Decorations Along Church Street

This one door took my fancy today. I walked up Church Street its full length and shot a roll of film to further test the old Nikon FG. Of all the Christmas decorations on the doors, and many were pleasing, I returned here for this musing post. This is New Year's Eve and the Eve of the Feast of the Holy Name of Jesus. Our tradition has 12 days of Christmas and I am still celebrating
Merry Christmas from Frederick

Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T

Christmas Lights!

Carroll Parkway-Christmas
This is one of the more ambitious light displays I've noticed in Frederick and exceeds a similar display last year. Unseen in this BB shot is a ladder fire truck in the back of the property, which no doubt came in handy when stinging lights to the top of the red tree (40 ft). One is reminded that it is about the Winter Solstice and so the theme of light at Christmas is quite appropriate. Yesterday Paul read from John the proper Gospel appointed for Christ's Mass-- "That (Jesus) was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world"

Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T

61 YEARS YOUNG

Musing at 61
Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T

MOONSTRUCK

Winter Solstice and Lunar Eclipse
I awoke from a sound sleep at about 3:20 this morning. I think I was Moonstuck and the effect of the Lunar eclipse on this special day, the shortest of the year, roused me. I finally got up. And signed on to Facebook where my friends Tim and Maria had posted photos from their Lunar vigil. In quick research I learnt that the eclipse went from about 3:30 to 5;30 and so went out back and observed the final phase of the eclipse. I captured the final this shot at 3x magnification with the BB. The previous matching of a Lunar eclipse and Winter Solstice was about 450 years ago I understand, so it is safe to say this won't likely bother me again in this life.
Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T

Winter's Morning Glory

Looking east along Carroll Creek at the old covered bridge.
When I emerged from my abode this morn, after our first winter's storm, I was stuck with the beauty of the play and color of the rising sun reflecting on the clouds in the sky. Although fading somewhat, I was able to capture some of its effect in this shot.
Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T

Hanging Out at Panera's

Monocacy Center, Frederick
Home away from home. This Panera Bread store has become a favorite spot for good quality food and very good unlimited refills of coffee that they keep fresh. I enjoy the high-speed internet when I wish to do some serious web work. I took this photo standing on the sizable rock in the parking lot that wrecked my Chevy S-10's side on a rainy evening when making a sharp turn. The rock is good for something I reckon, and it is the only reason I have for complaint about this location. My request to the parking-lot owner to fix the hole in my fender was denied--no fault of Panera's. Their manager was cooperative.

Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T

Blue Heron on the Monocacy

This photo was taken looking north along the River not far from the Liberty Highway in Frederick County at the intersection of a creek. I had taken a walk in search of some subjects for photography in order to test out a little Nikon FG20 I picked up. I headed north away from the river along a creek bed just a few yards. Then, up flew a magnificent blue heron next to me--a breathtaking sight as it flew out of the creek bed and into the main channel. It turned about this little island in the photo, and headed south down the river bed. This was a most rewarding trek. Unfortunately, I did not have a chance to snap a photo as I was not at the ready.
Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T

Medical Musem Tour

I spent a cold day inside touring the museum for medicine during the War Between the States here in Frederick to avoid the rather windy conditions outside. Throughout my visit I thought of my 2nd Great Grandfather Noah May who died of some "Camp Fever" in Lexington, maybe in a small hospital like the one on display here, after his regiment of mounted infantry served as the vanguard for the Union pursuit JH Morgan's raid through Kentucky in the spring of 1864. More here
http://mark.s.carroll.angelfire.com/may_noah.html
Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T