Deb's Website at Google.com
T. Bolton Digital Art Archive links for previous years are listed at the bottom of this page.
______________________________________
Although this website focuses on Digital Art, expect to see other informative and entertaining content.
MOST RECENT POSTS 2025
↓ Home -- July 4, July 6, August 2, August 4, August 16, September 1
← Artificial Intelligence -- August 24, September 3, September 4, September 5
← Digital Art --
← Food -- March 6, March 8, September 4, September 5
← Miscellaneous -- July 1, July 18, August 1, August 14, August 22, September 1
← More Odds and Ends -- August 11, August 15, August 30, September 1
← My YouTube Channel --
← Photography --
← Sheet Music and Audio -- May 16
← SketchUp Projects IV -- August 7, August 8, August 10, August 26
← SketchUp Projects III -- January 11, January 14, 2025
← SketchUp Projects II -- August 21, 2023--July 29, 2024
← SketchUp Projects -- November 4, 2022-- July 30, 2023
← Web Page Development -- January 18, May 15, August 7, August 13
Click Below for Wealther App
________________
New !!!
Click Below for
AI Powered
Virtual Assistant
(Deactivated until Sept. 11)
Queries Everything on this Website and more. Latest Update, Aug. 12, 2025.
________________
September 1, 2025 Labor Day -- For All Hard Workers--Employed, Unemployed, and Retired!
This day is a tribute to all workers who have built this country and keep in going strong.
Tom
Updated: 09-05-2025, 09-04-2025, 09-03-2025, 09-01-2025.
August 4 2025 Revival -- Resilience of Wildflowers and Other Topics
The wildfire smoke has shifted eastward, at least for now. The suffocating vegetation and animal life, including myself can once again breathe easier.
Clear, sunny skies and moderate temperatures have reinvigorated the mixed- and wildflowers that have just begun to bloom. The varieties are different from last year but this year's bloom seems to be a week or two behind last year. My original intent was to replant seeds gathered last fall; however, I misplaced them. I later found the package of harvested seeds stored in a safe place--but too safe to remember where.
This year I've stored them with the gardening supplies and will try again next year to see if any germinate--provided they remain in the same place. I think investing in a grow light for early next year would be more beneficial than relying on a dimly lit basement windows for seedling development for both the flowers and cherry trees as explained in more detail in the next paragraph.
______________________
I've begun to save cherry seeds for the past month (180 ct,) which I've prepared for cold stratification (Depitted, sandwiched between multiple layers of moistened paper towel treated with cinnamon powder to inhibit mold growth (eight seeds per quarter section of paper towel); next, wrapped in aluminum foil and then in a zip lock bag partially open on one end to permit oxygenation). The seeds are presently tucked away in the vegetable drawer of the fridge. I'll take a peek at them in a few months.
Hopefully, there are enough seeds stored to improve the odds of growing at least one cherry tree, which was unsuccessful this spring due to poor handling. Nearly all of the 20 cherry seeds that were kept in cold storage sprouted; however, one by one they all withered and died after they had been planted in potting soil.
I had kept the young cherry tree seedlings in a controlled environment by covering them with a clear plastic tent (makeshift greenhouse), watered them at least twice weekly with snow-melt water and later with purified water (not chlorinated)--but there was just not enough sunlight.
______________________
Again, it's been a few years since several gallons of dandelion wine were fermented and aged (2022 & 2023 growing seasons). The sealed quart jars of wine are clear and light and have a pleasant bouquet. How it plays on the palate remains to be explored.
August 2, 2025 Air Pollution Again -- Environment
The wildfire smoke has been relentless in northern regions of the U.S. I have been dragging myself around the house after venturing outdoors for a few minutes to water the flowers and feed the birds. Water in the bird bath and watering dishes has turned brown by the morning due to the particulates in the air.
Yesterday, most of the potted plants were wilted and drooping. I set the pots in the shade and misted them with a fine spray. By evening they had perked up.
And what about the insects? As mentioned in earlier posts, most have disappeared--no doubt died from asphyxiation. Except for ants on the patio and a beetle or two beneath an outdoor doormat, that's about it.
A few moths, one butterfly, and a single encounter with a mosquito have been it. No spiders to be seen in their usual hangouts--They've probably starved to death from lack of prey. No cricket sounds either. Sometimes a lone frog can be heard calling out in the evening.
There are a few bug splatters on the windshield from night driving but nothing compared to past years. Grasshoppers and locusts seem to have gone extinct. A couple of front and back yard toads feed on the ants. One enjoys lounging in a water dish to cool off. The water dishes are set out for rabbits, squirrels and stray cats--the toad is just being resourceful.
Even after a refreshing rain, the lawn, hedges, and trees continue to smell like a wet ash pile until they dry. Then, in a little while, the smoke drifts over the state once again that blocks the sunshine and fouls the air.
The thick and unhealthy wildfire smoke has now been an annual event for the past several years and it seems to be intensifying. Is this a forewarning of what is to come or has the worst already arrived.
Forest management is an impossibilty--look at a map at the enormous amount of forested land there is in remote regions of Canada? Why now we ask. Is this a natural or man-made event, or a combination of both?
Updated: 08-30-2025, 08-26-2025, 08-25-2025, 08-24-2025, 08-23-2025, 08-22-2025, 08-21-2025, 08-20-2025, 08-19-2025, 08-18-2025, 08-17-2025, 08-16-2025, 08-15-2025, 08-14-2025, 08-13-2025, 08-12-2025, 08-11-2025, 08-10-2025, 08-08-2025, 08-07-2025, 08-06-2025, 08-05-2025, 08-04-2025, 08-03-2025, 08-02-2025, 08-01-2025.
July 6, 2025 Flowers and Trees--Gardening, Photography
It has been exactly One year since the first Bachelor Buttons appeared on this page. They are now back for another summer for everyone to enjoy.
Late last winter I planted cheery seeds that had been extracted from their pits and stored in the refridgerator for several months. They were kept covered with a sprinkle of cinnamon in a damp environment between layers of paper towels and wrapped in aluminum foil. By early March most of them had sprouted and were planted in potting soil and placed in a basement window out of reach of the cats. Of the two dozen that were planted only two survived to be planted outdoors. Unfortunately, they too whithered and died after a week of variable temperatures. Too bad so Sad.
On the brigher side, at the same time, I had planted One apple seed indoors in potting soil. It germinated after a few weeks and now is a hardy little tree standing about two or 3 inches tall. Learning from the demise of the cherry trees, I kept the little tree beneath a clear plastic dome to protect it from the elements--an inverted plastic food container served as its miniature green house. Now this once limp little tree that had to be propped up is now strong enough to stand on its own. Should threatening weather approach. The plastic container is by its side and ready for use where it is held in place with popsicle sticks. (See image below).
The mixed wildflowers are late, but several of the potted plants are finally producing buds. They are not ready to be displayed and now reside near a large table in the back yard. If the weather turns foul, the smaller planters and pots can be placed beneath the table for protection.
July 4, 2025 Have a Happy and Safe Fourth of July!
Image Source: Google ImageFX
July 1, 2025 Today's Digital Art World . . .
Tom
Updated: 07-30-2025, 07-29-2025, 07-28-2025, 07-26-2025, 07-24-2025, 07-22-2025, 07-21-2025, 07-18-2025, 07-15-2025, 07-10-2025, 07-07-2025. 07-06-2025, 07-05-2025, 07-04-2025, 07-03-2025, 07-02-2025, 07-01-2025.
June 19, 2025 Juneteenth--National Holiday.
June 15, 2025 Happy Father's Day--Google ImageFX
June 1, 2025 Photography -- Environment
Updated: 06-30-2025, 06-28-2025, 06-22-2025, 06-21-2025, 06-20-2025, 06-19-2025, 06-15-2025, 06-01-2025.
May 26, 2025 Memorial Day
May 22, 2025 Regional Temperature Variation -- Weather
In early May the North Central Region of North Dakota was experiencing drought conditions with very little moisture or winter runoff due to a light snowfall and lack of rain.
Record high temperatures were set during this month with some areas reaching the triple digits (see data extracted from AccuWeather below).
Temperatures plummeted from near 100 degrees to below or near freezing within a few day--a 67 degrees drop.
Along with the temperature change came a welcomed soaking but gentle rain that fell over a multi-state region that ended in a light drizzle yesterday for our immediate area. Today is the first day of sunshine in the past ten days or so.
The state had been experiencing its own wildfires earlier in the month but the steady rainfall ended that for now. No one is complaining too much about the rain, expecially farmers, with the exception of delays in spring planting due to wet field conditions.
May 22, 2025 Regional Temperature Variation -- Weather
In early May the North Central Region of North Dakota was experiencing drought conditions with very little moisture or winter runoff due to a light snowfall and lack of rain.
Record high temperatures were set during this month with some areas reaching the triple digits (see data extracted from AccuWeather below).
Temperatures plummeted from near 100 degrees to below or near freezing within a few day--a 67 degrees drop.
Along with the temperature change came a welcomed soaking but gentle rain that fell over a multi-state region that ended in a light drizzle yesterday for our immediate area. Today is the first day of sunshine in the past ten days or so.
The state had been experiencing its own wildfires earlier in the month but the steady rainfall ended that for now. No one is complaining too much about the rain, expecially farmers, with the exception of delays in spring planting due to wet field conditions.
AccuWeather Temperatures and Forecast for North Dakota -- May, 2025
May 11, 2025 Happy Mother's Day
May 1, 2025 May Day -- Traditions and Ceremonies
Updated: 05-29-2025, 05-26-2025, 05-23-2025, 05-22-2025, 05-15-2025, 05-17-2025, 05-16-2025, 05-15-2025, 05-14-2025, 05-13-2025, 05-12-2025, 05-11-2025, 05-09-2025, 05-08-2025, 05-07-2025, 05-06-2025, 05-04-2025, 05-01-2025.
April 28, 2025 Almost Spring . . .
April 20, 2025 Easter Sunday
Created with GIMP Layers
April 10, 2025 Pheasant -- Photogaphy
The snow is 99% melted and spring birds as well as those that were with us all winter have begun to appear in greater numbers. Here is a backyard visitor seen this morning.
April 1, 2025 --
! yaD 'slooF lirpA
Updated: 04-30-2025, 04-28-2025, 04-26-2025, 04-25-2025, 04-23-2025, 04-22-2025, 04-21-2025, 04-20-2025, 04-17-2025, 04-15-2025, 04-13-2025, 04-10-2025, 4-09-2025, 04-07-2025, 04-06-2025, 04-04-2025, 04-02-2025, 04-01-2025.
March 20, 2025 First Day of Spring!! -- Snowy Owl Sighting
Although the first day of Spring is not an official holiday, it is marked on the calendar as a special event--especially after a long and cold North Dakota winter.
Today was a balmy 60 degrees with sunshine. Snow banks were melting and barring a spring blizzard or two, we'll be seeing green grass in a month or two.
This afternoon was even more special because on the drive home from an outing, we had the good fortune of sighting a snowy owl (arctic owl) perched on a tall power pole about a 15 minute drive from home.
