Our son has often referred to our family as the Soprano’s. I, on the other hand, have always referred to them as the Kennedy’s. Regardless each in their own right is a family.

This morning around 2:00 a.m. we were called to aid in a family matter. While following MacGyver home, I was flooded with recollections of several past events, which were equivalent to tonight. Events that occurred years ago so comparable in nature as to tonight’s events, it is eerie.

Thankfully, it was an event that was not serious, it was very comical though a sharp reminder of what family is all about. It was also an introduction of sorts to a new family member. I know she felt bad about calling us at 2:00 a.m. this morning to assist, but she handled the situation correctly. There is one rule that is always followed regardless of any disagreements or spats between the family members, and it is very simple but best summed up by this song by B. Scott and B. Russell.

The road is long
With many a winding turn
That leads us to who knows where
Who knows when
But I’m strong
Strong enough to carry him
He ain’t heavy, he’s my brother

So on we go
His welfare is of my concern
No burden is he to bear
We’ll get there
For I know
He would not encumber me
He ain’t heavy, he’s my brother

If I’m laden at all
I’m laden with sadness
That everyone’s heart
Isn’t filled with the gladness
Of love for one another

It’s a long, long road
From which there is no return
While we’re on the way to there
Why not share
And the load
Doesn’t weigh me down at all
He ain’t heavy, he’s my brother

He’s my brother
He ain’t heavy, he’s my brother…

Welcome to the FAMILY!
Happy Thanksgiving!

On Sunday the weather here in the Mid-west was gorges! I asked MacGyver to search for some white Christmas lights I thought were out in the garage. He uncovered several stands of lights that we had purchased for our tree that is in the front yard.

We bought an evergreen tree, which had a root ball so that we could transplant it in the yard to mark the first Christmas we spent in our new home, fourteen years ago. Now, the tree is so big you need a ladder truck to put lights on it, and since Mac is recovering from gallbladder surgery I was not going to be putting those up to this year, so I decided to string them around the front porch. Since he was good enough to dig them out, and it was so nice out.

Wow…the Sunday before Thanksgiving. This is a first! Yes, I’m the one who hates to see Christmas light out before THANKSGIVING, and can be very vocal about it! Which my son quickly reminded me of, when he saw the porch illuminated with the Christmas lights.

“Mom! You hate Christmas lights out this early! You have never done this! What is going on?” He said with a big grin on his face. To which I replied, “The porch light had burned out several months ago, and I keep forgetting to buy a new bulb, don’t need one now! It’s about be resourceful.”

Kids!

Monday through Friday, my bag, my Nikon, my two camera lenses and a small video camera are constant companions on my daily walks to work,on the chance that I’m able to freeze-frame an incredible slice of nature.

I have taken hundreds of nature photos and this year marks the first time, I’ve decided to research, identify and actually name my wonderful “discoveries” using books, online references, even joining a Flickr bird group whose sole function is to help folks like me, identify our bird photos.

It’s such a treat to capture pairs of birds close together such as the “couple” shown here.

From hedge to tree limb

 I enjoy scenic and nature photography and was thrilled to have purchased my first digital camera several years ago because everything is a photo opportunity for me. Sidewalks, leaves, sunlight rippling on the water and more, however, my very favorite images are those of the red tail hawks. I have hundreds of images and video clips of hawks in Roxbury and Boston, MA.

Currently, I’m learning to not automatically use the Auto focus on my Nikon D40 camera. 

On this particular morning, I spotted another photographer taking pics and knew exactly what it was as I’ve seen him many times before. The Hawk was simply sitting on top of a tall hedge located in Boston Public Garden. After many shots, video and a few minutes later, he flew to a tree where I was able to snap a few more shots and video clips. What a great way to start my workday!

My computer system tells me these were taken with f/5.6. 

Image 1 – exposure 1/1600 sec , ISO -400, focal 300 mm

Image 2 – exposure 1/2000 sec, ISO – 360, focal 300 mm

Please check  your computer volume before playing

Perhaps I have been a little harsh on Kampala, always dwelling on the bizarre, the strange, the smelly or the inconvenient. Maybe I have written too much about what I miss or lack or crave, So I have decided to write aTop 10 list of the Best Things About Living in Africa. It is time to readdress the balance. So here, dear readers is the official positive spin. (Trooper, Princess and Handsome Husband were all consulted in the making of this list.)

