Peter and the Dark Side

This little guy thought I couldn't see him, so he just sat there as I walked up closer and closer.

A little fill flash let me know that he was definitely looking at me.

A Buck, A Doe, and A Fawn Walked Into A Field . . .

It's not a joke, they literally walked into a field.

Yummy!

During our recent trip to Pennsylvania, a gathering of family and friends took place. A good time was had by all, except this fellow.

Day 4 of the Black and White Challenge

I was nominated to participate in a 5 day Black and White Challenge by Rob Napola.  The object is to post one black and white photo every day for 5 days, and nominate another photographer to participate each of those days.  Today I nominate Terrie Broom.

Also, Bella's challenge this week for 52 Photos Project is "Numbers," so I'm also using this for that.

Balloons Anyone?

One more Pennsylvania roadside weed I've never seen before.

Former Flora

A couple of views of an old tree stump, uprooted and left in a Pennsylvania field.

Build it and they will come . . .

Trying a little hyperfocus.  Not sure how good it is, but it seems pretty sharp, front to back.

More Pennsylvania Roadside Flora

Another weed I do not know.

Roadside Flora I've Never Seen

In the Field

Plenty of this stuff in the hay fields too.

Raspberries Aren't Ready Yet

Pennsylvania Fields and Roadsides

Okay, now for some of the Pennsylvania flora.  Don't ask me what this is, I don't know, but there was a bunch of it in the fields.

Republican Chickens

Oops, I found one more Pennsylvania fauna photo I wanted to publish.
This is a flock of "Republican" chickens.  They got their name because the recipe for the basting sauce comes from the days when my wife's father would barbeque the chicken quarters for a Republican fund raiser in southern Pennsylvania.  They used a much larger grill and a lot more charcoal than we used last weekend.

NOT Too Close, and NOT Very Personal

The deer enjoy the hay fields just about every evening, but these aren't State Park kind of deer; they are very wild.  You can't get much closer than a couple of hundred yards to them or they dash into the woods.  You can barely tell it's a deer and not a big dog, even zoomed all the way out on the 210mm, unless you crop in, and then the quality really suffers, just not enough pixels.

The last of my Pennsylvania fauna for now, but very much not close and personal like the bugs.  More flora to follow, though.

Little Bunny Fufu, Hoppin' Through the Forest, . . .

Just sittin' here and hopin' you can't see me.

More Fauna and Flora

Ants on the Tiger (Lily)

Grand Dad!

Waspy, one of thousands of waspy looking tiny bugs.

I don't know if they sting; they did not sting me.

Beetle Glow

I was in Pennsylvania over the weekend, and got down pretty close and personal with some of the flora and fauna while I was there.  This beetle was amazing.  I've never seen one that seemed to glow with so much color, and it all depended on how you looked at it.

Crystal Trees

Thanksgiving morning in Pennsylvania it was cold and pretty clear.  There was a little snow and ice around the farm, but nothing serious.  Wide angle and telephoto not only gave a different perspective on the sunrise, the color looked different too.

 The trees on the mountain ridges to the east were thoroughly coated with ice and looked like crystals.

 The pond, while not frozen solid, was completely frozen over.

Even by mid-afternoon, the mountain ridges were still like crystal palaces.  I did not venture up there that day, even though the highway departments had most of the roads clear and passable.

You're my blue sky,

You're my sunny day,
Lord you know it makes me high
When you turn your love my way . . .
Turn your love my way.
           The Allman Brothers Band
            Blue Sky
            Eat A Peach album

You can check out any time you like . . .

. . . but you can never leave.

I'm not sure what this little weed flower is, but it definitely looks like it wants to be the last place some little bug checks in . . . and out.  It looks like a pitcher plant of some sort, but the flower is tiny, about 3/8 inch long, and the plant is huge, 3 feet tall.  It's hard to believe that big old plant could get much nourishment from ingesting the tiny bugs that could get caught in the little flower, but maybe they are just dessert.  Pretty though.