Self Serving and Vain

Yes, this is a completely self-serving and vain post. But a few people have asked where the latest set of wheels came from, so here's the story.

1951 Willys M38

I recently brought this back from my father's house in Maine. My father has always had a fascination with Jeeps, and apparently it's a hereditary condition. He drove this until about 1987. Since then it has been garaged - not running, but in fantastic shape.
After 20 years, it's running again, and waiting for warmer weather to get out and "stretch its legs" once again. (Thanks to John Greene and the rest of the great mechanics at Greene's Servicenter.)

It's in original, unrestored and unmodified condition - still has the 24-volt military electrical system, blackout lights, and a maximum road speed of 60 mph!

-M

Fire

This was taken at the scene of last Monday evening's fire at Seasons Condominiums - during the middle of a Nor'easter. The red lighting isn't coming from the fire (which was contained in a single unit) but from the emergency lights of the dozens of fire engines.

Snow!

Yeah, it's here. If you like this kind if thing, it's time to head to Vemont and enjoy it.
Monday and Tuesday we had a Nor'easter that brought about eight inches of new snow.

Monday

For those who haven't seen them yet, this is one of Mount Snow's new fan guns, the way snow is made when Mother Nature isn't so cooperative.

Detroit Airport, 2006

These photos were taken in Detroit Metro Airport, May 2006. The first two are of a spectacular fountain on the concourse of the McNamara terminal, IIRC. The plane parked directly in front of the fountain was a real bonus.

The second group of photos is of a light and music art installation in the McNamara Terminal Tunnel. Incredible. It was like being on the set of a 1970s sci-fi flick.

Intimidation

Nexus

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.

Lunch at Jack's

Jack's Hot Dog Stand, on Eagle Street in North Adams, is one of those rare places - a landmark, an institution, a tradition. The hot dog stand has been in business since 1917, in the same spot, owned and operated by the same family.

I'm a real hot dog afficianado - I could eat hot dogs three meals a day. They are the world's most perfect food. A great hot dog appeals to all of your senses. Taste and smell, obviously, but when you bite into a good hot dog, with a natural casing, you hear a satisfying "crack" as your mouth explodes with flavor. Don't put a good hot dog in those awful top-split hot dog rolls - use the side split 'frankfurter' rolls. They have more crust, and contribute more flavor to your hot dog experience.

Jack's dogs aren't natural casing, so they just can't qualify as the best I've ever had - but that's not why you go to Jack's, anyway. Don't get me wrong, the hot dogs are great, but you're there for the atmosphere and the history.

The place is little more than a hole in the wall - a slot with a counter running down the center, 10 seats on one side, and a galley-sized kitchen on the other. The menu is ultra-uncomplicated: hot dogs, cheese dogs, chili cheese dogs, hamburgers, cheeseburgers, fries, cheese fries, chili cheese fries... you get the idea. Fast food.

If you're sitting at the counter, you better not be the kind who can't eat with someone standing behind you - there will be several people standing along the inside wall, waiting for their take-out orders or waiting for a seat to open up. Jack is busy.

The place looks like it hasn't changed much since about 1950. I was there for lunch with my father, who said he hadn't been there in about 55 years. The biggest change, he said, was in the preparation. Apparently, 55 years ago, there was a hot dog cook with a certain flair. The condiments were applied with flat wooden sticks - tongue depressors. This particular cook applied the relish and mustard with one smooth, fast, stroke; dipping into the mustard, and almost throwing it into the bun with a flick of the wrist.

Quite a show. But even without the entertainment, Jack's Hot Dog Stand was a great experience. And I just found out there's another hot dog place in North Adams - the Hot Dog Ranch. Next week, yeehaww!

How about a little digital astrophotography?

So this is how I spent a chilly Monday evening. After photographing a gory looking Deerfield Valley Rescue training scenario, I kept the camera mounted on the tripod and took a few shots of the night sky. I've been wanting to try some astrophotography, tonight was my first stab at it.
I also shot some B&W film in a few longer shots - several minutes - which should yield some nice star trails when I develop them.

Ursa Major, the Big Dipper. If you look closely you'll see an oscillating line bisecting the Dipper's handle - an airplane was flying overhead while I was taking the shot. If you click on the photo, you'll see a larger version with more detail. This photo was taken with about 30 seconds exposure.

This is a 15-second shot straight overhead. That's an apple tree in the lower left. What I found fascinating about this shot is the color - the sensor picks up each star's color, something the human eye isn't very good at in the dark. Click on the photo and you'll notice some of the stars are blue, others red, and some white.

These were taken in my back yard, right in downtown Wilmington. Imagine how spectacular these shots would be if they were taken away from the lights of Main Street. Next time, a better location. And maybe some more equipment.

Early morning, post rain

After weeks of dry weather, the recent rain greened things up around the valley. A mist was rising along the Deerfield River and the Wheeler Farm early this morning (well, 7 am is early for me). On this morning's drive, the Deerfield Valley reminded me a little bit of Ireland, my once and future home: cool, damp, and a thousand shades of green.

The fresh green of the field contrasts nicely with the red barn.

The angle of the sun was such that the sun struck the cows, but left the trees in shadow.

Mist rising off the hillside

The sun glinting off the silos.

Mist rising off the Deerfield.

By Request

This Luna moth was spotted outside our offices in Wilmington. The Luna moth is beautful, but its adult lifespan is tragically short: about 7 days. So, enjoy them when you see them.

Goldenrod

The goldenrod is in bloom along Route 100, across the Deerfield River from Adams Farm. Goldenrod signals the end of summer and, for many, it also signals the beginning of the fall allergy season. Many allergy sufferers think it is the colorful and copious goldenrod blooms that are responsible for their misery, but few people are actually allergic to goldenrod. The real culprit is ragweed, a non-descript plant that grows along roadsides and in fields. Ragweed blooms at the same time as goldenrod, but its "flowers" are green and blend in with surrounding vegetation.

Ragweed