Morning Light on the Leaves

The light just hit a few leaves making them appear to have a yellowish hue.

Dan O. De Ment

Look Who Came Over For Lunch

This Doe browsed her way past our back door at about 12:20PM this afternoon.  I looked up from my tablet and there she was.  I could not get a front on shot as long as I waited.  She was about four paces off our back deck.

Dan O. De Ment

JUBILEE COLLEGE … Jubilee College State Park

Jubilee College was founded in 1839 by Episcopal Bishop Philander Chase, opened in 1840, and discontinued educating after his death in 1862.  Over the years you’ve seen numerous images of animals and the grounds themselves but never any of the college itself until this posting.  Honestly, I do not know if they’re still conducting tours.  I was fortunate to see the inside back in the late 1960’s or early 70’s, my memory is a bit clouded on the date.  There are classrooms, sleeping quarters and the Bishop’s office as I remember.  Bishop Chase also founded Kenyon College in Ohio prior to founding Jubilee Clllege in Illinois.

For more detailed info, if interested, you can search, Jubilee College, in Wikapedia.

Dan O. De Ment

 

Beautiful Doe

This pretty gal was outside our kitchen window this morning.  My wife, Jean was washing dishes, looked up, yelled Dan come with your camera there’s a Doe out here.  I grabbed my Samsung Tablet and took these images.

Dan O. De Ment

 

 

 

EARLY MORNING LIGHT

 

Always the best time to shoot.  Early morning and early evening.  This is what we teach!😊

MING ASLEEP 0N MOM’S HAND

Sleepy guy!

Dan O. De Ment

An update on our birds.

Well, it appears our Female Cardinal has abandoned her nest. We had a rain a few days ago and she has been nowhere to be seen since. The good news is a Catbird seems to be taking some interest in the abandoned nest.

In the front of our condo a Robin is building a nest right outside our kitchen window. She’s been very busy.

I’ll try and get some pictures as soon as it warms up a stops raining – somtime next week.

Here’s a look at how green things are becoming in our neighborhood.

Dan o. De Ment

 

 

 

A Pair of Wrens

This little darlin has been busy all moening setting up house in our little home. Her mate is always close by and watching. Again, this house is eifht outside our sliding back door.

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Wrens are extremely flighty and speed through the air. They have a prerry song too.

Dan O. De Ment

A Bunny Rabbit

This is only the third rabbbit we’ve seen since we moved into our Condo in September.  Remember, our sliding glass back door goess onto a deck and then the woods.  “Five giant steps and we’re in the woods!” All of a sudden, this morning, there was the bunny.  When I first saw her she was just on the other side of the black fenching.  (Some clown tilted the fence on me just as I shot this.🤣)

Dan O. De Ment

Female Cardinal on her Nest

4-16-2020  Well, she’s on the nest for the second day in a row.  She disappeared for a day or so.  We had a littlet snow.  Tonight we could get three to five inches.  I don’t know if the eggs will make it.   Meanwhile, I don’t know where the male flew off to.  We haven’t seen him feeding her. We’ll keep our fingers crossed.

Dan O. De Ment

 

The Cardinal and her little Family

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SHE’s in there!  It’s hard to shoot through glass at an angle. I’m afraid these images won’t break the bank.  Whatever!  Hopefully, I’ll be able to get outside and take some decent images before everyone is fone.

4-10-2020  In the past few days I’ve been amazed, along with my wife, Jean, watching a Female Cardinal, slowly but doggedly, build a nest for her coming youngsters.  The nest is being built not 15 feet from our sliding glass door – and on top of a low schrub.  She is very diligent in her efforts.  Placing little sticks and other materials ever so gently into place.  Then she’ll scoot about creating a rounded bottom where she’ll slide back and forth smoothing out a round egg laying spot for her and her coming brood. Meanwhile, her mate, the dashing Red Male, sits guarding the whole business about 20 to 30 feet away in a tree.  This entire labor continues on and off during the daylight hours.  When evening approaches the two of them disappear until the next day.  When I first look out in the morning – at first light, she’s usually on rhe nest.

