A Walk in the Park 2

More pictures..

 
 
  

A Walk in the Park

Weather report for central Pennsylvania says dry days ahead... but behind, we've had a week or so of heavy, heavy rains every day....

On Wednesday when most of the bad stuff had finally ended, I drove over to Millersburg, to MYO Park down along the river. It was still a day until the river crested, but the following shots show how much the water was already up.

Other than sopping up a few puddles in the basement with a towel, and listening to the sump pump running for 4 or 5 days, we didn't have any major problems.

MYO Park

 

A copy of the original shot this was based on was shown on the ABC27 11pm news... I had emailed them several weather shots yesterday... 

Accident

I forgot I left my digital camera on black and white mode while playing around... So this picture turned out a little plainer than I'd have liked, but turns out it's not that bad.

  

A Tale of Two Roses

This picture is one that I took over the weekend. It started out with a walk in the rain with the dogs... Then I went in for the camera to take a picture of a four-leaf clover... And I ended up snapping this, too.

However. When I got the picture back to my pc and took a closer look, it dawned on me there were some problems with it. Three to be exact. Detractors from the prettiness of the roses. I was kinda bummed, thinking it a shot wasted, when my 8 yr old said, "Well, why don't you just copy this over there and make them go away?"

This young lady had seen me use the "clone stamp" feature of Paint.Net before, copying heads of people over other people, so that we had a row of kids all with the same face, and things like that.

Well, Duh... Why not, indeed? So I made the changes, and the picture you see above is the result. However, it started somewhere else. Below is the "original" roses shot.....

Day Off

It's been raining here a lot... for several days.

A few years ago after we first moved into our home we had a minor flood in the basement due to leaky walls... Several coats of drylock and installation of a sump pump later, the problems have mostly disappeared.Once last year it rained enough that we had some very, very minor puddling.... Throw a towel on it and twas enough.

The past several days Dauphin County has been under flash flood watches because of all the rain. Luckily enough, we're on "high ground" so don't have to worry about creeks over their banks or that sort of thing. However, there seems to possibly be a wet weather spring near the basement walls somewhere... Anyhow, this morning the sump pump was working overtime, but nothing other than one minor puddle that a towel dried up again... but it was still raining. I decided to take the day off... Just in case the power goes off and the sump pump failed... (good excuse anyways)...

Fortunately for me, the rain stopped and the sun came out (for a while)... the pump has been running, off and on, all day long. About four, the rain caught back up with me again... But before it did, I did take a few pictures



Along about 4pm, the sky darkened over again and it began to storm... I thought I'd take a picture out the window at the rain......

 

Good Luck!

Up until the last week, it's been pretty dry here for the past month or so. Not a drought, but.. fairly dry. The grass was beginning to crunch under our feet.

Along about Wednesday night, I think, it rained pretty good, and was warm and mostly dry on Thursday... Then Thursday night, it rained pretty good, again, and the pattern was repeated. Friday night it started raining... And Saturday, I don't think it could quite make up it's mind... It rained some, and was dry some...

By Sunday, the rain had decided that it was here to stay. And, it rained all day long... Sometimes hard, sometimes soft.

Considering that by Thursday evening - the rain in some places around the area had been heavy enough during those overnight showers that we were under a flood watch, this rain is beginning to be a bit much.

A few years ago we had some pretty good water problems in our basement. When they built the house, they didn't bother with a sump pump - so I got the ole hammer drill and broke through the slab in the corner, then shovel and a five gallon bucket to dig and haul out earth to the required depth... and a sump pump we now have.

Along in there somewhere, I dug a trench across the back of the house and then down the sides.... so the runoff from the hill behind us might have a place to be diverted. And since that time, the most we have had downstairs has been a seep or two.. meaning, no more than a towel might wipe up.

Well, yesterday we hit that point... The sump pump had started running, off and on for a few hours, so I took the flashlight and started looking along the walls. Where I found a small puddle of water, I threw down the towel, and there it sits.

I was thinking that perhaps it would stop raining for a few hours.. And everything would catch up. But it appears that this isn't the case, as it continued to rain all night long, and a few times I awoke to the sound of it coming down hard.

I went down early this morning and still no more water. The pump is running for 15 seconds or so, then pausing for maybe another 40 while the "pit" refills. It seems to be holding it's own.......

So maybe, this little four leaf clover I found yesterday will do me some good, huh?

To Start My Day...

