Photos – Holly Doyne

Fireworks

Posted on 2017-07-04 by Holly DoyneJuly 10, 2017

Did I tell you that I skipped the fireworks at the stadium on Monday night in favor of 4th of July fireworks?

I had the bright idea – which turned out to be not so bright – of catching the photos from home. I can see all three bridges from my upstairs window. I can see the Berkeley Marina – home to the local fireworks. What I hadn’t remembered is how low the fireworks are actually shot.

When you sit out in the open, the fireworks can seem to fill up the sky stretching up and out to cover your view. In reality, they are not more than 100-200 feet in the air. This creates a problem if you are up on a tree covered hill of more than that in elevation. As it turned out, the fireworks were beautiful. And just on the other side of a lovely, thick, bushy tree….

see the slight bit of light?

with the occasional bit shot from the SF side

across the bay

Even having fireworks photography not in my grasp this year didn’t take away my fun of the As actually pulling out a victory at the Coliseum. Not pleased about the pitcher who gained the win, since it was his fault the White Sox tied the game in the top of the ninth…. The fact that the rookie short stop managed to hit a homer was nothing to the relieving pitchers credit.

Ah, well, back to the cross stitch.

Carl won’t leave

Posted on 2017-07-03 by Holly DoyneJuly 4, 2017

No I don’t have a house guest who has been here longer than three days. What we have is a marine layer – fog in the evening completely obscuring the sky. Since Berkeley can occasionally be thought of as a University town, a literary location you might have figured out the reference:

“The fog comes

on little cat feet.

It sits looking

over harbor and city

on silent haunches

and then moves on”

and thus is referred to as Carl.

It makes attempting to photograph the night sky impossible on this side of the hills (and Hayward Fault).

George and I went to the game and watched along with over 40,000 other fans the As manage to lose yet another game. They have younger players. They are learning; but those errors are costing way too much. I was sorry to see Cotton take the loss since the relief pitchers were the ones whose continual provision of wonderful pitches caused the White Sox batters to run up the numbers and make recovery impossible.

I was going to stay and take fireworks photos from the parking lot, but just got too cold and too tired. My excuse was that there was just too much light (grin).

You can’t stay

Posted on 2017-07-02 by Holly DoyneJuly 4, 2017

One of the guys from that photo class on the 26th and I were going to attempt to do night photography this evening. George had volunteered to be the chauffeur. The eldest begged off after having to work late. She turned out to be the smartest in the group.

(and yes, the As lost this afternoon).

Since it was completely socked in around the bay we thought to try the other side of the hills. Well Mt Diablo Park might be a good place to be. But the park gates are closed and locked at 2030 in the evening leaving you on one side of the divide or the other till morning. Since we hadn’t come prepared with sleeping bags or camping gear, this didn’t sound like a great idea.

Driving around, there didn’t seem to be any other decent place without either lights or trees obscuring the sky. Back over on our side, the fog was almost to the top of Grizzly Peak taking out that option as well. Seems like one needs a combination of good pre-trip scouting and a lot of luck with the weather. July is probably a better bet if the skies clear (meaning the weather needs to warm up a bit.).

Up from the depths

Posted on 2017-06-23 by Holly DoyneJune 24, 2017 2

the only way I can describe this past week is like a deep well. It has been a combination of the chemo hitting me, the house construction with the jack hammering and pounding to the point where it seems like my whole body vibrates to a complete lack of interest in people and/or food.

I think I am starting to get it together which means that I will release the last weeks worth of blog posts as soon as I have a chance to go back and clear out the worst of the evil thoughts and bad languages.

Tonight I am allegedly participating in a class over at Rodeo Beach on the Marin headlands on night photography. The only challenge, besides going completely manual on my camera is going to be if the fog – aka marine layer – doesn’t cooperate enough to let us see the sky. It is pretty hard to photo the night sky when all you see is a blur of white descending to the tips of the closest dunes and hills.

Also in the box

Posted on 2015-08-12 by ProsekniticAugust 12, 2015

We dropped off books this afternoon in Rohrbach, the next community down the B3 from Heidelberg. Apparently they have added a community bookshelf. While George talked to a neighbor who was walking by, I unloaded books. Sixty of them.

