Photoessay in Black and White

Had a chance to go for a little walk today at Cartier Park. That is a paved trail and it was plowed, so I opted for the easy choice since we got another 5 inches of snow last night. The black-and-white theme is certainly not an original idea, but I like it.

And the full-size photos. I did not convert any of these to black and white. These are all "full color" photos!

Another busy day. Did some editing. Eye doctor appointment, this walk, then a trail meeting in the early evening.

Miles hiked in 2025: 466.9

Cartier Park, Ludington, MI. The paved trail loops. 1.8 miles.

See Skyday #3

Black Flamingo

 
Today was wet, warm, and windy. I took a few pictures, but they don't look like much of anything at all, so I'm going with a picture I didn't take and a bird I did not see.

The whole flamingo post theme has become quite the blog joke here. I've actually considered starting a separate blog for all those posts. Who knew it would grow into a "thing." But this news story is quite interesting. Apparently a genuine black flamingo has been seen twice, probably two sightings of the same bird. It was seen in Israel in 2014, and on a Mediterranean island in 2015.

It's believed the bird has / had melanism, too much pigment, which is the opposite of albinism, the absence of pigment.

What fun!



The picture is attributed to Reuters.

In other news: The morning did not go as expected. When I woke up, my new cell phone would not turn on. That did not make me at all happy. Drove in to Verizon, and the guy said, "Oh yeah, the Pixel phones sometimes lock up when they do automatic updates." He held the power button for about a minute, and it came on. Glad it was easy, but who knew? Since I had to go to town, I also got most of the groceries for next week's festivities with the boys. I've decided to cook, but we are having very plain food... hopefully everyone will be willing to eat at least a couple of menu items.

So, the morning was shot for writing. But after lunch I hunkered down and did major editing on a chapter of North Country Quest that needed a lot of work. Then I continued formatting Accidentally Yours. Got quite a lot done!

	See My Low-Budget Black Taco Ad
if you like this blog, click

White and Black

 
The day here was white and horizontal outside. There was a nasty wind that kept me inside. I did manage to tear myself away from the game to get some other things done. This has to happen more, soon.

So, I went back to my hike at Pine Valley Pathway, a month ago, because there are more pictures from that walk that I really liked, and wanted to show you.

I want to know if you prefer your fungus white...



... or black?



Or white and black?



If I moved my head rapidly, I could make it switch like a flip cartoon.

I really should feel guilty for spending so much time playing the TrainStation game... but I don't (quite).

	See Nestcap Fungus
if you like this blog, click the +1   or

Black

 
Black is not my favorite color. However, I love the patterns in this black substance. Can you guess what it is?







I don't want you to see the answer too easily...

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.


There is a leak in the pipes that carry ink from the tank to the presses at the paper!

	See My Low-Budget Black Taco Ad
if you like this blog, click the +1   or

Black and White II- Not Quite

 
More snow and cold. More black and white. But today, I'm leaving the pictures just the way I saw them. You can see how close to monochrome everything really looked.

Nicely shaped trees are always amazing against a solid sky.



Just across the street was a different tall object, white against the sky instead of black.



Maybe this is my favorite.



This one isn't so monochrome, but it's one of my favorite winter roads, Campbell Road. I just had to take a picture.



Got everything done I had planned. It was cold, but the roads weren't too bad.

if you like this blog, click the +1   or

Black and White

 
With the snow and the gray light, everything seemed to be in black and white today. I decided to let it be so! Mistflower seedheads, grass, and jackpine.







I've been writing up a storm on the next Anastasia Raven book, Bury the Hatchet in Dead Mule Swamp. I've written 7 chapters in the past 5 days, and done a lot of editing. My brain seems fried. Maybe I'll go to bed and read. Tomorrow I have to go out and do assignments. Should have gone today, but I decided the weather was too nasty. If it's nasty tomorrow... too bad. I'll be out there anyway!

	See Purple in the Fields for Mistflower in bloom See A New Look at Jackpine
if you like this blog, click the +1   or

Black Orchid?

 
A true black orchid is one of those botanical rarities that plant fiddlers strive for. This one is close.



It's Fredclarkeara After Dark 'SVO Black Pearl'

I'm not a big orchid fan, but I'll show you some others another day.

if you like this blog, click the +1   or

Black Witch's Butter

I bring you a legend for Halloween. Nah... I don't like Halloween very much, but I did see this fungus yesterday, and its common name is black witch's butter. It's Exida nigricans.

If you find some fungus on rotting limbs that looks like raisins on a stick, you've probably found it.



It's a jelly fungus. It looks slimy, but it's not, just soft and flabby. Actually, now that they do DNA testing it is turning out that the whole genus of Exida is artificial. That means it's only based on appearances, and doesn't have any validity at all. However, what's going to be done about it hasn't been settled yet. Remember, I'm not a fungus expert. I'm just telling you what I read.

I think the reason for its common name may interest you more. This fungus grows in all northern climates around the globe. The European legends say that witches would milk the cows at night and then spill globs of butter out of the pails. In Sweden, it is known as Troll smör with a similar story.



I am going to be extra busy this coming week. I have a lot of work assignments, web site work, and things to write. If you don't see me visiting your blogs, I'll get there soon. Thanks for your faithful reading!

if you like this blog, click the +1

Black Bird, White Bird

 


Today I'm dipping back into the photo archives a bit, but these are pictures that I like, but never had a chance to share them. The theme is black and white. I guess I'm on a color jag.

The picture above was taken on the ramp to the interstate as I was leaving for Philadelphia in February. I love the way the black crow is almost lost in the total whiteness of the snow cover.



Instead of a white setting with a black bird, here are two white birds (herring gulls) having a conversation. They were perched on the railing of the waterfront walkway through St. Ignace, Michigan, which is part of the North Country Trail. I've always liked this picture, but it was no competition at the time for the cygnets in Fluffy Treats on an Urban Trail. I think the gulls were whispering about some strange hiker.



Oddly enough, just about one year later, in June 2010, Marie and I strolled the walkway again after our hikes in the Upper Peninsula. This time, we were watched by a black bird, a common crow. Although there are ravens in the UP, this bird isn't big enough to be one. But it's nice a glossy black!

No extra commentary... it's just there in black and white.

My Low Budget Black Taco Ad

 
Have you seen the Black Taco ad on TV? I think it's pretty well done. Here's my low budget version for your enjoyment (with some commentary).

Black Birds


These starlings were swarming in the aspen tree on Tuesday. Today, I saw that silly bluebird again. WHAT is he still doing here?

Black Dirt


This pile of nice black dirt has been sitting in the cemetery for months. I think they plan to re-landscape one section eventually. Meanwhile, I liked the contrast with the yellow leaves in the sun.

Black Spots


Tar spot fungus on Norway maple leaf.

Black Trees


Tonight's sunset.

Black Dog


Loopy (and Joshua) after today's checkup at the vet. All is well!

No Black Dinner


Sorry... nothing black for dinner- I warned you this was low budget. But I made Turkish Buttermilk Soup with barley. It was good.

See Spooky See The Point of My Quality Day