Harvest Time

It is that time of year again when the days get shorter and cooler. There are more cloudy days than sunny, or so it seems.

The trees change from their lush greens to their brilliant colors of yellow, reds, orange and purple. Other vegetation takes its rightful place in the color spectrum by turning different shades of browns and yellow/gold while showing their brilliant berries that they have been growing through the summer months. These plants have set themselves up to feed the creatures of mother earth through the winter, only harvested as needed. Others are grown by man in order to feed mankind, hence, the harvesting time of the year.

The scenery will change now that the corn in the field to my east has been taken in. A more wide open expanse will be seen. Black Birds, Starlings and Geese will now visit the field to get what man has left behind. The field will take on a more bleak appearance until next spring when the new crop goes in. This year corn so next year will be soybeans.

Starting next month I have decided to take the same shot of this field with the camera set up in the same location as well as the same or near same setup with quality being of first importance. I will do this on the first of the month, and maybe the middle, at 8 AM every time. Driving rain or snow from the east will be the only thing that will stop me. My calendar in the computer is already set to remind me.

Fall

Yesterday morning I awoke to a cloudy, dreary looking day. It was warmer than usual for this time of year, about 10 degrees, so I figured I would get some outdoor work done sometime during the day.

When I open the blinds I have a view of some small trees that have been planted. One, not so small but in relative growth of the species it is small. The one further out is small and really not much taller than myself.

Bottom line, I liked the color combination that I was looking at so I took these shots. And, as it turned out, the weather stayed very warm but not bad for out door work and the sun came out after lunch to brighten things up.

On a cloudy day the Silver Maple in the background will lighten any yard up with its yellow hue.

A Little Color

Just playing around with the ISO, aperture and f-stop led to playing with the color.

A Short Road Trip to a Bakery/Orchard in Ohio

I rode shotgun so I could take some pictures on the way up to a place called Steven's Bakery and Orchard.

From our house it was just about a half hour up or back but we took different routes in these directions.

On the way up we went through a little burg called New Carlise. It hasn't changed in years. Did notice, almost too late, that there was a street rod sitting on the curb. Top was up but should have been down as it was a great convertible day.

After going north for a short distance we turned east on SR55. Saw some really nice country, a little rolling but mostly flat. Got a shot of a farmer plowing off in the distance and then a shot of a barn with a decorative painting on the front. At first I just thought it was another barn sitting in an open field but as we got closer I could see there was something on the front of it. Looks like a large quilt. Wish I knew the significance of it.

The next turn was south at Thackery. I haven't looked but I would assume that Thackery is at best a village. Biggest thing there is a grain silo.

We only had to go about a mile or so to get to our destination and due to the fact that the sign was no more than about 20" x 20", we almost went right by it. The only thing that really saved us was the fact that I looked it up on Map Quest and the overhead shot did it justice. I saw the curve, the railroad track and the fence. We made a commanding left turn onto the gravel drive.

The bakery/orchard is someones house with a small building out back that has the apples in it along a wall. There is a refrigerator where I assume they keep cider (they were sold out for the year) and other more perishable items. A young lady came out of the house wearing a hair net where I would have to figure she was baking pies. I have had one of their pies. We bought it at a place called Apple Country just north of Spring Valley, OH. The pie was called Buckeye Pie. My intent was to share it with a neighbor, especially since I was informed that I would be eating it by myself. I did just that. Ate two pieces the first two days and then a piece after dinner every day after until it was GONE;(...

After getting some apples, had samples first, I took some pictures and then we headed out going south again. The next turn was onto Coffin Rd. How creepy is that name at this time of year. It is tree lined and covered, narrow and it winds back and fourth. With the fall leaves it is really a neat little road.

The next turn was onto North Hampton-Donnelsville Rd. This took us into North Hampton. Small but very quaint. There is a building in what would be the center of town called The Hampton. From the light we were stopped (SR41) at I could see a restaurant on the first floor. This, I told myself, needs more investigation. Could be a good lunch trip.

Next town was Donnelsville, a place I had been to many times but never from this direction. I use to go there to buy my R/C (radio control) parts when I would crash a plane or build one.

From here it was onto Enon, OH and home. Mind you, these pictures in most part are from a moving car. We weren't going fast, about 55 or less, but country roads roll and pitch so I'm impressed with my luck. I will post more later, maybe, when I get to resizing them for the blog.

Enjoy and leave a comment if you like.

 

Where are they going?

Do you ever look up in the sky and see the contrails left by jets?

Do you wonder where they are going or why they going?

Curiosity. I know I wonder where, why and sometimes who may be traveling and causing those marks in the sky.

Maybe they are fulfilling a bucket list or taking a well deserved vacation.

Do you ever think, boy, they are the lucky ones to be going somewhere adventurous?

There is no pattern to it. They are scattered from all over.

Bright Sun and Golden Leaves

What else needs to be said. In two weeks or so none of this will be around, nothing more than a memory and a picture.

Red Tailed Hawk

I could make this more clear by showing the results but I will just say this bird nailed a duck last night and finished it off this morning. Not real sure when the kill happened exactly as I discovered the corpse nearly, if not, after dark. Most of the ducks that have been hanging around the pond out back have been gone for the last couple of days. Maybe they saw this raptor hanging around overhead.

A young duck showed up during the day but no others. You can tell from the feathers that the dead duck is young but that is about it. It is amazing as to how clean these creatures can pick carcass.

It is a quite magnificent bird of prey I must say.

1941 Packard

 While attending the local Concours D`Elagance at
the Carrillon Park I saw this 1941 Packard convertible sedan. It is the model 120.  There are two museums in Dayton that most people don't know about. One is a Porsche museum which I was lucky enough to get to tour last year. The other is about a block away and that is a Packard museum of which I have two tickets that will admit one each. I need to use them. Make note to ones self, call and check out the ours of operation. I believe there is another Packard museum in Indiana. Need to check that out too.