Focus, focus, hocus pocus?

I have Little Richard doing some yard work. He can't get onto the porch, but he can crop the longer grass near the porch. Since he wasn't doing well on hay, I decided to move him around the yard spaces to crop up the long bits of grass growing up.

He is doing a pretty good job too.
[Photo taken in the late afternoon when it got sunny!]

During the morning sprinkles of rain yesterday, I headed out to the creek to check on a few things. I was pleased to see that the Ramps are poking up through the debris on the ground.

Each year, I only dig a few up in two different places on our land as they take so long to regenerate if you dig up most of the patch.

I like a challenge. So I decided to try and work with my Lensbaby lens. Everything has to be done in manual. Manual focus, manual ISO [unless you use Auto which some Lensbaby folks say works well]. It is frustrating because it looks in focus but...dang it, it isn't always in focus.

There is something called focus peaking in most modern cameras that can assist with that. But by golly I hadn't figured out exactly how to do that with this lens yet. Of course, here I was in the light rain sitting on rocks, trying to get a manual focus. It isn't easy when you are crouched down on wet rocks in dull light....but....

I missed slightly but still love how the photo turned out.

This is Hammie in the Hamster costume holding a fallen bud from a maple tree. He is overjoyed that spring may actually show up! I was pleased with the Lensbaby effect and that I got pretty close on the focus.

My other 'story' shots turned out miserably.

So before I left, I stopped and did one last try at the mossy log. It worked, I lucked out and got what I wanted in focus! 

I almost never climb over this log without stopping to see if the moss has something new to offer.

When I got back home, the rain turned to snow so after fixing Rich something to eat I started an internet search on how to get focus peaking on a vintage lens that doesn't communicate with the camera. Specifically for the camera I had. 

My Olympus E-M5 iii is my super lightweight camera that I take out on most hikes. I've never had a lens that didn't communicate with the camera before so this was a first for me.

The continual search eventually paid off. Olympus now OM is notorious for having sub-menus hidden in the menus. I fiddled with this and that while watching and stopping a video on this subject.

Eventually I landed on the solution! So I tossed on my coveralls and stocking cap.

I got down on the ground to look at my sad little crocus plants. They've been beaten on by snow, ice, and heavy rain. This was their last gasp.

But the daffodils near the house are getting ready to open their buds so I can go enjoy them in a few days.

I couldn't help but try a few more shots with focus peaking. The one below doesn't have any real importance, it was just a test shot. But the figures are in focus with an f stop of 11. The Sweet 50 allows one to change their f stop whereas the Sol 22 only shoots at f 3.5.

I swapped to the Sol 22 when I got indoors and thought I'd try a shot of Charlie [who is back to himself after his vaccinations 🙌].

I was really pleased with this. Now I can shoot...hopefully, with a bit more accuracy.

However ....

My vote for the day was the Hammie photo. That little figure's expression and happiness is infectious. Even in a drizzly, cold, day, I was able to make myself smile. That shot reminds me of Happiness....

Sometimes you can find it for just a moment anywhere if you look hard enough.

I also found a great use for the Sol 22. 

Portraits! Here is hubby looking out the window deep in thought? No not really, just watching not worrying, not thinking, just...being. Even though he has a nasal cannula on, I think this is a great little portrait of him.

Today is another day. More digging and transplanting is on the schedule after CrossFit. Maybe a quick walk into the forest to look for something interesting.

After all, I have some adventures in mind for my surprise minifigs for celebrating spring.

It looks like midweek will be rainy. I love rainy days too. How about you?

There and back....

 

Sunday afternoon I took off for a drive to the other side of the state into the Kenosha area to see and meet Aurora [Rory] for the first time. 

The trip takes me at least 4 hours. But it is always so worth it to walk into Megan and Eddie's welcoming arms.

Of course this time, I got to snuggle a new grand baby! You will just have to imagine the joy and love that glowed through my body as I got to hold Aurora....Rory for the first time.

It was purely magical and breathtaking. We women [and many men for that matter], absolutely melt in the presence of cooing baby. 

I can't post photos until I ask permission from the parents, but there was a few of me holding her and looking like I'd just entered baby wonderland.

My whirlwind ended after lunch on Monday and I drove back home straight through. I was trying to beat the storms that were whipping up on this strange odd March day!

