tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-69987702024-03-19T00:02:24.234-04:00The AC is OnAnvilcloudhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07974744042579564912noreply@blogger.comBlogger4593125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6998770.post-40902505998784662072024-03-18T08:38:00.001-04:002024-03-18T08:38:21.447-04:00Either and Irked<p>How do you say the word, <i>either</i>?</p><p>I've to look it up because every time I hear it on tv, people are saying ˈ<b><i>īT͟Hər.</i></b></p><p>But I say ˈ<i><b>ēT͟Hər</b></i> and was doubting myself and thinking I had grown up using a non-standard dialect. But my pronunciation was listed first when I looked it up. So there!</p><p>I am not sure why no one else seems to pronounce it my way. It can't be that unusual. Can it?</p><p>What sayest thou?<br /><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;">============</p><p>Meanwhile, I am irked.</p><p>I haven't been reliably able to comment from my iPad or iPhone on Blogger posts for quite some time. One recent day I was on my tablet, and I commented on my own post without thinking about it, and it took. You see, I couldn't even comment on my own blog until a few days ago.</p><p>Naturally, I thought maybe the problem was fixed because I would really prefer to read blogs in the comfort of my chair. But it wasn't fixed. Not entirely anyway, although I do think more blogs are open to it now than before.</p><p>Still, I never know which blogs will work and which ones won't, and there's little point it reading on my tablet and not being able to comment.</p><p>So, I still have to comment from the computer.</p><p>And that irks me.</p><p style="text-align: center;">==============</p><p style="text-align: left;">Speaking of commenting, I don't usually reply to standard comments, but if you ask me a specific question, I generally manage to reply.</p><p style="text-align: left;">Blogger should follow the protocol of other platforms where folks must leave their email in order to comment. That would make replying more efficient, but I have been doing this for 20 years now, and Blogger will never change.</p>Anvilcloudhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07974744042579564912noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6998770.post-83228548691949328222024-03-16T09:31:00.000-04:002024-03-16T09:31:02.018-04:00Caturday 59: She Wafts, I Snuffle<p> I wasn't going to bother posting today, but I found this on fb this morning.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQNaxagh76rPjkCwjJ4E-w0xPIPs4JHCJPGmw2D7lCxg_e-oythUNx0JQcrpmLDkB8h5dknas3fyXuRff1YCBkb9nCWKLBlvrMviTDrrzFu9ES0QiRhJd64B1G7yVI5guppxhhejhDoy_TtPFZ8xEtb9cIPZXCU7olgDngOn8XlptFJ2Gc4IZ_/s960/432398194_10159941675681886_2850921147472842613_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="656" data-original-width="960" height="438" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQNaxagh76rPjkCwjJ4E-w0xPIPs4JHCJPGmw2D7lCxg_e-oythUNx0JQcrpmLDkB8h5dknas3fyXuRff1YCBkb9nCWKLBlvrMviTDrrzFu9ES0QiRhJd64B1G7yVI5guppxhhejhDoy_TtPFZ8xEtb9cIPZXCU7olgDngOn8XlptFJ2Gc4IZ_/w640-h438/432398194_10159941675681886_2850921147472842613_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p>It's very true for me and has been for awhile — at night anyway.</p><p>It's just as well that my bladder wakes me up every now and then, so I can switch to the other side and use that nostril for awhile as the stuff drains to the lower side.</p><p>The thing that isn't true is middle age. I didn't happen to me then. For me, it's definitely an old age phenomenon.</p><p>But I must add that I mostly blame the cat who fills my house with her fur.</p><p>I've been tested, and I have but one allergy. You guessed it. Cats. It's not a strong allergy as such, but it is present, especially with a cat that wafts fur.</p><p>She might look innocent while sleeping in the patch of sunlight, but we know that is not the case.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtYZsB5NZbhIxpa19tUM4WU6YuT-X7UJd-hMJc8d900q0CBlHvqQGrZHBCel_FlQvWhnq6fnh87eXKELsyFCNVlkl3Sulyo1hI1ACBld9RLD0bw4xJgDNmi3PkKXjlL0P3_J9tRCR26BenSURRJo5FpYy8j-8ZqNfbrZemFhuCuooKruS8IQmX/s1024/20240225_untitled_002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="650" data-original-width="1024" height="406" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtYZsB5NZbhIxpa19tUM4WU6YuT-X7UJd-hMJc8d900q0CBlHvqQGrZHBCel_FlQvWhnq6fnh87eXKELsyFCNVlkl3Sulyo1hI1ACBld9RLD0bw4xJgDNmi3PkKXjlL0P3_J9tRCR26BenSURRJo5FpYy8j-8ZqNfbrZemFhuCuooKruS8IQmX/w640-h406/20240225_untitled_002.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p>Anvilcloudhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07974744042579564912noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6998770.post-66093047725544652222024-03-15T07:26:00.001-04:002024-03-15T07:26:29.094-04:00My March Break Madness Photos<p>The photos that I posted yesterday belonged to others. I have had trouble with my photos, both on the camera end and the computer end. I had a memory card get corrupted, and then my card reader also gave up the ghost before I managed to finally get some images uploaded.</p><p>While I have usually photographed around the sugar camp grounds, people were my focus this time around, for a family gathering like this is most unusual, and who knows if it will ever be repeated.</p><p>I know that we might seem like a large family on this occasion, but this was close to the whole shebang. They are on Sue's side; with my side consisting only of 4 people, and those 4 are all shared with Sue. I have no one else to speak of.</p><p>We were first to arrive, and I took a photo of Sue and the kids in front of the maple syrup museum, the one that contains artefacts from the industry. There is another museum on the property that contains larger implements, specifically chainsaws and an old tractor or three.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbLJBCu5jW_O82CodTh7WskkPyNw92AFoYhdUgykJ6DzdNMHfU1zRy2inVJWoSw7tciDj8KOLaCnMNz6NCvhLo9Rd7-at79ducqrxiKR8zl9nQyBDFlsNEC4mqgJ3gvHLwaN9i3mlttdkU9_6CJGu67uEeGj6dz5nFThr4obJQZLEpNXR0OtJ_/s1024/20240313_wheelers-tuckers-mine_005.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="845" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbLJBCu5jW_O82CodTh7WskkPyNw92AFoYhdUgykJ6DzdNMHfU1zRy2inVJWoSw7tciDj8KOLaCnMNz6NCvhLo9Rd7-at79ducqrxiKR8zl9nQyBDFlsNEC4mqgJ3gvHLwaN9i3mlttdkU9_6CJGu67uEeGj6dz5nFThr4obJQZLEpNXR0OtJ_/w528-h640/20240313_wheelers-tuckers-mine_005.jpg" width="528" /></a></div><p>Inside the restaurant, we must have driven the server crazy because we changed places as orders were being taken. At one point, I found myself opposite Sue's nephew and his oldest boy, who stared at me and didn't quite know what to make of that strange man.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9YcDyANGOR139gR7EHYjUZl-H9e3aSZ6NYA-zLuJfYW-OjZN3vsrkQvfaABmjoQgWY9KjOrV6nGOqx_CaSUGrkVrq_w5P2yB6T3rVi5DwTPFVuSqMYmBKRKtKrdCZj0M481uVmZwxa24R79DwNpOVVrQLuunrPIAWobZxEB-2nQbC_j7PNdTm/s1024/20240313_wheelers-tuckers-mine_020-Edit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="683" data-original-width="1024" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9YcDyANGOR139gR7EHYjUZl-H9e3aSZ6NYA-zLuJfYW-OjZN3vsrkQvfaABmjoQgWY9KjOrV6nGOqx_CaSUGrkVrq_w5P2yB6T3rVi5DwTPFVuSqMYmBKRKtKrdCZj0M481uVmZwxa24R79DwNpOVVrQLuunrPIAWobZxEB-2nQbC_j7PNdTm/w640-h426/20240313_wheelers-tuckers-mine_020-Edit.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p>His brother was sitting kitty corner to me. He was puzzled as well, but not quite as much. Aren't they both about the cutest kids that you ever did see?</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHR0O-jasTG4ZSqEpz1z8odkFhdfFYqBj-c6cE-r-bP59nlEdNgpGceTFg59rh22dtoVxO-O2DfVoE-f83fOdgOKyVruDvEHZOl-fmRzh5DBtod__JeSDbosYZFb09c8WsuikamHki55ODlF0Oy-H6njlB_saYUB5bJ-WFgAp6WEee6XebcVaH/s1024/20240313_wheelers-tuckers-mine_019-Enhanced-SR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="864" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHR0O-jasTG4ZSqEpz1z8odkFhdfFYqBj-c6cE-r-bP59nlEdNgpGceTFg59rh22dtoVxO-O2DfVoE-f83fOdgOKyVruDvEHZOl-fmRzh5DBtod__JeSDbosYZFb09c8WsuikamHki55ODlF0Oy-H6njlB_saYUB5bJ-WFgAp6WEee6XebcVaH/w540-h640/20240313_wheelers-tuckers-mine_019-Enhanced-SR.jpg" width="540" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>After breakfast, Sue and I sat in the sunshine while the younger folk toured the property: a gorgeous lady on a gorgeous March day.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEICEYXe0dDofJ2ZUikE1cy1T3YQbS6nKcgiHDAyss1XikDysGNJKVU0FximX7Pra0S2-LISu0CEeeMzXMHdhZWQrFvSKh7rGUaVsD008TIS6_flFF21f_fJO9b6rbMs9b2cdJ9IYZjFxa22KlipnoVPK8SmIX0Im4p_0RqaDSXb5QV4oBLC4K/s1024/20240313_wheelers-tuckers-mine_028.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="740" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEICEYXe0dDofJ2ZUikE1cy1T3YQbS6nKcgiHDAyss1XikDysGNJKVU0FximX7Pra0S2-LISu0CEeeMzXMHdhZWQrFvSKh7rGUaVsD008TIS6_flFF21f_fJO9b6rbMs9b2cdJ9IYZjFxa22KlipnoVPK8SmIX0Im4p_0RqaDSXb5QV4oBLC4K/w462-h640/20240313_wheelers-tuckers-mine_028.jpg" width="462" /></a></div><br /><div>I got up from that spot took one photo of the old shed. For once, I was noticing just how tall the trees are, and I captured one looming over the shed. The foreground boulders are typical of the erratics (rocks) that were dumped by the receding glaciers. They can be much bigger than these.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6vFGkFwZSkqJjvVuOESTyFy0-8_6F6jS2ydNqKx97nObLAwWNhTeWucEcJFFVv7zLcKD1F_pJxLxfUp0pXiz8b6p1O4o3gVtn1MMieM9g4507NZ_TpPqTXGlZuPBk3lhIN1WQdA4Ygiwo_JqOYfeEpSPimoKzlePahw0j5OsJtf-MXVnRc72-/s1024/20240313_wheelers-tuckers-mine_031.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="759" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6vFGkFwZSkqJjvVuOESTyFy0-8_6F6jS2ydNqKx97nObLAwWNhTeWucEcJFFVv7zLcKD1F_pJxLxfUp0pXiz8b6p1O4o3gVtn1MMieM9g4507NZ_TpPqTXGlZuPBk3lhIN1WQdA4Ygiwo_JqOYfeEpSPimoKzlePahw0j5OsJtf-MXVnRc72-/w474-h640/20240313_wheelers-tuckers-mine_031.jpg" width="474" /></a></div><br /><div>Back to people: I took two photos of Sue and her sister. The wreath in the second photo is a gift from Heather for Sue's impending birthday. Heather made it herself, and it will soon decorate our front door.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipeagcKGj5SfsRD5tUAZ4zwW9lxYytO7RAIEyeYpxwRyYqwkRablGHRgazUsALLOrOqgV-6L8wGtHBOch9bPUYfxCVRXPxQL1kiIXe1QbstYUPRqiwbJBuOYUq5grOF0LgNR__ZO6JOmlekv60KSVWrDQfZBzBARyiDAxF4rjSMYSCxAsKKdrB/s1024/20240313_wheelers-tuckers-mine_046.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="721" data-original-width="1024" height="450" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipeagcKGj5SfsRD5tUAZ4zwW9lxYytO7RAIEyeYpxwRyYqwkRablGHRgazUsALLOrOqgV-6L8wGtHBOch9bPUYfxCVRXPxQL1kiIXe1QbstYUPRqiwbJBuOYUq5grOF0LgNR__ZO6JOmlekv60KSVWrDQfZBzBARyiDAxF4rjSMYSCxAsKKdrB/w640-h450/20240313_wheelers-tuckers-mine_046.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0FH8OYBG7Beb2WR5GwHdQaBhbqGp0mvEk68RK4E3tyC6KY_ilCrGVaRfw4Y4I1qDh5CNMjvSh5K0eIky4vofLvi9MTNQW4hyphenhyphenosZRN476_M1gTq-Z7H3QxoZVhEKYsLWQmcd5mvRYo-zJZiZ7uSHuMVDy15tKM1pjqv0guZXSZjY8jRlJKYjDa/s1024/20240313_wheelers-tuckers-mine_063.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="689" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0FH8OYBG7Beb2WR5GwHdQaBhbqGp0mvEk68RK4E3tyC6KY_ilCrGVaRfw4Y4I1qDh5CNMjvSh5K0eIky4vofLvi9MTNQW4hyphenhyphenosZRN476_M1gTq-Z7H3QxoZVhEKYsLWQmcd5mvRYo-zJZiZ7uSHuMVDy15tKM1pjqv0guZXSZjY8jRlJKYjDa/w430-h640/20240313_wheelers-tuckers-mine_063.jpg" width="430" /></a></div><br /><div>You may recall this photo that I posted yesterday. It is of Danica on Heather's lap in 2007.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisBHicSiKeL0kAbQXSYI_9cMCBuHqaOo6suFURQYIpVxppBcHOsWGLo9NrWTtliVLO4g5YvFnKI-QTA71-S1u4y41HewS3uLybPfTFkWEU15gotK1DnscYeuxMI1DLV-GedYbYnajjrHLhtieumOyiLhoxszxl4FAu5p5iF-ypuj4-o4oNdn8c/s1024/20240314_wheelers-tuckers_001-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisBHicSiKeL0kAbQXSYI_9cMCBuHqaOo6suFURQYIpVxppBcHOsWGLo9NrWTtliVLO4g5YvFnKI-QTA71-S1u4y41HewS3uLybPfTFkWEU15gotK1DnscYeuxMI1DLV-GedYbYnajjrHLhtieumOyiLhoxszxl4FAu5p5iF-ypuj4-o4oNdn8c/w640-h480/20240314_wheelers-tuckers_001-2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div>This is how they look in possibly the same chair in 2024.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFeX0An4FrSEgCVEVe8UhtyMGp_Jh8e_-H6uc52QpJLJXO49Ll8ZuDIXeVmg6o5WWhZYoMS0E1gCjidMLc4GLvZqL_iEXBB3Gh9ZtVqnDaR1UbNiG7u0wXdov_n5PzICy06AmQdnqyKXH_0vtUNa4W5ySVP7KTbj-A4JrKzapX-QskfRGhC7vp/s1024/20240313_wheelers-tuckers-mine_057.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="807" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFeX0An4FrSEgCVEVe8UhtyMGp_Jh8e_-H6uc52QpJLJXO49Ll8ZuDIXeVmg6o5WWhZYoMS0E1gCjidMLc4GLvZqL_iEXBB3Gh9ZtVqnDaR1UbNiG7u0wXdov_n5PzICy06AmQdnqyKXH_0vtUNa4W5ySVP7KTbj-A4JrKzapX-QskfRGhC7vp/w504-h640/20240313_wheelers-tuckers-mine_057.jpg" width="504" /></a></div><br /><div>This next and final photo of Sue with her nephew and wife wasn't mine, but I thought it deserved to be shown in nice b&w treatment.</div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP8TsFrRsClPEpF99K47NtLfAdp612KHE_4uY-kATsfXovVPR-ZBrnmLigRwuF0qPvr7CSQVPHTcBGUVawRtOFRLSXkhgC5jNKnE4eWTxFhAv_TO72cm0c1qkGaVLKrZv8fNhpPJlPFX9r2Lu5K2Lt2hMWiiAzyhByN1fVGpcgHtZcFfEJH4QJ/s1024/20240314_wheelers-tuckers_005.