Scattered Thoughts . . .

I had another rather lousy day yesterday.  I awoke in the morning having difficulty breathing.  My breathing improved a bit after I got up and took my morning dose of medications but I continued having difficulty breathing off and on throughout the day.   At this point, I'm really at a loss for what might be causing this ongoing breathing problem...  generic medications as opposed to brand-name medications?...  a worsened mast cell condition?...  a new condition that is more acute?...  having COVID again but continued to test negative?...  I really have no idea and I'm thinking we won't have any idea until after my next bone marrow biopsy.  That is scheduled for early in March so I have one more month to wait.   Most of yesterday was spent on the couch but I did manage to spend some time at the computer editing a few landscape photos.   This first photo was shot in Burlington on Lake Champlain... The State Capitol in Montpelier...  the three people walking toward me in the

I'm having difficulty finding words and thinking clearly this morning so I'll keep this blog entry relatively short.   Back a few weeks ago, Sheila and I headed down to Northfield to meet with some good friends who now live in another state.  They were in town for a family event and, fortunately, had a couple of hours to squeeze in a lunch with us.  Naturally, we wished we had far more time with them but we understand how hectic a family visit can be.  We don't see them nearly often enough so it was great to connect with them for lunch. No matter where we go, I always take at least one camera with me.  The weather was beautiful on this autumn day so I shot a few photos from the passenger side of our car while Sheila drove.  I haven't had the energy to wander around solely for the purpose of landscape photography so this is my mode of operation for this type of thing lately...  no tripod, handheld camera, in a fast moving car (or train).   The telltale sign of being in a

I was out shooting some photos at around 5:30 in the morning as I usually do while we are at the lake house... covered completely in clothing from head to toe yet still getting eaten by millions of flying insects. Even though I hate dealing with all the biting insects, I'm always hoping to capture a good photo of some early morning wildlife while the lake is calm and the sun is low creating a warmer, softer light. That rarely happens but I can always hope for the best.  On this particular morning, I was attempting to compose a landscape shot that I've shot far too many times already but I prepared to shoot it again anyway.  As I was looking through the viewfinder, I caught a glimpse of what appeared to be the moon at the top edge of the frame in the center. I pulled my head away from the camera... looked up... sure enough, the moon was still rather high in the sky.  I snapped a quick photo of the landscape and then switched gears.  I grabbed my other camera that has a b

I just finished carving the entire model railroad for Lukey's Christmas present. I suspect I'll find a few little things to cut off or shape here and there but, for the most part, I am finished carving this little model railroad. Next is to add some thinned plaster to a few select areas... then paint...  then some roads... then some grass and bushes... then some touch up here and there... This little train set is coming along very nicely!

We've been so busy that I haven't had many opportunities to share some photos so, while it is raining and the house is quiet because our guests haven't arrived just yet, I thought it would be a good time to share some photos... We had a really nice visit with Tom and Karen for a couple of days. We kayaked the longer length of the lake and explored some marshes and the dam...  Our young airman visited a few times (the one wearing the dog tags)...  One of our many sunsets as viewed from the deck... This shot, below, is a long exposure shot. It was almost completely dark outside but I kept my shutter open for 10 seconds which brightened the sky considerably and it also smoothed out the surface of the lake... a nice landscape shot... The loons (and all wildlife, for that matter) have been rather elusive this year. My latest loon count is at only four loons on the lake this year. Last year we had at least seven... I know this s

I'd really love to find the energy to get up early... just before sunrise... grab my photography gear, including my tripod, and head out to shoot some early morning landscapes of the new spring growth... preferably on a morning with a dewy, misty, foggy, moody atmosphere as the sun begins to appear. Unfortunately, the weather has been rather lousy the past few days so I have no desire to get up early just to be frustrated and disappointed by attempting to shoot photos in the rain, with poor light, and generally lousy conditions. My health has been rather lousy the past few days as well and, when this happens, very little gets accomplished in my little world. I have, however, managed to capture a few photos of our spring season in the past few days. New leaves emerging from buds Now that the springtime rains have started, I don't think I'll be getting out there with my photography gear again until after most of the blooming has occurred. In the meantime, I have managed