Thursday, October 31, 2013

Wednesday, October 30, 2013

More mushrooms pictures...




I apologize for more of these boring mushroom pictures but last few times I've been out for a hike the weather has either been dark, drab and overcast or socked right in solid with fog! Not the best conditions for scenery shots. Nothing left to take pictures of but some of the many and varied mushrooms that appear this time of year.

Foggy Morning


 
A few reflections through the fog.

Tuesday, October 29, 2013

Going Fishing







My intentions were to get several photos of the eagles this past weekend but since they weren't cooperating I had to settle for the gulls in the area catching breakfast.
 
Maybe I'm just a wuss but I would think a splash down like that would hurt.

Monday, October 28, 2013

Champion 20 ton log splitter review.

I finally did it... After much research and reading many reviews for this splitter and many others I bit the bullet and bought myself a Champion brand log splitter on sale at Canada Tire. In Canada they call this a 20 ton splitter but in the US it's a 22 ton. Must be metric vs. standard tones.


It came in a big cardboard box with a plywood bottom about the size of a coffin and weighed just over 400 lbs. I had to use the tractor to lift it out of the back of the truck!


The splitter was well packed and even though the box was a little beat up on the outside everything inside was in perfect condition.


The instructions that came with the unit were well written and easy to follow and I had it all bolted together after about 2 1/2 hours. When assembly was finished I added fuel and oil to the 7 hp 208cc Honda clone engine and a little over one pail of hydraulic oil to fill the oil reservoir. It started first pull! 


For several years I have been stacking the nastiest, gnarly unsplittable wood to one side thinking I would use the chainsaw to cut it into firewood size pieces. Perfect test for the new machine! Long story short it was no contest, the splitter walked through the pile of ugly wood in just a few minutes. I went on to split another cord of wood and finished up in just over an hour without even breaking a sweat!


I'm giving this well built log splitter 5 out of 5 stars! 



Birds of a feather...


...flock together.

Sunday, October 27, 2013

They're back!


Well, at least one of them is. I don't think the mate has arrived yet.
 
This eagle is being very skittish and only showing itself for about 30 seconds every morning. I spent about an hour and a half yesterday hiding in the bushes waiting for the eagle to show itself and I saw nothing. Once I started back to the car though, here comes the eagle taunting me.
 
Luckily I am getting better at moving around with the bazooka lens so it only took me a couple of seconds to set and start taking photos. These were taken with the Nikon D700 and the Nikon 600mm f4 lens with the TC-14 E teleconverter on.
 
Aaron has got me convinced that I need a 2X teleconverter for shooting whales in Hawai'i. After a little research on his part it seems the Nikon D800 will still autofocus with a teleconverter up to f8 which is where the 2X would put me using the 600mm lens. Not to mention I would be shooting at 1200mm!  The other camera bodies Nikon makes, except for the D4, will only autofocus to f5.6 with teleconverters.

Saturday, October 26, 2013

Delightful Dahlias



Found a well cared for patch of Dahlia flowers and took a few pictures...

Got the wintertime blues? Don't waste your time with Vitamin D or bright lights to lift your spirits. Just use one or the other of these for your computer screen saver!

Lurking beneath the surface...


It's the white legged balding glass face fish. More commonly known as the old fat guy.
 
Not a shark in sight!
 
Just a nohu pinao, better known as the lion fish.
 

Friday, October 25, 2013

Piranhas!!!

Panic Time!

A little fish could have been nibbling on this mallards leg to cause this stir. Such a thing causes most humans to act in a similar way while swimming in a pond!

The real story is it was just taking an early morning bath. I liked this pic but was not quite sure what to name it. Thanks Ron. Your last post, Duck, Duck, Shark, gave me the idea for a humorous slant!


"SEENS"
15
fin




Duck, Duck, Shark!

 
Everybody in the water.

or not.


Thursday, October 24, 2013

Puzzle for TexWisGirl


Ok here you go Tex, a puzzle just for you. Now all you have to do is print it and cut out all the little pieces!

Wednesday, October 23, 2013

No rain on the horizon...


I took this picture a few days ago in the late afternoon. Rare to see such calm water on a sunny day!

Rain on the Horizon

Still digging through the old photos.
 
I was taking some underwater shots in Maui this year and happened to stick my head above water to see a rain storm coming in. I didn't see any lightning so I just stayed in the water and took photos. You can barely see the island of Moloka'i through the rain.

Tuesday, October 22, 2013

"seen" Mallards At Mulvey's Pond

Move Along Girls!

Walking from the wooded area along the creek, Mulvey's Pond comes into view. The five acre spring fed lake plays host to a variety of waterfowl; migratory and domestic both. One never knows which he will surprise when first coming upon the scene!


"SEENS"
fourteen




Monday, October 21, 2013

Falling leaves


Everything is so wonderful and interesting and new when you're almost 3 years old! 

This is one of my three Grandchildren taken a few days ago by her Mom with her cell phone. She definitely has a good eye for composition, now if she would only start using a proper camera to take pictures with.

Me? Daydream??

About Hawaii?

 

 
 
Only on days when the sun comes up!

Sunday, October 20, 2013

Ron Daydreams!




I think Ron having a daydreams about Hawaii, not so much about the Hula dancers.  LOL.

"seen" The Virginia Creeper



Leaves of Three, let it Be!
Leaves of Five, let it Thrive!
unknown
childhood ditty


Five Leaves
Often confused with the poison ivy, which often grows alongside, is the Virginia Creeper. Only the most sensitive have a reaction to this plant. The berries are poisonous to humans; but the birds, squirrels, and deer, delight in the bounty!


A Blush of Fall
Unlike the dreadful poison ivy which only has three leaves; it is easily identified by it's five leaves.


A Chameleon 
Saturday, which was yesterday, we woke up to a hard frost. The first this fall. A signal to the sensitive! 


Pick Your Color
Seemingly overnight the colors chose to take on the wardrobe of fall. Pleasing to the eye I think!


Frost Bitten 
Exposed to the elements more than some, the leaves growing on the outermost confines of the woods, changed to a pleasing red hue overnight!


Last Hurrah!
Not giving up easily, the five leaved creeper mustered up it's best example of red. The final celebration of a successful and abundant growing season!



"SEENS"
Thirteen I Think?

Saturday, October 19, 2013

Vancouver




A couple of pictures of Vancouver and West Vancouver City skylines including the Lions Gate Bridge from the Point Atkinson Lighthouse at the entrance to Burrard Inlet, English Bay and Vancouver Harbour.