D is for Dargonfly

Libellula pulchella

Twelve-spotted Skimmer

In July the ant works, the dragonfly flaunts.

 – Russian proverb

More interpretations at ABC Wednesday.

Blue Ice Fishing Shanty

An ice-fishing shanty is basically an outhouse on a frozen lake, ...

- W. Bruce Cameron

More interpretations at Blue Monday.

More interpretations at Our World Tuesday

More interpretations at Outdoor Wednesday.

Pontiac Super Chief

... here comes a car hop

- Bruce Sprinsteen 

More interpretations at Tuesday Treasures.

Another Ukulele Song

If everyone played the ukulele, the world would be a better place.
- Jake Shimabukuro

Video

More interpretations at Foto Tunes.

Winter Backyard Birds

Accipiter

Mourning Dove

House Sparrow

Dark-eyed Junco

Waiting for the Winter Backyard Birds

No winter lasts forever; ...

- Hal Borland

More interpretations at Camera-Critters.

More interpretations at Saturday’s Critter’s.

More interpretations at Rather Be Birdin’.

Winter Backyard Birds 2

Ice and Shadow

Pussywillow encased

Failure is information encased in a shell of pain.
- Craig D. Lounsbrough

More interpretations at Shadow Shot Sunday 2.

Street Photographer

Taking pictures is like tiptoeing into the kitchen late at night

and stealing Oreo cookies.
— Diane Arbus

More interpretations at Skywatch Friday.

Alstroemeria

The Peruvian lily or Lily of the Incas

We are lilies fair, The flower of virgin light;
- Leigh Hunt

More interpretations at Floral Friday Fotos.

C is for Chalk

Teachers can change lives with just the right mix of chalk and challenges.

- Joyce Meyer

More interpretations at ABC Wednesday.

1930 Model T Ford

Williamson Rd. NY Rt. 21

If I had asked people what they wanted,

they would have said faster horses.

- Henry Ford

More interpretations at Our World Tuesday.

Rusted Bird House

I love vintage shopping in flea markets,
- Chelsea Leyland

More interpretations at Tuesday Treasures.

More interpretations at Ruby Tuesday Too.

Ferry Cross The Mersey

Gerry & The Pacemakers

Video

More interpretations at Foto Tunes.

Icy, Blue Water

Lake Ontario

Fair Haven State Park

Around the icy waters.

- Pink Floyd

More interpretations at Blue Monday.

More interpretations at Our World Tuesday.

More interpretations at Outdoor Wednesday.

More interpretations at Skywatch Friday.

B is for Brunch

Brunch Frittata

Brunch is not a trend, it's a profit center.

- Anthony Bourdain

More interpretations at ABC Wednesday.

Downy Woodpecker

Lunching at the backyard suet cake.

More interpretations at Camera-Critters.

More interpretations at Saturday’s Critter’s.

More interpretations at Marco Monday 2.

Martin Luther King, Jr. Day

Out of the mountain of despair, a stone of hope.

- "I Have A Dream" speech (August 28, 1963)

Video 

Impressive

More interpretations at Foto Tunes.

Lake Drive

Lake Ontario - Fair Haven State Park

Downy Woodpecker
A downy woodpecker was lunching at the backyard suet cake as Michael and I got into the car for a leisurely Sunday drive.

Our first stop was Fair Haven State Park. Getting out of the car we walked down the road towards the pond. The only open water was 100 yards to the east of the bridge.


Several Canada geese, Mute Swans and a variety of ducks were on the fringe of the open water.


One Mute Swan appeared to be taking a snooze.


As we looked up a snowmobiling family approached and pulled up for a rest stop. This friendly bunch chatted with us as they observed the birds and the beauty of the shoreline.




Then with a hoot and a shout the snowmobiling family took off.


Observing the sign Michael and I ventured only as far as the beach.


There we took photos of the pier.






Back in the car we made our way over to Little Sodus Bay. About 300 yards out on the ice a group of ice sled racers were gathered. After J.J. plowed the frozen bay surface, racers gave it their best shot.

Michael and I went into the Little Sodus Inn. By the barmaid's suggestion we had a plate of barbecue chicken wings.

With a satisfied stomach we headed to the Montezuma Audubon Center. No one was at the MAC except a lone White-breasted Nuthatch at the bird feeders and three American Goldfinch clinging to the blue marten house.


Heading for home we went by way of Rt. 89. Near Tschache Pool we observed a Bald Eagle soaring. As we drove further south there were five Great Blue Heron roosting in a tree. We also saw three Red-tailed Hawks before reaching Rts. 5 & 20.


Great Blue Heron


Red-tailed Hawk
We drove to Mud Lock but there were no eagles. Stopping at the Cayuga train trestle we saw several ducks. However they were too far out to identify.

All in all an enjoyable trip.

THE POSITIVE SIDE OF LIFE

Living on Earth is expensive, but it does include a free trip around the sun every year.

How long a minute is depends on what side of the bathroom door you're on.

Birthdays are good for you; the more you have, the longer you live.

Happiness comes through doors you didn't even know you left open.

Ever notice that the people who are late are often much jollier than the people who have to wait for them?

Most of us go to our grave with our music still inside of us.

If Wal-Mart is lowering prices every day, how come nothing is free yet?

You may be only one person in the world, but you may also be the world to one person.

Some mistakes are too much fun to only make once.

Don't cry because it's over; smile because it happened.

