I found these characters on a shelf in a coffee house. Captured with X-T5, 2025-11-01 12:50:10, 50.5mm, 1/75sec, f/8, ISO-8000, Tri-X film simulation in-camera, SOOC.
It is the custom of my Older Son and DiL to stop at coffee roasters along their travels, sample the coffee, and purchase one or more bags to take home. On this particular day (I do not recall which day it was nor where we were), we stopped into a small coffee house in a strip mall, maybe in Indiana. The place was busy enough with locals, but not packed. I thought the ambiance was interesting and wandered about while waiting for my joe.
These three blobs caught my attention (hat tip to Wife, who often said “caught my eye” while winking furiously), so I paused for a few frames. I like this one the best.
The coffee was good. Mission accomplished, we loaded back up into the 4Runner and headed towards home.
It was a good day. I am grateful for much, but especially my children. Life is good.
While in Pennsylvania with my kids, we stopped at a local coffee shop. I stepped into the plaza area behind it and was blessed with this image. Captured with X-T5, 2025-10-29 12:33:36, 35mm, 1/500sec, f/8, ISO-250, SOOC.
There is so much I could write about from my long roadtrip in October and November. But, for the moment, work demands my energy. So, there will be bits and pieces from my travels as I post a few more images from the trip.
We visited a nice coffee house in York, Pennsylvania. Older Son and his wife like to buy coffee from such places as they travel. It is a neat intention and I might steal it.
As we waited for our coffee to be made, I stepped into the plaza area that is shared between a number of establishments behind the coffee house. There was a wonderful mural painted on one wall. The Sun was shining on it beautifully. I made a few captures using the X-T5. I like this enough to post it.
The coffee was good. The fellowship with my children was better. It was a good day and one I am grateful for.
On walkies with The Girl, I noticed the Sun on the early morning fog. I made the capture, even if my phone was the camera at hand.
On my way east, we camped at Ford County State Fishing Lake, near Dodge City, KS. The wind was howling and fought me from the time we cleared the Front Range to Dodge City. The blasts from the double-decker cow haulers was so bad that The Girl because frightened and anxious. She watched for the approach big rigs, panting, and ducked as they passed.
Most have been streamlined and produce little wind blast from the bow wave. However, the cow haulers shocked even me, the seasoned old road-tripper.
So, we were both exhausted when we hit camp. I was concerned that the north wind might make setting up camp difficult. But, there was sufficient wind break from the trees around the lake that it was no trouble.
I got her our for a short hike along the shore, then we retired to the camper as the Sun set.
I fed her, but was so tired I did not make supper for myself. I had a beer and a snack. Once that was done, we hit the rack and I slept hard.
On waking before dawn the following morning, I made coffee and sat down with my little CC Crane radio to listen to the weather and the news. The Girl roused as the Sun rose, so I took care of her and made myself another coffee. Then we got out of the house and started a short hike around the lake perimeter.
She was on the hunt for squirrels, but I saw no nut-producing trees and she saw no squirrels.
What I did see was sunrise on the lake surface. There was enough fog from the warmer water to make the shot interesting. Although I had only my phone with me, I made the capture.
Then we broke camp and headed east. It was too early for my breakfast, so we travelled on to find a diner for my food.
I love the way the light falls on The Girl. Captured with X-T5, 2025-10-29 09:06:34, 55mm, 1/80sec, f/4, ISO-320, SOOC.
We were messing around the AirBnB early one morning and I noticed the light falling on my sleeping Girl. She was tired enough after our hike to want a nap. She gave me a wonderful candid portrait.
I made several images in this old cemetery. This is one that I like. Captured with X-T5, 2025-10-26 12:38:59, 27mm, 1/550sec, f/5.6, ISO-250, in-camera Tri X Film Simulation.
Somewhere on the way back to Missouri from Pennsylvania, DiL wanted to stop and walk and old cemetery. She found several and then picked one. It was good to be out of the rig for awhile and the places always provide some interesting images. I came away with a few.
While walking The Girl, I noticed this row of houses .Captured with X-T5, 2025-10-25 07:15:09, 18mm, 1/750sec, f/8, ISO-250, in-camera Tri X Film Simulation,
While in Philly for the wedding, I walked The Girl around the block a few times. The row houses are a fascinating architectural thing that I do not routinely see. Therefore, I needed an image for the memory. So, I made one.
While I do not want to live there, the visit was worth the effort. Life is good.
While visiting Towers Beach, my son crossed in front of the reflection of the Sun. Captured with X-T5, 2025-10-26 04:22:46, 18mm, 1/38sec, f/8, ISO-125, SOOC.
I went to my grandson’s wedding in Philadelphia. I had all of my children and some of their spouses with me. It was a good time and I am very grateful.
Daughter suggested we go to a Delaware beach. So, we did.
I came away with a good memory and a few good frames. Life is good.
This old steel pipe with a rock on top is a favorite subject. There has to be a story behind this. Captured with X-T5, 2025-10-04 13:45:35, 35mm, 1/3000sec, f/2.8, ISO-250, in-camera Tri-X film simulation, SOOC.
We have hiked past this pipe and perched stone countless times. Sometimes, when the light is right, I stop and make an image.
Clouds over Slide Mountain. Captured with X-T5, 2025-10-05 09:54:28, 18mm, 1/900sec, f/8, ISO-250, in-camera Tri-X film simulation, SOOC.
On a Sunday morning a few days ago, I took The Girl up to Washoe Lake for our daily outing. I did not want to go to our usual spots, it being the weekend.
When we arrived, there was an ultralight aircraft preparing to launch. There were a few other folks also enjoying the bright morning. But there were not too many.
I found a place to park the rig away from everyone else and got The Girl out. We walked about the western shoreline of the lake, her running from spot to spot, sniffing and marking. She dashed back to me a few times, threatening to shoulder my legs as dogs often do in play. We laughed and played a little grabass, enjoying the outdoors together.
I made a few images, the one above of Slide Mountain with a wide angle lens and an in-camera film simulation.
Then we finished our outing and loaded back into the rig. I had things that needed doing.
It was a good day. I think every day is a good day. Life is good.
