a dabbler's journal

On This Date: Photo taken 12/24/2013

We did laundry at a (chaotic) local laundromat, then got our power back around mid-day. We checked out of the hotel, unhooked Joan’s brother’s generator, and finished preparing for Christmas.

And watched the ice melt.

We’ve since purchased our own generator. We’re pleased that we’ve not needed it.

We were relatively fortunate, as many folks were without power for most of a week, and some Lansing residents were in the dark for even longer.

And a new camera note: Joan and I both got Sony Cybershot DSC-H55 pocket cameras for Christmas in 2010. We opened our presents on Christmas Eve that year, taking pics of each other, and the presents, and the cats.

Three years later I took this photograph with my Cybershot.

Number of pix taken on various December 24ths: 222
Year of oldest photo: 2006

How I Rated the Date’s Photographs:

• 1 Star: 5
• 2 Stars: 53
• 3 Stars: 144
• 4 Stars: 20
• 5 Stars: 0

On This Date: Photo taken 12/23/2005

There’s something about this bridge in downtown Portland that makes me want to antique my digital images.

So ignore the modern cars and the 1990 footings. Pretend it’s 1905 and travel back in time.

This bridge is also known as Veterans Memorial Bridge. It has signs with both names.

Number of pix taken on various December 23rds: 121
Year of oldest photo: 2005

How I Rated the Date’s Photographs:

• 1 Star: 0
• 2 Stars: 9
• 3 Stars: 90
• 4 Stars: 19
• 5 Stars: 3

On This Date: Photo taken 12/22/2013

Things look bizarre–and beautiful–when everything’s coated with ice.

I also posted this photo on the day I took it. I think the reasons are obvious.

And yes: Stuff broke.

Number of pix taken on various December 22nds: 120
Year of oldest photo: 2005

How I Rated the Date’s Photographs:

• 1 Star: 5
• 2 Stars: 14
• 3 Stars: 78
• 4 Stars: 10
• 5 Stars: 3

On This Date: Photo taken 12/21/2013

Again I quote myself. Four years ago I posted a similar photo, with this caption:

“Ice storms are pretty, but tend to break stuff–like trees, and power lines, and pickup trucks, and hips….”

We spent the next three nights in a hotel.

We were home for Christmas, but many folks had it worse. Far worse.

Number of pix taken on various December 21sts: 286
Year of oldest photo: 1991

How I Rated the Date’s Photographs:

• 1 Star: 7
• 2 Stars: 42
• 3 Stars: 187
• 4 Stars: 43
• 5 Stars: 7 [a bell curve!]

On This Date: Photo taken 12/20/2012

Think I’ll just quote myself, from the caption below another photo taken at the same time:

“I’d spent the night in Kalamazoo, and the day’s 366 Snaps shots documented my drive home. The weather was abysmal, and the photographs show villages in the rain.”

Noted while checking my other posted photographs taken 12/20/2012: Five years ago Flickr’s denizens were posting End of the World notes, due to the Mayan Apocalypse. Evidently it was a false alarm.

This photo was taken with my FujiFilm Finepix F10, which might be my favorite camera ever. ‘Twas small, gave me some control over exposure, and within its fairly wide limits was a reliable tool. I’ve owned much more capable cameras I liked far less.

Number of pix taken on various December 20ths: 86
Year of oldest photo: 1991

How I Rated the Date’s Photographs:

• 1 Star: 1
• 2 Stars: 23
• 3 Stars: 51
• 4 Stars: 11
• 5 Stars: 0

On This Date: Photo taken 12/19/2012

Eaton Highway, just east of Mulliken, Michigan.

Number of pix taken on various December 19ths: 106
Year of oldest photo: 2012

How I Rated the Date’s Photographs:

• 1 Star: 2
• 2 Stars: 14
• 3 Stars: 67
• 4 Stars: 22
• 5 Stars: 1

On This Date: Photo taken 12/17/2014

Grand Ledge. Foot bridges are rarely this sturdy.

That house overlooks Second Island from across the Grand River. I’ve always figured it would be an excellent place to live–except when there’s an event in the park.

Number of pix taken on various December 17ths: 89
Year of oldest photo: 2006

How I Rated the Date’s Photographs:

• 1 Star: 0
• 2 Stars: 10
• 3 Stars: 70
• 4 Stars: 9
• 5 Stars: 0

On This Date: Photo taken 12/16/2016

And tree skirts. Our cats do, anyway.

Number of pix taken on various December 16ths: 604
Year of oldest photo: 1971

How I Rated the Date’s Photographs:

• 1 Star: 111 [shooting handheld pix in the dark]
• 2 Stars: 217 [likewise. pixels are cheap]
• 3 Stars: 231
• 4 Stars: 40
• 5 Stars: 5