SOME PHOTO & PICASA TIPS ON A GRAY RAINY DAY

IT IS THE TIME OF YEAR FOR WEIRD & WONDROUS THINGS GROWING IN OUR YARD & FLOWERBEDS

Just like some of this areas early Autumn leaves, our Pine tree needles have begun to fall.  It was a surprise for us 10 years ago when we first moved here to see so many pine needles covering the ground.  We just hadn’t thought of evergreen trees losing needles in the Fall.  In another week or so we will be walking on a silent carpet of Autumn Pine gold.

BACK YARD CAMPFIRE WITH A FEW PINE NEEDLES ALREADY ON THE GROUND 

In Mike's post over at PHANNIE & MAE I see he has himself a new Canon SX-40 camera which he is pretty happy with.  I had left a comment suggestion on Mike’s post about using fill in flash on his first people photo but after looking at the photo again a second time on our desktop computer I see the the photo didn’t actually need a fill in flash.  I had first looked at the photo earlier this morning sitting in my recliner with my laptop precariously perched on my lap.  This sometimes presents a problem, especially when looking at photos.  If the screen is tipped just a tad too much away from the user the photo appears too dark.  If screen is tilted just a tad to close to the user, a photo can appear too light.  I obviously had my screen tipped back just a touch too far when I looked at Mike’s photo the first time.  I’m sure other folks have noticed this problem with their laptop screens from time to time as well.  However, the tip I left for Mike is still valid………………. 

And, speaking of ‘happy,’ you had better check out another Mike’s post over at MIKE & PAT'S TRAVELS as Mike meets his twin Great Granddaughters for, I think, the first time:))

I have been using Picasa's photo editing program almost daily now for about 4 or 5 years so I do know my way around the program a wee bit & do have a couple tips regarding a couple of it's tools. First, the 'I'm Feeling Lucky' button is fine if you are new to Picasa. It will automatically grab you some quick results from your photos. Some good, some not so good. I see it as kind of a razzle-dazzle button to get you started & I made the mistake in the early days of always hitting that button to correct my photos. However, I have not used that button in years & I would strongly suggest you not get in the habit of hitting that button to automatically improve your photos. You can do a far better job of improving your photos manually after you experiment with all the other tools & get to know your way around the easy to learn program. One problem the 'I'm Feeling Lucky' button has is that it can put too much saturation into your colors. Maybe impressive at first, except it is quite often not the true realistic colors in the subject.  Yes, some times saturation can be used to bring out faded colors in some photos, but you just have to be careful not to overdo it & end up with artificial looking colors……………

AN EXAMPLE OF ‘FILL IN FLASH’ LIGHTING UP THE OVERHEAD BASSWOOD LEAVES

Second button I am very careful with & only use rarely now is the 'Saturation' button itself. Once again, easy to hit this button a lot & watch your colors 'pop' out. Problem is, they usually pop out way too much often leaving you with a yellow color caste to your photos. Yes, there is a slider bar to tone down the saturation but....... If & whenever I decide to use a file photo from about 4 years ago now I have to drag it back into Picasa & redo it because back in 2008 I was still locked into the bad habit of hitting that 'Saturation' button waaaaaaaay too often. Greens are artificially green, reds are blown out & fields of light green grass can turn out bright yellow in some cases.

PHEEBS & KELLY LOADING UP SOME CANNED GOODS TODAY…(SLIDE IS IN)

Now, having wrote the above paragraph with a few Picasa tips & opinions, let me be very clear about something. A few times in the past when I have written posts on how I think photos or blog posts can be improved, some folks have taken offense to that in thinking I was telling them how to do things.  Wrote a post awhile back called, JUST TRYING TO HELP & in that post I went on to offer some ideas, make folks aware of some pitfalls, & use myself as an example of mistakes made along the way.  I do have a little experience with photography, editing photos, & blog writing so felt comfortable writing that post.   One has to keep in mind that what I say here are only my opinions & they are not some kind of rules on how things should be done.  These are just thoughts on the way I do things, & why.  If a few of the tips help, great. If not, well, that’s life:))

