Dolphin

I was playing with my flash again...this is a dolphin pendulum that we have.  I tried to get a freeze frame, then the motion.

I re-did last night's picture based on some comments I received on my photo board.  I tried to keep the fog confined to the background.

Playing around

I went out today to find birds, but only found geese.  My picture wasn't terrible, but adding some fog in the post processing made it much better...

Final version:

For comparison, here's the original:

Crostata alla crema di coco

I couldn't resist, since I'm not much of a baker...this is for tonite's Tables of Fellowship as it's my turn to make the dessert.

While it's not as pretty as the one in the picture, I'm keeping my fingers crossed that it tastes as good!

Confused?

This poor daffodil is a bit confused...it thinks it's spring time!

The white around it is the remains of yesterday's snowfall...

Orchid close-up

A closeup of one of my new orchids...Since it's late, I had to make due with long exposure time.  I don't have the full name, but it's called an 'Apple Blossom'

This is a  really good one from last week in the sun:

Breaking into the Bank

I've had this bank since I was a kid...there was still money in it as well.  Mainly half dollars and Susan B Anthony dollars, but there were a few quarters from the 30's in it as well.

23 Feb

Mark was off a day due to the holiday on Monday...I'm not complaining!

This was called the Arglye...gin, scotch, applejack and honey.

Pasta

Fresh pasta...

Raindrops keep falling...

on my head...or table.  It rained all day.

More Orchids!

It snowed today, how could it be in the 60's just 2 days ago and snow/ice today (nothing stuck, but still)?  So much for global warming...

I went to the orchid show again...

I ended up buying a couple more orchids!  So in two days, I went from two to seven orchids in this house...


Peppy has been very curious the last few weeks, exploring the bottom of her cage more than ever.  We started giving her wine corks as something to  chew while down there...
Although it looks out of focus, it's due to the narrow depth of field.  The band across her chest and beak are perfectly in focus.

Warning: Lots of photos!

We went to the local Orchid show today....

Then flying:

Don't fret...I have 3 new 'babies' that followed me home from the show...pictures will be forthcoming!

Day off!

I took today off of work...it was in the mid-60's, there was no way I was going to work today!
Anyhow, the golf course is still closed due to frozen/saturated ground, so I took my bike out and rode about 17 miles north to Glen Helen Nature Preserve.  They have a Raptor Center, so I took a look around.

This female Peregrine Falcon was out with the handler for some sunshine.  I was surprised to hear that there are a pair in all the major cities of OH...

From my walk along the gorge, I don't know what type of flower it was.

The maple syrup buckets were out already!

After getting back to my car, I went to Sugarcreek Metropark.  20 steps off the main trail I found some green growing...

Finally, as I was driving home, I spotted a hawk eating on a large roll of hay.  I pulled the car over and started walking towards him.  I was almost in range when he flew off...being chased by another hawk!  I barely got this shot off before the both flew out of my range.

The Foghorn

Gin, Ginger Beer and lemon...

15-16 Feb

I guess creativity comes in short bursts...I had a great night on Monday, so last night was a bit harder:

Tonite's shot:

I decided to play with grain a bit in my editing software...

Happy Valentine's Day!

From Bogey:

From Allie:

Did you really think you were getting chocolates?

There's actually a story...my Nikon group does a 'collective shoot' each week, i.e. someone chooses a theme and everyone shoots it.  This week was 'ANTI-Hallmark'

New Growth!

My orchid is growing a new stem!

Mark's 'martinis' of the week...he came up with the drink years ago, but hasn't made in a while:  the Fractured Friar

Better late than never, maybe we'll get this week's on Thursday for once!

Stay tuned to tomorrow, we have a great one in mind!

12 Feb

So, can you tell I'm fascinated with ice and water?

Finally Friday!

Tonite is another two-for-one deal...we had dinner at NCR followed by a Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra concert last night.
I'm going to change this around.  Here are last night's photo's...Nice view of the sunset over the South Course:

while sipping:

11 Feb:

One of my co-workers' uncle was laid off recently.  He decide to make a business of his hobby...chocolate making!  They were too good to resist!

