Category Archives: Outdoors

George Washington’s Birthday

Posted on by Standard 4

My son Ryan brought two grandkids with him up to Engleville Pond to do some ice fishing. Ellie and Evan got to see the ice auger at work and listen to dad drone on about how to set a tip-up, then they were free to cavort about.  So maybe more cavorting than fishing. It was in the mid-20’s and overcast, and all that snow made for tricky exposures. It’s tough to check pix on the camera screen, too, because of the brightness. Even with all the modern metering, snow is still overwhelmingly bright.  I got too involved looking for stick arms, berry buttons and other adornments, as well as assembling a snowman to put them on. Didn’t shoot as many photos as I could have, and I think I actually fished for a sum total of perhaps two minutes. Cavorting is so much better. I carved a few facial features into the snow, and inventive Ellie colored balls of snow with her blue drink to make eyes. Ryan said “He looks like George Washington!” Maybe the pix don’t show it, or maybe you had to be participating in the cavorting to appreciate it.

From The Pond
Fishers!
Snowbirds
Evan
Ellie
Snow Angels
Manning The Auger
Frolicking
Taste Tester
Ice Stair
All Aboard!
Snow Machine
The Gathering
Rolling The Snow
…Over The Brother
Artists Commence
Progress
Final Touches
Mr. President
Dapper, indeed!
Evan The Mule
Load Out
Spillway Bridge
Homeward Bound
Until Next Time!

I’d like to promise more fotos and less frolic next time, but somehow that seems unlikely.

 

Paz

 

Owl’s Head Hike

Posted on by Standard Reply

Ryan and I loaded the kayaks in the truck and hit the road at 4 a.m. We had planned our trip to Owl’s Head Mountain in the Keene Valley, the High Peaks Region of the Adirondack Mountains, for weeks. The weather could not have been more perfect for hiking, and hadn’t dropped below 55 degrees F overnight. The goal was to be on the Owl’s Head lookout when the sun rose over the Green Mountains of Vermont, and crawled it’s way to some of New York’s greatest natural wonders, The Adirondacks, just in time for their spectacular fall foliage display. Along the way, somehow we tossed a kayak into the back window of Ryan’s Toyota Tundra, breaking the glass. How lucky we were that was to be the single downer of the entire day, and we got it out of the way before sunrise. As the dawn sky began to brighten, the ride was one of phenomenal beauty. The destination was gorgeous, the trail itself was beautiful, the view from the Lookout awe-inspiring. There are not enough superlatives to describe climbing up, standing on, or descending from that summit, so I must let photos speak for me. After the Owl’s head hike, we launched the kayaks on nearby Mirror Lake, and watched the sunrise again, this time over a granite bluff as it slowly spilled its way into our placid pool. A cormorant greeted us, and a pair of mergansers joined us. Or should I say we joined them? Along the way we passed the Lake Placid Olympic Training Center and the strange structure rising up out of the mountain woodlands; the ski jump tower, viewable from the road to the Adirondack Loj and South Meadows Wilderness Area. I’d suggest you see the Adirondacks some time, but then again these gems are some heirlooms I am tempted to keep for myself. You stay home, and enjoy the pictures. I’ll take care of the mountain climbing for you!  – Paz

(Click any image to start full-size carousel)

High Peaks Color
Ascending
Peak Peek
Mountain Morning
Spectacular Views
Sunrise on Owl’s Head
Lookout
Ryan & I at the summit
Colorful Leaf Wreath
Bright Autumn Sun
Foliage Mix
Climbing Higher
Rugged Trail
Sidebar
High Altitude Resident
Descent Trail
That Window
Sunrise over the bluff
Paddling
Wildlife Viewing
Cormorant Greets the day
Morning on Mirror Lake
Rock face
Serenity
Granite Peaks
Afloat
Hidden Falls
Adventurer
Frost’s Pool
Mirror Lake
Inlet, morning
Secret Holds
Merry Brook
Reflection
Tenacious Cedars
Mergansers planning lunch
Invitation to swim
The Happy Couple
Cruising
Fishing Buddies
Mountaintop farming
Self-portrait in Tundra mirror
Scenic waterway
High Peaks Meadow
Olympic Ski Tower
Loj Road
Stewart’s Landing
Swimmin’ Hole
Uniquely Adirondack
Colors of September

 

Hope you get a chance to get out and enjoy some of the lovely fall!
Remember, there’s more than one way to respond if someone tells you “Take a hike!”

