Macomb Township, MI

Do you hear it;
Do you see it;
Did you get it;

No, no ...not speaking to the congressional 'dance' ongoing;
Not indicating any local & state items up for discussion;
Never intending to make this a political posting.

Am speaking of the recent almost all night-time "Rains".
With more predicted for today, tonight & into Friday / Saturday.

What then, might be the problem around here ?

Let me first explain--we--here in our part of Macomb County, Michigan--are under a watering-ban-rule..more accurately, we CAN water via sprinklers of the automatic type as long as we follow the Odd-Even [we are Even] days; water only between 12:00 am and 6:00am. The truth I swear--boy do I swear!

We have been following the ban as to days and almost to time of night; due to the fact that we don't let the sprinklers do their 'thing' unattended--thus we start after 10:30 pm.
How's that working out for us, well/...
Let me illustrate:





We do have some real green lawn; it is one the side street area;
Let me illustrate:



OK, with enough RAIN our lawn can look just like those across the street..
WHO do not follow the RULES:

Let me illustrate:

[mailbox from next door]
[Eagle is ours]



Now, I ask you, is this fair?
And, to make matters worse, just got a glimpse of my hair from taking these photos for your enlightenment;

You know Richard Simmonds right--well that is the look.

Not only could you feel the humidity, really FEEL it;
It was palpable, a living, breathing entity [oh wait that is the theme of the New ATT];
Got stung by some flying insect standing outside.
And ended up looking like Simmonds or possibly that "fight promoter" Name?

SOB !!!! LOL !!!!

One final note: the lawn-service did come and took samples;
It might actually be an insect investation...DUE to the lack of water !
O.K. so what is the difference--don't see that happening to the:
Lawns Across the Street!!!!
Who Don't Follow the Rules

December 22, 2010:
...the traffic is nuts;
...the shoppers are 'nuttier';

...the roads get icy only at night;
...the temps. are pretty good [26 * at 8:40 pm];

...the folks pushing shopping carts run you over with glee;
...restaurants are filled with tired shoppers, or those filling up before hitting the malls;

We thought that all our going out into the public venues was over for the year;
We thought incorrectly.

Shopping at Randazzo Fruit & Vegetable Market on Hayes Rd, just North of 22 Mi Rd. in Macomb Twp was a trip in and of itself.
... The crowd around the Olive & other olive-oil products was deep & busy. Hands reaching over under yours as
you made your selections;
... The fresh vegetable counters were filled & ready for shoppers; unfortunately--one of those women who MUST carry
the famous coffee cup--decided to pull one of the plastic bags from the roll hanging on her side of the counter.
What proceeded was --pull down hard; use the hand that holds the coffee cup [Starbucks]; point the cup away
from the child sitting in the cart; splash the coffee onto anyone else within the 3' radius; Success.
... Basically a quick trip in & out.

Up the Hayes road to 23 Mi Rd to slip into the Kroger on the NE corner:
...Basically an uneventful experience
..In & Out successful;
...Parking lot another experience altogether;

Out to "The Wildflower Restaurant" on Garfield and 19 Mi Rd.
...great meal;
...left in good humor;
...slight snow sprinkles;
...home safe.

THEN:
Sal brought in the mail;
... and there IT was;
... a deep red envelope;
... a cute snowman card inside;
... Sal was grumbling & mumbling;
... I was informed to "see that card that was sent to you, there on the table.."

I laugh now just recalling this;
There on the deep red holiday-ish envelope was the Address:
..."Mrs Barbra [wrong spelling] Dragotta &
The Old Guy she lives with"

thought that would give you a laugh--
See, you can have a busy day dodging shoppers & parking lot race drivers and still come back home to enjoy your mail.

Only because the sun was out, did I decide to add some more 'Snow Shots' to the site;

The natural "black & White with a little color thrown in" of photos taken the 'day after-in the sunshine' make for some great shots

Love to see the play of light & dark [chiaroscuro] that can be found within nature;
...in sand & sun;
...in clouds in skies;
...in snow & sun.

Some I did edit with utilizing the spectrun of choices in the "Effects" area or the "Create" section in ;picnik
Others all I did was resize, sharpen, play with exposures & use 'frames' in "Create"

Will post original & some 'edits' for you.

All were taken in our fenced back yard and involve the lamp, patio cover, arch, & trellises;
All were taken from various positions;
All were taken as the sun moved slowly across the area [ or the rotation of the earth...];
All were taken while I was propped against the brick wall to steady self in the winds;
All were taken while the temps were a sunny 10 * [11 * now].



Original tree-top crop & frame ....1st effect of Zoom Focus..

...edits in 'effects'--Fancy Focus.

Decor Lamp--original--crop, sharpen, exposure
...notice the spectrum on the snow caps to lamp.


focus-Zoom HDR-ish Lomo

vigntte + HDR-ish cropped + focus zoom

original arch photo--cropped, sharpen
...exposure; natural color at time of shots.

...mainly only crop, 3 views of arch & exposure edits.


this tree has a Pine-top & a different bottom--Same tree. ....this is Fancy Focus edit

framed & fancy focus
Hope that you enjoyed these
Snow Shots in the Sun

At this point in our Congress, there is a move to take a vote to present the tax cuts-extension to the floor in Senate.
Virginia Federal Judge rules on Health care requirement that citizens MUST purchase coverage--using the 'commerce clause of the Constitution.

Keep tuned--Time will Tell

They predicted 1-2";
"They " were wrong;
We, here in Macomb County, Macomb Township, MI probably have close to 5";
Snow is to taper off around midnight;
Winds are predicted to pick-up;
Tomorrow is predicted to be a balmy 17 *.


Earlier Sal said "oh, it is close to the 2" ---
I stated "nope, closer to 4" at least"---
since neither of us was willing to go out there with a ruler--we waited for the local news;
we were both wrong--5" and counting.

SO------ all 1st snowfall photos were taken from within the house, or with the side door propped open.
Here some are;

Took the opportunity to edit them in www.picnik.com with fun effects & frames;
This photographer stayed warm, but you get the visual effect of our snowfall from 4:00 am today,Sunday.

"Snow Scenes on a Sunday in Michigan"

Wreath & flag

picnik edit--'effect' 'frame' only

trees on Nocera--

...natural light at 3:30 pm...vignette effect & 'frames'



...natural light-'focus'-'vignette', 'blurred edges'.



looking...toward Napoli Lane--thru Front doors




... 2 stand guard out front on Napoli Lane--snow covered trees-- vignette-Lomo-ish effect. [small red is on house]



Santa says "Welcome" & also "Good-bye come again"

As the song says " baby, it's COLD outside"--we here in Michigan have warmed up to 25 * at 1:30 p.m. 12/07/10

It is cold; It has been cold; It is December; It is supposed to be COLD; It IS!

Decided to send greeting for Christmas to all in the Rain;
Decided it may also be a good way to update a Listing;
Discovered that You Tube seems to be much easier to use lately;
Decided to take advantage of all good events as they happen;

Merry Christmas to all Active Rainers