Which animal would you compare yourself to and why? – Another question I’m not really into from the daily prompt.
Okay, I’ll play along for a second. – The first thing that came to mind was a racoon. I’m usually up and about at night. I’m curious and resourceful. I like to play and have fun. I’m a problem solver at times.
It’s also a Beatles song I kinda like Rocky Racoon
I love animals. I hate it when I see them treated poorly. What we do to our environment is harmful to most animals. We complain when we see them in our over developed neighborhoods. I guess they missed the redevelopment planning/zoning meetings.
I try to live in harmony with animals and respect them.
My first pet was special because it was the last gift from our dad. Photo by mom
Do you ever see wild animals? – The Daily Writing prompt inquires.
Living right next to the woods I get a daily display of wildlife. We have lots of deer, foxes, racoons, possums and my family of woodchucks. I’ve heard coyotes but haven’t seen one yet. A neighbor a few streets over did photograph one. Also, sightings of a black bear occasionally in the area.
I see hawks hunting small game, like rabbits, squirrels and mice. It’s great that some woods are still here, but the county I’ve lived in for over 6 decades has overdeveloped it and continues to do so changing it from a rural area to a city and suburbs. The western part of the county is still somewhat rural, but they are coming for you.
I love seeing deer, but boy can they destroy a garden. Photo by Mike Hartley
Wildlife keeps me happy. I spend a lot of time looking out on my back into the woods and spotting wildlife. My grandchildren love it. Standing at our bay window in the kitchen we can see deep into the woods and find some wildlife.
I like zoos and I dislike zoos. We went to The Maryland Zoo this past summer and while seeing those beautiful animals is wonderful. I hate seeing anything wild caged.
I know the guy below isn’t an animal. But I do like his summer visits to my front and back doors. At least once or twice a summer I’ll just step out and he will be sitting beside the door just looking at me.
I should name this one. He does like to visit. Photo by Mike Hartley
What are your favorite animals? – The daily writing prompt asks a rather broad question.
My favorite domestic animals are cats. Then again we could be dog people. One followed my better half up the sidewalk this week and parked herself on the front doormat till his parents came looking for her about an hour later. A huge German Shepherd.
Fluffy, no really, that is her name. Photo by Mike Hartley
Wild animals I like, elephants, tigers and cheetahs.
Photo by Mike Hartley
I’d suggest we respect wild animals, but we seem on our way to wiping out many species of them. I hope to put some time in at the local rescue shelter this coming year. And I believe my better half makes the donation to the Maryland SPCA.
There are always one or two animals at the Thanksgiving table.
We all get so busy that it’s hard to tell which way we are headed. Are we coming or going? Thankfully my pace has slowed a little on the multitasking front. I was a clown trying to juggle too many balls for a lot of years. But now I have time to pull over and capture these two grazing in the fall season. Life is good.
Photo by Mike Hartley
I like the way I’ve turned the day around so far. Started out not feeling that hot but worked through some mental and physical things.
Back outside today but it looks like I’ll have to dress differently. My friends are already riding me about the cold coming for me. I told them I’d see them again in April of 2025.
I’m making some prints for the family today and processing some more shooting. I also have to gather up some digital files they requested. Let me focus on keeping that printer running for a few minutes and take a paper inventory.
Random Thoughts of the Day
I’m not doing this blogging thing right yet and it’s still a lot of work. But I do love it.
When you live in a home for a long time it seems you just put a new roof on when its time for the next one.
Trickle down is what happens when you watch your bank account.
Sometimes these sports talking heads sound as angry as some of the political talking heads.
Well, I will bow before my grandchildren if they want. But not for a job anymore. And that feels liberating in many ways. Working for some was like oil and water, those days are in the rearview mirror.
The perspective change is a nice one. But it’s still very new and strange. Maybe it was just my view of the job that was a little off. I always looked at things like a partnership. But it isn’t. Some are very resistant to ideas, change, or being challenged.
I’ve been told I was rather outspoken at the job. I said what was on my mind. I wasn’t afraid to say the same thing I said to a coworker in the hall to management. Landed me in HR a few times but I have no regrets. That’s okay, I don’t have to deal with that anymore. And thankfully most of the time wasn’t negative.
I see the weight of the job and the imbalanced relationships some fostered on many people. The bigger the company the bigger the gaps a lot of times.
No more bows in this beast. Photo by Mike Hartley
I keep thinking it’s time to get on some schedule around here but I continue to wing it and I’m not upset by the results or feeling. My sleep schedule is still screwed up from many years of night shifts so that does interfere with plans sometimes. But the ride so far is nice.
Random Thoughts of the Day
Laughter and music, a good way to start the day. Grilling up some bacon was a nice addition.
We are about to see how educated this country is in the next election.
