5/52 of 2010: Season Winter

Here in the Motor City we were having an extended January thaw but just in time for this week's theme of "winter" our temps plummeted once again. With a lack of snow I wondered what could be a good subject matter for "winter" and then I remembered seeing posts on Detroit Moxie (click for more info) of this mysterious Ice Tree on Belle Isle and decided to go see for myself.

4/52 of 2010: Yellow

Driving around town on a dreary rainy day in January the yellow can really stand out. Come to find out there's more yellow out there then I realized. From yellow-yellow to blue-yellow and green-yellow. But I was only looking for true yellow-yellow for the week theme.

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Driving down Woodward Ave. this angelic yellow creature jumped out at me from a store front. Not the yellow I was expecting but perfect for what I was looking for!

A bit too friendly

Yesterday while crouching down along a river adjusting shutter speeds and exposure settings in an attempt to learn more about photographing flowing water and bright white snow I wasn't expecting a critter to try to get into my jacket pocket! Too bad for Mr. Squirrel I was out of snacks at the moment. Maybe next time I'll bring lunch.

After posting this I discovered that today was actually "Squirrel Appreciation Day" according to the National Wildlife Federation. Coincidence? Maybe THAT'S what Mr. Squirrel was trying to tell me!

3/52 of 2010: This is me

The weather men say it's a January thaw but there's still plenty of snow on the ground. This is me taking a stroll in the sun the other day during this period of thaw.

January Jack

Jack Frost visited my garage the other night and covered the window with ice crystals. They lasted until afternoon when the sun made a melting appearance.

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2/52 of 2010: Happy

Even when the temperature is hovering around 20 degrees fahrenheit the shining sun can make it almost bearable. Happy is a full weekend of sunshine in the middle of winter.

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As I was beginning to post my idea of happy the power went out in the neighborhood. A few hours later after cooking dinner on the gas stove by flashlight the power returned and I thought of another happy thing: artificial sunshine.
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1/52 of 2010: New

While driving up Woodward Avenue the gold, purple and red colors of this new construction jumped right out at me making me remember the first theme for my 52 1/2 week photo project is NEW. It also made me remember it was just back in May when I posted a series of pictures from this very same city of various empty store fronts all with "For Lease" signs in their windows.

My 52 Week Photo Project

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

After the first year of 'something to say, every day' this blog had no real direction (a lot like me these days) and was being sporadically posted to. Now direction has been found (at least for the blog) and will consist of a photo a week, every week. That gives me 7 entire days to come up with an original blogable photo and perhaps something to say about it. This also means I don't have to think of a witty title for each post. Oh what a relief it is!

I will loosely follow the Flickr group '52.5 of Twenty Ten' and companion Wordpress blog 'fifty two point five' when added inspiration and/or direction is required. I mean I would hate to make an actual commitment and join the group!

Soon the lights will fade

Only a few more days of merry Christmas lights remain.

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Merry Merry

CHRISTMAS!

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Merry Christmas (or Happy What-ever-you-celebrate) from This is Eric's Blog. The pic is a scan of my holiday card for this year. Nothing says Christmas like a sheep in a Santa hat!

Happy Holidays from me to ewe!

Looks like it's already winter.

Tomorrow is officially the first day of winter.

May it hurry on out of here!

Only 90 days until the first day of spring!

20 degree hike

Yup, it's winter alright.

The sun was shining making for a fairy pleasant hike in the woods.
(Well, for the first quarter mile the sun was shinng.)

Brrr - finally winter

Suddenly it's winter here complete with snow flurries and single digit wind chills! All summer while biking and hiking and photographing I told myself I would continue doing this all winter no matter what the temperatures (with the proper clothing of course) and maybe even try snow activities like cross county skiing and ice skating. But now that it's here I'm really not so sure anymore. (Brrr)

I guess it will depend on how inside-stir-crazy I get.

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Here's a mid-summer pic of a bird and a boat on Lake St. Clair.

Toasty, like a warm crackling fire.

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Welcome to December!

The last month of 2009 is here very suddenly and the Winter Solstice is approaching fast. Yet here near Detroit there is no sign of Old Man Winter. (No complaints from me!) Although the weather men warned that today we would finally wake up to snow flurries we got sunny and 45 degrees instead. Perfect weather to put up the holiday lights - no jacket required!

YEAR ONE DONE

This is Eric's Blog started one year ago

on November 22, 2008.
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Something to say... every day.
A collection of my daily thoughts, rants and pictures.

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There have been 358 postings. Once a day. Everyday. Something to say. More or less with a few exceptions. A couple days of double posts and for some reason nothing to say on April 30th. There was also 8 days off in February to go to St. John for an internet free week.

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Now the blog (meaning me) needs a break. From here on in posts will be sporadic. Perhaps once a week. That sounds good in theory: Something to say... once a week. (But it doesn't rhyme.) Or as one commenter suggested to me the posts could be: When I freaking feel like it! (But that's kind of rude and I would NEVER be rude!)

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Check back in from time to time!

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To see the sky through the trees

All the leaves are down.
And the sky is blue.
I went for a hike.
On a late autumn day. (Well, actually a few days ago.)

We can only dream of summer days for the next 6 months.

Sad Lion

Although this lion should be guarding the entrance
he just heard there is a change coming to
This is Eric's Blog and is somewhat melancholy.

K-roo, thinks.

Kangaroo relaxes, contemplates what is to become of

This is Eric's Blog.

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. Resident of The Detroit Zoo

November dragonfly!

So I saw a butterfly in my yard the other day. A bit unusual for late fall in Michigan but it was an unseasonably warm and sunny November day.
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TODAY on the other hand I'm driving 50 mph down the road (and yes, the speed limit was 50 mph-ish) with the windows up and the sun roof closed and from out of nowhere this thing flew at my face! It finally landed on the dashboard and turned out to be a dragonfly.
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My first thought was to take a picture. My second thought was to watch the traffic. Before a third thought could happen it flew into my face again.

