A Beetle? (ALEL and Val?)

OK, we were NOT planning to blog  today. We felt compelled, however when Michele and I saw this really neat beetle when relaxing in our yard. I watched her fly down by me and I, interested, held out my sunglasses for her to climb onto. She did and slowly crept around them until I put her down on the grass (or, in our yard, it's called "weeds").

She sat there for a very long time while I debated running in to get my camera. I finally went and she was gone when I came back. We looked, couldn't find her, and just resigned ourselves that I missed a really neat bug shot and we're happy to have seen her. I teased Michele that she was supposed to keep her eye on her while I went to get my camera, tracking her deep into the woods if needed. Then, out of nowhere she flew back through the yard and landed on Michele's head!

Not knowing what it was, Michele knocked her out of her hair. She laid "stunned" for the next hour or so. I knew she wasn't dead, I had seen her move, and think feigning death was a defensive posture. (Kinda like what people do when I come to talk to them.  ;-> )

I luckily got the shots below and am hoping ALEL (Agricultural Landscape Ecology Lab) can shed some light on identification. The large black spots seem like mimic eyes, again as a defense and it is about 1.25 inches long.

Val, my sweet sister: I would be intrigued in your thoughts on the larger interpretation of the above events. It unfolded in an interesting way.

Andy

Estate Sale Season

When I go to Estate sales I try to purchase only items I can use in my art work. Who am I fooling? I always find a few extra things that I feel need to come home with me. Here are a couple of my finds from yesterday.

~Michele

Everybody's Favorite . . . SPIDERS!

Yes, more macro photography when the weather was nice and lighting was great. Insects are always neat subjects along with plants and their flowers. Here are 3 shots of different spiders in their natural habitat. 


WARNING (in mostly satire): the last image graphically depicts entomological carnage. It has been rated PG-13 by the Entomological Picture Rating System of America (EPRSA); Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13 or . . . for people grossed out by bugs. 


Andy

"Sunlight" and Self-Portrait

I'm always amazed, or perhaps mesmerized, with the play of light. It's infinite colors, patterns, forms, reflections . . . the list goes on.

I was finishing my workout and kept staring at sun shining through the window and hitting a doorknob. Slowly, I became conscious of the interesting pattern of light and how it dispersed across and around the door.

Having just finished a shoot the day before, the camera was nearby and already on a tripod. After taking the picture I noticed as is often the case that it is also an abstract self portrait.

May you see yourself . . . in a different and positive light.

Andy

Great Friends, Great Day

It was a very pleasant day in Suttons Bay. Had a great time with Mike and Pam--met for breakfast and poked around some of the neat stores downtown. After some "chores" at home we then listened to live music at a restaurant on the water (Omena Bay).

We luckily bumped into another close friend of ours and fellow music lover, Penny. She is one of those people that you don't get a chance to see as often you like, but when you do it's as if you talked yesterday. She is a wonderful person and we all committed to doing something in June--really!

Here is Mike posing in Suttons Bay.

Hope you had a great day too!

Andy

Late Spring flowers

It's such a joy to watch all the spring buds turn to flowers.

Andy took this on our walk last night.

I took this in our backyard.

~Michele

Dogs (Tongue in Cheek . . . or Water Bowl, Face, Ear, etc.)

I learned something over the weekend at the 7th Annual Empire (MI) Asparagus Festival. Now, I know this "well-known" festival sets the trend each year for asparagus attire (really--attire) and food, but I didn't know that it also was THE place to be for dog owners.

YouTube Video of Weirdest Food Festivals

After spending several hours in downtown Empire highly anticipating the much promoted asparagus parade, I saw a new dog owner trend. And, yes, this was in between tastes of asparagus cuisine, one morsel after another. I did not partake in the asparagus beer and ice cream. No, this was not a float (maybe next year?); they were separate offerings.

While off and on nibbling/eating/gorging I saw what must have been hundreds of dogs. AND, the new trend of carrying your dog. I know people have carried their small dogs for eons likely since their domestication tens of thousands of years ago. I can hear the Australopithicus couple now, "Huny, u pik up Fido at hunt kamp?" "No, Spig, I ate him instead."

