Weird Dream Channel

I am in my house, writing by hand at a small desk by the window. My left side is against the wall and the window. This is a leaded glass window, like they have in houses built in the 1700's, small squares of not-quite-even glass with lead in between them. The house itself is fairly modern - 1990's or newer. It is daytime, it must be overcast because the light coming in the window is strong but diffuse.

Suddenly a torrential rain starts, strong winds blowing the rain sideways. Then what looks like water thrown from buckets starts passing by the window. I flinch away from the window, concerned that they may break under the pressure, and realize the house has dozens of these windows which all are in danger. But that thought fades quickly, the water is not hitting the window, it is being blown past it. 

I shrug it off as a typical winter storm on the Oregon coast. But I know it is Spring, and I am at least 100 miles inland.

Long Day, Short Post

Watched the first half of the Bears trampling the Seahawks, and while my homeboys did try to come from behind, there was just too much behind to come from. It's been a bad weekend for the birds. Falcons, Ravens and Seahawks all lost to non-bird teams.  AFAIK there are no more birds in line to go to the Superbowl this year.

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Drove across the Bay to the Ardenwood Historic Farm to photograph the monarch butterflies. All the time I have lived in the Bay Area I have never heard of this wonderful place. It's a working demo farm with a huge fancy Victorian house at its heart, fields of clover and crops, a dovecote, chicken coop, sheep, goats, peacocks, bunnies and a pair of what look to me like brown Clydesdales (which I understand pull the horse-drawn trains in the summer).

The butterflies hang out in the eucalyptus groves not far from the house. I was using the new 70-300mm VR lens, and expected some good clear shots of the butterflies, but I didn't get much. Big heavy lens, not easy to hold still. And too slow (4.5 at 300mm). Should have brought the 24-300. Oh well, next time.  Anyhow, here is a sample or two:( behind the cut )

It was okay for the farm animal close-ups, though. I'd also brought along the new 35mm f/1.8, which turns out to be a little more wide angle than I'd expected, but that's okay.  ( more photos here )

Stayed till closing time (4 pm). The drive over was eerie, the fog from HMB followed me all the way to Fremont, and it was misty all day. There was still enough fog on the return trip to erase the view of the west bay.

Home, where the three steaks were well-marinated in Sangria and minced garlic. Cooked all three on the cast iron skillet, had one for dinner but put the other two in freezer bags for later. For when I remember to buy an onion to caramelize.

Totally forgot about the Jets-Pats game, but was happy to see NY win.

Plans for tomorrow:
Work
Follow up on prescriptions
BASFA, I hope.