Thanksgiving day with the family
We spent the day at Matt and Betsy’s
Taking these pictures didn’t go without problems. These are all part of a second set of pictures I took. The first set were all blurred. For some unknown reason the camera had a major problem – it looked like the camera moved during each of the previous shots. I had the shutter speed fairly high for the dark conditions 1/80th of a second, and the camera was mounted on my new heavyweight tripod, so there’s no explanation for the problem. Checking on the Internet it seems that focus errors on the D7000 abound, though this doesn’t look like a focus error. More research is needed – I can’t afford to run into this problem again when I’m shooting.
I changed lenses and the problem went away – which is telling in itself. The family were very good and came out for a second crack at the pictures. Oh well it could have been worse – if I hadn’t chimped the shots straight away I might not have spotted the problem.
24 November 2011 | 365:328 | 365 Days blog | Copyright © 2011 Gary Allman
Thanksgiving day with the family
Alek, Katie, Ginger, Gary, Lanie, Jim and Carol
Today we drove down to see Carol & Jim
After dinner we sat around chatting.
Ginger 'points' the finger
Here we see Ginger apparently giving her mother the finger - in fact the target was the camera.
Axes
Axe head details
Axe head details
19 November 2011 | 365:323 | 365 Days blog | Copyright © 2011 Gary Allman
Gary Fishing , James River, Springfield, Missouri
And all I caught was a load of leaves.
My best catch of the afternoon
James River, Springfield, near the Crighton access point.
Ginger and Lanie near the Crighton access point on the James River
13 November 2011 | 365:317 | 365 Days blog | Copyright © 2011 Gary Allman
Gary by Piney Creek, Piney Creek Wilderness, Missouri
Armistice Day, and the kids have the day off school
Our plan was to get right down to the lake shore, but we didn’t quite make it. We had to be back in Springfield early in the evening, because Katie is playing in the orchestra for the schools presentation of ‘You’re a good man Charlie Brown’ this week. So we decided to stop for lunch just short of our planned destination. The girls did really well. we hiked around five miles and climbed over a thousand feet.
I couldn’t watch katie play last night because it was my EfM tutorial night, so we went along tonight, and it was a great show. Afterwards, to celebrate we treated Katie and ourselves to an ice cream at Braums.
Piney Creek, Piney Creek Wilderness, Missouri
Cooking lunch at Piney Creek, Piney Creek Wilderness, Missouri
Ginger, Lanie and Katie at Piney Creek
Lanie finds a tree bark mask
Trail back to the Tower trail head at Piney Creek Wilderness, Missouri
Look out tower at the Piney Creek Wilderness Tower trail head
11 November 2011 | 365:315 | 365 Days blog | Copyright © 2011 Gary Allman
Gary and Ginger stopped for lunch on Camp Creek, Busiek State Forest and Wildlife Area
The fall colour at Busiek was stunning
The the colour of the trees on the trail by the Carter Cemetery were breathtaking. I took this picture when we stopped for lunch by Camp Creek. We finished the hike in plently of time to visit one of the Flea Markets in Ozark before collecting the big kids from school.
Fall color at Busiek State Forest and Wildlife Area, Missouri
Autumn color on the road to the South trail head at Busiek State Forest and Wildlife Area
Camp Creek crossing, Busiek State Forest and Wildlife Area
Camp Creek Crossing
Possumhaw berries on the Yellow Trail at Busiek State Forest and Wildlife Area
Fall color at Busiek State Forest and Wildlife Area, Missouri
01 November 2011 | 365:305 | 365 Days blog | Copyright © 2011 Gary Allman
Gary and Lanie down by the creek
Today we relaxed at Ginger’s parents
This morning Lanie decided she wanted to go fishing in the creek. That would have been fine if I’d known the day before and had packed our fishing gear. Jim rummaged around and found a small portable rod we couldn’t get to work, and then turned up with a proper fishing rod and some bobbers. No hooks though. So he made one from a sewing needle. Lanie packed some of this mornings wonderful breakfast sausage for bait and we headed down to the creek to fish.
