Monday, January 28, 2013

Remember That Saying...

"It ain't over until the fat lady sings"

This fat lady is singing!












Congratulations, Honey!


 

Wednesday, January 23, 2013

My First GHO

Hubby and I headed out to eat several days ago and since it was later in the afternoon, I didn't take my camera, knowing the light would probably be gone before we finished.  After eating, we decided to take short drive to take a look at our youngest granddaughter's brand new school that had just been completed and set to open.  We stopped by the house to pick up the camera, still knowing the light was fading fast.  

While we were in the parking lot and I was taking some shots of the sunset, hubby said he thought he saw a hawk in the opposite direction.  I turned around, hoping to see the hawk, knowing full well it was too dark for a shot.  I didn't see a hawk.  What I did see was a great horned owl, in the top of a dead tree.  All I was able to capture was a silhouette and I was so disappointed.  I started to delete the photo and decided against it, since I've never seen one in person. 

This is how dark it was outside, as the sun was setting in the west.


This was the silhouette of the owl in the tree, at quite a distance away. 


This is after lightening it up, which did distort the image.  You could tell he was large, even so far away.


If I ever have another opportunity, I hope to get a better shot!  Until then, this one will have to do.

Thursday, January 10, 2013

Gray And Gloomy Mixed With Rain

Normally, I prefer winter to the intolerable heat of our summers.  I moaned and groaned and couldn't wait for winter to bring it on.  However, what we've been getting, isn't what I had in mind.  Mind you, we've had some sunny days, but with it still getting dark early, they just haven't been long enough to suit me and I don't get up at the butt crack to get an early startThis gray, gloomy, rainy weather is seriously unacceptable.  Crisp and clear is more what I was hoping for, both in weather and focus.

Photos have been scarce.  If it couldn't be shot out the door, it didn't get shot.  If there's a choice, I'm not going to choose to get out in the rain.  The photos below were only light rain, nothing like the deluge we had Wednesday.  Thankfully, we didn't get flooded!


Here's two more Monk Parakeet/Quaker Parrot shots I didn't put on the last post.  The sun was out that day and I'm ready to see it again!


Thursday, January 3, 2013

Monk or Quaker

I've heard them and heard about them for a number of years, but hadn't seen them for myself until recently.

On the Friday before Christmas outing to take photos of my Daughter and her family, I finally saw the Monk Parakeet, also known as the Quaker Parrot.  I didn't have time, or the lens to shoot them on that day, so I went back the next day and gave it a try.




They really made a lot of racket when this flew over.  Thankfully, I didn't witness any carnage!