Backyard Birds 2020

 So, the last day of 2020, and I photographed a new-to-me bird in the backyard.  Today's addition is a Northern Flicker:

That makes 20 bird species seen and photographed in my yard over the course of 2020.  I feel like that's a pretty good crop, and I'm particularly pleased with several of the images.

There's 32 images of the 20 bird types in a Facebook Album:

Backyard Birds 2020

And here's the list of birds:

• American Goldfinch
• Blue Jay 
• Brown Headed Cowbird
• Cardinal 
• Carolina Chickadee
• Carolina Wren
• Dark Eyed Junko
• Downy Woodpecker
• Eastern Bluebird
• House Finch
• House sparrow
• Indigo Bunting
• Mourning Dove
• Northern Flicker
• Pileated Woodpecker
• Red Shouldered Hawk
• Red-bellied Woodpecker
• Ruby Throated Hummingbird
• Tufted Titmouse
• White Breatsed Nuthatch

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Now Would Be A Good Time To Laugh More

 I was poking around my image file folders, and foud this one in a subdirectory labeled "blog".  The EXIF data says the photo was taken  mid afternoon on February 28, 2008, with my (since retired) Nikon D70.  

This was taken along main Street in Edwardsville, but I don't remember what was happening in the world to inspire the sign, but suspect it was related to the Global Financial Crisis.  Or maybe the US presidential primaries?  

Anyway, I thought the sentiment was apropos now, as we slog though a global pandemic and slog past a divisive US Presidential election.

This small version is all I can find, my unprocessed (straight from camera) files from back then seem to have disappeared, or are (more likely) languishing on a long retired computer somewhere in the basement.  If this was posted on this blog, I can't find the previous post...

Instant Throwback Pt. 3

 Another in the continuing series of images from my 365project entries over the past 6 years and logged all of the photos that received a designation of "Popular" and/or "Trending".  I'm posting them to Instagram, trying to (pretty much) match the day of the month.   Here's where I've posted batches.   

These were posted to my instagram between December 16 and December 22:

12/16/2019

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12/17/19

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12/05/2020

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12/19/2019

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12/20/2018

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12/20/2020

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12/03/2018

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12/14/2018

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Sang What?

 So, I was listening to the Bee Gees song "Run To Me" this morning.  From 1972, the song reached #16 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart (US), and was top 10 in much of the world.  Really solid song, great harmony, perfect example of the pre-disco Bee Bees. 

Anyway, as I listening, the lyrics caught my attention:

"Run to me whenever you're lonely. 
Run to me if you need a shoulder
Now and then, you need someone older

So darling, run to me"

Wait...  "Now and then, you need someone older"??  What exactly do they mean by that?  Especially considering that the oldest brother  Gibb (Maurice) was only 26 when it came out.  Just how much older is he talking?

But I think I'm overlooking it.  Older is a good rhyme with shoulder after all.  And there's certainly no shortage of songs about young girls, so many that are a LOT more creepy than this line.

So:  nevermind.

Silver Lake

 So, my daughter called on Christmas Eve morning, to ask if I wanted to join in a hike with the kids.  That's an easy "Yes", so we trekked off to Silver Lake in Highland for a wander. Of course, it was in the 20's, with a strong breeze, and about 25-35 degrees colder than the previous day.  So the grandkids lost their enthusiasm quite quickly.

But we managed probably a bit over 1.5 miles (total), not too bad with a could of cold kids.  And it was a great break from Christmas preparations.  Photo location is somewhere around here.

Instant Throwback, Pt. 2

 I posted a few days back about my thing of posting "Popular" and "Trending" photos from 365project over at Instagram.  Details here.  

In my previous post on the topic, I included the first 5 instagram posts.  Here's a few more, with the original posting date (to 365project):

12/04/2020

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12/10/2018

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12/10/2020

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12/12/18

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12/04/17

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12/14/19

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12/15/19

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BetterPhoto.com

 Way back when, I was a pretty active participant in a photo site called BetterPhoto.  We're talking 2003-2009 kind of "way back".  A bit of a long story why I stopped, and doesn't really matter.  In early 2015, I started posting to 365project, and  I'm still pretty active there.

Anyway, I recently saw (through Facebook), that one of the folks I met through BP (BetterPhoto) has been posting there again so I thought I'd check it out.  Turns out they remembered me, and that quite a few of my old photos are still there.  It says I have 886 photos, and I can see 215...  but only display Most aren't displayed (since paid membership expired).  So I decided reactivate my account (as the free version), and poke around for a few days.  Maybe even step up to a paid account.  We'll see.  I expect I'll stay w/ 365project, though, I've enjoyed that site.

Anyway, always looking for new communities, If you have places you prefer, drop a link in the comments!

