Street pond

Last week we had our first big snow storm of the season. People to the south of us (New York City, Washington DC, even Louisiana!) got snow but the major storms missed us until now. It's hard for the city to find a place to put the snow, so a lot of it ends up on the corner, out of the frame to the right.

It being late February, it warmed up above freezing, so the next storm dropped rain on us instead of snow. With the snow bank taking up a whole lane of the street, it was pretty difficult for the water to get past it. So it sat there. Here, actually, in my driveway.

It turns out that the angle I was at made for an interesting reflection, which qualifies this for inclusion over at Weekend Reflections. Thanks to James for continuing this very interesting series!

Dividing line

Today is Friday, which means I get to see all the wonderful photos at Skywatch Friday - you can too, just click the link and enjoy photos from round the world!

I was struck at the difference above and beneath the power line. We've seen a lot of the upper half lately and I'm quite cheered to see some of the lower!

Group effort

When it snows a lot, say a foot (12 inches, 30cm) the snow plows have no choice but to push the snow off the street into your car. That results in a very large pile of snow blocking your car in, and that snow is packed and heavy. So it's a common sight to see neighbours help each other dig out. Snow blowers can only get so close to the car, so there's always a need for a shovel.

It's snowing!

The snow was coming down at the rate of about an inch per hour. I tinkered and tinkered but never found the perfect photo. But I liked this 'mistake' enough to keep it!

Angel

I went for a walk in Vale Cemetery to enjoy a bit of peace and quiet, and found myself following someone's footprints. They lead to one of the small buildings, where I saw this small angel statue on the stonework near the door. What a beautiful thought.

Shrine

A home made shrine appeared near the spot where yesterday's murder occurred.

Last night, the police cordoned off the street again, not letting people in or out of their houses. Something going on at the far end of the street - we saw the police use a battering ram to open the front door of a house down there. News people and other gawkers congregated outside our front door; the closest they could get to the action. The officer out front could not discuss what was happening.

This morning we found out that the police had executed a search warrant there, and that someone inside the house fired a gun. The bullet ricocheted off one officer and struck another. Both men are unharmed, saved by kevlar vests. The street is opened again; only that house is cordoned off now, and the police are still there. The police are not saying if the two events are related, but it seems too coincidental not to be.

Newsworthy

Today saw many of the local news organisations in our neighbourhood. The newspaper was the first to arrive, after them, the television crews. A man was shot and killed last night. Police are still investigating, but the man wasn't apparently from this neighbourhood. Drugs, a love affair gone wrong, mistaken identity, who knows?

It is a strange thing to be interviewed by the police and stranger still by the news organisations. I had no desire to go on camera in order to answer the stock questions, and no one seemed interested in trying to understand the history of the neighbourhood, how we have good people and bad like anywhere else, how we haven't as much money as some areas but we work to make it a better place just the same. We have our share of petty crime, but murder... no. Yes, I heard the shots in the night; so did the dogs, no I'm not happy about it but some things are out of one's control.

It is the city's first homicide of 2010. I hope it's the last.