerals, whether we know it or not.  We all are the walking wounded.  This pandemic has affected us all in ways that we won't be able to realize until we are able to look back.

Because, this pandemic will end.  All pandemics do end, even the one that may have killed hundreds of millions of people.

But what will be left of us?

RIP Mike Nesmith

It's time to don my rock n'roll mourning clothes once again, as a music great entered The Great Gig in the Sky yesterday.

Mike Nesmith, singer/guitarist/songwriter for the Monkees, passed away yesterday at the age of 78 from heart failure.  The death was not unexpected by people close to him.

He was loved by all Monkees fans.

Fun fact, his mother invented Liquid Paper, the liquid that made the life of office typists like me more bearable before the invention of computers and easy corrections.  I would never go back to the days of typewriters, carbon paper and correction fluid.

Another fun fact, Mike originated the idea for the first music video program, something called Pop Clips, which eventually morphed into MTV. 

Another venture was Elephant Parts, designed to be a collection of skits and music videos, back before their was a home for them.

Today, let's listen to a small selection of Mike Nesmith or Monkees songs.

Different Drum, written by Nesmith in 1964, covered famously by Linda Ronstadt and the Stone Poneys.

A Medley of Mike Nesmith songs. 

The rest of these are Monkees songs featuring Mike.

Daydream Believer, from 1968, written by John Stewart of the Kingston Trio and later covered by Ann Murray.

Pleasant Valley Sunday, from 1967 (this song was co written by Carole King). 

RIP, Mike Nesmith.

I'll have one more song by the Monkees on my Monday Music Moves Me post.  Join me then for some more good music!

December Assortment 2021#SkywatchFriday

We have our typical winter sky where I live in the Southern Tier of New York now.  Lots of gloom, lots of white.  

Wish I could remove that pole from the picture above.  In this picture taken later December 4, you can see how green our grass still is.  And, no snow on the ground! (We have a small amount of snow now).  Too bad I had to take this picture from the car.  That outbuilding in Maine, New York is one of my favorite structures in this area.

But sometimes, the sky shines through, as it did later on December 4.

On December 6, I missed the tail end of what must have been a lovely sunrise.   This isn't facing east, but was where the sky looked purple.

Noontime.

By late afternoon, the gloom had settled back in, as it does in December.

I'll end with a photo of downtown Binghamton, New York taken December 19, 2018.   Yes, sometimes, we really do have nice December skies here.

Joining Yogi and other bloggers who watch the sky for #SkywatchFriday.

The 75th Anniversary of It's a Wonderful Life

Have you seen the movie "It's a Wonderful Life"?

But first, I should ask, "What is your favorite holiday movie"?

Vintage TV and Radio. TV is showing - what else?

For many in the United States, it is a movie starring James Stewart and Donna Reed that was made in 1946 - "It's a Wonderful Life".  Today, I am going to repost (with some updates) a blog post from 2014.

First, a little about the movie, in case you've never seen it.

This movie takes place in a fictional small town in upstate New York called Bedford Falls, and tells the story of a man, George Bailey.  George owns the Bailey Savings and Loan, inherited from his father.

No, this isn't the Bailey Savings and Loan, but we can imagine

George is an ordinary man leading an ordinary, but, in some ways heroic, life.  When young, he saved the life of his brother who broke through the ice in a sledding accident, but lost his hearing in one ear as a result.

George wants to leave Bedford Falls and see the world, but life decrees otherwise.  George is disqualified from military service due to his deafness -the brother he saved goes, and becomes a war hero and winner of the Medal of Honor.  Meanwhile, George marries and has four children, including a daughter, ZuZu. George sacrifices again and again for the people of Bedford Falls and his family and friends, until he finally became so discouraged by a series of personal downturns that he decides to take his own life by jumping off a bridge.  He feels he is worth more dead than alive.

An angel named Clarence, meantime, needs to earn his wings.  He shows George what Bedford Falls would have been like without him, and tries to convince him not to jump off that bridge.  George decides to live, after seeing the impact his life has made on so many people, and the movie has a happy ending, as Clarence earns his angel wings.

Many fans of the movie have asked: is Bedford Falls fictional?

It may just be based on a real place - the small city of Seneca Falls, New York, where, in real life, a hero died in 1917 by jumping off a bridge and saving the life of another, drowning in the process.

