A Gift to the Birds

I have a bird feeder that looks like an old kerosene lantern, available at Lowes, that has a solar light so that a bulb is lit at night.  This part of the feeder is junk as most of the solar lights are.  Works good but there are holes around the top like the real thing.  Problem is rain can get in here and with no means of drying out the seed gets and stays wet thus plugging the feed holes.  Works fine in the summer so I will keep using it at that time of the year.

This feeder is something that I threw together for the birds.  It's open for drying and it has drain hole along two sides, you can see them on the right side.  There are four 3/4" holes in the bottom with replaceable screen material as well.  Only issue will be wind.  If this becomes an issue I will raise the sides a bit as with all drainage available this shouldn't be a problem.

So.....Merry Christmas to the birds.

No Snow

It's Christmas Eve and 53 degrees.  No snow this year.  The big guy in the red suit will be attaching his Goodyears on the sleigh runners.  I wonder if he uses Brembo brakes?  Last year we had snow on Thanksgiving and it didn't leave until late March.  Oh well, when the first ribbon comes of the first package the kids won't remember that there wasn't any snow.

In The Kitchen

Our daughter in the kitchen yesterday preparing the meal.  The tail wager at her feet is her sous-chef.  He's the cleanup guy.   All I can say is Yum!  Fantastic turkey, Brussels sprouts fixed with walnut oil and wall nuts, mashed potatoes, spinach salad, corn casserole and a casserole that was yams and turnips cubed with apples and cranberries,  cranberry relish and last but not least her mothers infamous cornbread dressing.

Starry Starry Night

I'm still learning my new Tokina 11-16mm 2.8 lens so last night I decided to try to see what I could get from inside.....it's just too cold to go out at midnight and take some shots of the sky.  December 13th may find me outside as that is the peak for the Geminid meteor shower.


This was captured by Henry Shaw of SummersMagic Photography

Again, so far, I am very impressed with this lens.  It's a very fast lens and has less distortion than I thought it would have.  Clarity is great as well.  Manual mode is becoming my favorite with this lens as I can get in real close and still not get too much distortion.  I haven't weighed it but it seems to be about as heavy as my 18-270mm and nearly as long when the later lens is in the 18mm position.

Bird Frenzy

Maybe there is something the fact that animals have that seventh sense when there is impending conditions out of the ordinary.  On Sunday these Starlings were in a feeding frenzy.  There were hundreds of them.  They would land in the street and leave is a swarm, darkening the sky wherever they fly.  They used the pond to take their morning baths, I say morning because they show up around 9 AM everyday along with 5 crows the Cardinals, a couple of Blue Jays and some other smaller varieties as well.
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Pre-Winter

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Winter

A Mood Set In Color

     It's November 17th and we have had our first measurable snowfall for the season.  Trouble with this is that it is November 17th.  Not only do we have snow but the pond froze over for the last two nights, giving way to the warmth of the sun during the day but only slightly.  In this area we should not see the freezing of water until after January 1st and then it is only safe to get on to skate etc. if it is solid with no melting for 3 weeks.  Last night it got down to 13 deg. but on a better note next Monday it is to be 57 deg. or above normal.  Welcome to the Miami Valley.

These photos are meant to set a mood about the 5" of snow we got and the bone chilling temperatures that are upon us and yet I think there is beauty in winter scenes.  April seems so far away right now.

Ready For Next Year

The growing season is over and the plants have made plans for next year.  Some haven't given up on this year as seen in the photo.  The Maple in the foreground has its buds all set and the Flowering Cherry as well.  You can even see the large bud where a flower will emerge in its pink and white blossom.  Now, to get through this years winter months.  I took these shots just days ago...we are in a polar vortex...already!