- Vintage Watch Services is a Swiss watchmaker who does restoration of vintage wrist watches. His YouTube channel is a deep dive into the restoration process and is fascinating.
- QLog looks to be a solid amateur radio logging software that runs under Linus and other operating systems. I am confident that I will end up with a Linux box again, probably as my main computer.
- This brace from Animal Ortho Care has potential for helping with Sera’s recovery. She ruptured the ACL/CCL of her left knee on Thanksgiving Day. She will have surgery soon.
Author: ruminator
Cloudy Mt. McLellan
Here is another capture from a couple of days ago. I really like the rendering of the HP-5 film simulation. Shot with Fuji X-T5 and the Fujinon 60mm f/2.4 Macro lens.
Slide Mountain
The Girl and I got out of the house about noon yesterday. I worked/puttered much of the morning, never really wanting to make breakfast. Then I decided I needed biscuits and gravy. So I took care of her needs and we headed over to The Red Hut so I could have The Usual (biscuits & gravy and eggs).
We then headed out to Silver Saddle Ranch for a hike. The sky was partly cloudy and I liked the contrast of sky and clouds. I noticed some clouds crawling over the Sierra Ridge and how they hung on Slide Mountain. There was also a bit of snow from the last storm. So, I paused to make a couple of captures.
I like this one. The blob of shadow catches the eye.
The Girl is managing her energy, but just barely. Once she gets through the surgery, it will become more difficult for her as she feels better. It will be alright, though. We will manage.
Despite her faults, she is a good companion. I am grateful. Life is good.
A Little Radio
A few days ago (before the new year), I had The Girl out for a walk. The Sun shone and made it feel warm even if the air was cool.
It was a day that had no afternoon duties scheduled, so after walkies I got out my Elecraft KH1 to play just a little radio. I sat on this old cottonwood block, facing the Sun. The Girl hung out in the rig, only a few feet away. I think she liked the warm of the rig.
I heard a few stations calling CQ POTA and answered their calls. However, none heard me and answered. The few watts the KH1 makes was not making the trip this afternoon. After about 15 minutes, I decided to pack it in and head home. I paused for the photograph, then reloaded the KH1’s box and put it away.
There will be another day for radio, God willing. It was still a good day — we had a good walk and I sat in the Sun for a few minutes, listening to the radio waves.
Life is good.
The New Year — 2025
The New Year arrived last night. I heard fireworks at midnight, briefly. They did not really disturb either of us, but I am struggling to stay asleep the last fortnight or so. So I rose and went to my workroom. I picked up my new bullet journal, not quite a tabula rasa, but pretty close. I started working up the format for this year. Part of that is migrating tasks from last year to the new journal.
I finally gave up and returned to bed for a few minutes before rising at 0530h and making a coffee. Yeah, a handful of hours of sleep New Year’s Eve. It is what it is.
I fed The Girl later and decided to go get breakfast. So it was a trip to The Red Hut for a waffle sandwich, from which I brought home a strip of bacon for my love.
Given it was pretty cool this morning, I puttered around the house this morning and then got us out for a hike at Silver Saddle Ranch. There were a few other walkers, but not so many as there would have been had the weather been better. It was gray, blustery, and cool. The fair-weather hikers stayed home, probably nursing a hangover.
All in all it was a quiet beginning to the new year. I came away from Red Hut with a decent capture. The Girl and I napped a bit, hiked a bit, and interacted a bit more.
I have a lot of tasks for 2025. I better get after it.
I remain grateful. Life is good.
Aloha
A few evenings ago I stopped at Aloha to reprovision my bar. I had a camera with me and made a capture. However, I have been busy and too focused to post much here. That is contrary to my intention of posting something here at least once each week.
I am mostly caught up with work and need to devote some attention to my other activities, including photographic work. So here we are, a post on the last day of 2024.
I suppose the title is also appropriate, a well wish at an ending and a beginning.
I am grateful for another year. Life is good.
Memory of a Good Day
Nearly seven-years ago, Older Son and DiL were here for a visit. Of course, we had to get The Girl out for walkies. So, we walked over to the Station 51 Park and did a couple of rounds. And also of course, Ki got wound up and wanted to play.
She loved the grabass game. I played it with her a lot, but I have nowhere near the strength and reach of my son and those big ole mitts of his. He could sweep her around about like I could not and she loved it! It makes me laugh just to think about it.
