After Thanksgiving Dinner at church
I spent this evening helping in the kitchen at church
16 November 2011 | 365:320 | 365 Days blog | Copyright © 2011 Gary Allman
Day 319
That’s all for today folks.
15 November 2011 | 365:319 | 365 Days blog | Copyright © 2011 Gary Allman
Gary and Ginger indulge in the ancient art of kitty aggravating
it’s a popular pastime around here.
14 November 2011 | 365:318 | 365 Days blog | Copyright © 2011 Gary Allman
Ginger, Gary and Lanie stopped for Lunch on the Sac River Trail
Lanie enjoyed yesterday’s hike so much she wanted to go on another today.
Do I detect dissension in the ranks?
Lanie on the Sac River Trail
12 November 2011 | 365:316 | 365 Days blog | Copyright © 2011 Gary Allman
Studying
I’m now well into year two of my EfM course
09 November 2011 | 365:313 | 365 Days blog | Copyright © 2011 Gary Allman
Lunch at Busiek
Today we went on a re-run of last week’s hike at Busiek.
My huaraches were fine generally, but they didn’t work very well when climbing up steep wet trails, the foot-bed got very slippery, and while my feet didn’t come out of them, it wasn’t very comfortable either. We’ve some ideas for changing the material of the foot-bed that might help. I was surprised that my feet stayed warm except when crossing the creeks. The temperature today was around 46°F (8°C), it might look a lot warmer in this picture but I’m wearing a base layer and took my hat off. I’ve learned via a lot of post processing that wearing a hat for these pictures can cast quite a shadow, so, when I remember, I take it off.
While on the trail I took a picture of an abandoned liquid nitrogen tank which at some point was a railroad truck. We’ve worked this out from some faint markings on the outside. There are two of them, the ends have been cut off, and one has come to rest in Camp Creek. We can’t find any records of a railroad going through here. The tanks are very big and we’ve no idea how they came to be stuck out here in the middle of nowhere.
Back at the parking lot we took advantage of the shooting range being closed to have a look around. The fact that it was considered necessary to put up a ‘No shooting at Post’ sign was vaguely amusing, but unfortunately they need another sign saying ‘No shooting at trash cans’ as well
I took today’s picture of Ginger and I after our first crossing of Camp Creek while we stopped for lunch.
Today’s alternate shots & extras
Gary and Ginger being nauseating at Busiek
Gary and Ginger on the orange trail at Busiek State Park
Camp Creek in Busiek State Park and Wildlife area
No Shooting at Post (Note the bullet holes in the trash cans)
07 March 2011 | 365:066 | 365 Days blog | Busiek State Forest and Wildlife Area| Copyright © 2011 Gary Allman
At the end of the day
Today was a quiet day.
Back home we relaxed by listening to CDs, lit a couple of candles, some incense, and partook of a wee dram.
02 March 2011 | 365:061 | Copyright © 2011 Gary Allman
Day hike – with creeks
Today was a nice day for a hike.
I took today’s picture while we were sitting having a rest while drying our feet and enjoying the sunshine. On our way back we decided it would slow us down too much getting out of our shoes and then getting dried at each crossing, especially as we needed to cross the creek about four times. We just walked straight through, the advantage of wool socks is that they soon warm up even when sopping wet. We completed the trail quite quickly, something we’ve been regretting since as we’ve quite a few aches. One wonders when this will get easier.
Somehow we bodged all our preparations and forgot to take lunch, my driving licence and ID, map, hiking poles, bags to put wet things in, and worst of all we forgot the kids got out of school early! The kids got themselves home okay, we’ll be working on a packing list for day hikes which will include the item ‘Check calendar’.
Back in Springfield I took Lanie to Bass Pro shopping for fishing lures and a storage box for Ginger’s kayak. We found some very pretty lures that Lanie assured me fish would find very enticing. We also found, but didn’t buy some shocking pink worms, I called ‘Hello Kitty’ worms.
I finished the day making another pair of huaraches (that’ll be the mark IVs) concentrating on trying to get the foot-bed the right shape. Having tried them for a couple of days I can say with confidence that there will be a Mark V. Finally I fitted a jamming cleat on my kayak to keep the anchor traveller in place.
