One year
Isabella turned one year old on April 2nd. Seems only like yesterday that I was holding her in my arms for the first time in the delivery room at the hospital. We received lots of advice on raising her over the past year, some good, some bad and some just plain weird. The one piece of advice that we did take to heart was to enjoy every single day with her as a baby does grow up fast. We look forward to the next year with our beautiful daughter and all the challenges and joys it will bring us.
Prejmer stork nest
Prejmer, Romania is a parish located about 15 km away from Brasov, on the east side of the Brasov Depression, and in the proximity of the Olt River. Storks are large, long-legged, long-necked, wading birds with long, stout bills. Storks are mute; bill-clattering is an important mode of stork communication at the nest. Their nests can be large and may be reused for many years. Many species are migratory. There are 19 species worldwide and 2 species which occur in Romania, White Storks and Black Storks. The nest seen here in Prejmer is that of a White Stork.
Wintry crossing
Came across this old footbridge in Caesar Creek State Park while we were there for the Maple Syrup weekend recently. It sure has seen better days and is currently closed off to traffic. Another harsh winter like this year’s and it will probably collapse into the creek below.
Red-tailed hawk
While visiting Caesar Creek State Park for the Maple Syrup weekend, spotted this Red-tailed hawk feasting on a raccoon by the side of the road as we left the park. Not too pleased with my interrupting the meal, it flew off into a nearby tree where another hawk was sitting. Not wanting to become dessert, snapped a few shots and got back in the car to leave them to their lunch. The Red-tailed Hawk has significance in Native American culture. Its feathers are considered sacred by some tribes, and are used in religious ceremonies. It is commonly known as the “chickenhawk,” though it rarely preys on chickens.
Escalante colors
Driving along the Cottonwood Canyon Road through Utah along the Grand Staircase – Escalante National Park is a trip everybody should make in their lifetime. It is amazing to see so many different colors in the rock formations. This particular display of colors was taken close to the end of the road heading east.
The science of icicles
When droplets of melted snow drip down an icicle, they release small amounts of heat as they freeze. Heated air travels upwards and helps slow down the growth of the icicle’s top, while the tip is growing rapidly. Icicles can be dangerous and deadly, yet they can create some of the most amazing winter scenes. And for scientists, those winter scenes are playgrounds for discovery. We all know icicles form when melting snow begins dripping down a surface. But what scientists didn’t know is how their shape is formed. What makes each icicle different?
Icicles have a certain mathematical shape, and this mathematical shape is universal among icicles. So what is the math behind an icicle? The height is proportional to the radius to the four-thirds. What does the formula have to do with an icicle’s shape? It kind of looks like a carrot, it starts out flat and then goes up as you go.
As water drips onto an icicle and freezes, it releases heat. The warm air rises up the sides of the icicle. That warm air layer acts like a blanket that’s an insulator, and so the blanket is very thin near the tip and thick at the top. That allows the top to grow very slowly and the tip to grow rapidly — creating a long, thin icicle.
Have you ever…
Have you ever taken a photo but don’t remember where you took it? Thinking somewhere in Michigan, will have to go back through my credit card receipts to see what I was doing on the date this was taken. Nice looking building though!
Winter Robin
Another extreme cold wintry day in Ohio. It is not unusual to see the American Robin stay throughout the Winter these days. Although, after this Winter season, more may make the decision to fly South next year. Shot handheld with the Tamron 500mm lens in 2007.
Cold sunrise
Isabella woke up early this morning, which means I woke up early. The only benefit was that it was early enough to catch this beautiful sunrise out our back door. Weather is still very cold in the morning, so just a quick pop outside to shoot some photos and then back in to have breakfast. On a side note, I am now using WordPress for the photoblog. This will allow me more flexibility in doing more with it than using the old PixelPost software.
Basilica of St. Louis, King of France
The Basilica of St. Louis, King of France, has the distinction of being the oldest continuously operating cathedral in the United States. The first church on the site was built in 1718. The third church, built in 1789, was raised to cathedral rank in 1793. It is in the French Quarter of New Orleans, Louisiana. Located next to Jackson Square and facing the Mississippi River, the St. Louis Cathedral is at the heart of New Orleans and is one of its most recognizable landmarks.