ABC Wednesday - X is for Xylology

X is for Xylology............







This is my 5th time of trying to come up with an idea for the letter X.

It was not an easy task - I had to take to the internet as my dictionary isn't as advanced in X words as it should be.

So I stumbled across the word, xylology, which means the study of the structure of wood.

And I thought, if I really stretch it, I have a photo for that!

I found this old tree stump in a field on an outing last spring, and I couldn't resist snapping a photo - it looked just like a face.

A gnarled face with a very lopsided grin, but it had all the characteristics in the right places for a face.

So I figure that studying the structure of this face in the wood must constitute as xylology.

Do you think we can stretch it that far?






This is the fifth round of ABC Wednesday. If you would like to join in please visit this site for the details.

White Birch Bark in the Snow - My World

White Birch Bark in the Snow







The wind picked up after a recent snow/ice storm, and it was blowing pine needles and pine cones all over the place.

This piece of white birch bark must have become loose on the tree and the wind whipped it off.

The White Birch is our State Tree.

As beautiful as they are, they are a rather weak tree and are the first to succumb to the weight of the snow and ice in the winter.

If they are young enough to regain their strength, they will straighten back up in the spring.

The older ones usually die though and it is not uncommon to see them scattered on the forest floor.

Garden Snake

Garden Snake







Last week I posted about a wood pile in our backyard.

I tend to give it a wide berth as a snake has surprised me a few times I have walked by it.

This is the resident of that woodpile.

The boys caught it sunning one afternoon and called me out so I could grab a photo.

I would have loved to get closer, but my fear of him coming after me would only allow me so much - and this was it.

If we catch him sunning this summer, I will use my new lens to keep a great distance, but capture him nice and close.

I am looking forward to this one!

Happy Holidays Around the World

Happy Holidays!







Happy Holidays!

Vacances heureuses !

Glückliche Feiertage!

Ευχαρίστως διακοπές!

Vacanze felici!

Glad Fridager !

Happy Święta!

¡Vacaciones felices!

Maligayang Pasko

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all my friends around the world!

Be safe in your travels and enjoy all the special gifts this season has to offer!

ABC Wednesday - W is for Winter Wood Pile

W is for Winter Wood Pile............







Won't be long until this whole pile is covered under a blanket of snow.

We don't have a woodstove or fire place to burn these logs - they were just neatly cut and stacked after the tree fell down in the back yard.

A few of the logs have come in handy for a bonfire, but other than that, they are resting against the stone wall and becoming home to at least one snake that I have seen on them.

Right there, that's enough to keep me from touching them.






This is the fifth round of ABC Wednesday. If you would like to join in please visit this site for the details.

Snow on the Pond - My World

Snow on the Pond - My World







I don't remember ever having such a cold snap in December.

The cold winds and single digit temperatures are usually reserved for January and February.

But not this year.

The snow is frozen solid - a big ice pack already.

And today is the first full day of winter - wonder what the rest of the season will bring,

I am just glad that each day is getting longer - only a minute at a time, but longer nonetheless!

Baby Has Arrived

Baby Has Arrived







We have a precious new addition to our family.

My daughter gave birth to our grandson yesterday, at 3:13 in the morning.

He weighed in at 7 pounds and 12 ounces and measured 20 1/2 inches long.

I couldn't be more proud of my beautiful daughter.

She has that special glow that only new mothers have and both parents have already developed such a strong bond to this new little life.

And we can't get enough of him either - he will never be short on love.

Newborns are indeed a miracle!

ABC Wednesday - V is for Visiting

V is for Visiting............







They were clear across the park, but I could see that these two friends were having a great visit with each other.

They must have stood there for over an hour and half, enjoying the view and each others company.

They were quite animated and the sound of laughter would drift over on the wind every now and then.

Certainly a great spot to spend some time with a friend.





This is the fifth round of ABC Wednesday. If you would like to join in please visit this site for the details.

Fishing in the Harbor

Fishing in the Harbor







The photo I posted yesterday is a view from under the structure that is out on the end of this breaker wall.

