There’s been a lot of talk in news reports about how the bad economy is going to affect holidays this year. The bit prediction for Halloween is that people are going to return to really traditional decorations — pumpkins and candles — and very few of those. In particular, the pundits say, people will not be spending the money to buy or even maintain those silly yard blow-ups.
Well… sigh… somebody in my neighborhood didn’t get the word.
Silly yard blow-up
Happened to glance out the office window not long before leaving for my class on Monday the 5th… and the opening lyrics of Dan Fogelberg’s “In The Passage” flashed through my mind…
“There’s a ring around the moon tonight,
And a chill in the air…”
October moon
Sunday the 4th was an absolutely gorgeous day in this area — clear, warm, sunny. So I decided to get out and play with the new camera. Went for the first time to a place called the Dismal Swamp in Edison. It’s nice, small, an easy hike. For the longest time, there was very little real activity — a downy woodpecker here, a red-bellied woodpecker there… Finally, I was on the red trail, paralleling that part of Tyler Road, and this amazing bird flew into my view and started playing “king of the hill” on a pole top (the other competitors were a northern flicker and a blue jay). This one won:
American kestrel
I’m sold. The 7D is just too much fun.
The colors are incredibly vibrant:
Sidewalk flowers
Even when it’s drizzling and nasty out…
No parking!
You can crop to an extreme degree and still get a decent shot…
Geranium buds
Even with (sigh) the usual backyard bandit.
Backyard bandit
It’s here it’s here it’s here it’s here… Am I excited about my new Canon 7D camera? Noooooooo not me. Not more than a five-year-old on Christmas Eve, that is.
First off, it’s gorgeous:
The new toy
And it has wonderful clarity in the images, even at very high ISOs:
Grass at ISO6400
Ciara yawning - ISO3200
And under ordinary shooting conditions, it’s just terrific:
1180 Raymond Boulevard
Lights outside the office
Today was the first pick-up day for the fall share at the organic farm (and yes, I know… I know… I’m way overdue for an update). Stopped by the farm, got my goodies, and this shack caught my eye…
The shack
October is about to blow in, and it is blowing in cold. Walked from my car to the office today and it was shirtsleeve warm weather. Came out tonight and wished I had my jacket. Temps dropped like a rock, it’s going to be in the 40s tonight and the heat is on…
The heat's on
Time of day, time of year and weather all combine to control the view out of my office window…
From the office window
Unlike my cousin’s cats, who seem to pose for her beautifully, mine start to run every time they see me coming with camera in hand OR they stick their noses right up against the lens. So I have precious few shots of the little monsters. Tonight, though, I managed to catch Ciara in an unwary moment…
Ciara
Let’s see here… 100 wins so far, best record in MLB, clinched the AL East… and swept Boston. How sweet it is…
Yanks 4, Boston 2