Report on the Tale of the Eight Baby Walnuts

 
Back in August of 2010, I narrated the tale of the eight baby walnuts. You really should read it for the full import of this post. See A Tale of Eight Walnuts

Walking out back in our fairly deep snow I stopped dead in my tracks at this astonishing sight.



I'm quite sure you are saying, "Oh, yeah... more snow and a valley on the side (that's where the railroad tracks are), and a leaning telephone pole (that isn't in use of any sort), and not even anything of interest to grab your eye.

But that's because you don't know where to look, my friends. I'm so encouraged! These six trees (I'm tellin' you, read about the eight), are visible above the snow. They've been growing at this location for 19 years. Just think, in 2064 they might be tall enough to distinguish from a weed. But by then, it's doubtful I will be looking for them.

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Blue

 
Just a little photo essay in blue. I wasn't trying to capture different textures, but I like the results.

	See My World is Blue
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And the Winners Are!

 
I'm really pleased that 30 people made the effort to vote for their favorite pictures of 2013. That's very gratifying, and I do thank you all.

There were five clear winners, with the most votes. However, I think it's interesting that every single photo received at least one vote.

I'll tell you a little more about each one. So here they are:

Number 1, with 16 votes, is Osprey Landing. I was on a commercial boat tour of Lake Arthur in Pennsylvania. We all saw the bird coming in to the nest and were snapping pictures like crazy. This is called, "I got lucky."



Number 2, with 12 votes, is Sun Pillar. I find it interesting that this picture ranked so high. True, it has great colors. And they really were that intense. But it's got stupid electric wires in it, and they carry the eye away from the focal point. This is the kind of picture anyone could take if they were willing to stop the car to do so. And thank you, Om, for being willing to stop and wait while I began yelling and racing across the road!



Number 3, with 11 votes, is Pink Trees. I will actually take a tiny bit of credit for this one. The sunrise was unusually red and I looked around the yard for things that were being targeted by the light. Of course, without the snow, it wouldn't be much of anything, so I guess I have to also credit winter.



Number 4, with 10 votes, is Balanced Stone. Thank you, everyone who recognized this actually took an artistic eye. That stone is more like a pebble, maybe an inch across at most. There were all kinds of these little monuments on the beach that day, but I had to lie down on my belly, find one where the sand wasn't disturbed, and the shadow was right, and then get the camera to focus where I wanted it to. I'm happy with this one.



Finally, Number 5, with 7 votes, is Red Barn. Of the five pictures, this is the only one I manipulated at all. I did enhance the red color just a bit so that the picture looked as dramatic as what my eye saw. This was one of those drive-by shootings. I drove by, said "wow," and then turned around to go back and take the picture. Some of the good shots I am able to get are the result of that decision to go back and record it digitally when the light and conditions are right. This same barn is nice but rather ordinary most of the time.

	See Other Good Photos of 2013
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Sweet Mia - Charlotte

 

My good friend, John, at Don't Unplug Your Hub, has found himself a new friend named Mia. Mia has quite a personality! But this picture he posted on Facebook, and which I have shamelessly stolen for my use, shows her in a pensive pose.


It immediately made me think of the German Shepherd we once had, named Charlotte. She also liked to stare out the window, and that John has the same curtains I had in my living room, making the time-warp even more strange!

Here's the next piece of the story. In January of 1975, I set a goal of writing one poem every day of that month. (This was before we had a baby to care for. Read... I had some free time.)

I sketched Charlotte, and wrote a poem about her.

Sweet Charlotte

Sweet Charlotte, what do you see?
When you look out the window
Are you only catching slow flies,
Or do you dream of worlds that are free?

January 14, 1975

Wow, that was 39 years and 3 days, and 5 dogs ago.

	See Dogs of my Life- Charlotte
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St. Joseph's in the Daylight

 

Remember the beautiful church we went to for a Christmas concert? Here's a hint in case you forgot. It's St. Joseph's Catholic Church just outside Hart. It's one of those churches on a country corner that just takes your breath away because there's nothing else there to clutter up the view. This was the night of the concert.


I drove by there while working this week, and thought you might like to see more of what the building looks like.


Here are just a couple of architectural details. I should try to get some pictures of the stained glass windows from the inside some time.



Just chillin' out after working all day. Feels good.

	See West Shore Choir at St. Joseph's
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