Gray Fox...

We've been experiencing visits from a gray fox (we think - do you agree?) which has discovered that our bird feeding, and thus our squirrel and chipmunk feeding, has led to a productive hunting ground for Urocyon cinereoargenteus.

Meg got a couple shots of this guy (gal?) lapping up sunflower seeds near the stone wall in our front yard (see below). It was only afterwards as he was shooed away that we realized he had already taken one of our little chipmunk friends.

It's tough to sympathize with the fox that kills the helpless chipmunk but of course he is what he is (a carnivore) and his family needs to eat as well. So it goes; no Hanover Co-Op meat counter for this fellow. 

Vermont ferns...

I love these ferns near our house this time of year. They surround and envelope the open areas of the woods. The solemn trees emerge from this sea of green to reach for the sunlight above. When squirrels and chipmunks run through them, they rustle like a scene out of Jurassic Park.

Vermont Sunset...

Last night's sunset was a treat...

Tuesday...

Somedays you wake up and you go to the Taj Mahal. 

Some days are otherwise... 

Gray Tree Frog

In the seven plus years we've lived in our home, we have on three occasions found a small mild mannered toad-like creature on our porch or deck.


The first time was in August 2007. This fellow showed up near the welcome mat on our front porch. Not interested in us in the least and seemingly completely quiescent. We were leaving that day for a vacation in Maine and when we returned he was of course gone.

Two years later in May we found a very similar - though noticeably rounder - creature occupying a spot on our back deck. The patterns were very similar and we asked around to find out what this amazing toad (we thought) was. The answer was that it is probably a Gray Tree Frog.

This year - again two years later - we again found one of these fantastic frogs on our deck, this time resting right up against our back door.

Will we see one of these again this year or will it be another two years before they return? What causes them to come up on our deck? Why do we never see them in the wild?

Memorial Day (continued...)

As I've made my way through this Memorial Day, I'm thinking of another veteran in my family who deserves our thanks. My brother in law Mike is a Vietnam veteran whose experience during those years was anything but positive. However in recent years, he has embarked on a pretty amazing mission: to visit Vietnam memorials in all fifty states.

I was able to join Mike and his friend and fellow veteran Steve as they visited memorials in New Hampshire and Vermont. Everywhere we went, folks were interested to hear Mike's story and to help him find that elusive tiny memorial - or stretch of road - dedicated to a local hero who served in Vietnam.

I spent less than two days with Mike and Steve and quickly learned what an emotional roller coaster this venture is. At the New Hampshire Veterans Cemetary in Boscawen, NH, we learned that someone comes every night to play taps at sundown. Every night. Rain, shine or snow. The night we visited was no different.

Mike got to know this story, he got to know and thank the trumpeter (who was originally from the Upper Valley) and to include this as a chapter in his 50 state quest.

Read the details of all Mike's travels in his blog.

Memorial Day

On this Memorial Day, I thought I'd post a few notes about some of the veterans in my life.

My Mom served in the WASP (Woman Airforce Service Pilots). She packed her bags in Michigan and traveled to Avenger Field in Sweetwater Texas to train with other civilian women to fly military aircraft. She towed targets and ferried planes - tasks that freed male pilots to fight overseas.

In the end around 25,000 woman applied to the WASP program and 1,074 graduated. For years, the WASPs were not even considered veterans. In 1977 Jimmy Carter changed that and last year the WASPs were awarded the Congressional Gold Medal. Here is my Mom being saluted by her military escort for the ceremony after receiving the medal.

My Dad served in the 34th bomber group of the 8th Air Force as a Flight Engineer on B-17s flying out of eastern England. Near the end of the war, the 34th participated in a little known humanitarian mission called Operation Chowhound by the Americans and Operation Manna by the British. Germany occupied Holland and during the latter part of the war deprived civilians access to food. Over 18,000 Dutch died during the winter of 1944 which became known as the Winter of Hunger.

In April and May of 1945, the RAF and the 8th Air Force started running food drops to Holland. Dad recalls flying to Utrecht and dropping rations into a stadium full of people who had somehow managed to spell out "Thanks Yanks". Years later, he met a young KLM Flight Engineer who said he and his family were eating tulip bulbs when the B-17s arrived.

My father in law Leon served in the U.S. Army during World War II in the 406th anti tank infantry regiment of the 102nd Infantry Division known as the Ozarks.

