Last Couple Weeks

2025/09/062025/09/06 ruminator

I am quite busy right now with work and taking care of The Girl and myself. I did manage to get out for a couple of weekends, first to Weber Reservoir with friends. There was no radio play, but lots of conversation, a shared meal, and a pop-up thunderstorm that provided plenty of excitement. Hence, I offer the abstract above.

For the Labor Day weekend, I was invited with friends to active Bald Mountain, just north from Topaz Lake. We decided to make a part of it and took the vehicles up to the summit. There we grilled burgers, had a great time of fellowship, and I played some radio.

I did violate the First Rule, thinking I had brought the Yaesu FT-897D and instead finding the Elecraft KX3 in the black Apache case I picked up. That meant I was limited to 15w of output power, which is stingy for phone operations.

It turned out OK because I was the only operator who activated. The 15w output is plenty for code operations, especially at altitude.

Although the vista is wonderful, the air quality is not. Shot from Bald Mountain during my SOTA activation. Captured with X-T5, 2025-08-31 13:19:02, 35mm, 1/400sec, f/8, ISO-125, SOOC.

I did manage to get out Labor Day Monday for a POTA activation, that is already documented previous. That provided some needed recreation, some additional Morse Code practice, and a enjoyable Eastern Sierra outing with The Girl.

I like the combination of bright cloud and dark sky, shot on walkies up near Spooner Summit. Captured with X100VI, 2025-09-04 11:18:32, 23mm, 1/7500sec, f/8, ISO-4000, in-camera Acros-Red film simulation.

The Girl and I are hiking the Eastern Sierra again, after the bear-scare kept me in-town for a few days. I really thought I lost her when I saw her broad ass disappear over the rise downhill from me.

Fortunately, she responded to my calls after she ran out of gas on the chase. She returned completely gassed, but unharmed. I, however, was worthless for the remainder of the day.

On our way up the trail from the staging area, I noticed this cloud peeking through the pines. I thought it might make a nice image in black and white with a red filter. So, I set the camera to simulate Fujifilm Acros with a red filter and made the capture. I rather like the output.

We finished our hike without incident, although I maintain a watchful attitude and work at staying present while hiking that trail now. The first bear I saw on the hike was last year, but at quite a distance. This time, the bear bombed the hill not ten feet in front of me. I was unable to react before The Girl clicked on and bolted in hot pursuit.

I have also seen a coyote a number of times (although not the last couple of summers), but always in the distance. She had a coyote encounter that left her with lacerations (she has earned the “F*()%#ed-up Face” appellation as a result) and the final rupture of the port-aft CCL. The latter required surgery for repair.

The Girl is a beacon for trouble, it seems.

Work kept me busy the remainder of the week. What this weekend will be is yet to be determined.

Life is busy at the moment. I am grateful for God’s gifts in general, and for the work in particular. Life is good.

The Comstock Casino has earned a few visits because of Juan’s Mexican Restaurant housed therein. The tacos and salsa are top-shelf. Captured with X-T5, 2025-08-28 17:44:53, 35mm, 1/480sec, f/8, ISO-125, Fujifilm Classic Chrome in-camera film simulation, SOOC.

POTA Battle Station

2025/09/052025/09/05 ruminator

The old Yaesu FT-897D provided radio service for my activation of Spooner Backcountry Park. Captured with Pixel 9a, 2025-09-03 01:22:23, light editing with Snapseed.

After violating the First Rule on Sunday’s Summits on the Air expedition, I replaced the black Apache case that housed the Yaesu FT-897D with a bright yellow Apache case Monday morning (Labor Day). After hiking The Girl in the morning and then working around the house for a bit, I decided I had enough and wanted out of the house.

We left at 1500h and headed back toward Spooner Summit and King’s Canyon Trail. I drove us down the trail from US50 and found a shady spot at the staging area. I got The Girl out to burn off some energy and then assembled my station, anchored by the Yaesu FT-897D radio.

This old radio is solid, that is, built like a tank. It does everything I want from a radio and will do more than that as well. I have filters for CW and Phone modes, which improve the signal-to-noise ratio on receive. I have the LDG antenna matching unit that is integrated well with the radio and has a better range of matching than does the factory unit.

I can have a working radio station setup and on-the-air in about ten minutes if I try. Recovery of the station takes about the same amount of time and can be shortened if I just toss everything into the back of the 4Runner.