 

  

PHOTO TIP:  MOST OF THESE MUSHROOM PICS WERE TAKEN WITH A SMALL PIECE OF KLEENEX DRAPED OVER THE CAMERA FLASH TO DIFFUSE THE FLASH & GIVE THE PHOTOS A SOFTER TOUCH OF LIGHT

Been a lot of buzz around lately about unhealthy dog food & treats, etc. Lots of INFO  about it on the internet. Kelly is very careful about what she buys in the way of dog food but decided to check our doggy treat supplies anyway. Ended up throwing out 'Dentley's Natural Flavor Rawhide Roles'. Although distributed from Phoenix Arizona....the product is made in China!! Also threw out American Kennel Club's 'Duck Jerky'. Although it says 'Pet Brands Inc.' Columbus, Ohio....it too is 'manufactured in China'. We have just heard too many negative things about food manufacturing in China, whether it be pet food or human food. We have consciously been trying to avoid products from China. Not easy, because our retail shelves are just loaded with the stuff.

 

 

THESE MUSHROOMS ARE GROWING IN A PATCH OF PERIWINKLE IN OUR SIDE YARD

Noticed in the November 2012 Canadian Consumer Magazine that the Nikon Coolpix S100 holds down the top spot for point & shoot digital cameras. In the DSLR top spot is Canon's EOS 60D. In between those two types of cameras are the models described as SLR-like. Panasonic's Lumix DMC-GH2 holds down the top spot here with the most number of points. I have no idea how these points are reached & there is quite a price range difference between some of these competing camera models.
   

  THIS SMALL EDIBLE ‘PUFFBALL’ IS WELL PAST IT’S PRIME TIME FOR EATING

Despite the gray rain soaked morning, Kelly did get quite a few food items loaded into the rig. I stayed in the shed & took the opportunity to paint some garden tool handles. With all the foliage around our place it's easier for me to find garden tools if they are brightly painted. Can't rely on my short term memory to tell me where I have left things anymore...................

Judging from the Magnolia flowers in our latest Blog Followers photo I’m thinking our latest Follower comes from just across the street.  Kelly has been helping neighbor MONICA with some computer problems the last couple days & I recognized the Magnolia flower photo as one of my own.  Monica has been keeping tabs on our blog for a couple years now.  Nice to see you on the Blog Followers list Monica:)) 

I LIKE SUMAC TREES SO WE HAVE LOTS OF THEM IN OUR YARD

GROANER'S CORNER:(( My first job was working in an orange juice factory, but I got canned...couldn't concentrate.  After that I tried to be a tailor, but I just wasn't suited for it...mainly because it was a so-so job.  Then I tried to be a chef -- figured it would add a little spice to my life, but I just didn't have the thyme.  I managed to get a good job working for a pool maintenance company, but the work was just too draining.  Then I worked in the woods as a lumberjack, but I just couldn't hack it, so they gave me the ax.
After that I worked in a blanket factory, but it folded.  Next was a job in a shoe factory; I tried but I just didn't fit in.  After many years of trying to find steady work I finally got a job as a historian until I realized there was no future in it.  My best job was being a musician, but eventually I found I wasn't noteworthy.  I became a professional fisherman, but discovered that I couldn't live on my net income.  My last job was working at Starbucks, but I quit because it was always the same old grind.................:))

---------------------------------------------------------------
- Tourists see the world, travelers experience it.
- Home is where your pet is:))
- "If having a soul means being able to feel
love and loyalty and gratitude, then animals
are better off than a lot of humans."
(James Herriot)
- The pessimist complains about the wind; the optimist expects it to change; the realist adjusts the sails -William Arthur Ward
- The only thing better than right now will someday be the memories of right now...AL.
- It is not so much having nothing to do as it is not having the interest to do something....AL.
- OUR PHOTO ALBUMS - .https://picasaweb.google.com/117858411710794543295/
stargeezerguy@gmail.com

PHEEBS & I SPLIT A ROAST BEEF & LETTUCE SANDWICH

We didn't let a lite sprinkling of rain keep us from our morning walk. No wind & slightly warmer temps made for a pleasant trek in the forest. Caught a fleeting glimpse of two Deer on the trail ahead. Remained overcast for half the day & then turned into a full blown perfect sunny Autumn afternoon.
 