As I said, I don't get out there too often - the walk is intimidating at times.

But my boys love to go out to the end and do some fishing.

I sat on the shore, and just waited for my son to take another cast with his rod.

See the darkness that goes halfway up the rocks - that's the high tide mark.

So quite a bit of this wall is under the water - and it rushes in between those rocks all the time with a vengeance.

We have been there on days when the wind and surf is so wild that it is flying over the top of that wall like it wasn't even there.

That's what I think of when I am walking out too far on those rocks, and the wimp in me wins out.

And I sit down on whatever rock I am on.

And when I get brave again, I hightail it off them in a hurry.

Someday I will get out to the end again - I have a new lens I would love to experiment with out there.

ABC Wednesday - U is for Under

U is for Under............







This structure stands on the end of a wall built of huge boulders that form a protective barrier for the harbor against the open sea.

The rocks out to this marker in the harbor are very uneven with large spaces between them.

You hear the water crashing under and against them as you walk on them to get to the end.

Of all the times I have been to this wall, I have only walked out the the end a couple of times.

I have to really talk myself into getting out there - heights and jumping across wide open spaces are not my forte.

This marker stands on the very end - behind me is the edge and the rolling ocean crashing on the rocks.





This is the fifth round of ABC Wednesday. If you would like to join in please visit this site for the details.

Photo Tip Friday Will Return After the Holidays

Photo Tip Friday - Returning After the New Year







As the holidays draw nearer, my plate is becoming overfilled with many projects, obligations, and family.

I will have to postpone new Photo Tip Friday posts until after the New Year.

Until then, my friends, grab a piece of this delicious chocolate fudge and enjoy it's rich, smooth flavor.

Many batches will be made in the coming weeks so there is enough to go around.

ABC Wednesday - T is for Tees

T is for Tees............







Golf tees, that is.

These are the best kind - made of completely biodegradable wood that goes back to the earth when the golfers forget to pick them up.

We have also used them for crafts, and the most ingenuous use was one time while we were camping.

With no running water, we kept a plastic jug filled with water and it had a hole towards the bottom.

The plug for the hole - you guessed it - a golf tee.

It worked as running water for washing hands, and the kids got a kick out of using it.

They didn't mind filling the water jug on that trip!





This is the fifth round of ABC Wednesday. If you would like to join in please visit this site for the details.

Feathery Grasses - My World

Feathery Grasses - My World







The tall feathery grasses along the ocean have lost all their color as they ready themselves for the upcoming winter.

The wind was really whipping, and when spring approaches, those feathery tops will be few and far between.

Between the wind and the heavy snows, many of the stalks will break off.

If this photo had sound, you would hear the rustle and shake of the dried stalks - it is actually pretty loud.

Hole in the Sand

Hole in the Sand







I don't know what made it, but this is quite the borrowed out hole.

We discovered it shortly after the tide had gone out, and it had not yet been disturbed.

An abstract image that kind of looks like the capital letter "G".

Happy Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving







The preparations for tomorrow are all set.

The ham will go in the oven in the morning.

The family is set to arrive about noon.

And what a great afternoon we will have together.

Hope you all are enjoying this day with those who are special to you too!

ABC Wednesday - S is for Steeple

S is for Steeple............







Creating quite a contrast against the dark sky, this white church steeple stretches upward.

The sun was at such an angle that day that the polarizer turned the color of the sky to a deep dark blue.

It doesn't happen very often - all the conditions need to be just so - but what a surprise it was to see it.

An unexpected effect for sure!





This is the fifth round of ABC Wednesday. If you would like to join in please visit this site for the details.

Atop Mount Washington - My World

Atop Mount Washington - My World







This image was taken several years ago - with a manual SLR camera and a roll of slide film.

We climbed Mount Washington, the highest summit in the northeast on a hot summer day on a motorcycle.

It was very windy and quite cold at the summit.

We left the tree line about half way up the mountain - all that was left on the barren top was lichen on the rocks - and how hardy that life form was!