I like to walk out my door and pause for a moment.....

A Walk

I took my sandwich today, and took a little time from my hectic day... and went for a walk. I took a few photos, but not too many were really worth sharing. But, here's a couple.

This little creature patiently waited for me to take my two "bad" shots, then I zoomed in and got this one. She has a broken wing, but despite it all, she can fly... Oh how she can fly. Sometimes it seems that those who seem broken in some ways are the strongest and fastest of all.

 

And this... this was simply some wild berry flowers growing along the path.
 

I liked both shots... There's nothing about either that screams, "I am the best!!!", but in their way, both were quiet and calm and cool. Like that walk I took. Relaxing and restful. I needed the break. 

First Fish...

... of 2006.

I've been quite distracted the past day or two, but I will get something good posted one of these days... In the meantime, there was a day a month or so ago when I took quite a few pictures that I thought were great. This is one such..... enjoy.

  

Bumper Stickers

I was looking through some old posts today and realized there were a couple in "draft" status that I never did get around to posting... Here's one from last October..........

As seen on the back of a Mazda pickup today:

Buckle Up: It makes it harder for the aliens to suck you up.

Auntie Em,
Hate you, hate Kansas, taking the dog.
- Dorothy

I believe in dragons, and nice men, and other fantasy creatures.

Translation Game

There are a number of online translation services now on the internet. That is, you can write a paragraph or a whole document of text, in your favorite language, and automatically translate that into another language. I stumbled across another blog site recently where they discussed this phenomenon a good bit, and pointed out that if you translate your text to another language, and then back again, you might just be surprised at the results.

To do this experiment, I am using Microsoft Word 2003, and after the text is fully typed in, I will click Tools… Language… Translate. The “lookup” feature is redirected to www.worldlingo.com where the translation actually takes place.

My “sample” text follows:

I am a country boy from Arkansas, who joined the Air Force after high school, spent a few years in the everything is bigger and better state, Texas, and a few years in the Deep South, living near the place where country music legend Hank Williams is laid to rest.

Somewhere in there, I moved to Oklahoma, the state sitting between where Texas blows and Kansas sucks (no vulgarity intended). After a couple of years of oppressive heat and record setting tornados, I decided that maybe Up North would not be so bad after all, and we packed up and moved to Pennsylvania, where the corn grows tall.

The valley where I live is nestled between two mountains, one of which has the Appalachian Trail running along the top. I grew up on a homestead nestled between two hills like that, but in a more remote and rural location. The climate here is similar, but a few degrees cooler.

The small town where I now call home makes me feel like it is the closest to home I have ever lived as an adult, even as the map tells me I live the farthest away. All in all, it is a nice place to be.

Translated to German and back again it reads:

I am a land boy of Arkansas, which connected the Air Force after High School, spent some years in everything am larger and better condition, Texas and some years in the deep south and live near the place, in Countrymusik legend the ball Williams am put, in order to stand still.

Inside somewhere there, I moved on Oklahoma, the condition, sit between, where Texas burns through and sucks Kansas (no Vulgarity intends). After a pair of years of the oppressive heat and the recording, which adjust Tornadoes, decided I that the north possibly up not were you, thus bad finally and we and after Pennsylvania moved packed above, in which corn grows highly.

Those lowers, in which I live, nest LED between two mountains, from which the Appalachian trace has to run along the top side . I buildup on a farmstead, which is between two hills as that , but in one far away and landmore economical position nest LED. The climate is something similar, but some degree of cooling device here.
The small city, in which I designate house now, educates me to feeling, as it is the nähste to the house, which I lived at all as an adult, even as the diagram me me avowedly, lives the furthest away. All in all, it is a nice place to be to.

Translating the original to Russian and back again produces:

I will be the boy of the country from Arkansas, which connected the Air Force after elder [klachchov] of secondary school, spent a little years in everything will be larger and more better position, Texas, and a little years in deep of south, living almost the place where of [motochok] Williams the legend of the notes of the country it is assumed.

Somewhere inside there, I moved [k] Oklahoma, to position sitting between where Texas it blows and Kansas sucks (absence of that intended vulgarity). After since the pair of the years of oppressive heat and index establishing [tornadoy], I solved that on the north was not upward possible therefore failure in the end of the ends and we packed upward and it moved to Pennsylvania, where the corn grows tall.