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP8TsFrRsClPEpF99K47NtLfAdp612KHE_4uY-kATsfXovVPR-ZBrnmLigRwuF0qPvr7CSQVPHTcBGUVawRtOFRLSXkhgC5jNKnE4eWTxFhAv_TO72cm0c1qkGaVLKrZv8fNhpPJlPFX9r2Lu5K2Lt2hMWiiAzyhByN1fVGpcgHtZcFfEJH4QJ/w640-h480/20240314_wheelers-tuckers_005.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p>Come October, Sue and I will likely make another trip to the sugarbush on a bit of a autumn colours ramble into the Lanark Highlands, but it will likely just be the two of us. It will be nice too, but we will remember this wonderful gathering on this beautiful March day.</p></div>Anvilcloudhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07974744042579564912noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6998770.post-60970909172221651332024-03-14T08:04:00.001-04:002024-03-14T08:04:22.754-04:00March Madness Meetup<p>March Break is not usually the most propitious time to trek into the sugar bush, but it was a necessary time, yesterday. Maybe not absolutely yesterday, but close to it.</p><p>Sue's sister, Heather, lives in Toronto, about 3+ hours away, but her youngest, Ben, lives a further 2 hours west of Toronto with his wife, Mary, and their two darling boys. But for March Break, they are cottaging on a lake fairly near us along with Mary's sister and husband.<br /><br /></p><p>The sap is running, so why not all meet at the sugar camp along with our grands, Danica and Jonathan? And why wouldn't Heather also drive in from Toronto with her daughter and granddaughter, to make it quite a large and almost spontaneous family gathering.</p><p>I booked a reservation for 13, and we needed a reservation because it is March Break, and with the sap running, the hordes tend to descend. The demand is so great that they posted that they could not accommodate drop-ins.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtHdiuLKh3_WZgqiaF-yEXRxJS4yuwAl1ZIXmKk2BqNCS1xoD3Un1bDNtwnKxNPK1aLXNZ69d_M_jQJoyDzq7ltB8iwkUsCQb4tAZnrlq8FB0Vo4FCe9-4HQ-_RMaRsfbrO6Y3keKvp_9ASrqdTTM3jbQnHmSolM8vkKKXolmmu1TMS5Qi1BG8/s1024/20240314_wheelers-tuckers_002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtHdiuLKh3_WZgqiaF-yEXRxJS4yuwAl1ZIXmKk2BqNCS1xoD3Un1bDNtwnKxNPK1aLXNZ69d_M_jQJoyDzq7ltB8iwkUsCQb4tAZnrlq8FB0Vo4FCe9-4HQ-_RMaRsfbrO6Y3keKvp_9ASrqdTTM3jbQnHmSolM8vkKKXolmmu1TMS5Qi1BG8/w640-h480/20240314_wheelers-tuckers_002.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The places is packed, but we are just about done,</td></tr></tbody></table><p>They were so busy that, shortly after this photo was taken, we were politely asked to vacate because our hour was up and a busload of seniors were waiting for our table. This is the way of it at the sugar camp during an exceptionally lovely March Break week.</p><p>It was a beautiful day, so wandering around the grounds was a rather fine thing to do.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5GanfrTf24za_DaJFhqXBHOjWQUe6oYK1X-UY_cwJcOY9TuxWim4lfpxU8oTtC5HiNv-V8Y3HCvw1VZEJKDt337jBF0kmM_8Rx5NobL9NVUdAgugEd55f6MvT075lQ8RNi6IWYhW8z-50OsWnNn-SoiuwO3yWGyaNo07NPNnRjjoJv88F4Q6l/s1024/20240314_wheelers-tuckers_001-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5GanfrTf24za_DaJFhqXBHOjWQUe6oYK1X-UY_cwJcOY9TuxWim4lfpxU8oTtC5HiNv-V8Y3HCvw1VZEJKDt337jBF0kmM_8Rx5NobL9NVUdAgugEd55f6MvT075lQ8RNi6IWYhW8z-50OsWnNn-SoiuwO3yWGyaNo07NPNnRjjoJv88F4Q6l/w640-h480/20240314_wheelers-tuckers_001-3.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sue and I sat out the wandering this time around and basked in a quiet, sunny spot </td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>We were able to reprise a photo from 2007 when we had also met with Heather and family at the sugar camp. We had taken this photo of Heather, holding our new grandbaby, Danica,</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0yCpFuPZ6FiwhumRoQTCcAqYTgXw60eWaynW3a4o_NZiZZeGmKAG8b50see5hUzvyfmFf4I3M687SrbQ5nKMm5ZKTNfP3fmEl36V8g-lUD8Sy6HMJ5rAATypAI5st-9DfuBdFaij_avYttSolnZyaxkRJxRLKdsL8RAlxncc8dmDaV5GT5V1Y/s1024/20240314_wheelers-tuckers_001-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0yCpFuPZ6FiwhumRoQTCcAqYTgXw60eWaynW3a4o_NZiZZeGmKAG8b50see5hUzvyfmFf4I3M687SrbQ5nKMm5ZKTNfP3fmEl36V8g-lUD8Sy6HMJ5rAATypAI5st-9DfuBdFaij_avYttSolnZyaxkRJxRLKdsL8RAlxncc8dmDaV5GT5V1Y/w640-h480/20240314_wheelers-tuckers_001-2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p>This time, Sue held Heather's youngest grandchild in the very same spot.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn3Ak93-t_CqI7xdW5ff4Qqm-dCVFFy0LkwKdKUPrHFBhqShyphenhyphen1TaRp1iamo4B6s9yAL7xRkFAk5PZiYuuh7xm4HqVXGfsyW01y4cgMmdUZsClnLcM1oXbt_CFeU6JfsgNgSUdSpFRzNoxz9Gnli6_mCSuTCA2ub_T2ONVm6n4l1ySbjZ6VGPnK/s1024/20240314_wheelers-tuckers_007.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="768" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn3Ak93-t_CqI7xdW5ff4Qqm-dCVFFy0LkwKdKUPrHFBhqShyphenhyphen1TaRp1iamo4B6s9yAL7xRkFAk5PZiYuuh7xm4HqVXGfsyW01y4cgMmdUZsClnLcM1oXbt_CFeU6JfsgNgSUdSpFRzNoxz9Gnli6_mCSuTCA2ub_T2ONVm6n4l1ySbjZ6VGPnK/w480-h640/20240314_wheelers-tuckers_007.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p>It was quite a wonderful outing, all in all. For this event, we were happy to make an exception and go during frenetic March Break. We make the little trip to the bush almost every spring, but we will eschew March Madness (as it were) if at all possible in future.</p><p>Before departing, we dragooned some innocent passerby into snapping a group photo.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu0NlmjuNiO_pO5o-JYeIwgrvm23Dpaamh832QcTWDqz1zOfxHKsyLCaNm7d1RTGI3ekTuhfQR_9LN0WUQfaIebwFeOvlKiO3N51E6blWPbCI3G-JsSYX7yvc1poaJSNnc02Ucuj5q6-6jmfs7kfv04WkdsBbezeORmY-BPDwf4b4E7HbJoVAa/s1024/20240314_wheelers-tuckers_003-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu0NlmjuNiO_pO5o-JYeIwgrvm23Dpaamh832QcTWDqz1zOfxHKsyLCaNm7d1RTGI3ekTuhfQR_9LN0WUQfaIebwFeOvlKiO3N51E6blWPbCI3G-JsSYX7yvc1poaJSNnc02Ucuj5q6-6jmfs7kfv04WkdsBbezeORmY-BPDwf4b4E7HbJoVAa/w640-h480/20240314_wheelers-tuckers_003-2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p>It had been a grand, little meetup on a rather grand day. March Break weather is for sure not usually as wonderful as it has been this year, so we were able to make the most of the opportunity to get together.</p><p><br /></p>Anvilcloudhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07974744042579564912noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6998770.post-68885366938563412312024-03-13T07:44:00.002-04:002024-03-13T07:44:32.655-04:00The Second Flowers of Spring<p>After the snowdrops come the crocuses although we didn't expect to find them so soon. It is that kind of a year, though.</p><p>Returning to a spot by an abandoned building that we found in recent years. some were already in bloom. I only have one photo, as I was having trouble with both my tripod and the wind. I may try again in due course, but if I don't manage to do that, at least I have this pretty, little cluster.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjQEaPxIqGwuELiH6KbVvvBW1E3WPyB719PdlyyJiS4nBWEP1waxgDASIbbc2TKp8GZNBHshEpXWNYDRPVYwEhUdt7W00DnsZn3C0cYCf4BVMDIocaKXPhKrLT1o2sgTOOfcWwNc6r4oXhn6DuqVFvEUNqewSUWP-KtBZaf7SZaN6gPHHPIZHW/s1024/20240312_crocus1_009-Edit.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="682" data-original-width="1024" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjQEaPxIqGwuELiH6KbVvvBW1E3WPyB719PdlyyJiS4nBWEP1waxgDASIbbc2TKp8GZNBHshEpXWNYDRPVYwEhUdt7W00DnsZn3C0cYCf4BVMDIocaKXPhKrLT1o2sgTOOfcWwNc6r4oXhn6DuqVFvEUNqewSUWP-KtBZaf7SZaN6gPHHPIZHW/w640-h426/20240312_crocus1_009-Edit.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p>Meanwhile, I found another snowdrop photo from the previous shoot that I didn't post last time, so I'll post that too.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ9ShMtMIybGs_mXwG69NNYAuerwoW91MzFGD59AL3xe7vGQ7E3nTtK41oTzbyE0OALgiQYJoBHcZN1mL7oCP8fYaP0ja6GNuOR0UiQ2OBY5fvuzs0EkbNmRiOjn_kHGGpwcvJcgsN4IqjbpRQ2nNQWHdev47gPocfF57S3fNePBGTGufwfbeP/s1024/20240307_snowdrops_018-Edit.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="879" data-original-width="1024" height="550" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ9ShMtMIybGs_mXwG69NNYAuerwoW91MzFGD59AL3xe7vGQ7E3nTtK41oTzbyE0OALgiQYJoBHcZN1mL7oCP8fYaP0ja6GNuOR0UiQ2OBY5fvuzs0EkbNmRiOjn_kHGGpwcvJcgsN4IqjbpRQ2nNQWHdev47gPocfF57S3fNePBGTGufwfbeP/w640-h550/20240307_snowdrops_018-Edit.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p>Anvilcloudhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07974744042579564912noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6998770.post-36448921003688981092024-03-12T05:51:00.002-04:002024-03-12T16:57:48.376-04:00Another AI Photo Enhancement<p>Well, I think it is an enhancement; we'll have to see what you think.</p><p>I came across this photo of Bob from September 2020. We met safely in the park in that blasted <i>COVIDish</i> year.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoaOUM1Jf4V4tQRHxb9qUSmuEBgqcn_u0xbcWpAWH20ek10EGP4fBubBHCzwpUTJf7T97VjgmFqBvODc17WkLR6antf3Jz-ueEbOQ2uEP7OLiGkPBlRbPo86l8gpRI4gts9X5j7wAHzmjadn7UIQd660qBaXmfiOaOS1y49SSHdLtRZZFqR_tI/s1024/20200903_bob+barb_011-Edit.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="781" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoaOUM1Jf4V4tQRHxb9qUSmuEBgqcn_u0xbcWpAWH20ek10EGP4fBubBHCzwpUTJf7T97VjgmFqBvODc17WkLR6antf3Jz-ueEbOQ2uEP7OLiGkPBlRbPo86l8gpRI4gts9X5j7wAHzmjadn7UIQd660qBaXmfiOaOS1y49SSHdLtRZZFqR_tI/w488-h640/20200903_bob+barb_011-Edit.jpg" width="488" /></a></div><div><br /></div>I've always liked the photo because Bob is a good subject, and I am pretty sure that I posted it here all those years ago.<div><br /></div><div>At some point, I also did a mono version. I don't know if it was at the same time or some time later.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy5fybDK557kP8jWp2c4SxznRC4Jm2ggJSUVYKDFMaK6GAgzQUC59rtRKv7574BPP8FULSz5V9g9IJuk_qsJTJ8rDiCLLMod052HgTNesnS7gkIwJ92zaTCrHSh5xNhvxiJF-wAinmPrdZhy10WbkGzY1t9QSKL04CzkKAIE14E9debttvRa0o/s1024/20200903_bob+barb_011-Edit-Flickr-2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="987" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy5fybDK557kP8jWp2c4SxznRC4Jm2ggJSUVYKDFMaK6GAgzQUC59rtRKv7574BPP8FULSz5V9g9IJuk_qsJTJ8rDiCLLMod052HgTNesnS7gkIwJ92zaTCrHSh5xNhvxiJF-wAinmPrdZhy10WbkGzY1t9QSKL04CzkKAIE14E9debttvRa0o/w616-h640/20200903_bob+barb_011-Edit-Flickr-2.jpg" width="616" /></a></div><br /><div>When I came across the original photo again recently, I decided to experiment with AI. Usually, I have restricted my experiments in AI to adding small elements. This time I was more ambitious and decided to see if I could replace the whole background. I asked Photoshop to make a park with trees. This is what it did.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYRYiHCxIpJlZWYQZPZkTOMs1cBevFJmviq_qkKXjUmCCMbBOEs-AZSPMiyvLQShyepmt9HLRgg5X_xqwxbHPPcVFt1H0uugRLK1ZxoWMJCCQHGuqxrdeyaPnaBtF6YU-38CJhT7YyHnzczJAqnPdB_JDGxNuL9EAK_GRCPsAy-p0oeg8lTOMM/s1024/20200903_bob+barb_011-Edit%20copy.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="781" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYRYiHCxIpJlZWYQZPZkTOMs1cBevFJmviq_qkKXjUmCCMbBOEs-AZSPMiyvLQShyepmt9HLRgg5X_xqwxbHPPcVFt1H0uugRLK1ZxoWMJCCQHGuqxrdeyaPnaBtF6YU-38CJhT7YyHnzczJAqnPdB_JDGxNuL9EAK_GRCPsAy-p0oeg8lTOMM/w488-h640/20200903_bob+barb_011-Edit%20copy.jpg" width="488" /></a></div><br /><div>I'd say that is not a bad result, and it was fun to do.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /><p><br /></p></div>Anvilcloudhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07974744042579564912noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6998770.post-47848124678105313462024-03-10T08:09:00.000-04:002024-03-10T08:09:02.265-04:00Daffodils in the Backlight<p>We have a small pot of little daffodils, the miniature ones. They sit on the dining room table, and on a whim, I decided to take some macro photos with strong backlight coming from the patio door. The strong backlight left the foreground flowers a little dark, but when I lifted the shadows, what emerged looked a bit painterly — a little bit like watercolor. It is a very different effect for me, but I don't mind it for a change.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhcFBPmCL7Sms0wfsnOOAScPM3zfvgfPHSTojrX9FEa2CKagEmbRVuxb4MdVKmR8prBSlvCl9tmLAA9saUbfmpROAoQpvBc2rJyoy2MRAZ-MVnUnnlgMcLjvH-ifWJInwEQSmF9DXbXYaOF9_BTH1w-P9_Ctkj3zRYHc0KJKmV1gAqgPmsOMjg/s1024/20240307_daffodils-indoors_001-Edit-Edit-2%20Smart%20Photo.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="642" data-original-width="1024" height="402" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhcFBPmCL7Sms0wfsnOOAScPM3zfvgfPHSTojrX9FEa2CKagEmbRVuxb4MdVKmR8prBSlvCl9tmLAA9saUbfmpROAoQpvBc2rJyoy2MRAZ-MVnUnnlgMcLjvH-ifWJInwEQSmF9DXbXYaOF9_BTH1w-P9_Ctkj3zRYHc0KJKmV1gAqgPmsOMjg/w640-h402/20240307_daffodils-indoors_001-Edit-Edit-2%20Smart%20Photo.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSO_8r3npS6MRCBj3P7YXD9L54DVzAyIgLcLjjKywstpv0rl1lPet7-vKVeb1YvOueSnShMU9iFwM-2juBUx_DhzAfdyaEi9S75WnvntJ2to3S8f_i5-ok1E5i2dE3mn-yl-eqD6pKuZj0m3_hBzgju2ou6tycV_jsaSmtU227rM7Ml92nRphn/s1024/20240307_daffodils-indoors_012%20Smart%20Photo.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="683" data-original-width="1024" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSO_8r3npS6MRCBj3P7YXD9L54DVzAyIgLcLjjKywstpv0rl1lPet7-vKVeb1YvOueSnShMU9iFwM-2juBUx_DhzAfdyaEi9S75WnvntJ2to3S8f_i5-ok1E5i2dE3mn-yl-eqD6pKuZj0m3_hBzgju2ou6tycV_jsaSmtU227rM7Ml92nRphn/w640-h426/20240307_daffodils-indoors_012%20Smart%20Photo.