Paz

Winter Gallery

Posted on by Standard 2

Some photos of the beautiful, snowy, blowy winter before it fades into spring. 

 

Down The Lane
Snowy Valley
Drifting
Shadow Painting
Sugar Shack
Bowmaker’s
Geese “On” The Pond
Hard Water
Color Of February
Eastern Bluebird
Pom Poms
North Loop Trail
Juney Was Here
Winter Berries
Soft Rock Wall
Evening At Engleville
Robins Return
Glorious Sunset
Snow Geese
Worm Moon
Moon And Snow Geese

An early spring equinox this year, as the sun crosses the equator on the trek northward.

Maybe that means winter will return sooner, too! One can only hope!

These skis are terrible on grass.

 

As of tomorrow, Happy Spring!

 

Paz

Snow Dogs

Posted on by Standard Reply

We were fortunate to have a local dogsledder, Kate Walrath of Run By Dogs, give us a demonstration at the village Library. She told us about different types of sled dogs, including the Siberian Husky and the Alaskan Husky. The latter is a smaller, rather plain looking dog. I was surprised to discover these canine competitors were about the size of my own Sassy June (a Chow-Husky mix called a Chusky). I thought sled dogs would all be big, strong 60-pounders. The small black dog with some white on her face (I wish I could remember her name) is actually a retired racer from Alaska. Racing dogs get a share of race winnings, and they are put into a “doggie 401k”. Kate’s place, called Run By Dogs, is a retreat for retired sled dogs as well as a training facility and a place to learn and enjoy dogsledding. The monies in the 401k’s pay for the dogs’ boarding and veterinary expenses.

Click any image to start a full-size carousel.

 

Kate Walrath of Run By Dogs
Informative Presentation
Hands-On
Siberian Beauty
New Friends
Dog Helpers
Alaskan Husky
Dogs Love Kids
Kids Helped
Another Alaskan
Pink-Coat Was All Business
The Queen-The Retiree
Who’s Ready To Sled?
Let’s Get To It!
And They’re Off!
Who’s Next?
Pink-Coat Gets Her Turn
Kate Coaches Kids & Dogs
Oh! To Be A Kid Again!
A Little Rest
And Another Rider
Snowy And Cold
The Queen Was The Fastest
Snack Time
All Hands Assisted
These Dogs Get A Lot Of Love
Up You Go!
Time To Head Home
Braving The Cold
Clear Trails!

It was very cold that Saturday, as you can see by the apparel. It was in the mid-twenties, but no wind. It didn’t bother the dogs a bit, though. For the retired Queen from Alaska, this is probably equivalent to retiring to Florida! 

It’s good to get a different perspective sometimes.

 

Until next time,

 

Paz

Bevy Of Birds

Posted on by Image 5

I photograph a lot of outdoors stuff, and birds are probably my most frequent subject. That’s what happens when you combine an avid photographer with an avid bird-watcher! I’ve been assembling a compilation of shots for various purposes, and thought I’d post a sampling, and some of my personal faves. Click any photo to start full-size carousel.

Saying Grace
Turkeys Roosting
Red Breasted Grosbeak
Outbound
Baltimore Oriole Feeding
Mourning Doves
On The Ridge
Mallard Cruising
Grackle Drinking
Canada Goose
Hard Water
Killdeer
Lunch Guest
Mallard Sipping
No More Room
Grackle Dipping Bread
Cormorant Takeoff
Common Grackle
Bluebird Staredown
Handsome Goose
Porch Juncos
Blue Jay
Grosbeaks
Trailcam Barred Owl
Barred Owl
Off To School
whoosh
Sun Catcher
Eye On The Prize

 

Too many to fit in one gallery. So here’s a couple dozen more!