While they played, DiL drank her coffee and I had a camera, of course. I was carrying the Sony A7R that day along with an old Vivitar Series 1 zoom. I came away happy and with a couple of good captures. These are two of my favorites.
This is a good memory of a good day. I am grateful that for day. Ki was so happy. Life is good.
Weather is Coming
Yesterday was too warm for the time of year. We just passed the Winter Solstice and the temperature has been in the mid to upper 50F’s. The wind was from the south at ground level, but I noticed a couple of wave clouds forming. Weather is coming. I pray for the holiday travelers who will be crossing the Sierra Crest today and tomorrow. There will probably be wind and maybe even enough snow to make travel treacherous for the inattentive.
The Girl and I walked our route at Silver Saddle Ranch. Even with a bum knee, she needs exercise to manage her energy and keep her muscle mass. A couple of times she wanted to zoomie, but I restrained that. She does not need to put that kind of stress on her knee, as much as watching her run would give me joy.
So, she is confined to her harness. It gives me a lot more control than the collar and permits me to assist her getting in and out of the rig.
As we walked, the Sun broke through a gap in the clouds for a few minutes, giving me this image of Mount Scott. I expect it will have more snow over the next couple-three weeks. That will give some variety to my captures, I think. It will be fun.
I decided to keep the little Fujifilm X-E2. It is a tiny camera that has an EVF as well as the LCD screen on the back of the body. The screen does not pivot, but that is OK by me. The camera produces nice images and pairs very well with the little f/2 Fujinon prime lenses, to which the Fujinon 35mm f/2 belongs.
I made a small kit that fits into a Domke F6 bag. I was using that bag for the Sony A7iii, but found it to be a little too small. So I moved the Sony to a Domke F2 bag that can carry some of my vintage glass. I think both kits will work fine.
We headed home after our walk, she limping a bit. I know her knee hurts. I hate this for her and it makes my heart hurt. We will get it fixed soon and then start the recovery phase.
I am grateful for many things, but certainly for The Girl. Life is good.
Silver Saddle Gate
Christmas approaches quickly. I suppose I am ready, but not in any specific sense.
While walking The Girl out at Silver Saddle Ranch Sunday afternoon, I noticed this old gate again. It has been a subject several times over the last couple of years.
On this outing, I particularly enjoyed the afternoon light falling on this gate. We are in the winter season so the sun angle is much lower than in the summer. I made the capture and The Girl and I moved on toward the last part of our hike.
In the end, it was a good day. It is a good day. I am grateful and life is good.
Tools
I need another coffee and a nap. My back hurts this morning, I think from the immunizations I received on Friday. It is not a significant pain; just the kind that is irritating enough to disturb rest and make its presence known.
I am in the process of selling things from my inventory to reduce my material load. I purchased a number of cameras over the last couple of years. They were all shot and all were bought on the recommendation of content creators I follow and trust. But, I can tell which are getting use by the dust accumulating on the top plates of those that are not seeing (pun intended) much use.
I intend to shoot the images for two bodies today, the Fujifilm X-E4 and the Olympus OM-D E-M10. They will then be offered on fleaBay so that they can find new homes and receive the love I am not giving them. The cash will go into savings to pay for Sera’s upcoming knee surgery.
She got into a kerfuffle with a coyote while we were hiking Thanksgiving afternoon. When she returned to me she was gassed, marked up, and lame in the port side aft leg. A trip to the Reno emergency vet clinic got her wounds cleaned and a preliminary diagnosis of a torn ACL. This was confirmed by her regular vet a few days later.
She is scheduled for knee surgery in January. In the meantime, she is on restricted duty and is walking on-leash only. She does not like the constraint, but she does not need to express her athleticism and cause more damage to the knee.
We are accommodating her injury.
This morning I am dealing with my discomfort, the interrupted sleep of several nights, and another dark, cold, gray day. We are accustomed to the Sun and I am definitely missing it. The cold does not bother me so long as the Sun is shining.
I spent some time this morning reading in my Bible, reading year-ago journal entries, writing a bit, and praying. These are all good things and are on my non-negotiable daily list. I am not always successful in my disciplines, but I am consistent. Sera’s walks are also on that list.
We will get a hike in today, God willing.
Now I think I need another mug of coffee. It is not going to make itself. The Girl is also asking to be fed. That will also not do itself. So, I better get after it.
Life is good.