4-11-2020  It’s another day and our female is on and off the nest.  No sign yet she’s started a family.  May be ro early?

4-12-2020 More to come!

Dan O. De Ment

 

 

 

Love My Walnuts

This litte fella found another walnut.  I don’t know why he’s got his ear’s back a little.

IT COULD GET TO NEAR 80 DEGREES IN CENTRAL ILLINOIS TODAY … ONLY TO DROP BACK IN THE 50’s TOMORROW.

Dan O. De Ment

Honeysuckle – One of my Nightmare’s

Yesterday I posted an image of Spring Popping Out along the Valley/Ravine.  This morning I’m posting another bush that’s close to our back door – same plant variety.

It just dawned on me it may be HONEYSUCKLE.  Why do I have a problem with honeysuckle?  I’m very allergic to the powerful scent it puts out in the Spring.  This is the first Spring in our Condo.  I know, to most people it is a wonderful scent.  Now I’ve got that out of the way!  Many of you know I spend most of the end of October till sometime in early May inside due to the outside temperarures.  Most of my images during that period are shot through my windows.

Now, this condition is due to a military service related injury that left my sinuses and surrounding nerves completely out of sync with my brain. (literally)  MOVING ON … So now I’ll spend and additional month or more in the house due to the Honeysuckle scent.  If it sounds like I’m crying, I’m not. Just disgusted.  I am use to it, after all, since I’ve had the problem since 1975 – actually 1965  but that’s a story for another time.  I even wrote a One–Act Play about it.  Just never dawned on me that honeysuckle would be growing right outside my back door.  Thought I’d be outside sooner this year.

NUTS!

How”s your day goin?🤔

Dan O. De Ment

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Spring is popping out in Central Illinois

 

 

Spring is really starting to flourish in Central Illinois.  Everywhere green leaves our changing the landscape.  This image was shot right out our back door and all down the valley the color is the same.  Nice to see new life when the world is in such a chaotic state right now with the  Coronavirus.

Dan O. De Ment

 

 

 

Me shooting the Illinois River Valley in September 2014

My wife, Jean, took this image of me shooting the River Valley.  The Sail boats were out in abundance that day.  There are many more not visible in this shot.

Dan O. De Ment/Jean De Ment

On alert across the Ravine.

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I think she thought I could not see her.

Dan O. De Ment

A Squirrel at Lunch

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Hello, my friend.

Dan O. De Ment

Snowy Woodland

Have fun shooting snow scenes and vistas.

Dan O. De Ment

Deer across the Ravine

These pretty gals were foraging along the opposite hillside from our Condo.

Dan O. De Ment

Mr. Squirrel trying to stay Warm

 

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This little fella was trying to keep warm and stay out of the wind while eating at the same time. They always seem to flip their tails up and over their backs at this time.

Dan O. De Ment

Add images from Camera to Tablet

I stopped using my desktop computer due to running Windows 7 and no longer getting support. I will be getting a laptop with Windows 10 one of these days, I hope. Anyway, for those of you who do not know this, I discovered a way to load camera images onto my tablet – then I can upload them directly to Elm Drive images without using another program. I went online and ordered a connector for the sole purpose of connecting my mouse to my tablet for copying and pasting purposes. GREAT IDEA, RIGHT? NOT SO GREAT!. An android device will not let you paste after you copy. You must use that dumb double finger dohicky. Then once you do get a copy, at least in my case, you can’t paste to a different site.

Anyway, this same $1.43 short connector, noted above, which I ordered from, “MONOPRICE” resolved a different problem. It will cost you more to ship it to your home than it costs to purchase it.