Seneca Falls doesn't need the association with the movie to have a place in history - it has a strong place in history for many other reasons, such as being a birthplace of the women's suffrage movement.  But, there are many similarities between Bedford Falls and Seneca Falls.

The movie was directed by Frank Capra. Frank Capra had family in nearby Auburn, New York, which also, for a time, was the home of Harriet Tubman. (It's well worth the visit).  It's also known that Frank Capra visited Seneca Falls around the time the movie was being planned. 

Fans flock to Seneca Falls each December for a festival celebrating this movie. Before they leave, many pick up a bell or two to ring. That's how you know an angel got his or her wings.

This year is the 75th anniversary of the film and the festival has been expanded to five days.  The festival started yesterday.  Let me show you around the Bedford Falls...oops, Seneca Falls, of 2014.

In my 2014 visit, one building that I immediately fell in love with was the post office and its Art Deco styling.

The day was foggy, drizzly and miserable, but few seemed to care.

When I look through my photos, I found that Seneca Falls fascinated me for so many reasons other than the movie.  I wanted to go back, in better weather, to investigate its history further.  I had managed not to take pictures of the historic sites, the mills, the canal or the famous bridge. (I did do that, eventually.)

Here is one of my posts on women, voting, and Seneca Falls.

 I don't have much more to show you of the festival. But I do have a memory, and it's of the daughter, ZuZu, who, in real life is an actress named Karolyn Grimes (she was six when she played ZuZu Bailey).  Karolyn has been at many of the festivals, signing autographs, along with the daughter of the late Donna Reed (George Bailey's movie wife).

This year, Karolyn will once again be in attendance, along with two other of "George Bailey"'s children, and Frank Capra's grandson. All seven child actors who were in the movie and are still alive will be there.  They are in their 80's now.  George Bailey's sister in law in the film, Virginia Patton, is still alive at age 96, too.

But back to 2014.

An older woman walked up to me on the street and wished me a Merry Christmas, and when I saw her picture later, I'm certain that woman was Karolyn Grimes.

Maybe she wasn't, as there were many people playing characters from the movie interacting with visitors, but I would like to think so.  From what I understand, Karolyn has had a sometimes tragic, but always inspirational life.

Karolyn feels Seneca Falls "might" be Bedford Falls, and invites you to visit to decide for yourself.

And the future?  A sequel?  One never knows.

Roy Rogers is Riding Tonight #WordlessWednesday

Last week, my spouse and I visited the Tioga County (New York) Historical Society, which has its annual Christmas display, "Oh Tannenbaum".  

Each year they have a different display of toys or something similar.  This year, the theme was Westerns.  

I couldn't take good pictures due to not wanting to get close to other museum goers, but I got this picture of a display of Roy Rogers and Dale Evans memorabilia.

Here are some other Oh Tannenbaum posts of mine from past years:

Oh Come O Ye Memories (that year, the theme was the circus). 

After a Major Flood

Oh Tannenbaum 2019 

And this song immediately came to mind, complete with a fan made video including clips of Roy Rogers.

Joining Sandee at Comedy Plus for her #WordlessWednesday.

Pearl Harbor 80th Anniversary

Today, December 7, is a day meaningful to the generation that preceded mine - the generation that is sometimes called "The Greatest Generation".

My parents were a member of that generation,  After 1941, December 7 was never a date on the calendar to them, ever again. I grew up quite conscious of Pearl Harbor and its importance in our history.

Pearl Harbor Day was the day that the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor in Hawaii, which was not yet one of the 50 United States.  Japan declared war on the United States shortly after the attack. The United States declared war on Japan the next day, and Germany declared war on the United States three days later.

Now, it is 2021, and the number of veterans of World War II shrinks daily. In the past few days, we have lost two famous WWII vets- Senator Bob Dole (dead at 98) died Sunday.  The last surviving officer of Easy Company (the Band of Brothers), Edward Shames, died Friday at age 99.  

Dole wanted to be a surgeon.  His war injuries prevented that, and his life went in a different direction. Shames, a Jewish war veteran, entered the Dachau concentration camp days after its liberation. He was the next to last surviving member of the Band of Brothers. 

Now, the 80th anniversary of the Pearl Harbor attack, December 7, 1941.  About 30 veterans of the attack and 100 other veterans will be at the site today to pay tribute.

We remember Pearl Harbor today. 

Once again, there will be a memorial parade in the state of Hawaii. 