Children’s books in German, adult political books in both German and English and a miscellaneous collection of novels, romance, science fiction, fantasy and mysteries mostly but not complete in English.

I also found these in the box

say what?

The sheep card is unopened, the two photos have to date from Blue Factory days, the negatives don’t have a date but I am guessing about 1996, 25€ and a tube of K-Y jelly. It is the last one about which I don’t have a clue

Recovered

Posted on 2015-08-05 by ProsekniticAugust 5, 2015

It is a new day and my sense of humor is somewhat restored. Made better by my husband getting back safely from Switzerland last night and taking me out for dinner on the way home.

I was getting pretty sick of nutella and string cheese (don’t ask).

For the last several days there has been a chorus of “oh poor me” signing a song in my head; distracting me with high levels of whine, self pity and other assorted irritants which has made me a not very popular person in this household.

Please consider that I am currently in Heidelberg and George, as mentioned above, spent the last two days in Switzerland. Leaves us all with the understanding that I haven’t been particularly fun to be around. Not for anyone else and certainly not for myself.

I have been attempting to sort out my multiple backup drives, consolidating important things like photos, edit a couple of articles, audiobooks and just generally be a bit more organized than I have in the past.

Never mind (grin). I will be fine. And here till the 16th of Aug.

Backup try two

Posted on 2015-08-04 by ProsekniticAugust 4, 2015

Sure enough, the nightmare which woke me was true. My lack of patience with iPhoto resulted in the program attempting to back up everything twice. And execute both at the same time.

The end result wasn’t pretty. For one thing – I ran out of memory due to other programs being open which seemed to have slowed things down to a crawl. Secondly, instead of executing the backup in a simple, orderly and chronological manner, the idiot program seemed to be almost random in the order in which both photos and events were backed up. Somethings were backed up twice, some not at all. Some dates completely and some missing key events.

Summary? I need to do it again only keeping my impatience under control.

Argh!

By (what is it now? 2220?) I have come to the end of the backup with an error message listing only 8 photos it was unable to export (not 6xxx). The whole flipping day. Dealing with the computer and the one program. Unable to do anything else so as to avoid slow downs.

Listen to me whine… wah, wah. Unable to spend money on Amazon e-Books. Unable to download from Audible, or Tantor or BigFish Games. Unable to Skype, FaceTime or otherwise drive others insane. And it rained today which was my excuse for not accomplishing any more on the laundry front.

My sense of humor restored, I am going to finish listening to one of the free short stories by Jodi Taylor out of the St Mary’s series that was free on Audible followed by Lilith Saintcrow’s Trailer Park Fae, which, when you think about it, is such a wonderful contrast as to be almost obscene.

Backing Up

Posted on 2015-08-03 by ProsekniticAugust 3, 2015

which, to no surprise is involving a lot of forward motion as well. I had planned on backing up photos and sorting as I went while in Tanzania. Didn’t happen as there was this small issue. Forgotten/misplaced external hard drive. It’s not that I don’t have a few of them. Counting nine right now sitting on my dining room table. But it was that the one I thought I had packed was no where to be seen.

So either I lost it, forgot it or misplaced it. In any case, it wasn’t with me which left me in Africa without the ability to back up my photos or permanently empty out my memory cards. When I stop and think about it, that particular backup drive is probably hiding out along with several other items (mostly underwear = smalls) that seem to have decreased in number as I went along.

Returning to the back-up. I first had to find the hard drives which only took a couple of minutes. Then there was the small matter of finding enough space on any of them for the thousands of pictures which seem to be inhabiting the largest portion of my MacBook. It would be nice to free up some space. Only going to happen after a back up. After all, one never knows when one of those totally lousy, out of focus photos might just be the key to ….

Perhaps I have been reading too many cozy mysteries?

In any case, my basic tendency is to delete after backing up rather than before. Starting the program, I thought I had it figured out. Ten minutes later, I checked and a big nothing was happening so I tried the keyboard controls again. Another ten minutes and a box popped up so I could choose where to plonk those thousands of photos.

So far, so good? With me? Right. So was the computer. It looked like hours so I went to bed, waking to realize that I was backing everything up.

Twice.

