Blog
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August 28, 2014 Did you every wonder what defines us? I read in USA TODAY, “What’s the most ‘American’ city? — study says Nashville. Nashville best matches the demographic of the total USA — Race, Religion, Education, Income, etc. — So, cities and infact, the total USA, is defined by things. Oh, forgot to tell you the a city near where I come from is among the most unlike the rest of the USA — That is Altoona, PA — Now you know why I do not quite fit in!!!! So I said to myself, “I wonder how you, me, and others are defined” — So, I started at the top with the obvious items — you know, things I could take a photo of like hats, hair-do, etc. But for my first look-see at what defines us, I actually started at the bottom – Our feet – then I added just a few other items for this first go-around on my in depth analysis of HOW ARE WE DEFINED. Oh what did I add? Our hats, our tattoos, and those we hang out with.
These shoes define me as one of the crowd known as the “Hairy Legs, White socks, and Blue Ribbon beer crowd” We from around Altoona, Pa are just a little alien – would not you mainstreamers say so. -
August 26, 2014 — Featuring my cell phone as I tramp around “My Drummond”. I try to see things that other may not see – sometimes I must create them in my mind! That is why I call it “My Drummond.”
I call this the “Missed meal” — or I” beat the fish eating Monster” Depending which side you are on!!! 
Some days us Icelandics have “Bad Hair Days” 
What the heck is that little black box he keeps holding toward me? — “Hello, can you hear me now?” 
My peace and quiet time – “Nice, is it not?” 
This, I am sure is a wild orchid of some kind – we have lots of “Lady Slippers” around and they a of the wild orchid family – never saw one like this before – It was found by a neighbor who trimmed back a brush pile to make room for it to grow – After I checked it out on the internet and went back with printed pictures from the internet to verify my identy of it – OOPS – since the brush pile was trimmed the deer said – “WOW they set the table just for me” –No more wild plant for me to identify. 
Sure glad my retirement allows me to sit some times and then tramp around “MY DRUMMOND” -
August 22, 2014 – Featuring – Why do photography as a hobby? To show off an object, to create art, to create a image, to get accolades, to tell a story,………….
Most of the photos I take are, for sure, not perfect. I want to tell you about things in my day. Today i wanted to tell you, at dinner, about the neat tiny toad I say today while doing barn work. This is what I saw – just a little movement in the gravel and grass barnyard. 
I followed him/her to the gravel and got a little closer shot — Hopping along very rapidly. 
But how big is this toad? well I tried to hold him in my hand and take a shot with my cell phone in the other hand — that little bugger would jump right out of my hand before I could press the shutter. Finally I got him to stay on a stone I held long enough for a shot — pooooor photo quality – but it gets the story of his size to you. – Thanks for looking and listening! 
Hey – finding little things in the outdoors is always fun – Go find one NOW! -
August 19, 2014 – I also maintain a blog for the TGO PHOTO CLUB tgophoto.wordpress.com This is what it looked like today – This is the only time that I plan them to be the same. Featuring Hollis Davison “A Spoonbill” and Gloria Brubaker “Two-in-Flight” – Heard in quotes: “Grace is what picks me up and lifts my wings high above and I fly!” – C. JoyBell C. “You can put wings on a pig, but you don’t make it an eagle” (and the pig will not display the beauty and grace of wings on a Spoonbill or Pelican). – President William J. Clinton
Hollis Davison, Spoonbill shot on 8/18/14, 8:30 am 
Gloria Brubaker, Pelicans shot 5/17/14, around noon -
August 18, 2014 – An understanding of the natural world and what’s in it is a source of not only a great curiosity but great fulfillment. David Attenborough. So often I go off just to photo nature! But Perla found that not all things are nature, even if at first they look that way – I think those humans are trying to trick me!!!
Natural flowers in the wild – did i capture a perfect photo composition — I doubt – Did God produce a perfect wildflower – of course! 
I go out looking for nature things that catch my eye – This little natural ladder for small tree people that wander my pasture at night caught my attention. 
This just looks pretty to me – I saw it , sat and looked at it — then photographed it and posted it for you to see. 