 

Owl’s Swing
Preening
Little Blue Heron
Ruby-Throated Hummingbird
Great Blue Heron
Redtail Takeoff
Starling Flurry
Anhinga Drying
Fisticuffs
Early Bird
Tri-Color
Sweet
Tufted Titmouse
Snow Geese
Turkey Flock
Wild Snow Flamingos
Meet Whitewing
Red-Bellied Woodpecker
Pileated Woodpecker
Bald Eagle
Silhouette
Bluebird House

 

Of course there are a great many more. Next time I sort through, we’ll do another gallery!

 

Seek peace,

 

Paz

Farewell Winter Gallery

Posted on by Standard Reply

I am very fond of winter. I like the challenges it brings, and there are few things prettier than a world covered in a fresh coat of gleaming white new snow. When the time finally comes for the snow to leave, I always feel a bit melancholy about it. Well, I know it will be back soon, and that makes the long summer more bearable. This spring I spied a fisher running across a cornfield, and I was quick on the draw with the old Nikon. I snapped a few pictures of the little critter, a youngster, before he dashed off to the banks of the Schoharie Creek. Three of my favorite things came together for some other shots, namely a field of corn stubble with snow and Canada Geese. Somehow, they always look best when surrounded by snow. Ironically, the only shot of Snow Geese has no snow in it! Hope you enjoy this last sampling of the season, now that we’re impatiently awaiting tulips. 

Click any image for a full-size carousel.

 

Accumulations
Down The Lane
Last Of The Snow
Fading Winter
Geese On The Wing
Skyful
Outbound
Daybreak Ridge
Canada Geese
Fisher At Sunrise
Fisher Crossing
Snow Portrait
Squadron
Incoming
Gatherings
Cornfield At Dawn
Snow Geese
Outbound 2
Ascent
Central Bridge Hill
Last Storm
End Of Snow
Geese In Snow
In The Cornfields
Outbound In Snow
Morning Crowd
Hard Water
The Pumpkin Field
Killdeer In Snow
Turkey Vulture
Killdeer

Here’s hoping summer is kind to us. I remind myself I only need to get through five months before the world will start to cool again, and once again we will be greeted by the wonderful world of winter.

 

Until next time,

 

Paz

Da Bear, and other Trailcam pix

Posted on by Standard 2

Here he is, without further ado. The Holy Grail for my trail camera, the black bear.

Black Bear

And some other highlights.

Is this thing on?
May Dawn
Doe & twins
Healthy Deer
Fawns
Closeup
Chupacabra!
Brer Coyote
Coyote
And Coyote
And more Coyote
Coyote in late snow
Brer Raccoon
Lone Turkey

Also shot two thousand frames of waving grass until I mowed in front of the trail camera. If you use one of these, be sure to keep the grass cut as the motion triggers the camera. Or put the cam away until “Seeing Season” returns!

The Trail Cam has been a lot of fun. We’ve caught a bear, many deer, coyotes and turkeys. Some neighbor cats, possums, skunks, dogs, an owl, raccoons and a Chupacabra! The camera ran til August, about ten months, on a set of batteries. No doubt would have lasted a year if it wasn’t taking countless snapshots of empty grass. A new set of batteries and winter’s approach, and we’ll be ready for another great season!

 

Paz

July Gallery

Posted on by Standard Reply

So, I shot so few frames in July I couldn’t come up with 31 pix for the gallery. High point of my July was the annual camping trip to Forked Lake in the Adirondack Mountains with son-in-law Matt and grandson Maximus. Also joining us this year, my son Terence’s son, my grandson Kacey. Fishing was phenomenal, weather was perfect, and I enjoyed it so much I almost forgot about photography! Without further ado…

 

Paz

 

Now
First Catch
Happy Campers
Beer-Battered Deluxe
Matt, Max, Me, Kacey
Squirrel Watching
Lillies
Bookends
Doone the Wondercat
Windowbox
Sassy June
Heat Index 114
Orchids
Killdeer and fledglings
Ruby Throat
Bonzai
Bonzai Watchwasp