Leaf In Snow
I like the shape of this leaf silhouetted against the snow.
UPDATE: It was suggested that this could be named “Fire and Ice”.
Rubus Thorns
Rubus Thorns
There’s a lot of this growing in the lot next to my office. A couple times I’ve come back with scratches on my hand and arm and once a pretty wicked gash on my ankle. Still, they’re really beautiful, in a sinister way.
Loch Menk Monster
Loch Menk Monster
Our friends and neighbors built this creature in their front yard. I’m not exactly sure if it’s a centaur or what so we named it the Loch Menkis Monster. Very nice, guys.
Categories: Miscellaneous
Tags: Snow, Snow Man, Snow Sculpture, Winter
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Turkey Vulture
Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura)
A turkey vulture (Cathartes aura) soars overhead. These are pretty impressive birds although they are somewhat ugly close up.
Categories: Creatures
Tags: Cathartes, Cathartes aura, Turkey Vulture, Vulture
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Japanese Painting
Japanese Painting
This reminds me of a Japanese painting (which sort of explains the name I gave it). This is next to the stream near my office.
Dorothy and Some Snow
Dorothy and Some Snow
The top of our small holly tree was bent over until it was touching the ground by the weight of the heavy, wet snow that came down overnight.
Golden Weeds
Golden Weeds
It was a relatively exciting day in the empty lot today. I started by slipping and putting my foot in the creek as I crossed. Then I startled two deer, who bounded off into the woods. Two days ago I found and photographed a bone. Today I came across an entire (or nearly) deer skeleton. I decided not to post that picture here, though. I picked this picture for its rich color.
WackyTacky Day
WackyTacky Day
It’s spirit week at school and today is Wacky Tacky Day (“Students should come to school dressed as crazily as possible”). This is Dorothy, all ready to go. She didn’t actually take the ukulele with her.
Bone Fragment
Bone Fragment
This is the end of a short piece of bone, about six inches long. I think it’s probably the femur of some small mammal, but I don’t really know. I like the three-dimensional network of the bone structure.
Dinosaur and Friends
Dinosaur and Friends
Dorothy and some of her friends after getting back from a church youth group retreat. Sounds like they had a great time. From left to right: Anna, Amy, Dorothy, Ariana, Cat.
Yellow African
Yellow African
I was trying to take pictures of my fish today. It’s harder than it sounds. First, you have to make sure the flash doesn’t reflect off the glass. Then, you have to avoid dirty areas on the glass. Also, they move about a bit and getting them in focus is hit or miss, even with auto focus. This is the best “whole fish” shot and even this isn’t as good as I’d like. The eye should be the point most in focus and it isn’t. Labidochromis caeruleus, by the way.
Auction Dinner
Auction Dinner
At last year’s WCA auction we bought, along with our good friends Janis and Greg, Krystal and Mike, and Diana and Tom, a gourmet dinner cooked by Jeanette and Barbara. After our gourmet dinner and wonderful desserts fixed by Amy, we enjoyed a movie on the big screen. Sadly, Diana and Tom couldn’t make it.
Parking Garage
Parking Garage
You’re probably thinking this looks like the exit gate for a parking garage. Well aren’t you clever. That’s exactly what it is. Now you’re wondering if there’s a story behind it. Yep, there is. But I’m not going to tell you. Sorry.
Bracket Fungus
Bracket Fungus
I think this is Daedaleopsis confragosa. I love the patterns on the pore surface of bracket fungi.
Categories: Flowers and Plants
Tags: Bracket Fungus, Daedaleopsis, Daedaleopsis confragosa, Fungus
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Icy Rose Stem
Icy Rose Stem
The picture isn’t as sharp as I would have liked but I love the pattern in the ice on this rose stem.
Categories: Flowers and Plants
Tags: Ice, Icy Rose Stem, Rose Stem, Winter
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Butterfly Weed
Butterfly Weed
Back to the empty lot today. It was cold and a jacket would have been a good idea. Or gloves, anyway. It was also overcast and not terribly bright so getting a sharp photo with a frozen shutter finger was difficult.
Dorothy
Dorothy
This is a more flattering picture of Dorothy than yesterday’s shot. It also happens to be the 1,000th picture taken with my new camera.
Easily Distracted
Easily Distracted
I was taking a picture of Dorothy with her new t-shirt and some colorful bird flew past the window. Happy Second Christmas to everyone.
Eat
Eat
Speaks for itself, I think. We did.
Rose Hips
Rose Hips
As I was taking this picture, I startled (and was in turn startled by) a rabbit who took off into the grass. I was able to track him in the snow but each time I got close, he saw me before I saw him and he darted away. Anyway, I’m a sucker for any sort of berry, particularly red berries. And yes, I know rose hips aren’t berries. Strawberries and raspberries aren’t berries, either. So there.