For all those who are celebrating today…. Happy Valentine’s Day!!
For the rest…. Happy Saturday!!
Either way, I hope you have a wonderful day!
Until next time…..peace….
Happy Valentine’s Day!
Friday the 13th
So, today is Friday the 13th. Does that make you worried? The only aspect of Friday the 13th that I find scary today is the cold weather. The wind is still blowing causing the wind chill to dip down into the negative double digits. The sun is out shining brightly which is very deceiving; the cold air is enough to take your breath away when you step out the door. But I know spring is just around the corner. In fact, I think the first official day of spring is just over thirty days away. I am definitely ready to get outdoors without having to bundle up.
I have been looking up some quotes and facts about today.
Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery…Today is a Friday the 13! ~~Author Unknown
Did you know that the fear of Friday the 13th is called friggatriskaidekaphobia? ~~Author Unknown
It’s Friday the 13th. Just warning you all before you make any weekend arrangements for wood cabins by the lake. ~~Author Unknown
Here are some facts about Friday the 13th, according to NBC News:
Here are five of our favorite Friday-the-13th facts:
- Fear of Friday the 13th — one of the most popular myths in science — is called paraskavedekatriaphobia as well as friggatriskaidekaphobia. Triskaidekaphobia is fear of the number 13.
- Many hospitals have no room 13, while some tall buildings skip the 13th floor and some airline terminals omit Gate 13.
- President Franklin D. Roosevelt would not travel on the 13th day of any month and would never host 13 guests at a meal. Napoleon and President Herbert Hoover were also triskaidekaphobic, with an abnormal fear of the number 13.
- Mark Twain once was the 13th guest at a dinner party. A friend warned him not to go. “It was bad luck,” Twain later told the friend. “They only had food for 12.” Superstitious diners in Paris can hire a quatorzieme, or professional 14th guest.
- The number 13 suffers from its position after 12, according to numerologists who consider the latter to be a complete number — 12 months in a year, 12 signs of the zodiac, 12 gods of Olympus, 12 labors of Hercules, 12 tribes of Israel, 12 apostles of Jesus, 12 days of Christmas and 12 eggs in a dozen.”
I thought the facts were interesting especially the part where you can hire a 14th guest to complete a dinner party (NBC News, 2014). I love learning about superstitions and folklore. The ones that surround Friday the 13th are intriguing.
Have a great day!
Until next time…..peace….
Source:
NBC News, (2014). Five facts about Friday the 13th. Retrieved from: http://www.nbcnews.com/id/29661652/ns/technology_and_science-science/t/five-facts-about-friday-th/#.U5tjk_ldV8E
Beautifully Cold Morning
I am not sure if the words “beautifully cold” are proper together. But those two words are how the morning looked to me. The last few days, the mornings have been cold. The windchill has been in the negatives. Mid-Michigan has warnings out, do not expose any part of your skin for more than 30 minutes or risk frost bite. Needless to say, I have been spending most of my time indoors.
I really cannot complain. I can deal with cold, there are many areas that are being hit with massive snow storms. So, this seems to be mild compared to what Mother Nature could truly unleash. Anyways, I just stoke up the fireplace a little more especially in the evenings. The wind is colder during the evening hours, the extra heat is truly a blessing. My house has been nice and warm the last few days. My cats and dogs are pleased, I find them all gathered around the fireplace throughout the day.
During this cold snap, I have been putting extra seeds out for the birds and other little critters that visit my feeders. I think, it is the least I can do for my feathery little “friends”. I love watching them around the feeders. I can sit at my table, work on my book, drink my tea and watch the wildlife.
If you are in a cold snap, stay warm.
Until next time…..peace.
Blazing Sunset
Today, was a normal chilly day for winter in Michigan. The sunset tonight was amazing. As the sun began to set, the orange colors made the top of the trees look like they were on fire. The blazing sunset was absolutely stunning and beautiful.
During the winter months, the blazing sunset seem to be clearer and crisper. Of course, I have to remember to actually put a coat on next time. I had grabbed my camera and ran out the door to capture the moment. The air definitely was freezing.