It's a sadness as I see the generation that raised me dwindle as they depart our world.   Of some 16 million vets, about 240,000 remain.  There is no firm number I can find of survivors of Pearl Harbor, but we all know the number is dwindling. Here's what I blogged in 2019.

We must never forgot our history.   Without knowing what has come before, we don't know the consequences of what happens today.  We can not make good decisions about what is happening now.  Not just on December 7, but every day. 

No matter what country you live in, dear reader, please take a moment and reflect on your personal history.  And hope that, one day, our world can finally achieve peace.  Until then, may we remember the sacrifices of the troops who defend us from our enemies.

May their memories not die with them.

Hanukkah and Christmas #MusicMovesMe

It's the first Monday of December and it's time for music!

 

Who are the Music Moves Me bloggers? We are bloggers who blog about music each Monday and if you have music to share with us, you are most welcome to join! (Music Posts Only-meaning at least one music video, please!)   First, there is XmasDolly.  Her co-hosts are: Stacy of Stacy Uncorked, Cathy from Curious as a Cathy, and me. 

We'd love more music lovers to join us.  It's easy! All you have to do is join the linky above with a music post that contains at least one music video (there must be a music video).  And that's it!

Each month, except December, we have a guest conductor. Today we start our month of holiday music.

This is the last day of the Jewish holiday of Hanukkah, the Festival of Lights.  So why not start out with several Hanukkah songs?

This first song comes from a "holiday" album, which features both Hanukkah and Christmas songs.  Here is Barenaked Ladies and "Hanukkah Blessings".

"I Have a Little Dreidel" as sung by the Maccabeats explores how this children's song would be performed in different musical genres ranging from rock to rap to bluegrass to gospel, and more.

Finally, a song that has become a Hanukkah classic - Adam Sandler and his Chanukah Song. 

But wait, there's more!

One of my readers, Ann Bennett, told me about Dave Grohl of the Foo Fighters and Greg Kurstin of The Bird and the Bee recording a eight day Hanukkah jam called Kurstin x Brohl:  The Hanukkah Sessions 2021.  Thank you, Ann! (For the complete set of 2020 tributes, click here).

Each of these jams features a song written or famously performed by a Jewish rocker (observant or not).  Last year's and this year's musicians paid tribute to include Lisa Loeb, Bob Dylan, Amy Winehouse, the Ramones, and this Van Halen rocker.

This isn't a Hanukkah song, but I chose David Lee Roth (who is Jewish) and his Jump, performed by Grohl and Kurstin, as a kind of musical intermission. 

And now, Christmas.

With the anniversary of Pearl Harbor coming up tomorrow, I wanted my Christmas music to reflect the World War II era.

 

Bing Crosby recorded I'll Be Home for Christmas in 1943.  It's hard to believe that this song was banned, for a time, by the BBC out of concern that it would destroy troop morale. It's been covered by many artists.  Even now, the song remains popular.  The longing for home is timeless.

 

From October 1941, Sammy Kaye and Santa Claus is On His Way. 

Before Nat King Cole, there was Les Brown and his Orchestra with vocals performed by Doris Day: The Christmas Song. (It's from 1946, but I'm calling it World War II era). 

And that's a holiday wrap!

Join me again, same time, same place, next week, for more Music

Figurines of Hanukkah

One more Hanukkah post for this year.

The last of the eight candles that are lit (not counting the shamash, the helper candle that sits slightly above all other candles) for Hanukkah, the Festival of Lights, will be lit tonight.

Let's take one more peek at Hanukkah.  These figurines were on display at Hanukkah House, the seasonal museum in Binghamton, New York, several years ago.  Because of COVID-19, the museum did not open in 2020 or this year.

 

This is my favorite one.  The man playing with a yo-yo- the woman crocheting.  This is so joyous.\

Curious about the backgrounds of these pictures? This museum was located in a historic mansion, the Kilmer Mansion, and these are being displayed on the fireplaces.   Here's a blog post I wrote about the mansion, back in 2018.

A couple celebrating Shabbat (the Sabbath).

 I want to close with a Hanukkah menorah decorated with a different family figurine.

We all have an obligation to illuminate the world - to chase away the forces of darkness and evil with the light of truth and wisdom.  

Especially in these times.

National Sock Day #NationalSockDay

Did you know that, in the United States, today is National Sock Day?

I enjoyed reading about it.

I don't know who started this but, supposedly, if you use the hashtag #NationalSockDay posting a picture of your socks, a clothing company called Pair of Thieves will donate a pair of socks to the homeless.  I heard about National Sock Day on The Weather Channel, and decided to join in because...

