Stopped. Watched.

I don’t know what this is but at least it is evidence that someone has been enjoying the snow. We have a deficit of snow art. [

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I am now sitting at my desk watching two bald eagles fly upstream, just passing over Argo Dam. First time for two at once and flying so low. Also seeing great blue herons just below the dam for the first time in 10 years in the wintertime, even below zero.

Children sledding on the hill, in the sunshine. So much for polar vortex.

On porch near sidewalk [a grid of snow bumps]. [

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Large Fed-Ex truck tries to stop. Does slow, clockwise 270° spin on State Street. Car ahead takes quick evasive action and avoids being swept into the Produce Station. Good move. Whew.

There must be a story behind this scooter that was left behind. Meanwhile the plow works around it clearing yet more snow. [

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Two deer dash across Parkland Plaza Drive from east to west. They are followed by a third, youngish looking deer who totally did not look both ways before crossing.

Two young women are using pink and blue chalk to put markings in the snow [

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photo] along Chapin near West Park. They describe it as a trail for an urban scavenger hunt.

Display in the main lobby of the downtown library shows two finalists for public art at the new Blake Transit Center – Daniel Roache of Petoskey, Mich., and Robert Delgado of Los Angeles – and asks for public feedback. The proposals will be up through Feb. 3.

A woman with two small children is using the kiosk at the Fourth & Washington parking structure to pay for parking. An automated male voice gives instructions. One of the kids gasps: “He talks!”

Pretty tree near Chase Bank adorned with over 12 fat-looking robins merrily eating the berries.

Bumper sticker: “Four out of five Great Lakes prefer Michigan”

I guess things don’t always go better with Coke. Semi-truck jackknifed going around the corner from Spring onto Cherry and got stuck. [

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Peek through window of former Delux Drapery at 624 S. Main, during demolition of Fox Tent & Awning: [photo] Fox Tent building is all rubble now. But Main Street and former Vet buildings remain: [photo]

Essential construction equipment at 401 N. Fourth. [

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Two sidewalk bicycle hoops have disappeared: one “art” style hoop [

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photo]. My working theory: When the Main Street BIZ contractor removed the giant pile of snow that covered up both hoops, the buried hoops offered imperceptible resistance to the front-end loader.

Observed a number of people driving in to West Park to drop off Christmas trees, or more accurately – do an impressive toss to the top of the pile. Perfect weather for that! [

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Eastbound Jackson east of Wagner is broken up pavement most of the way along the seam between the road and the bicycle lane. [

photo] Freeze-thaw cycle is working its magic. Current temperature: 33 F.

Three runners, swiftly making their way up Third toward Huron, each gracefully leap over the huge pools of standing water where the sidewalk meets the road at Washington and Third. More of a long jump, really.

Street is bumpy irregular ice.

Access path from sidewalk up to Stadium Boulevard bridges covered with snow.

City crews labor into the night at a water main break, one of three in the city right now, according to one of the workers. [

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Couple makes it across mid-block crosswalk with cars stopping, only to come up against high snow mound.

Apparently the Ashley Terrace owner doesn’t think anyone will be walking down this stretch of sidewalk. Looks like it hasn’t been cleared since the major snowfall, and the northeast corner is almost impassable. [

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The fairies have done a great job of keeping their walked clear [

photo one]. The fairies are setting a good example that is not being followed elsewhere. This fire hydrant [

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photo two] remains buried in snow at the corner of Fourth Ave. Further up Liberty at the new parking structure, the handicapped spots are being commandeered as the repository for plowed snow [

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photo three] from the non-handicapped spots. Meanwhile, I also saw wheelchair users taking to the streets since the sidewalks are in bad shape. The Federal building sidewalk was the worst that I observed, with not even two people able to walk side by side for most of it.

I think we’re going to lose a lot of trees this year [because they are cracked open]. One of many along Esch. [photo] [photo]

Can see black billowing smoke and lots of it rising in the frigid air but have heard no sirens. Update after publication: Reader-submitted photos of fire at Happy’s Pizza on Main Street. [

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Mailman determined to get up the street … by flooring it. Not gonna happen. [photo]

Finished clearing sidewalk on south side of Liberty from AAATA bus stop to intersection of Seventh & Liberty. Watched as x-country skier on sidewalk from the west approached intersection, observed cleared sidewalk, and opted for the road – which was mostly snow-covered, but was well-plowed, with some pavement showing in spots.

A group of snowmobilers just headed south down Main Street.