T bought a digital SLR camera recently. It has a ton of tasty features, but the true test of any camera we own is, "Can I take gratuitous photos of the cat and post them to my blog?" The answer? Yes!
He got the camera for astrophotography, but doesn't have the connector doohickey that will make that possible. And outdoor scenes aren't that charming yet, although confidence is high that spring is approaching. The irises and the tulips are starting to push through, the finches and the cardinals are making a ruckus in the lilac bushes, and Shed Kitty is spending a lot of time sitting in the sun.
Showing posts with label nature. Show all posts
Showing posts with label nature. Show all posts
Saturday, March 14, 2009
Monday, December 08, 2008
Pimp my spouse
T came home last week with a lovely photo of a frozen waterfall in a park near his office. I immediately showed it to Sand over at The Piker Press, and this week it is the Peek of the Week. Nice job, T!
Sunday, October 12, 2008
Praying Mantis
We've been seeing more praying mantises this year. This one was in our driveway this afternoon. T tells me it is a side effect of climate change. They were thick at the dealership where we bought our car. The salesman said parents were bringing their children out to see them.
Despite their peaceable name, they are wickedly carnivorous little rascals who will even pounce on nesting birds.
I should warn the Finches.
Despite their peaceable name, they are wickedly carnivorous little rascals who will even pounce on nesting birds.
I should warn the Finches.
Sunday, July 13, 2008
Last night at Ashton
After being cloudy all day, it cleared off in the late afternoon, so Terry packed up the telescope and we headed off to Ashton Observatory.
At dusk, we saw some deer feeding at the edge of the woods near the observatory. I got as close as I dared without spooking them, but it was just dim enough that I couldn't get a clear photo. I decided to let the motion work FOR me, and switched over to video.
The auto exposure flopped the colors around randomly, but darn it, those are fawns, and they are eating, and they didn't really care that I was watching.
It stayed clear and was long-sleeve cool by the time the sun went down. The moon and the humidity kept Terry from doing any serious observing. Even though it was not an "official" public night, a few campers came over to through the telescopes. One couple had binoculars and had figured out that you could point them at the sky. Terry spent quite a bit of time showing them things, and I gave them some tips on bino and naked eye observing. That's me - the evangelist for cheap observing.
At dusk, we saw some deer feeding at the edge of the woods near the observatory. I got as close as I dared without spooking them, but it was just dim enough that I couldn't get a clear photo. I decided to let the motion work FOR me, and switched over to video.
The auto exposure flopped the colors around randomly, but darn it, those are fawns, and they are eating, and they didn't really care that I was watching.
It stayed clear and was long-sleeve cool by the time the sun went down. The moon and the humidity kept Terry from doing any serious observing. Even though it was not an "official" public night, a few campers came over to through the telescopes. One couple had binoculars and had figured out that you could point them at the sky. Terry spent quite a bit of time showing them things, and I gave them some tips on bino and naked eye observing. That's me - the evangelist for cheap observing.
Saturday, July 05, 2008
Geese and goslings
The last of the vacation videos from Blackhawk Lake. Sorry for the noise. It was windy.
I could watch geese babies all day long.
I could watch geese babies all day long.
Friday, July 04, 2008
Vacation photos, at last
Since it is a long weekend, I'm trying to get some backlog caught up - such as putting some of last month's vacation photos on Flickr.
We went to Blackhawk Lake, a couple of hours from here in Lakeview, Iowa. We had rain and thunderstorms almost every day, but at least that kept the temperatures pleasant. The campground was almost empty - only three or four units in the whole place - so it was as close as we could get to being all alone (but still with flush toilets and hot showers.)
We went to Blackhawk Lake, a couple of hours from here in Lakeview, Iowa. We had rain and thunderstorms almost every day, but at least that kept the temperatures pleasant. The campground was almost empty - only three or four units in the whole place - so it was as close as we could get to being all alone (but still with flush toilets and hot showers.)
Saturday, June 28, 2008
Fireflies
When Sand and Bernie passed through Iowa last summer, Sand admired the prolific fireflies in our backyard. (They don't have them in California.)
It's June again, and we still have 'em.
It's June again, and we still have 'em.
Sunday, June 22, 2008
Rainbow, first day of summer
We went to Ashton Observatory yesterday for a work party with the astronomy club. A quick little rain storm blew through while we were there. Once the sun started to peek through, people hovered near the door, looking for a rainbow. We thought we might not get one, since the sun was still rather high, but soon someone spotted the top of an arc. Work ground to a halt as folks wandered outside to enjoy a fleeting view. (More pictures here.)
In the Bible, of course, the rainbow is the sign from God that he will never again destroy the Earth with a flood. How appropriate is that, as Iowa gets back on its feet after two weeks of floods? We stayed safely above it at both home and work, but we drive through recently flooded areas regularly. The recovery seems to be coming along well, but it still stinks, even in the car, even with the windows rolled up. Out in the country, it just has that fishy river smell, In town, though, it smells like river, and fish... and mold... and people laugh at this, but I swear I smell sauerkraut.
In the Bible, of course, the rainbow is the sign from God that he will never again destroy the Earth with a flood. How appropriate is that, as Iowa gets back on its feet after two weeks of floods? We stayed safely above it at both home and work, but we drive through recently flooded areas regularly. The recovery seems to be coming along well, but it still stinks, even in the car, even with the windows rolled up. Out in the country, it just has that fishy river smell, In town, though, it smells like river, and fish... and mold... and people laugh at this, but I swear I smell sauerkraut.