At the creek we saw a beaver swim under the bridge, and we found a small lure and a large fish hook – tripling our fishing gear. The fish loved the sausage but the needle hook wasn’t very effective at catching them. Lanie caught one fish on the huge hook we’d found up in a tree over the creek.
22 October 2011 | 365:295 | 365 Days blog | Copyright © 2011 Gary Allman
Family cookout
Tonight we’re camping at Ginger’s parents
The main purpose of our visit was to meet Ginger’s aunt, who’d been staying with her parents this past week. Jim had cut wood and we had a great time roasting hot dogs and marshmallows. We took our dutch oven and cooked up some very tasty veggies too.
Ginger and I took the tent and spent the night camped out near the house.
21 October 2011 | 365:294 | 365 Days blog | Copyright © 2011 Gary Allman
Gary, Lanie and Ginger (hiding at the back) too
For what seems like the first time in over three months the temperature dropped below 90°F,
We should have tried for a better shot in which all of Ginger’s face was visible, but we wanted to get on our way as we had an appointment with some burgers at Tom and Rebbie’s to keep. Very nice they were too.
Tonight we’ve had to close up the house. Not because it’s too hot – but because it is too cold!
05 September 2011 | 365:248 | 365 Days blog | Copyright © 2011 Gary Allman
© 2011 Gary Allman
McDonald’s, I’m good ‘n cold and I have two egg McMuffins!
I love Egg McMuffins.
Sorry, but it is true. However, that’s jumping ahead a little bit. I was the first to arrive for Biometrics scanning – which was great because it was all over in ten to fifteen minutes. There is probably a joke to be made about an Englishman, a Jamaican and a Russian waiting in line for Biometrics, but it will have to wait for another day.
i guess I made somebody’s day, as the lady taking my fingerprints said “it is great to start the week with a laugh” this was after busting out laughing because I was nonplussed as to why my thumb print still matched, when it shouldn’t. Then it dawned on me… I’d injured the other hand.
You are not supposed to take cameras along for the biometrics appointment so I saw lots of pictures I couldn’t take while walking to my appointment, and by the time I walked back to the hotel the light had changed and the pictures weren’t there any more.
It was hot and rapidly getting hotter in St Louis so I decided to head on home. On the way back I stopped at Pacific, Missouri for an egg McMuffin, and I couldn’t believe my luck when I was told there was a two for one offer! My attempts to take this picture of one of my McMuffins attracted the attention of the staff, but fortunately I wasn’t asked to stop – probably because I’d deliberately hid myself away from everyone else which I guess was also rather suspicious!
29 August 2011 | 365:241 | 365 Days blog | Copyright © 2011 Gary Allman
Today the temperature in Joplin Missouri was 111°F
And I thought 105°F was hot.
A translated version for my British chums.
02 August 2011 | 365:214 | 365 Days blog | Copyright © 2011 Gary Allman
Gary and Ginger at Emily and Larry’s Wedding reception
Which explains the somewhat curious and questionable lighting.
30 July 2011 | 365:211 | 365 Days blog | Copyright © 2011 Gary Allman
Ginger and Gary on the beach
UK June 2011 – Day 30. Out of focus?
We celebrated by catching a bus down to Gun Wharf and Ginger buying some more clothes. After that we went and found lunch and coffee at Lou-Lou’s and had a long wait for a bus to the beach. We spent a wonderful afternoon on the beach, and just so that I could say that I’d done it, I went swimming. Compared to the frigid waters of Scotland it was almost tropical.
In the evening we went for a farewell dinner with Robert and Mel. The taxi is coming to pick us up and take us to Heathrow at seven am tomorrow morning. The only thing left to do was pack. It wasn’t easy somehow our bags were overweight. I had to leave some of my carefully collected geological specimens behind, and we did a lot of re-arranging of our bags, including putting the entire tent (except the poles) into my carry on bag. Finally we squeezed everything in and the weights were within the limits.
14 July 2011 | 365:195 | 365 Days blog | Copyright © 2011 Gary Allman
A full day’s driving, a walk on the beach, beer and fish and chips take their toll
UK June 2011 – Day 24. Destination – the chalk cliffs of Hunstanton
We arrived late in the afternoon, visited the local tourist information office, and with their help found a bed and Breakfast. “I think he’s Spanish” to quote the Tourist Information woman, referring to our host for the night – more on that tomorrow. It didn’t take long to get got settled in.
