Sunday, December 13, 2009

The gods of winter wildlife are smiling....

...though I suppose most deities pertaining to the wee beasties of the field are ladies. Wouldn't have it any other way.

Yesterday was just one of those days when the animals come out to play.
First off, I had to go back upstairs to get the camera before heading out to Staples. Almost didn't, but I hate leaving home without. Was pretty sure the batteries were good, didn't bother packing spares.
At 10 AM on that surreal, snowy Saturday I could be found (of course) racing sneakily over to the trash heap (okay, just a big Dumpster, but it had a white wall running round it like it wasn't fit to see) behind Staples to spook the crows into flight.
This was when I discovered my camera was almost out of battery. Whoops.
There were dozens of crows, though, gobbling their frozen food, and I determined to go till either the batteries quit or the birds got wise and hid from me.
Well, the batteries didn't quit.
I did manage some fairly nice silhouettes for a t-shirt and a surprisingly black-and-white color photo:

Next order of business was presumably "go home."
But there were these icicles on all the lamps in the park....
Slight detour had me merrily wallowing through knee-deep drifts in a quest for lamps. Something caught my eye as I was making my way past the pines, though, and I ended up in a half-hour photoshoot with this gorgeous (if rather grumpy) redhead, who swore and cussed at me while dumping snow on my head:

That's when I realized my camera was almost out of memory. Whoops.
Perhaps you take better pictures when you know you're going to have to delete something to take the next one?
Mercifully, impressively, she didn't move from that branch the whole time - not frightened, just disapproving. Finally, she tired of my own incessant chatter, washed her face up a bit (a pity, because squirrels with snow in their ears are cuter than babies), and waddled gracefully off to the next tree.

I hear the crows out there now, and I really want to go out and chase them.
I've had dreams that consist solely of taking pictures of crows.
What's up with that?
Anyway, enjoy your winter, enjoy your holidays, enjoy the little critters who are nice enough to share them with you.
Until next time,
~Em

Wednesday, December 9, 2009

I'm going out THERE

Charged up two sets of batteries, set my hair to Attack Mode (i.e. Yeti Mode), and am digging out the mittens (can only wear one, as other hand must be gloved for ease of camera operation.)
Shall dig out Ginormous Crocheted Scarf. Inspirational snow-music playing. Snowflake pin worn. Wish. Me. Luck.