photography/video

Not so long ago in a galaxy next door ….

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Today the weather turned out nice. It started out rainy but then turned sunny. I was able to beat Satan’s Putting Green into submission and we planted some gourd seeds in the hopes of obscuring part of the yard in vines for most of the Summer.

A funny thing happened this past Saturday. My wonderful wyfe has been wanting an all black kitten for ages. I finally found her one. After doing some schedule juggling we arranged to meet up with the nice lady who had such a kitten and she brought us a choice of 2 10 week old all black male kittens. Of course we took both of them. Meet Dipper and Kalamazoo:

Trust me, they are a lot cuter in person.

I have also come to the realization that I really do live out in the sticks. Here is my proof:

So until we meet again, happy snails and Namaste!

Death and other fun topics

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This entry I am going to talk a bit about cemeteries. Cemeteries are our legacy. They chronicle the passage of time and can give a feeling of loneliness and/or insignificance. They could also give a feeling of peace and tranquility. Back around 100 years ago or more, people viewed cemeteries as parks. holding picnics or taking leisurely Sunday strolls down tended paths. They did not fear the dead, they respected the grounds and treated it with an awe filled reverence. Lovers would sit under the trees or lean on the stones dreaming of things to come. Poets would be inspired by the atmosphere of serenity.

There is a true equality in death and it doesn’t matter the size of your stone. Below you will find some pictures I took today in one of the cemeteries in Carlisle PA

Looking SE
Another view
A view west
There is a lot of symbolism on the older stones. I have even found one on which the finger is pointing downwards. That one is in a cemetery in NH
Here is a monument to Molly Pitcher, a Revolutionary War Hero.
The texture of a broken and aged stone can remind us of the fleeting significance of all we do.

Next time you pass a cemetery give it a look. You never know what you might find … even if the only thing to find is peace of mind. 🙂

A Confession!

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I like goldfish (Carassius auratus). Some in the aquarium hobby would see them as common or plebian, but I like them. Don’t get me wrong, I like all kinds of tropical fish such as plecos and corys and neons, but I have always had a soft spot for goldfish. I actually prefer the simplicity of the common types. I rescue feeders from pet stores and give them a chance. Right now my biggest is about 4 inches. He started out black but has since turned gold.

I do like the fancy ones, the orandas, moors, reiku, etc, but i prefer the simple little comets and feeders.

Here is a picture of one of my tanks. The picture quality could be better but it was taken with my fone and fish tend to move around.

There is a simple pleasure I derive from watching them swim around. It is relaxing and has an almost therapeutic virtue to it. More nonsense to come later.

A Mini Vacation

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We went on a mini trip down to West Virginia and Ohio. It is very peaceful driving at 3 in the morning. You seem to be in a tunnel, with the trees arching overhead. The main thing is to watch out for the animals that spring into the road in front of you. After a bit, we got on to the turnpike and then it just becomes sort of tedious. Mile after mile of dodging trucks and drinking bad coffee. Well the coffee was not the worst that I have ever had but it came damn close. I called several times on 146.520 MHz but got no replies. Then we got to our first destination: Chester West Virginia, home of the World’s Larges Teapot!

Big teapot

Our next stop was in New Cumberland West Virginia where there is a house with some interesting yard art:

A bison
Nessie
More critters
The judge
Yard Art

The next stop was at Hill Billy Hotdogs. We were really disappointed with the place. There was a lot of hype but there was nothing special about the dogs. The Hamilton in Carlisle PA makes much better dogs. I am not saying they were not good, they just did not live up to the hype.

Hill Billy Hotdogs

We did visit the Mothman and take a pic with him:

The Mothman

And we happened to find the grave of Bob Evans, founder of the restaurant chain that bears his name.

Grave of Bob Evans

Overall, we had a great time. I was unable to get anyone to answer me on 146.520 MHz but that can happen. Not everybody monitors that frequency. The motel we stayed at reeked of cigarette smoke in the hallways and we found a lizard in the bathroom. I took the poor critter outside and let him go. 🙂

Ruminants and Moggies and Hawks! Oh my!!

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Odocoileus virginianus: Not a very catchy name, I know. I usually refer to them as ruminants on my Instagram page. We don’t mention their common name out loud as it tends to attract them and entice them to run out in front of my car. My wyfe and I enjoy going for recons in the evening and counting the critters we see. For example, tonight we counted 23 ruminants, 27 moggies and 1 hawk. 16 of the ruminants were standing together in a field. Moggies are the only domestic animals that we count. There is no agenda to what we are doing, it is just for fun. We often bring cameras and phones to take pictures. It is amazing what can amuse a person. Back to the common name. Every time we have been driving along and casually used the common name, one jumps out in front of the car. At one time I considered buying some stickers and putting them on the driver side door. At this point, I would qualify as an ace. The proof is in the car repair bills. Other animals we count are owls. turtles, turkeys, groundhogs, squirrels, ducks, gooses and chipmunks. We don’t reveal where we see the ruminants as I believe hunters should do their own recons. I do keep my radio on in case someone calls (ham radio, not broadcast). There are a few repeaters I can reach in the areas we drive. It never hurts to be ready for anything.

Some IR video from a local old cemetery

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Pioneer Cemetery Laurel Run Road Blain PA

My wyfe and I enjoy exploring old cemeteries and taking pictures and video. About 20 minutes from where we live is this one cemetery located out along a gravel road up on the local mountain. The area was known as Pandemonium and the Pioneer cemetery once served the settlement. Back in the day this area had a water mill, a tannery and a lumber industry. A short drive up Laurel Run Road takes you to the area and the cemetery is located up a short driveway off of the main road. It is secluded and peaceful. While we were there, last night, there was some animal out a bit in the woods watching us. I could hear it moving about now and then. Probably a bear or a deer. There are a lot of cabins along the road where people stay when they are hunting or just want some welcome solitude.