Too much snow.

Not sure how much we got, but some places near here got over a foot of snow in the last 24 hours. It's still snowing here too, so there may be more as the day and night progress. It's a little hard to go out and get some photos today as i'm still not feeling the hottest, and most things are closed anyway, so i'm sticking close to home. Not to mention wind chills around -12F from what they say. Kind of hard to tell in this photo how deep it is, but i liked how this one turned out. Thankfully i filled the feeders before the storm came, and the birds and squirrels seem grateful, as other food might be hard to find in that snow.

Lots of kids

Here is a photo of the candy i handed out last night, not sure if you can tell how much there is, but there was a lot. This is good because a lot of kids came, and this box was almost empty. I handed out a handful per kid, and they seemed to like that. Each year is confusing as to how to plan, one year no one came, the next only teens, and this year it was easily over 50 (closer to 100, but i lost count) and they were all about under nine years old and all dressed up.

Happy Halloween - Boo!

Happy Halloween to those who celebrate it. Since it's halloween, i thought i would post a scary picture i took in my kitchen. Giant spider eating a giant fly is pretty scary, and since i recently watched The Mist, spiders were on my mind. Okay, i admit, these aren't giants, actually very, very small, as you might be able to tell from the window screen they are on. Spiders are scary, but also pretty fascinating when seen up close like this. I wish i could have gotten footage of it stalking the fly, that was amazing. It slowly moved step by step, towards the fly, and then jumped with a string of web attached to the screen. The spider got bigger and bigger as time went on, and after a while it stashed the fly in a corner wrapped in web. I have no clue what type of spider this is, other than a jumping one, and very, very small. The creepiest thing about spiders to me? It's eyes. So many and in odd spots, yikes.

Just some fall color

Just wanted to post some fall color, tomorrow is Halloween, and not sure how many kids are going to be at the door as the flu is in full swing here from what it sounds like, and the rain and snow hasn't made for being outside weather. Also, the colors are a nice distraction from the news of the hate graffiti that that threatened violence that was found at the university library.

Stop, Fall Colors

One of the few types of trees that had color on them, and they were really bright. Not quite captured here as bright as i saw them, and i didn't want to punch it up too much in Photoshop. I have no clue what type of trees these are, but all around town they are the ones with leaves on them. Most just were green one day, then turned and got bare the next. I actually have mostly evergreen trees around my house, and bushes, so while i get some of it, i see some green all year round. That's actually nice when the snow is so white and the sky is so grey, any color is nice as winter draws on. Which i'm not looking forward to.

Corn

This is a corn field on the edge of town to the north east i believe. Not sure if that is going to be harvested or not, maybe delayed by it being so wet, or something, i'm not sure. Eloquent, i know.

Fall colors, sort of

Took this today, north side of town sort of between a highway and an industrial park. Sadly this was the best colors i could get of a group of trees. The weather has been not so great for tree colors lately. It's been snowing, raining, and pretty much that color of grey for a while, with only a couple of days of blue sky. The snow and rain seem to have just taken the colors out and made the leaves fall. There are a couple of trees here and there that have great colors, but as a mass like this, i just haven't seen it.

Bird contemplating something

Here is another bird, yeah, i know i'm posting a lot of birds lately. This one looks almost like he's contemplating something, but probably just watching the other birds like him in the yard.

More young cardinals.

I saw these two out my kitchen window today, and quickly grabbed my camera, so it's not the best photo (i also think my sensor might be needing a cleaning too), but i really like seeing and sharing ones like this. It's raining and cold, but those birds need to eat. The young one is also starting to show more color, and is quite cute if not a bit bossy seeming.

Dirty bird

Here is one of the birds (yes, again, heh) in front of my house rubbing dry dirt on itself. It was raining that day and this area was covered from the rain. There were several dozen of this type of bird, they were fighting over the area and sometimes taking turns doing this. I'm not sure if they were drying themselves or what, but sadly this is the best angle i could get of them doing it without scaring them away.

