First lambs of the year for me, though they look far from new born. It’s been a while since I’ve photographed a thatched roof, so I thought I’d take one of this recently re-thatched cottage, in East Hanney. Then just round the corner in the same village I came across this (this one’s for Nancy). … Continue reading "Today I’d Like to photograph, lambs, a roof and something for Nancy."

On the outskirts of Shippon. Close to Besselsleigh. The other side of Besselsleigh. Steventon.

Even that is composed of simple machines Most obvious are the wedge shapes to cut thru the atmosphere Levers   Wedges  Wheel and Axles   Pulleys and held together by screws What appear to be inclined planes do not actually function as one     Labor Day Weekend is the Sweet Corn Festival No sweet corn packed … Continue reading "They are Everywhere!"

B decal is fracturing 🙁 Fabric Fusion is wonderful stuff, but, yeah, it could be time . . . . . Trash Tote seems to be having issues with its Wheel and Axle Long abandoned TRW plant has a few imperfections to deal with — not the least of which is lack of a roof … Continue reading "Impurfektions"

This month’s challenge will again be divided into 2 or 3 topics. Part 1 Simple Machines There are 6 simple machines sometimes acting on their own, or more often combined with others to form complex machines  A simple machine incorporated as part of a complex machine is perfectly acceptable Take a photo of the simple … Continue reading "September Challenge(s)"

Disturbed road surface where new culverts were installed Tilted road sign and stop sign with bullet holes Weathered and abraded concrete culvert w/brass plate Patina on brass plate WPA Built 1940 Pre-dates me by 7 years Maybe a little Brasso would help  🙂 At 82 years old it comes close to being perfect!

August Challenge Part 3 This one was suggested by Suzanne some time ago — The topic is Imperfections  A fault, blemish, or undesirable feature: defect · fault · flaw · deformity · discoloration · disfigurement · crack · break · scratch · chip · dent · pit · notch · nick · blemish · stain … Continue reading "August Challenge Part 3"

    Offset brick paving east Maple Street At intersections, the pattern becomes herringbone To prevent the bricks creeping as turns are made? North facade of the post office building Detail Flemish pattern in bricks at a school Detail Blocks of Indiana limestone Grooved concrete blocks Concrete block building with Indiana limestone chimney  

Patterns, normally are symmetrical but not always I guess? Having read about the Vitruvian Man it seems proportion is an important issue in design? Question marks because I really don’t have any or much of an idea of what they are talking about. “A perfect human form can fit within a circle and a square” … Continue reading "Abstract/Asymmetrical Patterns"

Finally!  The oppressive heat and humidity abated Very pleasant ride to Cheneyville, IL east of Hoopeston At one time quite the booming little place — got a tour of the church and some history from a neighbor who saw us taking a break there  —  Church photos HERE So, here is the story of the … Continue reading "August Challenge — Blocks"

August 10–20 Flags Pennants Banners Windsocks remain active For the second part of the Challenge we are looking for: Patterns in Bricks, Blocks, and Stones Bricks as in pavement, buildings, or other structures Blocks as in as above Stones as in above or any surface or structure consisting of pebbles to boulders Include your bicycle … Continue reading "August Challenge Part 2"

  Chicago Cubs Fan Lives There Flags North End of McFerren Park Flags at Buy Here/Pay Here — No Credit/No Problem — Used Car Sales Banner at Dollar General on Chicago Road aka Dixie Highway Flags at Memorial for residents who lost their lives in Vietnam and Iraq   Sort of Unusual Crop Duster making … Continue reading "Flags and Banners"

Folded paper and cardboard Always a treat to find a little snack along the road  😉 Yes, simply recycle along 6th Avenue The township guys appreciate your support of their job security a Lots of bends in the tire marks at the end of 6th Avenue AKA “Dog Pound Road” Monical’s has just got to … Continue reading "Wrinkled Crinkled and Sort of Strange"

Throwback to Part 1 — Various lamps around the neighborhood and here and there on various rides. Some are date stamped 6/22, so Helen got me there, I did have prior knowledge  🙂 Variety of Lamps HERE

