Aftermath

Some turkey drippings accidentally hit the top of the dishwasher last night (i.e. the part where the controls are). Roxy ever so helpfully alerted us to the situation by immediately launching a full scale tongue attack on the dishwasher with her tongue. However, the damage was clearly already done - the dishwasher was running at the time but all the lights started blinking. Once the cycle completed, it would no longer turn on. Poor Dave was so disheartened...there were so many dirty dishes left, including this stove full of pots and pans. It would be days, if not weeks, before we could get someone to come look at it.

Thankfully, a bit of a rest seemed to do it some good...it appeared to have fully recovered by this morning and most of those pots and pans are getting a bath as I type this. I am pretty sure this resurrection elicited more glee from Dave than any of his Christmas gifts!

deets: f/2.8, 1/60, 58mm, ISO1600

Happy Holidays from Bermuda

After we opened presents this morning, we took the dogs (and the champagne) to Elbow Beach. The weather has been pretty s#@tty lately but kindly gave us a much appreciated break for Christmas Day.

deets: f/4, 1/1250, 28mm, ISO100

Remember, Remember the Fifth (or Sixth?) of November

Tonight was my first Guy Fawkes Night. A bonfire, effigy burning and fireworks (after a scenic tour of parts of St. George I've never seen before!).

deets: f/3.5, 1,640, 50mm, ISO1600

Saturday night at the dog park

Deets: f/5.6, 1/400, 300mm, ISO1600

Bermuda Dog Show

deets: f/7.1, 1/2500, 155mm, ISO800

Impending Doom

deets: f/3.2, 1/100, 45mm, ISO1600

Today was a bit of an odd day, as we carried on as usual, knowing Igor was bearing down on us. I had a hair appointment this morning (moved up from this afternoon so they could shut shop at noon) and then I picked up some more masking tape for the windows (as you do!). Dave picked me up and we took the dogs to the "off leash park" for some pre-storm exercise and we hunkered down at home shortly after that.

I've been watching live coverage on The Weather Channel...but I should really stop because it's just making me more nervous! The winds are really just starting to pick up and it's still 24+ hours until the center of the storm hits us. Were as prepared as we're going to be....and now just playing a waiting game (feeling a bit housebound already!). I'm hoping for the best but am 99.9% sure we're going to lose power. I'm saying my prayers that it's not two weeks before the power comes back on, like it was after Fabian in 2003.

Non-perishables Have Been Procured

deets:  f/3.2, 1/40, 34mm, ISO1600

Behold, the recently acquired Igor supplies! There is a sense of impending doom throughout the island at this point that's hard to ignore. Our office closed at noon today, even though the storm is not supposed to reach its closest point for another 48+ hours and the winds are just starting to pick up. Nice gesture - but sure makes it feel like the end of days is near! We've got the non-perishables, batteries and other supplies (and water!). Dave took the lawn furniture and BBQ into the garage this morning before he left for his golf tourney - ha! Tomorrow, we'll close the shutters and fill up all the tubs. I'm not really scared of the storm (we were here for a similar one, Fabian, in 2003) but dread the nightmare of extended power loss. No lights, A/C or running water is not really my scene. Here's Igor's latest forecast:

Faster Than a Speeding Bullet. (Maybe Not!)

I think I've mentioned my inexplicable fascination with snails on previous occasions...but I don't think I've ever actually seen one on the move before. So, naturally when Dave mentioned this morning that he'd been doing yard chores (dog related!) and had seen a snail "out of its shell", I had to delay the drive to work and arrange an impromptu photoshoot for the little guy!

deets: f/5, 1/320, 100mm, ISO800

Embarrassing footnote: My snail knowledge is serious lacking. When Dave told me it was out of his shell, I went out looking for the snail MINUS the shell. Apparently I should have known that a snail can never leave its house behind...then it'd be a slug! I blame snail inexperience.

The Most Important Meal of the Day

These are low quality Blackberry shots but I've gotta post 'em so I can look back on them and drool.  We went for a late brunch at Orange one morning in Chicago.  We had to do an about face and look harder because we some how missed it the first time but it was definitely worth it.

We had the Frushi (i.e. fruit sushi) to start.  It was expertly cut fruit served with sticky coconut rice.  Divine!

I followed that act with the "Pancake Flight".  They change the four flavors included weekly.  Luckily for me, the flavors of the week were (clockwise from top left):  Orange Coffee White Chocolate, Coffee Berry & Chocolate, Chocolate Chip Coffee Cake and Coffee, Pecan & Kahlua.  Um......coffee and chocolate?!  I'm in.  Couldn't quite finish it but I put in a valiant effort!

The Windy City

We spent five days in Chicago last week - lots of stuff to see and do (...and eat!) but I only brought the SLR along a couple days. So, I thought I'd just post a few of my favorite shots...

deets:  f/4, 1/1000, 70mm, ISO400

deets:  f/5.6, 1/1000, 250mm, ISO800

deets:  f/4.5, 1/500, 130mm, ISO1600

deets:  f/4.5, 1/640, 54mm, ISO200

deets:  f/4.5, 1/4000, 70mm, ISO400  (this is not a very well composed photo...but this is an old and abandoned post office building...I loved the 'Hawk spirit of the posties!)

deets:  f/4.5, 1/4000, 27mm, ISO400

deets:  f/4.5, 1/800, 48mm, ISO400

deets:  f/4.5, 1/2500, 43mm, ISO400

deets:  f/4, 1/1600, 40mm, ISO800 (I think I could count the number of hot dogs I've eaten in my adult life on my fingers....but I had two in Chicago...mine's the one on the left!)

deets:  f/5, 1/3200, 24mm, ISO400 (I could've taken photos of The Bean for hours but Dave was getting a bit impatient!)

Danielle

Luckily, Hurricane Danielle decided to spare us (doubly lucky given we're hoping to head out on vacation on Wednesday...). We had a bit of wind and some swell activity today, though, so Dave and I headed out to check out the local shoreline.

Deets: f/9, 1/3200, 67mm, ISO800

Glow Worms

Last night Dave and I went on a "Glow Worm Cruise" organized by the Bermuda Underwater Exploration Institute. Not really knowing what to expect, and based on my only other glow worm experience in New Zealand, I brought the camera along hoping to catch a shot of the elusive glow worms. Alas, it was way, way too dark. So instead I shot the moon on our cruse back into town.

Deets: f/5.6, 1/400, 255mm, ISO1600

Birthday Flowers

I got pretty spoiled for my birthday today (well, at home at least...not so much at work!) and these flowers seemed like a good excuse to get out the macro lens. I couldn't choose between these two shots....Dave doesn't like either of them, ha, because they don't "show all the flowers"! :p




Deets: f/2.8, 1/160, 100mm, ISO1600



Deets: f/2.8, 1/400, 100mm, ISO1600

Mmm

I cracked open the coffee we brought back from Italy this morning. In retrospect, I should've ditched my clothes and brought back a suitcase full.

Deets: f/2.8, 1/25, 100mm, ISO1600

Apparently You Are Actually Supposed To...

...stop at stop signs.

Deets: f/4, 1/80, 50mm, ISO200

Batten Hatches? Check!

Tropical Storm Colin is set to pass just to our West tomorrow. Hatches have been appropriately battened....but remaining chores include stowing outdoor furniture and hitting up the grocery store for water and other non-perishables. Hopefully the storm passes without major incident....although I'm even more hopeful that tropical storms are the most severe weather we see this summer.

Deets: f/4, 1/4000, 24mm, ISO200

Warm Croissant, Anyone?

My wonderful in-house pastry chef (aka Dave) whipped these up, based on a sketchy recipe I found online....lesson learned in this exercise: read a recipe the whole way through before starting, to ensure it makes freaking sense!

These turned out remarkably well in the end...although I'm not sure my ass thanks me!

Deets: f/1.6, 1/200, 50mm, ISO800

Exciting Cricket Action

The forecast was for scattered thunderstorms today, so the only cameras that made it to Cup Match were our Blackberries...

...as a Canadian, I find a sport where a match can go on for two days and still end in a draw to be a bit of a farce! The fact that they have to stop games for meal breaks also makes me chuckle! On top of that, even when the game is on, there's a lot of down time, as captured in this shot:



Bonus shot:

I found this 'mobile ATM' hilarious - not too sure where it might make other appearances! (That puddle was inside the front gate...and that area was dry when we arrived....there was a downpour at lunch...good thing I left the camera at home!)



I discovered that Dave's Blackberry has 5X zoom (used it for the first shot), while mine has a measly 2X zoom...however, judging from the quality of these shots, mine must have more megapixels!

Wastin' Away

What better way to kick off the 4-day weekend than to break-in the margarita machine? Happy Cup Match! (If you're not in Bermuda - Thursday is Emancipation Day and Friday is Somers Day and, I believe, the holidays are meant to celebrate the abolition of slavery....however, in modern times, the whole island shuts down for a big East vs. West cricket match (Cup Match)).

Deets: f/3.5, 1/60, 70mm, ISO800

Right At Home

It's weird how our furniture gets all messed up! Dave just left for a quick trip to the store...after the usual pacing and whimpering, Roxy perched herself here so she could see out the window and await his return.

Deets: f/3.5, 1/100, 32mm, ISO800

Cruisin'

Dave's golf course had a members' cruise and BBQ tonight....the sunset was disappointing (behind too many clouds), so here's another moon shot.

Deets: f/3.5, 1/500, 70mm, ISO800

Update

Attention, Attention, ATTENTION! The following is an update on the pineapple experiment....

.....


......


........

...........

....................


....no fruit yet. According to the website I was using, there may be one pineapple 24 months from now. Our lease expires 18 months from now....and, in my eye, the thing isn't looking so hot already. So, probably don't hold your breath.

Okay, resume what you were doing.

Deets: f/2.8, 1/500, 100mm, ISO400

If You Plant It

So, apparently you can plant the top of a pineapple and, voila, a pineapple plant will grow. A test will shortly be underway in our yard...stay tuned.

Deets: f/2.8, 1/80, 100mm, ISO1600

Disparity

It's Thursday. It's quarter end. I'm an accountant. My husband is an accountant. I spent 11+ hours at my desk today. My husband spent 1 hour at his. The rest of his time was spent (a) on the couch watching the British Open, b) playing a round of his own golf and (c) relaxing in the yard with a beer. What is wrong with this picture?!

Deets: f/2.5, 1/500, 50mm, ISO100

When the Moon and Stars (or Planets?) Align

Night photography is hard...I'd either get a crisp moon in total blackness or defined trees with a blown out moon and star/planet...

Deets: f/4.5, 6 seconds, 105mm, ISO400

Dog Days of Summer

It's a hard life, lounging around the pool and all....

Deets: f/4.5, 1/2000, 50mm, ISO100

Venus? Saturn? Pluto?

Dave's convinced that bright spot in the sky is a planet. I'm not really up on my astronomy, so I'll just believe him...although I think I heard something about Pluto not being considered a planet anymore?!

Deets: f/1.4, 1/50, 50mm, ISO1600

If You Don't Watch Where You're Going

...this could be you. At least he had the sense to stop after nine holes and come home this time....

Deets: f/1.4, 1/100, 50mm, ISO200

My nemesis

I frequently pretend it's the head of one of my old bosses...however, even this tactic does not work quite a bit of the time.

I feel conspicuously like a tourist here when I've got my camera with me...

Deets: f/5.6, 1/400, 34mm, ISO200

Tuna Lover

That be me!

Deets: f/1.4, 1/200, 50mm, ISO800

It's a Small World

...and even smaller if you live on a tiny island in the middle of nowhere. In what I find a weird situation, though I can't really explain why, Dave had a meeting at my office this afternoon...with my boss. Clearly, such an occasion calls for pink knee socks.

Deets: f/1.4, 1/160, 50mm, ISO800

Formal Wear

Beth, this one's for you.

Deets: f/2.8, 1/500, 42mm, ISO400

Take Two

I had my much neglected kit lens on my camera body, so I thought I'd take a few more shots of this bush. I tend to use my 24-70 f/2.8 as my go to lens and the kit lens rarely sees the light of day. However, the kit lens is much, much lighter than the 2.8...and that alone is sometimes a welcome change. I had to shoot at 18mm to get the biggest aperture and I didn't really like any of the resulting shots, so this one is the best of the worst.

Deets: f/3.5, 1/320, 18mm, ISO400

Road Trip

We took a Bermuda road trip (ha!) this afternoon and went mini golfing and for lunch at the Dockyard. "Long" drives are much more pleasant in a car vs. the scooter!

Deets: f/5.6, 1/640, 50mm, ISO100

Happy Canada Day!

No celebrations here, so these feet sadly toddled off to work this morning....still a proud Canadian, nonetheless.

Deets: f/2.8, 1/100, 50mm, ISO1600

The pool

So far, I've resisted its appeal. However, I feel this will soon come to an end. This Prairie girl isn't meant for sustained 30-degree temps with humidity that never dips below 80%.

Deets: f/6.3, 1/200, 50mm, ISO 100