Here's a couple from the 215 that apparently received "All Time Editor's Pick" designation, sometime after I left... 

December 1970

   Fifty years ago this month, what what happening on the music charts?

During the 4 weeks of December 1970, there were 53 songs that spent time in the Top 40. As usual, lots of great stuff.

Three songs made #1 during the month.  Partridge Family' "I Think I Love You" started the month on top, completing a 3 week run at #1.  "The Tears Of A Clown", by Smokey Robinson & The Miracles was #1 for the next two weeks, and George Harrison's "My Sweet Lord" was #1 in the last week of the year.

Here's the top 10 songs of the month, ranked by average chart position over the 4 weeks of the month:

• The Tears Of A Clown - Smokey Robinson & The Miracles - 1.8
• I Think I Love You - The Partridge Family - 3.3
• One Less Bell To Answer - The 5th Dimension - 4.0
• My Sweet Lord - George Harrison - 5.5
• Gypsy Woman - Brian Hyland - 6.0
• Black Magic Woman - Santana - 8.5
• No Matter What - Badfinger - 9.0
• I'll Be There - Jackson 5 - 9.8
• Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is? - Chicago - 10.3
• We've Only Just Begun - Carpenters - 10.8

Eighteen (18) songs made their Top 40 debut, here they are (listed by entering position):

• My Sweet Lord - George Harrison - 13
• Lonely Days - Bee Gees - 26
• Domino - Van Morrison - 27
• Your Song - Elton John - 28
• Groove Me - King Floyd - 30
• Pay To The Piper - Chairman Of The Board - 32
• If I Were Your Woman - Gladys Knight And The Pips - 32
• Knock Three Times - Dawn - 33
• River Deep - Mountain High - The Supremes & Four Tops - 35
• Only Love Can Break Your Heart - Neil Young - 35
• It's Impossible - Perry Como - 36
• Immigrant Song - Led Zeppelin - 36
• Border Song (Holy Moses)/You And Me - Aretha Franklin - 37
• One Man Band - Three Dog Night - 39
• Love The One You're With - Stephen Stills - 39
• Stoney End - Barbra Streisand - 40
• Rose Garden - Lynn Anderson - 40
• Do It - Neil Diamond - 40

Instant Throwback

I started a new thing this week, over at my Instagram page.  I did a review of my 365project entries over the past 6 years and logged all of the photos that received a designation of "Popular" and/or "Trending".  I'm posting them to Instagram, trying to (pretty much) match the day of the month.  I'll probably double up posts when there's more images than days of the month.

I'm hoping to do this as an ongoing project, depending on the reception.

Anyway, here's the first 5 posts, linked from the original 365project posts, with the original posting date:

12/7/19

12/13/15

12/6/18

12/3/20

12/8/16

November 1970

    Fifty years ago this month, what what happening on the music charts?

Well, during the 4 weeks of November 1970, there were 53 songs that spent time in the Top 40. As usual, lots of great stuff.

Only Two (2) songs made the Top spot: Jackson 5's "I'll Be There" spent the first two weeks at #1, finishing a 5 week run at the top.  The Partridge Family took over for the last two weeks with "I Think I Love You".  I Think I Love You was written by Tony Romeo, whose next biggest hit was "Indian Lake" for the Cowsills in 1968 (#10).

Here's the top 10 songs of the month, ranked by average chart position over the 4 weeks of the month:

• I'll Be There - Jackson 5 - 2.0
• We've Only Just Begun - Carpenters - 2.5
• I Think I Love You - The Partridge Family  - 3.3
• Fire And Rain - James Taylor - 4.0
• Indiana Wants Me - R. Dean Taylor - 5.8
• The Tears Of A Clown - Smokey Robinson & The Miracles - 6.5
• Green-Eyed Lady - Sugarloaf - 6.8
• Gypsy Woman - Brian Hyland - 10.5
• Montego Bay - Bobby Bloom - 11.3
• Somebody's Been Sleeping - 100 Proof Aged in Soul - 11.5

I made a Spotify playlist of the Top 10, if anybody wants to listen:  November 1970

Eighteen (18) songs made their Top 40 debut, here they are (listed by entering position):

• Stoned Love - The Supremes - 23
• No Matter What - Badfinger - 28
• 5-10-15-20 (25-30 Years Of Love) - The Presidents - 30
• One Less Bell To Answer - The 5th Dimension - 33
• Share The Land - The Guess Who - 35
• After Midnight - Eric Clapton - 35
• As The Years Go By - Mashmakhan - 35
• Be My Baby - Andy Kim - 35
• Let's Work Together - Canned Heat - 36
• Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is? - Chicago - 37
• You Don't Have To Say You Love Me - Elvis Presley - 38
• He Ain't Heavy...He's My Brother - Neil Diamond - 38
• Can't Stop Loving You - Tom Jones
• I Am Somebody Part II - Johnnie Taylor - 39
• Black Magic Woman - Santana - 40
• For The Good Times - Ray Price - 40
• Heed The Call - Kenny Rogers & The First Edition - 40
• I'm Not My Brothers Keeper - The Flaming Ember - 40

Badlands

 Just now getting around t posting this photo from late September trip to South Dakota. I hadn't posted before as I felt this one didn't really "work".

