Apples!

One of the great things about living here in the upstate region of New York is our agriculture.    We don't have many mega-farms up here; most of them are small operations.  Love Apple Orchard in Ghent is one of those places.  They have many different varieties of apples, and they have tractor drawn hay rides through the orchard as well as a petting area where one can pet and feed the goats.  But those apples!

This year, the conditions were good for the orchards in the Hudson Valley - the trees were loaded with beautiful, wonderful apples.  The good thing about picking apples is that you can choose the day (within reason) to go, and we chose the most marvelous October day I can remember in a long, long time.  The sun was shining, the birds were singing and it was just a perfect day to take the short drive and walk through the apple trees for a couple of hours.

F Number	7.1
Lens ID	-45mm F3.5-5.6
Focal Length	45.0 mm (35 mm equivalent: 90.0 mm)
Exposure Time	1/250
Exposure Program	Program AE
ISO	400
Exposure Compensation	0
Flash	Off, Did not fire

Last rose?

I didn't take good care of the roses this year.  I started out with the best of intentions but somehow the season ran away from me and I didn't do a good job.  Bugs ate so many rose leaves... I can't believe there is something that likes them!  But the plants somehow thrive despite my abuse.  Here we are, in the middle of October and she has bloomed again - with more buds in the wings!  Nature is amazing.

F Number	5.6
Lens ID	-45mm F3.5-5.6
Focal Length	45.0 mm (35 mm equivalent: 90.0 mm)
Exposure Time	1/60
Exposure Program	Manual
ISO	400
Exposure Compensation	0
Flash	Off, Did not fire

Sloppy soccer

It was another wet week, but the coaches decided it was OK to play, so we did.  Every child's back was mud spattered from them running on the wet field but they all looked happy to be out there.  The temperature was much more seasonal - high 50s (F).

F Number	5.6
Lens ID	LUMIX G VARIO 14-45mm F3.5-5.6
Focal Length	37.0 mm (35 mm equivalent: 74.0 mm)
Exposure Time	1/125
Exposure Program	Program AE
ISO	400
Exposure Compensation	0
Flash	Off, Did not fire

Skywatch Friday

A few weeks ago, we were treated to this sunset, right here in the middle of the city.  I was a bit bothered that the power and telephone lines would mar the image, but then I reasoned that this is how it looks, so I jsut took the photo :-)  In the end, the overhead wires don't look all that bad.

A group of photobloggers post a photo of their skies each Friday - it's called Skywatch Friday. Click the link to see photos from round the world.

October geranium

This old friend kept me company me through the summer of 2010, hung with me through the winter of 2010 and bloomed once more in the spring and summer of 2011.  I thought all her blooms were past her, but here she is with another round!  Almost time to bring her in for another winter, but for now, she's still enjoying the sunshine and outdoor breezes.

F Number	5.6
Lens ID	LUMIX G VARIO 14-45mm F3.5-5.6
Focal Length	40.0 mm (35 mm equivalent: 80.0 mm)
Exposure Time	1/1000
Exposure Program	Manual
ISO	400
Exposure Compensation	0
Flash	Off, Did not fire

First practice of the year

The field has been so wet that the soccer club has had to postpone the first practice of the season twice!  Those two weeks won't be lost though - they'll get tacked on to the end of the season.  The kids were all complaining of the heat: we won't ear that when the season's over!  This might be my first deliberate action shot.

F Number	9.0
Lens ID	LUMIX G VARIO 14-45mm F3.5-5.6
Focal Length	45.0 mm (35 mm equivalent: 90.0 mm)
Exposure Time	1/400
Exposure Program	Program AE
ISO	400
Exposure Compensation	0
Flash	Off, Did not fire

Late season raspberries

These raspberries come from 'ever bearing' plants at Yonder Farms in Kinderhook, NY (pronounced like kindergarten).  It's less than an hour by car from my kitchen and the day was simply marvelous - 80F and sunny!  We picked apples close by, then went here to pick raspberries and pumpkins.  A great way to spend an afternoon here in upstate NY!

F Number	7.1
Lens ID	LUMIX G VARIO 14-45mm F3.5-5.6
Focal Length	37.0 mm (35 mm equivalent: 74.0 mm)
Exposure Time	1/250
Exposure Program	Program AE
ISO	400
Exposure Compensation	0
Flash	Off, Did not fire