Fog Magic

 The weather that just keeps on giving.

I feel like the past week has been full of beautiful surprises.  

A snowstorm, an ice storm, extreme cold, and now intense fog, which will be followed by rain. A lot of rain.

That means the dry runs will fill with water and run over the boulders into the valleys.

This guy/gal stopped by for an hour or so. I've been seeing Baldies this week. This one perched close to the house so I kept Charlie inside mostly because he is no bigger than a cat.

It looks like this Eagle had been doing some scavenging, his/her head feathers were pretty dirty.

The fog promised to hang around all day so I decided to go out and see the forest and perhaps I'd get lucky and see something interesting.

The fog was like a light mist. Enough to think about, but not enough to avoid. The water droplets on tree branches at the edge of the forest were beautiful.

I found these tiny fruits on a sapling scrub apple tree.

And then I stood still and listened. I heard birds, but couldn't really tell where they were. Once I spotted them I was so pleased. I didn't have my good zoom lens on so I walked a bit closer and stood still.

They were feasting on Honeysuckle berries. I used arrows for them because they are so hard to see. There were more of them, but I couldn't get them all in frame.

I did manage to get just a tiny bit closer without scaring them off. Finally, one little bird! And I don't know if anyone can see it, but he has a berry in his mouth.

I don't know what it is about fog that makes me smile. Maybe it is the hush it seems to bring over the forest or perhaps it is because no one likes to go out in it because it is dull and yucky looking.

I don't thing it truly is. Fog is one of Nature's Ways of creating Art. 

Maybe we just have to be able to see it to appreciate it.

Weather, what else is there?

 Yesterday's weather was rain, rain, rain....

It rained so much that it melted all of the snow off the roof and off the land. We had small streams of water running through the pastures. Rain and fog.

I took my morning walk through the woods and enjoyed a bit of the moisture.

Water clung to everything. 

Moss on the side of a tree trunk.

Water droplets clinging to thorns.

This morning we awoke to heavy wet snow. I spent an hour just clearing branches and whatnot from an oak the let loose a huge branch down on the driveway. I texted my neighbor at the top of the driveway -- I saw he was already gone that I'd get Frank to do our hill and plowing when the weather settled down.

When daylight broke I saw that I needed to clear the hot wire that was drooping and that yesterday's stream was now 3 inch slush. Wow, not good for when the temps drop tonight and make that area pure ice.

Here they were waiting for breakfast the dark beige area to the left on the photo is slush that is deep. 

I may have to move the smaller water tank and plug it in where the mules can reach it. They will not walk on ice.

Apparently we are very lucky so far. Olive texted me to say that her drive to drop off her son took over and hour and she had to re-route because of down trees and large branches in the road. She said the power at her house went off a few times.

Yuck. Once more I am fortunate enough not to have to make the 30 mile journey down the treacherous highway that dips into steep valleys to go to work.

Instead I can go out an admire it.

Pre dawn:

Getting the mail:

It is a wonder land and I love it. I'm not doing housework today, but going out and enjoying this beautiful scenery.

Fog droplets and Squatching along

Who can pass up a wonderfully misty afternoon? As the fog rolled in and looked absolutely yucky and nasty, Charlie and I took off for a walk in the woods looking for droplets of rain.

I'm going to have to start carrying a magnifying glass, these were so tiny!

I found Black Earth Tongues on an old rotting oak log!

... and here they are!

Very odd looking fungi and I suspect they may have grown last year? I'm not sure, I don't know enough about the world of fungi and mosses to say I know these things. I find them fascinating though.

So you may be bored at seeing moss, lichen, and fungi by now but here is just one more.

Squatch is looking for a new home. He feels this one is too wet.

This one too muddy.

And the hollow in this tree has a mushroom in it so for now he'll just munch along and consider his options.

Rainy day Squatching

March is a tough month in a few ways. The cold rainy days are dismal yet we watch outside with anticipation. Hoping to see that first crocus or daffodil to poke up out of the ground.

Yesterday I found earth worms on the porch, so the ground has had enough frost come out so the worms could come up!

The Robins were happy and full of song when I did chores, as were the other birds. The mushy part of the driveway was a bit firmer so there was that.

When hubby got ready for his morning nap, I told him that I was going to go out and look for raindrops. He chuckled and gave me that look. 

"It's raining. There are your raindrops."

Me: "Yes, well, maybe I can see how good my water resistant coat and pants are!"

He made a comment about it being wet and cold and shook his head.

Charlie was all in on this. He keeps an eye on things when I'm down near the ground looking for interesting mosses. Of course he is surveying the area for killer chipmunks, or squirrels.