Time to get outside and enjoy the heat.
I think we have more kid’s stuff in the house than when we had our own kids.
It’s good to be busy when you’re doing things you enjoy and I’ve been busy doing that. Thursday night with the boys, Friday morning and afternoon with our granddaughter, a dinner downtown, and a concert at Pier 6 in Baltimore for a great show by Little Feat with my better half.
Saturday we finished up with a trip to the Maryland Zoo in Baltimore with our daughter and granddaughter. What a run of fun. And now I get a day to savor all the family time I’ve had lately by kicking back and doing little to nothing on Sunday.
Captured a few fellow creatures we share the earth with below on the iPhone. I also took my old Kodak with me but haven’t downloaded those yet. So be prepared to be bored with some more animal shots in the coming days.
Opposing views. So common these days. Photo by Mike Hartley
I’ll get right to the point. The Zoo is a great place to visit. Families and couples. Saw a few sailors that were visiting from Fleet Week. I didn’t realize the size of this place. I believe it’s 135 acres.
Legs. Photo by Mike Hartley
This has kind of inspired me to visit the National Zoo in DC sometime this year.
I’m guessing otters and children are in and out of the water at about the same rate. Photo by Mike Hartley
It was a good day for a swim.
I always feel somewhat sad for animals like this who belong in the wild. Photo by Mike Hartley
With temp about 80 degrees and no humidity the animals outside were active.
See Spot run. Photo by Mike Hartley
It’s a fine zoo and maybe I’ll get a chance to go with my grandson also someday.
Bad timing. Photo by Mike Hartley
Random Thoughts of the Day.
Take advantage of each day.
Milwaukee shouldn’t be upset. Trump hates everything besides himself.
I believe I’ll enlarge my office. By cleaning out the junk.
It’s getting to be too much of an effort to keep in touch with some people.
Mom and children appeared in my back yard this morning to graze. No problem, love seeing them again. Real uptick in wildlife recently. Or maybe I’m just getting outside more. Last week was kind of a milestone for me. With some health issues we had hired out cutting of the yard for a year. Well last week the John Deere was pulled from the shed, started and cutting was done. Felt good to do that task again. But I’m willing to take all the help I can get and they are welcome to the grass but not my flowers.
Young-in Photo by Mike Hartley
I’m going to scout the best windows for Nature shots and get the tripod set up with one camera. Already thinking I need another body to complement the 7100.
Momma keeping an eye on me keeping an eye on her children. Photo by Mike Hartley
Will have to keep an eye on these beast on the road. Been lucky so far.
Posing Photo by Mike Hartley
I’ve got to get some shots of this beautiful red fox that cycles through my back yard at times. He is so quick and so aware of his surroundings it tough to capture him.
Must be something good down there. Photo by Mike Hartley
We didn’t name her Fluffy without reason. She had one of the most beautiful coats of any pet I’ve had. And soft, from head to tail. Must have been because she always seemed to be washing. Surprised she didn’t get hairball’s often at all. And it really didn’t shed like some animals. And even if it did she we wouldn’t have cared. A wonderful pet who gave lots of joy to our family for a very long time.
Fluffy, no really, that is her name. Photo by Mike Hartley
Pets are a wonderful thing. They are a lot of responsibility also. Fluffy was the first pet we had that needed some very costly veterinary care early on in her life. And while I have always known that is part of being a responsible pet owner, taking care of their medical needs, it is something that many probably make different choices on.
And I’m not saying that they are less compassionate at all. Sometime even the best pet owners don’t have the means for some of the medical things Vets might have to do. Luckily for us there wasn’t an issue of means or desire. She lived a long and full life.
Which brings me to my next point. I’ve made decisions both ways with pets in terms of the end of their lives. Twice I’ve had to make decisions to end the suffering of the pet. A gut wrenching and one of the hardest decisions you will ever make. And I’ve also made the decision to wait and let them pass naturally.
And what I will say is that I feel it should be a compassionate option not just for pets but for PEOPLE.
I am looking to support the next right to die legislation that comes up in our great state of Maryland.
I love wading through my old drafts. Every once in a while I’ll find one that I started with a group of photos with nothing written or the other way around, just all words, and I’ll scramble to come up with some words or images. Well I thought about changing the order so this menacing photo wouldn’t be first but this guys gaze mesmerized me. It seems to be both warning and threat. It’s unflinching. It’s locked and loaded.
Those are not friendly eyes. Photo by Mike Hartley
Then there are the wanting eyes. Pet me, feed me, love me, drop that pizza crust stare. Eyes that look deep into you for that love and support. Eyes that you willingly respond to.