Snowman

Taking a break from the birds, i thought i'd show one of my neighbors' snowmen. This was taken just the other day, after almost all the other snow that fell had melted, although you can probably tell this guy is slowly melting too. Temps have rarely gotten out of the 30s, with rain and some flurries too.

Thirsty bird

While the cardinals were eating, so were these types of birds, and drinking at a basin i have out that catches rain (and snow). I forget this type of bird, but it's currently the most common i see out at the feeders and on the bushes with little red berries. When they are around, there are more than dozens of them, big flocks of them eating and being skittish. They are common but are hard to get good pictures of as they fly off at almost any motion i make. I'm glad i got this, as i love seeing them drink. After they dip in they lift their heads up at an angle to swallow.

The snow is all gone from what i can tell, but the next two days are predicted to have either snow or rain, or both. Not looking forward to that.

Young and Old

I was looking out my kitchen window and saw several pairs of cardinals (i'm pretty sure that's what these are) feeding younger ones at my feeders. Sadly once i grabbed the camera and took pictures all but these two flew away. The one in back was feeding into the mouth of the younger one in front. Both feeders were covered with cardinals, young and old. Kind of surprised me though as i always thought the young were earlier than now. Hopefully the snow didn't mess anything up for them. I know the cardinals love the food, as i tend to buy "cardinal food" as it seems to have the most variety of seeds in it and it seems to attract the most types of birds too.

another snow picture

Just wanting to show another view of the snow that happened yesterday and how there is still a lot of green out. There were people making snow men out of it, as it was a heavy dense packing snow too. I read that there were around 100 accidents in the morning around the area due to the snow on the roads.

Snow Thanks

Took this a little while after the snow was coming down during the night, long exposure of about 20 seconds or so. They are predicting over three inches of snow before it stops. It snowed saturday, but nothing that stuck, so far this is looking like it might stay, but i hope not. It's way too early for snow, the trees are still green mostly. Though this might change that.

New Bird

Just saw this bird on my feeder, i've never seen it before so i grabbed the camera and tried to get some shots before it flew off, so they aren't the best shots but i'm glad i got it. Most of the birds at the feeders now are like the little brown one on the left, getting ready for winter it seems as it snowed yesterday. Anyway, it's a lovely bird with a red head. I still wish i could get a photo of the woodpecker i see very rarely but hear often.

Edit:
 I looked online, and i am wondering if it's a red bellied woodpecker. Not exact, but as close as i have found.

Gourds and pumpkins

Just some more gourds and pumpkins to get the feeling of the season. I thought this was a colorful display too. Thankfully it wasn't raining when i took this, because it's been raining a lot lately.

More graffiti

I take back any attribution of intelligence to the one who did the graffiti, as you can see here they decided it wasn't enough to do one (the other one is less than a block from these), but two more right here. Just an idiot with a spray can. The day after i took this they had replaced the sign with a clean one, hopefully they catch this jerk and make him pay for that along with clean up.

Pumpkins

Here is a bunch of pumpkins for sale in town, it's getting to be that time of year, and i like seeing pumpkins around even if i don't really care for the taste. I can't explain why i don't like it, just something about the taste. I love the smell of it, pie mostly, but not the taste. I wonder how that works and why.

Overgrown

This is a view out my kitchen window taken with a new pinhole lens cap mod. It's been dark and rainy for the last few days, and i feel this picture showing how much that bush is getting overgrown with the leaves turning the background gives that feeling pretty well. Hopefully it will stop raining soon, i don't feel comfortable taking the camera out when it's that wet, even though i'm pretty sure it would survive. Best not take risks. I know it will be a while before it warms up though, as it's getting more and more fall like.

Dollfie in basement.

This is my dollfie in my basement, looking up at me with concern. I thought i had the swine flu before, but i might have been wrong, as i didn't have chest or breathing issues. I do now, although hopefully it stays minor, knowing my luck it's just the start of more problems. So while it's been feeling like fall with being very chilly and raining a lot, i haven't had the energy or drive to go out much into the damp.

