Strange Landscape

This landscape fascinates me - the juxtaposition of the mechanical and the natural world. What also makes it interesting is the strange quality of the light - it was taken very late in the day when the natural light is very blue, and this combined with the reddish light from the mercury vapor lamps around the facility. I didn't take too many pictures because the security guard hassled me, and this time he brought two big guys in hard hats. They, of course would not listen to reason, about whether or not I had a right to photograph. Next time, I will call the police - this is getting tedious.

Finishing the Christmas Cards

The Christmas Cards are done! Yea! I think that having them done, and now mailed this early in December, is a new record for me. For years, I thought that if I got them mailed by Christmas Eve, I was home free. But now with us traveling to Los Angeles for Christmas, I have a drop-dead deadline. So I worked hard all this week to make and print the cards. I put stamps on them here, in the morning light, at the dining room table, and then took them to the Post Office. Oh happy day!

Pastels

Riding home after sunset the other day, I was struck by the delicate pastels in this scene. It is hard to avoid photographing a brilliant orange or red sunset, I must admit, but there is a subtlety to the colors in this scene that seem to have more significance for me. I think it is more difficult to find subtlety - the tendency is for more brash and brilliant colors. I have taken that route myself, but as I get older I think I am attracted more to look for the subtle in life.

Mailbox of the Stars

I was walking down the street after some gentle showers, and was stunned to see this! I couldn't believe my eyes! Japanese maple leaves, even smaller than the ones on our tree, were stuck to the mailbox because of the rain. I have always enjoyed how small and delicate the leaves are on my favorite tree at home, but I was blown away by how incredibly tiny these particular leaves are. And to see them arranged like stars on this mailbox was just sublime.

The Fascination of Television

For a short period of time, Finley was allowed to watch a children's show on the television. She sits in her chair, about six feet away from the television, and stares. Every once in a while, she would get out of her chair, and move this close to the screen, absolutely transfixed by the color and the movement. This is how it begins. When we lost power during the storm, we realized we were addicted to watching television. Not broadcast TV all that much, but movies, and some of the really good series. Yes, we are addicted.

Before the Colors Fade

I posted a photograph of this whole tree two weeks ago. About a week later I looked out at the tree in the morning, and the colors had faded a bit, but more importantly there was some fog behind it. The whole scene was much more subtle than my other photograph of the whole tree. So I hope that you won't be completely bored by yet another image of this scene.

What Does The Kitty See?

Sometimes one of the kitties will go to a window, and then stare outside intently. I will creep up behind them and look over the top of their head in the direction they are looking, to see what attracts them so. I have never been able to figure out what they see. And when they are in this mode, they are staring intently, hyper vigilant. It is hard to imagine how animals see the world - my best guess would be that some almost imperceptible movement catches their eye. I will never know. Frustrating for someone as curious as I am, wondering what makes the world work. She is beautiful, though, isn't she?