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcLL4DwhUXzPHv3P-MYYO45ORSxCVHrUo-brokoNIZvCUTeLPgCl9se3nKq_SyAuD0BpZd4aKJx7sH4CbohJdqHGkfuJi_6fZnKczDCnCNFAj0yA3OyTcws_R-9Az3b_AJGG9rFaTVtKiebH2lvyO9k9xb2p5dQO6FasamLoWaA_uP6F3szAD3/s1024/20240307_daffodils-indoors_018-Edit-Edit.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="694" data-original-width="1024" height="434" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcLL4DwhUXzPHv3P-MYYO45ORSxCVHrUo-brokoNIZvCUTeLPgCl9se3nKq_SyAuD0BpZd4aKJx7sH4CbohJdqHGkfuJi_6fZnKczDCnCNFAj0yA3OyTcws_R-9Az3b_AJGG9rFaTVtKiebH2lvyO9k9xb2p5dQO6FasamLoWaA_uP6F3szAD3/w640-h434/20240307_daffodils-indoors_018-Edit-Edit.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p>I didn't set out to create this effect; it just happened.</p>Anvilcloudhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07974744042579564912noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6998770.post-40519790201333398692024-03-09T07:04:00.005-05:002024-03-09T07:04:53.442-05:00Caturday 58: The Cat in the Birthday Hat<p>This is a Sue and Lacey post. Aside from presenting it to you today, I have nothing to do with it.</p><p>It was recently Dr Suess's birthday, and Sue's photo prompt took her to the library to find some of his books, especially <i>The Cat in the Hat</i>. Then, she had the brainwave to stick a birthday hat on Lacey.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiCSHqR6Lfee90fUBlBTQrEwKdcKFIPgTRIkJmkeHQaP1p1SCUY1W_o3ArhSEkICG-pKYXCI0OHXFry0AkzEqiunkEdx77Hpnic_OemfsbQgsKP7pEUlrWgA7p4UV8RwybHdaHDmuYP8nmOgn_h0F1jnZh6gkAL2UYPPZEU1RZYdJigMfcTOB_/s1024/20240302_lacey-clown_001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="907" data-original-width="1024" height="566" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiCSHqR6Lfee90fUBlBTQrEwKdcKFIPgTRIkJmkeHQaP1p1SCUY1W_o3ArhSEkICG-pKYXCI0OHXFry0AkzEqiunkEdx77Hpnic_OemfsbQgsKP7pEUlrWgA7p4UV8RwybHdaHDmuYP8nmOgn_h0F1jnZh6gkAL2UYPPZEU1RZYdJigMfcTOB_/w640-h566/20240302_lacey-clown_001.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLSJVz7ZGU1gp_-5Lnwi3WVeK2dwH4itSREnRewMBkNH-d3X1awBDjzPusPXjxfuWrFzdpYb6l3MSkytKHkbKlCxLcEpHoR1litZqkN8tzp3gh7YI1ZnlgLwNiDh_YNIVusroVDyGKLErFIMyn-aLfejRdiW4G0z_7jfkCHbghu85GHKEVRQgq/s1024/20240306_lacey-clown_004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="1024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLSJVz7ZGU1gp_-5Lnwi3WVeK2dwH4itSREnRewMBkNH-d3X1awBDjzPusPXjxfuWrFzdpYb6l3MSkytKHkbKlCxLcEpHoR1litZqkN8tzp3gh7YI1ZnlgLwNiDh_YNIVusroVDyGKLErFIMyn-aLfejRdiW4G0z_7jfkCHbghu85GHKEVRQgq/w640-h640/20240306_lacey-clown_004.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p>She cleverly merged the Lacey photos with the library scene. The balloons were also added it post. Clever, indeed.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSGjBVYQSvvMGLT6thVZvk2_zBIprClkGT2kw9AK6V-UCfFTMdZ1zAwu6ufTLmadUHZYsWcvwwFgxZUzUb9rOFv_h7E4O-_bnD0rC3ilrTJ-nAZYvOrfzh2g3B8e5sXu2q718yhV9UFsFTHK6ng5Y_r3QEDjqRtusM1KKhOlybYGO354kGeO46/s1024/20240306_lacey-clown_002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="947" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSGjBVYQSvvMGLT6thVZvk2_zBIprClkGT2kw9AK6V-UCfFTMdZ1zAwu6ufTLmadUHZYsWcvwwFgxZUzUb9rOFv_h7E4O-_bnD0rC3ilrTJ-nAZYvOrfzh2g3B8e5sXu2q718yhV9UFsFTHK6ng5Y_r3QEDjqRtusM1KKhOlybYGO354kGeO46/w592-h640/20240306_lacey-clown_002.jpg" width="592" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8wcCq4s30LZOhQZe9i39K0j9kKFVA9OcLkuN4DgfSG4ymJDwSVl-nlAZw0fAR1MYt00AcWEtaSd6ZFzfaKZF-CHPY7S0mmWAe4jpEmzzXItfF_usnzP-KWMlYgU9PeSm-N-Uu1LjAbrm-Cuzy5MxI758GqD7PtQd5k3nF48Tzj9f1P1mhiLgs/s1024/20240306_lacey-clown_003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="965" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8wcCq4s30LZOhQZe9i39K0j9kKFVA9OcLkuN4DgfSG4ymJDwSVl-nlAZw0fAR1MYt00AcWEtaSd6ZFzfaKZF-CHPY7S0mmWAe4jpEmzzXItfF_usnzP-KWMlYgU9PeSm-N-Uu1LjAbrm-Cuzy5MxI758GqD7PtQd5k3nF48Tzj9f1P1mhiLgs/w604-h640/20240306_lacey-clown_003.jpg" width="604" /></a></div><br /><p>And that is it for this Caturday. Have a good weekend.</p>Anvilcloudhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07974744042579564912noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6998770.post-43151701438853584982024-03-08T07:16:00.003-05:002024-03-08T07:16:53.872-05:00First Flowers of Spring<p>It's not spring yet, but it feels like it on some days. Last year, I found snowdrops in a little spot in town. I checked it out this week, and, sure enough, they were in bloom. This ↓ is the spot, and that is me. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMrIckpFGIbmN2jcDJONXhwN633A28ZI-AtVu0zX0hmuHWTq8lbQ3vagaO0k-h27k5i39AHLPk56a4esFaB0aDj6MUWAgWEeOC6RUHOx_kqtCkHpAkawRV8VIHMe4uQMnw1rwT4shvb72K9wrq7zVCsz6JHNQ17bRxybk61l6Fy_6NU39Fht2O/s1024/20240307_snowdrops_005.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="1019" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMrIckpFGIbmN2jcDJONXhwN633A28ZI-AtVu0zX0hmuHWTq8lbQ3vagaO0k-h27k5i39AHLPk56a4esFaB0aDj6MUWAgWEeOC6RUHOx_kqtCkHpAkawRV8VIHMe4uQMnw1rwT4shvb72K9wrq7zVCsz6JHNQ17bRxybk61l6Fy_6NU39Fht2O/w636-h640/20240307_snowdrops_005.jpg" width="636" /></a></div><p>As you can see, tiny plants lie in a little plot of ground between the sidewalk and a heritage house that almost abuts the sidewalk. Snowdrops are only a few inches off the ground, and I didn't know how I was going to manage with my macro lens, which is what I was determined to use. How in the world could I get down to their level? We had ported a little stepstool from the house, and that did the trick.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTCCGDI9tI5qCdYeMwureB-I-9WpizxqijZfb0C9KZi1Eo7-YF0uwC2VlTUTTFvrtUTKgfGT7sFDxWGuk3ECaQmnIua_h4iEMjjO5EKSVQ1Hd1BRsCiKzMPt8p3UHS1cPUOQrKOup9OaQESXd7kdhyphenhyphenARTXyrEXO2PGmBZUo8UUeGGcgALEY9Ba/s1024/20240307_snowdrops_001.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="768" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTCCGDI9tI5qCdYeMwureB-I-9WpizxqijZfb0C9KZi1Eo7-YF0uwC2VlTUTTFvrtUTKgfGT7sFDxWGuk3ECaQmnIua_h4iEMjjO5EKSVQ1Hd1BRsCiKzMPt8p3UHS1cPUOQrKOup9OaQESXd7kdhyphenhyphenARTXyrEXO2PGmBZUo8UUeGGcgALEY9Ba/w480-h640/20240307_snowdrops_001.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">When I look at the photo, I am tempted to wonder about that weird man.<br />Who is he? He looks so old.</td></tr></tbody></table><p>Sue had her own solution to getting her phone down to the level of the flowers. She attached the phone to her tripod, and as you can see, she got it quite close. But it was tough, especially as her phone doesn't have a macro lens. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1WT7OERRCH8FNGfkKzz3X_TL2HTvHCRYvs7kZKcJ6K6srgfBnQY5Ehtr88Gk3ugKtEGBZ7_Afd7nqbIaKs4_IR1nltfpNN1jsd7YHwShM5hmyQRkzEej5gxqcb6n_U6WHwEe7QP62aRDrg43jPTr5KkCrRot83EExIP8VJ_uZm7r5EeSpDQiN/s1024/20240307_snowdrops_006.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="768" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1WT7OERRCH8FNGfkKzz3X_TL2HTvHCRYvs7kZKcJ6K6srgfBnQY5Ehtr88Gk3ugKtEGBZ7_Afd7nqbIaKs4_IR1nltfpNN1jsd7YHwShM5hmyQRkzEej5gxqcb6n_U6WHwEe7QP62aRDrg43jPTr5KkCrRot83EExIP8VJ_uZm7r5EeSpDQiN/w480-h640/20240307_snowdrops_006.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The shadows were deliberate, and you can see how little the flowers were.<br />In passing, notice the tiny brown leaves on the hedge beside Sue,<br />for we shall get back to them,</td></tr></tbody></table><p>I was able to get two decent, macro photos although they both required a bit of cleanup in edit as there were spots of dirt on the petals.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7j8fO6g6edOq7aK8Tw71SDwhbvG_f01omjyl07YSfDh19yT2EoRS6glvyOSQOsEZfw9tpQ3Hz-xJuklRjLaJCYK_OL78nsSSgCmqHadtGxaFtd6eZ2Y5QmacDPt1K1y1dSTiuKYitu6UJZ1N81NCLMYOoBh2Yvb_un25dbw3dx4rpb6UXrDTU/s1024/20240307_snowdrops_008-Edit.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="683" data-original-width="1024" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7j8fO6g6edOq7aK8Tw71SDwhbvG_f01omjyl07YSfDh19yT2EoRS6glvyOSQOsEZfw9tpQ3Hz-xJuklRjLaJCYK_OL78nsSSgCmqHadtGxaFtd6eZ2Y5QmacDPt1K1y1dSTiuKYitu6UJZ1N81NCLMYOoBh2Yvb_un25dbw3dx4rpb6UXrDTU/w640-h426/20240307_snowdrops_008-Edit.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiglkcE3wqrAfA0d1Np-MrLSUGyS9QrDfr13JPQdqNb-w6m9g_iFG9Wova2pmM8GaEzxfdX3s1w7JoYQ5In5wK2blK_ZXEt5pqxlGz_mJYDCYd1eha3LNseLt8imIOF1KW9VisWkBwRoAwdTEI3xfyeqaBweRQj4A9BQkIdVNAAptDGiyNjMVY_/s1024/20240307_snowdrops_019-Edit.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="683" data-original-width="1024" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiglkcE3wqrAfA0d1Np-MrLSUGyS9QrDfr13JPQdqNb-w6m9g_iFG9Wova2pmM8GaEzxfdX3s1w7JoYQ5In5wK2blK_ZXEt5pqxlGz_mJYDCYd1eha3LNseLt8imIOF1KW9VisWkBwRoAwdTEI3xfyeqaBweRQj4A9BQkIdVNAAptDGiyNjMVY_/w640-h426/20240307_snowdrops_019-Edit.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p>I am chuffed to get these shots, for the first time that I ever saw snowdrops was at my dad's house about 40 years ago. Aside from this patch, which I discovered only last year, I think that was the only time that I have seen them other than in pictures.</p><p>If you will recall, I asked you to take a gander at the tiny leaves on the hedge. Well, I did take a photo, and, all things considered, I like it too.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGoeebe_sdR9alc3thS3Ar06wJ3IH-lESlzScyGUl1-RTuEUuU9U3oO46Keojru54TV62tbrBsJompWm6D35Cu8e_nVHmZeMBaPcaV-IYVKyGFayDPtE6IMRb1-u4y9xpSSAnAX8QimnI2hdJ2EpHbkV6GQG78Xo7n_jrzfbQqk3GdNg3OGhLw/s1024/20240307_snowdrops_022-Edit.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="714" data-original-width="1024" height="446" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGoeebe_sdR9alc3thS3Ar06wJ3IH-lESlzScyGUl1-RTuEUuU9U3oO46Keojru54TV62tbrBsJompWm6D35Cu8e_nVHmZeMBaPcaV-IYVKyGFayDPtE6IMRb1-u4y9xpSSAnAX8QimnI2hdJ2EpHbkV6GQG78Xo7n_jrzfbQqk3GdNg3OGhLw/w640-h446/20240307_snowdrops_022-Edit.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p>So it begins, although I don't expect that spring will come galloping apace from here on. It is on its way though.</p>Anvilcloudhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07974744042579564912noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6998770.post-25347182112789321852024-03-07T06:32:00.002-05:002024-03-07T07:37:56.221-05:00Thinking of Our Line Dancing DaysApparently, the line dance to Beyoncé's <i>Texas Hold'Em</i> is sweeping the nation – the line dancing nation anyway. As I discovered, you can find all sorts of hits on YT. Here is one of the many renditions.<div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="399" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/2ItfxybAtjU" width="480" youtube-src-id="2ItfxybAtjU"></iframe></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div>Here is quite an adaptation — a tap dance in the desert.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="399" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/GSowCsZzHHY" width="480" youtube-src-id="GSowCsZzHHY"></iframe></div></div><div><br /></div><div>Those ↑ versions seem to be a little more intricate that what you'd get in a Tuesday night club session that would go a little more like ↓ this, just slightly toned down, I think. It is not necessary to watch it all, as they just keep repeating the steps in all 4 directions, for that is how many line dances tend to work.</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/N0wUONaUOOo?si=yQ6cuVsv4v1BTFnb&start=10" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>There was a time when we would have been right into it. Sue wondered if we could do it again, but I know my dang foot couldn't manage it. When C19 was on, I thought to make a video of us doing the sedate <i>Waltz Across Texas,</i> just for fun, but I couldn't even do that properly.</div><div><br /></div><div>Once upon a time, we went to a line dance evening for several years. They taught steps there, but we could also learn difficult routines on our own. For example: I give you ↓ <i>Heave Away</i>. Our teacher would have never tried to teach it to the whole gathering, but when we first joined, Sue and I would stay and watch the more expert dancers do their thing at the end of the full sessions. Once we saw them do <i>Heave Away, </i>we went home and learned it on our own. After that, we would dance with the experts in the afterglow.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="399" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/4Zkxxp3tYw0" width="480" youtube-src-id="4Zkxxp3tYw0"></iframe></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">It was so much fun and good exercise too. I am glad that we did it.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div>For those who weren't around a few years ago, even though we didn't do <i>Waltz Across Texas</i>, we did do our version of the Monty Python <i>Silly Walk</i> to brighten a forlorn COVID day. It was silly, indeed.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/59MMUGE3ARE?si=h4dsgjfnwOCk9Jaj&start=10" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div>Anvilcloudhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07974744042579564912noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6998770.post-50702256744633574982024-03-06T05:50:00.000-05:002024-03-06T05:50:05.970-05:00It's All About the Light<p>For the previous two years, Sue's photo group has called for her to photograph the same location in each of the four seasons. This year, they ask her to return to the location of her choice on the 5th of each month. It can be tricky here where we have such a real winter because we can't get to some locations in winter — or at least in a normal winter. Due to accessibility, we have to choose carefully.