Following a golf car (cart) down Wilson Avenue Lady driver fosters dogs and cats and gives the dogs rides Blue lamps supporting law enforcement Handcrafted reflector shining in the waning sunlight Wrinkled? Wadded up? Cycling Gloves The denim patches add a certain amount of class dontcha think? Wrinkles or Folds in plastic protecting bags of … Continue reading "Lamps Reflectors Wrinkles Folds and Bends"

When used as nouns, bend means a curve, whereas fold means an act of folding. When used as verbs, bend means to cause (something) to change its shape into a curve, by physical force, chemical action, or any other means, whereas fold means to bend (any thin material, such as paper) over so that it comes … Continue reading "Folds and Bends"

July Challenge Part 2   Part 1 of the Challenge remains active   This challenge was suggested by Suzanne some time ago. This makes Suzanne your Co-Host for this part of the challenge For Part 2 we are looking for things that are:   Wrinkled – Crinkled – Folded – Creased – Dented – or … Continue reading "July Challenge Part 2"

Mazda tail lights, back up lights, and reflectors as chipmunk eyes robin and retreats to culvert under the drive Parking lights and fog lamps Head Light Tail, and backup lights, and reflector License plate lamp Entry Lamp Code Lamps Door sill lamp Interior Lamps Dashboard Lamps 3rd Brake light lamp Strayed from the challenge — … Continue reading "Automobile Lamps"

Cool shaped reflector that fell off a vehicle on 1500E Note little reflector on the Schwinn — many years ago those were used to attach license plates Huffy sports a fender mounted reflector Pedal Reflector Being a reflector can be a rough life Reflective signs Caution: Culvert Reflector and Reflective Logo on Seat Bag Caution: … Continue reading "Upon Reflection . . . ."

Just a few photos from this afternoon’s ride.

Railroad Crossing Lights Lamps and Reflective Stripes on the Crossing Gate Arms Raleigh Stops, Looks, and Listens regardless of what the warning lights indicate Signal lamps shine through those little round windows to allow the train crew to know the signal is operating properly Fault indicator lamps on power lines Should the line go dead, … Continue reading "RR Lamps/Power Line Lamps"

Not all that unusual, but someone is organized with their fireworks along 4000N This one IS unusual: Ragwing Ultralight on west Washington street (assembly is required — anyone seen the engine and prop?)

A rarely seen modification to a classic globe street lamp Lamps at the (now closed) Casey’s Route 9 east Head lights and Ditch Lights on CSX storming thru town …………………………………………………………………………….. For Bill, Metaverse Muralist came to town Sneak peek . . .  for Greg Yes!  This is the .0000005 Star accommodation for our lucky winner … Continue reading "July Challenge"

At least for this month’s challenge — the Great Outdoors will always be something to be enjoyed Raleigh takes a road trip to the Middle Fork River Forest Preserve north of Penfield, Illinois Penfield is known nationally as the home of the home of Historic Farm Days The forest preserve is north of Penfield and … Continue reading "The Great Outdoors Finale"

This Iced Tea is for you, Bill (ice not included)

A plethora of possible topics! Decision made, I will concentrate on those that are for the entire month of June With a great deal of thought, concentration, and consternation the decision was made to select The Great Outdoors rather than Potty Training Awareness Month When I saw that listed I thought:  “They have to be  … Continue reading "June Challenge(s)"

Robin contemplates a bath while sparrow looks on Too much splashing for sparrow An Unidentified Aerial Phenomena appeared in neighbors lawn overnight It may have landed somewhat like a bird? Turns out to be another neighbor’s kids kite — false alarm — sorry I called the Air Force Butcha never know what with Ace Support … Continue reading "Bye Bye Birdies"

Reggie the Red Bird flew in from Illinois State Nice match to the Mazda Reggie   Turkey Vultures 3 on the ground 1 in flight  

Along 7th street this morning, a flash of yellow crossed above the road and perched in a tree. Sloooooooooooowly stopped the Raleigh, and quietly pulled the camera from my pocket. Adjusted the zoom . . . . .  Hold STILL I thought!  HOLD STILL! And it did   🙂 Another serendipitous shot from the driveway Turkey … Continue reading "Small and Pretty and Huge and Not so Much"