Tonight we watched Up. I surprised myself by finding it quite charming.
Today’s alternate shots & extras
Wide creek equals wet feet
Drilling the holes for the anchor traveller jamming cleat on my kayak
Kayak hoist
Shocking pink worms
Crossing a creek on the white trail at Busiek
Ephemeral Creek on the white trail in Busiek State Forest and Wildlife area
Ozarks' skies
01 March 2011 | Busiek State Forest and Wildlife Area | 365:060 | Copyright © 2011 Gary Allman
Packing my backpack
It’s a three day weekend,
Today we bought a rain cover for Ginger’s backpack and did the last of the shopping for the trip. We also had to get stuff ready for Lanie, who’s away on a sleep-over tonight. As soon as we can pick her up tomorrow morning, we’re off.
Today’s picture shows all my stuff ready to be put into my backpack. Total weight of pack and contents including food and water around 34-35lbs. Ginger carries half the food, cooking pot, fly sheet for the tent and the tent footprint. Her pack weighed in at 33lbs.
See all the items on the table labeled on Flickr
Alternate shots
Gary getting stuff from the shed
Backyard, hammock, sunshine, bliss
Backpack - packed.
18 February 2011 | 365:049 | Copyright © 2011 Gary Allman
Gary and Ginger being nauseating in Walmart on Saint Valentine’s day
When you’re living your dream, over time your dream becomes normal life. It pays to stop and reflect on that once in awhile. When you do it reminds you how special your dream is and how lucky you are.
After breakfast we visited a couple of flea markets, and then went down to Lake Springfield to check for ice with some kayaking in mind later in the week. We took a brief walk up onto the bluffs where we were luckily enough to see a bald eagle, which took a bird or squirrel for its lunch. Ginger got a very close look at as it flew by the bluff – I missed it as I had my head in the camera. Later on, thanks to the generosity of one of the several birdwatchers down by the lakeside, we had a chance to see two bald eagles up close in a spotting scope.
Next stop for the day was Walmart, where I decided that a picture of us being nauseating in front of a Valentine’s day display of soft toys would make a good picture. The only trouble was the display was at the front of the store and very busy, I can’t imagine why. Ginger was most uncomfortable about my taking a picture there and refused to take part. Luckily I found another display still in one of the main thoroughfares but at least not opposite the checkouts. Shall we just say that there was a lack of enthusiasm for partaking in this picture by my embarrassed wife, and we did get some amused looks.
The day was rounded off with an evening of wine, cheese and a suitably romantic movie – Notting Hill.
Today’s alternate shots
Gary and Ginger in Walmart on Saint Valentine's Day
Lake Springfield - where bald eagles fly
Additional shots
Saint Valentine's day breakfast at Anton's
Ginger at Anton's Coffee Shop
Ginger at Anton's Coffee Shop
14 February 2011 | 365:045 | Copyright © 2011 Gary Allman
Morning rituals
I think we need a bigger bed.
Getzger has his morning rituals too. As soon as the cereal is ready, he positions himself in a conspicuous spot and makes his presence felt. He knows I leave a little milk in the bottom of my bowl for him to lap up when I’m finished. The poor chap has trouble with his bones and joints, and a little bit of extra calcium will do him good. Well, that’s my excuse for encouraging him.
As we had our cereal in bed this morning Getzger sat and watched my every move. Sometimes, just for the fun of it, I make a big fuss over emptying my bowl with lots of slurping and muttering. That really gets him going.
The kittehs
I’m sure they are going to appear in a lot of these pictures so here’s a little introduction to our cats, in order from the camera.
Getzger (Abyssinian), aka Mr Cat, MC, Getzger Cat, Geggers, Geggie, PLG as in ‘Peg Leg Geg’ and as part of a family cat intelligence (contradiction in terms there I know) experiment was also briefly known as Meowkovich-Meowcovich. When not sleeping, on patrol checking for squirrels, or inspecting the kitchen faucet, Getzger will have his head stuck in the food bowl.
Sprinky (Maine Coon), aka Sprinkles. Sprinky often replaces Lanie at the dinner table, and is entranced by music, whistling and singing.