</p><p>This year, we chose the entrance to the park nearest to us. This meant that we wouldn't have to struggle to get into the park in order to get to the chosen spot, but the view would still be acceptable. A photo of a beautiful cover of snow could be pretty nice too.</p><p>The trouble is that there haven't been many great winter photos this year. While there was snow in February is was not one of those dreamy winter photos. </p><p>We checked it out around noon on the 4th, and the scene was uninspiringly drab without snow and also with no rising of spring colour. I suggested that we should return when the sun was low behind us, to see if and how it would light up the park. Well, it certainly did.</p><p>We are reminded that photography is about the light.</p><p>This ↓ is approximately where Sue will take her photo on every 5th of the month. At about 5:30, you can see the long shadows, mine included. The light is warm in the low sunlight whereas it had been somewhat stark when we had checked closer to noon. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU-z776syWrP7d3-pDyBxqCXAsPANM9xu6ICvcD5Lr_Rj22iZBXjiwAKOyWCI-9-3HKhZxo_bPta7n7DzrQvlizm-K-ia4FW55VJNpC_Cb_kuxy1tSqYcUhz5AIkOEPpufC0KZgflvNggky4QTpr89noBBgv-xDpIqSq5aO9VHP6q9C5MyLuaD/s1024/20240304_curro-sunset_005.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="739" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU-z776syWrP7d3-pDyBxqCXAsPANM9xu6ICvcD5Lr_Rj22iZBXjiwAKOyWCI-9-3HKhZxo_bPta7n7DzrQvlizm-K-ia4FW55VJNpC_Cb_kuxy1tSqYcUhz5AIkOEPpufC0KZgflvNggky4QTpr89noBBgv-xDpIqSq5aO9VHP6q9C5MyLuaD/w462-h640/20240304_curro-sunset_005.jpg" width="462" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>There were geese on the pond, and the two by the little peninsula caught my eye. I like their reflections as well as the tree reflections. We came at a good time, both in terms of the time of day and for the calmness which gave us the reflections.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgysUIg7p_xF9xlyZQuAMY2yQZgvHXdo_TNdd2XJmmQZH0hAM4uZcsIZ40UfVqlLGaBYVEo5Z9maYxTpXnSMaMuTUBLkiw1QOh91CMkcCr6mjmqancX10tosE0AD9pcaSkLFzoPKa47vdyum-HotCccF3sZ_FRtuVGU706jxJLVeU2HqYBjx6hG/s1024/20240304_curro-sunset_009.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="683" data-original-width="1024" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgysUIg7p_xF9xlyZQuAMY2yQZgvHXdo_TNdd2XJmmQZH0hAM4uZcsIZ40UfVqlLGaBYVEo5Z9maYxTpXnSMaMuTUBLkiw1QOh91CMkcCr6mjmqancX10tosE0AD9pcaSkLFzoPKa47vdyum-HotCccF3sZ_FRtuVGU706jxJLVeU2HqYBjx6hG/w640-h426/20240304_curro-sunset_009.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>I tried to situate the geese well in the frame.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEianaW-ys7qsvGWm-V8DHcKQCeWpwMXaS2k16stOXQR5P2ORSQenLiWf-4wgUxwFwjwzjbCQlCE2HiXNtWyR48mWPTQ2YGc7xGNbacntqNtUrGhRfPF-wYpOaOXhNDsEwaxW45C4CUtTSGsdKViR-Eda_5-FWSWTJypZTx-eQEFzM7_RNSgoOa6/s1024/20240304_curro-sunset_010.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="782" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEianaW-ys7qsvGWm-V8DHcKQCeWpwMXaS2k16stOXQR5P2ORSQenLiWf-4wgUxwFwjwzjbCQlCE2HiXNtWyR48mWPTQ2YGc7xGNbacntqNtUrGhRfPF-wYpOaOXhNDsEwaxW45C4CUtTSGsdKViR-Eda_5-FWSWTJypZTx-eQEFzM7_RNSgoOa6/w488-h640/20240304_curro-sunset_010.jpg" width="488" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Speaking of frames, I decided to try a shot through the branches, and I like the result well enough. In a photo like this, something pretty well has to be a bit unsharp, but I can accept the somewhat blurry branches for the sake of the composition.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizJRcopvYEX0CXxDlS090OtPfyw-z-yYii-zDi_2w1JeZSyFRV68DM4isOM3hauzkXcpgJLqagmkBZyvgDKwc_DxFz2a9d_eqDL1cKmQ9RkdY7rqwnaxLBSttkT7czDIuYMq_IiHmlT6_z9nV5b836VOFB1CRZ09SlsnbrecOoeE8WOMBO9uWW/s1024/20240304_curro-sunset_016.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="683" data-original-width="1024" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizJRcopvYEX0CXxDlS090OtPfyw-z-yYii-zDi_2w1JeZSyFRV68DM4isOM3hauzkXcpgJLqagmkBZyvgDKwc_DxFz2a9d_eqDL1cKmQ9RkdY7rqwnaxLBSttkT7czDIuYMq_IiHmlT6_z9nV5b836VOFB1CRZ09SlsnbrecOoeE8WOMBO9uWW/w640-h426/20240304_curro-sunset_016.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p>I seldom think to capture video, but here is a very short clip of the geese and their honking.</p><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='480' height='399' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxEhP5fQ5j6wFfIdvCibpht8ZwCjhkc7Xb_1MqHpr6lYGNeVqDFd_Q3jH1mzlRvxlyrnRbDdRdG_jQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br /><p>Here is Sue's composite of the scene. She returned the next day, which was the proper day for the photo, and put it in a composite. She also got clouds in the sky, which doesn't always happen.</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPH5BnekZLg8V9teK4n4_s3HAKp6CCB4YIaFAwMO8hjlA3l4BvFdTLOSzTmTULGfA3bZpxeGvp03ZccZRqinPlMPEoFdA_lOCm_wgzxZdvldDU7DC9RRMZVQI1STqiCXm-1QfwXvlG0FhyphenhyphenEw4em21by_bwwXMvi1JS6moJ-yWbgBDHFHQF_omp/s3465/20240306_curro-sunset_001.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3465" data-original-width="3465" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPH5BnekZLg8V9teK4n4_s3HAKp6CCB4YIaFAwMO8hjlA3l4BvFdTLOSzTmTULGfA3bZpxeGvp03ZccZRqinPlMPEoFdA_lOCm_wgzxZdvldDU7DC9RRMZVQI1STqiCXm-1QfwXvlG0FhyphenhyphenEw4em21by_bwwXMvi1JS6moJ-yWbgBDHFHQF_omp/w640-h640/20240306_curro-sunset_001.JPEG" width="640" /></a></p><br /><p><br /></p>Anvilcloudhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07974744042579564912noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6998770.post-47402234421579385022024-03-05T07:00:00.014-05:002024-03-05T07:36:28.546-05:00The Shape of Things to Go<p>Referring to the title, what is it that is going to go? It is the ice that appears these photos. </p><p>We walked in Riverside Park for the first time in awhile because the path is, thankfully, now clear. Hopefully, it will remain that way now that we're into March, but time will tell.</p><p>Silly me left his camera at home, so I pulled out my phone. I have more or less decided to eschew phone photography, but any port in a storm. Eh.</p><p>Nothing extraordinary here. Just sharing the walk with you and photographing a bit of ice while it still exists.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiquMWWTocWVTSVoS3iNPg-lu5AjryrNhkgOEeyVNMF1e9cPMPxMdpdAXakSoyFCosrtB031rpsQzpY0ZIjDx2H5_KJ95MmP8uk8gRIvVzgZazQ6QJGy7Lw_LEKm9YplTKgCM02xCRKrn0dLt2AONrBth-uWThki9yI8t78tfQp-7hibSbZNJRz/s1024/20240301_riverside-ice_005.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="646" data-original-width="1024" height="404" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiquMWWTocWVTSVoS3iNPg-lu5AjryrNhkgOEeyVNMF1e9cPMPxMdpdAXakSoyFCosrtB031rpsQzpY0ZIjDx2H5_KJ95MmP8uk8gRIvVzgZazQ6QJGy7Lw_LEKm9YplTKgCM02xCRKrn0dLt2AONrBth-uWThki9yI8t78tfQp-7hibSbZNJRz/w640-h404/20240301_riverside-ice_005.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO8RFwJwvqXeirfR5pQvwUTNkYK4tDENS6sMn2jVpu4ApcUSF1r6zf1kD3DpslKMQDmd7LC7ICZ2tjwDszlBVY5kS5WB7UuQyEgDAX0_dOxSac0jx1VDvWQFVhY0BpyQihL72v_ASiw62kN2yHZdc2-KHetisjQ7FB1ZaiBBZ9V-uHc_9XC-_L/s1024/20240301_riverside-ice_007.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="739" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO8RFwJwvqXeirfR5pQvwUTNkYK4tDENS6sMn2jVpu4ApcUSF1r6zf1kD3DpslKMQDmd7LC7ICZ2tjwDszlBVY5kS5WB7UuQyEgDAX0_dOxSac0jx1VDvWQFVhY0BpyQihL72v_ASiw62kN2yHZdc2-KHetisjQ7FB1ZaiBBZ9V-uHc_9XC-_L/w462-h640/20240301_riverside-ice_007.jpg" width="462" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI26H2rcEXQKk3E5XhIJxoo_jPqJ-M5T1wzfSpDhJvZQSG5gy93U9q10jMyMnt5KZiLQKW9AsxYxru0Es2yt5vmN2qRSNuS9FqOBdnmKXpoJH2HtwwONbPu-3GP8VZtL1ELKoH4k91wSNau_cM2zcaj50MW_v0SggjeolJIKwlcfR4mUWrJGZR/s1024/20240301_riverside-ice_008.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="943" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI26H2rcEXQKk3E5XhIJxoo_jPqJ-M5T1wzfSpDhJvZQSG5gy93U9q10jMyMnt5KZiLQKW9AsxYxru0Es2yt5vmN2qRSNuS9FqOBdnmKXpoJH2HtwwONbPu-3GP8VZtL1ELKoH4k91wSNau_cM2zcaj50MW_v0SggjeolJIKwlcfR4mUWrJGZR/w590-h640/20240301_riverside-ice_008.jpg" width="590" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikWMdxm2vj0ApngaoG5YdmQmjurRHycuNa3C6vT0xhp0QCdt5wCEaiGrdcnMtpKZZbIjl6nAsOYXon_2LSlhH0gx7ZcsBOVzVCu-gA5Zsq96lk3arGVKwyTJR0OGeZ8LcLgGtMJvniK5VLzSZIxJ1L9MpoQoxxDrJTONUelZGtT1DEgIhsguB7/s1024/20240301_riverside-ice_009.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikWMdxm2vj0ApngaoG5YdmQmjurRHycuNa3C6vT0xhp0QCdt5wCEaiGrdcnMtpKZZbIjl6nAsOYXon_2LSlhH0gx7ZcsBOVzVCu-gA5Zsq96lk3arGVKwyTJR0OGeZ8LcLgGtMJvniK5VLzSZIxJ1L9MpoQoxxDrJTONUelZGtT1DEgIhsguB7/w640-h480/20240301_riverside-ice_009.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0Wx6VwYn17BAIUlozE4GEKWwvuRfnxxMeyttLG96TCEFMcIfYkvYvbFwGUyauPNE66yNl3QNwuwvLt3raXqE6zl0IMQlW3vECAOWqO2CoGI23vebrMyw7y4iqzGt0BidQsOcws2LRLja_2sK0mHK2uJqtFSu44yBkvDmsdTtw4aQSI6A12OT3/s1024/20240301_riverside-ice_011.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="813" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0Wx6VwYn17BAIUlozE4GEKWwvuRfnxxMeyttLG96TCEFMcIfYkvYvbFwGUyauPNE66yNl3QNwuwvLt3raXqE6zl0IMQlW3vECAOWqO2CoGI23vebrMyw7y4iqzGt0BidQsOcws2LRLja_2sK0mHK2uJqtFSu44yBkvDmsdTtw4aQSI6A12OT3/w508-h640/20240301_riverside-ice_011.jpg" width="508" /></a></div><p>As you well now, sometimes I like to play with photos, and I thought I'd try that one ↑ in b&w and eventually nudged it into a sepia ↓ vintage look.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC_aLRJ7-z5joEQ63jGwn5nL7LULbhksE9QULy-Xxp3lE5evBeXpNTa2XmN_DhBVEJxygre0DvRm7NDFpdUh730cOyO-PQobQvd3h5i8i0qQTSwxvNUxrTAln5jLF5mt-K7J5pAT5xi2UQq0EXanN3ScdTHJEwJQOScyxnl0i_12NIic2jp5_p/s1024/20240301_riverside-ice_011-Edit.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="818" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC_aLRJ7-z5joEQ63jGwn5nL7LULbhksE9QULy-Xxp3lE5evBeXpNTa2XmN_DhBVEJxygre0DvRm7NDFpdUh730cOyO-PQobQvd3h5i8i0qQTSwxvNUxrTAln5jLF5mt-K7J5pAT5xi2UQq0EXanN3ScdTHJEwJQOScyxnl0i_12NIic2jp5_p/w512-h640/20240301_riverside-ice_011-Edit.jpg" width="512" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Anvilcloudhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07974744042579564912noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6998770.post-26828700163683946662024-03-04T07:00:00.015-05:002024-03-04T07:00:00.236-05:00Foggy Sunday Morn<p>I pretty well knew that it would be foggy when I awoke on Sunday because it had been thick when I went to bed. It was 5:30 when I peered out the window, and I thought I should head out with the camera. A proper photographer would have done that — seized the fog, as it were. Evidently, however, I am not a proper photographer. </p><p>I remained irresolute for the next hour, but decided to get out there at 6:30. I began to get ready but caved again. It was still cool, and I also needed a shower before I hit the grocery store.</p><p>I've recently got into the habit of shopping early on Sunday morning. I didn't mean for it to happen, and I don't prefer it, but since I, somehow, got on that track, we seem to to run out of supplies by Sunday morning.</p><p>When I finally left home at about 8:30, I did grab my compact camera, and I stopped for a few snaps on my way both to and from the grocery store.</p><p>The first two photos were on the way there and the last one on the way home. I only went very slightly out my my way in both cases. I also converted completely to mono: might as well because it was close enough to b&w anyway.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgli327qPbkJPcn-1o0DTmaD2ehxkkNMbKV5Chb6NfqHS1apHTAXOeJSpJtkF8b6VLneIVTLcGUNF0rK2IPgEenRsNCGq4eddgFNoyoyUd4UWVlP_zo9YwY3yaOMDqUJ04hiBH8REvj89KYUltzyYcQg1jgAXXFxn2w_6r_DNrwnFoQxuBte5Gl/s1024/20240303_foggy-sunday_005.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="661" data-original-width="1024" height="414" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgli327qPbkJPcn-1o0DTmaD2ehxkkNMbKV5Chb6NfqHS1apHTAXOeJSpJtkF8b6VLneIVTLcGUNF0rK2IPgEenRsNCGq4eddgFNoyoyUd4UWVlP_zo9YwY3yaOMDqUJ04hiBH8REvj89KYUltzyYcQg1jgAXXFxn2w_6r_DNrwnFoQxuBte5Gl/w640-h414/20240303_foggy-sunday_005.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEehtE1HkvE10FAFmZe5uyCn7kyLFUK2pa2u9nxjtRvRmDrywkby8w-fRDj3VC87tN4Qi70xKvSHSUyDs2Yb_F4j0naZ6B_wcrMWf-OtX7gOKgFB4-v_wttAlcGsW8VQtIIhbWMeQg3egjnZU6vUhz6SwJfOYLV5lBmhmTazdKO32qnZiCAAwj/s1024/20240303_foggy-sunday_009.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="819" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEehtE1HkvE10FAFmZe5uyCn7kyLFUK2pa2u9nxjtRvRmDrywkby8w-fRDj3VC87tN4Qi70xKvSHSUyDs2Yb_F4j0naZ6B_wcrMWf-OtX7gOKgFB4-v_wttAlcGsW8VQtIIhbWMeQg3egjnZU6vUhz6SwJfOYLV5lBmhmTazdKO32qnZiCAAwj/w512-h640/20240303_foggy-sunday_009.jpg" width="512" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_otOc-MBNA-r26ZIwZEoyIR2hxwsjWaQquyGOUEn5NxtmvMYMhOCOhLkFZRcRMfE8ALsxrzDcSwM0oxeDkQCy1245rS7NEjnhMpF_fgQdBrjyfSxZcQ-G7RfUteqV_H8sJWGHZOZWXRzDaYue451Zlyhmjl6hXJcyRPXiKPNbaOjPvgrT38qp/s1024/20240303_foggy-sunday_010.