Blog
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March 8, 2014 – Beautiful day in Florida – I went Owl hunting with my real camera today (not just iPhone camera)!
My owl hunting vehicles. 
Why do these humans come to watch me get awake in the morning. 
OK – I will pose for you. Even tho I am just a baby. See I can wink at you. 
Is this a better pose? 
Wait a few days and I will fly away – see my wings have feathers 
Mom runs around all night and now when I want to talk, she sleeps. 
She is always near by – still sleeping! 
Biking again. My son says he is having a heat wave in Conn. 17.5 degrees!!! -
March 6, 2014 – Please ride with me. A friend snapped this Great Horned Owl with a telephoto lens. See end of this blog for solution to yesterdays mystery.
On my bike trip I only have my cell phone camera – Here is what the owl baby looks like to the cell camera – The baby has not flown yet! But soon, I bet he will fly – I saw him stretch his wings the other day. 
I hid behind this life ring to take this shot – of Mr. Gator! 
Then, I got brave and stood in front of the ring. Mr. Gator is still hungry and I am still on this earth to blog you! 
Yesterday’s mystery – No they are not candy corn as some suggested, nor are they small peppers! They are by this plant called a Coontie – Native to this part of Florida. 
Looking closer – see these “pine cones” growing from the base of the plant – I think, from my reading, that this is the male plant. 
As the female pine cone seed pods are fertilized and mature, they look like this. 
When they are fully mature and “explode” the ground looks like this — Now you know what they are – they are Coontie seeds. Coontie’s have been here since the dinosaurs. They are called “fossil plants” in some material I read on the web. Not only do you need male and female cones for seed-making, you also need one specific weevil, the Pharaxonotha zamiae. The weevil first eats the starchy male cones and then moves on over to the females where fertilization takes place. Next the female cones swell, the seeds become a vibrant orange color, and eventually the cones split apart, that is, if the birds and squirrels do not get to them first. I sure learned a lot about Coontie in my research these last few days.
Maybe you can come along tomorrow! Hope so. -
March 5, 2014 See the tranquil start to my morning tour of the community on my bike.
Each trip into our back yard or around the community is a great show of nature — a show of The Great Outdoors we live in – Guess that is why they chose the name The Great Outdoors.
I will try to show you just a small portion of what I often see on a 45 minute ride around the community.
First a saw these three different breeds of bird sharing breakfast in a canal I cross each day. 
Then I saw Old Tom here telling the ladies to look at him – he says “I am not the 30 pound weakling you thought I was” But he’d did not weigh more just because he puffed up his showoff form!!! 
Oops – that was not on my bike ride??? 
We are very good citizens – we do not speed – I the sign says .15 miles per hour- I go .15 miles per hour (I think the dot in front of the 1 is just fly dirt! 
Same dot — same speed!!! 
Our club logo on the ball – did it go into the cup??? 
The bird tree is dead – but no one would cut it down – always filled with birds in the morning – some tiny – some larger 
Do you think it will be a smooth landing? It was not in my opinion!!! 
What is it??? 
Glad you flew along with me this morning. -
Feb 26, 2014 Hello, Sorry it took so long to get back to ya’all
This is how the story begins — If you awoke this morning and saw a number 20 with a funny symbol like this in front of it “-” you might wonder why? Well the answer is you are dreaming — or — you stepped out of bed on Drummond Island. Now if you stepped out …..…..of bed this morning and saw the number 49 with no funny symbol in front of it you might be dreaming or you might be in Florida. That is a delta of about 70 degrees in your dream — or — in reality if you were not dreaming.
My friends on Drummond said – they felt no cold – they had 6 layers on — I had 4 layers on — did my math 6 – 4 = 2 and discovered that 2 layers needed for 70 degrees delta. I was too ashamed to point out that math to my 6 layer friends. They surely would consider me a wimp!!!
Stories are told for many reasons — In family and friend settings they are often told to help us remember – remember days gone by – and of days yet to come — So I gathered a few photos just to help us remember — and maybe to “rub it in ” a little.
First let’s sit on the porch and look out thru the pasture. Remember – in God’s mother nature world, past performance does indicate future performance 
Now let’s look down at the edge of the porch. 
Now look at the walkway. 
Or dream of the perfect putt in Florida – just follow the shadow. 
Am I good — or what — but you will never know if it rolled in!!! 
You know, I think warm clouds are worth a photo shot – when we know it is not -20. Ijust put this here to rub it in a little! 
Now do not forget the past as an assurance of the future – If the financial folks could be so confident that past performance assured future performance, we would like the market better!!! 
One more future look-see! 
Bye & be assured the March Lion in and Lamb out. -
Feb 15 – WOW 9 day since I have Blogged you all
Look at the variation – it has been some winter. Friends have sent me some photos – I saved some I took. Anyway, they make me wonder do we all live in the same world — I love them all and would, or do, enjoy the experience of them all. – Tis a great world we live in.
Seen in NY – Jon Katz – Author from NY posted tis photo 
seen in NJ I love snow but some times it is fun to sit here and wait for food to fall from the plate of not too neat grandkids! 
Seen in Florida – Which way should I go? or I do not want to go your way!!! 
Seen in NJ – Peaceful 
Seen in Florida – How did these shell get here? – Birds, I think. 
Seen in Florida – Here fishy here fishy! 
Seen in Florida. Over here by the alligator I think. 
seen in Florida – Perfect. 
Seen on Drummond Island in December 2013 
Seen in Florida – “What do u mean it doesn’t count – In horseshoes it does!” 
Seen in NJ — Dyna is under here somewhere, — I am sure! 
As seen in Pennsylvania – For my Valentine – I see a heart. Do you? 