Coincidentally, I had posted a story about arctic owls and other birds on February 11, 2025 see (More Odds and Ends listed in the left side bar).
Here is the location of the Snowy Owl sighting and other data:
Directions: 2.5 miles south of Renvile Corner along U.S. Highway 83 (perched atop a power pole on the west side of the road), Bottineau County, North Dakota.
Geo Location (Google Maps) 48.731058, -101.301486
Time: 4:10 p.m. CDT
Date March 20, 2025
The owl was looking west at a stubble field with only a few patches of snow remaining here and there.
My wife said she had never seen a white owl before, so we turned around and drove by it two more times before continuing home. I did not want to stop the car to take a picture--that would have probably spooked the bird. Merely sighting the owl was reward enough.
Based on what I had mentioned in the previous post, I feared never see one again; but, today made my day. I couldn't remember the last time I had seen an arctic owl--at least 30 years ago.
Here's a Zoomed in Snowy Owl Sightings Map that marks the spot, or click the link below for the Global Map:
Source: Snowy Owl Sightings Map generated from eBird Observations
Zoomed in Snowy Owl Sightings Map with today's sighting coordinates inserted.
Click Here for Global Map All About Birds.org.
March 17, 2025 Happy St. Patrick's Day Limerick
St. Patrick's Day Celebration
Two grumpy Leprechauns, full of frown,
Decided to dance all around.
With a stomp and a spin,
They begrudgingly grinned,
And turned St. Patrick's Day upside down!
Images: Microsoft Image Creator Edited with GIMP
Limerick: ChatGPT 4.o
ThoughtsOfThomasNotNostradamus
Tom
Updated: 03-31-2025, 03-28-2025, 03-27-2025, 03-26-2025, 03-21-2025, 03-20-2025, 03-17-2025, 03-16-2025, 03-15-2025, 03-13-2025, 03-12-2025, 03-10-2025, 03-08-2025, 03-07-2025, 03-06-2025, 03-20-2025, 03-04-2025, 03-03-2025, 03-01-2025.
February 17, 2025 President's Day 2025
Monday, February 17 is Presidents Day, a federal holiday to observe the birthdays of former presidents George Washington and Abraham Lincoln.
February 14, 2025
February 2, 2025 Ground Hog Day
Groundhog Day is celebrated with the annual appearance of Punxsutawney Phil, a semi-mythical groundhog who predicts the weather in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania. The tradition is based on a Pennsylvania Dutch superstition that originated with German immigrants.
[Source: Google Lab's | AI Overview]
Update: Punxsutawny Phil saw his shadow today which means he predicts six more weeks of winter.
[Source: Live Television New Report]
Punxsutawney Phil
[Image Source: Google ImageFX]
Updated: 02-28-2025, 02-27-2025, 02-26-2025, 02-25-2025, 02-24-2025, 02-22-2025, 02-20-2025, 02-18-2025, 02-17-2025, 02-15-2025, 02-14-2025, 02-11-2025, 02-09-2025, 02-08-2025, 02-05-2025, 02-03-2025, 02-02-2025.
January 20, 2025 Martin Luther King Jr. Day
In the silence of his dream,
A voice once echoed, clear and true,
Across the miles, across the years,
A vision bright, of justice due.
He walked with hope, where hate had stood,
And spoke for those with no power to speak,
His words still rise, a quiet flood,
A beacon for the strong and weak.
Today we honor all he gave,
The fight for peace, the road he paved,
With love as guide, and faith as shield,
His legacy, forever sealed.
January 13, 2035 Almost Reality -- Creeping Inflation in a Cashless Society
"With your Senior Discount, your two items come to 114.95. Will that be Credit Card or Crypto today?"
[An ImageFX Rendering]
ThoughtsOfThomasNotNostradamus
Updated: 01-29-2025, 01-28-2025, 01-27-2025, 01-26-2025, 01-25-2025, 01-22-2025, 01-20-2025, 01-18-2025, 01-17-2025, 01-16-2025, 01-15-2025, 01-14-2025, 01-13-35, 01-11-2025, 01-10-2025, 01-09-2025, 01-07-2025, 01-03-2025, 01-02-2025, 01-01-2025.
December 25, 2024 Seasons Greetings -- Photography
Jack Frost visited a few days ago.
White Christmas
Backyard View
December 7, 2024 Pearl Harbor Day -- AI, Labs Google/FX
On December 7th, the primary activity celebrated is National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day, commemorating the attack on Pearl Harbor that occurred on this date in 1941...
Source: Search Labs | AI Overview
Updated: 12-26-2024, 12-25-2024, 12-18-2024, 12-16-2024, 12-15-2024, 12-14-2024, 12-07-2024, 12-04-2-24, 12-03-2024.
November 28, 2024 Happy Thanksgiving -- Microsoft Image Creator
Text Prompt: "Please create a photorealisitic image of a large family gathering seated around their dining room table enjoying Thanksgiving Day Dinner. Paint using a Norman Rockwell Style with a 1950s motif."
"Thanksgiving Dinner" A Norman Rockwell - Style Painting
Image Source: Microsoft Image Creator Powered by DALL-E3
November 11, 2024 Veteran's Day 2024 -- Google Image FX
Veteran's Day, 2024
Image Source: A-I text to image . . . Google Image FX
November 1, 2024 Vote -- and be Counted in the Presidential and other Elections.
A Bi-partisan Perspective:
If you haven't already voted, set aside time to cast your ballot. Exercising your right to vote is what keeps our country strong. Whether your candidates of choice win or lose you have done your part. Congratulations are in order for the winners; also, thank the losers for their dedication and concern.
Regardless of who wins the election we as a people get exactly what we deserve. The Rule of Majority is the law of the land. Celebration should be short lived and then it's time to get back to the business of governance.
Crying over spilt milk and sorrow of loss should be brief. A handshake seals the deal and the realization of victory or defeat indicates that it is time to move onward.
At this point in life I have lived during 14 Presidencies which have been divided almost equally between Republican and Democratic candidates. Their political affiliations have become clouded in my mind and I remember them mostly for their accomplishments while in office rather than for their shortcomings or their party's stance. After all, they represented We the People.
2024 Election -- Do Your Part
Updated: 11-30-2024, 11-28,2024, 11-29-2024, 11-25-2024, 11-21-2024, 11-17-2024, 11-16-2024, 11-13-2024, 11-11-2024, 11-01-2024.
October 31, 2024 Happy Halloween -- Treats and Snacks
Goodies, costumes, and decorations are the best parts of Halloween. It is enjoyed by the young and old alike. Orange and black wrappers are in direct contrast to the upcoming red, white, green, and other sparkly stuff at Christmas.
If you shop around good deals on bags of miniature candy bars, etc., do occur. Here are some examples that we found at Menards. In addition, Menards usually offers a 11% rebate on all store products.
Save about a dollar per bag on Nestles Crunch Bars--Fun Size: 10 oz. bag; 22 ct.; or Kit Kats--Fun Size: 10.7 Oz. bag. Fun Size bags of candy are even priced down to around $2.00 a bag for clearance sales after the holidays!
Other good buys recently found at Menards include: Taffy Town Saltwater Taffy (assorted flavors); 15 oz. bag; 60 pieces; $4.29 and Sach's Peanuts (In the Shell, Unsalted or Salted); 5 lb. bag; $7.59.
Sach's Peanuts are fresh and well roasted. Both the Unsalted and Salted bags have a good flavor.
Taffy Town Saltwater Taffy is good quality with an assortment of 12 distinct flavors. The wrappers twist off easily and are not pressed into the taffy.
You get your money's worth for both generous bags of peanuts and taffy!
Snack On . . .
Source: A-I Generative Text-to-Image -- Google Image FX
October 14, 2024 Indigenous Peoples' Day and Columbus Day
Indigenous Peoples' Day
AI Prompt: Draw a photo realistic image of a group of young Native American children performing a Jingle-Fancy dance at a Pow Wow celebrating/commemorating Indigenous Peoples' Day. Children are attired in headress, mocassins, and colorful ceremonial regalia.
History of Jingle and Fancy Dance. (Youtube)
Image Source: Microsoft Image Creator
Columbus Day
AI Image Created with Microsoft Bing, Powered by Dalle E3
October 11, 2024 Autumn -- Photography
Updated: 10- 31-2024, 10-29-2024, 10-16-2024, 10-14-2024, 10-11-2024, 10-04-2024, 10-02-2024.
September 4, 2024 Air Quality -- Environment
This morning at 9:30 a.m. CDT a thick layer of choking smoke covers the area in a state of dead calm. Hopefully, school children have recess indoors on days like this. Air Qualitiy Index: HAZARDOUS.
Not a peanut or speck of bird and critter food that was set out last evening has been eaten. Usually its gone by this time. There are no birds in flight and the squirrels have not arrived.
It's currently 10:00 a.m. and the Sun is trying to peek through the layers of cloudy smoke. A Blue Jay's loud cry can be heard and I can see a squirrel's tail thrashing back and forth in the tree above one of the bird feeders. Winds have increased and with luck, the smoke will dissipate. Remained indoors.
At 12:00 p.m. noticed smoke had inflitrated one bedroom through a window air conditioning duct for a new-fangled portable air conditioning system on wheels. Removed duct, closed window completely, moved a small (easy to carry) portable air purfier into bedroom, turned on the Ionizer feature, set fan speed on high to clean up the air, exited the room, and closed the door.
Our new auxilary air conditioning system for our older home is not without its faults. Besides being noisy, the air conditioner's exhaust duct possibly allows smoke to enter through the 6" flexible tubing outlet that connects to the air conditioner in the room. If in fact that is where the smoke is entering, this design needs some re-thinking by including a feature that would restrict air flow or rain incursion at the window if need be. That is, heavy rain driven by a strong wind could also blow into the flexible tubing that is protected only by a window screen and potentially flood the room.
Recommendation for portable window exhaust air conditioners like ours (especially if you're going to be away from home): Remove exhaust duct from the window and close slider window when severe weather is threatening; or, in the above mentioned case, whenever air quality has been compromised. On the other hand, if temperatures require air conditioned cooling, then the room hot air exhaust should prevent smoke from entering while in operation. In certain situations, rain may be able to enter with or without the air conditioner in operation.
Checked bedroom air at 12:15 p.m. Air was odorless but decided to continue running the room air purifier for a while longer.
It is now 3:00 p.m. Outside air is less polluted and the wind has changed direction. With the room now smoke free, the exhaust duct was re-inserted in the slider window opening (a two minute fix) and the air purifier was moved elsewhere.
By the way, under normal conditions, we are completely satisified with the portable air conditioner's ability to cool the area. It's easy to operate (remote control) and maintains the temperature according to our specified settings. It can also de-humdify and heat but these applications are unnecessary for our needs.
There is leakage in window gaskets and visible gaps in connector fitting, as well as the large open exhaust duct leading to the portable air conditioner unit that could allow outside smoke to enter the room.
Purchased in June, 2024. It is in operation whenever temperatures climb to the upper seventies.