Valley where I live arranged conveniently between 2 mountains, by one of which it has Appalachian trail to break into a run along the upper part. I grew upward on homestead arranged conveniently between 2 hills as that, but in the more remote and more rural position. Climate will here be a little degrees the cooler of similar, No.

Urban type settlement where I now cause house makes with me [chyvstvo] as it by the closest to the house, I am which it always lived as adult, even as map tells me me it lives most distant be absenting. Everything in all, there will be by glorious place, it is which.

Chinese:

I am a village boy from Arkansa, will later be able to join the air force in the high school, will spend for several years in all is bigger and a better condition, Texas and several years in the south, will live nearby the place, country music legend hank Williams will rest.

Somewhere there, I moved to Oklahoma, sits place which blows in the between condition Texas, and Kansas sucks(Has not cared for vulgarness). In 23 years sultry and record establishment tornado, after I decided possible north not to have to be eventually, and therefore bad and we packed moved have approached Pennsylvania, the corn grew high.

The valley, I live am clung in two mountains, between one of them has Arab League Para to agree the Asian trail to run along above. I am clung in the homestead coarsening between two hills likely such, but in one more remote and countryside place. Here climate is similar, but several degree refrigerating machines.

The small town, I am called the family to be me now to feel, if it is most approaches me to live takes the adult the family, since the map tells me me to live most goes far away.

Cousin Vinny Update

A few weeks ago, I put in a post talking about a cousin of a friend of mine who is attempting to hike the entire Appalachian Trail.

My Cousin Vinny

I was thinking it was about time to followup that post, with a "Where's Vinny" post (his name really isn't Vinny. It was just a feeble attempt at humor.) At any rate, Mister "K" is about 1000 miles into his journey. But, he has had to take a break, due to circumstances beyond his control. His Grandfather, who was a great inspiration to him, passed away this past week, and our condolences go out to him and his entire family in their time of loss.

I do look forward to continuing to read the journal describing his trip, and wish him well in whatever lies ahead.

Mister K's Trip

Not to beat a dead horse, but....

At lunchtime today, I took a short cut (my kids will tell you that my definition of a shortcut is the longest possible distance between points A and B, but it simply isn't true). Anyhow, on this back road, I happened to spot another one of those road signs, and this time, I took a picture (refer to a previous post about Speed Limit signs and signs like this).

Now... I promise that there was nothing in front of this sign for at least 50 ft. So the question is, who the heck sold the idea of putting up a sign in the middle of nowhere that says what this one does? In fact, now that I think about it, there aren't a ton of these "road narrows" signs around here, but every one that IS here, says an oddball number. In this case, maybe the sign should have been moved 30 feet forward, and had a nice round 500 feet. But who am I to complain? I just sit back, the fly on the wall, and observe the world around me.

  

Secret Mission

Today the sky was back... that is to say, it was up. In the sky. I mean, there were clouds up there. Okay, purty clouds.

Anyhow, I stopped to take a couple of pictures, and on this one, I accidentally caught something unexpected. All I expected was sky, corn, and church. But... I think I might have caught a fairy on a secret mission or something (click on the image to enlarge details).

  

Haunted House at Dawn

  

Ostrich Flowers

Maybe someone can enlighten me, but I have no idea what type of flowers these are. From a distance, when I was driving by, they looked like very largish tulips. I wanted to get a picture to ask someone what they are, but no one knows.

I saw this... but didn't say it... till someone else did. But, they look like Ostriches, sticking their heads up... I saw that, but thought it was just me, till I heard someone else say the same thing, so I guess that's what I'll call them till you educate me otherwise.

 
  

Speed Limit 45

Pennsylvania road signs continue to amaze me. I am silly, perhaps, but I notice things like:

Road

Narrows

190 ft

and:

Road

Narrows

255 ft

Both of those signs, located in a suburb of Harrisburg, are placed in nice, big, open areas, with nothing else around them for a few feet on either side. My question, for either, is why wouldn't you move the sign, say, five or ten feet... and have a nice, round:

Road

Narrows

250 ft

I mean, I have eyes, I can see the shoulders are going away up ahead a little ways, I probably don't need the sign to tell me so, but IF it's there, why 255ft? Why not move that sign by five feet and make it 250???

So while this was on my mind, occupying my thoughts and worrying me to no end, I was heading up to my neck of the woods - away from the hustle and bustle of the 255 ft road signs, and I saw the Speed Limit 45 sign on the road there, where I've lived for five years almost exactly. And then, I saw the Speed Limit 45 sign, on the road there. And then, I saw the Speed Limit 45 sign, on the road there. And then...

