Owl I Can Say Is W-owl 011316

This was one of my biggest thrills since I ventured into this whole photography world.

Saturday afternoon the RG and Lucy headed to the state park for ride-around. 'Ring a Ling' and he says: "Get your camera. I'm coming back".

I scramble around and hoping I see no one, I'm ready and hop in the truck.

It seems as he entered the off ramp he spied this beauty in a tree and hoping it would stay made the call to me.

It stayed.

(nature whisperer that he is, the RG probably told it to stay put)

I feel doubly blessed to get these captures since

research says they are easily spooked. 

 and a nod perhaps saying "You're welcome"

 

Introduction: The Barred Owl is a medium-sized grey-brown owl with a large, rounded head with no ear-tufts, and streaked with white horizontal barring on the chest and vertical barring on the belly.

 

Description: The facial disc is pale greyish-brown with darker concentric lines. The rim is not very prominent. Eyes are dark brown to blackish-brown. The cere is pale horn, the bill pale yellowish with a slight greenish tint. The sides of the head and neck are barred light and dark. The upperparts are brown to greyish-brown, scalloped with whitish bars on the crown, back and mantle. Wing-coverts are spotted whitish. Flight feathers are barred whitish-buff and brown. The tail is brown or greyish-brown with 4-5 whitish bars.
Underparts are pale greyish-brown to dirty whitish. The upper breast and foreneck are densely barred light and dark. The rest of the underparts are boldly streaked dark to rufous-brown.
Tarsi are feathered, and toes are almost totally feathered, the bare parts being yellowish-grey. Claws are dark horn with blackish tips.
Size: Length 40-63 cm. Wingspan 96-125cm. Tail length 312-380mm. Weight 500-1050g. Females are normally larger and heavier than males.

Habits: A nocturnal bird. Hides in dense foliage during the day, usually high up. May also roost on a branch close to a broad tree-trunk, or in a natural tree hole.

 

Joining Stewart for:

Wild Bird Wednesday

and

Susan for:

Outdoor Wednesday

 

 

 

Tuesday's Treasure 165 yrs old

In preparation for posting to Tom's new link-up, I asked myself 'what is the oldest treasure in your possession' and I believe this is it.

An original Bill of Sale - November 2, 1855

between my great grandmother, Mary Eliza Turner, age 10, and Edward A Braddock

The photo is of Mary as an adult.

 I Edward A Braddock do hereby grant bargain and sell

unto Mary Eliza Turner daughter of Thomas Turner

one white mare in consideration of a yoke of oxen the right

and title to which I do hereby covenant to (warrant generally??)

Given under my hand (seal), the 2 November 1855

E. A. Braddock, Esquire

 

This document came from southwestern Virginia at the time of her death along with other mementoes to western Pennsylvania and was passed from my grandfather, to my aunt, to her daughter

and to me.

 

 

joining Tom for:

Tuesday's Treasures 

January Raindrops

January Raindrops atMuldoon

 

 

Joining Judith for:

Mosaic Monday
and Sue for:
Wordless Wednesday on Tuesday

Barn Along a Winding Country Road 011016

A barn appears below this oak as you approach one of many

 's' curves along this country road.

Around curve no 1

 This farm is rooted in my ancestry although not my direct line.

Approaching curve no 2

and . . . some blue for Sally.
I love cupolas

Around curve no. 2 and

 a little closer look at them with

their lightening rods and weathervane.

 

I was so naive as a kid I used to sneak behind the barn

and do nothing.
- Johnny Carson

Joining Tom for:

The Barn Collective
and Sally for:
Blue Monday


Reflected InSPIRation 01 10 16



 A mist on the lake and clear reflection of Mount Zion Baptist Church on the edge of the moraine.


Joining:
InSPIRED Sunday

An Unexpected Jaunt 010916

The RG and Lucy left for a quick ride around the lake at the state park. Ring a ling---'get your camera I'm coming back'. Will be posting about what he saw in later posts next week. Hint: it has feathers and flys.
I was ready when he pulled in (you wouldn't believe my hair); hopped in the truck and off we went.