We set it to maintain 72 or 73 Degrees and it works great, but is a bit noisy and interferes with hearing the TV, etc.
This air purifier fits on a shelf or table top. It removes smoke from a small bedroom in 15 minutes with Ionizer On and Fan set to High (Ionizer is used only as needed).
It was purchased in 2012 and runs 24 hours a day on Low. Originally used in AZ to supplement AC and remove dust particles from desert climate air. Later used in ND for smoke, dust, and cat dander control especially during unventilated wintertime months. It runs quitely on Low.
(See May 19, 2023 post in More Odds and Ends for related information.)
Source: Microsoft Image Creator -- AI Generative Text-to-Image Application
Prompt: Draw a realistic image of a brown squirrel sitting on a tree branch thrashing its bushy tail about. In the background can be seen a few out buildings, more trees and a hazy morning sky caused by drifting wildfire smoke from afar.
Other Environmental Information (Google Search Labs and Selected Links):
Prompt: Are carbon dioxide emissions from forest and wildfires, volcanic eruptions, and animal waste decomposition greater than emissions from human consumption of fossil fuels?
Google Search Labs: No, carbon dioxide emissions from forest and wildfires, volcanic eruptions, and animal waste decomposition combined are significantly less than the emissions from human consumption of fossil fuels; human activities, particularly burning fossil fuels, are considered the largest contributor to atmospheric carbon dioxide levels by a large margin.
(Generative AI is experimental.)
It is estimated that Global Carbon Dioxide emissions average 40 Billion Tons Annually of which 37 Billion Tons are attributed to Fossil Fuel Emissions. Global Carbon Emissions from Fossil Fuels reached record high in 2023 -- Standford | Doerr School of Sustainability
__________________________________________
Prompt: Have concerns about carbon dioxide emissions from human consumption of fossil fuels been overblown?
Google Search Labs: No, concerns about excess carbon dioxide emissions are not overblown:
Carbon dioxide levels are rising
Carbon dioxide levels are higher than they have been in at least 3 million years.
Carbon dioxide is a heat-trapping gas
Carbon dioxide is a heat-trapping gas that lingers in the atmosphere for hundreds of years.
Carbon dioxide emissions are increasing
The total amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere increases every year because humans emit more carbon dioxide than natural sinks can remove.
Climate change is causing effects
Climate change is causing effects such as increased drought, water shortages, and expanding deserts.
Carbon dioxide levels are expected to continue rising
Scientists anticipate that carbon dioxide levels will continue to rise until humans reduce their use of fossil fuels.
Carbon dioxide levels can have health effects
Breathing air with high concentrations of carbon dioxide can cause rapid breathing, confusion, increased blood pressure, and increased arrhythmias. Breathing oxygen depleted air can lead to death by suffocation.
(Generative AI is experimental.)
__________________________________________
Google Search Labs: Yes, it's likely that wildfire smoke will become more prevalent in the United States and Canada as climate change continues to increase the frequency and size of wildfires:
Climate change
Climate change is causing the Arctic to warm faster than the rest of the world, which slows down the jet stream and creates a wavy path. This pattern can send warm air into central Canada and cooler air down to California.
Larger and more frequent fires
Wildfires are becoming larger and more frequent due to climate change. The carbon released when forests burn contributes to climate change, which in turn leads to more fires. This is known as a "fire-climate feedback loop".
Increased smoke exposure
Computer simulations show that there will be more smoky days, higher smoke concentrations, and larger burned areas in the future.
Health risks
Breathing wildfire smoke can cause health problems, especially for the elderly and other vulnerable people.
Increased carbon emissions
When forests burn, they release carbon that's stored in the trees and soil. This carbon contributes to climate change.
Increased fire activity
Human activities expanding into forested areas is also contributing to the increase in fire activity.
(Generative AI is experimental.)
__________________________________________
Opposing Views:
Negative effects of more CO2 have been exaggerated.
Readily available data from governmental and reliable non-governmental sources confirm that extreme weather events in recent years have not occurred more frequently or with greater intensity.
Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation (.gov)
https://www.commerce.senate.gov › services › files
Carbon Dioxide Benefits the World: (pdf) The Coal Coalition
September 2, 2024 Labor Day Observance
Labor Day, celebrated in the United States on the first Monday of each September, is the nation's official commemoration of its workers' contributions to national strength, prosperity and well-being. Labor Day
Take time to pat yourself on the back and to recognize the efforts of others for their hard work keeping our country in as good of shape as possible for this moment in time.
While everything may not be perfect, our unity and continued hard work can sustain what we have accomplished and hopefully, contribute to improving living conditions worldwide. Purposeful Labor is a noble cause , idleness is not.
____________________________________________
Below: A I Generated images. Prompt: Please create a realistic image of a road crew wearing hard hats and yellow vests working along a roadway setting up traffic cones, shoveling, and operating asphalt paving equipment.
September 1, 2024 Back to School
In many parts of the country the fall semester has already begun. Opening day is an exciting time like no other. The new kids will gradually adjust to their surroundings and it's up to the other students and staff to make them feel as comfortable as possible.
Source: Microsoft Image Creator
Updated: 09-27-2024, 09-21-2024, 09-11-2024, 09-07-2024, 09-06-2024, 09-04-2024, 09-03-2024, 09-02-2024, 09-01-2024.
August 10, 2024 Late Summer Flowers--Photography
The growing season is relatively short but many plants and flowers that have adapted to the climate will complete their life cycle. Early July provided ample moisture and mild temperatures that produced lush vegetation. As the summer heated up with a two-week dry spell, the delicate flowers began to wither in the hot sun.
Some of the outdoor plants have managed to endure the heat while others shriveled. Their petals show the battle scars of persistent wind. The only relief is the sprinkling can during the cooler part of the day. More hardy varieties also have somewhat extended lives due to nightly cooldowns which are common in this part of the country (Northern Border U.S.A.)--until the first killing frost.
The following flowers were never photo perfect, but compared to seven or eight months of snow yet to come, their form and colors are beautiful to behold. We make the most of what we have.
August 1, 2024 Blue Skies in All Directions--Photography
In many areas of the country, people are now appreciative of days when air quality is good to breath. Persistent wildfires, forest fires, and other pollutants create a haze that only a rain or a shift in the wind will mitigate.
Dense forested areas covering thousands of square miles are ignited by natural as well as man-made causes. Our efforts to squelch the flames take weeks and have become an ever increasing burden on human resources. We seem to be helpless and must endure what the world has become.
On the bright side., this morning is beautiful. There is not a cloud in the sky and the air is fresh. Here are a few back yard photos taken from beneath the canopy of large trees. Today, celebrates the first day of August. It is time to marvel at what life used to be like Every Day .
Updated: 08-28-2024, 08-22-2024, 08-21-2024, 08-19-2024, 08-18-2024, 08-13-2024, 08-10-2024, 08-08-2024, 08-07-2024, 08-05-2024, 08-02-2024, 08-01-2024.
July 6, 2024 with July 13, July 23, and July 30 Updates Garden Flowers -- Photography & GIMP Editing
July 30. Just when I thought the flowers had reached their end, a pretty pink flower opened today. The flowers are beginning to look a little weathered due to the past week of sweltering heat. Click the Late Bloomers link below for today's update.
_______________________________________
July 23. Here are additional flower varieties that have taken longer to bloom: Late Bloomers (pdf file). All images in this set are uncropped and unedited. Since the previous update the flowers have survived a hail storm. Damage was limited to 1 stem being broken by the hail. Wind damage was minimal.
________________________________________
July 13. The first two images show more mature flowers after a week has passed. No filters were applied. Bright sunlight and wind were still an issue; however, a few images were of better quality after conditions improved.
Outer edges of image 1 were cropped and the basket hanger was hidden with cloned foliage added using GIMP. Some flowers had grown too tall to be suspended from plant hangers. Therefore, the baskets were placed beneath the hangers at ground level.
Besides cropping the top and bottom for image 2, a reduction of the vertical scale was applied to approximate the dimensions of the other images shown below. Vertical scaling resulted in minor distortion of image 2. Basket hangers were not hidden in the second image.
________________________________________
July 6. Mixed flower seeds were planted in late May. Ideal growing conditions, with the exception of a few overcast days produced enough young flowers to be transplanted into two flower pots. At this time the flowers contain many buds, but only several have blossomed. Here are a few images after the cartoon filter was applied (images 3--7).
In an effort to re-purpose today's somewhat blurry images caused by bright sunlight and movement due to the wind, the following GIMP filter was applied to each: Filters > Artistic > Cartoon... with the Mask Radius and Percent Black settings increased. Cartoon filter setting values differed on all five images that produced varied effects.
July 4, 2024 Have a Happy and Safe Fourth of July
Image Source: Microsoft Image Creator
Prompt: Create an image of children with sparklers being supervised by adults at an evening July 4th Celebration.
Updated: 07-31-2024, 07-30-2024, 07-29-2024, 07-25-2024, 07-23-2024, 07-22-2024, 07-18-2024, 07-13-2024, 07-06-2024, 07-04-2024, 07-02-2024, 07-01-2024.
June 24, 2024 Brown Thrashers -- Photography
This morning is very warm and humid following last night's thunderstorm and downpour. Birds are out in force enjoying the lush vegetation and sunshine. North Dakota is generally dryer than it has been but sometimes there are very wet years. So far in this locality, 2024 weather has proven to be very enjoyable. Just like everywhere else, strong winds, torrential rain, hail, or worse are always a possibility.
There is no mistaking a brown thrasher when you see one. It's rich brown color, speckled breast, yellow eyes, and long tail feathers that whip about whenever it moves are its identifiying features.
I had never photographed an adult brown thrasher with its young until today. The three birds shown below were attracted to the ground-level water tray that we provide near the bird bath. They were drinking and later bathing in the small rectangular tray that was cut out from the bottom of a plastic 20 lb. Tidy Kats kitty litter container.
All photos are taken from approximately 50 feet away through a window. If movement behind the window pane is slow, there isn't much chance of scaring away birds or other animals. The trade-off from this vantage point is inferior photo clarity caused by two additional layers of glass and sometimes glare depending on the location of sunlight and shadows.
Lastly, you don't have to search for birds and animals--they come to you in a Mosquito-Free and Temperature Controlled Environment. After all, windows are made for looking out and providing a light source; but generally not for looking in unless they are a storefront, etc.
June 19, 2024 Juneteenth -- A Poem by ChatGPt 4.o
Prompt: "Compose a short poem about Juneteenth that is now observed as a national holiday in the U.S."
Juneteenth
On June's bright canvas, freedom's song unfurls,
Juneteenth we cherish, a tale of liberty's pearls.
From chains once broken, hearts now beat,
In a land where shadows and light finally meet.
Emancipation's dawn, long overdue,
A promise of hope in skies so blue.
We honor the past, the struggle, the pain,
In unity and love, let justice reign.
With joy and reverence, we gather and share,
Stories of strength, a history laid bare.
From Galveston's shores to every street,
Juneteenth's spirit, in us, complete.
June 16, 2024 Happy Father's Day -- A Poem by Google Generative AI: Gemini
Prompt: "Compose a short poem about honoring your father on Father's Day."