EVEN SAW SOME BEARS & HORSES IN RECENT TRAVELS
Pheebs & I did make a quick grocery run to Goderich for the usual few necessity's of life. Cranberry juice, Ginger Ale, Yogurt, Bananas, & Peanut Butter. Split us a roast beef sandwich with lettuce from the Deli. We were quick to pull the pickles out of it.

WONDER IF THESE RELAXING COWS ARE AWARE OF THE OMINOUS MUSHROOM CLOUD BEHIND THEM ARISING FROM AN ATOMIC BOMB BLAST A COUPLE DAYS AGO

 
Kelly was able to dig up some info on the green house & property photo in Monday's blog we like. Kind of a good new-bad news scenario. Good news is that yes, it can be bought:)) Bad news is that it comes with 70 acres of land for a whopping $459,000:(( End of green house story!!

And tonight we welcome a new Blog Follower.  MARTHA PEREZ, MARTHA BARRIERA joins us for our upcoming south-west travels. Welcome aboard Martha:))

And, thanks once again to readers for sending in the nice emails.  You are all an inspiration:))

GROANER'S CORNER:(( And the Lord spoke to Noah: ''In six months I'm going to make it rain until the whole earth is covered with water and all the evil people are destroyed. But I want to save a few good people, and two of every kind of living thing on the planet. I am ordering you to build Me an Ark.''
And in a flash of lightning He delivered the specifications for an Ark.

''Okay," said Noah, trembling in fear and fumbling with the blueprints.

''Six months, and it starts to rain,'' thundered the Lord. ''You'd better have my Ark completed, or learn how to swim for a very long time.''
And six months passed. The skies began to cloud up and rain began to fall. The Lord saw that Noah was sitting in his front yard, weeping. And there was no Ark.
''Noah," shouted the Lord, "where is my Ark?'' A lightning bolt crashed into the ground next to Noah, for emphasis.
''Lord, please forgive me," begged Noah. "I did my best, but there were big problems. First I had to get a building permit for the Ark construction project, and your plans didn't meet code. So I had to hire an engineer to redraw the plans. Then I got into a big fight over whether or not the Ark needed a fire sprinkler system. My neighbors objected claiming I was violating zoning by building the Ark in my front yard, so I had to get a variance from the city planning commission.

Then I had a big problem getting enough wood for the Ark because there was a ban on cutting trees to save the spotted owl. Then the carpenters formed a union and went out on strike. I had to negotiate a settlement with the National Labor Relations Board before anyone would pick up a saw or a hammer. Now we got 16 carpenters going on the boat, and still no owls.

Then I started gathering up the animals, and got sued by an animal rights group. They objected to me taking only two of each kind. Just when I got the suit dismissed, EPA notified me that I couldn't complete the Ark without filing an environmental impact statement on your proposed flood.

Then the Army Corps of Engineers wanted a map of the proposed new flood plain. I sent them a globe. And the IRS has seized all my assets claiming I'm trying to avoid paying taxes by leaving the country, and I just got a notice from the state about owing some kind of use tax. I really don't think I can finish your Ark for at least another five years,'' Noah wailed.

The sky began to clear. The sun began to shine. A rainbow arched across the sky. Noah looked up and smiled.
''You mean you're not going to destroy the earth?'' Noah asked, hopefully.
''Wrong!'' thundered the Lord. ''But being Lord of the Universe has its advantages. I fully intend to smite the earth, but with something far worse than a flood. Something man invented himself.''
''What's that?'' asked Noah. There was a long pause, and then the Lord spoke:

''Government.''
---------------------------------------------------------------
- Tourists see the world, travelers experience it.
- Home is where your pet is:))
- "If having a soul means being able to feel
love and loyalty and gratitude, then animals
are better off than a lot of humans."
(James Herriot)
- The pessimist complains about the wind; the optimist expects it to change; the realist adjusts the sails -William Arthur Ward
- The only thing better than right now will someday be the memories of right now...AL.
- It is not so much having nothing to do as it is not having the interest to do something....AL.
- OUR PHOTO ALBUMS - .https://picasaweb.google.com/117858411710794543295/
stargeezerguy@gmail.com

SPUR OF THE MOMENT 200 MILE DAY TRIP NEARLY ENDS IN….’A WILD GOOSE CHASE’

PIT STOP FOR PHEEBS NEAR HANOVER ONTARIO TODAY

It was a spur of the moment decision this morning that took us on a 200 mile round trip drive today that nearly ended up in a Wild Goose Chase. A couple weeks ago Kelly had spotted a 2 acre rural property for sale on her Real Estate alert site.  The property was about an hour & 40 minutes northeast of us. Had discounted the property at the time because of distance but Kelly mentioned this morning she wouldn't mind having a look at it.  That's all it took to right away get Pheebs & I out the door & into the Jeep. No big cities in the way & I knew it would be a fine Autumn's day drive through some of the nicest parts of the country we have in this area.

TREES WERE ON FIRE IN THE SCENIC COUNTRYSIDE

We are experienced property looker aters. It's something we have been doing both here & in the southwest for the past 5 years or so. Experience has taught us not to rely on Real Estate directions & today was no exception. The property was not where the directions said it was & our long journey was looking like it was going to end up just being one big wild Goose chase. But, with a bit of back tracking, a vigorous head scratching, some swearing, & a generous helping of logic, we were finally able to find the property on an entirely different road. Real Estate agents really need to upgrade their Geography skills!!

 

 

WE SURE DID WANDER A FEW COUNTRY ROADS THIS MORNING IN SEARCH OF THE CORRECT PROPERTY

The 2 acre parcel did have some of the important factors in our criteria of what we would like in a property. Total privacy & not visible from the road - Check! Lockable laneway gate - Check! Long winding driveway through the woods - Check! No visible neighbors - Check! Open skies, but many Cedar trees - Check! Miles of forest at the back of the property for hiking & walking - Check! Only 15 minutes to the nearest town of Hanover with Walmart, Canadian Tire, Tim Hortons Coffee, McDonalds, etc. etc. etc. Rolling hill country with scenic views stretching over area valleys for 10 miles or so. Good roads.

Lots going for the property, but........no water, no electricity, no house, no septic, etc. Not a lot of area to get a Motorhome in, turned around, & parked, plus a few other things. Price is way out of line as well. However, we did make a rather amazing little discovery while walking around a dense cluster of Cedar trees at the rear of the property.........

 

FINALLY FOUND THE CORRECT PROPERTY WITH LOCKED GATE…LIKED THE LONG DRIVEWAY

SOMEONE HAD PAINSTAKINGLY BUILT THIS LITTLE BRIDGE OVER A CREEK RUNNING THROUGH THE PROPERTY

A NICE STURDY SHED HAS BEEN CONSTRUCTED

 
EITHER A HOUSE HAD ONCE STOOD HERE OR SOMEONE HAS LEVELLED THIS SPOT FOR A HOUSE

Had I not been looking at the ground in front of me to watch where I was stepping around some small Cedar stumps, I never would have spotted what appeared to be a large piece of tin or something in a clump Cedar trees to my left. Upon closer inspection I was surprised to find an old vintage travel trailer completely surrounded by trees. Making my way into the dense cluster of Cedars for a closer look I was startled by something large & dark right ahead of me only a few feet away, & it looked like wood.......an old cabin!!