It was very chilly in Hunstanton; in fact the heating was on in the B&B. Despite the cold we decided that there was just time for a quick walk along the beach to look at the cliffs – and take some pictures in case the weather didn’t cooperate the following day. The light was fairly good, though as I pointed out at the time we’d need to wait on the beach for the setting sun to catch the cliffs. However, we got bored moved on and sure enough later on the sun poked through the clouds and I missed a couple of good pictures.
We then discovered that sleepy seaside towns in Norfolk go to bed early; even on a Friday night. By eight O’clock most of the fish and chip shops were closed, not that we wanted fish and chips. There wasn’t an open restaurant to be found. We went into a pub which advertised ‘Food served all day’ ordered a couple of pints only to be told that they’d stopped serving food. Oh well. According to Inspector Morse, beer is food, so we had a couple of courses (or was it three?) after which we didn’t really care what the food was and fish and chips seemed just dandy.
Today’s picture depicts me slumped on the bed, tired after lots of driving, walking on the beach, drinking beer and replete with fish and chips.
Tomorrow we head back to Portsmouth.
Today’s extras
Multicoloured chalk and sandstone cliffs at Hunstanton, Norfolk, UK
Sun burst over the Wash
Multicoloured chalk and sandstone layered cliffs at Hunstanton, Norfolk, UK
Sea and Sky
08 July 2011 | 365:189 | 365 Days blog | Copyright © 2011 Gary Allman
keith, Gary and Ginger on Dumyat, Stirling, Scotland
UK June 2011 – Day 14. Time to get some hiking in again
After a lot of chatting last night, today my uncle took us into Glasgow to buy a gas stove, seek hiking advice and get some maps of suitable backpacking locations in the highlands. Uncle Keith is obviously in the know on these things as he took us to a fantastic outdoors emporium Tiso where the staff were really helpful, especially Kevin, who gave us some excellent advice on where to go. Even better he treated us like we knew what we were doing (possibly a mistake, as conditions in Scotland are very different to the Ozarks), and told us about places that should be within our capabilities. His only suggestion we subsequently didn’t like was the Cairngorms, which after the remote and wonderful highlands seemed less accessible and over populated.
We left Tiso with a MSR Pocket Rocket, a gas canister and several maps and headed off to Sterling for a hike. We climbed Dumyat a modest hill with a near-by hill fort. It might be modest but it was more than enough for us out of condition hikers, in fact my uncle (who used to go fell running) despite protestations that he was unfit, did a whole lot better than we did.
The beacon at the summit was put there to celebrate the Queen’s Silver Jubilee in 1977. By co-incidence I had pointed out another of the beacons located at Fort Widley on top of Portsdown Hill in Portsmouth to Ginger, just a few days before.
The descent to the East on grass was steep and very slippery at times, I lent my hiking pole to my uncle, who had slipped quite heavily a couple of times. This of course made it more difficult for me to keep my footing, slowing me down, though I managed fairly well without slipping up. Little did I know that this was going to be just a brief foretaste of things to come in a future hike.
I managed to get some fairly good pictures once we were off the hill and on the track back to the road. Along the track we had to negotiate a herd of highland cattle with calves, which we gave a wide berth. The hike was a great warm-up for our planned backpacking in the highlands: 5.75 miles and 1,199 feet of elevation.
Today’s alternate shots & extras
Part way up Dumyat, I stop to take a call from my brother
Keith, Gary and Ginger - Dumyat, Stirling, Scotland
View to the South East from the top of Dumyat
Scottish hillsides - Dumyat, Stirling, Scotland
Pastures and derelict buildings - Dumyat, Stirling, Scotland
28 June 2011 | 365:179 | 365 Days blog | Copyright © 2011 Gary Allman
On the beach near West Kilbride
UK June 2011 – Day 13. Today we had a longish drive,
by UK standards anyway. Birmingham to Cumbernauld (North East of Glasgow). It looked like we’d arrive at Glasgow just as the commuter traffic got heavy so we detoured to Kilmarnock and the west coast for a bit of scenery while everybody drove home.
