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Lunar Eclipse at Ten Degrees

Brrrr. You’d think a person would have more sense than to stand around in the dark when the temperature is ten degrees, fahrenheit. Especially a person battling a head cold. But how often do you get to see a lunar eclipse?

It was foggy when I went to bed last night so I didn’t have much hope of being able to see this phenomonon and I didn’t do anything to get ready for it. Ken set the alarm and even woke me up after he saw the progressing shadow of the earth across the moon. He had the scope set up outside to watch it. It was a struggle to find everything I needed for night time photography and I overlooked one thing that would have made my images better. My other camera. It handles high ISO much better and would have allowed shorter exposures that would have been sharper.  Can I help it if my mind is all fogged up at 5 in the morning? It was fun to see, despite the cold.

 

 

 

This is what happens when you move everything during the shot.

 

 

The moon set and the sky was light in the east before the eclipse came to an end.

Late Afternoon Light

At this time of year, late afternoon is 3:00 p.m. Hardly seems right. With the low angle of the sun, it lasts a while making for some good photo opportunities depending on the location. Yesterday my friend and I went birding to the Okanogan and while we dipped on our target wintering species, at the end of the day we did find a new place to explore – McLaughlin Canyon. Ken’s told me about it in the past, insisting that it’s a place I’d like and of course, he was right. We stumbled upon it from the east, coming from Tunk Valley, going up and over a divide and then dropping into this amazing rock walled chasm. The late afternoon light colored the rock walls with oranges and yellows, shadowed by burnt snags from wildfires in the not too distant past. A tiny Canyon Wren completed the scene.

Meanwhile, back at the ranch

Back home in the Methow, winter’s grip grows tighter with cold temperatures and crusty snow despite calendars indicating that it is still fall. Sunny days do make it seem warmer.

Mt Robinson and Goat Peak

 

Fuzzy crusty snow

 

Sam is feeling a little better with new medications

 

Luna hardly knows the meaning of ‘having a bad day’

 

See, it’s still fall

 

 

 

 

 

 

Images from a Road Trip

A sinus cold has been sucking all of the energy out of me recently. It’s been all I can do to keep up with the basics and we had a family event a couple hundred miles away from here to attend over the weekend. It was great fun seeing everyone and being part of the festivities surrounding a 50th Anniversary Celebration. And I do enjoy road trips and a change of scenery. But being sick away from home is never fun. I think I am starting to feel better this morning.

Here are a few images from the road trip.

 

Obviously, not in the Methow anymore, Toto.

 

 

Nope, this isn’t our forest.

 

These maple leaves are HUGE, almost a foot across

 

Color or black and white?

 

I have enjoyed ferry travel since I was a little girl

 

Did you know that ferries bring Christmas trees?

 

This has something to do with an old movie called Harry and the Hendersons, I think

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fireworks at the End of the Road

Winthrop celebrates the holiday season with a weekend of Christmas at the End of the Road. Fun activities with horse drawn wagon rides, Santa Claus, a 5k fun run in the snow all culminate with Saturday night fireworks. The beauty of winter fireworks far outweighs the summer versions, I think. Gently falling snow. No fire danger. And the event starts early enough that you can join friends for dinner afterwards!

These images are all from my little pocket camera. Sometimes I am amazed at what a good job it can do.