For Dad
Strong hands that held me when I cried,
A voice that soothed, a steady guide.
You taught me lessons, big and small,
My hero, Dad, you're best of all.
June 8, 2024 Colors -- This post is for those who enjoy colors or work with them in some way
The Pantone Color of the Year* is . . .
"The 2024 Color of the Year is PANTONE 13-1023 Peach Fuzz, a velvety, pinkish-orange shade. The Pantone Color Institute chose this color to reflect a desire for peace and respite during a time of global tension. It's meant to evoke feelings of warmth, happiness, and community joy." (click link above to view)
Also:
Benjamin Moore's Fresh Peach and Valspar's Pretty in Peach are very close to the softness of Pantone's Peach Fuzz. A brighter, more vibrant option is Benjamin Moore's Paradise Peach. Sherwin-Williams' Persimmon is a slightly darker version with a rich tangerine tone, January 10, 2024. Source: Google Search: "Comparison of 2024 Pantone Color of the year Peach Fuzz with Sherwin-Williams Paint Color, Persimmon."
_________________________
The 2023 Color of the Year was PANTONE 18-1750 VIVA Magenta.
"Pantone's Colour of The Year 2023, Viva Magenta 18-1750, vibrates with vim and vigour. It is a shade rooted in nature descending from the red family and expressive of a new signal of strength." (click link above to view)
_________________________
The 2022 Color of the Year was PANTONE 17-3938 Very Peri.
"Pantone's color of the year for 2022 is Very Peri, a periwinkle blue shade with a violet-red undertone. The official color number is 17-3938. Pantone describes Very Peri as a vibrant, joyous, and dynamic color that encourages creativity and imaginative expression. It's said to symbolize the global zeitgeist and the transition the world is undergoing. " (click link above to view)
___________________________
*Google Search Query: What is the significance of the Pantone Color of the Year?
Google Search Generative AI Response:
"Pantone's Color of the Year is a trend forecast and cultural reflection, selected by the Pantone Color Institute to encapsulate the current design and cultural trends. The chosen hue influences a variety of creative industries, including fashion, and can impact consumer purchasing decisions. "
June 6, 2024 Life Goes On -- Photography
The Sun is shining, the birds are singing, but we're experiencing another windy day. The wind gusting to over 60 mph has brought down large tree limbs and scattered twigs and small branches. Yet, life goes on. Baby birds are out of their nests and find refuge beneath the trees. They patiently wait for their parents to feed them.
June 1, 2024 Inner Peace--an AI Overview
The Sun is shining and the birds are singing. Today would be a good day to relax and reflect on the good things life has to offer.
Here is Google's AI Overview response to the query to define Inner Peace:
Inner peace is a state of calm, contentment, and acceptance, and being in harmony with yourself, others, and the world around you. It's not about eliminating challenges, but rather navigating through them with a tranquil and accepting mind. Inner peace can also be described as a state of physical and spiritual calm despite many stressors.
________________________________
A Lifetime can be measured by the succession of outdated Mayonaise Jars.
ThoughtsOfThomas Not Nostradamus
Updated: 06-29-2024, 06-24-2024, 06-23-2024, 06-19-2024, 06-17-2024, 06-16-2024, 06-14-2024, 06-11-2024, 06-10-2024, 06-09-2024, 06-08-2024, 06-07-2024, 06--06-2024, 06-04-2024, 06-03-2024, 06-01-2024.
May 27, 2024 Memorial Day 2024--Flag of the United States of America
May 20, 2024 Big Foot and UFO's--Microsoft CoPilot: Image Creator (Text- to Image Generator)
Big Foot in Stubble Field Surrounded by UFOs
May 15, 2024 Migratory Birds--Photography, Rose-breasted Grosbeak and Brown Thrasher
I've been anticipating the arrival of the Rose-breasted Grosbeaks. One was seen at the bird feeder this morning which was three days later than last year (see May 12, 2023 post below). They only spend a few days in our area and then continue on northward. Their migratory path ranges over thousands of miles.
A Brown Thrasher, another late arrival, was spotted yesterday. Two weeks earlier, a pheasant joined a group of other regulars for lunch (see below),
May 14, 2024 Solar Storm--Google ImageFX (AI Test Kitchen Image-from-Text Generator) and GIMP (Photo Editor)
ImagFX was used to "Create an image of the Northern Lights 35mm film." GIMP Photo Editor was used to make duplicates with minor changes in Hue, Shadows, Brightness, and Exposure. The Clone Tool, Smooth, and Distortion Filter--Pinch and Whirl--were also applied to the sky.
May 12, 2024 Happy Mother's Day
May 7, 2024 Has Artificial Intelligence Taken Over This Website? These People Seem To Think So!
A I Images-from-Text were generated with Google ImageFX
May 4, 2024 Celebrating National Comic Book Day
Festivities abound at participating Comic Book Stores throughout the country where visitors are given Free Comic Books and enjoy treats and beverages! The industry has designated the first Saturday in May for its annual celebration. Charitable events supporting worthy causes are also an integral part of National Comic Book Day.
May 1, 2024 Artifical Intelligence (A-I Update)--Microsoft Image Creator
Check out the updates on the Artificial Intelligence Page linked in the left side bar. Here are three examples.
Updated: 05-27-2024, 05-25-2024, 05-24-2024, 05-23-2024, 05-22-2024, 05-21-2024, 05-20-2024, 05-19-2024, 05-18-2024, 05-17-2024, 05-16-2024, 05-15-2024, 05-14-2024, 05-13-2024, 05-12-2024, 05-11-2024, 05-10-2024, 05-09-2024, 05-08-2024, 05-07-2024, 05-06-2024, 05-05-2024, 05-04-2024, 05-03-2024, 05-02-2024, 05-01-2024.
April 8, 2024 Solar Eclipse--GIMP
Unfortunately, our part of the country was not in the path of today's solar eclipse. Here is a GIMP layers rendering with the Sun's Corona, and the sky in the background. The Moon is in the foreground which, of course, isn't illuminated on our side.
Four Layers were applied to compose the image: the Moon, Sun, corona, planets, stars, and darkened sky.
The moon in the foreground--a black circle drawn on a transparent layer (transparent background).
Another transparent layer was drawn with the Sun drawn slightly larger than the Moon.
A third transparent layer contained a second, slightly larger Sun with a feathered edge to extend the Corona but leave a sharp definition between the feathered edge and the outer edge of the Sun as defined by the Sun in the previous layer.
Lastly, a solid background layer included randomly placed and sized planets and stars. Smaller stars were created with a GIMP Noise Filter. Small paint brushes were used to draw the larger planets and brightest stars. The Cloning Tool was used to randomly scatter star clusters.
Layers were merged and saved as a jpeg image.
GIMP Layered Image: Solar Eclipse
April 1, 2024 April Fools 🤪
Updated: 04-30-2024, 04-29-2024, 04-28-2024, 04-27-2024, 04-26-2024, 04-25-2024, 04-24-2024, 04-23-2024, 04-22-2024, 04-18-2024, 04-12-2024, 04-10-2024, 04-08-22024, 04-07-2024, 04-04-2024, 04-01-2024.
March 31, 2024 Celebrate Easter
Beside its religious significance, Easter is a magical time for small children to imagine the Easter Bunny and search for Easter Eggs that have been lovingly hidden for them to find.
March 17, 2024 Happy St. Patrick's Day-- Chat GPT Limericks
Here are Nine Limericks using a variety of names and topics to add cheer to your day. You can also click the Artificial Intelligence Link in the left side bar.
March 9, 2024 Partridges and Black Cat--Photography
A stray cat, new to this area, was attempting to stalk a pair of partridges in our back yard. Sorry, kitty, those partridges could see you coming from a mile away.
March 8, 2024 Winter Continues--Photography
Winter has returned once again after another foot of fresh snow. A frozen pond in our back yard created by an early melt provides an excellent surface for feeding the critters.
In March there is more warmth in the Sun that creates interesting icycle formations. Here is a closeup of one that has broken or melted off close to the ground.
Finally, one of four kittens is shown resting on a heated cat bed in our garage. Over the winter, they have grown from 5- or 6-week old kittens into strong young cats. Three have gained our trust, but one is still leery of humans. They spend the night in our garage but usually leave before daylight.
There is always hard catfood for them to eat and water in a heated water bowl. In addition, they get plenty of canned catfood and tuna treats. The female cat below has chosen to stay in the garage for the past week--she could be pregnant.
By spring we hope to be able to find good homes for all of them. We have reached our quota for housing cats, but that is the reality we must face. Not everyone cares about the perils of stray cats, but a few of us place a high priority on providing food and shelter.
March 3, 2024 Local wildlife--Photography
February was relatively mild where we have had two thaws that left most streets and fields snow free. That is a good thing for travelers, but little moisture during the spring melt is not so good for agriculture. Today, Mother Nature has provided about ten inches of snow with more on the way.
Rabbits, birds, and squirrels know where to find food. We make it easy for them and in return they liven up our backyard with their songs and presence. Here are some photos taken in late February and today.
March 1, 2024 Peer into the Past--Family Search.Org and Google Maps
Family History or Genealogy is a fascinating subject area. Fortunately, other individuals on both sides of our family had the foresight to document their lineage. With this newfound knowledge, it is possible to piece together the past. The following post contains a bit of how the family history came together along with anecdotal remarks on what life must have been like before the days of the automobile.
Below is a condensed version of today's post. For a more detailed account of my personal experience using FamilySearch and Google Maps click here for the pdf file.
FamilySearch.org is a free service that allows people to research their family history. It is easy to set up an account. Sign In is also easy (you can sign in using your Google Account).
With FamilySearch.org I have been able to verify that the first 500 or 600 hundred years of my Great Uncle's family tree were fairly accurate. To what degree, I am not certain; however, names and dates matched with resources returned by FamilySearch.
After moving up the family tree about 20 generations from my own, the time line became sketchy as one could expect. There is still another 700 years listed on our family tree, but I'm not going to punish myself trying to go any further. With DNA testing, many gaps could be filled on both sides of the family.
A cousin on the maternal side of our family researched family records in Europe, Canada, and the United States. She utilized the internet in later years but had also visited research centers as well as distant relatives throughout the United States and Canada.
Lastly, using FamilySearch.Org, I was also able to connect my wife's family tree next to my own that dates back to the 1400's. Everything popped up on screen as soon as I entered her maiden name. Debbie and I want to thank all of the contributors who have made this project possible.
There are more branches to be added to the tree. Those will be left for the newer generations who follow.
Updated: 03-28-2024, 03-27-2024, 03-26-2024, 03-31-2024, 03-24-2024, 03-23-2024, 03-20-2024, 03-17-2024, 03-16-2024, 03-15-2024, 03-13-2024, 03-11-2024, 03-09-2024, 03-08-2024, 03-07-2024, 03-05-2024, 03-04-2024, 03-03-2024 03-01-2024.