...I'm a dedicated unusual socks person.  In fact, I've been wearing unusual socks for years, and occasionally used to get teased at work about my socks.

Like my Sunsweet Prunes socks, for example.

My fighting breast cancer socks.  I also own a pair of Sock Out Cancer socks, whose sales benefit local cancer patients with their living expenses. 

Then, there are my holiday socks.

Hanukkah 

Christmas 

It would seem I'm in good company with my love of socks.  The late President H.W. Bush was a fan, too.

I have wool socks, knee high socks, and just regular ol' socks.  I love them all.

Are you ready to display your socks online?

Tropics in New York #SkywatchFriday

Last Saturday, I visited a conservatory at a local garden center in Owego, New York.

Most people would be looking at the plants.  I did, too, but the sky inside the dome was interesting.  So interesting that we returned several days later to try to find something that was out of stock on Saturday, and I took even more pictures.

This is the conservatory from the outside.  Saturday was one of our rare December sunny days.

Let's go inside.

Fish in a tiny pond.

Inside a nook, a small wooden bird.

Usually, our skies are more like this, taken November 29.

From our second visit to the conservatory.  This time, the sky was overcast and it was warmer than Saturday.  I liked the brown effect it gave to the sunlight.

One more view of the tropics before we return to reality.

And to all, a good night. 

Joining, once again, Yogi and the other sky watching bloggers at #SkywatchFriday.

Another Fall Another Sunday

I hate writing these posts.  I hate writing these posts on any day but especially at a time of year which is supposed to be merry and bright.

In the last week (one on Sunday), two people I know had elderly loved ones fall and injure themselves - in both cases, their mothers.

As I blogged recently, a co worker's aunt (age 98) fell, and the story did not have a happy ending.

Of course, you don't have to be elderly to fall.  It's a concern for all of us, no matter what our age.  I concentrate on the elderly because the people I know either are seniors (as I am) or caring for family members in their 80's/90's.

I've written so many of these posts over the years.  Here are some of them.

Walking a tightrope
Attending the wake of a beloved woman who died due to a fall.
Kindness and vision
Can We Turn the Tide?

My mother in law fell several times, starting in her 60's.  Her last few years were hard for her, no thanks to those falls she suffered.  She had other health issues, too, but those falls may have impacted her life more than just about anything else.  Pain was her constant companion until her passing three years ago.

 
When she was at an age when the falling started, there weren't classes on falls prevention.  Doctors didn't screen for it (they do that now at one of the major health practices for any patient over age 80.)

You Tube is full of videos demonstrating exercises. When I googled "fall prevention exercises You Tube" in 2016, I got about 260,000 results back.  Today, it was 33,000,000.

I still do the exercises (well, most of them, let's be honest) I learned in a falls prevention class I took in 2015, but I haven't progressed past a certain point.  I need to go back to the texts we were given and see what else I can do.  I promised I would in 2016, and I didn't.

I've also discovered I am on the edge of osteoporosis in my hips, and my doctor has told me to do strength training.  I haven't.  I only have myself to blame.

So, why am I blogging about this topic again so soon after the last time?  Perhaps it's because of it being the holiday season.  I know what it's like to have great sadness (more than once) during that season.  I don't want it to happen to anyone else.

I think we still have a long way to go to help the seniors needing the help of exercise programs and exercise classes.  COVID hasn't helped with this, either.

The words "he or she fell" are some of the saddest words family members can hear.  And the fear that comes with falling (I saw that with my spouse's aunt who lived until age 107) destroys a person's remaining quality of life.

Let's all be careful this holiday season.  Let's care for one another.

White Bird #WordlessWednesday

At a bird feeder at our local Wild Birds Unlimited store in the Southern Tier of New York,  I saw a little collection of birds this past October 28 underneath their bird feeders.

Among them was a white pigeon. 

Same picture, cropped more.

It's hard to see, but the bird did not have red eyes. So, it's not an albino. In fact, I'm not sure if this is a white rock pigeon or a white dove.  I looked online, and these birds symbolize peace and love.

I've seen white and brown pigeons before (including one I saw all the time in downtown Binghamton, New York for a couple of years) but this was a special sight to me. 

We all could use some more peace and love in our lives, couldn't we? 

 

Joining Sandee at Comedy Plus for her #WordlessWednesday.