While The Girl sniffed about for chippies (chipmunks), I deployed the Chameleon MPAS antenna in the vertical configuration and laid out my three-wire counterpoise. (I built this to improve antenna performance.)

I recently decided to move away from Big Tech to improve (slightly) my privacy and security. Part of that was purchase of a new phone, a Pixel 9a. I immediately flashed GrapheneOS to the phone (to reduce/eliminate Google tracking). I installed an amateur radio logging app, PoLo, on my phone for this outing.

So, while activating the park (Parks on the Air), I was also learning a new software. It is relatively easy to use. They keyboard will take some repetitions to master, but it is doable. I have yet to check the output ADIF, but I am confident it will be readily uploadable to the POTA logging portal.

I played radio for the next couple-three hours, keeping one eye on The Girl. I made enough contacts to get my quota on Monday and then we crossed the 0000Z date change and I also made my quota for Tuesday.

I chased a bunch of other POTA activators so I have many park-to-park contacts in my log. I mostly operated CW mode, but made and took a few phone calls.

Satisfied with the activation, I recovered the station and put things away. The Girl watched me expectantly.

After stowing my equipment, The Girl and I made a circuit around the big staging area, but most of the chippies had retired for the day. The Sun was falling behind the Sierra Crest as we humped it back to the rig. She settled into shotgun as we headed back down the hill. We had a lovely, cool afternoon/early evening outdoors with the wind shushing in the pine trees and the crackle and snap of HF radio.

It was a good day. Life is good. I am grateful.

Frontyard Wildlife

2025/08/282025/08/27 ruminator

Headshot of one of the two fawns that appeared in my front yard. Captured with X-T5, 2025-08-05 17:31:43, 300mm, 1/450sec, f/8, ISO-4000.

Last week, I think, I stepped out the front door one afternoon for whatever reason. (I do not remember.) I was startled to see two fawns nibbling at the weeds in my front yard. I greeted them, softly, then returned inside to pick up whatever camera was handy.

The Fuji X-T5 and Fujinon 70-300mm zoom were handy. I stepped back out the front door, quietly, and made a few images while they permitted the intrusion.

I win! Life is good.

Coopers Hawk

2025/08/272025/08/27 ruminator

This Cooper Hawk few into the trees in front of us, scattering the other birds. It waited patiently for me to make an image. Shot with the Fuji X-T5 and Fujinon 70-300mm f/4-f/5.6 zoom.

The day before yesterday, The Girl chased a black bear that bolted across the trail not ten feet in front of us. It was blasting down the hill and she was off before I could even react. There was no calling her off.

Fortunately, the bear was faster. After what seemed like an eternity, I heard her heavy breathing before I caught sight of her. She was working her way back up the hill, totally gassed.

I gave her time to return to me, then checked her over carefully. I found no wounds, but for a couple of light scratches from bombing the brush.

It was too steep to put out water, so we humped back up the hill to more level terrain. Then, I doffed the pack, retrieved her bowl and water bottle, and gave her as much water as she wanted.

We then proceeded back to the trail and then back to the rig. I took the pace easy and she recovered on the way back.

It was a fright that I did not need. I spent much of the afternoon in a state of mild shock, after thinking it likely that I lost her. We stayed pretty close together the remainder of the day.

The following day, yesterday, I had a full schedule and it was relatively cool. So, we walked the linear parkway not far from my apartment. She was able to run about a bit and sniff plenty. We got in a couple of miles of hiking on the flat.

It was good enough.

Along the way, I saw a bunch of birds scatter from the trees in front of us. I figured a hawk had flow in, looking for lunch. Sure enough, the Coopers Hawk above was perched in the tree. It waited patiently for me to make the capture.

Life is good.

Strawberries!

2025/08/142025/08/14 ruminator2 Comments

It was actually a few days ago that I bought my first box of strawberries for the season. It had been a couple of weeks (at least) since I hit the grocery store to reprovision. It has also been bloody hot here in Carson City.

I decided that some Greek Yogurt, strawberries, and granola would make a decent lunch without a lot of bulk, sugar, or preparation. So, I bought the first box of strawberries of the season.

The next day about noon, I remembered the strawberries. I got the box out and began working them up, removing the remainder of the flower and cutting them up into chunks. This resulted in a recollection of Wife’s mom, my beloved mother-in-law, and her daughters working up strawberries from the berry patch they kept in their garden.