March 1, 2024 Peer into the Past--Family Search.Org and Google Maps
Family History or Genealogy is a fascinating subject area. Fortunately, other individuals on both sides of our family had the foresight to document their lineage. With this newfound knowledge, it is possible to piece together the past. The following post contains a bit of how the family history came together along with anecdotal remarks on what life must have been like before the days of the automobile.
Below is a condensed version of today's post. For a more detailed account of my personal experience using FamilySearch and Google Maps click here for the pdf file.
FamilySearch.org is a free service that allows people to research their family history. It is easy to set up an account. Sign In is also easy (you can sign in using your Google Account).
With FamilySearch.org I have been able to verify that the first 500 or 600 hundred years of my Great Uncle's family tree were fairly accurate. To what degree, I am not certain; however, names and dates matched with resources returned by FamilySearch.
After moving up the family tree about 20 generations from my own, the time line became sketchy as one could expect. There is still another 700 years listed on our family tree, but I'm not going to punish myself trying to go any further. With DNA testing, many gaps could be filled on both sides of the family.
A cousin on the maternal side of our family researched family records in Europe, Canada, and the United States. She utilized the internet in later years but had also visited research centers as well as distant relatives throughout the United States and Canada.
Lastly, using FamilySearch.Org, I was also able to connect my wife's family tree next to my own that dates back to the 1400's. Everything popped up on screen as soon as I entered her maiden name. Debbie and I want to thank all of the contributors who have made this project possible.
There are more branches to be added to the tree. Those will be left for the newer generations who follow.
Updated: 03-28-2024, 03-27-2024, 03-26-2024, 03-31-2024, 03-24-2024, 03-23-2024, 03-20-2024, 03-17-2024, 03-16-2024, 03-15-2024, 03-13-2024, 03-11-2024, 03-09-2024, 03-08-2024, 03-07-2024, 03-05-2024, 03-04-2024, 03-03-2024 03-01-2024.
February 19, 2024 President's Day
The day was initially established in 1879 to celebrate the birthday of Washington. For many the holiday was simply called "Washington's Birthday," which is still how the federal government refers to it, according to the Department of State. Over the years, the holiday has expanded in the minds of the nation.
Source: Google Search History of President's Day
February 14, 2024 Happy Valentines Day!
Heart Sculpted in Blender. Text added with Inkscape. Message sent from the Heart.
February 1, 2024 Artifical Intelligence (A .I.) -- Website Update
Check out the latest addition to this website. A new page, Artificial Intelligence, has been added to the left sidebar. My initial observation, comparisons, and some experimentation with ChatGPT 3.5 and GoogleBard are discussed. It's exciting and in some ways frightening to see how powerful A. I. has become.
Thus far, I have generated a lot of text-based webpage content in a relatively short amount of time.
Tom
Updated: 02-24-2024, 02-19-2024, 02-18-2024, 02-17-2024, 02-16-2024, 02-15-2024, 02-14-2024, 02-13-2024, 02-12-2024, 02-11-2024, 02-09-2024, 02-08-2024, 02-0702024, 02-06-2024, 02-05-2024, 02-04-2024, 02-02-2024, 02-01-2024
January 17, 2024 Hungry Birds--Photography
During the cold snap we've been feeding the birds and squirrels 3 times a day--11:00 a.m., 4:00 p.m, and after most of them have roosted for the night, around 5:30 p.m at this time of the year. A portion of the third feeding will be eaten by rabbits during the night, but most will be ready for the birds and squirrels at dawn.
The quantity of bird seed and critter/squirrel food will vary, but during sub zero days we've been putting out double rations. There seems to be no limit to their appetite and they are always ready for an easy meal. Hopefully what they get will supplement their diet gleaned from trees frozen vegetation and exposed grasses and soil, if any.
January 13, 2024 Tom's Weather Today--Local Weather Update and Survival Tips
Northern North Dakota. It is absolutely too cold to spend much time outside today. At noon it was twice as cold as yesterday. The current temperature is -26 degrees F. below Zero, plus it's windy. The blowing snow has turned into a fine powder that packs like hard sand. It's the type of snow that blocks can be cut to make igloos. Tomorrow should be warmer if the forecast is correct.
In weather like this fingers turn numb within seconds if wearing only a typical pair of knit gloves--Multiple layers of everything including a face covering are necessary if one needs to be outdoors for a few minutes or more. Humans and domesticated animals are not eqiupped to tolerate these extremes.
Winter Survival Tips. After a few seconds of exposure, fingers begin to sting and then turn numb. The best way to deal with the numbing if wear a light pair of gloves is to immediately pull your fingers out of the finger holes and form a fist in the lower part of the glove. Alternatively, if you're bare handed, you can cup your hands together and blow into them and put them in your pockets. Go inside if possible to warm up.
Depending on the extent of exposure, thawing fingers can be extremely painful. Here's what I have done over the years:
Dip your hands into a basin of room temperature or luke-warm water. This seems to reduce the level of pain the best.
or
If water is not an option:
You can also cross your arms and put your hands under your armpits and apply pressure--yes, that will help.
I have also briefly rubbed my hands together 6 to 8 inches above a kitchen stove burner or in front of a space heater.
if in a car, rub both hands together above the windshield defroster or heater vent blowing warm air.
Carefully use packets of chemical activated hand warmers kept in the console, glove box, or in a winter survival kit. Important: sleeping bags and winter survival kits should be kept inside the car, not in the trunk in case of a breakdown or become stranded due to blizzards or running off the road into a snow-filled ditch, etc. If the vehicle becomes buried in snow or ices over, the trunk may not be accessible.
Never venture outside during a blizzard even if you're teathered to a rope. Wind gusts and blasts of blowing snow may become so powerful that breathing or walking through deep snow may become impossible. People will become disoriented in Zero visibility conditions. It is strongly advised that people remain inside their vehicles if they become stranded.
Disclaimer: I'm not sure if any or all of the hand warming methods described above are sound medical advise, but they have worked for me. Severe frostbite and hypothermia require prompt medical attention.
Well, it could get worse. Below is an archived post from 5 years ago.
January 12, 2024 It's Cold Outside--Photography
Part I: Birds and Squirrels. Several Hundred sparrows, 30-50 collared doves, 4--6 blue Jays, a few nuthatches, and four blackbirds (see below) are regulars at our bird and squirrel feeding stations this winter. It's currently -13 degrees F. below Zero at Noon today. Last night was much colder with a wind chill advisory. The real cold weather will be arriving tomorrow and the next day.
Part II: Stray and Homeless Cats. Also, our outside doorway entrance to the garage is propped open just enough to allow stray and homeless cats an opportunity to get in out of the cold, have something to eat, or to sleep in relative comfort. To accommodate the mother cats with kittens born in late fall, we have set up little cat apartments--four with electric heated cat pads and several other unheated cardboard boxes insulated with formed styrofoam packing, old blankets, and cat beds (see second group of images below).
We also provide a heated water bowl and a large kitty litter box that gets plenty of use. Cat toys that are strewn on the garage floor are always in a different place by morning. Some larger cats visit throughout the daylight hours for food, while the little ones with their mothers usually show up at sunset and leave just before the sun comes up. We don't know where they go, but we have seen them jumping down the storm sewer drains on the street.
January 1, 2024 Happy New Year--Season's Greetings
Tom
Updated: 01-28-2024, 01-27-2024, 01-26-2024, 01-25-2024, 01-23-2024, 01-18-2024, 01-17-2024, 01-15-2024, 01-13-2024, 01-12-2024, 01-07-2024, 01-02-2024, 01-01-2024.
December 25, 2023 Merry Christmas -- Digital Art
December 1, 2023 Partridges-- Photography
A flock of partridges were feeding on bird seed and critter food in our backyard today just before sunset. Low light conditions and my lack of camera skills produced poor quality images. This was the first sighting of partridge I have seen and photographed within the city limits. Maybe they'll come back tomorrow since the weather has been warm for this time of year with all previous snow melted.
Updated: 12-29-2023, 12-20,2023, 12-19-2023, 12-11-2023, 12-10-2023, 12-09-2023, 12-05-2023, 12-04-2023, 12-03-2023, 12-01-2023.
November 23, 2023 Thanksgiving -- Why is Thanksgiving in the U.S. Celebrated on a Thursday.
November 11, 2023 Veterans Day--The Eleventh Hour of the Eleventh Day of the Eleventh Month
Veterans Day falls on a Saturday this year, meaning some offices will be closed on Friday.
Veterans Day falls on a Saturday this year, which is bound to cause some confusion. This is one of the few unique holidays that is locked to a specific day: November 11. Google
Also referred to as Armistice Day by old timers (Pre WWII).
An armistice is a formal agreement to end hostilities. On the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, 1918, fighting in WWI officially stopped after Germany signed an armistice agreement with Allies earlier in the day. Google
Today, it is celebrated in honor of those who have served.
Image Source: U.S. Air Force
Tom
Updated: 11-24-2023, 11-23-2023, 11-22,2021, 11-21-2023, 11-12-2023, 11-11-2023, 11-09-2023, 11-02-2023.
October 31, 2023 Trick or Treat -- Happy Halloween
October 26, 2023 Early Winter Snow--Photography
October 9, 2023 Columbus Day--National Holidays
The day originally designated as Columbus Day is also used to observe other signficant aspects of our culture and history in the Americas.
The link below explains that the day on which Columbus Day falls not only commemorates the 1492 event, but depending on where you live, may instead, include other celebrations or observances.
____________________________
October 1, 2023 Digital Online Resources--Historical Newspapers
North Dakota's Historical Newspapers Description: This search engine is amazing. All you need to do is enter a key word search consisting of one or more fields, choose the criteria (And/Or; All, Exact, Any, None) and specify the date range by month, day, and year, e.g. 1/1/1930 to 12/31/1935.
Be prepared to spend a few Sunday afternoons browsing through the returned search results. It is probably best to limit the search by entering a date range of a few years rather than several decades at a time.
Like present day newspapers, it's all there in black and white. You will read about some things that were never mentioned in your History Books.
The newspaper archive contains many digitized small town weekly newspapers that have closed in addition to Weekly and Daily newspapers that are in operation today. Some daily newspapers have complete issues since the late 1800's in North Dakota, a relatively new state.
At your option you can just browse, or download the entire newspaper page in PDF format, or do a jpeg screen capture (Windows Snipping Tool, e.g.) of a particular article. You could also jot down the newspaper's name, date, and page, article title, and return to it at a later date. This is a great way to experience what it was like 100 years ago in your community and to learn more about your ancestors.
Whether doing scholarly research, a genealogical study, or are just curious, you may be suprised at what you can find.
Other states have similar online Historical Newspaper archives as well.
____________________________
Other Digital Resources:
North Dakota Digital Horizons Description: There are many Aerial views of communities as they appeared 50 years ago, steam locomotives, early automobiles, old store fronts, and city streets, for example. Search by City.
Digital Public Library of America
Updated: 10-31-2023, 10-26-2023, 10-22-2023, 10-19-2023, 10-16-2023, 10-10-2023, 10-08-2023, 10-01-2023
September 4, 2023 Labor Day 2023--National Holiday.