But, in these cases, these are medium dogs being carried in weird ways. Weird to me---not that there is anything wrong with carrying your dog in weird ways. (I carried a "C" average in a weird way one semester in college---it was weird . . . because I don't recall all of the details of that semester . . . for some reason.)

Here are some samples in order of descending weirdness.

OK, not really weird, but an example of frequency . . .

Weird . . .

Weird Front . . .












Weird Back . . .

Question for "Agricultural Landscape Ecology Lab"

ALEL: I found these in our yard today. Any idea what they are and if we should be concerned?

1. this guy was just cool; about an inch and a half long. Any idea what it is?
2. are these guys bugs and should we be concerned?
3. is this a lady bug?

Thanks!
Andy

Bonus Post

Some writing on the more "creative side" . . .

I went to sleep. And, jumped across a canyon. Breathed underwater. Reunioned with a childhood pet. Met a grandfather who died two weeks before I was born. Cured a disease. Listened while Beethoven conducted. There was no pain. I was in a room full of strangers, we didn’t speak, we all looked at each other, we all understood each other, unequivocally. I walked on top of water. I was a child holding my grandmother’s hand. Talked with Buddha. Walked on a distant planet. Flew like an eagle. There was no anger. I rode a dinosaur. At one moment, I felt and knew across all people that all was forgiven. Felt the structure of an atom. I walked in everyone’s shoes; they were mine. Everyone in the world at once shared an epiphany, war and peace were arbitrary. When we dream we can do anything, anything is possible.

Empire Asparagus Festival 2010!!

Had a very nice day today primarily centered around the 2010 Empire Asparagus Festival. Yes, this is an annual event and it's in it's 7th year. Really. Actually, it is full of self-satire, fun, and GREAT food! Here's a shot of the . . . main  . . . "stalk":

And, he and "little stalk" lead the parade, followed by a very silly (meta) spoof of the Thanksgiving Day Parade's (and Michigan's very own) "Briefcase Brigade." I guess you'd call this . . . Asparagus Brigade (you saw that coming):

Finally, can a child ask for more? A sunny day, a parade, and Blue Moon ice cream:

Here are some links.
A Vid I Took
Official "Asparagus Festival" Website


Andy

A Favorite

Still pining* for some better weather, here is another shot from the archive. And, yes, I'm partial to this one. I really like macro photography; it's kinda like taking pictures using a microscope-like device. It satisfies the little scientist in me. 


This was taken around the same time as the last. This is a bloomin' dandelion this time and it's housing a baby grasshopper. And, who said insects aren't cute? I know Dr. Mary G. never did!


We'll try to have newer outside shots soon--the weather is turning. Plus, Michele will have some shots of her creations before too long. We promise---hope you like 'em.


Andy


*Not to be confused with, "pining for the fjords."

Weather

Back in March our area had some of the warmest weather on record for that month. Several colleagues and friends went south to get warm--the typical plan and time for a Michigander to get some heat after a cold winter. The bad news for them is that it was typically colder along the Gulf Coast than the Third Coast! 


The ephemeral yet powerful El Nino struck again. It warmed and pushed the jet stream further north across the US (west to east) warming us and leaving the cooler air along the south. We had record highs and they had record lows.  (I'm sure several readers can correct/improve this description!)


Now, it's our turn--a below average April-May; cold, wet, and windy. OK, yes, typical in many ways, but still chillier. In times past the weather is good enough to get some fun macro shots outside, but it is just not pleasant enough to get some good shots at the times I have available. Despite me living in the hearty north . . . I'm still a weenie. 


So, here's one from the archive---this is what I'd like to be out photographing:

Any idea what it is? 


Anyone? Anyone? Bueller?


A dandelion going to seed.


Andy

Studio Shots

I really like virtually any kind of photography. Landscapes, animals (wild and tame), action shots, people, macro (very close-up), just about any type well done. 


What is also very fun is studio photography. Ideally, studio photography allows you, the photographer, to have much more control over the lighting than if one is outdoors. And, after all, what is photography if it is not the management of light?