I’ve not been on this road in over ten years, it was nice to see the sea and the islands again. We are staying with my uncle for a day or so. It should be good to catch up. He’s not met Ginger, and the last time I saw him was on a business trip to Paisley back in 2008.
Today’s alternate shot & extras
The beach near West Kilbride - It was nice to feel sand underfoot
Looking towards the islands
27 June 2011 | 365:178 | 365 Days blog | Copyright © 2011 Gary Allman
My first pint of real beer in over two and a half years
UK June 2011 – Day 9. A trip out to visit family
We were up early to go get the hire car, pick up my sister and then go off visiting family. We had a great time with my cousin, her family and my aunt. Several pictures of cute children resulted.
Back in Portsmouth it was my sister’s turn to put us up for a couple of nights, and before we knew where we were we were in a pub! Eight days in Blighty and this was my first chance at a real pint, so I grabbed it with both hands, and tried several more just to make sure. A friend in Springfield had specifically requested a picture of me drinking a pint in an English pub, so this is my picture for today.
Had the drinking stopped there all would have been well, but we carried on into the wee small hours back at my sister’s house. Apparently come bedtime it took me fifteen minutes to negotiate the spiral staircase up to the bedroom.
Today’s alternate shots & extras
Gary and friend (1)
Gary and friend (2)
With my first pint in over two and a half years
Cuteness
More cuteness
My sister plus the newest addition to my cousin's family
Happy - my aunt with her latest grandchild.
Latest addition
Parents (again) - you'd think people would learn after the first one! I can talk, I didn't.
23 June 2011 | 365:174 | 365 Days blog | Copyright © 2011 Gary Allman
Gary and Ginger at the Tate Modern
UK June 2011 – Day 7. A day out in London
We took the train to London and spent most of the day looking around the Tate Modern, which is where I took todays picture.
By the time we’d finished at the Tate Modern it was too late to do much else. So we walked all along the South Bank – watching Tower bridge be raised three times. I’ve never seen it raised that often before, and I used to work just around the corner!
We had a stroll around the outside of the Tower of London, St Paul’s Catherdral, and ended up in Trafalgar Square.Ginger was unimpressed by the usual tourist haunts, such as the Globe Theatre. So much so we decided not to bother returning, which was a shame as I rather fancied seeing the Tate Gallery and Natural History Museum, not to mention the inside of St Paul’s. Also I’ve never been to Greenwhich Maritime museum, which I really want to see one day. Ginger missed out on Kew gardens so there’s plenty left over for another trip.
Today’s extras
Sunflower Seeds - Ai Weiwei at the Tate Modern
Floor 4 - Tate Modern
Tower bridge, River Thames, London
21 June 2011 | 365:172 | 365 Days blog | Copyright © 2011 Gary Allman
EFM Retreat
This week’s EFM class was held on a Saturday,
During our mid-morning break I noticed something move out of the corner of my eye and heard a small knock on the front door. On investigating further I discovered a small bird had flown into the door and was laying stunned on the mat. Checking the bird books at home, we found it was a migrant – a Male Wilson’s Warbler. After about twenty minutes it recovered and flew off.Before we finished for the day I explained about my 365 Days project and asked if anyone was willing to be in my daily picture. Everyone was, and this is the result. Thanks Guys!
To get the best out of this picture I would have needed to use a diffuse fill-in flash. I didn’t have the flash gun and diffuser with me (the weight of EFM books was quite enough), so I had to settle for an over exposed background. Had I been thinking I’d have taken a separate background shot with no one in it and merged the two – there’s hindsight for you.
***
While I was out being educated Lanie spent the day working the parking lot at Arts Fest with the Youth Group and Katie went with Ginger and they enjoyed some time out in the Kayaks on Lake Springfield. However, the home highlight of the day had to be Ginger, Katie and Lanie shaving Blue Kitty to give her a lion cut. When Blue Kitty eventually comes out of hiding I might try and get a picture.