Tubby (Burmese), aka Tubmiester, Rotro, Rotters, imbecile, and Irritant. Tubby’s ambition is to own an Uzi and get his own back on his captors and torturers.
Blue Kitteh (Maine Coon), aka Madame Bleu, and Floofy pants. Madame is far too aloof to join in the fun with the other cats. She deeply dislikes ‘Cat Dancing’.
Today’s out takes & extras
Apparently it is unusual to catch a cat yawning
Coffee, Sprinky, Getzger and Tubby
This is why Ginger complains I take up too much of the bed.
11 February 2011 | 365:042 | Copyright © 2011 Gary Allman
Beer and a movie
We woke to a 6am ‘phone call. Not good.
Come kid curfew time (9 pm) I was ready for a movie and a beer. I wasn’t sure that the beer bottle picture had worked so I also took a quick arm’s length self portrait shot before bed just to be sure.
Today’s ‘also ran’
Alternate: Late Night Self Portrait
09 February 2011 | 365:040 | Copyright © 2011 Gary Allman
After the Super Bowl
Super Bowl Sunday!
Next time I’ll lay off the molten cheesey dip stuff though. I had the most horrendous dreams featuring flayed living animals and moving (as in still living) dissected things. And that’s not to mention the entrails that someone was throwing out of a window. No, no more runny cheese dip for me. Ginger is totally unconvinced about the hallucinogenic properties of the humble lump of cheese, but eating cheese before bed almost always provides lucid dreams for me.
I started the day thinking about what great photo opportunities stretched ahead of me. Alas it was not to be so. After Sunday School I had a Youth Group meeting, but the room was a bit dark, and I didn’t want to slow the meeting down by stopping to take pictures. I thought the Super Bowl party at Chuck’s would provide great opportunities – I was sure my enthused face glowing in the light of Chuck’s 70″ monster TV would make a great picture, but nah. So instead when I got home I had a couple of beers, a couple of marmalade sandwiches (I like marmalade), and a late night arm’s length photo opportunity followed by some clichéd post processing.
The really good news: the kids go back to school tomorrow morning. The bad news: They come back in the afternoon. Just kidding! Though it looks like more snow is due later in the week.
06 February 2011 | 365:037 | Copyright © 2011 Gary Allman
At the Antique Mall
Today we managed to escape the kids for the first time in three days.
Today is a new day and yet another snow day for the schools in Springfield, and our Youth Minister at Church volunteered to take the Youth Group kids for some snow day fun. I, for one, wasn’t going to try and dissuade her, the thought of nearly six hours to ourselves was far too good to turn down. At eleven I took the kids to Church, and I was surprised how bad the roads were, only the major roads have been plowed. At Church I checked if there was anything I needed to be doing and inspected the huge pile of snow in the next door parking lot before returning home.
Once home, we had to get a parcel in the post and then the day was ours. Which was a problem as we don’t have the right footwear for hiking in a foot of snow and the lakes are frozen so Kayaking was out of the question. We ended up going down to Ozark and visiting a couple of flea markets (or Antique Malls as they style themselves), where I drooled over some oil lamps, Coleman lamps and some very nice cameras. The light coming from some of the display cabinets was very nice, which is where I took today’s picture.
Today’s out takes and alternate pictures
At the Antique Mall
Welcome to the taxidermy display
Old photographer and some older cameras
A big pile of snow
04 February 2011 | 365:035 | Copyright © 2011 Gary Allman
Snow day
This bad weather’s been on the cards for a while.
I took this picture while checking the weather radar and watching the snow drift by the window. Not long afterwards the kids went out and collected some snow to make genuine Ozark Snow Cones.
Today’s runners up
Out take: Snow day
Out take: Snow day
Ozark snow cone
01 February 2011 | 365:032 | Copyright © 2011 Gary Allman
Halfway up the first hill – Busiek State Forest & Wildlife Area
Tomorrow I’ll ache.
The only wildlife we saw was an armadillo, which I managed to get within three feet of, but didn’t get a picture as I was too busy laughing at the bouncy way they run.
Still to do: the school run, another visit to the bank, get the slow puncture in the van’s back wheel fixed, and then my class this evening.