I really enjoyed a studio photoshoot recently, as odd as it sounds, with some . . . "bottles." I thought this one turned out well--hope you do too. 


Andy

Rainy evenings...

Katie doesn't like us to pick her up, but on chilly evenings she jumps in my lap as soon as I sit down to do some hand sewing or reading.

~Michele

Summer is around the corner

On Saturday we woke up to snowflakes in the air followed by a rainy, windy and chilly day. Today things seemed more back in line with spring. This familiar sight, in the village, is sure sign that summer is coming.

~Michele

Orchards . . .

. . . I don't think I can see enough of them in the spring. They smell pretty, they look simply beautiful, they even buzz. Yes, buzz---thousands of honey bees and other insects flit from flower to flower. They don't really seem to notice people being so intent on their task. No risk of stings despite being surrounded by hundreds of buzzing bugs.

Here are some recent shots of cherry orchards. The cold, windy weather that has moved in will ensure the blossoms are not around much longer (these were taken just prior to the bad weather). They can be a lot like life . . . beautiful, sweet, and short lived.

Andy

Kitty Kat Katie

A little while ago a friend of ours said that we had a good post for our blog . . . as soon as we started one, that is. Her gentle nudges helped motivate us to finally put this together. And, here is the post from our cat, Katie. Thanks, Amanda!


"On my birthday, April 1st, I did something that I haven't done in months! At about 5am I meowed as loud and long as I could, jumped on their bed, and plopped down on their stomachs and various other 'sensitive' parts. Boy were they bummed; THAT was funny! 


My goal NEXT is to someday make it out of the litter box WITHOUT being grabbed and wiped down. How degrading! I guess I have a little 'extra' around the middle and it . . . sometimes . . . drags a little . . . in the litter box. They're so picky. Wish me luck and meow at you later!"


  ^_ _^
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   \-/

Spring

Signs of Spring....

and new signs...

Ernie Harwell

I had planned my post for today. I changed my mind after hearing that Ernie Harwell had left this life. I decided today I will just share some of my memories.

I think any kid growing up in Detroit, in the 60's, remembers the Good Humor truck had real bells, the vegetable man's truck with the loud speaker, and the all dreaded "street light curfew." Every kid I knew had to be home when the streets lights came on.

It didn't matter what age you were though; it seemed everybody loved "The Detroit Tigers," and the "voice of summer," Ernie Harwell. My first memories start when I was 6 or 7. It seemed it was always really hot in the city, so after barely making that street light curfew, we would quickly shower, as we knew Mom was dishing up bowls of sherbet. Mom said sherbet was cooling on hot summer nights. It was hot! She would then hoist this monstrous fan into the front window and say "rest here a bit and the bedrooms will be cool soon." Ernie's voice was always on the radio in the background. I didn't care much about sports, but his voice was something I grew to love. It meant summer, comfort and home. In the following years my Mom was often puzzled to find the transistor radio under my pillow, she knew I wasn't interested in the game. My Dad worked for the police department and was often called out at night. I worried about his safety. Ernie's voice was so comforting to me. I wish I had shared that with him. Just a simple letter....one I never wrote. Never miss an opportunity to thank someone for being "whatever they are to you."

Thanks Ernie, for being that comforting voice to a scared little girl. You'll be greatly missed and always remembered.

Signs of Spring

Yesterday and today were sunny and warm, hopefully making this patient Mom's job a bit easier.

My Moment in Time

I'm finally learning to use my point and shoot camera that Andy gave me for Christmas 2008. I have yet to part with my old SLR film camera though. I do like to hold on to things, one never knows! Here is my picture for the NYT Moment in Time project. (see Andy's post below for the details and link.) ~Michele

NYT The Lens Blog "Moment in Time"

Michele and I submitted photos for the NYT Lens blog. This Lens feature was for a Moment In Time. Check out the link when you get a chance and hopefully our pix will be up over the next week or so.

http://lens.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/05/02/readers-13/

Here's my pic.
Andy