Dogs can look so deeply into you. Photo by Mike Hartley
And as I looked quickly at this group it reminded me of when my grand dog is allowed to spend the night and how they are always looking at you. Kind of like saying “will you go to sleep for an hour so I can open and shut my eyes checking on you a few hundred times between now and then.
My granddog Photo by Mike Hartley
And then there are the eyes that don’t blink. The silent killers. The ones where you don’t see the eyes till it’s too late. The dead eyes that have no soul. Well that might be a little harsh. Have you ever seen a gator have its young in its mouth. The eye you’re looking for below is just to the right of dead center.
One small eye but very important. Photo by Mike Hartley
Random Thoughts for Wednesday December 16th 2015
Everyone stay calm, its only Hump day. Oh, I took a day of vacation. Well what the hell, time to celebrate.
Wish I was in Mexico with my brother on a real vacation.
You know, you can be vacation happy no matter where you are. It’s a frame of mind.
Time to heal starts Friday.
Getting the right gift involves the right thought.
Well, not friends, but they are in my back yard so I got a right to say hello. Deer don’t trust anyone. Especially someone with a camera clicking away. And by my highly unofficial survey of Deer, I think we are experiencing an overpopulation again. Then again, its only overpopulation if we keep building homes and businesses in every corner of woods left available. Sort of like the American Indians. Killed them, moved the rest of them around and then relegated them to small spaces.
We see you standing there with that camera. Photo by Mike Hartley
Each zone of view covered. Photo by Mike Hartley
You don’t see me behind this leaf. Photo by Mike Hartley
One of my favorite Lynyrd Skynyrd songs “Tuesdays Gone”. Then again all Lynyrd Skynyrd songs are my favorites. Tuesdays seem to just blow by. Or as Skynyrd says, “Tuesdays gone with the wind.” And today was no different, with the lack of sleep on Monday it was impossible to pull off good production on two jobs in the same day and get some rest.
I was thinking about looking for shots today to describe the heat. As I was organizing some files I ran across this old frame. I remember the day that I shot that being hot and humid just like today.
You want to talk HOT. Photo by Mike Hartley
So it looks like my shooting will be limited to later this evening and early Wednesday. But I did find some old work that I’ll have to scan in and share also. I’m so glad I’ve grown up in a family that loves to take pictures. I hope it leaves my children with something they can enjoy also after my days are done. Because images can take you back in time. They can recall warm feelings or remembrances of events shared.
Which has got me thinking. Would I want an off site backup of all my work. I have several internal backups of my images and writings but when I see these homes burning out in California it makes me think that everything could be lost with an event like that. So what to do. Lots of things available with Cloud storage and technically that might be the easiest to keep updated. I guess physical offsite storage is also an option but one that needs some automation and physical transfer depending on how often you want to update. Something I’ll have to work on and cure in the next month or two.
Random Thoughts for Tuesday July 21st 2015
The more time I spend on the road the more I lose faith in people.
Technology tools can lead to a rush of judgement.
Wealth comes in lots of forms, and most of it isn’t money or precious metals or real estate.
I’m getting very selective when it comes to watching TV. And I like the time it’s freed up.
You got to admit, Trump is entertaining. In a way that people slow down to look at an accident. Hell, Regan was an actor and he got elected President. Not that I’m voting for Trump. But it does seem he has excited a lot of people on both sides of his opinions. Maybe when things settle down we will hear some more frank talk from other candidates and find out true positions and goals. And that is true for the Democrats also. For everyone is tired of the standard Washington doublespeak.
Had an unexpected visitor to my back yard the other day. Hadn’t seen her since this winter when she would make a daily trek through the neighborhood with her young ones. It’s easy to spot them with snow on the ground and bare trees. You can watch them hunt over large areas. But in the summer when cover is great I don’t see her as much. But out from under a blue spruce she wandered into the clear.
Look what strolled into my back yard. Photo by Mike Hartley
I was wondering if she was sick, being it was the middle of the day and she walked slowly, not that normal trot. Then she lowered her hind quarters and while she looked healthy, I was wondering if something was up. She was casually looking around like just keeping up with the surroundings not focused on anything.
The hunt is on. Photo by Mike Hartley
Then she lowered her front like she was going to go to sleep out in the middle of the yard. That is when I noticed her gaze was direct ahead and she was going into stealth mode. For about 30 feet to the left was a momma woodchuck. I’ll have to get a shot of her, but trust me, she is a beast and would have given this guy everything he could handle. Just then another noise sent them both off in opposite directions so this fight will take place another day.
Invoking stealth mode. Photo by Mike Hartley
Some color to brighten a grey and wet day outside. Cheer up, its Hump Day.
Hump day is blooming Photo by Mike Hartley
yellow fellow Photo by Mike Hartley
Looks as if they could play a tune. Photo by Mike Hartley
