Turbulent

These dramatic clouds over Paper Goods Pond are the remnants of super-storm Sandy.

Camera: iPhone 5, Hueless app. Processing: PhotoGene2

Warnings

The first gusts of wind from the incipient storm are buffeting the few remaining leaves on the magnolia.  It's a subtle warning of what's to come from Hurricane Sandy.  I am grateful for all the other warnings we have regarding what's in store.  Just one or two generations ago, this would be looking like just a dirty day in late autumn.  Now at least we can prepare to some extent. 

Camera: Canon EOS T3, Lensbaby Muse    Processing: PSE

Inviting

What could be more inviting to a little boy that a great big pile of crunchy autumn leaves?

Camera: Kodak Z915  Processing: PSE

Frankenstorm

We are in the path of the Frankenstorm--hurricane coming up the coast that's expected to combine with a western storm to produce something just wicked nasty.  We've had hurricanes and we've had nor'easters: this is supposed to be both.  I'd be delighted if it's all hype, but it isn't sounding that way.  We are as well prepared as we can be, so I expect we'll ride it out okay.  But last year, we were out of power two days after Hurricane Irene and a whole week after the freak Halloween nor'easter, and we're being warned this could be worse.  So I may appear to disappear from the blog and from reading and responding to your blogs--I promise it isn't disinterest.  As Arnold said, "I'll be back." 

Sleep

We have several huge sugar maples on out property, so we're a few inches deep in leaves come late fall.  The granddudes were over today.  Aidan--aged 7-- suggested building a pile of leaves for them to jump into.  We made one taller than he is, and the two boys spent the next hour or more blissfully leaping into it.  It was joy to my soul to see these two kids who have been raised on video games and DVDs utterly delighting in a New England tradition that goes back hundreds of years.  When their mom told them it was time to leave, suggesting that they needed to go home to rest, Craig (he's 4) demonstrated that he didn't need to go home to rest, since he was sleeping comfortably in the leaves! 

Camera: iPhone 5  Processing: PSE

Imperfection

This pear, for sale at a local farm, has its imperfections--but I have no doubt that it is sweet.

Camera: Canon EOS T3, Lensbaby Muse   Processing: PSE

School

A school of clown fish were displayed at the Home Show in Hartford last weekend.  I loved seeing all the little kids coming up and saying in wonder, "NEMO!"

Camera: iPhone 5  Processing : PSE

Status

I may be incurring the Wrath of the Theme Police here...but a map tells a person his or her status in relationship to a given point on earth.  This one was rolled up in a cubbyhole at the library.

Camera: Canon EOS T3, Lensbaby Muse, single glass optic  Processing: PSE

Burn

In October here in Connecticut, the hills are lit with the fire of the brilliant colors of sugar maples in autumn.

Camera: Kodak915  Processing: basic adjustments in PSE

Friend

When a little boy walks hand in hand with his grandfather, the rest of the world melts away. This is John & Craig at a beach in Fairfield.

Camera: iPhone 5. Processing: PhotoGene2, PhotoToaster

The Country

There are still rural areas in Connecticut.  These are the barns at the farm where we pick our pumpkins every October.

Camera: Canon EOS T3, Lensbaby Muse, single glass optic   Processing: PSE

Conspicuous

The trees are changing colors at Paper Goods Pond, but one stands out with its brilliant red.

Camera: Canon EOS T3, LensBaby Muse, single glass optic Processing: PSE

Junk

A Smirnoff bottle lying tucked into the weeds at Paper Goods Pond...not my usual PGP photo!

Camera: Canon EOS T3, Lensbaby Muse, single glass optic  Processing: PSE

Sport

Falconry was once considered to be the "sport of kings."

 Camera: Canon EOS T3, Tamron 18-170 lens  Processing: PSE

Homemade

A potter creates a small bowl on his wheel.

Camera: Canon T3, Tamron 18-170 lens  Processing: PSE

Journey

Canada geese take flight for their journey south...at least in theory.  Most of them have forgotten where Canada is, and not longer bother leaving for warmer climes in the winter.

Camera: Canon EOS T3, Tamron 18-270 lens  Processing: basic adjustments in PSE

Rare

There were a few dozen tiny chicks on display at the Berlin Fair.  Of them all, only one was dark. 

Camera: Canon EOS T3, Tamron 18-270 lens  Processing: PSE

Self portrait

Snapping a photo with my iPhone reflected in a plate glass window at Blue Back Square, West Hartford, Connecticut--doing one of the things I love most.

Camera: iPhone 4s  Processing: PSE

Wholesome

You can't get more wholesome than a country fair (well, for the most part*.) Granddude Craig adored feeding the goats at the petting zoo.  I got to take him on his first Ferris wheel ride.  He's the one who wanted to go--I love the Ferris wheel but wasn't sure he would, but he asked for it.  His little heart was pounding under my hand when we started off, but after one turn around, he looked up at me and flashed a big grin of delight.  Seriously, granddudes turn me into a pool of melted jelly.

Camera: Canon EOS T3 Tamron 18-270 lens  Processing: PSE

*We won't go into the whole thing about then woman gored by a bull because she was stupid enough to pay 20 bucks along with another seven people to stand in a ring drawn in the dust to be charged by a very big, very angry bull with very  big horns.  One has to wonder how many times they had hit the beer booth before they decided to do that. 

Hot

Fire eater at the Renaissance Faire.  This guy was a consummate performer.

Camera: Canon T3, Tamron 19-270 lens  Processing: PSE

Ride

The Ferris Wheel at the Berlin Fair

Camera: Canon EOS T3, Tamron 18-170 lens   Processing: PSE

Food

Our daughter, Sierra, came home from college for a quick visit and wanted to be taken out to one of her favorite restaurants, Elizabeth's in Rocky Hill CT.  The cool thing about Elizabeth's is that all but a very few dishes can be made gluten free, so I get to have an exquisite meal there--like this fantastic concoction of swordfish, shrimp and squid in a creamy sauce over (yes, GF) pasta. 

Unfinished

Carnies set up one of the rides for this weekend's Berlin Fair.

Camera: iPhone5  Processing: Dynamic Light

Cleanliness

One of the Union soldiers carefully cleans his gun.  One's life could depend on these details. 

Camera: Canon T3, Tamron 18-270 lens  Processing: PSE

Hands

I think it was a bit of an anachronism to have a Confederate soldier playing a bodhran, but I liked the way his hand showed through the goatskin. 

Camera: EOS T3, Tamron 18-270 lens  Processing: PSE