This & That

I had a lovely walk yesterday at Lake Erie Metropark on the woodlot trail. I was in search of the owl but he was not anywhere in sight....although I did take an interesting picture which I will post in the next few days and you can decide. There was a fresh coat of snow and it was pretty cold but I enjoyed the fresh air and exercise.
Today I went to Lower Huron and it had warmed up considerably. All the snow had melted and I was hot with all my gear on. I took some lovely photos and enjoyed the day.

To the right is a picture (not too clear) of the hawk
that was hanging around the neighborhood last
week. I opened the door to get my mail and chased him out of my big blue spruce. He flew across the street into my neighbor's maple. I swear, when I enlarged this photo I could see feathers sticking out of his beak.
The weather continues to be so really weird this winter. I read an article in the paper that it is due to La Nina....what is the difference from El Nina?? Don't know. It just said that the jet stream is not dipping down fromCanada, therefore, keeping the arctic cold weather to the north. Just doesn't seem like winter. The jet stream, however, is not keeping the clouds and gloom away.....the worst of winter for me. Well. count our blessings when we can because today is sunny! Yea!

Old Barn

Old out- buildings on way to Crosswinds. Waiting to see if they will soon be bulldozed as the farmhouse was recently torn down.

Never did get out for a walk, mostly due to weather issues. Stuck, I guess...like an old lady. Need to man-up (or lady-up as the case may be) and get out there. Will make it to Crack O' Dawn Coffee Club next Sat. but hope to get out before that.

Snowy and windy today. Heading up to Pleasant Ridge to pick up Emma.

Chit Chat

The photos that I just posted below were taken on our only winter day so far. I just want to say that right now I am so sick of this gloomy weather, day after day. A snowy, blustery day would be quite welcome by me. I am also sick of all this political BS. All the pundits, ads and OMG debates day after day with so much information that is only half truths. So, tomorrow I am headed to the woods to "get away from it all"
I hear that there is a resident Great Horned Owl at Lake Erie Metropark. I have directions as to where he (she) hangs out so I am hoping to get some photos. Some peeks of sunshine are predicted for tomorrow?????

Went to Staples for some paper and picked up this adorable Tweetie Bird.
She is a flash drive and is so cute.
Hope that you enjoy the photos below. Be sure to click on a picture to
get to the viewing page. The pictures look great on that page.

One Winter Day

This lady told me how much she loved feeding the ducks. They all came running when they saw her coming

These pictures were taken on our only true winter day with winter temperatures and a nice blanket of snow. Haven't seen this since.

Ginger

Out and About

Yes, that's me on last Saturday's cold morning walk. Today is quite balmy, almost 50 degrees. It's hard to believe that two days ago it was 13 with 3-4 inches of snow on the ground. No snow left now but the wind is gusting at almost 50 mph and we lost our power for about an hour...which is very unusual for us.

Before all that wind ,I was able to get my lamp post going again. The bulb was burnt out...must have been faulty.

Post below is photos that I took at Crosswinds Marsh. It was so deserted. Not even a duck or swan in sight, but with my trusty Vortex binoculars, I spotted the two beautiful bald eagles.

I have seen a hawk in the front yards of my neighborhood....twice. Must be after a winter lunch of house sparrow. Will try and get a picture.

Twin said that Ginger is doing good. they are trying to get her house trained but it has been so cold out when they take her out she is all a shiver. Poor little baby.

No one about. Just me and the eagles, sun and snow.

Waiting for a spring occupant.

Waiting for spring fever and a couple in love.

A bird of a different nature.

Ginger

Hey, everyone, meet my new granddaughter dog, Ginger. Isn't she sweet? My daughter-in-law was the only female in the house but now she has a cohort.

Ginger is a little puppy. She is a Shibu inu which is a Japanese breed. Mike said she only understands Japanese which is bad because my son's Japanese is limited to swear words and greetings.

Winter Photos

Can you spot them?

I had a very successful day with my Canon Rebel. Even though it was only 13 degrees when I left the house I perservered. Started at Heritage Park in Taylor and got some great "old mill house" photos. Then I headed south to Crosswinds Marsh, stopping along the way to get a few shots of the old out- buildings ( can't really say that they are barns ). Crosswinds was deserted....no swans, no ducks, no people. The water was frozen and so was I. ;-)

My day was a great success when I spotted the two resident bald eagles. Wouldn't have seen them if I hadn't been scanning with my binoculars. They were quite far in the distance as you can make out in the picture. The first picture was with my telephoto lens 250mm. The second picture I cropped to make them larger. Too bad my lens is so wimpy and the picture is blurry. Anyway, seeing those two lovely birds made my day!

