#31 Groceries (Theme #131)

Doing my part to stimulate the economy, I went grocery shopping yesterday.

#30 Recessionary Economics (Theme #253)

You know times are tough when the well-to-do have to do their own grocery shopping at the same stores the rest of us frequent. (Yes, a driver got out and opened the door for a lady who went inside while the driver then waited in the limo).

#29 Seeds (Theme #273)

These Sweet Gum Balls hold the seeds of the Sweet Gum tree. Goldfinches like to pull the seeds out of the holes between the spikes on the balls. This week's ice storm decorated our gum balls.

#28 Fences (Theme #98)

We had an ice storm Monday night with freezing rain continuing into Tuesday morning.

That made the fences along our road look like this.

#27 Tie the Knot (Theme #328)

One of the things the Pathfinders learn is knot tying--10 knots for 5th graders, 15 knots for 6th graders, 20 knots for 7th, etc. This girl has just gotten signed off on her square knot.

#26 Photographer (Theme #233)

My brother-in-law--taking a picture of me--taking a picture of him.

#25 Past It's Prime (Theme #227)

Thought about posting my mother-in-law's picture as she turned 84 yesterday--but I enjoy living (was the recipient of many glares for daring to take her picture at all!) so decided to post this picture of an old truck that we saw on the way to my mom-in-law's yesterday. (Photos of her birthday celebration are on my other blog, The Nature of Things)

#24 Grin (Theme #130)

Our Pathfinder Bible Achievement team had their first "real" event this afternoon. Of the four teams participating, two earned a first place and will advance to the next level. (More about Bible Achievement at my other blog "The Nature of Things" or at http://www.pathfinderbibleachievement.org/)

This is our team captain holding the first place certificate. I chose this for "grin" because for three years, I haven't been able to get a good picture of him.

For reference, I have three years of pictures that look like this!

#23 Costume (Theme #67)

Every day until tax day (April 15) someone in a Statue of Liberty or Uncle Sam costume will stand on this corner trying to influence people to come get their taxes done by this company. I was parked across four lanes of traffic trying to get a shot a) facing me, b) without a passing car in the picture.

#22 Follow the Leader (Theme #105)

These geese seemed to be playing "follow the leader" as they walked across the thin ice to the open water.

#21 Windows (Theme #362)

This frost was on my car windows this morning. I took the picture from the inside, looking out--before I turned the defroster on.

#20 Exercise (Theme #87)

For anyone not familiar with the ChickfilA restaurant, it serves chicken. Their "spokesperson" is a cow that encourages people to "Eat mor chikn". I saw this billboard in town today--had to get right up close to keep the power line from cutting the image in two so the angle is a bit weird.

#19 Up on Top (Theme #344)

This castle sits "up on top" of a hill overlooking I-840--about 50 miles or so from home. I believe it's the location for an annual Renaissance Festival held in May.

#18 Baby It's Cold Outside (Theme #18)

Not as cold as where some of you live (about 19º F), but cold enough that this Mourning Dove was skating on the birdbath.

#17 Award (Theme #16)

Our Pathfinder Bible Achievement Team holds their first place award in the Practice event. To learn more about Pathfinder Bible Achievement, go here http://www.pathfinderbibleachievement.org/

#16 Rural (Theme #265)

Another "drive-by shooting". A rural scene along I-26 on our way home from Roan Mountain.

#15 Wheels (Theme #359)

I guess technically this is "wheel"--unless that is a second wheel of some sort hiding in the foliage. I took this at the Visitor Center at Roan Mountain State Park.

#14 Celestial Bodies (Theme #43)

It was dark, but the moon was shining on the clouds making them look interesting. I tried and failed to capture the clouds, so I turned and shot at the moon. It isn't the nice round moon that others have gotten, but I liked the way it looked.

#13 Advertisement (Theme #9)

This sign is outside a local eatery.

#12 Jumping, Leaping, Bouncing (Theme #162)

Another candid from our church social--another father/daughter moment--another lucky shot.