Today’s extra
Male Wilson's Warbler
07 May 2011 | 365:127 | 365 Days blog | Copyright © 2011 Gary Allman
Silliness on the Sac River Trail
The real picture’s in the background.
Ginger, Katie and I put in a four mile hike on the Sac River trail today. I was expecting the trail to be very muddy but it turned out to be surprisingly dry. During a brief stop I thought I’d grab a quick safety shot. I had an idea in mind. So it seems did Ginger and Katie. I could have gone with the more serious shot, but this one’s more fun. Ginger said she looks stupid – well that’s what you get for messing with my self portraits. Katie’s comment was along the lines of “D’oh, you can’t see me licking mom’s hair – it was kewl.” Oh well, I’d wanted them out of focus in the background, little knowing the stunt they were going to pull once my back was turned, so tough!
We decided to stop for lunch at the old barn, where Ginger and I ate lunch on our last visit on March 28, We were surprised to find the building had collapsed, leaving just a pile of rubble where we had been sitting. The recent storms must have done for it, though checking the timbers there was a lot of termite damage which I’m sure escalated its demise.
After the hike we returned to Springfield via Braum’s where we each had a double dip cone. The calories in the ice cream cones probably exceeded the number of calories we consumed on the hike, but they were very yummy.
This afternoon I tried out my latest Backpacking wood burning stove again, unfortunately with no more luck. It burns well once lit, wood gas is being generated and it burns well too, but the stove is not producing enough heat to boil a litre of water in a reasonable time, or without adding more fuel. I sat and thought about it for a while; I’ve now got another design in mind, which is not based on any of the designs I’ve seen, but uses what I’ve learned about gassification and wood gas burners in general. Hopefully a I have a more efficient, easier to manage and more consistent configuration. Whatever happens I know I’ll have great fun designing, building and trying it out.
Today’s alternate shots & extras
This would have been today's shot but I prefer the more irreverent picture.
A reward for the day's hiking
The old barn had collapsed since our last visit
Where has the barn gone?
30 April 2011 | 365:120 | 365 Days blog | Copyright © 2011 Gary Allman
Lunch break and ‘phone call – day hike at Busiek
Ginger wanted to see the Dogwoods in bloom.
In the midst of setting the shot up I got a call from the UK, which amused us both, knowing that Stephen (the caller) had no idea that we were in the middle of a hike. Busiek is dissected by Highway 65 with cell ‘phone towers on top of the surrounding hills, so getting a signal here isn’t a problem.
After the hike we popped into a flea market in Ozark, hoping to find a suitable saucepan for the wood burner. Unfortunately we couldn’t find anything. Maybe another trip to Bass Pro, or a tour of the local flea markets is called for.
After picking up the kids from school I filled the van with gas – $62! this is getting silly.
Today’s alternate shot & extras
Lunch break - day hike at Busiek
Ultra-pod tripod in use with a Nikon D40X
Ginger and the Dogwoods
Assuming it survives, this tree has had a very lucky escape. It's obviously been struck a glancing blow by lightning.
19 April 2011 | 365:109 | 365 Days blog | Busiek State Forest and Wildlife Area | Copyright © 2011 Gary Allman
Gary by the Little Sac River
Today I went on a short hike,
The day started badly with a flat-ish tyre, which delayed getting the kids to school, which meant I was delayed getting out of town to help Loyal check out the fence line on his father-in-law’s farm. There was no trail so we had to bushwhack our way through and negotiate some steep descents clambering over fallen trees along the way. When I got home I found my right leg was covered in blood from thorn scratches.
The north part of the farm ends in 90 foot bluffs down to the Little Sac River, we followed the fence line down a hollow to the river, and stopped to take pictures along the way, and I suffered equipment envy at Loyal’s Hassleblad, but at least I don’t have to wet process my pictures. I took today’s self portrait balancing on a downed tree.
We were accompanied by three dogs, two of which would have looked much more at home as pampered lap dogs, but they were very game and got very wet and muddy. One swam across the river which was running quite fast, and on swimming back got caught in a big pile of washed up trees and limbs. We can only guess that in rescuing the dog Loyal got into a nest of ticks. He told me later he found over sixty. I only found two – both were having quite a feast though, one on my ankle and one on my backside!