By evening just north of us had hail and sleet which covered the roads in ice when the temps dropped to 33 degrees.

At our house, we had lightening, thunder, and then small hail.

What a crazy two days!

The crocus flowers are in my yard.

These snow drops were in my son's yard.

And...there...

I was there and back....

Know where you are.

There was a story this week about how a woman had to be rescued at the Kickapoo Valley Reserve. She had gotten lost. 

Woman lost on Kickapoo Valley Reserve. 

She was found safely around midnight. The sheriff department used a drone to find her heat image that night and she was 'rescued' unharmed. 

I am not going to make fun of her experience. A good friend of mine last spring called me on her cell phone as she and her family had taken a wrong turn 'somewhere' on the Reserve and she felt lost. That worked out as her husband [ex marine] took them to a spot and went to get the vehicle on his own.

Here is look at the map.

and a closer view:
This area in close up, is probably THE most confusing part of the KVR.
I carry a paper map while hiking and I have my map marked up with mileage of each section of trail along with notations about tricky trail junctions.

Here is a satellite map of the area not all of it, but just enough to give you and idea of the contours, hills, and valleys.

I have many friends whose biggest fear is getting turned around in the KVR. I have ridden mules on the Reserve before it was the Reserve. Now I spend my time carefully plotting hikes to show my pal.

On my own two feet I have done all but 4 miles of the 50 miles of trails. There is some wonderful logic to use here. Hike with someone you know. If not, have a paper map AND a compass. Some junctions are tricky and it is easy to go west when you intend to go east if it is heavily overcast.

Don't leave the trail if you don't understand the lay of the land. However, walking the trail will eventually take you to a road. Listen for traffic. If you are quiet you can hear in which direction roads are.

Bill and I took a wrong turn last winter. Too much talking and not enough paying attention. We backtracked and were fine. So having Bill with me asking questions was my downfall. We didn't get lost but it sure was embarrassing to me.

I recently spoke with another friend of mine and she had asked if I'd show them around to the ice cave trails as she'd tried to figure it out but was afraid of getting lost with her kids. 

I am more than happy to, the KVR is no longer the mystery it used to be.

One more satellite view. The circled area I hike and live in. I've spent from 1996 to present walking/riding this area. The very first time I went on my own, I took my mule so in case I got turned around, he'd take me back home. Now I hike it daily up and down the hills and through the valleys. 

When I first moved here, I could not figure out my directions. 

I am hesitant to try places that I don't know. However I would love to get to know Governor Dodge State Park and Wyalusing much better. Unfortunately they are an hour drive one way. Too far for a quick hike. 

We are lucky in our county to also have Sidie Hollow, Esofea, Duck Egg, and Jersey Valley County Parks to hike/ride equine/bike/camp in.

Okay. I got way off track.

Be prepared. I always have a backpack with food, water, map, compass, emergency blanket--the space kind. A Firestarter, and a lighter. Of course a little first aid kit too. 

Last funny thought. 25 years ago two ladies came into the Chiropractor's office where I worked and told me a story how they'd gotten sort of lost on the Reserve. No cell phones at that time. The one lady said they'd been hunting morels and got off the beaten path. It got dark so she built a campfire and waited until morning when she could get her bearings and walk out.

That story stuck with me. Those women were totally calm about their experience. 

One of the signs at the trail heads at KVR is to notify hikers to not depend on their cell phones as the reception is spotty at best in the deep valleys.

I am very happy to learn that our Sheriff Department is able to launch a search with a drone that can read heat images. 

I hope to hike on Saturday on one of the less popular trails. This week has been full of appointments. I'm off to get my eyes examined in a bit.

Rich said I should have my "head" examined.

This photo is from Tuesday...our first crocuses!

And now to the weather...Sunday

snow/sleet/rain and yuck!

Gotta love March!

Life on the farm hasn't changed much...

There is the Burdock war...

And there was a way to get rid of them until the burn ban went into effect. Now I am piling them and trying to figure out how to get rid of them without breaking the ban.

After hiking and helping me with Burdock, raking leaves, cleaning up gardens, transplanting perennials and moving hostas...Charlie decides to nap on the Mulewings bench on the porch.

The bleeding hearts are emerging, along with the red sedum ....

And the green sedum!

The oregano is coming back too!

The Virgina Blue Bells are emerging!