Until next time….peace….
Farmer
I am curious about this old photo like all photos I come across. What I assume about this photo……
- The gentleman is a farmer.
- He is either water or fertilizing the plant.
- Another option, the plants have a bug or slug; the farmer is applying a pesticide.
- The area looks dry.
- I like the fence around the garden which would aid in keeping bunnies away.
Other than that, I have no other ideas on what the farmer is doing. If he is watering each plant, the task would be time consuming. The garden appears to be a large one.
More Mourning Doves
I will admit I have been enjoying a lazy Sunday. I wrote an article before tomorrow’s deadline. Now, I am just relaxing. I did go outdoors for a little while.
There has a been a dampness to the air today. I cannot tell if there is going to be snow storm or icy rain. I guess time will tell. With the coldness in the air, I put more seeds and treats out for the birds which attracted more Mourning Doves.
Of course, I have about two dozen Sparrows out there right now. I also saw some a Titmouse, Bluejays, and a few Blackcapped Chickadees.
Until next time….peace.
Morning & Mourning Doves
Beautiful, crisp winter morning here in Mid-Michigan; the temperatures are actually above 20˚F. I admit the shift from negative temps to the current temperature actually makes the air feel warm. The wind has finally died down. Of course, I know this is just the calm before the next snow storm. But I will enjoy the “warmer” temps while they last.
Drinking my morning tea, I was able to watch all the different birds coming and going from the variety feeders I have set up in my yard. I was impressed to see 15 Mourning Doves. Most of these little doves were on my porch. My porch is all opened with two different feeders. Numerous seeds fall down unto the porch which the Mourning Doves love.
I decided to look up some quick facts about Mourning Doves to share with all of you.
- Mourning Doves actually go by other names depending on the area. Different names include Turtle Dove, American Mourning Dove and Rain Dove. I thought those were interesting, I had never heard the name “Rain Dove”.
- Mourning Doves were once called the Carolina Pigeon or the Carolina Turtledove.
- Mourning Doves will stockpile seeds for later use. They actually plan ahead.
- The cooing which I love is done mainly by the male Mourning Dove.
- Mourning Doves will usually mate for life.
- When they sleep they actually put their head between their shoulders close to their body.
- Mourning Doves will lay two eggs at a time; the eggs will take two weeks to incubate.
- The oldest known Mourning Dove lived to be 31 years and 4 months.
Personally I just enjoy watching the doves especially first thing in the morning when everything seems quiet. Until next time……peace.
My Favorite Vintage Photos of the Week
Michigan has been displaying typical winter weather this week which means I have stayed indoors more than usual. Even though I keep myself pretty busy with my writings, I have had extra time on my hands. So, I turn to my stacks of negatives and slides to change them into digital prints.
These are six of my favorite vintage photos of the week. Since there is another snow storm in the forecast for the weekend, I am certain I will have more favorites soon.
The main image (featured image) shows three children playing on a bike. I love everything about this photo. I am assuming they are all girls just spending time outdoors together. The girls seem to be enjoying themselves. The laundry hanging in the background is definitely a sign of the times (even though I hang my blankets out on the clothes line in the summer months too).
The photo of the children on the swing brings back memories. My siblings are younger than me. They use to sit on my lap while I would swing. Of course, that was before swings came with child seats and safety harnesses. But despite everything that could have went wrong by swinging two on a seat, we still had a good time.
This is one of the older photos that I have redone. The negative was most likely from the late 60’s or early 70’s which corresponds with the way with the young men are dressed. They just seem to be “hanging out” in a park.
I am bad with uniforms, but to me she looks like a military nurse. I like her smile. Perhaps, she was on leave or maybe she just received her credentials to be a nurse. I know the possibilities are endless.
This photo looks like a family gathering of sorts. I love how the boy in the front has a big and somewhat fake smile. While the other boy in the background is giving “bunny ears” to the boy who has no idea.
Two young girls on a wooden swing. I love everything about this photo. I am considering having a swing like this built for my photo sessions. I really like the idea especially with the fence in the background.