Early morning light

Posted on 2015-06-02 by ProsekniticJune 2, 2015

The sunrise this morning was incredible with streaks of orange red and gold extending from the horizon to the wisps of clouds. Looking out from my compartment (traveling in style) it was one of those times when the speed of the train prohibited the taking of any decent photos – so settling for something that is not all that great.

The train was heading west, but obviously a bit north at the same time for me to be able to see the sunrise in the east (is it still starboard?)

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When a plane arrives fifteen minutes late in the US we all howl with anger and anxiety. When the Bahn is even ten minutes late in Germany it is hardly tolerable. When the attendant in your sleeping car on Amtrak informs you that the train is running about an hour late, well you shrug and continue drinking your coffee just pleased that arrival will be the same date as originally planned and probably early enough that the women in the compartment across from you who have a 1400 connection will make it.

Without WiFi on the train as is on the Eastern Seaboard there is little I can do to track the route other than follow the marginal map and attempt to read the water towers as I pass.

I was awake for Toledo this morning as well as Waterloo, Elkhart and South Bend. I missed Cleveland and Sandusky in the middle of the night. at miles 439 & 499. We have traveled through back industrial areas and seen extensive fields and silos. All the crossings have been complete with lights, dropping arms and cars manned by impatient drivers annoyed that the train is delaying them. Which wouldn’t be happening if the train was on time…

We pulled into Chicago Union Station only an hour late. Not two hours – I had forgotten about the time zone change which totally and completely explains why no one else was up this morning when I first went on a coffee seeking mission. Deciding that hiking while carrying a back pack and dragging a suitcase was not in my best interest, I actually took a cab.

So now relaxing, doing laundry and listening to the L thunder past.

At the feeder

Posted on 2015-05-19 by ProsekniticMay 19, 2015

It seems that a bird feeder is s good location for snacking, socializing and perhaps off-loading a bit of aggression if you are a harried, worried bird parent.

Now I can understand seed, but mealy worms just don’t interest me. The Wren couple obviously feel otherwise.

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The bluebird drifted by a few times

and the titmouse paid a call.

we are a bit far from the shore, but still –

just for Miriam

Foiled again

Posted on 2015-04-08 by ProsekniticApril 8, 2015

You would think that I would understand WP software by now. There is a mandatory re-log in every 24 hours. So explain to me why, when it had been over a day, I happily typed in a post then was upset when it wasn’t saved. Sentence after sentence, paragraphs just flowing from my fingers onto the screen; it even sounded coherent for a change.G

Did I bother to copy it to a document? No. How about just a screen capture? Nope, didn’t go there either. Just blissfully hit the “publish” button and watched the screen cycle to the log in page. Gone in the blink of the cursor and not recoverable. Been there, failed this bit of editing before…

It seemed like time to take a break. Ok, I have all these coupons for various amounts off on photo books. Why not try it, especially since they are all willing to give me free photos.

What am I going to do with photos? Who carries around photos? iPads, smart phones – of course. But hard copy photos? Maybe I can make business cards and cut them up?

Never mind. I settled on trying SnapFish and Shutterfly. One gave me good information about what I needed to do, the other gave me generalities. One let me enter a lot of text, the other made it practically impossible. Discount coupons are good; I just wish California didn’t want its share of sales tax.

Now to see if it is worth doing again…..

Collage

Posted on 2014-06-11 by ProsekniticJune 11, 2014

If you walk away from any computer for a number of minutes some preset programing will kick in. Perhaps you have yours set to shut down to save battery life or to screen lock requiring a password to break back in.

In the old days, most of us set various assorted screen savers, especially on PCs before someone figured out that it was an excellent way to spread viruses. The built in ones usually, but not always sucked. Either there were toasters flying around, some word spinning, flipping or morphing, or the ever popular logo.

I haven’t figured out how to import screen savers to my MacAir, but it turns out not to be relevant. I just have it set to flip up a montage of entries from iPhotos. Sometimes they are whole screens, sometimes 1/2 to 1/8 screen shots in various orders. Some of them actually have turned out to be pretty interesting.

old world doors

New world Canadian Rockies

Now, I wish I could just predict what was going to come up next….