I have lots of pictures to post.

Blah, blah, blah

Well, I am sitting here waiting for the snow and it has not disappointed me. Started at the time that Chuck Gadica predicted. Now, we will see how much falls. Will try to go out with my camera tomorrow and get the snow pictures that I've been wanting. It will be cold though. Going to give the Lake Erie Metropark Winter Festival (and bonfire) a miss and do the photo shoot instead.

My light is out on my pole lamp ;-( I just put a new bulb in it 2 weeks ago. Don't know what's wrong but it sure seems dark out there.

Love my new Timeline page on facebook. Check it out (only if you are my friend) http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/caroleeeey

Working on my new Photoshop Elements 10 program. It is so hard. And the tutorials are even more difficult. Are they speaking English? The program that I use now is a free one called picnik from Picasa. Just saw that they are closing it down in April so I better get going on Elements. It's a much, much better program but no good to me if I can't use it.

Look for snow picture tomorrow....I hope!

Street Lights of Old...1930s

Photo taken 1930s. Note street light to far left...pretty close in design. Also note building to right... Rexall Drugs. Same building with the owl that I took today. I cut this article out of the Free Press in 2008.

Photo taken today

Street Lights of Lincoln Park

I have lived in Lincoln Park for 16 years and have always hated our street lamps. They look like a 1970's style although I have no idea when they were put in. They are so ugly and many have missing or broken lamps. Well, it seems our city has gotten money from somewhere...not from us because we are too poor, but maybe Federal monies. The city is making improvements in the center of town. They have put in new landscaping and now are putting in new lamp posts!

Geez, it doesn't take much to make me happy. These lights are so pretty. I can't wait to see them lite. I wonder if we had lights like this in 1927 when Lincoln Park became a city. I will have to look in my Lincoln Park book.

As a side note, when I was cropping this picture I thought it would be interesting to do a close up of the 1927 marking on this building....that is when I saw the wooden owl which I had never seen just driving by. I wonder if he has succeeded in getting rid of the pigeons?

Carolina

This is a favorite place near the education center at Huntington Beach State park. This is the area where I saw the Carolina Chickadee

Egret off in the distance on the freshwater side of the causeway.

Brookgreen in Winter

Berries
Focus on Spanish moss

Pansies, lambs ears, dusty miller and berries were the theme at

Brookgreen Gardens in December. Sure beats snow, salt and gravel, and dirty slush.

Congrats to Emma

Christmas

Emma playing at Greenfield Village

Congratulations, Emma, for placing first in your flute competitiion this Saturday!

Emma and her friend did a duo and won first!

Great game # 33

#33 Liam Carney

Great shoes for a great player....ask MJ..he knows

Walking...or not!

I think that the last time I walked was at Brookgreen Garden about two weeks ago. I need to get back on the trail. What with being sick and so many things to do and appointments as well, I just can't get out the door. I missed some pretty nice weather too....darn. Can't see my way clear to venture out until the week after next.
Winter festival at Lake Erie Metropark with a bonfire on the 21st. Hoping to get to that and than out and about after that.
I think that I was able to get into the advanced photography class that starts in February. It is hard to get into the class as they only take 13 students. I just happened to go on line and see that the new classes were posted. Ran and faxed by paper work that very hour. The class is just photo shoots....no classroom. I'm pretty excited.
Want to get out to take some snow/winter scenes...but no snow yet (this may be remedied tonight). Ulanawa told me that she fears they may tear down the old barn on Oakville-Waltz Road and I have my heart set on winter photos of that. Need to get out at the first flake ;-)
Also thought of taking photos at the cemeteries...snow on the gravestones may be cool. Also my grandson has started basketball....I still am trying to tackle getting a clear action shot. Just can't seem to get it right except for a few happy accidents.
So their are still many challenges ahead, including learning my new editing program Elements that is still in the box. So much to do, so little time. Can't understand anyone that is bored...they will get no sympathy from me.

Pretty Little Pansies

In South Carolina they call these pansies their winter flowers and they are planted everywhere. I took these photos at Brookgreen. I love pansies...they remind me of pretty little southern belles.