It is said that on a crystal clear day, one can see the Atlantic Ocean which is over 80 miles away - as the bird flies.

It was an experience I will not forget - standing on top of my world for an afternoon.

Photo Tip Friday - Setting the White Balance

Photo Tip Friday - Setting the White Balance







In the days of old, we never had to worry about setting the white balance on our cameras.

But we did have to purchase the correct film for the lighting conditions that we would be shooting in.

Many of the point and shoot cameras today have an "auto" setting for the white balance, and the camera determines what it is before it takes the shot.

It somewhat works - most of the time.

But we have all seen those "yellow-hued" photos that we get sometimes when shooting indoors under artificial lighting.

The camera didn't choose too well that time.

These settings can all be set manually depending on where you are, and what the lighting conditions are.

My DSLR has outdoor settings that include bright sun, overcast, and shade. And I must remember each time I am outside to adjust for the correct setting.

There are also settings for indoor use and the different artificial lighting conditions.

The camera also allows one to make a custom white balance setting for any of these conditions.

The camera is aimed at a gray card and it determines the correct "balance" for the light.

It is more accurate, but I have found there to be little difference between that method and the preset ones in the camera.

Of course, I usually only shoot outdoors. If I did a lot of studio work, this method would be the one to use.

So if you find that you are sometimes getting some funky colored photos, or the colors don't look just right in the view screen compared to the actual scene, try adjusting your white balance.

It will make all the difference.

ABC Wednesday - R is for Rippled Sand

R is for Rippled Sand............







The tide was on it's way out and it left a unique rippled pattern behind in the sand.

The day was chilly - no little feet running around in the wet sand yet so I was able to grab this neat pattern before it was gone.

Totally sculpted by Mother Nature herself, no human could do a finer job.

The ocean's footprint in the sand.





This is the fifth round of ABC Wednesday. If you would like to join in please visit this site for the details.

An Overdue Thank You

An Overdue Thank You







I owe a big thank you from the bottom of my heart to Dorothy L, over at Womens Self Esteem blog.

She has honored me by featuring my blog and website in her monthly newsletter.

This month she shared with us her thoughts as she prepared for her journey to return to her family in Canada.

She left us with some great quotes and beautiful videos as well - including one of my favorites - the Celtic Woman.

I wish her and her daughter a safe journey in returning to our northern climate and hope the settling in goes smoothly.

We all look forward to your encouraging words and thought provoking posts.

Take care, my friend!

Photo Tip Friday - Overcast Days

Photo Tip Friday - Overcast Days







Picture perfect days with blue skies and fluffy white clouds don't always work into our schedules when it comes to taking photos on a trip.

When having to work with what we have - it isn't always bad to have an overcast day.

A slight cloud cover at sunrise or sunset can make for some pretty dramatic colors.

Even though a cloud cover can make for less light, what is available is a more even light - no harsh shadows and contrasts to avoid or work around.

Landscapes can get a bit boring when the sky is all white - it gives a flat, washed-out look to the image, so try to include less of the sky in a landscape on a completely overcast day.

Even though it was overcast in the above landscape image, I still used my polarizer - and it was able to pick up a bit of definition in the clouds.

So not all is lost on an overcast day. By looking at things a bit differently, it can work out after all!

ABC Wednesday - Q is for Quiet

Q is for Quiet............







Nary a sound as this sailboat glided through the water.

An occasional puff of wind would flap the sail - but still much quieter than the boat engines that took us out to our fishing spot.

It was a pleasure to watch this boat float by - all powered by the wind.

No pollution, free power, and blessed quiet!





This is the fifth round of ABC Wednesday. If you would like to join in please visit this site for the details.

Symmetrical Reflection - My World

Symmetrical Reflection - My World







Ultra smooth water without a ripple of wind.

Late afternoon sun that gives just the right atmosphere.

Clouds and trees reflected perfectly in the water.

Mother Nature at her finest makes for a great photo!

And I was lucky enough to be in the right place at the right time.