Labor Day is a federal holiday in the United States celebrated on the first Monday in September to honor and recognize the American labor movement and the works and contributions of laborers to the development and achievements of the United States. [1] [2] [3] The three-day weekend it falls on is called Labor Day Weekend (source: Wikipedia).
Updated: 09-24-2023, 09-23,2023, 09-20-2023, 09-19-2023, 09-18-2023, 09-16-2023, 09-15-2023, 09-13-2023, 09-12-2023, 09-11-2023, 09-10-2023, 09-07-2023, 09-04-2023, 09-03-2023.
August 1, 2023 Another Page for SketchUp--The SketchUp Projects Page is full.
SketchUp Projects II is the new Menu Link for Current and Future SketchUp Project Posts. Click the link to see what's happening.
Updated: 08-31-2023, 08-21-2023, 08-20-2023, 08-19-2023, 08-19-2023, 08-18-2023, 08-14-2023, 08-13-2023, 08-11-2023, 08-09-2023, 08-08-2023, 08-06-2023, 08-05-2023, 08-01-2023, 08-03-2024.
July 4, 2023 Celebrate the Fourth of July.
Have a happy and safe Fourth.
Updated: 07-30-2023, 07-29-2023, 07-28-2023, 07-27-2023, 07-25-2023, 06-1`-1012, 07-16-2023, 07-12-2023, 07-11-2023, 07-08-2023, 07-04-2023, 07-03-2023, 07-01-2023.
June 19, 2023 Juneteenth--National Holiday in the U.S.
Read more about Juneteenth, its origin and history, at the PBS News Hour website.
June 18, 2023 Father's Day--Remembering Dad
June 14, 2023 Today is Flag Day--Commenerating the Adoption of the Flag of the United States, June 14, 1777.
June 12, 2023 Potted Plants--Photography
Updated: 06-30-2023, 06-29-2023, 06-26-2023, 06-23-2023, 06-19-2023, 06-18-2023, 06-17-2023, 06-16-2023, 06-14-2023, 06-12-2023, 06-07-2023, 06-04-2023.
May 29, 2023. Memorial Day.
Many families have experienced the sorrow of losing loved ones who perished in wars. We, the survivors, must not forget their sacrifice.
Memorial Day continues to be a solemn time in our household, local community, and throughout the United States. This is a tribute to the fallen heroes.
Symbolism of the Poppy
May 14, 2023. Happy Mother's Day.
May 12, 2023. Migratory Birds--Photography.
The past few days have seen the arrival of a few species of birds on there way to their nesting grounds. A Brown Thrasher, Gray Catbird, and American Goldfinch were spotted yesterday. They did not stay long enough to film. I have never witnessed thrashers, catbirds, and gold finches feeding their young, so I assume they go elsewhere to raise their families. Heavily populated blackbird in our area may be driving them away.
It has been raining steady since late afternoon yesterday and into today. Almost like clockwork, the Rose Breasted Grosbeaks made their appearance. I had a suspicision they had also arrived yesterday because their loud distinctive song could be heard in the distance. See images taken today around Noon and near sunset.
Several Baltimore Orioles visited the bird feeders just before sundown. They have been infrequent visitors in our yard. Apparently, fresh food in the feeders attracted them.
Here is a link to more images showing backyard activity on this rainy day. Various birds--GrosBeaks, Baltimore Orioles,-- and two unidentified smaller birds along with several squirrels: Birds and Squirrels.
May 1, 2023. May Day--Celebrates Seasonal Change, Renewal, and the Approaching Summer.
Geographically, May Day is celebrated in the Northern Hemisphere to mark the coming of summer. Conversely, the Southern Hemisphere will experience the beginnning of winter.
Lattitudes near and around the Canadian/U.S. border and elswhere around the globe, will experience marked seasonal change that turns what appears to be barren frozen wastelands into fertile lush green forests, valleys, and plains.
In more primal ways, May 1 signals us that we have endured another winter and are now ready to go forward. Historically, It has been veiwed as a gift from Nature. Politically and religiously, there are ramifications as to why it is not celebrated openly in the U.SA or by some fatihs. Personally, it is my favorite time of the year to be outside to enjoy the fresh air and sunlight.
Updated: 05-30-2023, 05-29-2023, 05-27-2023, 05-26-2023, 05-25-2023, 05-22-2023, 05-21-2023, 05-20-2023, 05-19-2023, 05-18-2023, 05-16-2023, 05-15-2023, 05-14-2023, 05-12-2023, 05-08-2023, 05-02-2023, 05-01-2023.
April 9, 2023. Happy Easter! Link to SketchUp Model Easter Bunny in 3D (requires SketchUp to open).
April 7, 2023. Squirrels, Rabbits and Pheasants--Photography. During the day squirrels are very active while rabbits tend to be more active during the evening hours.
The images below were taken over a three day period. They show several of many squirrels that romp in the back yard throughout the day. Also pictured are three pheasants. A fourth pheasant, a larger rooster, spotted me and hid behind the hedge. Later, he was back. The rooster was quite vocal and crowed loudly to announce his presence.
This spring a record nine squirrels have been counted turning our back yard into a mad/fun house. Their movement through the trees is amazing. Some even do forward somersaults and 360 degree spins when playing in the snow. The cold weather doesn't seem to affect their activity too much as long as they get plenty to eat.
The sparrows in some of the photos will sometimes number in the hundreds and they too are attracted by the plentiful bird food and sheltered areas.
Just before sunset and at sunrise rabbits and pheasants can be observed peacefully sharing food that is common to both species. Yesterday at dusk, several pheasants and a rabbit were nose to nose eating bird and critter food. The rabbit moved among the pheasants like it was part of the family, and would occasionally hop over them in a playful manner.
Low light conditions affected image quality at dawn and dusk.
April 1, 2023. April Fools!
Updated: 04-25-2023, 04-22-2023, 04-21-2023, 04-18-2023, 04-17-2023, 04-16-2023, 04-15-2023, 04-13-2023, 04-10-2023, 04-09-2023, 04-08-2023, 04-07-2023, 04-03-2023, 04-01-2023.
March 31, 2023 A Visit from Jack Frost--Photography.
The end of March has arrived and evening temperatures continue to dip below zero. The contrast between cold and the warming rays of the Sun shows the beauty of Nature at its finest. There is something magical about frost that sometimes catches the eye. It often goes unnoticed and sometimes cursed when it's time to defrost or scrape car windows.
Below, images capture frost and how the morning Sun sparkles through a window pane, through tree branches, and atop a frosty snow bank.
March 29, 2023 Creating Firefox Browser Add-ons--Ten Year Anniversary.
Creating web content has been a hobby of mine for a long time. It was exactly 10 years ago that I posted my first Theme Add-on to Firefox. In previous years, they were called Personas (1).
Themes and Personas consisted of a decorative section across the top of the browser and an optional narrower strip of matching design at the bottom.
In total I have published 122 Themes/Personas covering a wide range of subjects. Many included photography and Sketchup 3D designs. Several included an animated piano keyboard--They are still operable. See images below.
Here's the link to all of my Firefox add-ons: You don't have to be a Firefox user to browse the inventory: Cubbaroo2.
______________________________________
(1) Those originally posted as Personas date back to November 23, 2009. For a look at my personal collection, here is a local link (complete image): Personas (PDF file).
March 17, 2023 Add Customized Text to Background Images--Inkscape.
Updated: 03-31-2023, 03-29-2023, 03-30-2023, 03-27-2023, 03-26-2023, 03-25-2023, 03-21-2023, 03-20-2023, 03-19-2023, 03-18-2023, 03-17-2023, 03-15-2023, 03-14-2023, 03-13-2023, 03-12-2023, 03-11-2023, 03-10-2023, 03-10-2023, 03-08-2023, 03-07-2023, 03-06-2023, 03-05-2023, 03-04-2023, 03-03-2023, 03-01-2023.
February 22, 2023 Downy Woodpecker and A Gathering of Squirrels--Photography. The temperature at Noon today was Zero Degrees F. The cold didn't appear to interfere with the squirrels and birds mid-day feeding.
February 20, 2023 Chronicling America--Digitized Newspapers. The Library of Congress has expanded its collection of online digitized newspapers from around the country including small town newspapers. There are also commercial subscription-based services that offer search capabilities as well. I prefer to save the money and simply browse loc.gov. Here is the Library of Congress link: chroniclingamerica.loc.gov.
Other access to old newspapers may be possible by visiting community or university libararies, online state historical societies, county courthouses or local newspaper offices. However, many locales have not yet begun to scan decades of volumes of bound newspapers stored in their archives.
Digital preservation needs to be done soon. The century old newspapers are getting brittle and foxing has begun. In time, they will become unreadable and eventually disintegrate. Everything should be recorded for future generations to enjoy and for those who care. That is the mission of the Library of Congress and community Historians.
The above link provided access to newspapers from nearby communities that has given me a glimpse of what people were doing when towns were just beginning to develop. In our area this was during the late 1800s to early 1900s (North Central U.S. near the Canadian Border).
It was rewarding to see shorts bits of information about family histoy, events, and early generations of founders of the community. Without this, all we have to tells us about the past are a few sketchy stories we might remember from childhood as told by our elders. Of course, favorite personal anecdotes are important, too, because they were probably not documented in newspapers or otherwise written down. Think of all the potentially great novels and biographies that never get written with the passing of each generation.
Small town newspapers, to this day, are full of information that detail achievements, celebrations, and social events that are important to its readers. It still means a lot to read the local news stories in a tangible printed form, namely, a newspaper.
Lastly, newspaper archives, newspaper clippings. and Scrapbooks, and private collections, etc., have a limited permanency spanning several generations. Social media platforms on cellphones, etc., are excellent communications tools in the moment; however, its abundant content is either soon forgotten, replaced, or tends to vaporize into thin air. Having an accessible digital Online Archive or digital repository designed with upward compatibility is one solution for preserving and sharing our history utilizing modern technology.
February 14, 2023 Happy Valentine's Day--A Blender Render.
February 1, 2023 Eight Squirrels--Photography. This morning was another cold day with current temperatures at Noon reaching 2 degrees above Zero. With a warming trend on its way, temperatures should reach the low thirties by this weekend.
The prospect of nice weather has brought eight hungry squirrels to our back yard. They were all in a playful mood--they move so fast they're hard to count. It's uncommon to see so many together at the same time.
Updated: 02-28-2023, 02-27-2023, 02-25-2023, 02-24-2023, 02-23-2023, 02-22-2023, 02-21-2023, 02-20-2023, 02-19-2023, 02-18-2023, 02-17-2023, 02-16-2023, 02-15-2023, 02-14-2023, 02-13-2023, 02-12-2023, 02-05-20223, 02-04-2023, 02-03-2023, 02-01-2023.
January 28, 2023 Pheasant and Squirrels--Photography. Today is below zero, the Sun is bright but shadows are numerous. Here is another pheasant eating with the squirrels.
January 26, 2023 Pheasants in Snow Storm--Photography. Two pheasants were eating at the bird feeder around Noon today. By the time I'd grabbed the camera, the wind had picked up and it began to snow. So much for crisp and clear photographs. I still enjoyed seeing a rooster and a hen together. Here are the images anyway, despite their shortcomings.