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="302" data-original-width="1024" height="188" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_otOc-MBNA-r26ZIwZEoyIR2hxwsjWaQquyGOUEn5NxtmvMYMhOCOhLkFZRcRMfE8ALsxrzDcSwM0oxeDkQCy1245rS7NEjnhMpF_fgQdBrjyfSxZcQ-G7RfUteqV_H8sJWGHZOZWXRzDaYue451Zlyhmjl6hXJcyRPXiKPNbaOjPvgrT38qp/w640-h188/20240303_foggy-sunday_010.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p>Anvilcloudhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07974744042579564912noreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6998770.post-42460846129887346942024-03-03T06:19:00.000-05:002024-03-03T06:19:08.976-05:00Sue Made Me Sit in the Corner<p>My talented and formidable spouse keeps supplying me with blog fodder with her many photos, and I could post many more than I do. We were in the library for a different shoot, but she saw the possibility of doing the one that I am about to post, below.</p><p>Her prompt was to photograph <i>something in the corner</i>. Apparently, I classify as <i>something</i>, which I suppose is somewhat gratifying, and the library has corners, so there we were.</p><p>She set me in a window corner for a few photos: more windows and more shots than you see here. With Sue, there is always more — ALWAYS!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnBn-GED_ePoh0-6tcViGuidRN5At0z2bvVhIU4auJa18cevsFs6LGeO1eX9dcXOuyIJjVGcC3NP69OA5Xbzi3rps9d9PTkst4AvXZD9sSDWK56FxJZqs8NI12A-2rKkOa5PXfJ3NS5Lyp46TvumKHabnOfzJ6Dv6B4SR4X2OrypIoOGbi_wL1/s1024/20240301_john-library-corner_001.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnBn-GED_ePoh0-6tcViGuidRN5At0z2bvVhIU4auJa18cevsFs6LGeO1eX9dcXOuyIJjVGcC3NP69OA5Xbzi3rps9d9PTkst4AvXZD9sSDWK56FxJZqs8NI12A-2rKkOa5PXfJ3NS5Lyp46TvumKHabnOfzJ6Dv6B4SR4X2OrypIoOGbi_wL1/w640-h480/20240301_john-library-corner_001.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p>I thought that one ↑ was ok, but she thought she could do better. While I would have said, "Got it," with that shot, she always looks for better. Frankly, she can go more than a little overboard with take after take after take, but she usually doesn't push me too far for too long. Not because I am a grump, you understand. :)</p><p>Anyway, she placed me in a booky corner.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieLkkcyshIDJjI8u2XLNqDmTuWWMJ7XPvMx_1KojL9n5wE_382AOWp-DU2AXLJvmM0ORdTZeY3GVe56vzUoXv4bqFRu4Qrj5dvbYrfMm7MGXBPfH27F4qesSXXXYX0GwTUspVM33RTS1ZC83E2GyJPj1AWNWBQc8CJVqay0CKerqnA9IMGAwxN/s1024/20240301_john-library-corner_002.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="922" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieLkkcyshIDJjI8u2XLNqDmTuWWMJ7XPvMx_1KojL9n5wE_382AOWp-DU2AXLJvmM0ORdTZeY3GVe56vzUoXv4bqFRu4Qrj5dvbYrfMm7MGXBPfH27F4qesSXXXYX0GwTUspVM33RTS1ZC83E2GyJPj1AWNWBQc8CJVqay0CKerqnA9IMGAwxN/w576-h640/20240301_john-library-corner_002.jpg" width="576" /></a></div><br /><p>While she liked the ↑ photo, she decided that the next one, explored the corner theme better. You may notice that even the table has corners.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfDO2N0dgYBYpQ9UHGPwUnE7xPAMJK0OABallhhNnotcmTHS5EDQwpGf_zgn2zVggYqqGcWn9myzcxnasTDOZvwWAYv6PWp__SL2jk1pJJKYr-eI3X7p36Ddx-kMxz3syAbI64jwuqaTUK0sfaTCfAVVeIuKQQ-dG6ENW82Pp5GDJayL-_ZGVz/s1024/20240301_john-library-corner_003.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="895" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfDO2N0dgYBYpQ9UHGPwUnE7xPAMJK0OABallhhNnotcmTHS5EDQwpGf_zgn2zVggYqqGcWn9myzcxnasTDOZvwWAYv6PWp__SL2jk1pJJKYr-eI3X7p36Ddx-kMxz3syAbI64jwuqaTUK0sfaTCfAVVeIuKQQ-dG6ENW82Pp5GDJayL-_ZGVz/w560-h640/20240301_john-library-corner_003.jpg" width="560" /></a></div><div><br /></div>Good choice I think, even though I am sure that y'all must prefer to see the glorious AC as large as you possibly can. ;)Anvilcloudhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07974744042579564912noreply@blogger.com23tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6998770.post-57754470883808613422024-03-02T07:00:00.001-05:002024-03-02T07:00:00.288-05:00Icicles Revisited and Reimagined<p>Many photographers do not love post-processing (ie editing) their photos. Most do some editing, however, because it is necessary to reveal the scene properly. That said, they try to get it as right as possible in the camera. Well, most of us try to get it right in camera, but some of us also enjoy playing about with photos in post.</p><p>Usually, I try to use post-processing to get the photo to look, more or less, as it was when I snapped it. That is sometimes easier said than done because cameras and humans tend to see the world differently. Occasionally, however, I am moved to push the pixels a little more, especially now that AI is available, for it is fun to play with</p><p>I have used AI, which Adobe calls Generative Fill, in the following case.</p><p>You may recall this photo of icicles from January; there was nothing special done to it, and I like it well enough.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-KpiSiGQxprcotRj3wiUr7sLYdWLy40MwBnidN2JXbVn892s4-eA70H4EPEd9hHhNCJJENBnXIjWIic7Hqb5iwd5ppZyUUIuxtQwhIAFo9poQQFrsNfVAY3CuzQVM2-r8EnDRCwswBCttHcg16BA_Mhf6E44ViUzWhPUOnHftOTBeg6hoDP6a/s1024/20240124_downtown-icicles_005.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="683" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-KpiSiGQxprcotRj3wiUr7sLYdWLy40MwBnidN2JXbVn892s4-eA70H4EPEd9hHhNCJJENBnXIjWIic7Hqb5iwd5ppZyUUIuxtQwhIAFo9poQQFrsNfVAY3CuzQVM2-r8EnDRCwswBCttHcg16BA_Mhf6E44ViUzWhPUOnHftOTBeg6hoDP6a/w426-h640/20240124_downtown-icicles_005.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><p>The next few times, we passed by, the icicles were gone, but one day they were back, so I took another photo. It's dead on, so I don't like it as much as the first one, but here it is after some basic editing.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRfUEZBKJeOHy-TkwFnIXEN5YOkNxJGvOhJ2Fx4Z0rw6oDhDotqYSTGRm4b9hLMGh5fVbForsD_Da15YOlpGQ7QFL4PR_qcNrY7EgPKfDT_Gn_hKccx-VOj57D1OkQ5k3yZEMSk5XIfzQpvhjNgXsdhGPHP9MAsZMOBlY5obwy7GR6OLp9oicr/s1024/20240222_tripod_001.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="683" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRfUEZBKJeOHy-TkwFnIXEN5YOkNxJGvOhJ2Fx4Z0rw6oDhDotqYSTGRm4b9hLMGh5fVbForsD_Da15YOlpGQ7QFL4PR_qcNrY7EgPKfDT_Gn_hKccx-VOj57D1OkQ5k3yZEMSk5XIfzQpvhjNgXsdhGPHP9MAsZMOBlY5obwy7GR6OLp9oicr/w426-h640/20240222_tripod_001.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><p>I then sent it from Lightroom to Photoshop to get rid of the yellow thing at the bottom right, and for better or worse, I also chose to crop away the other buildings at the top. I really don't mind them there and would probably leave them in on another day when I would be in a different mood.</p><p>I'll show you the end-result now and will, afterward, also reveal the other changes that I made.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-YOvJ7wV9Far9Iid9CaSjub-ns7aNZL-Vpha4Zav26L2_PQLyQnMK5e3jHZBdv7K2QDV3fq1YYEs3UTWTKAvULqRlwsu8yIH6JEnVULmeVc8aHa1HFnSP0yWK3qA61xhyphenhyphen7jkQssFdM32RDZTrhTvus80KuHH-wkVKuFH73EnUJs19NzJplZiY/s1024/20240222_tripod_001a-Edit.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="691" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-YOvJ7wV9Far9Iid9CaSjub-ns7aNZL-Vpha4Zav26L2_PQLyQnMK5e3jHZBdv7K2QDV3fq1YYEs3UTWTKAvULqRlwsu8yIH6JEnVULmeVc8aHa1HFnSP0yWK3qA61xhyphenhyphen7jkQssFdM32RDZTrhTvus80KuHH-wkVKuFH73EnUJs19NzJplZiY/w432-h640/20240222_tripod_001a-Edit.jpg" width="432" /></a></div><br /><p>I changed to photo to b&w, but I left the window frame coloured. I also enlarged the window just a bit. Finally, I used AI to put a picture inside the frame, for it was just plain cardboard originally. I was thinking that, just perhaps, we might think that the snowy truck might be a reflection. Whether it looks like that or not, I think it is an improvement over the cardboard.</p><p>I do think that if I were to take one more shot at editing the image that I would leave it uncropped and in colour but still treat the window as I did in this experiment.</p><p>I know that ye non-photographers don't care a jot about my photographic machinations, but thanks for putting up with my occasional forays into the my world.</p><p><b>Addendum</b>: <i>What the heck! I've had this in the queue so long that I've gone ahead and done the other version that I imagined. I did make the window just a little bit larger (again!) in the process and also moved it to be a little more centered horizontally in the black wall.</i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguTWwXDKMxcOx_-7YSE_-6Cikwrnu86SqFEwWSuMvdCk2M7I8nO3_yvleYqzAdA_NnNUDlT21FWgWZsRfFs7OwW9vFYF4fa3gvqL8NfBLALk1wpwmAkZVNiXxM8adz7C62iggKV2I6-M6TB3pYEJBtyrPEy4N8obl6M7dLYK-cN9iC3SMoXYZa/s1024/20240222_tripod_001-Edit-3-3.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="683" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguTWwXDKMxcOx_-7YSE_-6Cikwrnu86SqFEwWSuMvdCk2M7I8nO3_yvleYqzAdA_NnNUDlT21FWgWZsRfFs7OwW9vFYF4fa3gvqL8NfBLALk1wpwmAkZVNiXxM8adz7C62iggKV2I6-M6TB3pYEJBtyrPEy4N8obl6M7dLYK-cN9iC3SMoXYZa/w426-h640/20240222_tripod_001-Edit-3-3.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Anvilcloudhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07974744042579564912noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6998770.post-40398437979578951432024-03-01T06:13:00.001-05:002024-03-01T06:13:17.659-05:00The Trumpeters Fly By<p>I most certainly did not have the time to take a photo, but this is what I saw. (photo credit:: https://wildlife-species.canada.ca/bird-status/oiseau-bird-eng.aspx)</p><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzK4jTvokG0z8IpYL-XVYGkYawna_bzYEWeMBRxbcMhdCB1NE9J9eVFWwrcdeqDHzHte06g1BgNVG69HSbSGVRVaGq1N9w80iibAT7zqLv7h1m5WhJiQ30Cn-ivLsMokQjIQg5gzwhdn1_YPF3skQlNfoXNw_9uWzGg8QkB3mB9B27lBbnFhNj/s436/TRUS_Jukka_Jantunen.jpg"><img border="0" data-original-height="436" data-original-width="290" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzK4jTvokG0z8IpYL-XVYGkYawna_bzYEWeMBRxbcMhdCB1NE9J9eVFWwrcdeqDHzHte06g1BgNVG69HSbSGVRVaGq1N9w80iibAT7zqLv7h1m5WhJiQ30Cn-ivLsMokQjIQg5gzwhdn1_YPF3skQlNfoXNw_9uWzGg8QkB3mB9B27lBbnFhNj/w266-h400/TRUS_Jukka_Jantunen.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><p>I was in the driveway bringing groceries in from the car when I heard a loud and odd sort of honking. It didn't sound like Canada Geese, so I looked up to see two gorgeous, long-necked trumpeters flying overhead.</p><p>I was moved. I've only seen trumpeter swans a few times and at a bit of a distance but here were two beautiful creatures doing a flyby, just for my benefit, or so it seemed.</p><p>Believe or not, I heard more honking (if that is the right word), and another pair flew by on my other side.</p><p>While such sights may not be uncommon for some, as far as I can recall, this was a first for me in my almost 77 years of taking breath, and I was thrilled.</p><p>I am reminded of not seeing my first hummingbird until close to my fifth decade. I was emotional then as well.</p><p>I leave you with this photo of mine from January. They may very well be the same swans, for I have heard that are still hanging around these parts and our frequently see in this very same spot.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAFXWnKSitigtZmfT3NNqo14EchSMz0ZWjusmvo2qAtFvjIoS4_6GkjfdE-cdjZPVk2jxU3uVdAjukrvmorX6iP_CA2zhrPElqGxG0NAI63bdsPuOLy_CFAHj4GT5hF6ILI3eqtUSClEpueqSt5LEm_qEntMO3VacEkHla2BwTHWDbvQVM4JTO/s1024/20240106_riverside-swans_013.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="440" data-original-width="1024" height="173" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAFXWnKSitigtZmfT3NNqo14EchSMz0ZWjusmvo2qAtFvjIoS4_6GkjfdE-cdjZPVk2jxU3uVdAjukrvmorX6iP_CA2zhrPElqGxG0NAI63bdsPuOLy_CFAHj4GT5hF6ILI3eqtUSClEpueqSt5LEm_qEntMO3VacEkHla2BwTHWDbvQVM4JTO/w400-h173/20240106_riverside-swans_013.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My picture from this January</td></tr></tbody></table><p>FYI: <a href="Distinct two-noted "oh-oh" call with quality of a brass trumpet" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">This site</a> describes their sound like this: <i>Distinct two-noted "oh-oh" call with quality of a brass trumpet</i>. <a href="Distinct two-noted "oh-oh" call with quality of a brass trumpet" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Click the link</a> to hear some sample audios. Its at the bottom right of that page.</p><p><br /></p>Anvilcloudhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07974744042579564912noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6998770.post-92082646270894719772024-02-29T06:39:00.000-05:002024-02-29T06:39:32.565-05:00On a Fine February Day<p>Tuesday: we are walking in our little downtown. It's beautiful out, something, like 14C/58F. Although still February, it is like an early spring day. I am hatless and gloveless. My coat is open, but I am not chilly. What more could an old geezer wish for on a February day?</p><p>But there is more. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvM_O8-00yZi9tAkmyX3xzJ94KP2bRlLEK8pBBSVZBoDHsgHHovZgrITFF5YYRIweEiPGfqcITbvT5UIEIj0iVigFRXX_syPiyjYb446w-HHaUgNUecRj2ln_knQ_EnhJ8m64pbM5vBkNcCOCncxcAv99iJaL0Vas4LEf_zGlpMF8ykIc74N6D/s1024/20240227_red-parrot_001.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="607" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvM_O8-00yZi9tAkmyX3xzJ94KP2bRlLEK8pBBSVZBoDHsgHHovZgrITFF5YYRIweEiPGfqcITbvT5UIEIj0iVigFRXX_syPiyjYb446w-HHaUgNUecRj2ln_knQ_EnhJ8m64pbM5vBkNcCOCncxcAv99iJaL0Vas4LEf_zGlpMF8ykIc74N6D/w238-h400/20240227_red-parrot_001.jpg" width="238" /></a></div><p>Across the street, we spy a man on a bike with a red parrot on this shoulder. He sees Sue pointing her phone. He comes over for a chat.