Motorcycle

This is a motorcycle I saw while driving around the neighborhood. I have no clue what kind or brand or what it is, but i thought it was interesting with the ammo boxes on the back. I'm a bit conflicted about motorcycles and the people who ride them lately. One of my best friends growing up was a huge Harley fan, my sister and her husband have and ride them, yet some from a gang out west did some pretty horrific things to my best friend which caused her to commit suicide a few months later. I know there are good people and bad people in all areas and of all types, but it's the bad ones who always make the deepest and longest lasting impressions. That said, they are beautiful machines.

Chalk Compas

I know it's not the most interesting photo, but it's something that is confusing me. One day this chalk four pointed arrow appeared in the middle of my cul-de-sac. It's got one arrow pointing north, for some reason. It's now been washed away from rain, but since we went through a long period of no rain, it was there for a while. Color me confused.

Art and Fire Project 2009

This is one of the many pictures i took from the Art and Fire Project i mentioned in my previous post. I know it wasn't in River Falls, but it was where i spent most of Saturday, and it's sort of close (just under an hour away). I didn't know that there were such things in the area, and was pleasantly surprised at how neat it was. So while it was homecoming here in town, and there was a photography workshop i was thinking about going to down by Racine, i'm glad i went with this even if my clothes did smell like smoke afterwards and my back is killing me. I took over 500 photos, but since this was my first time with photographing fire and near darkness otherwise, a lot weren't that great. Those that did turn out are mostly posted on my Flickr.

Painted guy

While on my way to the Art and Fire Project in Stockholm (more on that tomorrow i think) I saw this guy running across the road. The funny thing is i think i remembered him being naked, but looking at the image larger i see shorts. Maybe it's just the oddness of someone running fully painted around town. The reason he was doing this is probably related to it being homecoming weekend here, i think for the university. This is the best picture i have of him, as i was stopped at a stoplight, and had to grab and fumble for my camera and try to get some in focus shots. It's actually pretty impressive i got one that turned out. This town can sure be odd sometimes.

Camera in Kitchen

I took this a little while ago, it's the camera i almost always take these photos with, taken by an older film (1970's Canon 35mm) camera i got for cheap at an antique store in Stillwater, MN. The white tube is paper towels, and the camera is sitting on photography books. One of the reasons i took this is that the other day, while changing lenses from the awesome macro lens i used to get the spiders to my more standard lens, i dropped the standard one. Not sure what happened, but it was one of those moments you see it happening and you can't move your hands (or fast enough to do anything). It hit the floor, and i was pretty sure it was okay (without taking the lens cap off), until i put it on the camera and heard broken glass moving around. Took the lens cap off, and saw the filter was completely shattered. Thankfully, that's all that seems damaged, i haven't put it through it's paces to see if it's more damaged, but i'm thanking my lucky stars it was only the UV filter that broke. I've heard filters are good at saving lenses from drops, now i believe that more.

Road sign

I was out with my camera this evening and thought i would grab a (rather blurry) shot of this sign in town. I noticed someone added "jobs" above the "Road Closed Ahead", I'm guessing they meant "Jobs Closed Ahead", as "jobs road closed ahead" doesn't make much sense as it's Main Street that is closed. Sorry about the blurriness of it, i haven't been feeling the best and it's made my normally bad vision even worse (i have keratoconus pretty badly in my right eye, with milder in my left. I can't even make out letters anymore with my right but my left has only one "smear" that i see all the time. Autofocus is a blessing for me, manual is more a guessing game and seeing how it looks on the screen afterwards). Back to the sign, i know the economy here in town isn't too great, as several companies closed and more had large layoffs, but we are pretty close to the Twin Cities where a lot of people from here seem to work. I also want to say i hate that style of graffiti, not that much is "good", but it's so less interesting than mural types and seems to just be something to deface things.