We could learn a lot from crayons: some are sharp, some are pretty, some are dull, some have weird names, and all are different colors....but they all exist very nicely in the same box.

A truly happy person is one who can enjoy the scenery on a detour.

Have a great day. 

More interpretations at Outdoor Wednesday.

Wheel Alignment (A is for Alignment)

Get your kicks on Route 66

- Asleep At The Wheel

Video 

More interpretations at Tuesday Treasures.

More interpretations at Our World Tuesday. 

More interpretations at ABC Wednesday.

Nature Photography Workshop

Montezuma Audubon Center

Nature Photography Workshop

Making my way to the Montezuma Audubon Center (MAC) using a counter-clockwise detour brought me to the Savannah Spring Lake Road. There I observed a my first Red-winged Blackbird of the year.

Arrived at the MAC at 10 AM. Workshop leader, Naturalist Dave Spier, was busy preparing his presentation. Assembled in the conference room were 11 participants, 4 women and 7 men (including myself).

Since Dave was having difficulty in aligning his new laptop with the screen projector, he made the decision to take the group outside.

Passing the bird feeders on the way to the wood, Dave mentioned that there were 100+ Red-winged Blackbirds on the ground around the feeders when he arrived this morning.

Once in the woods using his fingers in the snow Dave illustrated the subtle difference between rabbit and squirrel tracks. Rabbits tend to form a Y pattern while squirrel indentations resemble a butterfly. Dave mentioned that rabbits will seek safety under logs and hollow areas made by bushes pushed over by snow.

Doing some trail maintenance Dave tore a twig from a Northern spice bush. Passing the specimen around for the group to smell Dave made the point that rabbits having upper and lower teeth make a clean cut when they forge on branches. Deer however having only lower teeth and a flat upper plate tend to rip branches.

Noting a fallen limb that had been chewed by an animal Dave demonstrated the use of a tripod.

With the overcast sky producing poor lighting Dave decided to take the group back inside. On the way in Dave pointed out this nest which may have been used by a warbler.

n our absence, MAC Director Frank Moses had corrected the computer glitch and Dave's presentation was ready. Dave used his projected photos to make suggestions for capturing nature. Many of the participants had questions for Dave which he answered often using his equipment as props.

Leaving the workshop I purchased a sub sandwich at the Wolcott Big M and brought it to Bradley's home for lunch. On the way out of town stopped at the Wolcott Falls.

Super Full Moon

 

Photographed 10:22 PM

Saturday, March 19, 2011

 

This evening when the moon rises in the eastern sky it will not just be full, the moon will be making its closest approach to Earth in 18 years.

If no clouds (a stargazer's nightmare in Central New York) get in the way, the moon will appear about 10 to 15 percent larger than normal.

The best time to view the moon will be at sunset. According to the Astronomical Society of Palm Beaches, the best way to view this super moon will be by the naked eye, not a telescope. The lunar surface will be too bright to easily discern mountains and craters.

Photographed 10:24 PM

Saturday, March 19, 2011

 At 7:45 PM went outside to view the moon, but it was partially hidden by the neighborly rooftops. But this supper full moon appeared to be bigger and brighter than usual. Whether its perigee of about 221,567 miles away optically increased the moon's size by 14 percent or the moon's brightness by 30 percent could not be determined by my observations. Unaware of this phenomenon in March of 1993 tonight's viewing provided a moment of awe for me.

Photographed 10:26 PM

Saturday, March 19, 2011

Some astronomers believe a super moon causes an increase in natural disasters on our planet such as earthquakes. Though this theory is not likely to occur, it is not being completely ruled out. This impending occurrence is said to have no link to the recent Japan earthquake and tsunami.

 

 

Winky Dink and You

Winky Dink and You was featured in the Ask AP section of the American Profile March 10, 2011 issue. This stimulated my memory bank.

Winky Dink and You was an early childrens' interactive television show. Its interactivity made it innovative for the time. Viewers could purchase Winky Dink kits which contained a magic window that clung to the television screen with static electricity.

Winky Dink and You was an art-themed children’s series that aired Saturday mornings on CBS from 1953 to 1957 with Jack Berry as host.

Winky Dink and You was considered the first interactive TV show via a “magic drawing Screen,” a clear piece of vinyl plastic that adhered to the front of the television. For 50 cents, you could buy a Winky Dink Magic Kit so you could assist Winky Dink and his dig, Woofer, on their adventures. Using special crayons, you could connect dots shown in various scenes and draw lifesaving props for the the wide-eyed cartoon boy.

 

Our first family TV was in the apartment in Melone Village.

At the time Father was working at the headquarters of Sylvania's Picture Tube Operations in Seneca Falls. Believe Father purchased our first TV at work.

Do not remember if we sent away for our Winky Dink kit or if someone gave it to us. Do recall Terry and I following Jack Berry’s instructions and saving Wink Dink and Woofer from disaster every Saturday morning.

Who would have guessed that such a simple concept would be so much fun?

The following is a email comment sent by Terry which includes his remembrance of Winky Dink:
We never had the green screen to put on our tv but Uncle John and Aunt Zoe purchased one for our cousins on Lewis Street. I slightly remember seeing it at their house. We lived on the left center in Melone Village. Paul Hester (Mail Man) lived on the right to us. I don't remember our first tv in Melone Village but remember father bringiing home a new tv in our new home (77 E. Genesee St. 1953) the houes was built in 1853, the tv was a Sylvania Halo-light. Father worked in the GTE division of Sylvania.