As I worked up my own, store-bought, berries, I recalled watching the technique and could see myself replicating what I first saw all those years ago. This made me smile and made my heart hurt a little.

Then I remembered strawberry pie. OMG, Mom’s strawberry pie was one of my favorite things. Her blackberry cobbler was right up on that list as well. (Best warm with vanilla ice cream and coffee!) But, my mind went to the strawberry pie with the reddish tint to my fingers from working up my berries.

I then thought “I could make a strawberry pie!” And that made me think of my sister-in-law, whom I had not contacted in a minute. So, after working up my berries and making a parfait for lunch, I sent her a text and we chatted a bit.

They are well, which made me happy. I asked about the pie and she sent me her recipe for the pie and the crust.

Then she sent a little lagniappe — a recipe for easy biscuits.

I usually use frozen Grands as I can make one or two. But, I also long for homemade biscuits and I think I can cut the recipe such that I can make two or three readily. I am going to try.

My mind sometimes goes into a stream-of-consciousness mode. My thoughts leap from one point to another, sometimes leaving even me feeling a bit dizzy.

Also, I think I’ll make a strawberry pie this weekend. I can make it with Sucralose and keep my sugar intake under control.

Mom sure made a killer strawberry pie. When I went to visit, she always made one. With whipped cream and coffee, it was a perfect treat.

Wife, Mom, and Dad are all gone now. It is a pity. They are greatly missed, all of them. They were my family, all by law. But, they might as well be blood. That is how I feel about them.

Godspeed, my loves, Godspeed.

I am grateful to have had those people in my life. Life is good.

So is strawberry pie.

Front Yard Wildlife

2025/08/062025/08/07 ruminator

These two little ones appeared in my front yard. Captured with X-T5, 2025-08-05 17:31:22, 70mm, 1/105sec, f/8, ISO-800.

Yesterday afternoon I was working on my folding table in the living room and thought I smelled smoke. It being that time of the year, I stepped to the front door to check. What I found was two fawns grazing on the vegetation in my neighbors’ front yard.

I spoke to them softly, then stepped quickly to pick up my Fuji X-T5 and the Fujinon 70-300mm zoom I had affixed to the camera. Then I carefully stepped out the screen door and made a couple of captures, one at 70mm and the other at 300mm (a head shot I will share later).

I think the lens is a keeper. It provides a useful range of focal lengths in a very compact, if a little slow photographically.

Life is good.

Fuji Acros Film Simulation

2025/08/032025/08/03 ruminator

I carried the Fuji X100vi up the hill at our Spooner Summit trail this morning. I paused to shoot this scene using the in-camera Acros-Red film simulation. Captured with X100VI, 2025-08-03 10:43:37, 23mm, 1/400sec, f/16, ISO-800, mild post in PhotoLab 7.

After a very slow start, The Girl and I got out to hike about 1000h. We stopped at the Subway store on the way for a breakfast sandwich, but they were out of eggs. So, a Spicy Italian had to do. (It did.)

I ate my sandwich while listening to a talk radio station in Reno, with The Girl looking on (at my sandwich, not talk radio).

When we arrived at the staging area, about 20 off-road motorcycles were gathered. Fortunately, they were about to head out and vacated the spot I intended to use for parking. It was in the shade.

I got The Girl out to start doggie stuff while I gather up my pack, hat, and sunglasses. I put the Fuji X100vi around my neck and called her to head out. I did pause for a moment to catch this view of the Carson Range using the in-camera Acros with a red filter film simulation.

I elected to go up the hill rather than the old fire road. This was a significant challenge for my legs, which is fine. I paused a couple of times up the hill and made a couple of captures.

Near the top of the first hill, I turned and side-hilled to where The Girl was hunting. There I found an interesting rock formation, so we paused to catch breath (at least for me) and I made a couple of captures. Then we headed on down to the first saddle on the old fire road.

I paused there for a minute, then decided to go up the adjacent hill to get in some more climb and maybe find a couple more captures. Near the top, The Girl gave me a couple of opportunities and I took them. Then we moved on.

we side-hilled some more and then dropped back down to the fire road. The walking was much easier and we paused after another couple hundred meters for some water and some shade. We then hiked on to the turn-around, where we paused for another water break.

I elected to take the fire road back to the rig and not explore more. I had a report to get out and need to write some July invoices to pad my receivables. I like having billing out because sometimes it takes months to be paid for my work.