Odd Spider

I have several larger webs like this outside the window in my kitchen area that have been built in the larger bush. The Spiders build their nests like this so i can see right in them. I've never seen one like this before though, white and clear. I also tried a new method of photographing them as normally i use a ring flash, but it changes how they look, and with the glass it reflects too much. Thankfully the spider stayed still long enough, although focusing with that lens is hard. There are other spiders building funnel type webs around this one, and i thought they were wolf spiders or brown recluse, but now i'm not sure. I'm going to try to get good pictures of those too just to be sure. Either way, these aren't the smaller harmless ones i get indoors, these are bigger, although look much larger here. The jumping spiders i normally get photos of are tiny, as you can tell when they are near the flies and screens. These guys are about thumbnail size or so. Still, pretty how it's translucent.

I have no idea.

This is how i feel. It's a christmas elf from my parents house that i brought here and took a photo of. I actually used an older film camera i got at an antique store for cheap and scanned the image. That slumped over look is how i feel. I've been sick for a good while, at first just odd things, now with what i'm pretty sure is the flu. Seems swine flu is making it's way through the area, with at least one confirmed case, and i'm pretty sure i've got it. I start to think i feel better, then make the mistake of moving around a lot or going out, then it's when my body tells me i made a mistake. Good times. Thankfully what i've been going through is more mild than i hear from friends, i've just had stomach issues, fever, chills, and trouble sleeping (why i'm posting this at around four am, couldn't sleep). Thankfully no breathing issues, which is where people seem to have more troubles and where it can get worse.

So anyway, here's a slumped over elf.

Waiting room

This is the waiting area in the local clinic, a view i have had too often lately really. Took this with my iphone, so the quality isn't as good as it could be, and neither is the angle really. I was the only one there this time, usually there are parents with kids and older people. Sometimes athletes getting physicals.

Too soon

Seems too soon for the leaves to be changing and falling, more so with temps in the 80s, but this year has been full of things i didn't expect. Just a tree in my yard that seems to turn earlier than the others.

Hang in there

This is just a squirrel hanging strangely on the feeder, leg dangling down. Seemed to be having a good time. I'm kind of feeling the need to hang in there too, with a lot going on in addition to getting almost six inches of rain in 24 hours. I know we had more snow, but i don't think we ever had that much rain, it just kept coming down and soaking. Many basements filled with water (mine included, which only ever happened before when i pipe broke). Hopefully it won't rain soon and make it worse.

The other of the pair

This is the mate of the previous bird. Smaller and less colorful, but i'm not sure if it's male or female. Some species it's the males who are more colorful, and others it's the female. I keep trying to get pictures of the cardinals, who i know i have at least two couples of as i have seen four at a time on the deck. I also keep not getting very good pictures of the ravens or crows that have been hanging out back there, even though there are dozens, they seem to stick to the trees.

Bird plus thistle equals happy bird

I was doing dishes and looked out the window to see this bright yellow bird on the huge thistle plant near the deck. I am so bad at identifying birds, so i have no clue what kind it is, but i like it. I tend to let a couple thistles grow amoung the flowers and other plants in the yard, partly because i'm allergic to most plants and break out in hives if i touch them and partly for this reason. The wild birds seem to enjoy them. The purple flowers are pretty to look at too. I was about to put my camera away, when i noticed the other part of this bird couple. Not sure which is male and which is female, but i'll be posting the less colorful of the two next.

Wild bunny on deck

I was in the kitchen and i saw some movement out on the deck, i had my camera handy and tried to get some pictures of him or her. I didn't scare him, but he wasn't too pleased to see me so he went down the steps. I didn't get it in any of the photos, but he has a little white diamond on his forehead. Pretty cute.

It's been unseasonably cold the last few days, with temps in the 50s or 60s during the day and getting into the 40s at night. I saw on the news that we haven't had average weather most of spring and summer, its either much warmer or much cooler, doesn't linger in the middle. I kind of like it like this, cooler over warmer though. Especially when i'm feeling sick, it's nicer to crawl under blankets than sweat and be too hot.