What a find! I’d been setting here for days not contemplating the possibility that the connector might solve another problem by using a camera connector and the new connector to export pictures. It worked perfectly. You plug the micro end of the new, $1.43 connector into your tablet and the USB end of the new connnector into your camera cord USB end – then plug the micro end of your camera cable into your camera. I did this and it immediately exported the images on my camera to the tablet while asking me which ones I wanted to export…just click on, ALL, and bingo, your camera pictures are on you Tablet.

I hope this isn’t confusing. Just take it slow if it sounds like a mess. It’s not and as I said, it works.

Dan O. De Ment

New Snow

Wild Berries – Walking /Bicycle Track in Peoria Heights, Ilinois

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Wild Berries along Walking/Bicycle Trail in Peoria Heights, Illinois. I took this image in October 2015

Dan o. De Ment

Don’t Fence Us In

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I took this image in San Antonio, Texas, a number of years ago.

I MAY HAVE ALMOST FIGURED IT OUT … STILL FRUSTRATED.

Dan O. De Ment

What is going on with WordPress

I don’t know what to think of WordPress at this time. I can’t understand their posting! Instead of allowing us to put a new post, with an image, at the top we have to change editors, or if we’re in the correct editor that allows you to set your post the top of the blog, then it doesn’t do it. Then the publish widget is nowhere to be seen. Then it tells you it has been published and you don’t know where the post is. Now, I use WordPress.com, and obviously, this post will be published. The PUBLISH widget is visible at the top. Is it me? Is it the ANDROID system? This has not published.

Dan O. De Ment

Male Cardinal Considering His Surroundings

Well, this must have been a time for contemplation – while feeding.

Dan O. De Ment

A Dusting of Wet Snow

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Early this morning

We awoke this morning to a wet snow that covered all but the street.

Dan O. De Ment

HAPPY NEW YEAR

Happy New Year to all my friends around the world.

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Dan O. De Ment

Climate Change – when I was a Boy

When I was a boy, some 70 years ago, I was already seven years old, winter came in December and with it came the snow – often snowed right up into early April. I MEAN IT SNOWED EVERY FEW DAYS.

Now we’re in another century and I’ve certainly seen a drastic climatic change. Yesterday, Christmas Day, it was 60 degrees here in Central Illinois. It will be 60 today. The forecast for January, at this time, is for snow , not a lot, off and on, through the month. That is not normal! I can remember, before I retired in 2002, it was probably in the late 80’or early 90’s, one January the temperature during the day never got above zero the whole month. Those out there that believe climate change is a hoax are in for a big shock. I’ve been around for more than three quarters of a century and I’ve seen what’s happening – what’s coming! Our government officials had better make this a priority. CLIMATE CHANGE MAY BE GRADUAL BUT IT’S NO HOAX.

Dan O. De Ment

Have a Happy and Healthy Holiday Season and a Prosperous New Year

Dan O. De Ment

Across our little Valley in Snow

Apartments and Condos across the way

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With the Sun coming up

I shot these images this morning with my Samsung Tab E.

Dan O. De Ment

BUSHY-TAILED SQUIRREL

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This little fella was just outside our sliding glass, patio door. He’s one of five that are always hanging around.

Dan O. De Ment

Barred Owl Resting

I looked out the sliding glass door to our deck and this beautiful, Barred Owl, was sitting on a branch checking out the area. I am not a fan of raptors but he was asking to be photographed. Sorry it’s a bit hazy.

Dan O. De Ment

 

FOUR SQUIRRELS ENJOYING THEIR THANKSGIVING WALNUTS

FOUR SQUIRRELS FOUR

The fourth squirrel is a bit hidden – straight back from the one on the right. Used my 28-80 Wide Angle Lens here.

Happy Thanksgivimg today is the USA.

Dan O. De Ment

Caught You!😁

This is,  “Scooter.”  His mouth contains part of a Walnut he’s about to scurry up a tree with, chew open the0inner shell, and then eat the nut.  This goes on most of the day.