A few days later, I started counting. Between town, and my house, is a rural road, running almost exactly 7 miles through corn fields and farmlands, then continues on past my turnoff. And, in that seven miles, are exactly 21 Speed Limit 45 signs. (There's another one about 255 feet past the turnoff to my house, but I didn't count that.)

Last night, returning home, I attempted to snap a few shots, from a moving car, of these signs, and one... I went past before I could snap, but the other 20 are here - even if you cannot see most of them.

I am just not sure that we need a speed limit sign every third of a mile. I am thinking that perhaps someone, somewhere is making money.

I think what they should do next is put signs up about every 255 ft that says "Photography while driving is prohibited". Then they'll get me for DWP (Driving while photographing).

Big Sky Country

Just a few of the springtime Pennsylvania "sky" shots that I have taken....

Strawberry Patch

My daughter has her own strawberry patch. She picked this one, and a lot of others, last week.

I was feeling kinda silly and decided to take a picture of it, but the shot of it standing all alone there on the table just didn't do it... It needed some sense of scale.

It was one of the rare times I actually had some cash with me (no change) so I threw this $10 bill on the table and took the picture.

(Maybe today is silly picture day.... )

This past Saturday, we got up... diced a couple of cups of her strawberries, and mixed up some homemade muffins. They did not last very long. There was something wrong with them - but it wasn't the taste. It's that the recipe only made 12.

A Bug's Life

Not really sure if this was worth sharing, but, why not?

So, there we were, sitting on the bank. I was watching my daughter fish, a couple of weeks ago, and looked up, and saw two bugs on a Maple leaf, far above my head, duking it out.

By the time I got there, ready to take a picture, they had gone back to their respective corners and, apparently, were waiting for the bells to ding again so they could go slug again.

Spring 2004

The view from my front porch.

  

Under Construction

Just playing around with formatting options here... It may look weird for awhile.

Cow Parades

The first of these, which happened in Harrisburg 2 yrs ago, I photographed on a family day out. I didn't, at the time, have a digital camera, and I had only a certain amount of film with me. I wish we had taken the time to do more shots, but... oh well. I posted an album to Webshots at the time, and below is one of the cows from this album.

Harrisburg, PA - 2004

by jamesnvik

This second picture is from someone who just left a comment in my guestbook on Webshots, referring to her own "Cow Parade" pictures.

Athens, Greece - 2006

by tinathestar

And last, someone else had left an entry in the Athens Cow Parade photo album, referring to their own Cow Parade pictures.

Paris, France - 2006

by typang

If you are insterested in learning more about "Cow Parade" and what it's for, do a Google or Yahoo search on Cow Parade. It's pretty interesting.

Mailbox

My Mailbox

(or the view from my mailbox)

June 5, 2006

(Note: The road IS straight. It's just me that's warped.)

Click to enlarge.

Armstrong Valley PA

Armstrong Valley Rd

Between Halifax and Elizabethville, Pennsylvania

Saturday, June 3, 2006

(click to enlarge)

Blue Ribbon Picture

Well... Over the past few months I have posted many pictures to this site.

This one, I stumbled across a few minutes ago... I had scanned it in last summer from one of my Mom's photo albums... I took it, originally, when I was about 16 or 17, I think... And, I got a blue ribbon at the county fair for it... =)

The original 8x10 that I displayed at the fair, along with the blue ribbon, I gave as a gift to a young friend many years ago... and haven't seen it since. But the memory is still there - even if I no longer have the proof.

Spam

The following text was recovered from a message in my junk e-mail folder - flagged as "spam".

I have removed the picture and hyperlink which was embedded in the message, leaving only the remaining text, which, if viewed with a warped-enough perspective, is somewhat humorous.

to surprise as island able are private. is prose as spade nail to week. is beautiful to snake plough must regular. but blade are house muscle are wet. too sea as humour beautiful the base. ! too flight must government scale the sudden. as food if second authority is pen. but cry are full thing to like. to statement the broken false is soup. if green else kick act is bit. and pleasure and camera clock if dress. too growth as parallel cover the jewel. to mouth too wash needle the thread. but bite and fish basin else sad.must ticket if trouble linen to disgust. is tooth the green bread the design. else wide to cushion able but station.