After it landed on the A-pillar (automotive lingo) for a rest I got a quick cell phone pic before letting it out the window into the chilly day. At least I think it went out the window into the chilly day!

Final leaves

This

tiny

twig

of

a

tree

holds

onto

its

two

leaves.

Square hamburger history

Today in 1969 Wendy's first restaurant opened in Columbus, Ohio.
Frostys soon to follow.
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Others things that turned 40 this year:
NASA moon walk.
Sesame Street.
Woodstock.
Conclusion of 'no UFO evidence' by Project Blue Book.

November butterflies?

The middle of November here in Michigan doesn't usually bring to mind shorts and bare feet. I think even more confused was this butterfly I found (while outside in shorts and bare feet) on the side of the garage wondering where all the flowers were.

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Possibly the Eastern Comma butterfly.

Bad luck day?

This is the third Friday the 13th for This is Eric's Blog!
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Enough said.
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Now look at these berries from the last month of Bike 'n' Hike:

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Woodland graffiti

This woodland graffiti is more of an added description (or perhaps a warning) of the trail ahead. A little spice to the bland generic trail marker.
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Found not far from the "WOOHOO!" marker, I found the full effect would better be experienced on a bike since the hike was not very rollercoasterish.


FYI: I did not deface this trail marker - I merely took the pic.

Day for veterans

HEY - It's another holiday.

A no mail holiday at that.

Freedom is never free.

Graffiti from the recent past

While on the "graffiti" subject the last few days I remembered this one I came across while on my mini-vacation to the semi-sticks back at the end of June/beginning of August.

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It was found on the Tridge in Midland, Michigan.

FYI: I did not deface this tridge - I merely took the pic.

Love paint

Nothing says I'm glad to be alive

like spray painted graffiti.

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FYI: I did not deface this fence - I merely took the pic.

Today in a pineapple under the sea

According to the Sponge Bob Wikia concerning November 8th:

"Nothing happened."

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No caution in life

It's as simple as taking a Sharpie ®
and turning something scary into something fun!
























FYI: I did not deface this sign - I merely took the pic.

Two weeks notice

Dear Mr./Ms. Blog Reader:

Please accept this posting as my two-weeks notice of resignation. My last day of blogging every day will be November 20, 2009.

This was not an easy decision to make. I am grateful for the rewarding daily blogging I've had with This is Eric's Blog (Something to say... every day.)

After much consideration, though, I have accepted a position with another non-daily Blog format.


Sincerely,

Eric of This is Eric's Blog

Fall's fuzz

Milkweed: similar to the spring time cottonwood fuzz.

An entire month

It's National Pomegranate Month!

Yes, an entire month dedicated to this antioxidant.

Off-year Election Day

Don't forget to vote for change!

Yeah, that was last year's slogan but it sounds good again.

No matter whom you vote for, the Government always gets in.
(Unknown)

Autumn is yellow (doors)

During this summer's paint the house project

I asked the question "how yellow can yellow be?"
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Although the answer was "pretty darn yellow,"

it takes on a good autumn look!
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What time is it really?

It's national screw with the clocks day.
You would think they would all self-adjust in some magical way. My cell phone knows what time it is all on its own! Why doesn't it call all the other clocks in my place and spread the word? I suppose they would all need their own little phones for that to happen.

This is Halloween

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A.K.A. All Hallows Eve.

The celebration of the dead on the eve of

All Hallows (A.K.A. All Saints Day.)

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We celebrate Halloween with candy and All Hallows with stomach aches.

Hallow-haiku

My pumpkin face grin.
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Glowing in the hallow night.
Keep away spirits!
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Entered this just now in a contest to win big!
Well, big as in $25 at Whole Foods.
Yum-O-lantern!

Speaking of Whole Foods: I found this water conservation video on their website. Seems that drinking beer SAVES WATER! And I don't even think they took into account that a pint is much MORE than a glass!!!

Switch to autumn drizzle

Not another picture perfect October afternoon in The D.

But foggy and misty isn't all that bad.
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And the Stony Creek antelopes didn't seem to mind it at all. Yea, I know: That's a white-tailed deer.

More autumn color

Another picture perfect October afternoon in The D.

Actually 12 miles north of The D - looking across Cranbrook Lake.(As always you can click the pic for a larger view)

World picnic

According to Earth911.com:

Americans throw away enough disposable plates and cups to give the world a picnic six times a year.

Reduce - Reuse - Recycle

Satisfied goals

Nothing like taking a long vigorous walk on a crisp autumn evening through the fallen leaves...

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to the drugstore for a (limited edition) candy bar.

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What makes a good goal?

Traditional goal-setting wisdom states a good goal must be:

a) written - I wrote about it here in This is Eric's Blog.

b) challenging - It was a long walk in the dark.

c) believable - Does anyone not believe me?

d) specific - Walk, buy, eat

e) measureable - 1.9 miles out and 250 calories in

f) have a specific deadline - before primetime television starts

To rake OR to blow

Days of cold and rain and wind

end in a ground covered in:

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Heros Severus

A.K.A. Severum.

A freshwater tropical cichlid (fish) from South America.

The fish sometimes called "Bun Size" lived a long and happy life in a 40 gallon aquarium. Most of her adult life was spent in solitude due to the fact she would kill any other fish put in the tank. She survived at least 4 moves in her lifetime. I'm not 100% sure how old she was but I believe she was acquired sometime in 1994 at about the size of a quarter and lived until the summer of 2002.

And the winner is...

The trouble with the rat race is
..................that even if you win, you're still a rat.
(Lily Tomlin)