 

A LOOK THROUGH THE TRAILER WINDOW REVEALED QUITE A MESS INSIDE
Finding an old cabin hidden away in a forest may not light everybody's fire, but for Kelly & I who have in the past enjoyed searching out old Ghost Towns in the Southwest, we love this kind of thing. Didn't take us long to find an open door & get ourselves inside for a look see. Quite a mess to say the least but how fascinating to see a set of old bunk beds, an old torn sofa, a stove, some bowls on an old wooden table, etc. People had not lived in this cabin for many, many, years but I always find it so fascinating to think of who once lived there & why. Where did the inhabitants go & where had they once come from. Because the cabin & trailer are so overgrown I'm sure not many, if any people even know this cabin is there. We did stop at a neighbouring farm with a few questions about the property & not even the fellows we talked to knew of the little wood cabin.

  

ALTHOUGH WE DID NOT SEE ANY ELECTRICAL LINES ANYWHERE ON THE PROPERTY, THIS OLD CABIN DEFINITELY HAD ELECTRICITY AT ONE TIME…FUSE BOX ON THE WALL & A LIGHT BULB HANGING FROM THE CEILING

  

WONDER IF THIS COULD HAVE BEEN AN OLD HUNTER’S CABIN MANY YEARS AGO
A quick stop at Hanover's McDonalds & we were on the road heading home again. Had seen 3 'For Sale' signs on our way to the property earlier in the day so we checked them out on our way back to Bayfield. All properties turned out to be large acreage farms so that was totally out of our interest parameters. But, no matter, it was just great to be out & about in the countryside with a common interest & a destination in mind.

I HAVE PASSED BY THIS HOUSE NEAR BELGRAVE ONTARIO ABOUT HALF A DOZEN TIMES THIS SUMMER & HAVE NEVER SEEN ANYONE OR A CAR HERE…KELLY WENT TO THE DOOR TO SEE IF ANYONE WAS HOME & ASK IF IT WAS FOR SALE?  NO ONE ANSWERED, BUT WHAT A GREAT PIECE OF PROPERTY THIS IS & WE BOTH LIKED THE LOOKS OF THE HOUSE
I couldn't help but think to myself that today's day trip was just a preview of how we may very well be spending our time next summer when we return from the southwest. With this being Kelly’s last year at Deer Park Lodge, I'm looking forward to Kelly, Pheebs & I spending time checking out a lot of the areas nature trails & places of special interest we used to travel to when we first met nearly 20 years ago. We have a lot of beautiful country north of us on the Bruce Peninsula & along the shores of Georgian Bay. Looking forward to future RV travels, hiking, camping, & new discoveries up that way in our Motorhome next summer. Yabba Dabba Doooooooooo........................:))

AND THERE IS EVEN A HORSE OUT THERE AMONG THOSE BOVINES

GROANER'S CORNER:((  Political T.V. commercials prove one thing: some candidates can tell all their good points and qualifications in just 30 seconds, & did you know that during Canada’s "brain drain," not a single politician left the country. Say, why don't we ever hear of a thief stealing from a politician's house……………………..Professional courtesy.

---------------------------------------------------------------
- Tourists see the world, travelers experience it.
- Home is where your pet is:))
- "If having a soul means being able to feel
love and loyalty and gratitude, then animals
are better off than a lot of humans."
(James Herriot)
- The pessimist complains about the wind; the optimist expects it to change; the realist adjusts the sails -William Arthur Ward
- The only thing better than right now will someday be the memories of right now...AL.
- It is not so much having nothing to do as it is not having the interest to do something....AL.
- OUR PHOTO ALBUMS - .https://picasaweb.google.com/117858411710794543295/
stargeezerguy@gmail.com