WiseAcre Gardens

Today’s theme is black even though the photographs are mainly white. I can’t get away from the snow and my thoughts are turning towards the dark side.

I would think this merchant’s mood is definitely black. All winter the snow has been plowed into a giant pile in front of the store. Not that there’s no where else to put it. A dispute over maintenance fees with the parking lot owner and the store’s property owner has left this retailer behind the proverbial 8 ball.

Snow Kraze

I’m pretty sure the buggy driver isn’t in a black mood. The Amish are pretty good at taking things in stride but I did sense a little frustration at the traffic. Main Steet in Canton isn’t known for the traffic giving anyone a break. This poor guy was sitting quiet a while waiting for a chance to pull out.

Waiting on Traffic

Oh, talk about waiting for your vehicle to warm up. I’ve got to stop complaining. At least I don’t have to wait until spring for the heat to come on in my truck.

I’m a bit peeved at myself for not stopping the other day when the sky was blue and the Black Birds were in the same pose. A lesson to be learned – not an excuse to turn fowl.

Crows in a Snow Storm

Taking a shine to a Black Bird

I did stop for this shot yesterday. It’s not the best bird photo but I did like the way the sun shined on it’s feathers. So in the end I can leave happy. I’m not going to let a little snow today turn me into Darth Vader. I’ll wait till tomorrow.

Good thing tomorrow never comes or I’d be eating crow.

• Amish , Birds , winter
• Comments(13)

13 Responses

1. mimmylynn Says:
   February 23rd, 2009 at 5:58 pm

   I hope Black Monday doesn’t mean I have to jump off the roof or anything. Actually these are great pictures. Poor guy with the store. And the Amish in Iowa are pretty much in better shape than this poor guy. They are usually given the right of way.

   mimmylynn,
   No jumping necessary, there are no hoops, hurdles or any other requirements for visitors. Comments are appreciated and you’ve already done that, what more could I ask for.

   Yea, ya got to feel for the store owner who’s facing a banking crisis of a completely different nature.

   No one in Canton gets the right of way. It seems most motorists would rather run over their grandmother than give an inch.

2. HoneyB Says:
   February 23rd, 2009 at 8:18 pm

   hmm. AND there is a traffic light at that very spot isn’t there? Canton is no fun for traffic. I usually go the back way to Potsdam and totally bypass Canton all together.

   That is kind of insane about the snowbanks also. Definitely makes you feel bad for the store owner!

   HoneyB,
   Yep, and years ago when a bypass was talked of the merchants nixed the idea – bad for business. There’s still no way to go around Canton along the Rt. 11 corridor. Everything gets funneled into Canton and now the merchants are complaining that the traffic is – you guessed it – bad for business.

3. Ratty Says:
   February 24th, 2009 at 1:38 am

   I’m in a bit of a black mood myself, but I really like seeing the photos of the buggy. Things like that make me feel good.

   Ratty,
   I like to see the buggies too. It’s a reminder that life can be lived at a slower pace. The Amish here are generally members of a stricter Order that don’t use lights or reflectors. Suddenly seeing a buggy at night and the resulting ‘near miss’ on the other hand is not appreciated

4. rosemary Says:
   February 24th, 2009 at 9:25 am

   Love the photo of the black birds in the snow

   rosemary,
   I was hoping for better but they didn’t like me pulling over to the side of the road and I only had time to get the one shot off before they flew away.

   I corrected your link. I assume it was a typo since you filled in the space. If you don’t want people going to your site I’ll edit it again.

5. Layanee Says:
   February 24th, 2009 at 10:21 am

   Will it ever end? It will and for now, I am thankful I have a vehicle with a heater.

   Layanee,
   ‘The end is near’
   But I feel like a crazy person carrying a sign around saying the same thing.

6. Frances Says:
   February 24th, 2009 at 12:49 pm

   Hi Wiseacre, what a fabulous photo of the blackbirds in the snow, I love the contrast. Yes, we are wusses when compared to the buggy set, I hope someone stopped to let him cross. I would be like Darth Vader if the snow was piled up in front of my business. Kraze indeed.
   Frances

7. Monica Says:
   February 24th, 2009 at 4:56 pm

   I like a blogger who embraces puns. (Now if I only could have included a pun in that sentence…)

   Monica,
   I hug them and squeeze them and call them George. Oh wait those are bunny wabbits. Well, either way I’m Abominable.

8. Monica Says:
   February 24th, 2009 at 4:57 pm

   I meant to add, if you like nature and puns, you may like Naturespeak as well.

   Monica,
   So glad you returned. I should hug you and squeeze you and call you George. I like that site better than than a duck in a wabbit suit.

   Thanks for leaving the link. I’m going to put it on my blogroll. There’s too much to read at one sitting and I don’t want to lose it.

9. rainfield Says:
   February 24th, 2009 at 7:29 pm

   I love your picture on Amish buggy, it is sort of green fuel, but I do not think it is enjoyable. We have been too comfortable for too long to face what we were.

   rainfield,
   The exhaust is green too. There’s a ‘mountain’ of it nearby where I’m ‘King of the Hill’. So if you hear anyone refer to me as the manure man it’s not that I’m full of it – my truck is and I’m on the way to their garden.

10. MrBrownThumb Says:
    February 24th, 2009 at 10:23 pm

    LOL @ the waiting for the vehicle to warm up.

    MBT,
    and they leave the ‘motor’ on when parked.

11. kerri Says:
    February 25th, 2009 at 10:27 am

    Hi John,
    Seeing that fellow in the buggy sure makes me appreciate our heated vehicle. Oh my, that’s one very large snowbank! Not much space to park. That’s pretty good reason for a dark mood. Our closest village has very high snowbanks too, and at school the plow guys are wondering where to put the next lot. The kids are snowshoeing for gym and having a ball. The more the merrier for them
    Great photos of the snowy and sunny crows too. They should appreciate the warmer temps we’re promised for the next few days. The sun will be a very welcome change!
    I enjoyed taking that stroll with you in the post below. Beautiful photos!
    We’ve sure had our share of snow, cold and frigid winds, haven’t we? Spring will be more than welcome when it finally arrives

    kerri,
    I’m tired of taking photos of winter scenes. After visiting your blog this morning I’m ready to go back out and look up. Hopefully the birds will cooperate and stick around long enough and look down favorably on me

12. Monica Says:
    February 25th, 2009 at 11:22 am

    Bumbles bounce!

    The guy who writes Naturespeak gave a keynote at a county master gardener conference I attended last fall and he was hilarious. That’s how I started reading his blog. It is indeed very educational and informative, *and* funny. I really enjoy it.

13. Giddy Says:
    February 26th, 2009 at 7:48 pm

    That snowbank in front of the store looks like my door yard. I almost can’t see the house when I’m coming down the driveway!

    Giddy,
    Hopefully you’ll catch some of the warmer weather passing through here now and your snowbank will lose assets faster than the investment banks.

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