10. Excellent fruit and vegetables. They grow everything here and the pineapples are particularly exceptional, and fresh all year round.

9.We are always surprised. Going for a simple drive to the supermarket can turn into quite the adventure. You have no idea what will appear around the next corner, but I assure you, it will be surprising.

8. Full time inexpensive help, We have a fine woman who comes to our home each day to hand wash our clothes. iron our sheets and mop our floors. This is a cheap but lovely luxury. For a bit more money we could also have another fine lady come over and cook our meals. This might happen in the near future, if I have my way.

7. There is no need to ever do any sort of manual labour. Ever. Need a shelf drilled to the wall? No problem. Need a pair of bedside tables to be custom built? No problem. Need your house painted? No problem. Need a tailor? Done. Anything can be done and the price is always low.

6. Excellent free education for both Princess and Trooper. Courtesy of yours truly who walks into that fine institution and teaches every single day. Perks of the job baby!

5. Wonderful weather. It is really the best climate a person could wish for . It is never too hot, never too cold, yet cool in the evenings and warm enough to lie by the pool on a Sunday afternoon.

4. The proximity of extraordinary places to visit whether for a long weekend or an extended trip. There is the best wildlife in the world virtually on our doorstep.

3. Decent restaurants, a movie cinema and high speed internet . Inexpensive fresh roses sit on my dining room table every day, my furniture is handmade and there is a decent bookshop. The supermarkets are full of wine and nutella, what more do we really need?

2. A good social life and plenty to do. If we wanted to we could be out all the time. There is a robust group of expats from all over the world ready at a drop of a hat to drink Beaujolais Nouveau, toast Haggis, dance at a ball, raise money for a worthwhile cause or simply meet for a good Thai meal. There are always people to meet and they are people that you would never, in the course of a regular life back home, run into contact with. Often when I watch my girls around the pool I think to myself that with their friends they resemble a mini United Nations.

1. And the number one reason why it is cool to live in Africa? Everyday we are forced to question the way we see the world. Our preconceived notions are constantly thrown into the air and we never stop learning.

Did you know about this little proclamation?

Washington, D.C.
October 3, 1863
By the President of the United States of America.
A Proclamation.
The year that is drawing towards its close, has been filled with the blessings of fruitful fields and healthful skies. To these bounties, which are so constantly enjoyed that we are prone to forget the source from which they come, others have been added, which are of so extraordinary a nature, that they cannot fail to penetrate and soften even the heart which is habitually insensible to the ever watchful providence of Almighty God. In the midst of a civil war of unequaled magnitude and severity, which has sometimes seemed to foreign States to invite and to provoke their aggression, peace has been preserved with all nations, order has been maintained, the laws have been respected and obeyed, and harmony has prevailed everywhere except in the theatre of military conflict; while that theatre has been greatly contracted by the advancing armies and navies of the Union. Needful diversions of wealth and of strength from the fields of peaceful industry to the national defence, have not arrested the plough, the shuttle or the ship; the axe has enlarged the borders of our settlements, and the mines, as well of iron and coal as of the precious metals, have yielded even more abundantly than heretofore. Population has steadily increased, notwithstanding the waste that has been made in the camp, the siege and the battle-field; and the country, rejoicing in the consiousness of augmented strength and vigor, is permitted to expect continuance of years with large increase of freedom.
No human counsel hath devised nor hath any mortal hand worked out these great things. They are the gracious gifts of the Most High God, who, while dealing with us in anger for our sins, hath nevertheless remembered mercy. It has seemed to me fit and proper that they should be solemnly, reverently and gratefully acknowledged as with one heart and one voice by the whole American People.
I do therefore invite my fellow citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are at sea and those who are sojourning in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next, as a day of Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens. And I recommend to them that while offering up the ascriptions justly due to Him for such singular deliverances and blessings, they do also, with humble penitence for our national perverseness and disobedience, commend to His tender care all those who have become widows, orphans, mourners or sufferers in the lamentable civil strife in which we are unavoidably engaged, and fervently implore the interposition of the Almighty Hand to heal the wounds of the nation and to restore it as soon as may be consistent with the Divine purposes to the full enjoyment of peace, harmony, tranquillity and Union.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Seal of the United States to be affixed.
Done at the City of Washington, this Third day of October, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, and of the Independence of the Unites States the Eighty-eighth.
By the President: Abraham Lincoln

Apart from errant ginger biscuits, there’s not much fun to be had out of analysing questionaires.

