Cohoes mastodon

We went to the New York State Museum in Albany on Monday; haven't been in a while.  This is the Cohoes mastodon.  It's named for the city of Cohoes, where it was discovered in 1866.  Very few large animal fossils are found in this area, so the mastodon is quite a local treasure.  It turns out that mastodons are not related to mammoths at all.  This fellow was a juvenile, was apparently in poor health and died about 11,000 years ago.

F Number	5.6
Lens ID	LUMIX G VARIO 14-45mm F3.5-5.6
Focal Length	20.0 mm (35 mm equivalent: 40.0 mm)
Exposure Time	1/20
Exposure Program	Manual
ISO	800
Exposure Compensation	0
Flash	Off, Did not fire

Strawberries

I always look forward to this day - the day the first strawberries are ripe.  The little one does, too!  This plant is in the side yard.  During the winter, it's usually covered in big piles of snow but that doesn't seem to deter it.  Nature is amazing.

F Number	5.6
Lens ID	LUMIX G VARIO 14-45mm F3.5-5.6
Focal Length	45.0 mm (35 mm equivalent: 90.0 mm)
Exposure Time	1/500
Exposure Program	Manual
ISO	100
Exposure Compensation	0
Flash	Off, Did not fire

Fire!

We had another local fire yesterday.  It was right next to the warehouse that burnt down almost exactly a year ago.  It is an abandoned house and it seems that no one was hurt - fire fighters included.  I saw fire trucks from Schenectady, Rotterdam and Niskayuna.  The house seems a total loss to these unprofessional eyes - we'll know more in a few days.  Lots of smoke covered the neighbourhood for a few hours.  Since the house was vacant and electricity was cut off, the fire chief has called it 'suspicious'.  Not really a surprise.

F Number	10.0
Lens ID	LUMIX G VARIO 14-45mm F3.5-5.6
Focal Length	45.0 mm (35 mm equivalent: 90.0 mm)
Exposure Time	1/640
Exposure Program	Program AE
ISO	160
Exposure Compensation	0
Flash	Off, Did not fire

Memorial Day

Today is Memorial Day in the US.  It used to be called Decoration Day' a day set aside to decorate the graves of the Civil War dead of both sides.  Even today, the graves at Arlington National Cemetery are decorated on this day with small flags.  This tradition has fallen by the wayside for the most part.  The day is more noted as the beginning of summer than anything else.  In one way, that's OK - those who died in the wars died to keep our way of life intact; what's more American than enjoying time outdoors with friends and family?

These roses are in our side yard, and like everything else growing, went from mere buds to full blossoms overnight.

F Number	5.6
Lens ID	LUMIX G VARIO 14-45mm F3.5-5.6
Focal Length	45.0 mm (35 mm equivalent: 90.0 mm)
Exposure Time	1/80
Exposure Program	Manual
ISO	100
Exposure Compensation	0
Flash	Off, Did not fire

Skywatch Friday

We were outside enjoying the nice weather; my oldest was grilling up dinner, the sun was going down and the sky was filled with... contrails?  Apparently it was a harmonic convergence of airplanes.  These contrails all point east-west.  Ish.  The plane in progress is moving east.

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.

 

F Number	6.3
Lens ID	LUMIX G VARIO 14-45mm F3.5-5.6
Focal Length	21.0 mm (35 mm equivalent: 42.0 mm)
Exposure Time	1/160
Exposure Program	Program AE
ISO	200
Exposure Compensation	0
Flash	Off, Did not fire

Spot escapes!

This is my buddy Spot.  Every spring, he gets a serious itch to get outside, to the point where one can hardly get through the door without him trying to dash through.  Well, he beat me this morning and out like a shot ran Spot.  He doesn't get out all that much, and he stopped at the grass (which has got desperately tall in just a few days) and just... stopped.  Sat in the sunshine and munched some tall grass like a feline Huck Finn.  When he was satisfied he came right to me and we went back in, safe and sound.

F Number	5.6
Lens ID	LUMIX G VARIO 14-45mm F3.5-5.6
Focal Length	45.0 mm (35 mm equivalent: 90.0 mm)
Exposure Time	1/125
Exposure Program	Program AE
ISO	100
Exposure Compensation	0
Flash	Off, Did not fire

Butterfly rescue

We have a Mother's Day tradition of visiting our local greenhouse and buying flowers (and some herbs and veggies) for the garden.  The little one saw these butterflies inside the greenhouses and it bothered him that they were fluttering at the walls and couldn't seem to find their way out.

So he started capturing them.  And carrying them outside so they could fly away.  I didn't plant the idea in his head - it was all him.  Of course, I helped him get the higher up ones, but he must have rescued at least 20 of these.  All the same species - a species I of course don't know, sigh.  The older I get the more I don't know!

