The night sky on December 29, 2022

I am once again extending my break from our South Island Tour posts.  I want to publish this one today before it gets too old.  

It's December 29, 2022 and I'm thinking of my family.  I think that tonight I'll spend some time recording the night sky and share it.  

I was walking through the Mews and noticed the early evening sun on the African Garden and Fernery.  We're looking roughly East here.  

Now we're looking west.  The Corbans were an early wine-making extended family.  

I'm at the tables between the petanque court and the croquet area at about 9:30.  Jupiter is close to the Moon tonight.  I'm pleased.  I'll try again to get them together in a picture.  

There is trouble as usual with the humidity. It's at 83% tonight and you readily see the effect it has on the pictures.  

Hmmm, I don't have Jupiter's moons yet.  I'll keep trying.

But first, let's look at the moon. This shot is not bad. 

And now, I'll show you Jupiter

I call that arrangement of  Jupiter and its moons its 'Steve Martin banjo' configuration.

I don't know if you knew the album, Pictures at an Exhibition (1971), by Emerson, Lake and Palmer, but I did. And enjoyed it.  

However, the origin of that music (written in1874) is from M. Mussorgsky, a Russian composer. I found that the opening fanfare, I think you call it, was going through my head for some reason recently, so I looked it up on YouTube and watched the Oslo Philharmonic Orchestra perform it. It's impressive. (If you're interested:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XwJMpQiqCm4  )

When I look at this picture, I like to think of the final moments of that piece. The crescendo with cymbals, kettle drums, and the entire orchestra playing like their lives depended on it. 

It's not the greatest picture in the world, but the more I look at it, the more I like it.  Jeanne was complimentary about it too. I do like the explosion of color. The problem with humidity transformed it into something unique.  

And I also like that you can see some stars near the Moon.  One is very close, at about 11 o'clock.  Did you spot it?  

I also turned my camera about 90 degrees and took this next picture.  

It starts with Mars low on the left. Then an upside-down (as viewed from the Northern Hemisphere, that is) Orion in the center of the picture. On the right, that brightest star is Sirius.  

I was hoping that if I came out again tonight, the 30th, because of the way the Moon moves, it might appear even closer to Jupiter. It would be on Jupiter's other side of course.   

I discovered however, that the Moon moved much more than I thought it would and was further away from Jupiter than last night. So much for my plan of producing a picture with the Moon and Jupiter closer and larger than ever.  The pictures below were taken on 12/30/22.  

 

The moons have moved significantly and only three are visible.  

Sorry that the moons are so pixilated.  

Finally, here is Mars, as close as I could get it.  

I can't see the moons around Mars.  They're just too tiny.

I hope that you have enjoyed these.  I get enormous satisfaction from taking my shots back to the computer and looking at what I've just captured. And even more enjoyment when I can choose the best and show them to all of you.  

And to my family, I love you all.    -djf

A singular experience.

I know that I said I'd return to pictures from the South Island this week, but changed my mind.  I hope that you enjoy this one.   

A singular experience presented itself to me recently. 

Imagine if you had long admired a painter, or a  singer, band, filmmaker, orchestra, Broadway play, etc., and you were then suddenly able to attend an event which featured said painter, etc. I think you'd be delighted, right?   

This morning, December 19, 2022, that's just what happened to me.  

I went to the Auckland Art Museum and toured a visiting exhibit of Frida Kahlo's paintings. I have been a fan of her work for many years.  

She is a Mexican painter who lived from 1907 to 1954. Now, if I were to try to describe her style of painting to you, I'd have to learn whatever I told you from Wikipedia or some other source.  I don't know much at all about painting, or styles or art history.  If I tried to fake it, I'd come across as pretentious.  Therefore, I have copied a link to the Wiki article about her and invite you to read about her there, if you're curious.  

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frida_Kahlo

What I do know is that since I first saw her paintings, more than 30 years ago, I have liked them. 

I'd better quit talking and show you some of the photos I took at the museum.  I asked permission to take non-flash photographs and was immediately invited to 'help myself,' by one of the museum curators who was keeping her eye on the crowds attending the exhibit.  

(I had seen no one taking photos during my first half hour or so in the exhibit, so I asked.  After I started taking pictures, phones were coming out of pockets and purses all over the place. I think I performed a very useful service to the public.)

When Frida was 18, she was in a bus accident, was hospitalized for I think, most of a year, and spent the rest of her life battling pain.  

This is a picture of her in the hospital.  It was here that she started painting.  

I'm seated in the exhibit and looking around. There she is, in the distance. 

I think this one was called, Self-Portrait with Braid.  

The man's head you see there is Diego Rivera, himself a famous Mexican painter. They would marry, divorce and remarry.  

Self Portrait with Monkeys 

Of the paintings I saw here today, this is my favorite.  Although I like her surreal paintings very much, some of them are rather jarring, and I don't know that I'd want it on my wall, jarring me all the time. However, there is something satisfying about this still life, and there is still a feeling of Frida in it.    

I especially like its title. It's called, The Bride Who Becomes Frightened When She Sees Life Opened.  For me, that title adds enormous value to this painting.  

Frida and Diego

The following paintings are by Diego Rivera.  

I found this next painting on Wikipedia. It shows of course, Diego and Frida and was done by Frida in 1931. 

I read that her family was not happy about the marriage.  He was 20 years older and they described the marriage as 'between and elephant and a dove.'  

Let's end on a happier note.  

There was a time in my life when I was a young father and hadn't yet met Diego and Frida. However, I remember seeing a painting that looked very similar to this one ( I didn't know it back then) and featured some television performers who were very important to my young daughter at the time.  Take a look down below.

