Cape Photo of the Day - Photo #365!!!

And that's a wrap!

I started this silly thing 365 days ago with a hazy College Parkway sunrise. I'm ending it a year later with a final Deep Creek sunset. I will continue to post pictures of the Cape when I have a good one to share, but I am releasing myself from the obligation of a daily entry. You will be spared the bad to mediocre forced shots, and I will be spared the 11:59 PM bolt out of bed that often came with the realization that I'd forgotten to post a Cape Photo of the Day.

I hope it's been a good year for all you Capers. I certainly can't complain. Even when all else is going badly, we can be thankful to live in such a very lovely place with reliable neighbors (OK, some are reliably pains in the ass, but even that is a constant! - not mine, mind you:).

If you take your own cameras out around the Cape, you'll be amazed at how easy it is to find beautiful subjects. I returned to the same ones over and over out of laziness often, but I know there are many others waiting for another photographer's lens. Some of you were nice enough to share some of yours when I was in a pinch this past year. Many thanks to my relief pitchers. It takes a village and all that...

Cape Photo of the Day signing off. Peace out, Capers!

Cape Photo of the Day - Photo #364

Deep Creek Marina and a ripple of wind.

Cape Photo of the Day - Photo #363

Deep Creek Marina.

Cape Photo of the Day - Photo #362

Out for a walk yesterday with the dogs along the Deep Creek bulkhead. It felt a little more seasonable.

Cape Photo of the Day - Photo #361

Big moon making an early appearance over the Severn.

Cape Photo of the Day - Photo #360

My husband called me outside earlier to get a picture of a woodpecker in our yard. By the time I got out there with my camera, he had been chased off by this bluejay. I could hear the woodpecker in the distance going about his business.

Cape Photo of the Day - Photo #359

More robins! They were flying ahead of me when I went out for a run today. They have more confidence in the coming season than I do. It just felt cold to me!

Cape Photo of the Day - Photo #358

I came across this group of robins hanging out at our bus stop a few mornings ago. Despite the very cold temperatures the past few days, I know spring is on the way when the robins show up in big numbers. So happy to see them.

Cape Photo of the Day - Photo #357

Yesterday's sunrise from AACC.

Cape Photo of the Day - Photo #356

Spectacular sunrise, but we all know what that red sky means. Don't forget your umbrellas today.

Cape Photo of the Day - Photo #355

Atlantis is not blessed with a lot of community water access, but the spot they have is a nice one. Ten Cape Photos of the Day left until I complete my 365 for the year. Can you tell I'm wearing thin? :)

Cape Photo of the Day - Photo #354

The Ramblewoods.

Cape Photo of the Day - Photo #353

Where Deep Creek meets the Magothy.

Cape Photo of the Day - Photo #352

So I guess Asteroid 2012 DA14 that all eyes were trained on as it passed safely by Earth was just a cosmic diversion for the celestial powers that be to smack us from the blind side. Really amazing pair of events - one anticipated and one NOT. Glad it didn't cause any more damage and injury than it did.

Cape Photo of the Day - Photo #351

My Valentine's Day offering to my family. Big heart shaped shortbread cookie sandwiches filled with - wait for it - strawberry fruit rollups! I wanted to make these pretty cutout cookies, but my kids are not fans of the jam or preserves that are supposed to be used as filling. I was searching for something bright red and tasty that they would like when I passed by the fruit rollups at Graul's and a lightbulb went off. I used the cookie cutter to cut the fruit rollups into hearts and put them on the cookies while they were hot from the oven. Yum!!! Perfect flavor and texture. Putting that physics degree to good use...

Everyone have a sweet and wonderful Valentine's Day!

Cape Photo of the Day - Photo #350

Are we still doing this? Does anybody still use a physical Yellow Pages? The plastic wrapper says, "Please recycle your outdated phone books." The word outdated is as superfluous as they come. The yellow pages go straight to my yellow recycle bin. Of course I know there are still many who rely on them, but I personally have not cracked one in years.

I finally made the effort this morning to visit the opt out website that they list on the wrapper. It requires you to create an account (so they know who and where you are) and then adds the caveat that opting out of phone books might not necessarily stop delivery. I am hopeful that next year, there will be at least one less yellow package sitting at the base of my bank of mailboxes.

If you too would like to stop feeling guilty for throwing your yellow pages away upon delivery, here are the websites they provide. Please take a moment to stop the waste if you also are not using yours.

For recycling info (basically, they are fully recyclable):

www.recycleyellowbook.com

To attempt to opt out:

www.yellowpagesoptout.com

And if you want a job delivering them:

corporate.yellowbook.com/careers/distribution

If they keep coming, maybe we can figure out a way to put them to good use. A very well insulated yellow book igloo? Doorstop? Pothole filler? Gift wrap/packaging material? Fuel for fires when the power goes out?

Cape Photo of the Day - Photo #349

Across the creek.

Cape Photo of the Day - Photo #348

Deep Creek through the phragmites.

Cape Photo of the Day - Photo #347

Deep Creek winter's Sunday afternoon.

Cape Photo of the Day - Photo #346

The Ravens Roost. Passed by on our way to the Baltimore car show. We were a little disappointed - found it a bit lackluster - the car show, that is, not the stadium!