Tonight's Sunset Colors

Went out to enjoy the freezing sunset earlier tonight. Thanks to h2o and ATT and their lack of terrible customer service [IF that's what they want to call it] with NO reply from h2o or ATT in over a week to unlock my Galaxy a50, I was forced to buy a new phone. Thank goodness it's as I thought it would be, putting my old Mint Mobile sim in the new phone, and all is functioning as it should now. h20 and ATT should be ashamed of their policy to LOCK clients' smartphones even if that phone is UNlocked, so I hope you all rot in techno hell. This unexpected need to buy a new phone was expensive, so I know you won't mind my sending you a bill for my new phone. 

Now, back to the sunset!

Just Another Upper Niagara River Sunset

Yup, it's just yet another sunset. We are used to this color of gold....  

I am just so lucky to always be in some fabulous locations with awesome clouds and sunsets!

Looking SKYward to NeoWise

The comet C/2020 F3 (NeoWise) has been on the news and online for weeks now, and it's the brightest comet seen so far this year! 

Over the Niagara Falls on 14 July (comet is at far right corner in the clouds)

Sheila and I have been snapping pixs of it for three days, not including last Wednesday when we had thunderstorms most of the day and night so it was impossible to see. We have also been trying to get the comet in different WNY locations, and so far succeeding! The last time I saw a comet at all, was in Rota, Spain back in the late 90s, and I remember seeing that comet even during the day hours, it was soooo bright!!! No pictures from that as it was still my film days, but how I remember the details so well!!

At Niawanda over the Radisson Hotel Niagara Falls-Grand Island

So do YOU look up to the sky at night? We do, and so should you!! The comet has been in the NW sky now, and "rising" each following day even higher than the night previous. We have even tried to see it, and with success, even on cloudy days when the forecast cloud cover was less 50%. Good luck!!

Both above pixs while at Old Fort Niagara last night

 

Back out in the Public Again

It felt so strange, to be pulling up to a restaurant and going INSIDE to dine!! 

We went to a local Longhorn restaurant yesterday. The parking lot was filled with reserved parking spots for those getting curb service for their food takeout, but saw many other numbered parking spots, for unknown reasons. It was a big parking lot, only used by Longhorn, so I just circled around and picked a spot that was completely unmarked. We had NO idea if I should call first or just go in, and since I saw some others already park and go in, we did too!

Of course we had our masks on, and the front doors were displaying signs of mandatory facemasks use, but we have been to many other places with similar signs, but while inside the facilities, you would see people with NO masks walking around. What good is having a sign stating wear a facemask or you will be denied entry, then seeing people inside NOT wearing masks with no problem or concern by anyone?

So we were shown to our table, but saw many tables marked not for use, to keep customers' distances apart. 

The floor was very slippery, as if there was a thick coating of either car oil or soap. The man who showed us to our table joked how so many people - as we were - expressed concern or indecision about coming out, and had even asked us if this was our first dining out since the pandemic started. We said it was, and reassured us with "No worries, everyone has been kinda wondering what to do after they walk in!".

The food of course was excellent as always. We always share a single order of their Parmesan Crusted Chicken with a side of the oven-baked sweet potato, and the chicken is so tender and so full of flavor you could cut it with your eyes!

Delicioooous!!

It was great to eat out again, but not a problem with us. We both enjoy cooking, and take turns cooking. Sheila is a fantastic cook, and we both do not eat red meat.

At almost 2 in the afternoon, there were few people in the huge dining area. Most were single older men - whom Sheila and I joked that they were just tired of cooking for themselves for the past few months!

Have you gone out in your area yet to support your local businesses and enjoy a dine-in meal at the same time?

WNY = Sandfly Center

Just back from the river and the sunset, and the sandflies were in the millions. Of course though we went for the sunset, I seriously thought there were so many sandflies in our pictures that the sunset was more secondary than being the main focus point!! To avoid having the sandflies even more evident in my images, I snapped at the fastest largest aperture possible, so the insects wouldn't appear darker or more sharper than I wanted them to be!