Today’s alternates & extras
Alternate: Lunch on the Silver trail - Busiek State Forest & Wildlife Area
View to the North from the Silver tail at Busiek
27 January 2011 | 365:027 | Copyright © 2011 Gary Allman
Tidying away
I need to find my tennis ball.
There was a visit to the bank and some shopping required. While shopping I spotted a display of ‘Valentine’s Day Monsters’. I liked their color so much I decided to take a quick safety shot with them.
While Ginger put the shopping away, I put away our kayaking socks and shoes from last Saturday. To do this I had to lower my Kayak from its berth on the garage ceiling. While it was down I retrieved my Emergency kit. I thought this activity might make today’s picture, so I set up the camera and once more encountered the ‘out of focus’ problem. This time to make doubly sure it was the camera and not me, I asked Ginger to look through the viewfinder as I took the shot using the remote. Sure enough, the camera wasn’t focusing. It took a lot of fiddling around to get a couple of in focus pictures. D’oh!
While I was taking the pictures I flicked our hanging tennis ball up into Ginger’s kayak so it wouldn’t be in shot. We use the ball to tell me when to stop so I don’t plow into all the stuff stored at the end of the garage . I forgot about it until later when I came to park the car, and had to use the ancient art of ‘touch parking’. I retrieved the bit of string to which the ball is attached only to find the ball has gone awol. So now I’m going to have to lower Ginger’s kayak and find the missing ball.
Today’s alternate shots
Alternate: Valentine's Day Monsters
Alternate: Tidying away
25 January 2011 | 365:025 | Copyright © 2011 Gary Allman
Cats, coffee and laptops in bed
A little peek into our morning customs. Cats, coffee and Internet in bed
I had to very carefully get out of bed to set the camera up without disturbing the cats as I wanted them in the picture. As soon as the auto focus started whirring, Tubby sat in front of the camera – half out of shot, head on one side staring into the lens. after ten pictures he grew bored and sought out his favorite perch on Ginger’s chest. I needn’t have worried about disturbing Sprinky. She refused to move from her selected spot on the side of the bed.
That’s my picture done for the day and it’s still morning 
Today’s Out takes & extras
Ginger, Tubby, Gary and Sprinky. Morning High Jinx
Laptops in bed
24 January 2011 | 365:024 | Copyright © 2011 Gary Allman
Just before bed
Not a lot happened today.
Alarm at seven, Church, Sunday School, Nap time, Star Wars Episode 1, Internets, hiking plans and bed.
I settled for the cliché self portrait against a wall, and I didn’t put a lot of effort into it either. A tripod would have helped with the blur and lens distortion as I could have had the camera further away. As it was I had to hold the camera in both hands to minimize camera shake. A tripod would have also left a hand free to hold a reflector to fill in the light a bit. I’ll be able to try that another night.
23 January 2011 | 365:023 | Copyright © 2011 Gary Allman
Kayaking in the ice on Lake Springfield
It’s Saturday so we must be kayaking
It’s amazing how quickly the weekend and our Saturday lie-in comes around each week.
This morning we hatched a plan to go kayaking on Lake Springfield. The temperature had risen above freezing and, at the time we decided to go at least, the sun was shining.
At the lake I found there was a lot more ice than I was expecting, with only a limited amount of open water. Putting the kayaks in was fine, though we had to break the ice. Thanks to our waterproof socks with nice warm wool socks inside them, getting in (and subsequently out) was fine. We were both nice and warm the entire hour we were out on the lake, and had there been enough free water to really get some paddling in I’d have been too hot.
Some of the ice was thin and it made interesting noises as we scrunched through, and even better was the noise it made if we set ripples running through it. Most of the lake though was covered in ice too thick for us to try and get through.
The conclusions from the day’s exercise were that the insulation in the hulls worked well, the waterproof socks were brilliant, and we now know we can paddle happily just about anytime the water isn’t frozen over.
Today’s Out takes & extras
Winter kayaking
Ginger kayaking among the ice on Lake Springfield
Kayaking in the ice on Lake Springfield
Out take: Gary kayaking in the ice on Lake Springfield
22 January 2011 | 365:022 | Copyright © 2011 Gary Allman
Checking the tyres
Take that winter and be gone.