While here and there from launch to launch I got some very nice reflection shots.

On a balmy January day the conditions were right for misting above the lake with temps in the 50s and a skim of ice on the water.


 The bar of white in the middle is the mist reflecting the mist.

 A reflection of cattails in their winter garb.

And a little island reflected in the open water surrounded by ice.

Joining Weekend Reflections

STAYING CONNECTED - I HOPE

So . . . is everyone in the process of preparing for the migration to staying connected through Google+ Friends? I'm working at it reluctantly.

If I am interpreting the notice correctly, the BlogSpot format will remain available as is (which I find to be a good thing) with the change involving how we stay connected.

I have had Google+ account for some time but find the format, to be like walking down the cereal aisle at the grocery store where one can only hope to find what they're looking for. ;) I will continue to study the ins and outs to see if I am missing something.

 



Enough whining.

 

Wishing everyone a blessed day and hope to stay connected.

Put-In-Bay Winery and Crystal Cave

 

Owned and operated by Heineman Winery, Crystal Cave helped save the family-run winery from demise during Prohibition.

Tours of the cave helped pay the bills,

while other wineries on the island closed.

Discovered by workers in 1897 while digging a well for the winery 40 feet above, Crystal Cave is the world's largest geode. The walls of this cave are covered in strontium sulfate, a blueish mineral called celestite. These crystals range from 8 to 18 inches long.

The original cave was much smaller than what appears today,

as crystals were harvested and sold for the manufacturing of fireworks.

More info HERE

 

 Someone's interpretation of the formations in the cave.

 

 

 

Joining Lesley for:

signs, signs

Black and White Wednesday 010616

Ringing in the New Year 2016

in Black and White

Happy New Year for anyone stopping by from Wordless Wednesday

 

A favorite majolica jar

 

Still Life from the top

 

 

Joining
Black and White Wednesday

 

Backyard Birds Outdoors 010616

A sunny early morning in January atMuldoon

 

Cold on the outside; Warm on the inside

 

The feeding area has donned it winter coat.

 

And the winter morning sunshine is casting its beauty.

 

We provide and they come.

High

and Low

and so darn cute!

and all puffed up

 

 

  So much fun taking the photos but

hi ho, hi ho it was off to work I go.

 

A frosty view from inside my vehicle.

 Joining Susan for:

Outdoor Wednesday

and Stewart for:

Wild Bird Wednesday

 

 

Another Tenacious Tree 010515

Not only is this tree tenacious

it tends to snag quite a few lures and bobbers

at this popular state park fishing spot.

 

Joining :

Trees and Bushes

New Year 010516

Ringing in the New Year

 

 

 

Joining:

Wordless Wednesday on Tuesday

 



A Favorite Majolica Treasure 010416

Judith has shared some lovely flattop still lifes

which I really liked. So I thought I would give it try.

I was also inspired by some other still lifes

shared by Teresa of Eden Hills recently as well.

 

This is a favorite treasure of mine

It was probably a bridal shower gift in 1947 which my mother always referred to as a 'mayonaise jar'. It wasn't used though and occupied a spot in a knick knack shadow box in our home.

A more refined title might be a covered majolica pottery jar to be used for salad dressing.

 

 It is a piece of 'occupied Japan' pottery

My research found that majolica often has a lead glaze

so it's probably a good thing it wasn't used.

 

Joining Judith for:

Mosaic Monday

Barns: The New and the Old 010316

Another look at this farm

Focusing on the Barns in this shot.

Contrasting the New and the Old

 

Nice contrasts for Black and White too.

 

From a photography standpoint

the fence serves as a horizontal line leading the eye to the barn.

 

 

 Wishing everyone a

filled with Joy!

 

 

Joining Tom for:

The Barn Collective

Not the Norm 010216

A Hairy and Downey Woodpecker

Unusual for two birds to feed at once

especially two varieties.

 

 

Wishing everyone a

filled with Joy!

 

 

 

Joining Eileen for:

Saturday Critters