Look around and I am sure you will see great things to enjoy!!! -
Feb 2, 2014 – Groundhog Day – Weather is beautiful in many ways. Be ready for more – Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow. Six more weeks – when is enough enough? Well I like weather, so, I will show a few weather related photos.
This is a Drummond Island snow storm in December – – Drummond has had many storms since then I’ve been told. Enough is enough beauty the folks there say! 
Drummond Island thunder storm in September – This was in the dead of night and the photo is lighted with a bolt of lightening. 
Back to winter – the horses love the cold – gives them lots of energy! 
In the fall the moist weather creates moist forest floor creating some beautiful objects – the natural sun light and shadows add to the beauty of this photo. 
Fog is fun to see – the aftermath of fog on a dandelion shows beautiful crystals. 
The crystals on this little guys wings kind of hinder flying – But he does not have to maintain a flight schedule — does not need to respond to the tower clearing him for take-off – he just waits for the sun to clear the moisture from the wings and he will be back to normal. – ready for take-off. 
The beauty of a big spiders version of trip to the grocery store – my trip to my grocery store is quite different – and maybe a little less artistic. 
I like this see-through version of a spider’s grocery store. 
Under the snow, I hide my grocery store – I always have fun when I find my way to the nut aisle. -
Feb 1, 0214 – Snow is beautiful!
we will soon shovel Maybe! 
T’is fun. Before we shovel! 
We are prepared to sit! But must wait. 
We rest and enjoy. 
We see signs of summer. 
We marvel at the beauty of it – Winter can linger a while longer so we can enjoy it a little more! 
We painted it in watercolor because we marvel at the beauty of it. 
But sometimes we think of summer strolls. 
Let’s all cheer! ’cause winter is beautiful for now! -
Jan 31, 2014 – As seen in NYC (New York City). On my trip there this week – Well almost NYC – Any place near NYC I tend to call NYC.
I took many photos but selected a few to just show some of the things I saw – things I enjoyed – some trip I will try to provide a complete album that conveys the New York environment to you. Unless you are in NYC reading this you would find it hard to visualize –
……conveying, in photos, NYC as I see it, I think would be a fun challenge.
We are ready to observe the street-side activities! — As soon as the temp hits 33 Degrees we will enjoy a snack and drink – no delay in getting these observation tools out of storage.
Today, the observation tools are placed such that our view of the street is enhanced with sunlight dancing through crystal prisms. Am I not a romantic!
The new family study-hall, one reading home work (looks bored), one watching TV (behind post so can’t the expression there), one doing office work on the phone (concerned look), and one Grandpa sitting with a glass of wine (Behind camera so can’t see the smile there).
Love this art home work – I was really fascinated by it – took a lot of careful work and I think a great job was done – 30+or-1 inch squares – each drawn individually from the photo on the right – glued together to produce the artistic portrait on the left! Maybe I will show the total portrait later — after you guess who it is!
The tough Dodge auto in the foreground did not need a blanket – but the rag top bikini clad vehicle in the background will need to be wrapped in a blanket until summer!
No, we did not plan it that way – We each got dressed for a dog walk – Like in a comic movie – we walked through the doorway and this is what we saw – No, I did not insist that she go back and change!
I was proud to introduce her as my “Friend” The young lady, I mean!
Actually, this is what I got dress like for the walk! Being tuned for Florida – you know!
Bye for now — it is a chilly 55 degrees – but I plan to bike a little before I finish my office work! -
Jan 26,2014 – Camera Fun and PhotoShop Fun?
The 5 day Birding and Wildlife Festival was held this week – and doing my volunteer work I got to attend 3 classes – many classes were held – maybe 100 or more. During the 5 hours I spent in the classroom the instructors were teaching how to PhotoShop adjust photos of birds. ………….
You all know I love to play with PhotoShop. But the classes made me ask myself – What is real any more? – Or are our photos just art work — Now I have no problem with art work – In fact that is how I look at photography – photography is art work – Well, there some photos meant to document time, places, and people — one should not touch them – you know, show wrinkles and all!
Anyway I was inspired to go out in the evening and take some photos and then PhotoShop them – so I took what I learned in the classroom (Photoshop) and what learned from one of the committees I established in our Photo Club (photo evaluation) . The committee leader stressed that each photo needs to tell a story — so here goes!
The story – from the birds point of view “Why are they all looking at me? Did I forget to zip up my pants or something?” 
The story – Birders and Wildlife people are not always outside – sometimes they gather indoors – to keep the economy going and to make sure they they have purchased enough gadgets to enjoy the outdoors. 
The bird’s eye story – His eyes being on the side of his head makes it hard to know were he is looking – is he looking at me or waiting for a fish to eat? Un touched by PhotoShop. What ever – he (or she) is focused. Pretty bird needs no touch up. 
The story here is – Some wildlife people kill all Brazilian Pepper plants – but this beautiful tree’s berries escaped the hatchet – and I know my history Ben Franklin — only chopped down cherry trees – Right! 
The story – another history lesson – George Washington found that flying a kite in a storm has consequences that are not always desirable – Some photoshop work here! Now, you know I was just teasing about historical folks and who did what But I had fun telling you these stories!
Oh, here is the real untouched by PhotoShop photo of my neighbor flying a kite – it has two strings and he is flying it in great aerial maneuvers. The story – even elderly folks enjoy toys often marketed for young folks! Oops, I see I did give him a PhotoShop glow getting ready for the lightening — Sorry Tomorrow I go to NYC – – With lows of 0 degrees each day I am there _ Some doctor visits – just regular checkups that elderly folks do — But the fun part is I visit family.