Taken with my iPhone, trying to take advantage of that camera's wide angle to capture the land's edge in the foreground (and that bit of yellow flowers / bush) through the drop off to the layers of peaks. But looking at it on the computer, I decided there's just not enough contrast between that front ledge and the nearest peak. So I shelved it.

Actually, I've had this as my "cover photo" on facebook, which crops at 2.7:1 ratio. so the bottom part wasn't showing. I changed my cover shot today, and reconsidered this image for 365 project.

I've misplaced the original file, this is saved from facebook, which seems to have stripped the EXIF data.

A Good Place To Live

 Our recent travels took us to Bristol TN/VA.  Bristol is split by the Tennessee / Virginia line, which actually runs right down Main Street. It was even featured in a GEICO commercial! with their gecko standing on one of the state line markers between the double yellow street lines:

I had never actually been in Bristol, except to pass by on I-81.  But my parents lived there (on the Tennessee side) back in the 50's.  We had a really super meal at the Burger Bar, which claims "A Bristol Classic Since 1942".  It was fun to imagine my parents maybe having a burger there, as youngsters starting out so many years ago....

Cover Photo

 So...  I've been trying to change my cover photo at Facebook more often, about 1/month.

So here's what I changed it to today:

This is a 2.7:1 ratio crop of a photo taken during our recent Tennessee Trip.  This is the Nolichucky River, near Erwin, TN.  Approximate location:  36°09'03.3"N 82°26'28.4"W

This replaced a photo from our September trip to the Badlands in South Dakota.  Which replaced a photo from our August trip to Mackinac Island, MI.  Guess I need to start thinking abot where to go for a good November photo!

October 1970

    Fifty years ago this month, what what happening on the music charts?

Well, during the 5 weeks of October 1970, there were 57 songs that spent time in the Top 40. Lots of great stuff.

Three (3) songs made the Top spot: Diana Ross' version of "Ain't No Mountain High Enough" started the month at #1, finishing a 3 week run at the top.  Cracklin' Rosie, by Neil Diamond made #1 for one (1) week, and I'll Be There by Jackson 5 spent the last 3 weeks at the top/

Here's the top 10 songs of the month, ranked by average chart position over the 4 weeks of the month:

• I'll Be There - Jackson 5 - 2.2
• Cracklin' Rosie - Neil Diamond - 2.6
• Candida - Dawn - 5.4
• All Right Now - Free - 6.0
• Green-Eyed Lady - Sugarloaf  - 7.0
• We've Only Just Begun - Carpenters - 7.6
• Ain't No Mountain High Enough - Diana Ross - 7.6
• Julie, Do Ya Love Me - Bobby Sherman - 11.0
• Fire And Rain James Taylor - 13.2
• Express Yourself - Charles Wright And The Watts 103rd Street Rhythm Band - 13.2

I made a Spotify playlist of the Top 10, if anybody wants to listen:  October 1970

Twenty (20) songs made their Top 40 debut, here they are (listed by entering position):

• I Think I Love You - The Partridge Family  - 17
• The Tears Of A Clown - Smokey Robinson & The Miracles - 27
• Cry Me A River - Joe Cocker - 28
• Engine Number 9 - Wilson Pickett - 29
• God, Love And Rock & Roll - Teegarden & Van Winkle - 30
• Super Bad (Part 1 & Part 2) - James Brown - 34
• Our House - Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young - 35
• It Don't Matter To Me - Bread - 36
• Somebody's Been Sleeping - 100 Proof Aged in Soul - 37
• Lucretia Mac Evil - Blood, Sweat & Tears - 37
• Ungena Za Ulimwengu (Unite The World) - The Temptations - 38
• Do What You Wanna Do - Five Flights Up - 39
• Deeper & Deeper - Freda Payne - 39
• See Me, Feel Me - The Who - 39
• Gypsy Woman - Brian Hyland - 39
• Make It Easy On Yourself - Dionne Warwick - 39
• Stand By Your Man - Candi Staton - 40
• Montego Bay - Bobby Bloom - 40
• Yellow River - Christie - 40
• Heaven Help Us All - Stevie Wonder - 40

RIP Eddie Van Halen

 Just saw that Eddie Van Halen passed away today (10/6/20).  Very sad news.

