Thursday, July 28, 2011

Sky Watch - Up, Up and away


Last October, the Collins Foundation visited Frederick with three of its World War II vintage planes: B-24 Liberator, B-17 Flying Fortress and P-51 Mustang. This year they toured the west coast, then headed east and are now in Indiana. For a few bucks you can look through the planes. For a few hundred bucks you an go for a short flight. I posted some shots of these planes at the airport and took some more as the B-17 and P-51 departed. As the planes departed, they turned west and circled back over the airport heading east to their next destination. Recently I pulled up a P-51 shot, cropped it, and made it my header. I imagine that there are a lot of Brits who saw the last image in 1943 - 1945.

The previous posts are War Birds, Sky Watch - In to the sky, and Window Views - World War II windows. (Some of the images on this post also appeared in the older posts.)






Wednesday, July 27, 2011

Sepia scenes - Old barn

Near Waynesboro, PA

Monday, July 25, 2011

My World - Three days of the hawk

Last Thursday, Friday and Saturday a pair of young Coopers Hawks visited us. I have occasionally spotted a Coopers Hawk high up in a tree or soaring overhead. Thursday I spotted one on the fence post and then discovered another on the ground. Friday they both went for a drink in the birdbath.



Saturday, Marianne spotted the hawk on the ground as a squirrel came down the tree looking for dinner. I went for my camera and got a few shots as the hawk tried to corner the squirrel. Attacking from the air, the hawk has the advantage. On the ground the squirrel easily out maneuvered the hawk. The hawk flew back up to a tree limb and the squirrel calmly ate his acorns, slowly working his way across the yard.


Hawk flew to the birdbath and squirrel wandered over to the lilac bushes. Hawk followed, but from his perch on the fence could not see the squirrel (and neither could I).

The hawk eventually flew high up into a nearby tree. Said squirrel left the liliacs and climbed the same tree where the hawk was perched. For a little more of the hawk/squirrel saga visit my Odd Shots - Living dangerously post. I did not see either of them on Sunday and during the three days, the usual small birds did not visit our birdbaths.

Saturday, July 23, 2011

Thursday, July 21, 2011

Sky Watch - Blue and gray

 On July 16 blue skies and bright white clouds . . .



on July 19 gray skies (but only a few drops of rain). 

Wednesday, July 20, 2011

Sepia scenes - From the past

A 1942 picture of me taken by my Dad (scanned from print, sepia added via PhotoShop).

Monday, July 18, 2011

My World - Day lilies

Our day lilies have been blooming enmass for about three weeks. This hot weather seems to agree with them.



Saturday, July 16, 2011

PhotoHunt - Looking backward

as the clouds roll in over the mountain.

Thursday, July 14, 2011

Sky Watch - Light clouds

Cloud layers

Clouds at sunset

Moon and cloud

Wednesday, July 13, 2011

Sepia Scenes - Awnings

Much of downtown Frederick dates to the days when sepia prints were the norm. For the color version of this building see my windows post.

Window Views - Red awnings

Thanks to MaryT for hosting Window Views. I like to photograph architectural features and enjoyed seeing other windows and doors on her meme. I will still include windows on other memes and on my other two blogs. Thanks again Mary.

Monday, July 11, 2011

My World - Next crop

On July 1 the wheat in the field behind our house was harvested and the straw left in neat rows. Then the wind blew and the rain fell (about 2 inches). Yesterday, the tractors returned to the field, raking, baling and planting the next crop. This harvest was later than usual. Other farms in our area have tall corn that was planted after their wheat harvest in May. Most of the time there are 3 plantings in the Frederick area: grain in the fall, corn in the spring, and then more corn or soybeans.




Saturday, July 9, 2011

PhotoHunt - Near the clouds

On friday the clouds were near Catoctin Mountain and later almost two inches of rain fell.

Thursday, July 7, 2011

Sky Watch - Recent skies

 Soaring

Reaching for the sky

Tall grass and clouds

Wednesday, July 6, 2011

Window Views - Downtown Frederick

More windows in downtown Frederick. First, a bicycle in a consignment shop window; second, Ecclectibles window full of monkeys; and last, Sumittra, a new restaurant. (Ecclectibles' windows have appeared here in the past.)


Tuesday, July 5, 2011

My World - Ready for the Fourth

For the First Saturday inJuly Frederick was decorated for the Fourth of July celebration on Monday with banners and flags. Music was performed and these girls were entertaining with their hulahoops.



Sunday, July 3, 2011

PhotoHunt encore - Busy sign

This one is for Jamie!

Saturday, July 2, 2011

PhotoHunt - Busy

While I was busy cutting down our now dead dogwood, This fellow was busy harvesting wheat in the field behind our house. (Both of us will be busy tomorrow finishing the job.)