Friday, June 13, 2008
Floodwatch 2008
To see how things have changed since Tuesday, go look at this picture of the Simon Estes Amphitheater as it appears today. I also took some pictures Thursday, and they (as well as Tuesday's pix) are on my Flickr. Today, the water is covering the tops of the arches on the bridges,and is getting ever closer to the road surface. The powers that be asked for a voluntary evacuation of downtown and the entire flood plain area. My office is a couple of blocks outside of the flood plain, but I had put in my forty hours, and I was happy to comply.
We are okay. Our house is, we hope, high enough to not be in danger, and we can still get to it by one of our normal routes. The water was pretty high along that route this afternoon, though, and it is just one leaky levee from going under.
We are okay. Our house is, we hope, high enough to not be in danger, and we can still get to it by one of our normal routes. The water was pretty high along that route this afternoon, though, and it is just one leaky levee from going under.
Saturday, November 24, 2007
Thanskgiving snow
On Wednesday, it snowed all day. On Thursday, after Thanksgiving dinner, T and I went for a walk on a new section of trail along the Des Moines River.
We saw a bald eagle, but were not quick enough with the camera to get a picture.
Meanwhile, at the house, we were growing some impressive icicles on the garage.
I don't know where the finches are hiding now, but their nest is full of snow.
I noticed the other day (when it was shirt-sleeve temperatures) that the lilac was budding. It had started leafing by the time the snow came.
We saw a bald eagle, but were not quick enough with the camera to get a picture.Meanwhile, at the house, we were growing some impressive icicles on the garage.
I don't know where the finches are hiding now, but their nest is full of snow.
I noticed the other day (when it was shirt-sleeve temperatures) that the lilac was budding. It had started leafing by the time the snow came.
Monday, March 26, 2007
Signs of spring, part two
Chuckie is back!
Knightstar alerted me to the fact early this morning, while I was getting ready for work. He reports that Chuckie was out later in the day with a comrade. Bride of Chuckie? Chuckie, Jr.? We'll have to wait and see.
Also of note: a distinct green tint to the grass.
We drive through a flood plain on the way to our hiking trail. Parts of it are swampy right now, but there is one spot that has blossomed into a full-fledge pond, complete with geese.
I'm taking a few days off from knitting to see if I can get this knot worked out of my shoulder. In the meantime, I understand that there is this thing called "books" that some people enjoy. I thought I might take a look at one of those.
Knightstar alerted me to the fact early this morning, while I was getting ready for work. He reports that Chuckie was out later in the day with a comrade. Bride of Chuckie? Chuckie, Jr.? We'll have to wait and see.Also of note: a distinct green tint to the grass.
We drive through a flood plain on the way to our hiking trail. Parts of it are swampy right now, but there is one spot that has blossomed into a full-fledge pond, complete with geese.
I'm taking a few days off from knitting to see if I can get this knot worked out of my shoulder. In the meantime, I understand that there is this thing called "books" that some people enjoy. I thought I might take a look at one of those.
Sunday, March 25, 2007
Spring!
Early Saturday morning, we had a brief, but dramatic, thunderstorm which left our finches homeless.
They are still hanging around, so I hope they intend to rebuild in the neighborhood. Maybe I should see about getting a FEMA grant for them.
The daylilies are starting to come up.
And the lilacs are budding.
I ripped out the sock from the previous post. My official excuse is that it was too small. But seriously? The brownish purple spot on the front looked just like the pictures you get if you do a Google Image search on "necrosis".
To replace it, I cast on the Rockin' Socks Club February project. The yarn color is Monsoon, although I still say it looks more like camouflage. The pattern is Inside Out, because the finished socks are reversible.
The foot is knit at a tight gauge for a snug fit. I had to go down to size 00 needles to get gauge. I usually knit socks on size 1, which is the diameter of a toothpick. Double oughts are about 25% smaller that that. Plus, these needles are about two inches longer than what I typically use for socks.
So the whole array is rather lethal, with sharp metal points sticking out every which way. It's also hard on the hands, knitting that tight, so these may be a slow process. At least I still have the Tofutsies for easy knitting. The pooling on those is starting to zigzag, which is sort of cute.
Katie is totally in favor of spring, and the open windows it brings.
They are still hanging around, so I hope they intend to rebuild in the neighborhood. Maybe I should see about getting a FEMA grant for them.The daylilies are starting to come up.
And the lilacs are budding.
I ripped out the sock from the previous post. My official excuse is that it was too small. But seriously? The brownish purple spot on the front looked just like the pictures you get if you do a Google Image search on "necrosis".To replace it, I cast on the Rockin' Socks Club February project. The yarn color is Monsoon, although I still say it looks more like camouflage. The pattern is Inside Out, because the finished socks are reversible.
The foot is knit at a tight gauge for a snug fit. I had to go down to size 00 needles to get gauge. I usually knit socks on size 1, which is the diameter of a toothpick. Double oughts are about 25% smaller that that. Plus, these needles are about two inches longer than what I typically use for socks.So the whole array is rather lethal, with sharp metal points sticking out every which way. It's also hard on the hands, knitting that tight, so these may be a slow process. At least I still have the Tofutsies for easy knitting. The pooling on those is starting to zigzag, which is sort of cute.
Katie is totally in favor of spring, and the open windows it brings.
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