McMickey D's

Late Night Liquor Induced Munchies...

Again with the McDonald's Photos. Remember last January when I showed you our fine Mcfast food restaurant? Here is yet another look at McDonald's. Their new marketing scheme will promote healthier french fries. How you ask? They claim their new french fries will be higher in potassium therefore healthier for children. Have you ever heard such nonsense? Marketing healthy french fries from fast food? Really, now, that's just downright misleading.

Happy New Year! Be safe, see you next year!

Shooting Mode Manual Exposure
Tv( Shutter Speed ) 1/5
Av( Aperture Value ) 5.0
ISO Speed 100
Focal Length 180.0 mm

Snowscapes

Blanket of snow

White Spine

Deshoveled

Nuisance snow
I'm tired of these irritating two to three inch snowfalls. It is enough to shovel, not enough to snowblow.

Two Things Challenge - Real / Fake

Real of Fake?
This week's 2 Things Challenge is Real or Fake with an old recycled photo from a couple of years ago. I took the creative luxury with Photoshop to enhance this image.

Walking in a Winter Wonderland

Sleigh bells ring
are you listening
in the lane
snow is glistening
A beautiful sight
we're happy tonight
walking in a winter wonderland
Gone away is the bluebird
here to stay is a new bird
He sings a love song
as we go along
walking in a winter wonderland
In the meadow we can build a snowman
Then pretend that he is Parson Brown
He'll say: Are you married?
we'll say: No man
But you can do the job
when you're in town
Later on
we'll conspire
as we dream by the fire
To face unafraid
the plans that we've made
walking in a winter wonderland
In the meadow we can build a snowman
and pretend that he's a circus clown
We'll have lots of fun with mister snowman
until the all the kids knock him down
When it snows
ain't it thrilling
Though your nose gets a chilling
We'll frolic and play
the Eskimo way
walking in a winter wonderland
Walking in a winter wonderland
walking in a winter wonderland

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Shooting Mode Manual Exposure
Tv( Shutter Speed ) 1/125
Av( Aperture Value ) 11.0
ISO Speed 100
Focal Length 17.0 mm
Image Quality RAW

Winter Wonderland - Diana Krall

Golden Red

Macro Bauble

Camera Model Name Canon PowerShot A710 IS

Shooting Mode Aperture-Priority AE

Tv (Shutter Speed) 1/25

Av (Aperture Value) 3.2

Light Metering Evaluative

ISO Speed 200

Focal Length 5.8 mm

Image Quality Superfine

Movie Premiere

Winston and the Rabbit
Rated PG - Parental Guidance suggested...

occurring violence to a stuffed rabbit
shredding of non-"green" gift paper
landfill to be filled with gift paper shredding,
and stuffed rabbit parts

Christmas Day

Arbor lakes - Maple Grove, MN

Nativity at Saint Paul's Cathedral, St. Paul, MN

Away In A Manger (Digitally Remastered 99) - Nat King Cole

Merry Christmas

Christmas Eve.
Wishing all a Merry Christmas tonight!

Ave Maria - Andrea Bocelli [Artist]

Singing Trees

Macy's 8th floor display. Caroling trees!

O Tannenbaum - Vince Guaraldi Trio

Elm Creek

The last glimpse of autumn, just before the snow fell.
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Shooting Mode Manual Exposure

Tv( Shutter Speed ) 1/30

Av( Aperture Value ) 11.0

ISO Speed 100

Focal Length 47.0 mm
Image Quality RAW

Last Thursday, Blognote honored me with this award. Grazie, really appreciate this! Please visit his blog in Arona; a beautiful areaon the shores of Lake Maggiore in Piemonte in northern Italy.
Now to pass this award on to 8 blogs;
Evry Daily Photo
Oeiras and environs daily photo

Twin City Photos
Palos Verdes Daily Photo
Cheltenham Daily Photo
D.C. Confidential
Nice Daily Photo
Buckingham Daily Photo

Two Things Challenge - Cloud / Nine

Delicious Sushi

Shooting Mode Manual Exposure
Tv( Shutter Speed ) 1/4
Av( Aperture Value ) 8.0
ISO Speed 400
Focal Length 68.0 mm
Image Quality RAW ( A bit of irony here)
Flash On

Sushi Platter

Shooting Mode Manual Exposure
Tv( Shutter Speed ) 1/25
Av( Aperture Value ) 4.5
ISO Speed 400
Focal Length 28.0 mm
Image Quality RAW (A bit of irony here)
Flash Off

Cloud / Nine is this week's Two Things Challenge. I must say, this has been a busy week shopping and preparing for the Christmas Festivities for next week. After all our shopping and preparations, we decided sushi and spring rolls would be a fine treat. A treat that was like being on Cloud Nine.
You say this is a stretch? Probably.

Summertime Flashback

When summer was sunny and warm.

Summertime - Billie Holiday and Louis Armstrong

Little Red Berries

Just before the snow came. Spring is just around the corner...in nine months!

Candy Cane Machine

Macy's 8th floor Christmas display

Shephard Light

Winter Magic
since there's no place to go, let it snow! Lights along the plaza, The Shops at Arbor Lakes, Maple Grove.

While I was out on this outdoor mall shooting the lights seen on Monday, and today; I was approached by a very nice security officer. He politely asked my business, wondering if I was freelancing or doing this for my own enjoyment. I said the latter. I was previewing some photos with camera on tripod. He commented on how well the tree shot turned out. I appreciated this Security Officer's candor and understanding.

I was informed that the mall owner and shop owners do not approve of photographing their shops or malls as the area is private property. he didn't mid me taking photos of the lights, which was my intent. I thanked him and finished up. I was about done anyway as it was pretty darn chilly and windy that evening.

Anyway, this got me thinking about amateur photographer's rights the Christmas season. Here I thought I was in a public place taking photos of a public display. The street is public, so I suppose that legally, I should have taken my shots from there.
I wonder now if anyone else has experienced this while taking pictures.

Home Heating

Burner Tubes



Home furnace of glorious heat. Outside temp was -10 F (-24 C) last night. It is getting a workout!

Lights

Arbor Lakes - Maple Grove, MN

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Camera Model Canon EOS DIGITAL REBEL XTi

Shooting Mode Manual Exposure

Tv( Shutter Speed ) 4

Av( Aperture Value ) 11.0

ISO Speed 100

Focal Length 35.0 mm

Image Quality RAW

White Balance Mode Auto

Two Things Challenge - Urban / Art

When urban scenes becomes art. Art is in the eye of the beholder.

The Foshay Tower peeks between a parking ramp and another building. Taken from Nicollet Mall.

Rope Coil

Rope on a Post.
Now that's original.
Shooting Mode: Manual Exposure
Shutter Speed: 1/6
Aperture Value: 9.0
ISO Speed: 200
Focal Length: 59.0 mm