I decided to blow a raspberry at the wintry weather, to hell with it and got Ginger to cut my hair. Then I removed all my excess face fuzz. I toyed briefly with posting a picture of my cut hair on the floor as today’s self portrait, but decided against it, it’s probably against the spirit of the rules for a self portrait, though I guess I could have included my feet.
Beyond that my day can be summarized as: Interwebs, check the car tires, Walmart, take self portrait, shout at camera, school run and then re-take self portrait.
For some reason best known to itself my camera took a batch of out of focus pictures on my first attempt at today’s picture. It’s not supposed to do that, in fact I dislike the fact you can’t force it to take a picture if it decides it can’t focus. Some careful checks ruled out operator error, so running out of time, I went off on the school run and set the shot up again on our return.
In ten minutes I’m off to the gym (the second time this week – Woot! I believe is the term often used in such circumstances today).
21 January 2011 | 365:021 | Copyright © 2011 Gary Allman
Oil lamp reflection
When the telephone rings before six am you know the day is destined to have its challenges.
I finished my coursework just in time to be told that tonight’s class had been canceled, which left me a bit listless as I look forward to my classes. It seemed most of the population of Springfield was cowering inside away from the snow so we took off in the afternoon to drop Katie at the mall, and take Lanie shoe shopping. I sat around and I took my pictures while Ginger and Lanie did their shopping.
Once back home, I took the obligatory picture of the house in the snow and then wandered round the backyard looking for pictures to take. All I got was cold. Though I did mange to grab the above picture of me reflected in the globe of a blue glass oil lamp.
Hopefully tomorrow the kids will be going back to school. Katie asked me ‘would you cry?’ if they had another snow day. To be sure it’d probably bring tears to my eyes.
Today’s Out takes
Out take: Shoe shopping for Lanie
Out take: Gary, snow, backyard
Obligatory picture of our house in the snow
20 January 2011 | 365:020 | Copyright © 2011 Gary Allman
True Brits wear plaid
Last night I fell asleep with a pair of woolly socks in my hand.
Well I had a productive morning. I did some voluntary work on the Church website, I wrote a letter, sent some e-mails and I replied to an enquiry as to how we’d fixed my dry box and fishing tackle box into my kayak. Somewhere along the way there I must have lost steam, which was fine as I had to get out on the school run. I even made a start on this week’s homework, I’m secretly hoping there isn’t anywhere near as much to do as last week.
After fixing the laptop power cable for Ginger, dinner, the dishes and flipping Sprinky to keep her quiet (a task that requires putting her on her back and rubbing her tummy until she gets fed up), I was running out of things I could be bothered to do. That’s when I decided to put away my washing and make the event into a photo opportunity. As we have little cupboard space and lots of stuff and people around here, my wardrobe has been relegated to the hall closet, and that’s where you see me hanging up a shirt. There were other pictures but Ginger castigated me for having the hanger the wrong way around. And they think I’m anal.
To round the day off I decided to try again for a Lomo effect in my picture post processing, this time with a little more success and I even discovered a ‘new’ feature in my editing software while I was at it. Hopefully that will save me some time in future.
18 January 2011 | 365:018 | Copyright © 2011 Gary Allman
Gary and CD
Today we went to Ginger’s parents to pick up Lanie.
We came prepared to hike the hill behind Ginger’s parents place. In all the times I’ve visited I’ve never ventured much further from the house than the creek. While I sat in the back of of the van pulling my walking shoes on CD (Carol’s Dog) came up to say hello in a very enthusiastic and doggy like manner. Luckily I had my bag and camera with me and I managed to grab this picture. Once I was properly shod Ginger, Lanie, CD and I went up the hill and explored. It was very good to see for myself the places that until now had only been a part of the stories of Ginger’s childhood.
After the hike I enjoyed a beer, conversation and chili with Jim while Ginger did computery things with Carol.
Today’s Out takes & extras
Out take: Ginger & Gary stopped on the slab bridge over Little North Fork
Out take: Ginger & Gary
Lanie - Adventurer extraordinaire
17 January 2011 | 365:017 | Copyright © 2011 Gary Allman