January 16, 2023 Martin Luther King Jr. Day--I Have a Dream. (Listen to his Speech.)
January 4, 2023 Mother Moose Reunites with Her Boy Who is all Grown up--Photography. Last night mother moose brought her baby bull moose along. He is long and lanky and has a spring in his step with every stride. He's also sporting a formidable pair of antlers. I didn't get a chance to take pics last night, but tonight both moose were closer to outdoor lighting.
It's her boy alright. Junior devotes quite a bit of time after his nap to chin rubbing in the snow while laying down. He then scratches his side with a hind leg hoof while standing just like he did last winter. He also knows exactly where the bird and critter food gets spilled. Besides both of them eating the hedges and trees in town, they can't resist helping themselves to grain in people's bird feeders, etc. At this moment (about 10:00 p.m.) both moose are relaxing about 15 feet away from our bedroom windows.
January 1, 2023
H a p p y N e w Y e a r ! ! !
Updated: 01-28-2023, 01-27-2023, 01-26-2023, 01-24-2023, 01-23-2023, 01-22-2023, 01-21-2023, 01-20-2023, 01-19-2023, 01-18-2023, 01-17-2023, 01-16-2023, 01-15-2023, 01-14-2023, 01-11-2023, 01-09-2023, 01-06-2023, 01-04-2023, 01-03-2022, 01-02-2023, 01-01-2023.
December 30, 2022 Pheasants in Trees--Photography. "Pheasants spend almost their entire life on the ground, rarely ever being seen in trees." Google.com. With all of the rural animals coming into town, these are strange days, indeed.
Pheasants that are bred and released for hunting are not well adapted to our northern climate. Many perish during blizzards without dense tree or shrub growth to protect them from the elements. This small flock was searching for food. A few of the tree dwellers were spooked before they were able to get to the bird food below.
December 29, 2022 It's a Lonely Life--Photography.
December 28, 2022 Pheasant and Squirrels--Photography. The pheasant photographed on December 24 (see post below) was back this morning having breakfast with the squirrel family. The Pheasant hen was not intimidated by the curious squirrels.
The littlest squirrel couldn't resist attempting to play with the strange looking bird. The pheasant simply hopped upward about 6 inches to let the squirrel run under her when he charged. After eating her fill, the pheasant casually strolled off behind the tree row.
December 27, 2022 Archives Updated for 2022. The 2022 Home page archive has been completed to make room for 2023's posts. To access posts prior to November, 2022 click on the T. Bolton Digital Art Home Page Archive -- 2022 Button located above the 2023 MOST RECENT POSTS ... Section.
Also note that the Food and SketchUp Projects pages have also been archived. These are content rich pages that tend to fill up fast. I have retained two month's of posts from 2022 in each of these three pages to maintain continuity. The other pages listed in the left side bar do not require archiving at this time.
December 25, 2022--Homage to "Typewriter Art" and the Two-Color Ribbon. Art Typing wasn't the same after computers replaced the typewriter in schools and the workplace. Typewriter Art was done with a manual typewriter (non-electric).
This link to Archive.org brings back old memories from high school days and teaching--click here: Art Typing by Julius Nelson, Gregg Puglishing.
What isn't shown in the above publication is the key for designing each image. Instructions will differ slightly depending on whether a Pica (10 spaces per inch) or an Elite (12 spaces per inch) typewriter is being used. Also, this link will provide a refresher on using a typewriter: Century21 Typewriting, Typewriting Style Manual South Western Publishing Co.
Here is the key (instructions) for the Christmas greeting below using an 8 1/2" by 11" sheet of typing paper:
1. 14 line spaces (single space carriage returns) from top
2. Elite: Tab to center (51); backspace 22; type 44 * Pica: Tab to center (42) backspace 22; type 44 *
3. 2 single space Carriage returns; Tab to Center; backspace 1 space for every space +3 in Merry Christmas
4. Switch to red ribbon setting
5. Type M e r r y C h r i s t m a s alternating letters and spaces with 4 spaces between Merry and Christmas
6. 3 single space Carriage returns
7. Switch to black ribbon setting
8. Repeat Step 2
In schools elaborate portraits and scenes could be completed following lengthy full-page instruction keys provided by the typing teacher. The usual noisy clatter of typewriters became intensive repetitive tapping--even more deafening when special projects (usually before the holidays) were undertaken.
******************************************
M e r r y C h r i s t m a s
******************************************
:)
December 24, 2022 Wildlife Survival in the Snow and Cold --Photography. During the past few weeks, deep snow and bitter cold have made it diffcult for wildlife to find food. Moose and deer in our back yard have become a daily occurrence. Birds especially have difficulty finding food beneath a thick blanket of snow.
Here are a few photos taken in the past day or two. Everyone gets something to eat at our place.
December 23, 2022 Blender Guy Has New Threads--Virtual Dub, Movie Maker. Here's a revision of last month's stylized face sculpture created in Blender (See the November 22, 2022 post below for more details). A shirt was added today using SketchUp that was grouped separately from the sculpture (required about an hour to create a crudely drawn unbuttoned shirt with collar and an undergarment).
In summary the following steps were used to process the blender sculpture.
The blender sculpture had already been exported as a Collada file and imported into SketchUp Make where 16 animated scenes were created. Today, the SktechUp model was updated with the addition of clothing. The clothing update was automaticallly included in the 16-scene animation that was completed last month.
The updated SketchUp animation was rendered with Twilight Rendering Extension's animation option using the same settings as last month's original version (required about 7.5 hours to render). Twilight Extension rendered 513 high-quality images of the animation that were stored in an Image Set folder.
The Virtual Dub app (standalone app--not a SketchUp extension) was used to convert all 513 images into an AVI video (required less thant 20 seconds to process 513 images).
Windows Movie Maker was used to convert the AVI file to MP4 (required a few minutes to process into an HD quality movie).
Lastly, it was uploaded to my YouTube Channel (required a few minutes to complete).
Click here to view at YouTube.com: Blender Guy's Short Circuit.
The sparkling effect beneath the shirt collar (visible in the video) was caused by two surfaces drawn with SketchUp in close proximity to each other that flash whenever the animation's position changes. This was unintended so the name of the video was modified to suggest an electrical short circuit, which of course, was for threatrical purposes only.
Image 444 of 513 from the Rendered Image Set.
December 21, 2022 Moose Bed and Breakfast--Home for the Holidays. Mother Moose has made her second appearance in our backyard this winter (See November 8 post below). She cuddled up close to our evergreens last night after eating all the bird and squirrel food set out before nightfall.
There wasn't much left for the birds and squirrels this morning, so shortly after sunrise we fed them again. Thinking the coast was clear we poured more bird and critter food in the feeders and on the ground. The moose hadn't strayed too far, however. It had relocated nearby in the neighbor's yard and stood up to check out what was for breakfast. We didn't waste much time getting back in the house. The moose decided to let the birds and squirrels eat first and opted to nibble on the hedge.
Weather today at 12:00 noon was sunny and -15 degrees F. below Zero. The wind is expected to increase later in the day. Officially, it is the first day of winter. Aaah, those cool North Dakota breezes!
At 1:00 p.m. the moose returned to lick every kernel of corn and other grain out of the inverted bent up garbage can lid that's used for a bird and squirrel feeder (see below).
Several deer come to the backyard every night for the bird and critter food. There are hoof prints and trails in the snow going in all directions. The presence of deer and moose in town for the past two years is a relatively new phenomena. It's either the result of a scarcity of food, deep snow, increased deer and moose population, bad weather, or increased number of predatory animals. The "goodies" to be found in our's and other yards in town as well as better sheltered areas may be part of the reason why we're seeing more of them during the coldest days.
December 7, 2022 Remembering Pearl Harbor--December 7, 1941.
December 2, 2022 The Big List Revisited--Seven Letter Words. This project/hobby has been ongoing for the past 4 or 5 years. The list currently contains 7,084 words. The word list is a compilation of seven-letter English language words that are non-slang with no-hyphens. Proper nouns are not included.
Seven-letter words are generally easy to spell, speak, read, and understand. They convey meaning quite well. They often contain two or three syllables, but there are some one-syllable seven-letter words such as through, brought, and sprawls ; a few four-syllable words like oregano and utopian ; and even a few five-syllabe words--here are two scientific words: oogonia and oxyopia.
The dictionary is the best reference, of course. The permanent location for the Big List is found in Miscellaneous--see sidebar at the left. It is available in either Word or PDF format.
Updated: 12-30-2022, 12-29-2022, 12-28-2022, 12-27-2022, 12-26-2022, 12-25-2022, 12-24-2022, 12-23-2022, 12-22-2022, 12-21-2022, 12-20-2022, 12-18-2022, 12-16-2022, 12-12-2022, 12-11-2022, 12-10-2022, 12-09-2022, 12-07-2022, 12-06-2022, 12-03-2022, 12-02-2022.
November 28, 2022 Blender Scuplture--Shadows and Light. Today's project was a review of some of the basic Blender sculpting features that were used for an earlier project--November 12 . . . 22 posts. The rendered images below were created with the default Blender light and camera setup.
The sculpture is in its beginning phase with only the basic shape and eyes set into their sockets. Ears, nose, lips, muscle structure, eyelids, hair, and many other details such as scale, color, and clarity are yet to be addressed.
Even in its rudimentary state, the sculputre evokes some artistic qualities. Primarily, the shadows on its gray face caught my eye after it had been rendered. Set against a dark background, the bright, gradient, and solid black areas on the sculpture's irregular surface created depth.
If I were drawing a 2D likeness of this head, it would be difficult for me to make the shadows look realistic and still maintain the integrity of the face. In Blender, shadows and light can be done automatically as shown below, or tweaked in a 3D enviroment. More often than not, the user will adjust light(s), camera position, and other camera/lens settings to their liking.
I don't have any plans for moving forward with this face sculpture other than to become more familiar with Blender. We'll see.
November 26, 2022 How it is and How it was--Computer Modems. About thirty-five years ago I paid $11--13 additional per month on my phone bill for a dedicated line (computer/fax). Compared to a few years prior, It seemed like heaven to be zipping along, uninterrupted, at 300 baud (300 bps--later, 1200 and 2400 modem speeds).
Bulletin/message boards, one-way peer to peer connections, and Cleveland Free Net, etc., were about it until Macs, Windows PC's, and the Internet / World Wide Web, as we know it, today, came to be.
As computers and the phone connections improved during the following decade, it was also necessary to purchase faster modems along with new computers. Computer equipment was very expensive then. It's not really cheap today, either, but by comparison, we now get more bang for our buck.
Today, a fiber optic converter and wifi modem are furnished by our internet provider as part of their monthly plan. Recently our current home internet plan was substantially improved for another $5 monthly charge. This connection is fast enough to simultaneously stream to multiple t.v's and to other devices including a desktop computer, notepad, and an old cellphone (minus its sim card). The computer is wired directly to the modem--other devices connect via wifi.
