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We have a family now. There are 6 of them. Four young’uns and two adults. The little ones come out to look at us but they don’t last long. The adults are sort of brazen but really not interested in coming face-to-face with us. This one came out (we think) to get a drink of water out of the tarp and to see what’s in the garbage can. This shot is from behind the glass window as he is escaping from our yard back into the woods. Next time, I will wait outside and try to be very, very quiet.
Racoon
Our animals started having health problems and one of the things that made them better was better quality food. Our vet suggested we check out Felix & Oscar and that’s where I discovered these two felines. I never asked whether they are the Felix and Oscar that the store is named for…maybe I’ll ask the next time we’re in. Anyway, they “guard” the store and are always about. Some folks bring in their dogs while shopping and then you don’t see the cats too much. But, when all is quiet, these two are out. I took a couple of snaps and thought you might enjoy them.
Grey Cat Being Patient With Me
Black Cat - Not Quite So Patient
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While waiting for Kirsten to finish finals and pack up to return home with me, I went to a restaurant, The Pearl French Bistro, in Newport News. The service was quite good, the wine selection was also very good but small. The venue was attractive, quiet, and comfortable. I started with cream of asparagus soup which was light and had just the right level of asparagus flavor! The flounder pictured below was very flavorful. The highpoint was the subtle sauce that was part of the vegetable medley over and around the fish. The bulgur was a perfect combination to the julienne veggies of smoked pepper, squash, peas, etc. I’d go back. In fact, next fall, I will go back.
Flounder at French Pearl
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While coming back from CNU, I stopped in Fredericksburg. I had to cut my walkabout short because of the booming thunderstorms. But I walked for a few blocks. I did cross a bridge over the Rappahannock River. The historic district was sort of cool. I liked the antique stores and the way the buildings are preserved. Downtown “feels” different than the outlying areas. The first shot is a doorway in a side street. There is a civil war era soldier painted as is he were waiting. The second is an old fashioned soda shop, or should I say shoppe. The third is a on the bridge over the river looking downstream at the next bridge. I think I am standing on the bridge from King Street. I took most of the color out of the shot, gray sky at high noon.
Waiting Soldier
Soda Shoppe
Bridge Over Rappahannock
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We battle the raccoons every day. We have to keep bungee cords over the trash lids, even that doesn’t work all of the time, they are quite clever about pulling the cords off the cans. Turns out that the little rascals get to the cans by entering the backyard on the opposite side of the house from the cans. We see them walking by the door of the family room. A couple of nights ago, I sat on the deck waiting for them (there are two, at least) since they come out about the same time every day. Most times, about 30 minutes past sunset. But recently, they are coming right at sunset. This shot was taken well AFTER sunset, ISO10,000 (yes TEN thousand), 190mm, f/2.8, 1/60. The sensor in my camera is quite good.
Night Time Raider
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As long as they don’t get into the attic, you’re good to go, huh? Cute little things but they sure can get mean sometimes. Maybe you should set out some cat kibbles for them & then they’ll leave the trash cans alone?
Took some of the neighborhood kids (and ours) to King’s Dominion. The day was actually quite spectacular: low 70s, no crowds, no lines! The weather was supposed to be lousy and that’s probably why people stayed away. In fact, the storm clouds began to gather in the afternoon which you can see in one of the shots. By 3 in the afternoon, the rain was coming down pretty steadily and I didn’t want my camera out and the children didn’t want to be out either. So, back to the car and home. I can see that most of the shots I took are just snaps and I need to get back into the habit of taking photos rather than snaps. The first is an attempt–brewing rain clouds behind the insane roller coaster. I didn’t go on any roller coasters and wondered what the helicopter and tanks and stuff had to do with this one…or maybe they didn’t. Don’t know. The second one is a pure snap–the “ride” is this, you sit in these chairs, the machine pulls you up over 200 feet into the air, and then drops you!! This is a shot a split second after the drop began.
Roller Coaster With Brewing Rain Clouds
At the Top of The Drop
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I fail to understand why people get a thrill out of scaring themselves half to death! I must be a real wimp!
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