December 23, 2018 - Oh my - Go to the mall, the restaurant, the post-office, go anywhere and you see cell phone love happening.

I so respect the great photographers in our TGO Photo Club – they devote so much time enjoying the outdoors and nature, often getting shots of nature that many folks never even see. They use very fine quality lenses and cameras and they are experts at using them. Their results are remarkable. Click on the TGO Photo Club Page, in the left column, to see Dave Cesari’s new posting of unique owl photographs.

Dave prompted me to research the great horned owl. I found this on the internet:

“During the years 1933-1936 FREDERICK M. BAUMGARTNER was engaged in a study of the Great Horned Owls (Bubo virginianus) for his doctor’s thesis at Cornell University. The following selections, from the thesis, presents an account of their courtship.

On bright moonlight nights the hooting of the horned owls begins. Then on a clear night several birds can be distinguished, calling back and forth steadily for a few hours after dusk and again toward morning. the period when the males are hooting vigorously lasts for a month or six weeks. On the other hand the answering calls of the females are heard for only a week or two, toward the end of the six-week period. This period began in late November and lasted until about the first of January.

The most important function of hooting is to attract a mate. During the mating season the challenging, deep, rich tones of the males are occasionally interspersed with the higher and huskier notes of the females.

At the time of mating, the nodding and bowing of the birds became quite violent for a period and then they quieted down and went through many repetitions of a billing and cooing performance. Finally the female crouched down on the limb and the male mounted her back in the fashion of a barn-yard fowl.”

NOW MY STORY: The love happening is – everyone is in love with their phone – I did a count the other day at the mall and one time I looked up from my phone and saw 100% of the people were walking talking, sitting reading, or they were standing photographing the Christmas tree – all with their phone!

Winter Solstice this year was on Dec 21, 2018. Both moonrise and sunset were visible at the same time. Our photo club celebrated by going to a boat ramp nearby: setting up cameras, playing some primitive musical instruments, and visiting.

I am not a great photographer, but, I sure enjoy my iPhone shots and of course my PhotoShop fake news:

Winter Solstice 2018 the moon rises to the east

Winter Solstice 2018 the sun sets to the west

Two days later Dec 23, 2018 the sun rises to the east over a cold misty lake behind my house.

Winter Solstice 2018 – music partners standing in front of the sunset

Winter Solstice 2018 – the music organizer standing in front of the rising moon

Dec 23, 2018 – From my driveway the rocket lifts off – things to notice – no winds aloft left straight contrail – see neighbors all standing in their driveways.

NOW FOR SOME FAKE NEWS AND PHOTOSHOP FUN: