Four-Years Ago (18-December-2009) — Hawaii

Gone to See Hawaii, Maui Day 3: Haleakala National Park.

I left the PacificChem meeting early to get to the Pu’U’Ula’Ula peak in Haleakala National Park for sunset. When I arrived at the parking lot I saw this bird, which I later identified as a Chukar.

Chukar, Haleakalua National Park, Maui Hawaii. Image taken with a Nikon D3x and 70-300 mm VR lens (ISO 100, 180 mm, f/8, 1/200 sec). (David J Mathre)
Chukar, Haleakalua National Park, Maui Hawaii. Image taken with a Nikon D3x camera and 70-300 mm VR lens (ISO 100, 180 mm, f/8, 1/200 sec). (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.

Four-Years Ago (01-March-2009) — New Jersey

Late Winter Nature in New Jersey. Snowy Day at the Sourland Mountain Preserve.

I went for a walk at the local Sourland Mountain Preserve. It was snowing, a late winter storm. The long winding road is the right-of-way for a cross-country high-pressure gas line. The other images are of cattail, a pair of Mallard ducks swimming in a pond, and tree bark coated with snow.

Long Winding Road. Winter Snowstorm at the Sourland Mountain Preserve. Nikon D300 18-200 mm f/3.5-5.6 VR lens (ISO 400, 26 mm, f/5.6, 1/800 sec). (David J. Mathre)
Long Winding Road. Winter Snowstorm at the Sourland Mountain Preserve. Nikon D300 camera and 18-200 mm f/3.5-5.6 VR lens (ISO 400, 26 mm, f/5.6, 1/800 sec). (David J. Mathre)
Cattail in a Winter Snowstorm at the Sourland Mountain Preserve. Nikon D300 18-200 mm f/3.5-5.6 VR lens (ISO 400, 130 mm, f/5.6, 1/640 sec). (David J. Mathre)
Cattail in a Winter Snowstorm at the Sourland Mountain Preserve. Nikon D300 camera and 18-200 mm f/3.5-5.6 VR lens (ISO 400, 130 mm, f/5.6, 1/640 sec). (David J. Mathre)
Cattail in a Winter Snowstorm at the Sourland Mountain Preserve. Nikon D300 18-200 mm f/3.5-5.6 VR lens (ISO 400, 200 mm, f/5.6, 1/320 sec). (David J. Mathre)
Cattail in a Winter Snowstorm at the Sourland Mountain Preserve. Nikon D300 camera and 18-200 mm f/3.5-5.6 VR lens (ISO 400, 200 mm, f/5.6, 1/320 sec). (David J. Mathre)
Cattail in a Winter Snowstorm at the Sourland Mountain Preserve. Nikon D300 18-200 mm f/3.5-5.6 VR lens (ISO 400, 105 mm, f/5.3, 1/400 sec). (David J. Mathre)
Cattail in a Winter Snowstorm at the Sourland Mountain Preserve. Nikon D300 camera and 18-200 mm f/3.5-5.6 VR lens (ISO 400, 105 mm, f/5.3, 1/400 sec). (David J. Mathre)
Mallard Pair Swimming in a Snowstorm at the Sourland Mountain Preserve. Nikon D300 18-200 mm f/3.5-5.6 VR lens (ISO 400, 200 mm, f/5.6, 1/200 sec). (David J. Mathre)
Mallard Pair Swimming in a Snowstorm at the Sourland Mountain Preserve. Nikon D300 camera and 18-200 mm f/3.5-5.6 VR lens (ISO 400, 200 mm, f/5.6, 1/200 sec). (David J. Mathre)
Snow on Tree Bark During a Winter Snowstorm at the Sourland Mountain Preserve. Nikon D300 18-200 mm f/3.5-5.6 VR lens (ISO 400, 200 mm, f/5.6, 1/320 sec). (David J. Mathre)
Snow on Tree Bark During a Winter Snowstorm at the Sourland Mountain Preserve. Nikon D300 camera and 18-200 mm f/3.5-5.6 VR lens (ISO 400, 200 mm, f/5.6, 1/320 sec). (David J. Mathre)