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGq8ntci_RZYOT8QH_LI5HCPyWp7CE9lvx_hGk6KzQjy5u4TX2UzgXZqYfiuCD7z8nC3Sd_w2FoBDbyBa5pfpyUP-72k24pFyu3WUJrXdC89yfD8170kdGbPyLnWMyPrIGhEG1n_F_RYK_zxEXNGJaXokL8AXk7LH9wQlKIYTJhdiGw3Pq4oWI/s1024/20240227_red-parrot_002.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="768" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGq8ntci_RZYOT8QH_LI5HCPyWp7CE9lvx_hGk6KzQjy5u4TX2UzgXZqYfiuCD7z8nC3Sd_w2FoBDbyBa5pfpyUP-72k24pFyu3WUJrXdC89yfD8170kdGbPyLnWMyPrIGhEG1n_F_RYK_zxEXNGJaXokL8AXk7LH9wQlKIYTJhdiGw3Pq4oWI/w300-h400/20240227_red-parrot_002.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><p>He and the parrot make a good pair, for they are both 65 years old.</p><p>The parrot can fly, but he is more than happy to sit on the man's shoulder and to be taxied about the town.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkh08c6mAo4HEBQR_TczOaqTQb9qNTYkXRCP1SDqQ6S2D_zlWQWuF7bTOf6VABPEbNJ7OPdWOSqOHwkaGpeuXprMQ76NGDv4kl106p5vgpcH69vP6R7TWDVmjSSdPxQxVZ324cUqqhNgA2Y6sp0FMSteeS1Wx8Bob44gTyskcyRfc3_I3_T0CD/s1024/20240227_red-parrot_004.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="768" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkh08c6mAo4HEBQR_TczOaqTQb9qNTYkXRCP1SDqQ6S2D_zlWQWuF7bTOf6VABPEbNJ7OPdWOSqOHwkaGpeuXprMQ76NGDv4kl106p5vgpcH69vP6R7TWDVmjSSdPxQxVZ324cUqqhNgA2Y6sp0FMSteeS1Wx8Bob44gTyskcyRfc3_I3_T0CD/w480-h640/20240227_red-parrot_004.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Isn't he a beauty?</td></tr></tbody></table><p>For me, it is a wonderful sighting and encounter on what is already such a fine day.</p>Anvilcloudhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07974744042579564912noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6998770.post-36893635330130811462024-02-28T07:00:00.004-05:002024-02-28T07:00:00.248-05:00Sue the Tenacious and Chuffed<p>I am not sure how to tell this succinctly and coherently, but I shall try. I may fail at telling it interestingly, however. It is a story that highlights my wife's ingenuity and tenacity.</p><p>Let me begin with the ending, or close to it, which happens to be Sue scrabbling in the ice and snow in the park.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoe4451Ta50yLYbyH3LMCas1NxGHwrE_bAH-BPJuEWibdfm-KeepERIwAPKnUSXyOac9aip7WhY4rRbQFfJr5uhjL4vhzBSy3hEb-ZwUczwgQp5b2p8UjxGtdwCzdvnD4peBF37nwmYqrWowNODqEAhYy5EwUFnGYeFmQExnwCipkseYaUgyrx/s1024/20240224_tripod_003.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="683" data-original-width="1024" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoe4451Ta50yLYbyH3LMCas1NxGHwrE_bAH-BPJuEWibdfm-KeepERIwAPKnUSXyOac9aip7WhY4rRbQFfJr5uhjL4vhzBSy3hEb-ZwUczwgQp5b2p8UjxGtdwCzdvnD4peBF37nwmYqrWowNODqEAhYy5EwUFnGYeFmQExnwCipkseYaUgyrx/w640-h426/20240224_tripod_003.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p>Now, how do I tell it from here?</p><p>Weeks ago, Sue was carrying the tripod through this park to take a selfie of some sort. It turned out that she never used it, but she did notice, at about this location, that a piece had fallen off the tripod head.</p><p>It was the little piece that I've circled in red on this ↓ photo, the bit that says, "Lock."</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1EbOfaRHD6no-aNRvWkUVXEHLqPxWgpU1OQ25KJcN0X095OKJFaUQlQsyjbcyJ8v2QkYDwrR0NFy68MqpEpczQWheUxrVsnTMu-X9o1uJZOMfvSTPUpaMoM0zHaNK_VJLt-HJTgRfbX-MmZVUZnMaB9qp-sjzfhBoG5eqbpDqdp9sNkPmCHF0/s1024/20240224_tripod_012-Edit.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="683" data-original-width="1024" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1EbOfaRHD6no-aNRvWkUVXEHLqPxWgpU1OQ25KJcN0X095OKJFaUQlQsyjbcyJ8v2QkYDwrR0NFy68MqpEpczQWheUxrVsnTMu-X9o1uJZOMfvSTPUpaMoM0zHaNK_VJLt-HJTgRfbX-MmZVUZnMaB9qp-sjzfhBoG5eqbpDqdp9sNkPmCHF0/w640-h426/20240224_tripod_012-Edit.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div>I'll now use this next image to show the size of it compared to her fingernail. <div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHxwo4Ep1P9xZW1iQOM7caGl2F3YOpkkMjSW63eJ6pNsDx0ury76AXmPZK0QeDIk_fgr0_CV3yZZUvqZ6sx_66SvapAg6mkHIsokX59peIWFECC5_bvwUYAXmhOUcNt08MZjgwG7wRDBFDSQFhPT_0MPwZ2Yfq-P8KcdzIn38NHj9itWCo8zoq/s1024/20240224_tripod_014.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="775" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHxwo4Ep1P9xZW1iQOM7caGl2F3YOpkkMjSW63eJ6pNsDx0ury76AXmPZK0QeDIk_fgr0_CV3yZZUvqZ6sx_66SvapAg6mkHIsokX59peIWFECC5_bvwUYAXmhOUcNt08MZjgwG7wRDBFDSQFhPT_0MPwZ2Yfq-P8KcdzIn38NHj9itWCo8zoq/w484-h640/20240224_tripod_014.jpg" width="484" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Remember, it's the little circled thingie inside the little knobby thingie.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>Somehow, she saw it, picked it up and put it in her pocket. We didn't realize the full ramification until later, however. That occurred on the night that I took my tripod to the bridge to shoot the night lights and realized that my tripod head was broken. The whole knobby thingie (outlined in green, up above) was gone, and that the tripod was therefore, like me its owner, dysfunctional.</div><div><br /></div><div>After another week, and probably three weeks in total, we had lost some of the snow cover, and Sue determined that we should return to the scene of the crime, as it were, and look for the knobby lever thingie.</div><div><br /></div><div>If you go back to the top photo of Sue scrabbling on the path, that is where she found it. Yup, she found the little thing embedded in the ice — <b>after several weeks!</b> She used her handwarmers to heat the ice and the car keys to pry the knob loose.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQVZ3Bagax-dbz8yYL7IHURtyB8uNa-TkCRtGZkO3aNAPXKr_QDSBXBLVuNUx2zCDkA3r1SRUQY1MQqZdNZ_Xgz_QSZQ4UVXOaNzh3eA2tiC4VeJwKjbLDBcK6ePETY5d8tt01y0CooPTmbvlnLpf6rSnOJeYn-Gl4drUoLKz0d_EgBnjcS8X6/s1024/20240224_tripod_005-Edit.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="683" data-original-width="1024" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQVZ3Bagax-dbz8yYL7IHURtyB8uNa-TkCRtGZkO3aNAPXKr_QDSBXBLVuNUx2zCDkA3r1SRUQY1MQqZdNZ_Xgz_QSZQ4UVXOaNzh3eA2tiC4VeJwKjbLDBcK6ePETY5d8tt01y0CooPTmbvlnLpf6rSnOJeYn-Gl4drUoLKz0d_EgBnjcS8X6/w640-h426/20240224_tripod_005-Edit.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The little divot within the red square is where it had lain embedded in the frozen snow.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>We came home, and she put the tripod head back together; lo and behold, it functions once more. </div><div><br /></div><div>Sue is more mechanical than I (well most people are, squirrels and crows too), for while I had thought that the tiny round plate thingie was decorative, she realized that it was meant to actually hold the lever in place. It's a poor design, in my opinion, but that is how it was designed to work.</div><div><br /></div><div>My lady was quite chuffed with herself for finding the two pieces despite the odds and then putting the the device back together into workable order.</div><div><br /></div><div>I'd say that she had good reason to be chuffed.</div><div><br /></div><div>And I am happy to have a functional tripod once again.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><p><br /></p><p><br /></p></div>Anvilcloudhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07974744042579564912noreply@blogger.com23tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6998770.post-10761418399248398312024-02-27T07:35:00.001-05:002024-02-27T07:35:47.585-05:00A Lesser Winter<p>Perhaps you recall seeing this photo about a week ago. It is one of the places where we can access the OVRT (Ottawa Valley Recreational Trail) in town, but we tend to refer to it mare casually as the bridge trail or train bridge trail. However, the point of the photo is to review the snow cover on February 17th.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHFxxUyeMlb_heeE9I8XscT3HqzLdbYaWREjRvjT1jD2VeBcXmMN4DKB_R-PIbaafH91T_tZYhK88mmHNIdQ4R-l6lLWXZhXstg4zu7ce8xZhkH5nQ1seOw8fmkVMJQVPnGJKbP2HRz6XcjMGayDWVHIMXO74kW5ka-UbGLuGqNjMRLCRL3N8c/s1024/20240217_trail-bridge_001.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="582" data-original-width="1024" height="364" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHFxxUyeMlb_heeE9I8XscT3HqzLdbYaWREjRvjT1jD2VeBcXmMN4DKB_R-PIbaafH91T_tZYhK88mmHNIdQ4R-l6lLWXZhXstg4zu7ce8xZhkH5nQ1seOw8fmkVMJQVPnGJKbP2HRz6XcjMGayDWVHIMXO74kW5ka-UbGLuGqNjMRLCRL3N8c/w640-h364/20240217_trail-bridge_001.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p>Eight days later, on February 25, the view had changed.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJdXLaiZYu7Sbi0w8jMXDB0xiif8VopeGRKLEcV1UeXfBmMxQITktMTh7La0qmygo2CxENIoVLOtcjr2EDdyFQEHgUYuxcxiUJ-ylj6ySRE5KZwbRVNrHfsyj_FGwSBurWFu3J38GyIY0531Y9sHEzcb3kO5keOsqHlY9tSsb0-jSAiXNzVhUZ/s1024/20240225_untitled_001.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJdXLaiZYu7Sbi0w8jMXDB0xiif8VopeGRKLEcV1UeXfBmMxQITktMTh7La0qmygo2CxENIoVLOtcjr2EDdyFQEHgUYuxcxiUJ-ylj6ySRE5KZwbRVNrHfsyj_FGwSBurWFu3J38GyIY0531Y9sHEzcb3kO5keOsqHlY9tSsb0-jSAiXNzVhUZ/w640-h480/20240225_untitled_001.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p>As far as I can recall, we don't usually see as much bare ground in February, but that photo has sent me off to review pictures from out front, comparing last winter and this. This is what it looked like more than a month later than now on March 28 and April 04, 2023.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOWkx-z8a4JMaGr2EUOwPK1vV8hyphenhyphen_Vsc_lN2fnPd0z1CnO3V3i1UiyUdiAmPWvWhZDxy1ctO_IO9jK7gNSJCQ61DC3rBQd8IpeI1ysGo7EFQNCMDwt6n0t1UwwQe9wx0d3qfXflduI9FeFoTBELDT9KS3w1xxlAOElpXRbtcu6GshJmyzkfa4F/s1024/20230328_snow-front_002-Edit.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="894" data-original-width="1024" height="558" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOWkx-z8a4JMaGr2EUOwPK1vV8hyphenhyphen_Vsc_lN2fnPd0z1CnO3V3i1UiyUdiAmPWvWhZDxy1ctO_IO9jK7gNSJCQ61DC3rBQd8IpeI1ysGo7EFQNCMDwt6n0t1UwwQe9wx0d3qfXflduI9FeFoTBELDT9KS3w1xxlAOElpXRbtcu6GshJmyzkfa4F/w640-h558/20230328_snow-front_002-Edit.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p>So what does it look like now, on February 26 2024?</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFbaDt_dGjEna1rVRI1komY3z3N68qi_OO7O4Aa_Ex0u47kbfMh1BIv34vShNiko1Nr8QEBB8LyNYPMEsJvTHHXyLlb0UVyclnh8gED_Hdbgf71eE5saxPiJt5hczrksn3XzjNVz4XNgk3_9-7aMx9Q6i29TbK-LXpxkHmrsYWcoC44r719jo0/s1024/20240226_late-feb-snow_002.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="768" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFbaDt_dGjEna1rVRI1komY3z3N68qi_OO7O4Aa_Ex0u47kbfMh1BIv34vShNiko1Nr8QEBB8LyNYPMEsJvTHHXyLlb0UVyclnh8gED_Hdbgf71eE5saxPiJt5hczrksn3XzjNVz4XNgk3_9-7aMx9Q6i29TbK-LXpxkHmrsYWcoC44r719jo0/w480-h640/20240226_late-feb-snow_002.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p>February 26 20024 is not too dissimilar to April 04 2023 but it's quite a bit less than March 28 2023. You can also see the difference in this image.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixrItWSa6-3LSYa00qttS0PAQlRr_bdBR4naDbGpesKa6ftoD_BtrBeEWArYcHlJgQH7FtFzon8fWIuXpTxejzZQBChNkptDwhWzdL8vKrUEmTtn6Agd5KfXWCdv6KRd5ubcVaguAvnYHMPxdNCU7ewVMfVrWI6Hzmlmr24QV2VofhfK-cy0Y1/s1024/20230328_snow-front_001-Edit.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="683" data-original-width="1024" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixrItWSa6-3LSYa00qttS0PAQlRr_bdBR4naDbGpesKa6ftoD_BtrBeEWArYcHlJgQH7FtFzon8fWIuXpTxejzZQBChNkptDwhWzdL8vKrUEmTtn6Agd5KfXWCdv6KRd5ubcVaguAvnYHMPxdNCU7ewVMfVrWI6Hzmlmr24QV2VofhfK-cy0Y1/w640-h426/20230328_snow-front_001-Edit.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p>It is a real possibly that we will yet experience some significant storms. In fact, based on past experience, I would say that it is more than likely. I doubt, however, that it will accumulate to 2023 levels. I'll get back to you if I am wrong. Which I usually am.</p><p><br /></p>Anvilcloudhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07974744042579564912noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6998770.post-52267101156491192732024-02-26T07:36:00.001-05:002024-02-26T07:36:08.820-05:00Reimagining the Photo<p>I took this photo of four sleeping geese early in January and showed it to you then. The four geese were standing on ice that also had a thin layer of water on top.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUxQkucNPEXDHl97F5Z-B_Rta-uAiFajOhqxg8MzEPvN9OprwF5gBR3vf4JpYAjeZtHlu0dtnAB53lCp9S59hd__Zpxtz-HgyAtA-v1IlA-4t5Nl_VDv_O-ByQgtY2OJlQyELF-XTmV_1JPFZW6GPzpgyltnE3w9tObNd3DrXIaXcjsQ8OKJ7X/s1024/20240103_curro-geese_018-Edit.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="418" data-original-width="1024" height="262" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUxQkucNPEXDHl97F5Z-B_Rta-uAiFajOhqxg8MzEPvN9OprwF5gBR3vf4JpYAjeZtHlu0dtnAB53lCp9S59hd__Zpxtz-HgyAtA-v1IlA-4t5Nl_VDv_O-ByQgtY2OJlQyELF-XTmV_1JPFZW6GPzpgyltnE3w9tObNd3DrXIaXcjsQ8OKJ7X/w640-h262/20240103_curro-geese_018-Edit.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div>I was pleased enough with it, for it was an accurate photo that captured the light, or lack of same, pretty well as it was on that day. I do tend to do realistic portrayals more often than not.