D is for Diagonals

 Daddy's D

What's not to love about shadows?

photographing the Photographer

Art Alley

11/11/11

Happy Veteran's Day, with Thanks

Lincoln Academy celebrated our Veterans and active duty Service Members with a program, luncheon and gifts of thanks and flowers on Thursday, November 10. We were honored to have speakers from all branches of the armed forces, from World War II up through the current war on terrorism, share their stories with the students and staff. Many of our local businesses helped provide our guests with a wonderful luncheon by donating food and flowers. Awesome Day!

Simply said, Thank you for your service to our Country.

the Speleothem

dogtooth spar

This piece was a present from my geologically minded children, it guards my  heirloom irises

and for your edification...

" The calcite crystals, unlike most of the other mineral decorations, were presumably formed under water; that is, at a time when the cave was filled with solutions. Similar crystals have been "grown" in laboratories, where it was found that by adding certain impurities in varying amounts, the form of the crystal could be changed. In fact over 300 different crystal forms of calcite are known."

Typical occurrence of calcite crystals (mostly Dogtooth Spar). The best specimens are found in vugs or cavities and on the underside of protruding ledges. Typical Calcite Crystal Forms, normally only the upper half of the crystal will be seen. (bottom, center).

information from Jewel Cave NP

inf

was it a faux Pas?

click on photo for detail

If you insist on committing a faux pas (dropping deer turds in front of the lady), she may think you are not what she is looking for in a boyfriend. You may find yourself all alone, wondering where she went.

Hi, Jerry "the Hen"!

By the way, this may not have been a match made in heaven,  he is a muley and she is a whitetail.

Their families might have objected.

rising Apollo

  

 

"The sun, with all those planets revolving around it and dependent on it, can still ripen a bunch of grapes as if it had nothing else in the universe to do."

Galileo Galilei 

he got there First

Which was a good thing, once the turkeys showed up on the deck railing, all the goodies disappeared in record time!

a november Fairy

November 6

The Fairy rose still blooms despite night time temperatures in the 20s. She greeted the return of Mountain Standard Time this morning, like it was still midsummer.

duck Yoga

 

Apparently, when you wake up from an afternoon duck nap, there are certain rituals that need to be completed. Yoga or tai chi are necessary preparation for resuming the day's activities.

wrong Sequence

Dear Ma Nature,

This is to request that you please consult your notes. The correct order of things is that in the Fall, first the LEAVES fall, then you can make the SNOW fall. You seem to be confused, or not paying attention. Details are important. Thank you.

all that is Left...

on the Day After

daddy/daughter Project

Happy Halloween!

waiting for the other Ghosts

We're Ready

it's creeping Up

Soon to welcome the small witches, zombies, football players and princesses...

grocery store Still Life

What's not to love about a big pile of fresh apples in the grocery store? Look at those cheeks!

just a few moments Ago

These droplets were not in the liquid state, they were SNOWFLAKES! It ain't summer any more.

first you see the Chickadee,

In the lovely mosaic compass rose that my talented kids made for me. Then you notice his companions, pretty well camouflaged against the leafy things and the grassy things in the background.

pinecone as Sculpture

Pinus ponderosa cone

in the End

Even teen-agers get a kick out of creating jack-o-lanterns

in the Beginning

The boys get creative....

the Birdfeeder...

Appears to have become a bird feeder. All evidence points to a visit by the neighborhood Sharp-shinned hawk, and the remains of his lunch. I am fairly certain Eurasian collared-dove was on the menu today.

Sharp-shinned hawk by my blogfriend Terry Sohl, photographer extraordinaire

 

 (www.sdakotabirds.com)

 

 

he may need a Scarf

Headed for the upper 20s tonight, his Straw Self may have a touch of frostbite in the morning!

a plethora of Prepositions

An abstract work of art created by the ambient light from headlights and the reflective properties of roadsign and roadstripe on wet pavement in the dark through the windshield.

looking Backwards...

...waiting for the other brother. The terrible twins have lost their infant spots and taken on the gray-brown insulating coats of winter deer. The amount of growing they have done since June is truly amazing.

dragon's Breath

the clouds draw pictures sometimes...

Jose, can you See??

The beautiful original art background you have in your tank? The kids in our Art 2D class accepted my challenge to design backgrounds for Jose and the Guppies in my 2 aquariums. Who needs commercial  backgrounds when skilled artists are willing to create a special environment?

tradition and Technology

I loved the juxtaposition between the beautiful traditional pow wow regalia and modern technology. He and I were both photographing the dancers on the arena floor, we each had an amazing view.

Chicken Dance contestant

candy corn Sunrise

7 am  10/11/11

One of the most quintessential Halloween treats is candy corn. It was invented in the 1800s by George Renninger, and the Goelitz Confectionary Company began manufacturing the sugary kernels in 1898 in Illinois.  Originally, candy corn syrup was hand-poured into molds and required three separate layers to achieve the traditional white, orange and yellow. A serving of candy corn is 19 pieces and will add 140 calories to your  calorie count, if you are counting. So, now you know.

 

she saw, he Saw

She saw...

and he saw....

and I saw them with my camera...

in Anticipation

ready for the Intertribal

rainbow in Motion

Womens' Fancy dancer

Black Hills Pow Wow, our entire student body were guests at a special Youth Day celebration of culture and unity.

It is the 25th annual He Sapa Wacipi, beginning today through Sunday. It is an amazing experience.

Mens' Fancy dancer

chewie Visits

Despite the fact that he is named for another movie character, Capt Jack Sparrow, the Schnauzer kid bears a strong resemblance to Chewbacca at the moment. 

Chewbacca (actor Peter Mayhew) himself wore a costume of mixed yak hair and mohair, and had a voice invented by sound designer, Ben Burt. 

Jack yaps, but the original Chewbacca had a voice created from the sound recordings of walrus, lion, camel, bear, rabbit, tiger and badger vocalizations. There is something you can add to the conversation over morning coffee!

we need this in the form of Rain

Rapid Creek,  44N 103W

With apologies to blogfriends who are inundated with too much rain, we could use some here! Nearly 90 again today and crunchy. Rapid Creek is cold and clear and flowing merrily within its banks, not much help for the lawn.