2019

Snapshots Sunday: Solstice Shots

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I dropped the ball and missed posting about our Summer Solstice. I did catch some pictures, though and a Snapshots Sunday is a perfect reason to post them. I posted about the Solstice in 2018, shortly after I had started blogging, again, after a four year absence. I did an Almanac write-up on the Solstice in 2019. This year’s Solstice occurred at 5:44pm EDT, yesterday. ~Vic

Daisy Group Image One
Daisy Family
Sea Turtle Cloud Image Two
It looks like a Sea Turtle, swimming towards me…sort of…
Cone Flower Image Three
Cone flowers in the Pollinator Garden
Feather Cloud Image Four
Big Feather
New Growth Image Five
New Growth
Bird Flight Image Six
In Flight
Farmers' Almanac 1818 Image
Image Credit: Farmers’ Almanac 1818

Some Folklore:
♦ In ancient Egypt, the summer solstice coincided with the rising of the Nile River. As it was crucial to predict this annual flooding, the Egyptian New Year began at this important solstice.
♦ In centuries past, the Irish would cut hazel branches on solstice eve to be used in searching for gold, water and precious jewels.
♦ Many European cultures hold what are known as Midsummer celebrations at the solstice, which include gatherings at Stonehenge and the lighting of bonfires on hilltops.

POTD: Keyboard Humor

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Back in February of last year, I did a couple of posts with older pictures of office shenanigans with the technology. Well, I missed one. ~Vic

Companion posts:
Funny Fotos & Funny Fotos 2.0

Keyboard Thru Desk Image
I don’t remember where I got this from
nor do I know where it was taken.
Acquired 08-25-2007

Shutterbug Saturday: Animal Friends 4.0

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Update: I am changing the headings from wildlife to Animal Friends. ~Vic

Animal Friends 3.0

Tree Frog Image One
Ray caught this guy on
the side of a wall in Illinois.
I think it is a tree frog.
09-03-2019
Photo Credit: Ray Tutterow
Riverwalk Toad Image Two
Riverwalk Toad
These guys come out at dusk
and head towards the river.
09-28-2019
Deer Trio Image Three
Evening walk.
Deer trio.
10-15-2019
Yard Rabbit Image Four
We got a bunny.
Side Yard
03-27-2020
Black Snake Image Five
Another poor dead snake.
04-18-2020
Squirrel On A Post Image Six
Barking squirrel.
04-24-2020

Scoop Saturday: Iowa Man Receives 33 Year Old Postcard

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Elizabeth Kay Postal Box Unsplash Image One
Photo Credit: Elizabeth Kay on Unsplash

An Iowa man, who received a postcard from his sister, said he was surprised to note the card had been mailed in 1987. Paul Willis, a hog farmer in Thornton, said a postcard appeared in his mailbox, recently, from his sister, Annie Lovell […]. [H]e soon noticed the card bore a picture of Lovell on a Grand Canyon hike in 1987 and a San Francisco postmark from December of that same year.

Willis said the postcard bore a second postmark from April 29 of this year in Des Moines so, he called the post office to see if they had any explanation for the postcard’s tardiness. [An] employee said the postcard may have been discovered while furniture and machines were being moved for cleaning. “She said, ‘Well, the post offices are all going through deep cleaning because of COVID-19…'” Willis [recounted to] the Santa Rosa Press-Democrat.

An Illinois woman experienced a similar incident in July 2019, when a postcard showed up at her home that had been mailed 26 years earlier. Kim Draper said the card was addressed to the previous residents of her Springfield home and, [it] recounted the residents’ father’s travels in Hong Kong.

Ben Hooper
United Press International
May 7, 2020
No Video Clip

Short Piece on Kim Draper

Foto Friday: Alton, Illinois

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My buddy Ray is from Illinois. He routinely returns to visit family and his girlfriend, Gloria. Sharing some lovely photos from Alton.

Addendum: I had to correct a credit. Thanks, Gloria. ~Vic

Along Mississippi River Image One
Along the Mississippi River
The Great River Road
10-29-2019
Photo Credit: Josh Major
Piasa Bird Image Two
Piasa Bird Painting
Photo Credit: Ray Tutterow
Clark Bridge Sunset Image Three
The Clark Bridge
Photo Credit: Ray Tutterow
Morrisons Irish Pub Image Four
Morrison’s Irish Pub
This place almost closed during massive flooding.
The city rallied around it and kept it afloat.
Now, they have a food pantry, giving back.
05-03-2020
Photo Credit: Gloria Lawrence
Alton Lake Image Five
Alton Lake
Part of the Mississippi
05-02-2020
Photo Credit: Gloria Lawrence
Backwater Wetlands Island Image Six
Backwater Wetlands Island
Photo Credit: Gloria Lawrence
Water Retention Pond Image Seven
Wetlands Water Retention Pond
Photo Credit: Gloria Lawrence

Flower Moon 2020

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I did a pretty extensive write-up last year with Native American names and two videos. I won’t repeat all that here. I am including a shot from 2017 (before I was blogging again) and a shot from 2019 that wasn’t part of the previous post.

Full illumination occurred at 6:45am EDT. Howl for me! ~Vic

Flower Moon Image One
From this evening…
Flower Moon Image Two
Peek-a-Boo
Flower Moon Image Three
I caught the Moon with the setting sun.
It’s a little hard to see.
05-17-2019
Flower Moon Image Four
More Peek-a-Boo
05-11-2017

Shutterbug Saturday: Feathers 5.0

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I used to add a corresponding photo from Unsplash or Pexels up at the top as a lead-in. I have enough photos of my own so, I won’t be doing that anymore. My previous posts, I will leave them. All photos are my personal collection. © ~Vic

Feathers 4.0

Cardinal Image One
Cardinal singing on the Riverwalk
04-18-2019
Cardinal Image Two
Tail Feathers
Carolina Wren Image Three
Carolina Wren out of the nest.
The nest is the black washtub to the left.
04-24-2019
Carolina Wren Image Four
Calling for its mate.
Carolina Wren Image Five
Then, it started to bark at a squirrel.
Washtub Image Six
The washtub is full.
Washtub Image Seven
Nesting material.
Birdhouse Image Eight
This one was just not big enough,
even for the little Wrens.
05-06-2019