But an extra little nugget of joy emerged today. While battling his way through one that came back from somewhere in Wales, and having to translate acres into hectares, my husband came across a little gem of loveliness.

Where the recipient had the option of putting his/her address, they had simply written, “My hedges have dormice!”

Isn’t that lovely? It makes it all worthwhile. I shall be dreaming of dormice now!

In six days most of us will look like this. Have a wonderful week-end! Enjoy whoever,whatever or where ever you might be or be with!

I don’t like this time of year much; the gap between sun-up and sun-down being pitifully small and getting smaller; I huddle at my sunlamp or stride out on the rare days when the sun shines. I keep looking forward to the Solstice, when I know that it has become as dark as it is going to get and from then on, minute by minute it will get lighter each day.

I was reminded of this the other day, when Eliot’s poem Burnt Norton was mentioned and the line, “the still point of the turning year” was quoted. I pondered this and came out with the lines, “The year pivots, pirouetting en pointe, Dancer meets Dance: I am renewed”. But I still have four weeks to go through and because of her age and her cancer, my dog doesn’t want to walk when it’s cold and windy or wet and today when I thought she might go, she baulked, halfway down the street and decided the brisk wind was too much. We came home.

But the sun was shining and the air was mild for all the whipping wind, so I kept my coat and boots on and went out into our small garden and began a few chores. I used to love gardening but too many years of gardens too huge for me to manage alone (our last garden was about an acre) has put me off and in my mind I can no longer make the decision to potter for an hour. In the past, an hour was a mere drop in a deep, deep ocean and it was so disheartening to labour for an hour, and realise that in the grand scheme of things, you have done NOTHING, that even now, three years on, I rarely sneak out and fiddle about and do the little bits and pieces gardens seem to need.

I started by removing the dead strands of sweet pea that still twined around things, and it went from there: pruning, thinning, weeding, digging and finally sweeping all the dead leaves and bits of weed into a big pile at the end of the garden. I removed the mushy remains of the courgette plant and then reached further back in the border to pick the dead leaves off the irises. I went further and cut back the stems of the lemon balm; at several points I had to make a retreat, being warned off by one of our bees when I had clearly come too close to the entrance to the hive when she was coming in or going out. It was so mild that there was a steady stream of bees going about their business.

Now, I have scratched and nettled hands but a strange sense of satisfaction. I can look out of my bedroom window and see what I managed to accomplish in an hour and a half. I have more to do but I was starting to feel tired and the dog wanted to go in, so I put away my tools and came in for a coffee and a bagel.

Too often I put off starting a thing imagining it a task that is so huge it is better not to start unless I can finish it within a time frame that is oddly skewed. I’m doing this with house painting, but then I do know from experience this isn’t something you can stop once you start. But maybe I will wake up one morning and think, yes, today I will paint the bathroom.

There was a feeling while I was outside of being at one with my own small kingdom, of nurturing something I had been neglecting. At least tonight for once I can go to bed and feel I have done something worthwhile!

It’s been a long week. Mac is doing well. He is seven days post surgery. Several days of Doctor’s visits coming up. But, it’s nice to have him up and moving.

My friend, Judi, sent this to me the other day. I thought you all might enjoy. This was a actual phone call.

Actual dialogue of a former WordPerfect Customer Support employee:
(Now I know why they record these conversations!)

