By Granite Creek on a winter Friday

What makes a winter picture? No, snow is not necessary. The answer is simple: an absence of green. Plus yellows that have muted to a straw color. Instead, the quiet elegance of blues and browns. And denuded trees that cast striped shadows.

Even the creek side building, with at least four layers of graffiti-bloc, matches the color scheme, though the sign below shouts its orange. Exactly what are the plans for the new, improved creek side trail, by the way? Anybody in the know?

On nearby a power line, a smug lot of pigeons, fluffed up for warmth, sit sunning. Then, oops, another bird arrives and the lot of them take off. 'Tis a hawk not much bigger than any of his potential prey. (Below) An admonition not to empty your beer can into the sewer.

This electric box on a pole on the Gurley Street bridge next the coffee house almost always sports either graffiti or stickers. The current artwork certainly suggests a sad story!

More Links: Must be a lot warmer in Tucson -- Warren went to the local botanic garden and came away with beautiful butterfly pictures. Up in Flagstaff, a different matter; all about the elk caught chest deep in the snow; too bad they couldn't rescue him and he had to be put down. A happier local critter picture I found at Wunderground: a wee snake guarding a tomato in warmer times. And, finally, to put an end to the idea that Alaska is some unsophisticated backwater: pay a visit to the Yak and Yeti restaurant.