Friday (29-March-2013) — New Jersey

Backyard Spring Nature in New Jersey.

Some images taken with a Nikon 1 V2 camera and the new 80-400 mm VRII lens (with the FT1 adapter). The lens is much bigger than the camera, but still easy to use hand-held. The field of view (FOV) with this lens is equivalent to 216-1080 mm on a 35 mm (FX) DSLR. The base ISO for the Nikon 1 V2 is 160, and at the base ISO the image of the spring daffodil shows good colors and saturation. At an ISO of 1600, there is significant noise, and the colors and saturation are reduced as seen with the image of the Doe.

Yellow Daffodil in New Jersey. Image taken with a Nikon 1 V2 camera and 80-400 mm VRII lens with a FT1 adapter (ISO 160, 240 mm, f/5.6, 1/1250 sec). Field of view equivalent to 650 mm with a 35 mm sensor. (David J Mathre)
Yellow Daffodil in New Jersey. Image taken with a Nikon 1 V2 camera and 80-400 mm VRII lens with a FT1 adapter (ISO 160, 240 mm, f/5.6, 1/1250 sec). Field of view equivalent to 650 mm with a 35 mm sensor. (David J Mathre)
Scrawny Doe, Early Spring in New Jersey. Image taken with a Nikon 1 V2, FT1 adapter, and 80-400 mm VRII lens (ISO 1600, 310 mm, f/5.6, 1/60 sec) (David J Mathre)
Scrawny Doe, Early Spring in New Jersey. Image taken with a Nikon 1 V2, FT1 adapter, and 80-400 mm VRII lens (ISO 1600, 310 mm, f/5.6, 1/60 sec). Field of view equivalent to 840 mm with a 35 mm sensor. (David J Mathre)

Saturday (16-March-2013) — New Jersey

Backyard Nature in New Jersey. Spring Flowers Caught in Late Winter Snow.

The spring flowers are having problems dealing with late winter snow and sleet. Although the snow is gone within a day, winter has not yet departed.

Late Winter Snow on Dafodill Bloom. Image taken with a D3s and 85 mm f/2.8 PC-E lens (ISO 800, 85 mm, f/4, 1/250 sec) (David J Mathre)
Late Winter Snow on Dafodill Bloom. Image taken with a D3s camera and 85 mm f/2.8 PC-E lens (ISO 800, 85 mm, f/4, 1/250 sec) (David J Mathre)
Late Winter Snow on Snow Drop Blooms. Image taken with a D3s and 85 mm f/2.8 PC-E lens (ISO 800, 85 mm, f/4, 1/250 sec) (David J Mathre)
Late Winter Snow on Snow Drop Blooms. Image taken with a D3s camera and 85 mm f/2.8 PC-E lens (ISO 800, 85 mm, f/4, 1/250 sec) (David J Mathre)

Saturday (09-March-2013) — New Jersey

Late Winter Nature in New Jersey. Spring Flowers in the Snow.

Yet another late winter snow storm. The early spring flowers continue to try to find some sun.

Snow Drop Flowers in the Snow Waiting for Spring. Image taken with a Nikon 1 V2 camera, FT1 adapter, and 28-300 VR lens (ISO 160, 170 mm, f/5.6, 1/500 sec) (David J Mathre)
Snow Drop Flowers in the Snow Waiting for Spring. Image taken with a Nikon 1 V2 camera, FT1 adapter, and 28-300 VR lens (ISO 160, 170 mm, f/5.6, 1/500 sec) (David J Mathre)
Snow Drop Flowers in the Snow Waiting for Spring. Image taken with a Nikon 1 V2 camera, FT1 adapter, and 28-300 VR lens (ISO 160, 300 mm, f/5.6, 1/320 sec) (David J Mathre)
Snow Drop Flowers in the Snow Waiting for Spring. Image taken with a Nikon 1 V2 camera, FT1 adapter, and 28-300 VR lens (ISO 160, 300 mm, f/5.6, 1/320 sec) (David J Mathre)
Snow Drop Flowers in the Snow Waiting for Spring. Image taken with a Nikon 1 V2 camera, FT1 adapter, and 28-300 VR lens (ISO 160, 250 mm, f/5.6, 1/500 sec) (David J Mathre)
Snow Drop Flowers in the Snow Waiting for Spring. Image taken with a Nikon 1 V2 camera, FT1 adapter, and 28-300 VR lens (ISO 160, 250 mm, f/5.6, 1/500 sec) (David J Mathre)
Daffodils in Snow Waiting for Spring. Image taken with a Nikon 1 V2 camera, FT1 adapter, and 28-300 VR lens (ISO 160, 300 mm, f/7.1, 1/500 sec) (David J Mathre)
Daffodils in Snow Waiting for Spring. Image taken with a Nikon 1 V2 camera, FT1 adapter, and 28-300 VR lens (ISO 160, 300 mm, f/7.1, 1/500 sec) (David J Mathre)
Daffodils in Snow Waiting for Spring. Image taken with a Nikon 1 V2 camera, FT1 adapter, and 28-300 VR lens (ISO 160, 112 mm, f/8, 1/500 sec) (David J Mathre)
Daffodils in Snow Waiting for Spring. Image taken with a Nikon 1 V2 camera, FT1 adapter, and 28-300 VR lens (ISO 160, 112 mm, f/8, 1/500 sec) (David J Mathre)

Friday (08-March-2013) — New Jersey

Home Cooking: Stone Soup and Hearty Rye & Whole Wheat Bread.

When I woke up this morning, it was snowing. There was 4-6 inches on the ground and still snowing. I didn’t need to go out and decided to make some stone soup with leftovers in the refrigerator.

Stone Soup and Hearty Rye & Whole Wheat Bread. Image taken with a Leica X2 camera (ISO 100, 24 mm, f/8, 1/60, pop-up flash) (David J. Mathre)
Stone Soup and Hearty Rye & Whole Wheat Bread. Image taken with a Leica X2 camera (ISO 100, 24 mm, f/8, 1/60, pop-up flash) (David J. Mathre)

Stone Soup Recipe: 1 Bag (26 oz) Bob’s Red Mill Whole Grains and Beans Soup Mix, Water (8 quarts), Knorr Chicken Flavor Bouillon (8 tbs), 2 Chopped Red Onions, 1 Chopped Celery Heart, 8 Chopped Garlic Cloves, and all of the leftover pork roast, chicken, and rib-roast in the fridge chopped into small pieces. Brought to a boil, then simmered for 4 hours. When done enough to feed an army… More leftovers to be frozen. Someday maybe I will learn to cook for one.

Wednesday (06-March-2013) — New Jersey

Home Cooking. Hearty Whole Wheat & Rye Bread.

Bread Recipe: Whole Wheat Flour (1 cup); White Flour (1 cup); Rye Flour (0.5 cup); brown sugar (2 tbs); dry milk (1 tbs); caraway seed (2 tsp); fennel seed (1 tsp); crystallized ginger (0.5 tsp); star anise (1 dry star ground up); salt (1 tsp); egg (1 medium); oil (1 tbs); water (7/8 cup). Above ingredients added to Panasonic Bread Bakery. Yeast (1 tsp) added to yeast hopper and the unit set for Whole Wheat Bread (Rapid) and started. Three hours later, the loaf of bread was removed and allowed to cool.

Hearty Rye & Whole Wheat Bread. Image taken with a Leica X2 camera (ISO 100, 24 mm, f/8, 1/60, pop-up flash) (David J. Mathre)
Hearty Rye & Whole Wheat Bread. Image taken with a Leica X2 camera (ISO 100, 24 mm, f/8, 1/60, pop-up flash) (David J. Mathre)