Lil' Richard will be assuming his duties as trimmer and fertilizer along the fencelines and in different parts of the yard along with Sven as things green up.

The daffodils are about to burst forth with their yellows as the crocus flowers finish dazzling one area of the yard.

This photo, edited in a paint program....

Today Charlie and I are taking a break and will go to Kickapoo Valley Reserve and hike one of our favorite routes to Black Hawk Rock.
Today will be the only sunny and nice day until the next cold front passes and sunshine returns on Tuesday.

Back to cold for this next week!
It will slow the plants from emerging, however, that will give me a bit more time for my war on Burdock.

Stay well and safe.

Time Off

Well there it is, the Great Two Day Get Away has arrived this morning.

In a few hours I'll 'saddle' up the Subaru and drive 2 1/2 hours to meet up with a cousin. Well, a cousin in law? She is married to one of my cousins. She and I are both Caregivers. She has done this many more years than I have and I thought a little break for the both of us would be nice.

We've been planning this since last October. I don't know Jeanette very well, but we've talked on the phone and emailed quite a bit over the past couple of years. I feel completely comfortable and slightly excited to be able to spend some time with her.

We will be exploring Eau Claire, Wisconsin. The last time I even drove through Eau Claire has to have been years ago. Okay, nearly 30 years ago!

I had to make new arrangements for 'Rich Care' but I got that worked out. I must say, it is wonderful to have good friends. I won't have to worry about Charlie, and the chores either!

Charlie is the ultimate 'porch' dog. He is content to sit on his little rug on the porch and watch the world go by. He watches birds, and listens for the neighbor kids. He can still see them through the leafless trees and underbrush when they are down in the pasture playing. He watches the mules.
In short, Charlie is in charge of his little domain. He needs his rug, a chew bone, and water.

If it is a nice day, he prefers to spend his time on the porch and not watching me do things. I agree with him. The porch is a perfect place to be.

Allison came to visit me yesterday after she got home from the Waldorf clothing swap. She got me a rabbit fur neck wrap and a funky 1930's style mink band with a bow and netting on it for a hat. She is a delightful young lady and we went searching for bugs and bird nests.
Then she showed me the butterfly wings she found at the swap.

And I could not resist making a composite.

So off I go.
I feel pretty good about this. The first time since May 2017 that I have left my husband in the care of others for a short time...
It feels weird.

 Virginia Bluebells emerging!

Delicate yellow crocus

Time to put on my adventure hat.

Low perspectives

The woods look pretty dreary and uninteresting right at the moment, but I still believe there can be interesting things found.

I grabbed my Nikon with the Nifty 50mm lens and decided to explore. The challenge is to not have a zoom focus but a fixed lens where you have to really think about getting the shot you want.

The shot of the creek bottom shows exactly how 'uninteresting' the woods appear to be. The shot of the Skunk Cabbage shows exactly how interesting the woods actually are!

When I came back from the woods, I found some crocus blossoms in the yard along with daffodils poking their brave stems out of the ground. I laid down in the yard to take some shots. There I was wiggling around trying to find the right composition, what did I see?

A little bug of some sort climbing around inside the crocus flower.  I peered at it after I took the shot and discovered that is was a very small bee and it was covered in pollen.

Imagine my surprise. If I stand up, the crocus plant is nearly impossible to spot. If one were to casually walk near the creek and not keep an eye out, they'd surely miss the Skunk Cabbage.

I'd place a skull next to the crocuses so that I could see them from further away and not step on them.
I was also surprised to see that a spider had climbed onto the skull!

And then there was the lone yellow crocus...it was very hard to find.

Yesterday some new crocuses came up and I didn't get out until the evening to get a shot of them while doing chores.

The daffodills are coming up around them and soon they will be gone. The daffy's will be the next blossoms to grace the yard.

Meanwhile out in the woods, under the debris I was able to see the very tips of Leeks just breaking the soil under the leaves.

They will come out when the weather is right.

The Robins however believe it is spring. This one sang the night song to me just before the sun blinked out of our hollow.

Lucky for me he perched on the branch long enough for me to attempt a shot.
This fit in my low perspective as he was higher than I was??

Well spring is coming and I believe I can say that I am looking forward to it. It was with deep regret that I put my cross country skis away yesterday and stored my snow shoes for next year.