It's Saturday morning outside

......and there's about an inch or so of the white stuff on the ground after a few hours of snowfall during the night. The Fall colors are still very apparent in some spots, and we are hoping these scenes will still be available by time we get out on the streets later today, or tomorrow. I usually do not get these chances of seeing such wondrous scenes, and now that we are here, we might as well try to see the sights, when not surrounded by the grandchildren! The change in the hour now puts the time of sunset as we are still with the kids, so we are missing a lot of sunsets since the time-change last weekend!

On the other hand, while in Michigan, I have been continuously checking for online sightings of Snowy Owls! Last winter, though we departed for two months in Spain, before we departed in December 2017, and after returning from Spain in late February 2018, we were darn lucky to see and snap a few pictures of Snowy Owls! Last winter's record was in seeing a total of eight Snowys!!!

Please click to see a collection of my Snowy Owl images posted at ebird

Interestingly enough, according to ebird.com, there have been Snowys reported all this summer throughout the Great Lakes areas! I am also surprised to see there have already been sightings of this gorgeous snow-white Arctic bird recently, both in western New York (WNY) area we call home, and within a few miles of where we are in SW Michigan!

We have been very fortunate recently in seeing Bald Eagles too!! Granted, those grand birds have been more than a mile usually, but we have been lucky to see some seemingly just a hair closer! As always in these situations, even though you think you have the longest lens around, oftentimes while shooting wildlife, it seems that even with what we have is way too short and inadequate! We are still hoping to see more of these majestic birds, and our last sighting was a week ago in a local park! 

Here's two memories from months previous when we were at a favorite WNY spot, and suddenly the perched eagles we were observing, suddenly went active and passed much closer! These images are cropped, but it still is a great moment for us!!!

Great Lakes Cold

We have been on call for babysitting duties in SW Michigan for the past two months, and though it's been known for a few days, as I type this, it's the first measurable snow falling outside!! It's supposed to snow for most of today, and again tomorrow. Perhaps we can get a break from our duties and shoot in the snow? We have our cleats so being careful walking in the white stuff won't be a problem....  hopefully...

To think just a few days ago, we were snapping the last of the Fall colors in our area! We were lucky to have a few clouds rolling through, which really made a pretty image!!

To think before in San Francisco, I used to drive

for hours and not see any "signs" of Autumn

These were snapped not even 

ten minutes from where we are staying!!

Here's a few images of the snow, shot through the window!!

Looking back at San Francisco water sports

It's really been a looong time since I was last here! Not that I've been doing nothing: I've been busier than two dawgs in a dawg-haus! 

Of course in late 2010 workups to the upcoming America's Cup in SF Bay started with first Oracle's USA Team training in the bay alone on their AC45. Soon they were joined as the Artemis Racing teams, as they have two boats also, and it was nice finally in 2011 seeing four boats infrequently in the bay waters. By spring of 2011, there were several boats weekly sailing in the SF Bay waters with a good breeze to power their sleek boats. Here's a look at some of those boats in the breezy bay!!

All of these memories were recorded from shore. I was never able to get onto any boat for such images. I did ride a bay tour boat a few times to snap similar scenes!

just a few new images from recent days

.....now that I am back in Rota and trying to pack more stuff to be ready for the next future trips I have to make to move my stuff from Spain to the states... not easy at all but not impossible either.

The last three has now completely destroyed two more suitcases, for a total of three suitcases useless. This is a lesson: do not pack your suitcases to the limit (in this case 70lbs each) and buy a durable suitcase that will last and endure. I just feel sorry for the people who had to handle my luggage and the pain it was as it was falling apart.

The weather has been completely HOT or hotter. So I am back to my pre-USA routine of summertime 29hours a day use of several fans throughout my apartment, including one 50cm-wide fan that blows me away in the wind-storm sometimes. It helps a bit but never as effective as I wish it should be. I am just dreading August when the temperature will really rise... yes, hotter than it is now.I am quickly discovering a bike ride through the town even in the hot sol is better than an unplanned siesta in a hot apartment that I call my summertime "oven".

July Fourth in the states....

....for me will be in a military passenger terminal, waiting for a flight eastward to Spain, back to my apartment to start anew the work in clearing out my mess. Just spent a week-long weekend in California after delivering yet another two suitcases full of my life-belongings, and have many more trips remaining before I am done. Can't wait to return as the a/c I am experiencing throughout my time here has been wrecking hell on my allergies and sinuses, and to finally leave cannot be soon enough! Though I was on the road today, I managed to catch the last half of the Spain world cup match, and am so happy the spaniards are still in the game!!! I could almost hear the millions of spaniards screaming and cheering on their team wearing "red". Though I find it very difficult to follow the matches in the USA, at least I am finding a few places when one can listen to, or even SEE the matches when on the road. I was even lucky enough to find me a well-priced Spain jersey yesterday, which I wore today while the spanish team played.

Enjoy the pictures and remember I also have a lot of pics displayed at my newest website!!

i love lines!!

lines and windmills

it still supports though dead and broken

we will never forget!

I now know the difference between a HARE and a rabbit!!or a jackrabbit!!

Watching geese float down a fast-moving stream

a full moon seen at 35,000ft

i love flowers but bees are even more gorgeous!!

humans aren't the only ones who like the beach

trees are gorgeous even in dim light