Getting ready for the parade

For some reason people around here stake claims on spots for the parade that is happening today for River Falls Days. Growing up i don't remember this, but i didn't grow up around here, so maybe it's a local thing. People lay out blankets mostly, with some people putting up caution tape. This is outside of the post office, but this sight stretches all the way of the parade route and people start putting them out around a week before hand. Last night had storms, so i'm wondering how many were blown away or soaked with rain. I'm not a fan of this, it's ugly and lazy. Not to mention people bringing lawn chairs and other furniture when the parade actually starts. It's one thing if you can't stand for long periods, but it's almost solid chairs once the parade starts.

Quonset Hut, sort of

This is one of my favorite houses in town, although a bit small for my tastes, as the bunnies like having more room to run(yeah, that's the reason). It's a quonset hut that someone has modified quite a bit. I'm fascinated by it, and more than a bit curious what it's like inside. The funny thing is it's right next door to one that doesn't seem to have been modified at all. I don't know why, but River Falls seems to have quite a bit of modified houses like this for it's size. Someday i'll get a picture of the farm with a barn and silo that seem to have been altered a lot, i love those.

Two young wild rabbits

Here are two very young wild bunnies in my front yard yesterday. Kind of hard to spot right away, but just adorable at how small they are. They were eating the dandelion leaves, a lot of them actually, natural lawn care.

Baby yard bunny

This is one of the two baby wild rabbits i saw in my yard the other day. It's good to see them out and about, but i worry about them, with traffic and predators. Not sure if you can tell how small this one was, only a bit bigger than my hand, with the other one i was unable to get a picture of smaller than my hand. They were eating dandelion leaves when i went out to check my mail.

Flamingo in the grass

This is one of my flamingos hiding the wet plants in my yard. Not the most stealthy, but doing what it can to stay dry and warm, but not really succeeding too well.

Wet Iris

Sensing a theme the last few days? ;) Yes, it's been raining a lot. So here is an iris in my yard that isn't looking too happy, along with a lot of people in the area the last few days. It actually feels like fall lately, which is a weird sensation for june.

Another wet bird

This is a younger bird that was wet and cold on my deck. The baby birds are getting more loud and hungry, i see baby grackles hopping around with mouths open and squawking for food, cute but loud. 

Wet, cold dove

This morning dove is wet and cold because it's been very cold here the last few days, and raining too. The rain we needed, as we were (not sure if we still are) under a drought, but the cold i could do without. it's been in the 50s (54F 12C right now) the last couple days, and that's much colder than it normally is, or even has been lately. There were reports of snow in Montana, but there are mountains there. Hopefully it doesn't snow here this summer. 

Scary day care sign

This is a sign for a day care that closed a while ago. I'm not sure who designed that clown logo, but it freaks me out. I'm not sure if they could have made a creepier clown if they tried. 

Old car

I saw this car on the way to the memorial day event. I love old cars, partly because my parents have a Model A Ford that my uncle restored and left to them after he passed. Summer seems to bring out a lot of the classic and antique cars. Pretty sure this is about as old as you can find around here though. 

Cows relaxing

A change of pace from the Memorial Day photos, some cows relaxing in a field on the edge of town. Not sure why took the picture, i think it's because they look so relaxed, or tied. 

Memorial Day, part 4

Another part of the parade. These girls were having a hard time with the flags blowing, as you might be able to tell from their expressions. The girl on the right was hit by the flag in front of her, or it came close at least. 

memorial Day, part 3

It was pretty windy on memorial day, as you might be able to tell from this picture of a scout and his leader trying to untangle a flag they were carrying. 

Memorial Day, part 2

Another photo from the event Memorial day yesterday. Not sure what they were talking about but i thought it made a good photo. 

Memorial Day 2009

Today is Memorial Day, an i got out a bit to the breaking in of the new memorial monument at the cemetery in the north part of town. I wanted to get at least one of the photos up today at least though.