Lee diffused land mines which must have been terrifying work. His photos show what must have been some very tough times - this division worked its way all the way across Germany and was  just 50 miles from Berlin when the war in Europe ended.

My nephew Patrick served in the U.S. Navy on the U.S.S. Cole and was one of the 17 sailors killed on October 12, 2000.

He is sadly forever frozen at 19 to us. He would be 30 years old now and I often think of what he would be doing with his life had it not been cut short so early.


Thanks to all these veterans and all veterans everywhere.

Wonderland...

Grey Morning...

Early morning in Ocean City, NJ.

Monochrome...

I also made a monochrome version of the Wave Swinger which brings out the myriad of detail on the contraption when you're not distracted by all the cool colors.

Wave Swinger...

Playland in Ocean City, New Jersey

It was a blast checking out the rides at Playland, one of the two amusement parks in Ocean City. As the rides twirled, even the relatively sedate ferris wheel created beautiful nighttime patterns.

I don't know what was going on inside the Gravitron, but this thing was really spinning.

The Hurricane was one of the craziest. It is this long row of seats - with impressive looking shoulder harnesses - which is suspended and then twirled from two axels.

Finally the Cyclone is this big claw which swings and twists crazily. Not my cup of tea based on the screams I heard.

Ocean City New Jersey...

We had a quick visit to Ocean City New Jersey over the weekend and were able to visit the boardwalk with our camera and tripod. It was somewhat cool and damp but there were still lots of folks out enjoying the sights, the food and the rides.

The rides close down at 10PM even on a Saturday night and we were too interested in trying to get some fun shots of the neon lights and we didn't get to go up in the ferris wheel.

Spring Clouds...

Peeping...

Snow Crystals...

Crystals from one of the last snowfalls of the season on one of our windows...

White Throated Sparrow

These guys are not too typical around here but for a sparrow they are really quite amazing - and quite tame. You can definitely see where they get their name from but it's the yellow patches above the eyes that are my favorite!

Spring is finally here in Vermont. We were gone for a single day and everything ins different upon our return.

Bluebird...

Gerber Daisy

A gerber daisy taken with a short depth of field and with a dash of styling added. 

Iced Maple...

Yesterday's ice storm was one of the worst I've seen in years. Trees, bushes and even the house are covered in a thick coat of ice. Near the sunset yesterday, the skies cleared and the sun came out.

Snowy Morning Drive...

Winter Panarama...

Snowy this morning in Vermont...

Deer...

Deer visiting our front yard on this very cold morning. This guy was enjoying one of a couple old apples we put out for them.

 

This is one of the younger visitors...

 

Kickin' Back...

Flying Clementine...

Meg snapped this picture of a clementine lodged in the crook of a branch in the woods nearby. We had put this slightly moldy fruit out the day before and apparently an enterprising squirrel managed to carry it out the tree and secure it from his main competition: the deer. Impressive!

By the next day, it was gone relocated to an even more secure location no doubt.

Red Winter Apples...

These little rugosa rose apples brings some color to an otherwise white world during yesterday morning's snowfall.

Roaring...

I caught our cat Deva yawning the other day, proudly showing off her missing tooth. I remain intrigued by the incredibly shallow depth of field attainable with the 50mm f1.4 lens. I tried but missed getting her eyes into sharp focus here but the effect is still kind of interesting. 

I've read at times that you should never leave anything in the foreground out of focus but like most rules, I think that one is demonstrably bogus.

Brrrr...

The December mornings are stark indeed. No real snow on the ground to "warm things up" so the branches and stray leaves are spiked with morning frost.

November Rugosa...

November in Vermont is monochrome. It is a stark follow up to our colorful summer season. One of the last bits of foliage to succumb to our black and white winter season is our rugosa rose leaves which briefly flare up from their summer green.

So long Venice...

In Venice, you take a water bus to the airport. This is where the "bus" dropped us at Marco Polo airport.

Rialto View...

Here is a view from the Rialto Bridge in Venice of commerce and pleasure boating along the Grand Canal.

We're nearing the end of the journey through Italy. Thanks for bearing with me!

The Pescheria near the Rialto Bridge in Venice

 

Venetian Night...

As we walked back through the night from St. Mark's Square to our hotel, we crossed several small canals such as the one below. 

Cruise ships in Venice...

The cruise ship phenomenon in Venice is somewhat unfortunate. There is a tide of people sweeping into the heart of the city in the morning and a flow back to the giant ship in the afternoon.

Venetian Traffic...