Chocolate

Posted on 2012-12-18 by ProsekniticDecember 18, 2012

Luscious Center Piece

quite a variety

Do any of us need this kind of temptation?

Guatemala

Posted on 2012-10-13 by ProsekniticOctober 13, 2012

There were a number of choices for tours, none of which I chose. One of the reasons is that Antigua is 90 minutes from the port and I was just not interested in a couple of long bus rides. As it turns out, some friends said that I should not have worried -there was plenty of entertainment on the bus from various passengers who probably did not have a clue that they were providing a show to everyone else.

Instead, I wandered around in the small port area looking at the textiles, people watching and otherwise entertaining myself including a fashion show of regional costumes.

The ship has been on the edge of their wireless provider – and by the time I decided to check on shore availability, the circuits were overloaded.

Instead, I just had a lovely day bracketed by glorious sunrises and sunsets….

Scavenger Hunt

Posted on 2012-10-08 by ProsekniticOctober 8, 2012

Interlude – Camera Scavenger hunt. There was a list of 15 items to find and 20 minutes in which to locate them. No running was allowed nor asking the staff for help.

In no particular order – the list which included one or more pictures from just about every level in the ship.

Being on the ship for a couple of weeks was an advantage, but so is exploring the ship from stem to stern and having a good memory.

(and I suppose I should take the time to give you the list – some are not as obvious as others)

Getting there

Posted on 2012-06-25 by ProsekniticJune 25, 2012

Some of us are just a bit slower than others

or are hauling along a bit more luggage.

Memory Cards

Posted on 2012-01-25 by ProsekniticJanuary 25, 2012

Since my Canon 7D developed a hiccup while in Chicago and needs to visit the camera hospital, I pulled out my older Rebel XTI. Taking some shots of various knitting, I set the camera to download to my hard drive and wandered off. Heading back a few minutes later with a cup of tea, I was astonished to find the job still incomplete. It wasn’t a dozen or so pictures on the memory card, it was hundreds.

Not taken by me, it was obvious that most of these had been taken by the Mole. What is more, it seems like 2010 was the year. There were photos of Norway, there were photos from the Tall Ship Races, there were photos from his short stint at RIT. When the download was complete I wandered downstairs to hand him the chip and card reader.

“Found some photos that I think belong to you – Midnight Sun, Tall Ship Parade, that sort of thing”

He had thought they were lost, gone for good. I promised to go through the rest of the cards that have been tucked into the corner of my camera bag.

I wonder if I will find any more to compare with this –

Shai!

On the steps

Posted on 2011-12-11 by ProsekniticDecember 11, 2011

just lying there

I found it as I headed back up those long 60 steps to the house. I have no clue as to where it blew in from nor why it caught my eye. The weather has turned colder these last few days leaving an occasional bit of frost on unsuspecting grass and leaves hidden in dark corners. But evergreen and mini-cones? Or pine berries? I have absolutely no clue.

I brought it in, dropped it on top of one of the comforters and took a picture before all the ice had melted.

You don’t want to see what was left several hours later. Apparently it tasted either very good or extremely nasty to Ms Soprano’s dog…..

Photo Friday

Posted on 2011-06-17 by ProsekniticJune 17, 2011

Has been a long time since I have done one of these. Photos on Friday that is. Traditionally I did doors and arches.

Norway - June 2010

There is also Sewing

high yoked skirt

You do remember Ms Pink – right? Ok, she is currently being referred to as Maus; but she fell in love with this fabric (mild stretch denim) which only has the hem and yoke facing to hand sew.

and Knitting

Chess - Hanne Falkenberg

Bought a couple of kits from someone who was destashing. This one is called Chess – and is in Colorway #1. It has been a long time since I knit anything for the DH. It should be safe as long as I sew a big dry clean only tag in the neck.

and finally puzzles

Foxy

was finished and

Owls - Phil Lewis

was started.

I like being retired!

Photos for the week

Posted on 2010-11-07 by ProsekniticNovember 7, 2010

It was Monday – one of those 03xx dark show times that doesn’t mean that you leave then, only that you have to show up and hang out in the terminal rather than in one’s own warm bed.

Mountains en route to Kandahar

The next few photos are the best of what I could get out the window considerting that this is a two prop plane and there aren’t all that many windows.