F Number	5.6
Lens ID	LUMIX G VARIO 14-45mm F3.5-5.6
Focal Length	45.0 mm (35 mm equivalent: 90.0 mm)
Exposure Time	1/250
Exposure Program	Program AE
ISO	200
Exposure Compensation	0
Flash	Off, Did not fire

Skywatch Friday

Our annual visit to Pigliavento Greenhouses for Mother's Day.  Local plants, raised by a local farmer, destined for local gardens!

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.

 

F Number	8.0
Lens ID	LUMIX G VARIO 14-45mm F3.5-5.6
Focal Length	14.0 mm (35 mm equivalent: 28.0 mm)
Exposure Time	1/1600
Exposure Program	Manual
ISO	200
Exposure Compensation	0
Flash	Off, Did not fire

Police bikes

The local police departments had a show and tell day at Rotterdam Square Mall.  We went for the Child ID program, and near their table were these motorcycles belonging to the Schenectady Police Department.  I knew we had Harleys, but the dirt bike was new to me.  I wonder how often that gets taken out?

F Number	6.3
Lens ID	LUMIX G VARIO 14-45mm F3.5-5.6
Focal Length	45.0 mm (35 mm equivalent: 90.0 mm)
Exposure Time	1/250
Exposure Program	Program AE
ISO	1600
Exposure Compensation	0
Flash	Off, Did not fire

Vinca vine

Several years ago, we bought some of this vine (Vinca major) as a decorative touch for the flower boxes at the front steps.  Being a vine, it climbed down the side of the steps and rooted itself into the dirt next to them.  I thought for sure the winter would kill it; snow and ice accumulate exactly in that spot.  Well, the next spring, the vine came back: not in the flower pot, but down below!  This winter we had very little snow, and thus very little insulation on the ground.  I feared the worst for this vine, but to my happy surprise, it not only survived: it flowered!  I had no idea this thing could flower, and here it is, a beautiful purple.

As usual, kudos to my better half who identified it straight away.  I, as usual, hadn't a clue what it's called.

F Number	8.0
Lens ID	-45mm F3.5-5.6
Focal Length	45.0 mm (35 mm equivalent: 90.0 mm)
Exposure Time	1/320
Exposure Program	Manual
ISO	160
Exposure Compensation	0
Flash	Off, Did not fire

Skywatch Friday

A couple of rainy days and then... this! 

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.

 

F Number	8.0
Lens ID	-45mm F3.5-5.6
Focal Length	45.0 mm (35 mm equivalent: 90.0 mm)
Exposure Time	1/1600
Exposure Program	Manual
ISO	400
Exposure Compensation	0
Flash	Off, Did not fire

Two kinds of blue

Well, blue may be a misnomer, but it makes for a funnier title.  Violets and... I'm not sure what.  It just grows here, unbidden.  I guess that makes it a weed, but I'm not pulling it up.  I think those tiny flowers are beautiful.  Oddly enough, we didn't plant the violets either, so I guess that makes them a weed, too!

F Number	5.6
Lens ID	LUMIX G VARIO 14-45mm F3.5-5.6
Focal Length	45.0 mm (35 mm equivalent: 90.0 mm)
Exposure Time	1/125
Exposure Program	Manual
ISO	100
Exposure Compensation	0
Flash	Off, Did not fire

Tara Kitchen

Tara Kitchen has recently opened downtown on Liberty Street.  We've become friends with the owners Aneesa and Muntassim (I hope I spelt that right - I've only ever heard them spoken!) through their presence at the Greenmarket.  Lovely people, wonderful food.  They're not at the Greenmarket during the summer; they have lunch hours at their own place now.  Of course I couldn't resist.  I had a lamb merguez that was bubbling hot and lovely.  The lamb was perfect and I think I'll be having that again.  This photo was taken as I sat at the long counter in the front of the restaurant.  I couldn't resist the beautiful shapes, colours and reflections.

If you're in the Schenectady area, drop in and sample this marvelous cuisine!  I have no financial interest in the restaurant; I'm just enthusiastic about a new small business opening in the city.

F Number	5.6
Lens ID	LUMIX G VARIO 14-45mm F3.5-5.6
Focal Length	45.0 mm (35 mm equivalent: 90.0 mm)
Exposure Time	1/25
Exposure Program	Manual
ISO	800
Exposure Compensation	0
Flash	Off, Did not fire

Pileated woodpecker

Walking out of work today I heard a very cool bird, and saw this pileated woodpecker digging bugs out of the ground.  I got a few photos of him, but having forgot to set the ISO high enough for the late afternoon light, they are quite blurry.  As he flew across the parking lot to more distant trees, I followed him.  It's still blurry, but I like how it turned out anyway!  This image is cropped from the larger one.  I really need a fast prime lens for this camera...

F Number	5.6
Lens ID	LUMIX G VARIO 14-45mm F3.5-5.6
Focal Length	45.0 mm (35 mm equivalent: 90.0 mm)
Exposure Time	1/25
Exposure Program	Program AE
ISO	100
Exposure Compensation	0
Flash	Off, Did not fire