I also found this on Wikipedia.  I love parodies in all their forms.  

Well, that's it for today.  I hope that you've enjoyed seeing these pictures. I'm very glad the museum made them available for me (us) to see.  Well worth the price of admission. 

If you'd like to see many more of her paintings, just google 'Frida Kahlo paintings' and click on images.  You won't be sorry.   -djf 

Does lichen frighten you? Does moss make you cross? Well, then....There is a solution.

Actually, the word 'solution' in my header has a double meaning. The solution I refer to is both a device and the mixture of a chemical and water.  Let me explain...

But first, just a short note about this post. 

I am taking a break this week from showing you pictures of the South Island.  I'll get back to them next week, but thought that a change of pace might be welcome.  

Auckland lies in a transition zone between subtropical and temperate. Its climate is warm and moderately wet. Not surprisingly, this gives lichens, mosses, molds and mildews and fungi of all sorts an encouraging pat on the back, so to speak. It's little wonder that these life forms thrive on the convoluted surfaces that make up the concrete roofing tiles of many of the buildings in town. 

This is a shot of what some of these roof tiles look like up close.  Note the colonies. (Untreated) 

You can see colonies starting.

Here is another style of tile on yet another roof.   (Very clean) 

Further, these organisms are able to 'hide in plain sight.' Auckland does not have the steeply sloped roofs of  the buildings erected in colder climates that have to support heavy loads of snow during the winter, but even a low sloped roof can still pose a challenge to get to, and to safely move around on.  Especially on multi-storied buildings like those in our retirement village. 

The species that threaten us today may be tiny, but they exist in their billions, and are intent on colonizing our roof tops. They could take over our village if unopposed!

This post will show you the latest solution to controlling the growth of all those unwanted invaders.  I had fun taking pictures and videos. Other residents joined me, finding the day to be entertaining as the drone of something out of Star Wars echoed through the canyons between our buildings.  

Not so long ago, in a city far, far away, (from Michigan anyway) our retirement village was fighting the combined forces of several alien life forms.....

 Fortunately, our forces had a secret weapon.

It can't jump to light speed, but it does hold 30 liters of a spray mixture that will defeat the enemy. 

And it has a small sidekick who 'talks' to it and helps it navigate.  

Notice as you watch this first video that the little white drone is high above the sprayer drone.  At one point in the video, I attempted to find the little white drone and zoom in on it, but I couldn't find it against the sky.   

We noticed that our local seagulls often flew very close to the little white drone, wondering no doubt, what the heck it was.  Good thing they didn't mess with it.  

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OikTHlXk0Gk

In this second video, it is spaying a different building. Notice that the base of your camera man shows up in the reflection of a window as it lands.  

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WcgU1mHQwVM

These next views show it in front of the Vines, working on the spraying the Sky Bridge. I was on the 4th floor of The Ferns.  

It's headed for The Vines now.  

I've seen lots of aircraft fly over our palms, but this is the first one of these up there.  

I was sitting at a table, under an umbrella, drinking a cup of tea outside our café, and talking to a guy from Scotland when the drone took off again.  

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hhAVEzOm3og

I'm happy to report that the drones saved the day.  The rooftop invaders have been defeated.

 

"Use the dronz,"  and "May the dronz be above you," are the new rallying cries for our forces. Further battles will no doubt be fought as the alien species regroup.  Watch for the next exciting episode.    -djf

South Island Saga: Doubtful Sound finale.

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We are approaching the end of our journey through Doubtful Sound. I'll be sorry to see this amazing glimpse into the fjords end.  

BTW, Jeanne told me something just now that I had apparently didn't hear during the cruise.  Our guide, during one of her talks, said that our ship is the same approximate size as Captain Cook's ship, The Endeavor. 

Let's get started with the photos for today...

I'll start this series like I did in the post before last; with Jeanne up front, apparently acting as ship's lookout.  

She was the one who originally became enthused about this South Island tour we're on so I thinks it's fitting that I show her leading the way as we live the adventure.   

Those of you who follow my blog know that I often refer to short stories, books or movies when I describe any given photo.  The picture below reminds me of one of my favorite movies when I was a kid. I saw The Lost World in about 1960, when I was nine.  In it, a group of scientists and adventurers traveled to the Amazonian jungle and discovered a hidden land with dinosaurs and volcanos. What nine year old could resist that?    

We have started to get a little light rain.

This is not a great picture, but I included it because it is interesting in it's own way.  Notice how smooth the water is.  

  

Here comes a dolphin.  Although there are nine species of dolphin's, this one is most likely a 'short-beaked common dolphin.'  

This species is listed as abundant. It is often preyed upon though by killer whales, which by the way, is actually the largest species of dolphin.  Seems a little cannibalistic doesn't it?  

We're approaching the end of our journey and are rewarded with a truly 'other-worldly' vista to round out our experience.  

I was briefly temped to enhance the colors a bit with an editing program, but I did not, preferring the reality of the scene.  

This is the view across the sound from the wharf where we have just tied up.

She was a fine ship.  Aye, that she was.  

We've come full circle. We are once again crossing Lake Manapouri. Our ultimate destination today is Te Anau, but we may have one or two adventures before we get there.  

Y'all come back again, y'hear?    -djf

Special addition:

I'm sorry I didn't get better dolphin pictures in Doubtful Sound. I was really hoping to have some good ones for you. 

However, I did get some amazing shots back in 2014 when Allie took us on a whale watching adventure.  

Here are a few shots from that trip, just for fun. 

That's a fin whale in the background.