Sky Watch

I got to go to the much loved strip pits today...just had to get out there for a little bit. I had noticed that we weren't seeing many geese here at home and I had told Roger I think they have left and I think from what we seen they headed north. I think this is as far south as they come...lots of cornfields and quite a few strip pits...today we seen very few geese and all winter there have been so many. Too many to even begin to count. Today, I didn't see but a couple in flight and not many more on the water.
However, after we had been there we started seeing the hawks...does anyone know for sure what the one above is? I have looked and looked at my books and cannot really decide...he doesn't match anything exactly. Yet from the sound of both books, there are always variations within a species. I don't think he is one of the Northern Harriers...he just was not flying as they normally do. Most times when I see them they do not have their tail fanned out as this one does and if this is one he is a variation.
The sky was interesting...maybe not as pretty as other times but still beautiful.
Depending on the direction you looked, you could get a totally different look. these two were taken within minutes of each other but just looking different directions.
As was this one...just a minute earlier the hill was bathed in sunlight...but a cloud shaded the hill about the time I decided to take a picture. I sat there a few minutes because I thought the cloud blocking the sun was going to pass but it didn't. You can tell by the brilliant blue sky though that it was still there.
And then there was this fellow...isn't he handsome? I think he is one of the Northern Harriers..we seen so many of them today. On one of the pictures of it, I think I can see the white patch on its rump.
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Sepia Scenes

I am headed into town to see that beautiful baby shown above...I don't know if I will be home in time to get this ready for posting so am going ahead and posting early. I do that most of the time anyway.
These first two are from a place called Billie Creek Village in Parke County. The top one is not the best quality but I still like it. I have got to get some time to experiment with sepia. I see things others do and think they are so neat yet I never take time to try to accomplish anything different.
Now, the rake below is one from an Amish farm in Parke county and is one that is actually used...we had one of these when I was a kid. I think mom and dad gave it to someone, but I can't remember who.
If you want to join the fun of Sepia Scenes, click on Lorelei at the top of this blog. She will take you MaryT/the teach's blog for Sepia Scenes. If you are join, make sure and wait till later this evening...it should open up around 4:00 for today's sepia scenes.

Ruby Tuesday

For Ruby Tuesday, I thought I would include a couple entries. Why two? Well, I wanted to show something I had not shown before. That is this hibiscus bloom. It is from a scan, taken in 1996. It was in my mom's yard...she had passed away in February of that year, so this was taken later in the summer.
Then in looking for something for Ruby Tuesday I ran across this barn...I have published it before but not for Ruby Tuesday. It is just sooooo red that I cannot resist showing it again. This is the actual color of the barn...it is so bright it almost knocks your eyes out.
Some might say that it stands out like a sore thumb, but personally I like it. A lot. It is seen if I take a certain route to or from the strip pits. And no I didn't get to go out there today.

I got busy doing laundry, taping off where Roger was painting in what will be Lorelei's room, and the time just flew today. Just think....Lorelei is one week old today! It is hard to believe she has been here a week already.

If you want to join the fun of Ruby Tuesday, click on the little badge at the top of this post...it will take you to The Work of the Poet where you can either join, or just click on links to see other people's entries.