Can you see the dark spots? Those are sandflies!!

It's kind of sad when this happens, but sandflies actually provide a very important role in their hatching around this time of year -- birds need to eat too, and that human filth and slop that makes US fat and heavier, is actually bad for the birds. These insects on the other hand, are a perfect snack and protein meal for the feathered ones, so feast on, oh little ones!!!

It must be Western New York because

It just snowed so much it was a white-out for a few minutes, then it was ice-pellets for another few minutes, and all this with high breezy winds past 20mph, and now it's sunny! 

Yes, it must be western New York in May, and day 71 of the New York State (NYS) pandemic!!!

Sheila has finished more masks, sending 120 facemasks to a Veterans Hospital in the Bronx last week. She's still thinking of doing more facemasks, though she's taking a break for now.

Tomorrow will be Another Day

This image was posted some weeks ago, but due to circumstances beyond my control, it was not displayed. Now that it is open to be viewed, I would appreciate if you would please click on the image, or the link below for my thoughts on the current situation of world events. 

Your comments are always welcome and encouraged. Stay safe and be healthy. Stay six feet from others if you are allowed out in your area or country.

https://www.redbubble.com/people/fototakertony/works/45899642-tomorrow-will-be-another-day?asc=u

Hiking at Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge

I started a post here a few days ago, and blogger ate my words literally!!! This happens on an annoyingly increasing basis but am hoping it does stop eventually!

These are moments recorded during a recent hike at Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge in WNY. Have you been to this wonderful area where one can see a lot of the natural landscapes and wildlife of western New York. 

 Please don't forget your mask and to practice social distancing!

 

It was a Dark and Stormy Sky

... and it was also very cold with strong winds blowing right off the upper Niagara River. But to see the clouds and the little of the setting sun that was visible, was well worth it. 

Unedited and uncropped and straight from my A50 and to your eyes!!

It's Snowing Again

We knew the snow was coming for days. It's been quite the Winter in less snow, but the intense chill was not absent at all! We have been out into the snow and/or cold, and it felt like Winter but sure as heck did not look like a normal western New York winter at all!

After an absence of about a week the snow has returned. Sheila has just cooked a fabulous breakfast of broccoli, fried potatoes and sloppy eggs. After eating, I give her a break from the washing and she sits at the piano and starts playing. 

The moment is priceless! Seeing the heavy snowfall outside the windows, hearing her fingers dance over the piano keys, and the sound of the piano is sooooo calming.....

There is ni visual illustration to this scene I paint, but am hoping you can see it in your mind!

A dear longtime friend has lost her husband and friend of over forty years, and I hope these few words will comfort her.

I wish everyone in the world could hear this, and be here for this small treasured moment. It is indeed a moment I will remember for the rest of my life!

Second and Final day of Thunder on the Niagara 2019

What a day it was! I was alone as Sheila accompanied visiting family from Michigan. I went late to the races due to the blowing winds, which kept me thinking the races weren't started. I did walk to the river for a looksee, and could actually hear the big engines, then see the sprouting water splashing behind the racers as they piloted their big boats around their watery tracks.

Once at the race, I decided to walk around between heats, hoping for a different perspective. With a monster of a lens, most of my scenes of the boat races look quite similar, and even walking about - now that I think about it - the images still look very much the same!

This was the final day of the races, and hope you'll enjoy these pictures. The power those huge engines on the sometimes choppy water due to winds, can pick up the bow of these winged boats and literally send them flying. Today there were two boats flipping over, luckily with no serious injuries.

Enjoy the pictures!!!

Buildings of Niagara Falls can be seen from the race course

The huge Seneca Casino/Hotel rises above the racing boats

These Wood Ducks weren't fazed by the people, boats or noise!

The terns were busy between heats searching for tidbits

NOT flying through the air!