We trailered the horses to a trail head. Perla wrote – well, I wrote it for her “These humans are trying to trick me” 
“I was not born this way – does that mean I am not natural?” More on my neckless later! 
Think I will go search and sneak up on more things of nature – maybe i will take my camera along – just for you – — Because I will have already seen it and recorded it in my brains electrons! -
August 15, 2014 – Can’t get the country boy out of me – Well, I sure never tried – ‘guess that is whyI am still country! Every day, country animals are a part of what I do and I truly like seeing them in funny ways – sort of like playing around with them – Here are a few photos to show you what I mean! But first, two quotes by others — “Until one has loved an animal a part of one’s soul remains unawakened.” Anatole France. I think that is because “The love for all living creatures is the most noble attribute of man.” Charles Darwin
Perla is a very great horse – But after I take off the bridle and bareback pad “I GOTTA SCRATCH MY BACK!!!” 
She does like my clowning around – just for a photo opportunity! 
Even horses get bored with my games! 
You must always look both ways before crossing the road – and why did the duck cross the road? because the lake is there! 
The shadows make us look a little strange – maybe like a camel? 
I think the slug was lost – Or he thought those that go ’round in circles shall be called “Big wheels” 
A quote by me “Seeing animals do entertaining things will brighten all your days” -
August 13, 2014 – BACKYARD PHOTOGRAPHY – A quote by me “Photo-shoots in ones own backyard offer a daily outing opportunity.” A quote by famous American photographer Annie Leibovitz” I feel a responsibility to my backyard. I want it to be taken care of and protected.”
“I see you sitting there” says he to me 
I was sitting by the garden – but I got up for a better shot – Liked the original one best. 
Swimming into the wind in a backward V 
I did not travel far – just around my yard for these shots! -
Aug 11, 2014 – Say I also – just like Ted Turner said: “I like snakes. I like hummingbirds. There’s nothing on earth I don’t like. Frogs. (Toads), Salamanders. The bunnies, the giraffes, the hippopotamuses.” — I bet I would like giraffes, the hippopotamuses too if I could afford to travel to see them. – By the way, I also maintain a blog of photos for my Florida Community Photo Club www.tgophoto.wordpress.com
I was watching the “Super Moon” with this friend of mine. He and I communicate often at night – Do not know where he is during the daylight hours? 
The sun going down – making space in the sky for the Super Moon 
True – but with some PhotoShop help – Consider it art work. 
Had a great 2 hour trail ride yesterday – sitting up there for 2 hours with no stirrups on a bareback pad – Well, Perla and I were both glad to see the barn! -
Aug 9, 2014 – Here are a couple of vacation/visit/fun photos – I Loved it. Of such opportunities, Ralph Waldo Emerson said: “Live in the sunshine, swim the sea, drink the wild air.” So, ask I: “What are we doing?”
We are living in the sunshine – at the end of the day as the sun sank below the trees over the Bay! 
We are swimming (In a 200 horsepower Boston Whaler) in the sea of Lake Huron’s Potagannissing Bay 
We are drinking in the wild air while riding the waves in the bow of a Boston Whaler 
We are “Living in the glow of sunshine as it sets over Potagannissing , with thoughts of swimming the sea, and we are drinking the wild air of a Lake Huron island” “Live in the sunshine, swim the sea, drink the wild air.” -
August 6, 2014 Life – The purpose of our lives is to be happy. The true secret of happiness lies in taking a genuine interest in all the details of daily life. We do not remember days, we remember moments.To be prepared (for the moment) is half the victory (of happiness). —— Quotes by Dalai Lama, William Morris, Cesare Pavese, Miguel de Cervantes, and Jim.
Notice the “Rabbit Ears” — Things like that may have been passed down from father to son? – quote by Jim — I remain just one thing, and one thing only, and that is a clown. It places me on a far higher plane than any politician. Quote by Charlie Chaplin 
Happiness is new moments in new places and the fun of the fresh air of the road. The enjoyment of travel may have been passed down from father to son – Quote by jim – “Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness. Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the earth all one’s lifetime.” quote by Mark Twain 
Them 
Me, Bye