Ride down to the railroad on a beautiful morning What little breeze there was would be a tailwind back to town Raleigh leans against a signal control station OZA 102.81 is the distance south of the rail yard near Chicago On the way to the railroad we found the bird we were looking for! A … Continue reading "Raleigh scores the elusive bird"

With nearly Zero success Ready to roll to the North Fork Lots of trees there, bound to be some birds Sometimes a blue heron will be found here Must be too early — they haven’t migrated back Raleigh points out, there may be no herons in the stream, there is one closer than that  🙂 … Continue reading "Raleigh Goes Birding"

Which isn’t too terribly hard to do today In the past, seeing a flock of geese flying north or south depending on the season was quite a sight Today. geese remain here year around McFerren Park is one such place to see geese, so Huffy sets out across town to see what might be there … Continue reading "Huffy Goes on a Goose Hunt"

Feather from a hawk which occasionally appears in the neighborhood Neighbor’s bird feeding apparatus with an umbrella-like Twirl a Squirrel device Presently we are advised not to feed birds due to the presence of Avian Flu — to mitigate communal meeting points Black Birds are scarfing up seed spilled previously Little black speck at the … Continue reading "May Challenge"

AIR is  compressible  —  WATER is not AIR  Clouds drift in the AIR over the Diamond Back — made from materials from the EARTH Flag with little AIR movement It has been in full fly for several days, and will be again tomorrow with 40-50mph winds predicted  🙁 WATER in the North Fork EARTH mover … Continue reading "Elements Conclusion"

Piles of soil and aggregate from the EARTH Small exposure of glacial till — Earth Clear AIR courtesy of Canada/Minnesota (and the wind wasn’t blowing its brains out for a change) Not to be confused with Lovely Lago di Garda . . . . . . Lagoon at the Park — WATER With all the … Continue reading "Earth Air Water Fire 2"

  Daffodils growing out of the Earth  Raleigh waits out Water falling from the sky Le Tour receives Air from a Lyzne pump *** Baby bicycle warms in the glow of a Fire *** Pumping up bicycle tires reminds me of working at the service station years ago ….. Tom, who often hung out with … Continue reading "Earth Water Air and Fire"

Been a great challenge and looking forward to seeing what Czar Gregory has in store for Part 2 Click HERE for the Final Photos

A swimming pool behind that fence Doesn’t welcome robins, and so, hence Sits an owl as some defense It never moves and is clearly static Turns out the owl is made of plastic As the Huffy goes rolling by In his view what does he spy? Cleary not meeting Huff’s approval Huffy calls for its … Continue reading "An Owl and a Scowl"

  Sun and sky like giant lanterns Produce some interesting driveway patterns Huffy and it tire tread Spent the winter in that shed And while we’re here looking at Huffies . . . . There comes along two dachshund puppies That’s enough to raise one’s ire The way they disposed of an old used tire … Continue reading "A-Rhyme-Pril Challenge"

Very old school, But still pretty cool  An inner tube two pronged valve core tool Added is a schrader  cap Installing them is quite a snap And should the valve begin to leak Just give it a little clockwise tweak Following that you’ll need a nap Then plan your route on a bicycle map   … Continue reading "This Caps It and Maps It"

There is the Raleigh There is the Dolly The Raleigh/Dolly

No way can Raleigh’s steel  legs Compete with colored  Easter Eggs Even though the forks look fairly swanky, They just can’t compete with Ukrainian pysanky (photo from the web) GB  Great Britan  (former home of Raleigh) UA   Ukraine    (With incredible decorated Easter Eggs)

Its been an interesting and exciting month of challenges, thank you oh Czar Gregory! The weather has been, uh, a little less than conducive to cycling (That the Shirley Temple version of what I’m really thinking 😉  ) So here are the remaining photos, most of which were taken earlier in the month: Gate and … Continue reading "Fence Finale"

The month is coming to a close and the weather here is anything but cooperative for more challenge photos.   Winds 30+ and 30-ish temps as I type.  Not expected to improve much till sometime next week. I did have a short conversation with a retired priest and the thought crossed my mind to confess thinking/saying … Continue reading "Barriers of one sort or another"