Archive for the ‘Images Captured’ Category
Moon Lighting
Yesterday afternoon, we were out walking and I decided to find the skeleton of the buck that was in our woods. I wanted to retrieve the head with antlers before any critters got around to nibbling on the antlers. As I was walking back up the hill toward the house, I spotted the moon rising in the east. I set down the deer head and stepped back to see if I could get my little camera to focus on the moon in the distance. It looked captivating to the naked eye, but I was skeptical that I could capture the view I was seeing.
It turned out okay. Not really remarkable, but sufficient in its representation of what I saw.
By the time we were turning out the lights to go to sleep, the views out our windows were aglow with a luminosity unlike anything I have seen in years. It seemed like I would need sunglasses to go for a walk. Tonight will be the full moon, but the forecast is for clouds and a chance of snow, so I don’t expect to see it as bright as it was last night.
Next month, the full moon falls on a Sunday, so if weather cooperates, that weekend could be an opportunity for a moonlight snowshoe hike.
Sounds like an excuse for a party…
Renewed Wish
Again, from “Previous Somethings,” this time, 2010:
Merry Christmas to you, one and all!
Visible Difference
Good progress was accomplished yesterday, which begins to reveal the opening of space around the barn.
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I took a picture of a couple of our working diagrams, and then I tried to doctor the one on the right to indicate some of the old fence we are removing.
Bear Pose
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Happy twelve/twelve/twelve!
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Our bear could barely bear this first big snow storm of the season. He took on a bit of a “see no evil/hear no evil” look.
Lesson Learned
Round 2 goes to John, and if I felt more bold than I do, I would declare myself the victor. However, I am calling it a draw.
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The tractor put up a good fight, repeatedly clinging to the snow that would hit the bucket or blade. As my confidence increased, and I became more aggressive, the tractor sensed the opportunity to up the intensity a bit and left me stuck, teetering on the edge of the driveway, with the front wheels down in the soft snow. I had gotten away with the maneuver several times before. You just never know when the big rear wheels will suddenly lose their grip.
I found myself on the edge of giving in, and shut the engine down to prevent making a bad situation worse. I walked back up the driveway, considering my options. Who would I call for assistance, neighbor to the north, or neighbor to the south? Then I decided to try one last trick before seeking outside help. I remembered an old ice cream bucket that Cyndie had found when we were packing for our move.
The contents of that bucket have been with me since 1980, when I worked as a security guard at a shingle manufacturer in Minneapolis, while I was attending tech school. The manufacturer gave away the ceramic granules that go on top of the shingles, which can be used to provide great traction. It is amazing that I kept that bucket around all this time.
Between those granules and my years of winter driving experience, I was able to ever-so-slowly rock the tractor up out of that predicament. As I looked behind me when I finally got it moving on solid pavement, I noticed the neighbor to the north starting down the road toward me with a bucket of his own in his hand. I was able to wave him off and get back to putting the finishing touches on my work.
Next time down to the road, I took a moment to rotate the back blade 18o° and then backed up to push the snow into the ditch. Lesson learned.
Got Snow?
It finally fell. Snowflakes are still falling this morning, and Mozyr is engrossed in all the new views out our windows. The increasing accumulation presents many learning opportunities for me. I am learning where the snow collects in the corners where our roof lines meet. I am learning where ice develops as dripping ensues. And, I will soon learn whether I need to put chains on the tractor yet, or not.
In a twist of timing fate, I am alone for these lessons this week, as Cyndie happens to be in Arizona, continuing with her apprenticeship training with horses. On the good side, there will be no one to witness my foibles as I experiment with clearing snow with the back-blade on our tractor. I can tell her it worked perfect, first try. Yeah. Sure.
Relative Something 