Super Moon and Blood Moon

Unless you were living under a rock, you are pretty much all aware of the unusual circumstances for the full moon on September 27.  Not only was it a super moon, there was going to be a total eclipse turning it into the red blood moon too.  The next one like this won't happen till something like 2033.

It was going to start a little after 9 and peak about 11.  I was sooo tired and I didn't feel like dragging out the tripod and all that.  I just wanted to go to bed.  While I did check it out a few times to see the phases, I didn't feel like shooting them.  It was kinda cool to see how bright my yard was at 8:30 and then get progressively darker every time I looked outside. I wrote as my status that there was no way I was going to stay awake that late.  One of my friends commented, in all caps no less, that I should get my butt out there and shoot the damn thing.  The way she worded it made me laugh, so I was like, 'FINE!' but it came out like 'FINE-AH'.  

I grabbed the tripod from the other room, attached the zoom lens, screwed the camera onto the tripod head, a flashlight and my new cable shutter release and went outside.  

OK so it was getting pretty cool.  I'd already done night time photography adjustments in the manual settings so I went out there and started messing around with exposure times.  

I should've written down each exposure time.  I did 1, 2, 3 and 4 seconds; a couple were longer.  The first pic was taken at 10:24 pm, the last at 10:29.

Despite my best efforts and a much easier to see object, I just couldn't get the focus quite right.  But the cable shutter release is a godsend.  I haven't been able to effectively shoot on the bulb setting no matter how still I thought I was standing.  Even when it was on the tripod, just pressing down the shutter was enough to shake the camera.  

While I was waiting for the red to take over more, I tried some shots of the stars but they were all pretty bad because of the focus problem.  I'll have to work on that more.

I decided I'd had about enough and wanted to go inside.  I adjusted the focus one last time and snapped what is probably the best picture I've ever taken in my life.  Not only is the moon crisp, the stars look great too.  I entered it in NASA's photo contest but I don't really hold out any hope of winning based on the volume of submissions.

Cruise Ship Balmoral

Every now and then, a really large ship will utilize the Canal.  Usually I only get to see the same barges and commercial/industrial type vessels.  There was one night I was taking Russell to his truck when we saw the top of a massive ship towering over the buildings along Main Street.  We were unable to get down there in time to see what it was....it would have been gone by the time we stopped at all the lights and signs and turned into the park.

Last week, I happened to see a post on the Bourne Facebook page that a 750' cruise ship would be making it's way through the Canal, from Sagamore down to my end, that evening.  Russell and I jumped in the car and headed down to wait.  What can I say?  Small town excitement.  

I shot this while we waited.  That's the moon on the left.  Not bad for hand held and being pitch dark but for the moon and bridge lights.

Moon reflection on the water.

We waited around 20 minutes and finally saw it slooooowly making it's way towards us.  Yes, that's a fisherman in the foreground....the stripers have been biting and night fishing is very popular here.

The Balmoral started its voyage from Southampton, England and had already visiting Nova Scotia, Boston and Salem.  It was on its way to Oak Bluffs on Martha's Vineyard, the down the east coast to the Caribbean before returned home to England.  It's a 35 day cruise.

We could see lots of people lined up on the balconies, waving to us and whooping, and we all waved back too.

Safe travels, Balmoral!

Wordless Wednesday

Sagamore Fire Station, September 2015

Stunning Fall Evenings

Best time of the year right now.  I love fall.  Not looking forward to winter though.  But trying to get some nice shots of the clouds and sunsets.

I wish the pics of these clouds could do justice to what the light looked like the day I took them.  The sun was on it's way down and while it was a bit cloudy in the west, the east had these gorgeous white clouds with blue sky.  It was reflecting the light into my yard such that it looked like sunrise, not sunset.  

Then they turned this colour.

Next night we had a pretty moon.

Two nights later it was stunning!  I should've driven to the beach but I knew this would be fleeting so I stayed in my driveway.