Operator: ‘Ridge Hall, computer assistance; may I help you?’
Caller: ‘Yes, well, I’m having trouble with WordPerfect.’
Operator: ‘What sort of trouble??’
Caller: ‘Well, I was just typing along, and all of a sudden the words went away.
Operator: ‘Went away?’
Caller: ‘They disappeared.’
Operator: ‘Hmm. So what does your screen look like now?’
Caller: ‘Nothing.’
Operator: ‘Nothing?’
Caller: ‘It’s blank; it won’t accept anything when I type.’
Operator: ‘Are you still in WordPerfect, or did you get out?’
Caller: ‘How do I tell?’
Operator: ‘Can you see the ‘C: prompt’ on the screen?’
Caller: ‘What’s a sea-prompt?’
Operator: ‘Never mind, can you move your cursor around the screen?’
Caller: ‘There isn’t any cursor; I told you, it won’t accept anything I type.
Operator: ‘Does your monitor have a power indicator??’
Caller: ‘What’s a monitor?’
Operator: ‘It’s the thing with the screen on it that looks like a TV.
Does it have a little light that tells you when it’s on?’
Caller: ‘I don’t know.’
Operator: ‘Well, then look on the back of the monitor and find where
the power cord goes into it. Can you see that??’
Caller: ‘Yes, I think so.’
Operator: ‘Great. Follow the cord to the plug, and tell me if it’s
plugged into the wall.
Caller: Yes, it is.’
Operator: ‘When you were behind the monitor, did you notice that
there were two cables plugged into the back of it, not just one?’
Caller: ‘No.’
Operator: ‘Well, there are. I need you to look back there again and
find the other cable..’
Caller: ‘Okay, here it is.’
Operator: ‘Follow it for me, and tell me if it’s plugged securely into
the back of your computer.’
Caller: ‘I can’t reach.’
Operator: ‘ OK Well, can you see if it is?’
Caller: ‘No.’
Operator: ‘Even if you maybe put your knee on something and lean way over?’
Caller: ‘Well, it’s not because I don’t have the right angle — it’s
because it’s dark.’
Operator: ‘Dark?’
Caller: ‘Yes – the office light is off, and the only light I have is
coming in from the window.’
Operator: ‘Well, turn on the office light then.’
Caller: ‘I can’t.’
Operator: ‘No? Why not?’
Caller: ‘Because there’s a power failure.’
Operator: ‘A power … A power failure? Aha. Okay, we’ve got it
licked now. Do you still have the boxes and manuals and
packing stuff that your computer came in?’
Caller: ‘Well, yes, I keep them in the closet.’
Operator: ‘Good. Go get them, and unplug your system and pack it
up just like it was when you got it.. Then take it back to
the store you bought it from.’
Caller: ‘Really? Is it that bad?’
Operator: ‘Yes, I’m afraid it is.’
Caller: ‘Well, all right then, I suppose. What do I tell them?’
Operator: ‘Tell them you’re too stupid to own a computer!

I bought my first trail camera in Dec 2005 and have since owned several different makes and models.  These cameras have come a long way since I bought my first both in technology  and price. I thought I would do a write-up on each camera and of course I have lots of pictures to share taken by each model.

Before we start though we should discuss some things to consider before purchasing a trail camera. For me the most important thing is picture and video quality. (If it’s an awesome fast camera but the picture quality stinks what’s the point???) Next you need to see if the functions of the camera are able to do what you are trying to achieve. For instance, if you have your camera pointing at a feeder or something that the animals will stop at you wouldn’t need a camera with a super fast trigger speed. However if you plan on using your camera watching a trail you will want a very fast trigger.
Most likely you will have to sacrifice one feature over another somewhere along the way because most cameras don’t have all the features unless you are paying top dollar.  Also be aware that different camera companies seem to use camera terminology loosely.  What one company calls something may be called something totally different on another camera in what it does and/or how it functions.

Here’s what to consider:

Wake up time-

Some cameras go into a “sleep” mode to save on battery life. Wake up time is how long it takes the camera to sense motion and prepare to take the picture.

**Unless your camera is monitoring a feeder I would suggest a camera with no sleep feature or only a 1-2 second wake up time.

Detection Zone- Generally you can have a wide or narrow detection zone and some cameras  have dual sensors.

With a wide detection zone the camera will pick up more movement from side to side

With a narrow detection zone the camera will pick up movement at a farther distance

**You have to consider with a narrow detection zone how far your flash or IR will reach. If there’s a big difference between your detection range and your flash range you might end up with pictures that look like there’s nothing in them because it’s not illuminated enough for you to see what triggered the camera.

