Tinkering With 'Simply HDR'

I took a few shots of a weakish Sunrise with the FujiFilm IS-1 without any filters so it would record colour and any IR it picked up. Then I used the Mac app Simply HDR to enhance the results. Each pair starts with the shot as taken by the camera followed by the modified result:

New Plants for Old and an Unexpected Repair Job

Now is about the time of year when my Living Stones (Lithops) start showing next year's growth:



As can be seen with the plant on the left the annual new growth appears between the two fused fleshy leaves. This is the time to back right off with watering. The new growth takes its nourishment from the old which will gradually wither away as the new ones increase in size. Normally there are just two new 'leaves' but this one has four which can happen sometimes.

Two nights ago the night temperature in the UK was a record high for November and daytime here yesterday reached 17.7C (about 64F). With the high temperature and a moderate breeze I thought it was time to cut the grass on my frontage. It just hasn't stopped growing this year so I wanted to get it done before it got too long and before the next rainy period arrived.

All went well until I had finished and plugged the mower battery in the charger - nothing. No fan, no lights, no voltage. Dead as the proverbial Dodo. Checked the fuses - both working OK.

Had a quick Google with the item reference number and as luck would have it found the probable fault, and an easy repair, on the first place I looked. (howtomendit.com) I didn't have an exact match for the faulty part, a 180K resistor which I read is in the habit of going open circuit. I had a 150K so soldered that in as a trial and everything sprang back in to life so I have now ordered the correct value for a permanent repair.

Instead of having to fork out about £35 for a replacement Bosch charger it is costing me £1.75 for two high quality replacement resistors. One for now and a spare, just in case....

Red Sky in the Morning .....

..... shepherds (or sailors) warning. That was true yesterday. The day started with a glorious Sunrise which I missed photographing. It was soon followed by two spells of strong winds but fortunately only one heavy downpour.

This morning the Sunrise was pleasant and I did manage a photo with the iPhone...



... as the Sun started to rise behind the village school.  Thick black clouds keep drifting over but the forecast is better than that for yesterday. At the time of writing the temperature has reached an unseasonal 16C. Normal average here would be in single figures.

Monday Mystery - Guess What

Once in a while I get to keep all my virtual Midmarsh Gold and Silver stars to myself. Last week was one of those weeks. I thought the handle on the mug, yes it was a photo of my coffee mug, would have given the game away. It seems the flower decoration on it drew your attention:

   

Many thanks to those who had a go at guessing what it was.

Here's hoping this week's mystery photo causes less problems.
Guess What:


Please leave any guesses in the comments.
They will be revealed, along with the answer, next Monday.
No prizes, just for fun.

Little Lost Bug

 
 
Nothing much of note going on round here recently. All the bird feeders are down for a week. Unfortunately the seed scattered by the Starlings has been attracting at least one unwelcome furry visitor. It's the time of year when they come in the village from the local fields and ditches. I tried putting some special food under the shed for it / them but this time it didn't seem to have any effect so I called in a local pest controller. He will be back after seven days to see how things are going but the feeders stay down so the choice of food is limited to what he provided.

I had set up the Fujifilm IS1 without any filters so it would capture colour video along with any IR to film any local fireworks but so far that idea has bee a washout. Only a few in the distance but enough to upset Penny. The problem with the 5th November falling near the middle of the week is the use of fireworks is spread over several nights. Hopefully the best / worst will be over tonight.

A few days ago I just noticed a green shield bug on the footpath before I stepped on it:





That's about it from a wet and windy Lincolnshire this morning.

Little and Large

It's always a welcome sight to see a new tree growing in the hedges which seem to be cut so low these days:



It is growing in a line of well established Poplar trees:



Though it has a long way to go before it can compete with them for height:

Monday Mystery - Guess What

Another full house. Congratulations and the virtual Midmarsh Gold Star go to Adrian, Wilma, The Weaver of Grass and Ragged Robin who all recognise the pair of scissors in last week's mystery photo:

   

On to this week's mystery photo.
Guess What:

 

Please leave any guesses in the comments.
They will be revealed, along with the answer, next Monday.
No prizes, just for fun.