The briars looked like they were decorated with raindrops hanging on their thorny branches.

I thought it was neat that I could see the trees above them reflected in the water droplet. 

I did some hunting around and found some bubbles in the creek. I shot this which wouldn't be possible on a sunny day.

A multiple selfie with me waving at the bubbles.

 

A closer look:

I was looking for some mosses on a log that I know hold tiny water droplets. 

There was Squatch trying out his bark raft. He looked a bit wet!

Apparently it was time for his spring shower.

He definitely got wet!

The rain started to get heavier so I decided to head home. My water resistant lined pants were getting pretty damp but I was still warm. My jacket was starting to take on a bit of moisture.

Charlie was soaked, but his heavy undercoat was warm and dry.

I hung up my wet things to dry and toweled off Charlie. We got back before hubby awakened and snuggled in on the couch with a book.

A wandering Pluviophile

 

It just started out muggy and foggy and turned into rainy and misty with a continuous drizzle.

I do appreciate a sidekick who doesn't mind getting wet. Of course most of the undergrowth is taller than he is. He actually likes getting dried off after the walks we take.

This is from another walk we did not the one we did today.

Sometimes I let my mind wander as well as my feet. Charlie doesn't mind it at all. He doesn't need my undivided attention as long as I can hear the bell on his collar and he comes back to check to me when I say *cookie*.

I sometimes follow narrow deer paths. The most fun thing about that is trying to continue to follow them after they disappear. While I was checking out how the creek looked, the sun tried to peek out for a moment.

The cold water from the creek and the hot and humid air clashed creating this mist/fog just hovering above the water.

The rain was never very hard and under the trees we were dripped on. We got wet but we were happy.

The rain was so needed and it wasn't at all unpleasant.

I know we wanted this rain badly! After 4 days of rain we are knee deep in grass and dandelions!

Pluviophile: One who loves rain; one who finds peace and joy on rainy days.

After the Rains and a Micro Lens

I have a Nikkor 40mm Micro/Macro lens. I had put it aside for a while and decided to just shoot with the nifty 50 and the 85mm prime lenses. Now I don't have the pro lenses, but these nice primes are my go to lenses.
I tried shooting again with the 18-55mm lens but I just wasn't happy with the clarity compared to the primes.

With these fixed lenses, you can't just zoom in or out to 'get that shot'. You have to move your feet. I've found that I enjoy the challenge and now have a hard time going back to any other type of lens. I do however lust after a nice zoom.  I bought the Tamron 18-200mm last year thinking I had the bomb. Nope cheap lens, ... it does the trick in bright light but should only be used in mid range. And it is heavy. --- Edit on 10 17 17...eeks gads I took it out today and was able to make the Tamron work very well! ... Samples later!]

All right, with all of that garbeldy gook out of the way. What did I do? I put the 40mm on my Nikon and packed up my little old backpack and decided to go enjoy the fall colors. I planned on just hiking the 'bowl' up to the pine trees. This means a bit of brush busting through some deer trails.

Now as the name of the lens implies, it is great for close up work. And yes, you have to get 'close' up. Not so great when or if you are trying to shoot a bee for example.
However, it is great for the following.

Water droplets, leaves, and fungi. All such tiny things. I did have to kneel on the ground for the maidenhair fern. I had to get down close to the maple leaf and I got close and personal for the coral fungi. [That was a pure bonus!]

I kept walking down the trail wondering if I was going to regret this self challenge.

The woods were so incredibly beautiful. The colors were popping in the subtle light. The skies were overcast and letting in just enough diffused light to make the yellow leaves appear to glow.

I decided to explore this stump on the trail. Wow, I am glad I did.

I got a few of these droplets. All shots were hand held. I did get damp from kneeling and scrunching down in the leaves or leaning against the stump itself.

The light kept changing as there were breaks in the clouds once in a while.
I kept walking.

I cursed myself for not having a 'landscape' lens and then thought. Well, here is the challenge.
Go for it.

And I did.

Did I do okay? I think so. Did I satisfy my challenge? Yes I believe so.

It was a beautiful day to challenge myself. No tripod, nothing extra. Just a backpack with extra water and a pair of gloves.

I ended the hike at the soybean field at the top of the 'bowl'. I thought I'd try a hand held panoramic shot of the trees below me. The lone red tree was blazing away.

Yes, this worked! I can say with confidence that I can get landscape and micro/macro out of the same lens with nothing fancy.
Color me happy.
Color me satisfied.

Oh. And for the rest of the week the sun will shine brightly so I look forward to some fall adventures with Morris on some well groomed trails as well as a visit to the winter ice cave.
Fall is glorious.

Hopefully you can go out and enjoy it.