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 performanceNow 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.
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 photoseen 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 – PeacefulSeen 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 2013Seen 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!!!
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.
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!
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!
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 — SorryTomorrow 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.
Fun with a friend – to the Raptor show at the Birding and Wild Life Festival Event – If you are volunteered you can feed the American Eagle – and we did volunteer her – What a fun trooper she was – she fed the Eagle. He is moving to grab the food
In Florida the annual “Birding and Wildlife Festival” is in January – Every year I volunteer there – this year we got to share it with a friend – or rather she shared it with us. I hope you Grandkids can find friends and events like this to share together.
This Raptor is from Iceland. The only place it lives. At least 2 of us have a special place in our hearts for Iceland animals – well maybe it is for Iceland horses but the raptor is special also.Barn owls find the food by getting sound waves hitting the oval shape on their face .Does he hear you — look out!After the show, too cold to go outside — but we saw it from the comfort of our living room.Oh, if you were brave enough to feed the Eagle you got a signed photograph of the Eagle.From the Birding Festival I say Good Night
Hey, Grandkids – I decided to do this Blog on the subject of leadership. Just to get you thinking about your leadership roles in school today and on a larger platform in the future – See, you and your friends will be the future leaders of our industries, our religious organizations, and our country. …….
Sure hope you do a good job – cause I am retired. Leaders always get to be in the media – so I thought I would play around with some recent news stories about our leaders – just for fun.
I wanted to follow the lead of our leader – President Obama – and take a selfie to show you how I was dressed – wearing my Canadian toque and with palm trees in the background — But obviously there are things I did not learn from the President — like watch out for the sun shining into the lens. But I did learn to not show Michelle in the background with an angry look on her face!
Now, here, with this shot – while on my bike ride on the Nature Trail – I wanted to take a lead from Governor Christie – You see my bike kinda blocks the bridge and you may see several golf carts waiting to cross – not a mean word was spoken — only laughs when I told them I took the photo to put on my Bog – Just for the Grandkids that live in New Jersey! See there is much to learn from our leaders — Learn some things to do and learn some things not to do.
I have been very busy lately – taking our Photo Club to a new level – doing it all by just organizing and helping others be the best leaders they can – They are a team of leaders and are really moving!!!!
It now cost $20 per year to be a member and on our first day we had 21 become paying members – for our little informal photo group – that was great! In addition, we have our first SPECIAL PROJECT – we have been commissioned to photograph the golf course – preparing photos that the course management can use in a national promotion campaign of the course on the internet. Our commission involves no money – but we will all learn a lot from our Senior Photographer member who will lead the project
Here is the status of our Photo club:
1. LEARN – Offer more activities aimed at our motto: Come Learn Together.
2.SHARE – Provide avenues for every TGO resident to “Display” their photographs for others to enjoy.
3. SERVE The Great Outdoors community – Make the Photo Club be a greater service to the our community
Available to all TGO residents:
Attend local hands-on field shoots to learn the options of your specific camera. A generic “Digital Camera Basics” class will be offered for those new to digital cameras.
Display photos in the The TGO Photo and Slide Show – Submissions have started. (Show on Feb 22.)
Attend regular meetings on Manor Porch on the 1st and 3 Friday of each month.
Fun activities available to Photo Club Members ($20 per year dues)
Participate in “Fun” photo shoot trips.
Participate in & learn via educational photo critiques and evaluation sessions.
Attend computer-photo processing learning work shops.
Submit photos to the on-going “TGO Photo Galleries”. First hanging Mar 15.
Participate in and learn via special photographing projects with experienced photographers.
Club Leadership:
Jim General Leadership
John General Leadership Assistant
Susan General Leadership Assistant
Linda Treasurer
Ed Secretary – Membership Communications
Nancy Photo Shoots – (Photo trips, Local hands-on learning, Local events)
Robert Learning – Photo critique & evaluation – Camera & computer integration
Pat Promotional Communications
Betty Gallery Development
Susan Photo Show
Bob Special Projects – Senior photographer
Angeline Survey local Galleries & monitor opportunities for participation
Karlyn Survey local education sources, classes, seminars and report to the club
Future Club Development Leadership
Ken Explore interest & feasibility of developing a TGO Stock Photo Portfolio
Pat Explore interest in video shoots and editing
Pat Explore interest in doing Life History photography
Need-a-Leader Explore local Photo Clubs – Report on how they do it & possible joint activities
Need-a-Leader Explore interest in & feasibility of offering monthly speaker programs
Life is good, so our leaders must be doing a great job in this complex world – So, clap your hands for our leaders and also to keep your hands warm!
So far this year it seems like I squeezed at least 3 months into one half month.
But what do I do all day before reflecting at the evening sunset?
In January it is tradition that I line up my office files to get ready to do taxes.
In addition, I’ve been making pens/pencils in the woodshop, I negotiate with the builder to finish up his warrant work on our 3 year old house, I have stepped up the activities of the photo club by adding committees to create photo galleries in our community, since the community purchased the golf course and the restaurant our club will add a committee to create stock photo albums to be used in promotions, and since I got a golf GPS watch for Christmas, I have so much fun practicing – sometimes I forget to quit until it is so dark I can’t find my ball anymore – You may not know how dark the woods (my wild slice does it) beside the fairway is in the twilight – It is very dark! Snakes, hogs, and gators there too! HaHa
Any way that is how I fill my days and I love it.
As you can see from the next snap shots, I am not a photographer – (but it is all that I have on my iPhone that will tell my story today). My job in the photo club is to help organize the photographers in our community who want to come together and accomplish some things and who want to learn, from each other, — learn how to better photography.
Now, that said let me show you my Christmas present, and a few of my pens/pencils.
It’s a watch!No, it is a “Magic Watch” – when playing golf it tells me how many yards to the flag, to hazards, suggests lay-ups, which club I used last time, how far I hit the ball, and much more – it even lets me keep score, see how I did on previous rounds, It even lets me cheat if I want to HaHa — standing at my front door I am 567 yards from the middle of the green on fairway#1 582 to the back, 555 to the front — I can even move the flag away from the middle if I am that accurate!See, none of my pens/pencils/key fobs are normal – I use whole antlers, slices of antler, antler shavings, leather, tagua nuts, and counter top material, — I even tried coffee beans to add color!I wish for you to have a great bright day
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 …..
