Animal Pictures

These pictures were taken with my old Minolta Camera, a point and shoot camera. These are animals that I have seen in Virginia and Nags Head NC.

Yes, Wild Turkey by our home in Virginia

While on vacation in Nags Head NC we had a few visitors in the morn, here is the Rabbit

and the Possum

Then while cruising the island we saw these guys

not sure what kind of bird but I think this is a King Fisher

Christmas Eve, Alaska Style

I can see why some people would move to Alaska even from the warmest area's of the world. When I took these pictures I was very moved by the awesome beauty of the Alaskan mountain range. Where we stayed we were able to see Danali mountain and the begining of the Alusian Island chain. I have always heard of the beauty, the peaceful suroundings mixed with the vivid and harsh enviroment of some of the coldest days I have been in but I was totally amazed. I am not sure of how to describe these pictures so I am going to post them in the time sequence they were taken.  All of these were taken in the afternoon on Christmas Eve, 2010. The series start at 2:19 in the afternoon and goes to 5:59.

2:19 PM

2:27PM

Then we took a ride up the Seward Highway

5:21PM

5:30 PM

5:59PM

Some of the pictures above are what our friend claims to be High Speed Photography. We were doing about 55 miles per hour when I took them. No our friend was driving, LOL, that would be crazy to drive and take pictures like these.

Alaska Adventure

While visiting friends in Anchorage Alaska over Christmas Holiday it seemed that the moose decided not to let me get any pictures. The first night there, while riding from the airport to the house, a very old moose crossed the road in front of us. However, with it being 1 oclock in the morning, we just starting to think about recovering from our 17 hour ordeal of the flight and I just didn't have the sense or the energy to get my camera out. After four days of moose searching  and started thinking that Alaska really doesn't have any moose, my sweet, lovely woman saw one near the airport but it was behind a fence.

After 4 more days, and disappointment setting in because we only have 2 days left, we were traveling near a small lake, as we passed the end of the lake I saw a glimps of what I thought was and yelled out loudly "MOOSE".  We turned around and parked. Started walking to where I yelled "MOOSE" and we started thinking that it must have been a mound of dirt or a large fallen tree. Than we saw movement, and there was the moose I saw from the road, all of a sudden her young bull moose walked around the trees! I was so excited that I didn't care that my hands were starting to freeze in position on the camera, yes it was about 12 degrees, one of the warmer days. They seemed not to be afraid of us because both momma and her young son kept coming to us.

I climbed the bank that went up to the road while they kept coming closer and closer. I was up to my hips in snow, sitting on the side of a hill with these two moose in front of me and traffic behind me. It took about 2 hours for my fingers to finally thaw out enough for the pain to start. It was all worth it, no real frost bite on my fingers and no moose were injured in the above photo sequence.

A few random pictures

These are photos I have taken while just out walking or hiking.

This little visitor seems to like us, he will jump on my hand if I hold it out for him. Well I think its a him, don't really know.

This comes from a bush/tree that we planted several years ago. I have no idea of the kind of bush/tree it is. We thought it was suppose to be a climbing vine, similar to Honey Suckle but it seems to want to do other things instead. These pods are very cool looking, when they dry out the will spiral.

Masson Neck Park, Fairfax Virginia

Wonderful walking trails and separate biking trails.

Very nice Park to study nature, watch birds and or just enjoy great views

The walking trails can bring you to the water shed, wet lands, lots of wild life and some great photo ops for the shutter bugs in your group.

The trails are very clear and clean, they woods themselves are left to transform it back to its natural state. Fallen trees and underbrush are left alone to start the growth cycle for each season.

Occoquan Virginia

This is a great little town on the edge of the Occoquan River. Many quaint little shops of all kinds, a great small museum that I highly recomend. When you want a nice little stroll and maybe a good lunch than a stroll, take a Saturday afternoon and tour one of the oldest Towns in Northern Virginia. I am sure you will be very happy you did. This photo is the foot bridge that replaced the actual route 123 that was washed out during Hurricane Agnes in August of 1972.

Virginia Wine Country

Virginia has many Vineyards, I have found many good wineries in the North West parts of Virginia. We attend many wine tasting festivals throughout the Lees Burg and Great Meadows area. If you ever get a chance to attend I strongly suggest the Virginia Wine Festival at Bull Run.

A day in my life

There are always adventures, this one is right out our front door. Totally unexpected delight, it would have been a shame to miss this opportunity.  

Magestic Eagle

I have no words that can describe this. I am always in awe when I can catch a glimps or get a picture of one.

More Alaska

This is, what I was told by our wonderful guide, called Alpen Glow. I find it very interesting and beautiful.

Tree Bright!

Happiest Puppy in the World

The owner claims this puppy to be a clown, however I find him to be the happiest puppy in the world.

One Spring Day

One fine spring morning and a drop of rain!