When we arrived back at the rig, The Girl was spent. She is snoozing on the floor next to my chair as I write on Sunday afternoon. I am also thinking a nap might be in order for a Sunday afternoon.

I created a gallery of these images and posted them to my Photo Album here.

It was a good hike. It was a good day. Life is good.

Do you see The Girl? She is there. Captured with X100VI, 2025-08-03 10:59:10, 23mm, 1/640sec, f/8, ISO-800.

First Quarter

2025/08/02 ruminator

I stepped out the front door and made this capture Saturday evening. Captured with X-T5, 2025-08-02 20:51:09, 300mm, 1/500sec, f/5.6, ISO-500.

After a YouTube video by Dan Bailey and a subsequent discussion in the comments for his video, I rented a Fujinon 70-300mm f/4-f/5.6 zoom lens from Lensrentals. It arrived Wednesday, but I have had little downtime this week.

I made a few captures with it and this one of the first quarter Moon pleases me. I shot it handheld and used the Sunny-16 rule to set the exposure manually. Focus was manual as well.

I did a little editing with Photolab 7 after the capture, but not much.

The capture below was made a few days ago (maybe Wednesday evening) on walkies with The Girl. We had a beautiful sunset, so I made this capture.

I think this lens might be a useful addition to my kit. It is much lighter than the 100-400mm and will fit into my regular bag for the X-T5.

While walking Sera one evening, we had enough clouds to have a nice sunset. Captured with X-T5, 2025-08-01 20:13:22, 70mm, 1/105sec, f/8, ISO-640.

The Spooner Trail

2025/07/272025/07/27 ruminator

This is a view of a segment of the old fire road that The Girl and I walk most summer mornings. Captured with TG-7, 2025-06-05 08:35:12, 4.5mm, 1/640sec, f/2.8, ISO-100, SOOC.

We are back from morning walkies. As usual, we walked the old fire rood up near Spooner Summit in the National Forest. I have yet to see a snake there in the summer. Last year and the year before, there w as a wily coyote that I saw some yards off a few times. But, that critter has not been seen in a long time. I think I can say there is sufficient traffic that they keep away from the area where there are people.

The Girl has lots of chipmunks to chase and has reduced the gene pool a few times. While I do not encourage her to kill things and would prefer she did not, she is a high drive dog who loves to hunt. There are a lot of chipmunks in the area. I even see a gray squirrel now and again, but only for a moment.

Today I chatted with Older Son while hiking with The Girl. After her vet visit Friday, I have decided that her leg is about as good as it is going to be. She has no apparent reluctance to use it. The muscle of her left hip is filling in. She favors the leg a little in the afternoon after our hike, but does not seem to be any worse for wear. She might as well enjoy life and the chase is a big part of her enjoyment.

Who am I to say “No!” to that?

So, I let her range out 30 yards this morning. If she got out farther than that, I recalled her and she was good to return, although sometimes some encouragement was required. I paused once about half-way to the turn-around to give her some water (and drink a little myself). Then we took five at the turn-around, again to water and take a short break (“Smoke ’em if ya got ’em!”)

I kept her closer on the return route to the rig. She was a little overheated and had expended a lot of energy. So, it was appropriate. She did not seem to mind much, and got a couple of little bursts in anyway.

She also was good to call off if I ordered “Leave it!”. We returned home, still chatting with Older Son and ready to settle in for the afternoon. I might go get some lunch today or I might go roast some more hot dogs.

Then I have to get some work done before my week starts for real tomorrow.

It is a good day. I love spending time with The Girl and talking to my son. Life is good.

New NATO Band

2025/07/262025/07/26 ruminator

Omega Speedmaster Triple Date Reduced, on my wrist, with a new black and silver seatbelt nylon NATO, Captured with TG-7, 2025-07-26 12:08:33, 5.4mm, 1/40sec, f/2.3, ISO-800, SOOC.

I thought I ordered a 24mm NATO for a loaner Luminox watch. What arrived in today’s mail was a 18mm. I like the colorway of the band (black and silver), so I will keep it. It turns out that it fits my Speedy Triple Date reduced. So, I put it on the watch and then put the watch on my wrist.

I made the capture with the Olympus Tough TG-7 in macro mode. The flaking of the rhodium plating on the hands of my Speedy is evident. I will probably have them replaced when I next send the watch off for service. (I do not know when that might be.)

I think the colors go well with the watch. And, it gave me motivation to give the Seamaster a rest.

Life is good.