9 Feb

Chili and a beer (actually, we had our 'house' wine, but picture went better with the beer...)  Not the most authentic rendition, but tasty.  I even pickled the jalapenos....

The End (8 Feb 11)

Although not very creative, this photo has meaning.  I finished Air War College today.  Just shy of two years after I started.  Considering I PCS'd and went to school for 10 weeks (and my complete lack of motivation) not too bad.

7 Feb, another still life

It was once again ugly and miserable outside...so, I tried to do another still life.  This took me way too much time to get the light and composition right.  I ended up doing this as a sepia tint and pulling the pink color of the roses to counter the cloth (yes it's wrinkled).

6 Feb 11 (Mark's Birthday)

Mark spent the day trying to dig the plane from the hangar (our mistake on not opening the doors all the way) to no avail...he's going to feel it tomorrow...


I on the other hand went for a walk in the woods near a stream...

and so did someone else....

Martini

Mark did his penance for missing Thursday night...Basil Martini with gin, simple syrup, lemon and basil.  It's amazing that my basil plant is still going strong in kitchen despite the cold weather outside.

Conch and shrimp fritters with chipotle mayo and a pickle radish salad rounded out a(nother) snowy day.

Ice on Pines - 4 Feb

The ice is pretty spectacular on the trees.  I wish i had had the camera when running, as the sun bouncing off the solid ice covered bushes was pretty.

Some ice on the pine trees... I wanted to capture the sunset in the ice, but the only ice was on the north part of the trees and blocked.

eBay

It's interesting how many pictures of items on eBay are poorly done.  One would think that the best way to attract customers and someone willing to spend money is to make the picture top quality.  I only say this because I've been on Bay shopping recently.  First, trying to find a 1995 Swarovski Crystal Ornament to round out our collection.  (we thought we had it, but turns out we started in 1996).  Also, after last week's opera, I wanted a pair of antique opera glasses.  My trip to Waynesville (antique central in OH) was less than successful.  


So, I've been searching on eBay (opera glasses are secured!).  The pictures gave me an idea...let me try to take a good picture of something that could be sold (not that I plan on selling this pin).  I tried it on black fabric, but there was too much contrast.  I wanted to show the detail of the silver etching, I think I did pretty well.

For those wondering where the martini is...Mark is still at work, so I went ahead and did this.  He'll get a chance over the weekend to catch up (after he takes me to dinner tomorrow night, shhh...he doesn't know that yet!)

Groundhog Day...

It did feel like Groundhog Day, as we had another snow day...I'm getting spoiled, however I did spend today working on AWC and am almost done!

However, when the METAR looks like this:

KMGY 021606Z AUTO 25016G31KT 3SM -SN SCT021 OVC028 M04/M08 A2993

For the layman out there, that was the 11:06am weather at Dayton Wright Brothers. The wind was blowing from 250 deg at 16 kts, gusting to 31 kts, visibility was 3 miles with light snow. Clouds were at 2100 and 2800 ft. Temp was -4C. BRRRRRR!

There's no way I was going outdoors to run or do anything else. I hadn't set my bike up on the stand since the last time we were stationed Dayton, so, I dug it out of the garage and my office/library/spare bedroom has yet another alter-ego as exercise room...

One thing about not having to work and horrible weather, I had time to look for photo opportunities. In addition to chasing starlings from my feeder, I got a good laugh at this dove that was being blown around by the wind...

 Peppy's alter ego, the shark...

Ice

This is really a test to see if a setting worked, but it also gives an idea of the ice that came down last night...the poor birds needed food, so I fed them this afternoon.

Ice

We had an ice storm come through last night.  They actually closed the base...so I've had a chance to catch up on magazines and books (cannot convince myself to work on AWC).  I wandered outside for a few and captured this pine branch covered in ice.

One Month!

I made it thru the first month, only 11 more to go...last night I had some trouble, but came up with this.