I'm not a huge Van Halen fan, but have huge respect for EVH as a guitar player.  [Frankly I was a little put out by DRL's posturing and screaching]...   Certainly Eddie Van Halen was an iconic rock guitarist, one of the biggest of the late 70's into the 80's.  And he usually looked like he was just having SO MUCH FUN playing.

Van Halen songs on my iPod:

• And The Cradle Will Rock
• Dance The Night Away
• Jamie's Cryin'
• Jump
• Panama
• Runnin' With The Devil
• Why Can't This be Love
• You Really Got Me

I'll be cranking it up.

Abandoned Railway, Dry Creek

Abandoned railroad, crossing a dry creek.  Near Caupta, South Dakota.  This is along SD-44, just a few dozen yards from the road.  Apparently the creek is Rapid Creek, though it was quite dry on this day!

gps coordinates for the bridge are 43.912546, -102.706333, if you care...

Scenic South Dakota

 Actually, Scenic, South Dakota.  As in the town.  Or former town.  Or abandoned town.  Population 10, as of the 2010 census.

Scenic sits just off Rt 44 between Rapid City South Dakota and the Badlands National Park Visitor Center.  We blinked and missed the turn on the way to the park, but decided to stop by on the way back.  After all, how could you skip Scenic SD duing a road trip?

Well...  turns out there's not much happening in Scenic. Especially at 6:30 pm on a Sunday in late September.  Here's a couple of photos:

One of the articles I read indicated that whatever glory Scenic may have had faded when I-90 bypassed the town (I-90 runs about 20 north of Scenic).  Whatever, the drive across 44 was as so much better than the interstate for us on this day.  On the other hand, when we were headed home, we sure took the interstate!

Regardless, Scenic is a funky little spot.  If we had stopped in the morning, we might've explored it a bit more.  

Old Homestead

Driving across Colorado, we came across an old, abandoned farm.  Just off the interstate, maybe 60 miles east of Denver.  Perfect for a quick stop, and a few photos.  Here's 3 versions of one of the photos...

First, the straight-from-the-camera version.  This was posted to my 365 project as part of September's "nifty-50 straight out of camera" challenge.   The zoom was set just under 35mm, which is equivalent to 50mm due to the crop sensor. 

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Below is my first tweak of the image.  It isn't too dramatic a change, but I do think it is much "better".  First, I rotated the image slightly, to appear more level.  Then I did a slight crop, primarily to eliminate the distraction on the right edge..  Last was a slight boost of contrast/saturation (via my "secret sauce").

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Last, I played around with some effects, to get a more aged feel.  Just for giggles, but I think iy turned out OK.

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So what do you think?

 

Iconic?

So...   how does one take a new and compelling image of one of the best know sites in America?  I don't think you do.  Or at least I didn't.  Still, we enjoyed a recent visit to Mount Rushmore.  And I took a bunch of photos along all the other visitors.  And there were a lot of visitors.  It wasn't crazy, but I expect we saw more people at Rushmore than the rest of the trip combined.

This is from the parking garage, a long view.

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Landscape and Portrait, from the main viewing area.

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From the east side of the Presidential Trail.  This is my favorite, I like like the framing of the trees,,,

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This is a little bit different, except there was a line of people to get into the crack in the rocks where everybody could take the exact same photo!

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Another experiment with framing...  President George's tree wig and beard?

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Mt. Rushmore was fun, I'd recommend it if you're in the area.  But count of Badlands and Black Hills for the photo ops!

 

Diana Scour

 

During our recent travels, we made a quick stop at the Overton Bottoms North Unit of the Big Muddy National Fish and Wildlife Refuge, near Boonville, MO.  A chance to stretch the legs and look for a quick photo or two before continuing west.  

According to the map, this is the Diana Scour, taken from the Trail Bridge connection the Levee Trail and the Little Muddy Trail.  

I don't really know what a "Scour" is in this context, but I'm presuming this lake is backfed from the river during high water, rather than being spring fed.  Anybody know?

I went away for a while, but I'm back now...

Just back from a week of travel.  7 days, 2,800 miles, 8 states.  Visited friends in Colorado, went to Mt. Rushmore, Badlands National Park, Buffalo Gap National Grassland, Black Hills National Forest, and more.  Oh, and stopped by 12 quilt shops along the loop. And took close to 400 photos!

From Illinois through Missouri, Kansas, Colorado, Wyoming, South Dakota, Nebraska, Iowa, Missouri back into Illinois.  Approximate map below:

Here's a better detail of our Sunday loop through Buffalo Gap National Grasslands, which was my foavortie part of the trip:

Look for more on this trip over the next few days!

New England Aster

 

From Watershed Nature Center.  This one has some tweaking, below is a "Straight From Camera" version.

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Black Eyed Susan

 

These are great flowers, but I think I prefer them when they're a little past their prime...  like this one.