<div><br /></div><div>After almost two months, however, when I came across the photo again, I was not quite as pleased with it. By then, I felt less constrained by the actual the conditions at the time and decided that the scene could do with a just little brightening and warming.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQPXYXf-Lvv_SDcXXvxxoNZLIJKcv-GMl0CfYpnF_YSvEkP0MfC2Ii3Y1iz4Tq-sVw2AGkdvSzh3UuSlCN9BEDkG5PwmWadzgu-c1okqL0u2xXi7gN4sTCWIg-V8_KFk07dGDAlLG3LbKhl6H2cL0-Lmc7iMjEFTf0KjM5XSGUvDAmocXgq5Td/s1024/20240103_curro-geese_018-Edit-Edit.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="418" data-original-width="1024" height="262" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQPXYXf-Lvv_SDcXXvxxoNZLIJKcv-GMl0CfYpnF_YSvEkP0MfC2Ii3Y1iz4Tq-sVw2AGkdvSzh3UuSlCN9BEDkG5PwmWadzgu-c1okqL0u2xXi7gN4sTCWIg-V8_KFk07dGDAlLG3LbKhl6H2cL0-Lmc7iMjEFTf0KjM5XSGUvDAmocXgq5Td/w640-h262/20240103_curro-geese_018-Edit-Edit.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It isn't a huge change, and I think it keeps the integrity of the image, but it's a better version (not saying it's a great image) in my opinion. It just adjusts reality a bit, which is pretty well what phone photos do each and every time. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Some photographers believe that you should make it a habit to wait for awhile before you process your images. I can see their point, but I won't be able to resist editing them almost right away, for I feel as though the processing is part of the shoot. Also, as I have just proved, they can always be re-edited, and that way, you get to play with the photo twice if you so choose.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><i>Note: I was deliberately shooting through the foreground reeds for effect.</i></div><div><div><p><br /></p></div></div>Anvilcloudhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07974744042579564912noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6998770.post-55583436072124444692024-02-25T07:28:00.001-05:002024-02-25T07:28:45.605-05:00Living in 2024<p>I came across a post, <i>You Know You're Living in 2024 when...</i>, and decided to select a few items to comment on (or, on which to comment if you insist😊).</p><p>1. You e-mail the person who works at the desk next to you.</p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><p style="text-align: left;"><i>Sue and I often text each other from her room to mine when we are just across the hall from each other. It is often links though, which would be difficult to verbalize. Most recently, she saw a linedance video that she wanted to share. Most of the time we will chat in person about things on the daily agenda.</i></p></blockquote><p>2. Leaving the house without your cell phone, which you didn't have the first 20 or 30 (or almost 70 in my case) years of your life, is now a cause for panic and you turn around to go and get it.</p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p><i>Pretty much. Sue reminds me to take my phone every time I leave the house. If she were to forget and if I were also to forget, Siri would remind me ss longas I also wouldn't have forgotten to ear my watch. In other words, it would take a lot of forgetting.</i></p><p><i>It's a safety issue for us and not so much a "I can't live without it" sort of thing.</i></p></blockquote><p>3. You get up in the morning and go online before getting your coffee.</p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><p style="text-align: left;"><i>Not quite, but close. The coffee machine is close to my chair, which also serves as my bed these days. I set it up the night before and press the start button almost as soon as I wake up By the time I return to the room from completing morning necessities, the coffee has brewed, and I sit down with it and turn the computer on. So the two events – coffee and going online – pretty well occur concurrently. </i></p></blockquote><p><br /></p>Anvilcloudhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07974744042579564912noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6998770.post-26764580248473699802024-02-24T07:04:00.002-05:002024-02-24T07:05:11.575-05:00Caturday 57: Senior Cat Afflictions<div>Look at this most impressive jump and climb made by a cat that somehow got herself into a pretty deep pit at what appears to be a construction site.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="399" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/IYWppxLwaJc" width="480" youtube-src-id="IYWppxLwaJc"></iframe></div><br /></div><div>That was noteworthy, but climbing and jumping are very difficult for poor Lacey. Look how she struggled to get onto my chair while I was watching a hockey game one evening.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='480' height='399' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwncMowGrHZkVUJYfT_mhSZonR1T07IQixiG2C4L9aXHcaTCDrLcxyAOzJVE2R-AZ9S1G_FyeDgS7w' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br /><div>This week was the fifth anniversary of Lacey's arrival to our home. I don't know how agile she was in her youth, but she was at least somewhat more capable than this five years ago. These days, either her hips or back legs seem to be arthritic. Poor thing.</div><div><br /></div><div>Lacey has lived with us into her senior years, as had our previous three cats.</div><div><br /></div><div>Prior to Lacey, old Bella was in even worse shape. She was a rescue from a lady who lived in Shauna's senior residence. When the lady could no longer take care of Bella, we took her in (Bella, I mean, not the lady). She was even more arthritic than Lacey and also required daily laxative to keep functioning. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjav5eW50-YlytAUnXyJp_x2APPf5t78dTE4TdRIFqqMJ6gjsu__N-9eolIzjDrCbTZGmPoIy2KCH2ZiQ-wweAkUImlZmRAk3hzqhvSctwPevgPrp2M7-eeuwQquN7MatZZMZVkqEySLz5nr7pNugz3U-902yDpzKYKn4GGhrzUxfJxTeIvRTRC/s1024/bella%20bw.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="683" data-original-width="1024" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjav5eW50-YlytAUnXyJp_x2APPf5t78dTE4TdRIFqqMJ6gjsu__N-9eolIzjDrCbTZGmPoIy2KCH2ZiQ-wweAkUImlZmRAk3hzqhvSctwPevgPrp2M7-eeuwQquN7MatZZMZVkqEySLz5nr7pNugz3U-902yDpzKYKn4GGhrzUxfJxTeIvRTRC/w400-h266/bella%20bw.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Already in old age, Bella only lived for only 7 months with us, but she was, indeed, a sweetie. We were sad to lose her, but I hope we helped to make her last months, good months.</div><div><br /></div><div>Keeping with the theme of compromised cats, we had a tuxedo cat that we called Rocky. He was born with a foot defect, which you can see in this photo.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqYA2GxyvvWLaz6ICc7RFIei7bCprP3nwuVuVF-Xsgg_PuRcNkIbpGiSvYvr0DTeSFxtPLl2S50SVqnrqxT25mAJyI11VVKuJnLr06QmJoMqQGV0p9PDT0or2YTJ10wHnJuzJPD2WpPSMWkN2DczKooAxB26DbTr3QEbcspEK4i_8mo8REPMvC/s600/rocky.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="382" data-original-width="600" height="255" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqYA2GxyvvWLaz6ICc7RFIei7bCprP3nwuVuVF-Xsgg_PuRcNkIbpGiSvYvr0DTeSFxtPLl2S50SVqnrqxT25mAJyI11VVKuJnLr06QmJoMqQGV0p9PDT0or2YTJ10wHnJuzJPD2WpPSMWkN2DczKooAxB26DbTr3QEbcspEK4i_8mo8REPMvC/w400-h255/rocky.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div>He limped somewhat throughout his life, but like our other cats, he lived to a pretty good age. Considering his deformed front paw, he was fortunate that his hindermost parts didn't seem to become compromised like Lacey's have and like Bella's had. I always thought, however, that his poor, front foot must have caused him significant discomfort.<div><br /></div><div>Let's go back one more cat, shall we, for we also had Scutter for a very long time. He grew deaf in his dotage, which is odd in a cat, but otherwise, he remained pretty spry until the end.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ3QHbtCSQbSiImAe-n-_yzjaIGIE4pPjlx_1IvM5v7cSKQcFvkx4MiCmy_trfw7meVH_5_Mbj2JhNvMxeWfsaZ9yujL5fKbAU7u6yPNx4xorrzgKTNJPA6-eUrgKjYWTMJVnSmT3QVAELgzYyFYKnQM5jlfo8SyHhqHZlihhXoq74C4zGxinC/s300/scutter.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="163" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ3QHbtCSQbSiImAe-n-_yzjaIGIE4pPjlx_1IvM5v7cSKQcFvkx4MiCmy_trfw7meVH_5_Mbj2JhNvMxeWfsaZ9yujL5fKbAU7u6yPNx4xorrzgKTNJPA6-eUrgKjYWTMJVnSmT3QVAELgzYyFYKnQM5jlfo8SyHhqHZlihhXoq74C4zGxinC/w348-h640/scutter.jpg" width="348" /></a></div><br /><div>He loved to chase those little cat treats that come in bags. I would give one a good toss, and he would scamper after it with gusto and glee. I am not sure how he could track them when he was deaf, but track them he did.</div><div><br /></div><div>Lacey, also loves her treats, but if they don't land directly in front of her, she is lost. She even loses track when they land on her. She has no clue, actually.</div><div><br /></div><div>And that, dear reader, is a glimpse of the afflictions of our last four cats, who all lived well into their senior years although Lacey still has a couple of years to go to catch up to the others. We think she is 13, and I think the others all made until they were about 16.</div><div><br /></div><div><div><br /></div></div>Anvilcloudhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07974744042579564912noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6998770.post-74671506926019399352024-02-23T06:21:00.003-05:002024-02-23T06:21:59.741-05:00Three States<p><b>H<span style="font-size: x-small;">2</span>O in Three States</b></p><p>On another little afternoon walk with the compact camera, we spied a bit of ice below the little bridge. The first two photos set the scene of the steep and rocky river bank with the fast-flowing water below along with some ice formations under the overhanging rock at the edge of the river.</p><p>The scene was quite monochromatic to begin with, so it wasn't a stretch to convert to b&w.</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaxhrfkM7CklnCVLRDwexCLZFMh31k-71uGxdJsY8xAgeSBU6wuHAXGPkPDMtVBdJqG_9UQLCKKKzyCj2OS-oEVfWGTcswezFdZWLe0imtgplZnnmCuCKin_-5Z4k2DPq7RujSyXnyl8fcm2otP1kxNYmnlzgpmKbr84PfkpBbkFLF-PM3V1Wo/s1024/20240221_ice-by-gillies-bridge_004.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="762" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaxhrfkM7CklnCVLRDwexCLZFMh31k-71uGxdJsY8xAgeSBU6wuHAXGPkPDMtVBdJqG_9UQLCKKKzyCj2OS-oEVfWGTcswezFdZWLe0imtgplZnnmCuCKin_-5Z4k2DPq7RujSyXnyl8fcm2otP1kxNYmnlzgpmKbr84PfkpBbkFLF-PM3V1Wo/w476-h640/20240221_ice-by-gillies-bridge_004.jpg" width="476" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiavBKvIDPW9MNhLCpDEgNniigbt69EFF2Sr0gVDvxNPhPIxK51hgYpdmxSbI_nXglXF_mQK0I0GXjYBlFT2zmxDIVg9clAHXeo1djuPxpj-etnSiwAib5rgW6kFxIB68WaooR62Ru0st4IOOCEVgFBTo2ooJSXzXAfQ890lCKxsVXwTiF6nsJY/s1024/20240221_ice-by-gillies-bridge_006.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="747" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiavBKvIDPW9MNhLCpDEgNniigbt69EFF2Sr0gVDvxNPhPIxK51hgYpdmxSbI_nXglXF_mQK0I0GXjYBlFT2zmxDIVg9clAHXeo1djuPxpj-etnSiwAib5rgW6kFxIB68WaooR62Ru0st4IOOCEVgFBTo2ooJSXzXAfQ890lCKxsVXwTiF6nsJY/w466-h640/20240221_ice-by-gillies-bridge_006.jpg" width="466" /></a></div><br /><p>Then I zoomed in to study the icicles a little more closely. As it happens, the first and third photos are almost the same composition.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHdBfwTBosE3-oHCXRdTRC-nbj1GqxO_kS7jQTEZmMOeHDtyQfnfELL2wh3RIX3GPW4lLDnsKSKCex6yYo5Ekr4aTNxl37B1Jg9djf-7tPY-Fh1pCKGrxTq26uTqLafomFaSgcAlB1VAi5ZuBtgSlh7xIFjw_ytSGOPKRPNODItMh-OqBKuNJ3/s1024/20240221_ice-by-gillies-bridge_003.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="683" data-original-width="1024" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHdBfwTBosE3-oHCXRdTRC-nbj1GqxO_kS7jQTEZmMOeHDtyQfnfELL2wh3RIX3GPW4lLDnsKSKCex6yYo5Ekr4aTNxl37B1Jg9djf-7tPY-Fh1pCKGrxTq26uTqLafomFaSgcAlB1VAi5ZuBtgSlh7xIFjw_ytSGOPKRPNODItMh-OqBKuNJ3/w640-h426/20240221_ice-by-gillies-bridge_003.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt6wqO4iUoi-nsLNcLQWMgWNyjEYhEhv4eFAgDXA-NOq7z4fkb2zswS6LGA7Jq0-o5-nExU93GDALa3JabX7Xs5Ai4zJTr33MWkERDghoanc3j__mxgnnTUJn3vPyI65WrJdJmOBAmPRhidx7hf3z2rar6zwuRePzWel3lxZX7Wk2txLhRxduT/s1024/20240221_ice-by-gillies-bridge_005.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="683" data-original-width="1024" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt6wqO4iUoi-nsLNcLQWMgWNyjEYhEhv4eFAgDXA-NOq7z4fkb2zswS6LGA7Jq0-o5-nExU93GDALa3JabX7Xs5Ai4zJTr33MWkERDghoanc3j__mxgnnTUJn3vPyI65WrJdJmOBAmPRhidx7hf3z2rar6zwuRePzWel3lxZX7Wk2txLhRxduT/w640-h426/20240221_ice-by-gillies-bridge_005.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9NDfE5fXp22w0a3D8yeUc_GFIjyIi6MPUYj42q9pFqMb5MhhiaHEtMs41ENxNEQPYbnQqIuvL8UrG05obpllu8-dyYU8shup9wc4qw4vygD_hGOW5EA9ceveflHBIgH9J_0PRJuQ6zpbi8k-sIMTJRVNhjULA8JI_V9kCyvBCw-zNHc6jE-Zb/s1024/20240221_ice-by-gillies-bridge_007.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="683" data-original-width="1024" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9NDfE5fXp22w0a3D8yeUc_GFIjyIi6MPUYj42q9pFqMb5MhhiaHEtMs41ENxNEQPYbnQqIuvL8UrG05obpllu8-dyYU8shup9wc4qw4vygD_hGOW5EA9ceveflHBIgH9J_0PRJuQ6zpbi8k-sIMTJRVNhjULA8JI_V9kCyvBCw-zNHc6jE-Zb/w640-h426/20240221_ice-by-gillies-bridge_007.