Near and far

I'm feeling thoughtful today.  One thing I thought about is that retirement is a time during which we should be especially aware of our world. Of what we've been given. In this post, I want to share a few pictures of my world with all of you. I've been looking both close around me and off into the heavens.   

I want to see things now that, during my working years, I had passed by, while focused on earning a living or missed, because of my schedule.  I have the time now to see. I don't have to get up at 3:45 a.m. in order to be a factory located an hour away by 5:30. I can stop to smell the roses.  I can stay up late, sit outside, next to the putting green and croquet court on the spectators' chairs, and take pictures of the sky half the night if I want to. 

On one of these really clear nights during this coming summer,  maybe Jeanne will want to stay up late with me.  We'll bring a bottle of wine and my camera and tripod.  We'll spend an hour or so enjoying this time of our lives, and photographing whatever is in the sky that night. 

I want to appreciate. Appreciate means to recognize the full worth of, to grasp the full implications of.  You'll notice that the word 'full' is used in both those definitions. That fits for me. I want to enjoy what I experience during these years to the fullest. To do anything less would to waste this limited time. 

I think also about some amazing people living here in our village. An opera singer, writers, and painters of impressive ability. And some others with vast experience in the world. I'm impressed that I am able to rub shoulders with them. They are fascinating to talk to. I don't have their skills or experience, but I can appreciate them. That's what I can do. 

Here is a video I came across that blew me away. What a world we have that such people want to share their gifts with us.  (this is not a video of a resident) 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OnCeEU3UMic  **

Understandably thunderous applause. The audience is appreciative. They are thankful for what they've been given. 

I want to show my thanks for all the beauty in my life as well. Not by applauding, but by noticing what is here, by paying close attention to what I see.  

Enough philosophizing Doug, get on with it....

 

Okay, sorry.  Here are my photos.  If you've been rushed today, try to slow down now and relax. I'm drinking a glass of wine as I type this. @@  Do you also need a treat of some kind?  Why not get it now, these pictures will wait. I think you deserve it.  

This flower is on a post by the front door of the Atrium.  

To recognize the full worth of...

This one is nearby.  

I came out to my viewing chair while still not fully dark.  Venus and the moon are very close together tonight.  

It's getting darker.  This photo is indistinct. I was experimenting but I like the result. It gives you an idea of what we'll be looking at next...I'll use different settings though. 

It's rather hard to see, but Venus is not round, it looks flattened.  We'll look at some close-ups next and find out why. 

Not bad, the humidity was 72% when I took this picture. I'm  surprised it's as clear as it is. 

In this shot, you can see Venus becoming a crescent.  Did you know that Venus has phases?  It does. But on a far longer time scale than the moon. It makes sense that it does but I never thought about it before. I'm going to see if I can get some additional shots as it changes. 

If you get a chance, go outside and look for Venus yourself. It is fairly close to earth right now and therefore very bright.  You might be surprised just how bright.  

The sky was full last night, my friends...Here is Jupiter and company.  While the moon and Venus were far to the west. it was directly over my head as I sat.

And now zooming in...I'm indicating with the arrow what I think is the red spot just coming into view. It is of course upside down from the way you generally see it pictured.  

And here is Saturn. I think this is the best picture I've taken of it so far.  It was slightly to the west of Jupiter and much fainter of course. I could see it easily by eye, but had a little trouble finding it in my camera's screen at low power. It was that dim, partially due to urban light pollution.     

To grasp the full implications of...

Well, that's it for today. I hope I didn't sound too 'preachy,' but in retirement, I'm a little like a kid in a combination candy/toy store.  There are just so many interesting aisles to run up and down. And just think, I can stay here until the store closes and there's no school tomorrow...or ever again for me.  Boy, do I have it good.      

** (YouTube video) Andrea Bocelli is an Italian tenor. He has been blind since the age of 12. 

@@ (I am drinking a glass of wine...)  Jeanne was cooking  'braised lamb steaks in red wine and rosemary.'  Wow. Best lamb I've had in a while, and that's saying something. 

Here's her recipe.

Dredge the lamb steaks, chops, etc., in flour, and brown with garlic and onions.

Add about a cup of red wine and a sprig of fresh rosemary. 

Cover and simmer for about 45 minutes. 

Add salt and pepper as needed.  

If you're a person who hesitates to try lamb, this will convince you that it is delicious.   

Update: Here are a few more pictures. I took these on Nov. 9, 2021, the night after I took the previous photos.  

This is where I take my pictures from. What a view I have, huh?   

Although the sky looks blue in this shot, it looks black to me. It's a little after 9 pm. and is full dark. The setting I used seems almost like night-vision to me, but in full color. The shutter was open for a full second. I had a firm rest on the table next to my chair.  

I'm really pleased that we're able to see all four. Tonight, the planets and moon are arranged in a straight line. Venus is just above the roof top, then the moon of course, followed by dim Saturn and Jupiter highest up.  You'll notice that the moon especially is out of focus. Another long exposure and I hadn't brought my tri-pod.       -djf