NASA Finally Launches 5 Rockets Off the Coast of Virginia

Gas Cloud from NASA Atrex Experiment


Rocket decends over the ocean during NASA Atrex Experiment

My daughter and I got up very early on the morning of March 27th to watch NASA launch 5 rockets from Wallops Island, VA which is just off the east coast. The rockets went very high, about 65 to 90 miles and were visible to much of the east coast. I made a time lapse video and will try to post it later. It would not upload to YouTube for some reason. The rockets released a cloud into the upper atmosphere so scientists could study the upper level jet stream near the edge of space. They hope that such information may allow them to better understand our changing weather patterns as well as the flow of charged particles that surround the earth.

National Harbor

Went to National Harbor saturday for dinner but ended up with peeps instead. Fantastic sunset though. Soccer starts soon so stay tuned.

11 Bald Eagles Spotted at Lake Mercer in Fairfax VA

I just got back from Lake Mercer in Fairfax Virginia and spotted no less than 11 Bald Eagles. 5 adults were seen and a number of juveniles. I would bet there were more but I could only see 11 from my vantage point. This is very unusual. I bet it has something to do with the climate right now. This shot was taken a couple of days ago of one of the adults at the lake. NOW is the time to get out and do some eagle watching.

Bald Eagles at Lake Accotink in Springfield, VA

The bald eagles at Lake Accotink have stayed and are nesting in the park. This shot was taken a couple of days ago near the dam. I located the nest, fairly easy to see without the leaves on the trees. Based on all reasonable accounts, they may start the next brood soon starting in January. Disturbing them at the nest site is illegal. I'm searching for vantage points that would give me a better view of the nest while keeping me back beyond the required distance.

These eagles are fairly used to people and noise being at a heavily used park in Fairfax County with a train running through the middle of it. I'll keep you posted of any developments.

Weather Too Good - Storm Loses Game 5 and 6

Storm lost game 5 but it wasn't a shutout. Cassi scored the only goal. The final game (6) was played today. Storm lost 0-1.

The rest of the game pics can be found here:

Game 5
https://picasaweb.google.com/mytwinsfather/November112011?authuser=0&feat=directlink

Final Game 6
https://picasaweb.google.com/mytwinsfather/November122011?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCILioL-CtOv43wE&feat=directlink

Storm Loses Game #3

Storm lost game 3 today. However, the girls played very hard against a pretty good team with many fast players.

To see the rest of the game pictures go here:
https://picasaweb.google.com/mytwinsfather/StormSoccerGame3?authuser=0&feat=directlink

Our House Guest for 1 Week

Here are my three girls and Tallara at Lake Mercer. We are dog-sitting Tallara for one week mostly to determine if any of us are allergic to dogs. So far so good. We are planning to adopt a lab but they wanted us to make sure we had no allergies first. Tallara is a very sweet 1 1/2 year old Husky Sheppard and is very well behaved and loves to go to the lake.

Storm Wins Game #2

Storm wins second game of the season after many rain cancellations. Storm lives up to their name and plays their best when it's rainy, windy, and cold. Everyone was right at home in the less than perfect conditions. The girls played well and were very aggressive. Here is a link to this weeks game pictures:

https://picasaweb.google.com/mytwinsfather/StormSoccerGame2?authuser=0&feat=directlink

The Girls Play Their 1st Game for the Fall 2011 Season

The girls played a tough team today and lost 2 to 1. However they played exceptionally well and every thought it was a very exciting and well played "on-the-edge-of-your-seat" game. For all of the game shots you can visit the following link on Picassa:

https://picasaweb.google.com/mytwinsfather/StormSoccerGame191711?authuser=0&feat=directlink

Trip to Natural Bridge, VA Last Weekend

Last weekend we made a camping trip to Natural Bridge, VA. We stayed at Cave Mountain Lake for two nights and had a great time in spite of the rain. Most of the time it was sunny and hot. Saturday we visited the Natural Bridge and Sunday we went to the Zoo where we got to ride an elephant as well as feed a baby tiger. See the pictures of both below. The tiger's name is Zeus and he was born on April 14th, 2011! I will post more pictures of our trip when I have time.


Cassi and I riding an elephant at the zoo!


My ladies getting to hold and feed a baby bengal tiger.

A Bald Eagle at Lake Accotink in Springfield, VA

Yesterday morning while photgraphing herons at the creek, a bald eagle made a special visit to me. I was able to get these flight pictures as he flew up the creek toward the dam.

Beautiful Sunset at Lake Mercer in Fairfax

Wonderful Sunset over Lake Mercer in Fairfax Virginia 6-27-2011

Highlights in Madison

This weekend in Madison, I spotted this 8 Point Buck out in the front yard. I snuck around the back with my camera and obtained this shot.


8pt Buck in my front yard


A Hummingbird at my neighbors (Buddy) house

A Ruby Throated Hummingbird

Here is another shot of the Ruby Throated Hummingbird

Tree Frogs in the Back Yard

I learned a new Photoshop technique last week called focus stacking. You basically take a series of photographs and focus at different depths on your subject. Photoshop then processes the in focus parts of all of the images then stacks them in layers. Below are three shots of my tree frog in the back yard.


Tree Frog in a Japanese Maple


Tree Frog on a Hydrangea

Tree Frog Staring out of a Flower Pot

Pileated Woodpeckers at Lake Accotink

Made a trip to Lake Accotink in Springfield, VA over lunch hour one afternoon last week. Didn't know what to expect. After arriving I discovered that there was a school field trip going on and had pretty much decided that nothing, I mean NOTHING, would still be around with 200 kids goofing off everwhere. As I was about to leave I heard a Pileated Woodpecker nearby and decided to wait it out adjacent to a couple of very large but dead trees. Sure enough one showed up then two, three and then four total. I had obviously stumbled on a family. Here are some shots of the woodpeckers doing what they do. If the weather and time permits this week, I may swing back and see if they are still hanging around.


This one was likely a youngster. Sat in the tree and called for momma.


There are very large woodpeckers. Largest in America if I'm not mistaken.

Lucky me to capture this one jumping from one limb to the other straight towards me.