I was treated to lunch, and got back to Springfield just in time to pick up the kids from school.
Today’s alternate shot & extras
Gary by the Little Sac River
Little Sac River, near Willard, Missouri
Little Sac River, near Willard, Missouri
18 April 2011 | 365:108 | 365 Days blog | Copyright © 2011 Gary Allman
Beauty and the (out of focus) beast
I had a self portrait planned for today.
Not to worry though, the day wasn’t about my project, and I got some superb pictures though this is probably the only sneak preview I’ll show. With over 500 pictures it’s going to take a while to do the processing. The F2.8 70mm-200mm lens was an absolute godsend, and made all the difference on the shots of the ceremony.
Unbeknown to me the architect of the church sat in on the wedding – I even got a picture of him. I wish I’d known as I would have asked who designed the sanctuary lighting, and hopefully prevented the future use of sodium lights in up-lighters in an area where ambient light photography is required.
Lanie, Katie and Alek all did a super job, and Ginger was great, pointing out shots I might otherwise have missed, holding and directing the flash gun, positioning the reflector and passing equipment to me. It was a long and tiring day, and I promptly fell asleep once we got home. Not for too long though, as a barbecue and several Jack Daniels and Coke with the parents of the groom, Tom and Rebbie beckoned.
16 April 2011 | 365:106 | 365 Days blog | Copyright © 2011 Gary Allman
Laying down in my kayak isn’t too difficult
On the other hand, getting up again is quite a struggle.
With the long open cockpit at least I can lay down and enjoy the sunshine, something I couldn’t do in a closed cockpit design. Not that it makes for a particularly good (or flattering) picture, but it sums up our day on Fellows lake quite nicely. In fact, thinking about it, this picture probably represents an all time low in this year’s 365. However, it is the only picture I’ve got for today.
We loaded up the kayaks before the school run, dropped the big kids off at school, grabbed an egg McMuffin, and were out on the lake by eight-thirty. Our plan, duly exercised, was to take advantage of the lake being relatively full and embark upon a ‘furthest South’ expedition. We managed to get a fair way up a small creek that feeds into south running arm of Fellows, far enough to be able to see traffic on the road hat runs to the south of the lake. We had to do the water based equivalent of bushwhacking to get out. In the process I found a snagged lure, which is small recompense for the two I’ve lost over the past couple of days.
While fishing I was surprised when my cell ‘phone started ringing, this was totally unexpected, (a) because I was convinced I’d left it at home and (b) because it was sealed inside the ammo box. Obviously my ammo box while metal, doesn’t make for a very good Faraday Cage.
The fishing wasn’t a success, it seems that like the fish in Stockton yesterday, the fish here have turned vegetarian too. Unlike Stockton though, at least there were fish to be seen, even if they didn’t like the looks of all the various lures I threw at them. I finally gave up on the fishing and we spent the rest of our time at the lake paddling around and just sitting drifting on the wind in the sunshine.
Being a Wednesday in the evening we took the kids to church for Youth Group, and I attended the last of the Lent classes while Ginger joined the Moms’ Group.
The bad news from the guys at church was that my EFM classmate John who was taken into hospital on Sunday has had his diagnosis of cancer confirmed. Not good. It made me count the blessings of my day and my life in general all the more.
Today’s extras
Ginger Exploring a creek at Fellows Lake
The kayaking equivalent of bushwhacking on Fellows Lake
13 April 2011 | 365:103 | 365 Days blog | Copyright © 2011 Gary Allman
Fishing
Today I went fishing with Tom on Table Rock Lake.
Late in the day I managed to loose my ‘lucky Lure’ – any lure that catches a fish counts as lucky in my book, but one that manages five is extra lucky. In the evening I went down to Bass Pro with Lanie and bought a replacement. I have high hopes for tomorrow, when Tom and I are going out fishing again.
Today’s alternate shot & extras
Gary on Table Rock Lake, Missouri
Inlet on Table Rock Lake, Missouri
11 April 2011 | 365:101 | 365 Days blog | Copyright © 2011 Gary Allman