Dan O. De Ment

Feral Cat at the Condo

This is one of two Feral Cats we’ve had on our deck. I believe I’ll name this fella, “Curious.” He’ll walk across the deck, sit down or lay down, and stare at you until you move on. He doesn’t seem scared but he’s cautious.

Dan O. De Ment

More Images from the Condo

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The last image is through our kitchen window.

Dan O. De Ment

View from our back Deck

This is the view we have at the moment.  When the leaves fall we will get a good look at what’s about us.   All the normal critters from rabbits to birds to chipmunks thrive here.  No deer yet.  Soon, we hope.

Dan O. De Ment

New Condo

We are now in our new condo…what a trial for elderly folks. Box after box to unload and we never seem to make any headway.

Called to have our TV hooked up to DISH and find out our Home Owners Association doesn’t allow DISH. Have to go with AT&T our COMCAST. I need to check their prices.

Just a whipped old man.

Dan O. De Ment

Downsizing to a Condominium

It’s been quite some time since my last post.  My wife and I have been looking to downsize for over a year now.  She’s done all the work, I must say, scouring through the real estate company website’s for the right place.  Finally we found a Condo we wanted to look at and it is just what we need.  Going fron 1500+ square feet down to 952 square feet means a lot of material things need to go.  We’ve been selling through Face Book’s sales site and have had good luck.  We’ve sold everything from a leaf blower to a tread mill, a book case, and a bicycle.  More too!  Now we’re waiting for the final appraisal of our home which should be the last hurdle to our purchasing the Condo.  Hopefully, we’ll move in September 16th – that’s the scheduled date anyway.  I won’t be posting any more images till we’ve moved.  Thanks for your time and continued interest in Elm Drive Images.

Dan O. De Ment

 

 

 

Day Lillies

These Day Lillies are located in what was once a fire pit. My wife and one of our daughters converted it to a flower presentation.

Dan O. De Ment

Hanging Impatients

Dan O. De Ment

Cicada

I shot this image in the summer of 2010.  The Cicadas had broken through their hidden places in the earth to breed.  Their life span above ground is for that purpose only.  I was not sure if these were 17 or 24 year Cicadas.  You talk about noise!  Millions of them bellowing their eerie calls to one another is something you’ll never forget.  I can remember, as a boy, when they appeared – by the hundreds of thousands they covered your home, garage, trees.  Their eyes are briliant red.  I wish I could have got a better image but this was at the end of their cycle.

Dan O. De Ment

Purple Iris

These Iris are no longer blooming.  They bloom early and then you don’t see them until the next spring.

Dan O. De Ment

Male Cardinal Feeding Cautiously

 

This little fella was caught with his mouth full.  A couple of his friends look on.

 

Dan O. De Ment

The Male Cardinal and the Grey Squirrel

I captured these two friends below our backyard feeder.

Dan O. De Ment

Flowering Crab showers garden floor with pedals

The other morning I awoke, opened the curtain to our sliding glass back door, and saw the above.

Dan O. De Ment

Rose-Breasted Grosbeak

This is the first Grosbeak we’ve ever seen on our property since moving here in 2007.  Sorry it’s so small.  I only had time to grab my point and shoot camera to take the shot  – could not zoom in close enough.  My wife said she thought she saw the bird yesterday.  I’ll try to get a better image with my Canon 75-300 zoom lens if I can – if we ever see it again.

Dan O. De Ment

 

 

 

Flowering Crab Spring 2019

Our Flowering Crab has brighter blooms this year than any year since 2007.

Dan O. De Ment

Office Suites at Junction City

These office suites are part of a rustic, country style small business and restaurant complex named, Junction City.  Years ago, when the site first opened, there were two railroad dining cars on another area of the site that were attached to the main dining facility which was named, Vonachen’s Junction – after the man who built it.  It has long since been torn down and now a parking lot sets in its place.  I’ll shoot more images of the main facility this Spring and Summer.  The above shot was taken in 2014.

Dan O. De Ment