Spooky?

Subtitle: How not to take pics at night.

A couple weeks ago, just as I was heading to bed, I noticed the moon hanging barely above the horizon. I thought it'd make for a cool picture if I could capture it (knowing it was a big IF there), so I grabbed a coat and my camera and headed outside. Being as late as it was, I didn't want to take time to set up the tripod.

This first pic didn't turn out too bad, because I was leaning against the deck railing to steady myself. But as you can see, there were tree branches across the moon. Those white dots were lights at the horizon.

I wanted to get rid of the tree branches, so I went out onto the lawn. I took rest of these free-standing with nothing to brace myself on. The slightest movement definitely changes things. :-)

Looking a different direction:

I was trying to capture the lights (bottom squiggles ) of a nearby town. The red ones are the lights on some wind towers, which were actually closer.

I did manage to get one halfway decent picture of the moon. I must've somehow held still for a second.

But not this next time:

So that's my lesson: Don't bother to try to take night time pics without a tripod. Unless Halloween's coming and you need something interesting for your blog.

Here's a pic I took this morning. Looks kinda Halloweenish, too, doesn't it? A foretaste of things to come, perhaps?

(Click any photo to enlarge.)

Anyway, Happy Halloween! I'm looking forward to my one-and-only trick-or-treater later today. Pics from that visit later.

Pick up your clothes!

Y'know how moms (and grandmas) always tell kids not to leave their clothes lying on the floor? Here's one reason why:

It goes for doll clothes, too.

Invisible fence

Question: Why are these heifers all lined up so perfectly?

Answer: Because they are standing on concrete. They know that if they step off the edge, they'll be in the mud, like the few on the right. Or like this one below:

Ooey gooey! YUCK!

I took those pics the same day as the "Random fallness" ones. It was, obviously, still very muddy after our big rain.

(Click the pics for a bigger view.)

"Fall"ness?

This is how it looked around here this morning.

C'mon... I know you love it! Look closer!

Below is my garden. Nothing left out there but carrots. They always taste better after a freeze, which is why I haven't dug them yet.

And the view from my sewing room window. Poor flowers.

The white stuff can still make for pretty pics, though!

Take a look at the wind action along with the white stuff. All day yesterday, last night, and today we've had winds of 30+ mph, sometimes gusting over 50 mph. Our barometric pressure has been at a record low, which I guess is the cause of the strong winds.

Things should start looking up. All of today's white stuff has already melted this afternoon, and though we could get a little more overnight, with those winds continuing, the sun is supposed to come out tomorrow, and it looks like gradual improvement from there.

Today was probably just a taste of things to come... a warning, perhaps, to get ready!

Thanks to "Agent Orange"

Courtney came today with this nifty little fabric crayon and notepad holder. She'd gotten it last Christmas from Auntie Jess. I think she saves it mainly for church, but she decided to bring it along to Grandma's today, and she even let me color on one of her papers!

Here's a little thank-you video for Auntie Jess (recently a.k.a. "Agent Orange"). Better turn up your volume.

She gets awfully shy when she's supposed to say something. ;-)

I'm NOT on the table!

"I'm on the chair, silly!"

Random fallness, part 7

This will end my series of fall photos (unless I take some more, that is). What better way to end it than with some beautiful sunsets, right?

These first 4 pics were taken close to the same time, just different views.

You can see all the dust hanging in the air from the combining that was being done.

This last one was actually taken the night before the others, but I saved the best for last.

(Click any photo to enlarge.)

Hope you enjoyed the series, and the fall weather, wherever you are. Our lovely weather seems to be coming to an end, with rain in the forecast for the next few days, and even the possibility of the 's' word next week. Well, it sure was incredible while it lasted!

Also, the harvest is done, as is most of the tillage. I finished cleaning out my garden today, and mowed the lawn for one last time (it'd better be the last, anyway!). All that's left to do outdoors is clean out the flowerbeds... but they're still blooming!

Random fallness, part 6

Random fallness, part 5

These flowers were all blooming yet the day I took my walk a couple weeks ago. In fact, they're all still blooming now, since we haven't had a serious frost yet!

Of course the bloom is gone off the hibiscus. Their flowers, unfortunately, only last a day... maybe two days in cooler weather. The red one has bloomed, too. I just failed to get a picture of it. I have moved it into the house now for the winter.

Even one lone hosta, although the others were done long ago.

More fall fun

Courtney's not the only one who had fun outside last Tuesday!

No, that's not Josie. It's her "twin" brother, Tuffy, the mouse eater. Josie has the mustache. LOL

And Miss Purrkins, their adopted sister.

No, we did not have to call the fire department to get them down. I think farm cats are smarter than city cats. ;-)

Poor Josie had to stay indoors. But she rather enjoyed the fluff and glitter of the princess lovelies!

Random fallness, part 5

Here are some more weeds that caught my eye. Don't ask me what they are, because I don't know. But they're pretty.

(Click any photo to enlarge.)