World Wetlands Day
Today is considered to be World Wetlands Day; I love these unofficial holidays especially the ones that directly relate to nature and wildlife. Even though today in Mid-Michigan; the entire area pretty much had a snow day. Some areas actually received 18.7 inches of snow last night. Mother Nature just wanted to remind us who really is in charge.
Wetlands provide habitat for various types of wildlife and plants. Here in Michigan, we have wetland areas. I will often refer to them as river flats; the name everyone in the area calls them.
Wetlands have various benefits. The areas reduce flooding by absorbing the rain or snow melt off. At the same time, wetlands act as a filter getting rid of pollutants and other contaminants by breaking down the material. In Michigan, there are actually three different types of major wetlands: marsh, swamp, and bogs.
Marshes
The river flats are more like marshes. Depending on the time of year, they can an inch of water to several feet deep or completely froze solid. I like these areas; I can grab my camera and photograph all types of wildlife. I have spent hours photographing herons, cranes, ducks, geese, and much more.
Swamps
Swamps are more wooded. They are usually home to various types of little creatures including frogs, owls, and raccoons. The plant life in the swaps can also be beautiful.
Bogs
Bogs are a result of decaying vegetation. Bogs have different type of animal species including turtles.
Watching the wildlife in the wetland areas is fascinating. I can spend hours outdoors during the warmer months. Not today, when the temp is about 3˚F right now. Don’t get me wrong, I do enjoy the winter months too. I just don’t get outdoors as much.
According to the Michigan DNR website, these are the plant and animals that frequent the wetland areas:
| Arrowhead Bald Eagle Baltimore Butterfly Black Spruce Black Tern Bowfin Brook Stickleback Bulrush Cardinal-Flower Common Cattail Common Loon Cotton Grass Damselfly Dragonflies Dragon’s Mouth, Wild Pink Dwarf Mistletoe Eastern Newt Great Blue Heron Green Frog Green-backed Heron Iris Kingfisher Kirtland’s Snake Lichen |
Liverwort Marsh Wren Marsh-Marigold Michigan Holly Minnow Northern Harrier Osprey Pitcher Plant Poison Sumac Red Maple Red-bellied Dace Red-winged Blackbird Sandhill Crane Smartweed, Knotweed Snail Sphagum Moss Spotted Turtle Sundew Tamarack Trumpeter Swan Water Milfoil Water Shrew Water-lily Waterweed, Elodea |
So, the next time you see a wetland area on the side of the road while you are zooming down a freeway; take a moment to think about all the wildlife the area has to offer.
Reference:
Michigan DNR (2015). Wetlands. Retrieved from:
http://www.michigan.gov/dnr/0,4570,7-153-10370_22664-61132–,00.html
Snow Storm, Photos & Memories
Mid-Michigan is in the middle of a snow storm right now. So, I have put some extra wood in the fireplace to stay warm. Now, I am just working on some old negatives turning them into digital prints. I am thankful that I really did not have anywhere important to go today. The area could see up to 14 inches of snow by morning. I am just hoping that all those who have to get out for work are safe in their travels.
I honestly do not think these photos have been viewed since they were taking. No one remembers the photos. But I am enjoying the trip down memory lane. The first photo I am sharing with all of you today is of my grandfather and his first wife. He was actual married twice before he met my grandmother. At the same time, she had been married two times before. They both agreed the third marriage was the best. I love the old car in the photo, I wish I had that to play around with today.
I was surprised to find a photo of myself mixed in with his negatives. Of course, I can’t really remember him taking the photo. I can tell you the photo is over 40 years old. The photo made me laugh. My mom always tried to put us girls in dresses. If you look closely at the photo, you will notice I am not wearing any shoes and I have band aids on my knee. I loved being outdoors. Still do. And, yes I still walk around with no shoes on during the summer. I think being without shoes connects you with nature.
I hope everyone has a wonderful evening. If you are out in this nasty snow storm, safe travels.
Rebecca's Vintage and Wildlife Photography 