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p>They say that there are always photos if we look thoroughly enough. While most may not quite reach the standard of a seaside sunset, they can still be satisfying enough, maybe even more so if you see something in the little details of an otherwise banal outlook.</p>Anvilcloudhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07974744042579564912noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6998770.post-53563160275854188702024-02-22T07:23:00.001-05:002024-02-22T07:23:12.553-05:00Family DayFamily Day is a statutory provincial holiday that is just what it sounds like, a mid-winter day off for people and families.<div><br /></div><div>Come morning, I gathered the ingredients for a big pot of Chicken Corn Chowder. The rotisserie chicken is already shredded in the container to the left, under the evaporated milk cans. Behind the bacon is a similar container of chopped onion, celery, red pepper and garlic, which had taken me a very long time to chop because I am an incredibly slow chopper of veggies. Well, let's face it, I'm just plain slow.</div><div><br /></div><div>Once I had gathered all of the ingredients, I took my time getting everything lined up in the order that I would use them. I have to do it this way because otherwise I tend to miss steps. Well, the bacon was out of order because it was actually the first item to be cooked, followed by the flour+thyme which was in the container between the evaporated milk and the diced tomatoes. The rest is pretty well in order of deployment.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYN7lQuBttmd4aFRIgPGTwbMktgjllOWReyHHynf23ThRo5mo9MfiokhpbDCOfwcS8LUUcr6FUprt_-_xiavaBwvjG85B8cwB9oyQPn6I2tNd7eu6rOGzmCyR4QXjHPjqJApHb-9wQxkRjZr2DSFfqYICbseX0nMbtAzvHJCw6FIdKfyr7qM-R/s1024/20240219_family-day_001.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="378" data-original-width="1024" height="236" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYN7lQuBttmd4aFRIgPGTwbMktgjllOWReyHHynf23ThRo5mo9MfiokhpbDCOfwcS8LUUcr6FUprt_-_xiavaBwvjG85B8cwB9oyQPn6I2tNd7eu6rOGzmCyR4QXjHPjqJApHb-9wQxkRjZr2DSFfqYICbseX0nMbtAzvHJCw6FIdKfyr7qM-R/w640-h236/20240219_family-day_001.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div>I cooked the chowder in the morning in order to get it out of the way for company in the afternoon when we reheated and served. It also gave my aching back time to recover.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFoDB6lZvSQOTYdZx0i_y9mOB_9KqkOs4Kuk7bzHwHy0zPNtDFeIfjW7jgKgPTqpRo9q4Y410BvWV-laa_0HK1FJvwu8QbU-IZo0vsLtUlT3vLVCk9oY5jN2WSu9MDOOP5Z-QMQw4skCO-3X0rmRSwVfd6EkDloYvWnBwP2-m40EuqTj5xI0yW/s1024/20240219_family-day_005.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="856" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFoDB6lZvSQOTYdZx0i_y9mOB_9KqkOs4Kuk7bzHwHy0zPNtDFeIfjW7jgKgPTqpRo9q4Y410BvWV-laa_0HK1FJvwu8QbU-IZo0vsLtUlT3vLVCk9oY5jN2WSu9MDOOP5Z-QMQw4skCO-3X0rmRSwVfd6EkDloYvWnBwP2-m40EuqTj5xI0yW/w536-h640/20240219_family-day_005.jpg" width="536" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div>What a big pot, eh? It did the five of us for that supper, three of whom had seconds. Then we sent some home with the family, and there was enough left over for Sue and me to have two more meals.</div><div><br /></div><div>By the way, it was very good. I can't remember when I last cooked it, but this rendition seemed extra tasty. Maybe taking my time in the morning was beneficial because I did seem to get it right.</div><div><br /></div><div>We played games, first UNO . . . </div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2qZpEWb9Nm3dwr9iF-XOFXfSUZn56RizmB1D8zE-oOk44MWUnhizIrurEyiERnUdIU8VcxrAZeaOL3oV1JnyEvbAl2u2c4Z6a2KDCHCNXybQArMf_7rvrkoZHERIVm7XhFKnYJITGPDQtdTVY6EnwHWQxOcZ92J0MBYyHjegJ3C4AOChyPT9c/s1024/20240219_family-day_003.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2qZpEWb9Nm3dwr9iF-XOFXfSUZn56RizmB1D8zE-oOk44MWUnhizIrurEyiERnUdIU8VcxrAZeaOL3oV1JnyEvbAl2u2c4Z6a2KDCHCNXybQArMf_7rvrkoZHERIVm7XhFKnYJITGPDQtdTVY6EnwHWQxOcZ92J0MBYyHjegJ3C4AOChyPT9c/w640-h480/20240219_family-day_003.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">JJ was peeking at my hand while the rest of us posed for the picture.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>. . . and then Wizard.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-6GFXXBt-LXTjNergBN5lBn2Q3QKpHfKwdyBH2n5E-QKnUMR_II6gLTb32KgVExc7twumhj3fYwWIzyt8-PiAZvIDORPVlsqaYBGp6oPgTnBJNXNKxj7J0lekMYqOCnidGN9kY_W54QD7VCRGF3GQqdioqvAPpZy-U2FL86WNwRDR3xSEkxiS/s1024/20240220_family-day_014.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="463" data-original-width="1024" height="290" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-6GFXXBt-LXTjNergBN5lBn2Q3QKpHfKwdyBH2n5E-QKnUMR_II6gLTb32KgVExc7twumhj3fYwWIzyt8-PiAZvIDORPVlsqaYBGp6oPgTnBJNXNKxj7J0lekMYqOCnidGN9kY_W54QD7VCRGF3GQqdioqvAPpZy-U2FL86WNwRDR3xSEkxiS/w640-h290/20240220_family-day_014.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our Wizard scoresheet: two columns under each person, the first being the running total while the second column is the hand just played. If you make your bid, you get 10 points plus whatever you bid. I (last column, J) bid and made 2 tricks in the final round, which gave 12 for the hand and 55 for the game. We sometimes go back down from 7 to 1, but we broke for supper and didn't get back to the cards.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><br /></div><div>We have been playing variations of Wizard in this family for probably close to 50 years. Once upon a time, we played with a regular card deck and called it Oh Heck.</div><div><br /></div><div>The visit, with games and food, lasted for three hours or so. Sue made composites of the event as only Sue can do.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU-AweZjxGrqbE99FeINXJKnVqs5jn-E4bvZ2ZYu4tSl4HS_O2sGwFzzqJzyx43lrDIrc92IpVoaObzjgU63SWJIZc89G5apUGn8qnEw5hKyJBAxOia84fF1PFCNaFTpwQmAAyyjkt5H4OKtUtGTJk8iCpyXZNyVesT2vS2_5U7SitmTzpvVLd/s1024/20240221_family-day_015.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="1024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU-AweZjxGrqbE99FeINXJKnVqs5jn-E4bvZ2ZYu4tSl4HS_O2sGwFzzqJzyx43lrDIrc92IpVoaObzjgU63SWJIZc89G5apUGn8qnEw5hKyJBAxOia84fF1PFCNaFTpwQmAAyyjkt5H4OKtUtGTJk8iCpyXZNyVesT2vS2_5U7SitmTzpvVLd/w640-h640/20240221_family-day_015.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnC896uyn3kG_8uYYnlq6HCdMAgCQr5zU6nwyatbiORzp2HIOQRpw33kRcoreJOK4FYdFm6L_AkkFsD6eJ6e_SW7Gz5FREGTLmroUDlrux2FCpve8_zPlLAQEcC7pLKYDJQHeRS8fGOH_Tt0VeJMEF8UFGHSf2nyH-ELKlBp948P4dzuDol48B/s1024/20240221_family-day_016.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="1024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnC896uyn3kG_8uYYnlq6HCdMAgCQr5zU6nwyatbiORzp2HIOQRpw33kRcoreJOK4FYdFm6L_AkkFsD6eJ6e_SW7Gz5FREGTLmroUDlrux2FCpve8_zPlLAQEcC7pLKYDJQHeRS8fGOH_Tt0VeJMEF8UFGHSf2nyH-ELKlBp948P4dzuDol48B/w640-h640/20240221_family-day_016.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>After supper, Lacey got some prolonged loving from JJ, which was appropriate since it was the fifth anniversary of her arrival to our family. We think she is 13 years old. We also think that she didn't have to best possible life before we came along. I can tell you that she was thinner, five years ago.<div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKtlItOOWpdP0k1cKUQRn5hzER8wXB7UZ-fwakHHFlNyMxXmM3xMn0GApee-ETJTAlKXgk-URiNFAOolUZh-MBAzlwWEmjYjl9wUTWZOqd7EFE3qnc2ghplf7EaGHxFFgb3tiE9as3hrX9s50bjMDMsXRdLraiAV68R3yOL7yhDYi8_S6FFtxG/s1024/20240219_family-day_011.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="537" data-original-width="1024" height="336" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKtlItOOWpdP0k1cKUQRn5hzER8wXB7UZ-fwakHHFlNyMxXmM3xMn0GApee-ETJTAlKXgk-URiNFAOolUZh-MBAzlwWEmjYjl9wUTWZOqd7EFE3qnc2ghplf7EaGHxFFgb3tiE9as3hrX9s50bjMDMsXRdLraiAV68R3yOL7yhDYi8_S6FFtxG/w640-h336/20240219_family-day_011.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div><br /><div><br /></div></div>Anvilcloudhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07974744042579564912noreply@blogger.com25tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6998770.post-83357942315408583222024-02-21T05:31:00.001-05:002024-02-21T05:31:19.040-05:00Fool of a ToqueCanadians call pull-on wool hats, toques (/tōk/) or sometimes tuques. Elsewhere, similar hats may be called beanies.<div><blockquote><i>The word toque has been known in English since around 1500. It is a loan word from the French tuque (15th century), presumably by the way of the Spanish toca 'woman's headdress', from Arabic *taqa طاقة, itself from Old Persian taq 'veil, shawl'. The word toque in Breton means 'hat'. (Google)</i></blockquote><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSP5QKIUEm3DWY2aMtmaK0BNdgWDwPFqa3TVoqd609FihoyH07CsCo1yUmAftDTRM-wMsqtDqziZVDr4ZGfTYPpFH4OgyQHDLd1GL8b4oRgTO9UmyUpotgUy23nxp-DWEBuY5RD-7l-nlCROjvhLznzDJsHdrBWbTQi4CwfHgCpXgPbCCqD5QB/s1024/20240215_toque_001.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSP5QKIUEm3DWY2aMtmaK0BNdgWDwPFqa3TVoqd609FihoyH07CsCo1yUmAftDTRM-wMsqtDqziZVDr4ZGfTYPpFH4OgyQHDLd1GL8b4oRgTO9UmyUpotgUy23nxp-DWEBuY5RD-7l-nlCROjvhLznzDJsHdrBWbTQi4CwfHgCpXgPbCCqD5QB/s320/20240215_toque_001.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>I have three toques, and I struggle with them all. While it may look okay-ish in that ↑ selfie, the situation soon becomes ridiculous. This ↓ is how it begins to want to work its way off my head when I wear one for more than about 30 seconds. I mean, a toque is supposed to more or less adhere to the head, and not try to lift off and look like a black chef's hat.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHr1tu1bovrtyzpDVODeyonn8vUkUDQ-bH856yxKbbMePujbwMAGccWHhxm1b3OCRWddMWag2PHdvFcguksxJYFKm2FaibK0HOBsd0T25xkCHMqntCkw8OuCb5RNOPG3MyYvAOadBAKdpeojxd22pEgRnJGt3FwfR5o6b1ZbiaRp0GgmQV0oxN/s1024/20240217_toque_004.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="768" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHr1tu1bovrtyzpDVODeyonn8vUkUDQ-bH856yxKbbMePujbwMAGccWHhxm1b3OCRWddMWag2PHdvFcguksxJYFKm2FaibK0HOBsd0T25xkCHMqntCkw8OuCb5RNOPG3MyYvAOadBAKdpeojxd22pEgRnJGt3FwfR5o6b1ZbiaRp0GgmQV0oxN/w480-h640/20240217_toque_004.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sue opines that my head is too big.</td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div>When we went out to photograph the bridge lights (yesterday's post), I used an alternate toque that we discovered in the box where we keep scarfs and gloves and so on. Apparently, it had been thrown into the box and forgotten for good reason, and there it should have remained because it was worse than the above toque.</div><div><br /></div><div>It was so much worse that Sue burst into fits of laughter on the way home in the car.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwXyhOL495HcY_tTDcoyeJY9XwThXdJUpYY92sPmNAsEHObITeVDslseO41DD548zJarx7LdO_YRKRzNxg7czyE5IksDNf5VfAjvVH1DKnqT_3CvBnRk41qiFYMzHFVEcRBCAQQeTZBA3opBClZNWy8ZEQgB-Ahh_sPsCOcfGjL1e81OZjZWWk/s1024/20240217_toque_009.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="768" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwXyhOL495HcY_tTDcoyeJY9XwThXdJUpYY92sPmNAsEHObITeVDslseO41DD548zJarx7LdO_YRKRzNxg7czyE5IksDNf5VfAjvVH1DKnqT_3CvBnRk41qiFYMzHFVEcRBCAQQeTZBA3opBClZNWy8ZEQgB-Ahh_sPsCOcfGjL1e81OZjZWWk/w300-h400/20240217_toque_009.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">What the heck is going on with my head?<br />I swear that this was not staged.<br />It just happened.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>I only wear toques (in winter, obviously) when I am out with the camera, so I don't have to adjust a brimmed hat every time I raise the camera to eye-level. But we are on the back end of winter now, so I guess that I will make do with regular hats for the duration and think about the toque situation again next winter.</div><div><br /></div><div>I almost added <i>"if I am still around"</i> to the end of the previous sentence. I have never been tempted to think like that, but I will be 77 by next winter, so thoughts like these begin to surface.</div><div><br /></div><div>Meanwhile, I refer you back to the title and ask, who said "Fool of a Took" in the movies, and in what circumstance? (Answer before scrolling down.)</div><div><br /></div><div>↓<br />↓<br />↓<br />↓<br />↓<br />↓<br />↓<br />↓<br />↓</div><div>↓</div><div><br /></div><div>It was Gandalf speaking to Peregrin Took in <i>Lord of the Rings</i>.</div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjZOza2DqGETgtQ7HJDpIK5IQArwVhYfjqjvmoWJlT6mPmPb4gjUemjkYhVkDxb_5l3hE6t-z4MKEqc7ZYxwxQQNXyXukOtpa_XMNpWflRuvbNC0mGktrbxjrH0-YUjwUzvXfbGNFoq3EwT0KutDI78_9mrZ-_KyVjngZzPIE_eE85yZokH2q9p" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="398" data-original-width="309" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjZOza2DqGETgtQ7HJDpIK5IQArwVhYfjqjvmoWJlT6mPmPb4gjUemjkYhVkDxb_5l3hE6t-z4MKEqc7ZYxwxQQNXyXukOtpa_XMNpWflRuvbNC0mGktrbxjrH0-YUjwUzvXfbGNFoq3EwT0KutDI78_9mrZ-_KyVjngZzPIE_eE85yZokH2q9p" width="186" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">He said it after <a href="https://stephencwinter.com/2021/11/13/fool-of-a-took-gandalf-and-pippin-at-the-well-in-the-guardroom-in-moria/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Pippin had dropped a stone in a deep well, thus waking the dreaded balrog</a>.</div><br /><br /></div><div><br /></div></div>Anvilcloudhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07974744042579564912noreply@blogger.com28