And a dual detection zone has both wide & narrow detection:

I prefer a dual or wide detection zone because I would rather have a picture of an animal closer to the camera than something a long distance off that I might not be able to see as well.

You will also find most camera’s seem to detect movement crossing in front of it better than walking straight towards it.

Trigger Speed- Trigger speed is how long it takes the camera from the time it detects motion to actually take the picture.

The faster the trigger speed the better unless you are using your camera over a feeder or something that will cause the wildlife to stop in front of the camera.

Delay Time-Delay time is how long the camera takes between pictures and/or before it will trigger again to take more pictures.

Look for a camera with the least amount of delay time.  Keep in mind wildlife seems to always be moving-you have limited time that the animal will be in your camera’s detection zone.

Flash or IR-

There have long been debates on which is better,  flash or infrared on a trail camera as far as spooking the deer.  The deer don’t particularly like the flash but they get used to it if it’s over a feeder or water source.  I find that for use on trails that once the deer has discovered the camera, quite often they will go off trail just to avoid the camera and then get back on trail.   I move my cameras around frequently because of this. The flash can also emit an audible noise as the flash recharges.

IR on the other hand usually omits a low red glow visible to humans and deer.  This can sometimes spook the deer if they see something glowing at them. But if you have good camera placement the possibility of the deer seeing it can be reduced.

Other than that it’s personal preference.  Do you like color night photo’s or IR?

Pictures or Video with or without sound-

Usually recording time is adjustable from 5 -30 seconds. *Flash cameras can only take Video during the daylight.

Video files do take up more space on your memory card and on your computer and video’s with sound take up even more. The good news is it’s all digital and you delete the bad ones, edit the good ones into shorter clips if need be. You can also save an image from the video clip too so you can create pictures from your video.

Video quality has been getting better over the years and it’s great when you get a good video that shows action that you just couldn’t capture in pictures.

Once again this is largely a matter of personal preference.

My advice get two cameras. One that does great picture and one that does great video.

Stay tuned for part 2 where we’ll have some camera reviews.

November under Pole Mountain with naked Aspen.

The woods are still, though I know there is a gentle movement in the cool air along the treetops as I hear the whine of two aspen rasping against each other, irregular yet steady in its own rhythm of the woods. I stand by the wallow and look for recent elk tracks.  There are none.  The water is static and transparent. No one has stepped in to stir up the muddy bottom. Not today, at least. I wonder how long it may have been…

For the continuation of this post, and to leave or review related comments, please visit our new site at:  High Mountain Muse

The Woods is a magical place for me.  Nothing is better than taking a walk in the woods to clear your head.  One of the things that I love is that depending on what time of year it is, the woods has an ever-changing scenery.  In the spring you find yourself surrounded by lush new growth and spring woodland flowers of all different colors  inviting you in with their sweet aroma heavy in the air.  In summer, leaves are dense on the trees providing you with a cool shade as you walk down the nature trail. And in winter the tree’s are bare and you feel like you can see for miles in every direction. I haven’t found any woodland fairies yet but instead have enjoyed the many different types of wildlife that dwell within it.

I bought my first trail camera in December 2005, a Moultrie Gamespy 200.  It is not a very fast camera and it made large white blobs where the animals eyes would reflect the flash back at the camera but it took good quality pictures and is still working to this day after being outside year round. It also takes short daytime videos.  My favorite animals that I’ve gotten pictures of  are whitetail deer,  fox,  and turkeys.   Since that time I’ve acquired 6 more cameras and we’ve monitored a Doe raise her fawns on our property year after year.

Our first twins nursing

She’s had twins every year with the exception of last year when she had triplets! Nothing is more sweet than a little fawn times 3!

We even had the pleasure of discovering a little newborn fawn that was hiding in a shallow hole to the side of the trail.  It laid perfectly still and we almost walked right by it! Luckily, I had my Canon 10D camera with me and was able to get some excellent pictures.

A little fawn hiding along side the path

Till our next walk in the woods….

Thea