Out and about

Sunset over Haystack

Thursday evening I set out to take some photos of October's full harvest moon, which usually rises larger than at most other times of the year. As the harvest moon rises early in the evening, it looks larger than usual because it is magnified by the atmosphere.

Oddly enough, though, the moon rose in fog and clouds - big, but not clear enough for photographs. On the other side of the valley, however, there was this nice post-sunset view. Interestingly, not all of the color was visible to the naked eye. The camera was able to make better light adjustment than the human eye, and captured more color, both in the sky and in the cloud. I think it looks like there might be a volcano just over the horizon.

Route 7 Gorilla

I snapped the next two photos on a trip to Burlington via Route 7. The gorilla is located at a used car lot north of Rutland. A beautiful example of roadside marketing kitsch.

On fire

The foliage along Route 7 was phenomenal last week.

Other side of the fence

By request: more cows.

Around Town: Random images

These are photographs I've taken around Wilmington, Dover, and Marlboro over the last couple of weeks. This first one was taken just today:

Red Dodge, Whites Road.

Reflecting Pond, Higley Hill

Stone Wall by Ben Bowen, Lower Dover Road

View from above, White's Road

Tiny waterfall, Hunter Brook Road

A closer look

Headed south, Wilmington

Rainy foliage season

This year's foliage season has been a little off kilter - an early cool spell gave way to a very warm fall, and it seemed to keep the trees green longer than usual. By Columbus day weekend, the colors were just beginning to turn. Now, it has rained for the past week - during peak foliage.

Sometimes rain during foliage season is a disaster - hard rain will knock the leaves right off the tree. Depending on when it rains, it seems to destroy the color, turning all the leaves brown.
So we were lucky that this week's rain fell light and misty. I love rainy, misty days - and that kind of weather is quickly becoming one of my favorite times to take pictures.

It's probably boring to keep taking photos of the same place, the Wheeler Farm here in Wilmington, but I pass by it several times a day - and when you see the picture, or the right combination of colors, or the right light, it's hard not to stop and capture it.

This was shot right across the street from the Deerfield Valley News. I wanted to fill the frame with color.

The Hot Dog Ranch

The trip to the Hot Dog Ranch had to be postponed for a week, but we finally made it last week. The Hot Dog Ranch - I'll spare the cowboy references.

As you can see, The Hot Dog Ranch was definitely open. The "ranch" is located at 310 State Street in North Adams. Apparently there's another location in Pittsfield.

Like Jack's, downtown, hot dogs rule the menu at the "ranch." Hamburgers and other sandwiches are available but the specialty are...

these strange tiny hot dogs, about three inches long and about as big around as a finger. They tasted like beef franks, and had a natural casing. I ordered three "with the works." Pretty good dogs, all in all, although I would forego their specialty chili next time - although it wasn't bad, it was strangely spiced - there was a definite taste of clove in it.