Craftie Update

I love all things celestial, so when I saw a picture on Pinterest of Galaxy Cookies, I had to try them.  So I made up a batch of sugar cookies, and I purchased a large, round cutter because I knew I would need a big surface to work on.  HERE is the link to the tutorial.  Of course me being the super impatient person that I am, I decided to cut corners on the icing.  For one, I just mixed powdered sugar with milk and added the food colouring, rather than deal with royal icing which can be a pain to keep moist.  I also opted not to pipe the colours onto the cookies and used a spoon and plastic knife to spread.  The icing was of course a little too runny, so dragging the toothpick through it yielded so-so results.  Then I did the white stars but again, with runny icing, the dots came out big and globby.  I had the patience to do only 5 cookies this way before throwing in the towel and doing the rest with the leftover icing.  Still though, very tasty.

Yet another fall project I had to try:  Glitter on acorns.  Came out pretty!

My friend Lisa gave me a bunch of wine bottles over the summer.  I spray painted 4 of the large ones with frosted spray paint, drilled holes in the back, drew the tree scene with a paint pen and stuff a strand of orange and purple lights inside.  I have 3 more bottles to do.

Finished the skull cross stitch and framed it.  Giving it to my stepdaughter.

I made a counting error on my shells so that set me back because I've had to go back and rip out stitches twice.  Still chipping away at it.

Beach Therapy

Now that beach stickers or parking lot fees are no longer required, I am free to resume my beach combing endeavors until next spring.  Headed over to Scusset late one morning on my way home from Plymouth.  I thought I was going to hit the end of low tide but it had already started coming back in.  I was surprised to see so many people still sun worshipping.  I thought I'd have the place to myself.  

It was crystal clear but the fog horn over there on the breakwater was sounding every few minutes.

The water photo bombed this picture and ended up making it better than if it was just wet stones.

Lots of 'dump ducks'.

Tons of tiny clam shells at the tide line.

I actually made a terrible error with them.  As you can see in the above pic, and the one below this one, several of the shells are open.  I assumed the clams had been eaten by the gulls.  I scooped up a whole bunch of shells to bring home to do crafts.  After I got home, I dumped everything in my baggie into a colander to rinse.  Only then did I see the clam shells closing on their own.  I realized, oh crap, they are still alive.  I felt horrible.  I frantically texted Russell to ask if they would still live if I got them into the water at the beach near my house and he said they would, so Operation Clam Rescue 2015 was put into action.  Drove down to the beach and dumped them into the water there.  I hope they survive.

Gentle waves.

It was so hot on the beach that I was tempted to just go in the water fully dressed.  But I didn't.

Here comes my yacht!

Heading into the Canal.  I wonder if it went all the way through or stopped at the Sandwich Marina.

Not much glass....I didn't expect to find any at all, but I got 5 pieces.  The olive and white ones were very nice pieces.  And cobalt blue, no matter how tiny, is always appreciated.  

Scorton Creek Trails

As with most places, you never tend to explore your own home town area even when you pass by a place literally thousands of times.  While I had driven down the little road to Scorton Creek in the past a couple of times, I never actually walked the trails that lead out to the old game farm, which is now gone.

I started out at the parking lot which is off Rte 6A a piece.

Weather was absolutely perfect for a nice walk in the woods!

Lots of bird houses.

I walked out to Hoxie Pond.  I was only on this little beach once before when I was very young, with a friend.  I couldn't have been more than 7 or 8.

Headed back to check out the rest of the trails

There are a couple old boarded up buildings.  Not sure if they are open in the summer.

These tracks run past the cranberry bog across from my parents' house.  I used to walk them all the time as a kid.  You can walk all the way to Sandwich and beyond if you are so inclined.

It's funny, when I shot this, I thought my horizon line was level.  Apparently not!

 I veered off on the marsh trail and came upon this little bridge.  Only when I turned back to go to my car and saw the trail map did I find out that it links up with Talbot's Point, another recreational/trail area off Old County Road.  I'm going to have to go back later this fall.

Foliage is starting!

Back at the parking area.  That's Rte 6A where the bridge is.  Kids jump off it into the water at high tide in the summer, although I never did it despite growing up very close by.