Stalker in Training

Oh, to be 6 years old again.  We all are animal lovers in our household.  We all just have different ways of expressing  our love of animals.  My son can spend hours playing(torturing) the ants in the sidewalk cracks. He can also make every squirrel on the block nervous.  Luckily, they can climb trees faster than him.  He's learned that now during the fall season, the squirrels are focused on gathering their stock for winter and aren't as aware of his presence.  Perfect stalking opportunity.  I was outside today cleaning out my car and had the opportunity to watch him in action for about an hour.  The squirrel would be on the ground doing it's thing and he would try to get up close.  Of course, the squirrel never let him get within 10 feet of him, but as he walked away frustrated, the squirrel would watch him and come back down.  A few minutes later he would try again using a little bit different tactic. Same result. Tonight's shot is his technique #5 I'll call "I'm just walking down the sidewalk not even knowing you are there, Mr. Squirrel.  So you just keep going about your business as I walk on past you."(Notice the hands in the pockets.)  Needless to say, this, once again, ended in frustration.

 Also, just a footnote.  There will be a break in posting for a few days.  I leave Thursday morning for my 2nd annual trip to Upper Michigan.  Last year it was the central part of the UP.  This year I'm heading to the western part of the UP into the Porcupine Mountains and maybe a little Apostle Islands action.  Hopefully, I'll have some nice pics to post when I get back.

Autumn Oasis

October is here, therefore, time to get the autumnal glasses on.  Fall color has started here, but is probably a good couple of weeks away from being at peak.  Maybe even three depending on the weather.  But, I have to start practicing catching the fall color shots since my 2nd annual trip to upper Michigan is just a few days away. From all reports, the U.P. is just about to hit their peak so I should be there either during the peak or just on the edge of the downward spiral of all the leaves.  Either way, I'm sure I'll grab some good shots.  Here's one I got today that was like being in an "autumnal zone".  It seemed this little area had deep fall colors already, before most any other spots. And the cloudy threatening skies acted like one big softbox to give a nice glow to the foliage

September Sunset

Totally on the lookout for sunsets at this time of year.  It must be the air temperatures or something.  I just find the sunsets at this time, and sunrises for that matter, to be unbelievably vibrant.

All aboard

Well, this time instead of just tracks I'm posting an actual train.  Not a people train, but it looks to be more of a grain train. Driving around in corn country here, you see alot of these stations.

Ghost Train

A little early, but Halloween is coming.  If there is such a thing as a ghost train, I think these are its tracks.

Gangs of.......Crystal Lake

Yes, its sad but true.  We have our share of gang activity around here.  But, if you don't bother them, they don't bother you.  They usually stay on their turf, but when they don't, it gets ugly. Or beautiful. Depending on whether you like a good T-bone.  I got away from this gang, but I gotta be careful.

Oh, yeah, also, I'm celebrating tonight since today I had my 10,000 hit on this site. Not bad for 55 weeks of snapping and blabbering,  Thanks everyone for visiting.  I wish I had a prize for my 10,000th visitor, but I actually think it was me since I was able to do a screen capture of the 10,000th hit.

Midwestern Fall

Slowly, but surely the change is coming.  The fields are bright yellow and the trees are getting a tint of red.  It won't be long now until the landscape is one big painter's palette.