Anyway, our current home plan is over a million times faster than the old 300 baud modem. Should we ever feel the need for greater speed, there are more fiber plans available that are reasonably priced and designed to fit every pocketbook.
November 24, 2022 Happy Thanksgiving--Nostalgic Video Games. The turkey and dressing were delicious. After the meal, the grandchildren were given a lesson on how Tetris and Super Marios 3 were played in the 90's by their elders.
I resurrected the kid's 30 year old Nintendo that had been stored in a basement closet for the past 20+ years. An update for the Nintendo to TV connection was required. It included using a USB power plug and cord (e.g. one used for charging cellphones), AV to HD converter for a digital TV (purchased at Game Stop), and another HDMI cable (purchased at Walmart). We already had a red, white and yellow ended cable that connected the Nintendo to the converter. White end was not used due to a common problem of humming from TV speaker(s).
The copper contacts inside each game cartridge and inside the Nintendo had to be blown out and then swabbed with alcohol on a piece of paper towel wrapped around a couple popsicle sticks tied together to reach inside the Nintendo's game port slot.
The old Nintendo worked better than ever when plugged into the smart tv with the game controls mode selected.
The video games were an outstanding success. When it was time for our guests to depart, they took the old Nintendo back home with them for a new generation of gamers to enjoy. The grandkids have all the new gadgetry but playing on a gaming system "Mom" grew up with is something special. She has conquered the 8 worlds of Super Mario Brothers 3 and remembers all the moves for Tetris as well.
November 22, 2022 Video Animation Options--SketchUp Video Export vs. Twilight Render Image Set with VideoDub and MovieMaker. The Blender Sculpture imported into SketchUp as a Collada File has now been exported as a video animation using two formats.
To begin, the SketchUp file containing the sculpture now includes a 16 scene animation created simply by adding Scenes that are each rotated and updated to produce the illusion of movement when played.
The animation was then exported as a 3D video in SketchUp. It only required a few minutes to create an 32 second mp4 video. The quality is good but lacks the shiny appearance created by by a rendering application such as Blender Animation or Twlight Render. I avoided Blender Animation mainly due to a lack of know how and computer power. Here is the link to the Blender Sculpture Video exported from SketchUp (mp4 format, duration 32 seconds, file size 12.4 mb).
Next, a slightly more involved method, but not that difficult, involved using Twilight Render's Animation option. Unfortunately, it was not a one step process like Sketchup's export. A folder needed to be created in the preliminary stages to hold an Image Set of rendered images made with Twilight Render.
Also, a name for the first image rendered needed to be assigned in advance. Thereafter, 512 more images were rendered and automatically giiven a sequential number. I had also specified 16 fps (frames per second) and a 2 second duration for each of the 16 scenes. Sixteen scenes initiallly made while adding scenes were enough to move the head horizontally and vertically at different camera angles--nothing too fancy.
Due to all the detail in surface variances of each image, Twilight Render required five hours and twenty-five minutes to finish rendering the 513 jpeg images. There were no doubt ways to reduce that time by eliminating redundancy by either disabling or enabling numerous options as explained in online Twilight Render video tutorials. However, I was in too big of a hurry to investigate. I was using the free version and decided to wing it.
Now that I finally had the image set completed, the next thing was to figure out what to do with them. I first downloaded Microsoft's ClipChamp's trial version for compiling images. For 513 images, it was slow going and was not the right type of application.
So, by typing "I have an image set now what do I do to make a video?" into Google Search, I was directed to a user's forum which suggested using VirtualDub (virtualdub.org). I downloaded v1.10.4/AMD 64-bit zipped file, extracted it, and run the exe. file.
VirtualDub instructed me to enter the location of the first jpeg in the image set folder and the desired length for the video--in this case--16 scenes x 2 seconds, or 32 seconds. It only took a few minutes to populate the screen with all images. After previewing the video, I selected Save AVI (file type)--the only type provided. The movie took a minute or two to save. For some unexplained reason, this version turned out to be 51 seconds in length--must have missed something or could it have been a problem with Twilight Render settings. It was o.k., no jerky animation, but slower. It could be sped up with MovieMaker, but 51 seconds was acceptable.
Lastly, the AVI video was converted with MovieMaker (windows) to a high definition mp4 file to make it more user friendly. Here's the link on this website Sculpture Video from Twilight Render Image Set (mp4 format, duration 51 seconds, file size 8.7 mb). Twilight Render produced surfaces that were more reflective or shiny than SketchUp (Make's) video surfaces linked in paragraph two above. Prior to rendering, SketchUp's Shadow option was disabled to speed up the process.
Other Links:
Link to virtualdub.org This is an easy to use, very fast, and free video editor that works with image sets.)
Here's a link to sourceforge.net where VrtualDub can be downloaded: VirtualDub (Download site was linked on virtualdub.org)
I think it's alway prudent to scan all free downloads.
November 21, 2022 Deer Arrival--Photography. Deer Hunting Season ended yesterday. For the past few weeks some of the more fortunate deer have been taking refuge near or in town and then venture into people's yards for something to eat. They begin to appear after dark starting at about 9:30--10:00 p.m. each night.
Last night, six deer were eating fallen apples beneath the neighbor's trees and then moved over to bird and squirrel food we have scattered in the back yard. The food was poured out more abundantly lately anticipating their arrival.
Dim yard lighting behind our house required turning up the exposure setting when editing a few photos taken in the wee hours of the morning between 3:30 and 4:00 a.m. No flash was used--pics were taken through the window.
November 20, 2022 Sculpting Day 10--Blender, Collada, SketchUp, Twilight Rendering Extension, Windows Photo Editor. The last series of images below were created from an exported Collada file (dae) and imported into SketchUp. Captions beneath some of the pictures describe how images have been modified.
The first three images were exported as 2D images from SketchUp. The remaining are derived from a Twilight Rendering extension addon in SketchUp.
Materials added using Twilight Rendering Extension Materials option were either Shiny or Satin Plastic applied to the existing colors in the collada file. The second or third duplicate of the same image have been tweaked with Windows Photo Editior and a couple had the Sauna and Sahara filters applied, instead. Windows Photo Editor was a quicker way to make minor changes with fewer steps than if done exclusively with Blender Render or with Twilight Rendering Extension options.
November 19, 2022 Sculpting Day 9--Blender Render. A quick Google search revealed what I needed to do to make the light work for better rendering in Blender. I needed to create a secondary light source by duplicating the existing light and moving it to the other side of the head with less intensity (wattage) and with a bit of a tint--I chose a light yellow color. Camera angles below were mostly from the white light side with the hue from the other side showing up in the hair and or near the far edge of the face.
The lighting and shadows brought out all of the creases and curves as well as the flaws. The teeth could have been smoothed by adding more vertices (If I had remembered how). The images below show the actual Blender Output (png images) and afterward when light and color were tweaked with Windows's Photo Editor.
The last few images have been touched up with an air brush in GIMP to add eyebrows and to add color tot he lips. One of the front view images had a crazy shadow under the nose that I removed by cloning adjacent skin.
Also, as I had done a year ago, it was necessary to lower the resolution by half to eliminate crashing while rendering. In this example, the YouTube Tutorial used 1920 x 1920. I lowered it to 960 x 960.
Lastly, here's a link to last year's Blender Donut Images. Yummy. My next Blender sculpture endeavor may involve our pet cats or maybe the backyard moose (see last week's post).
November 18, 2022 Sculpting Day 8--Close But No Cigar. I moved on to rendering settings and painting the Blender sculpure. Everything rendered but there were problems getting the light to turn on properly regarding shadows. Without shadows, facial features were nonexistent. Teeth, Eyes, Tongue, hair, and skin are finished. There are eyebrows and lips remaining.
Since rendering was unsuccessful, here are some screen captures from the Layout mode. I inadvertently inserted a nice background while applying paint--must have pushed something by mistake (Shading Mode). I remember intentionally activiating this background last year while drawing fancy donuts.
GeForce Nvidia Graphics Board crashed several times and today it automatically directed me to their website. I wasn't in the mood to follow up on that suggestion.
November 17, 2022 Sculpting Day 7--Blender and SketchUp. Teeth and tongue components downloaded as Collada files from 3-D Warehouse and edited in SketchUp were much better choices than trying to draw them from scratch. After deleting the lower teeth from the model, unnecessary geometry was removed from the upper teeth before fitting them inside the Collada version of the blender file I had previously imported in SketchUp. The angle and size had to be adjusted for both the teeth and the tongue.
The upper teeth and tongue components were then exported separately as Collada files again and imported into the recent Blender project in progress as explained in yesterday's post. Here is the same blender image now sporting new teeth and a tongue. The stylized renderings are exaggerated likenesses and are not intended to be photo realistic.
This project was very time consuming and slow going when working with a mouse. With shaky hands I don't think I'd be much better with a stylus and drawing pad either. Much time was lost restarting the computer after frequent crashes. Four Gig RAM isn't quite enough with the older GeForce 210 Nvidia Graphic card, 10 yr. old Intel Core i 7 CPU 860 4 Core(s) , and running Windows 10 Pro. This computer is not compatible with Windows 11.
A new solid state hard drive a few years ago coupled with a vastly improved fiber optic internet speed upgrade last month makes this a great computer in every other respect. I'm in no hurry to replace it. More advanced Blender activities will have to wait.
November 16, 2022 Sculpting Day 5 & 6--Blender and SketchUp. After finishing the first sculpting tutoria, I moved on to another project that featured stylized human faces. Here is the YouTube link: Sculpting a Stylized Face for Beginners.
I am not posting any Blender files for download because they are memory hogs. The YouTube video explains everything in detail except for the last few minutes. The teeth layout became a bit foggy for me when the video demonstrtion reached the extrusion process for mirroring teeth. Also, the mouse and Creasing tool did not behave well when trying to replicate sculpting the hair--I omitted that feature as you will notice in the images shown below. Also, my images are toothless and tongueless for right now.
I exported the entire stylized face with a Collada file to SketchUp. I'll try to fashion a tongue and a set of chompers using a SketchUp model that fits into the imported stylized face. When finished, I plan to export them back separately to blender (as Collada, dae files) to insert as objects. They will then need to be sculpted once they're inserted in the mouth.
Below is the current status of my stylized faces minus the teeth and tongues at this juncture.
November 14, 2022 Sculpting Day 4--Blender and SketchUp. After playing more with yestderay's Blender project, I exported the file as a Collada file (.dae) and and imported it into SketchUp to see what happens.
As I'd suspected, it opened as a component. By selecting edit, I assigned a color and then chose view edges to expose the mesh. Some of the mesh had holes that required patching. While in the edit mode, it required zooming in and drawing connecting lines to form triangles wherever a hole in the meth appeared. Out of the many thousands of vertices and triangles, probably a couple hundred tiny areas needed a line or two to fill in the missing surface.
Thereafter, I turned off cast shadows on the sculpture component and tried various lighting settings with receive shadows selected. Below are several images with a variety of shadow and camera angles. Secondly, I attempted to render using Twilight Rendering Extension. Due to lack of sculpted eyes and brow definition, it isn't very impressive.
I applied a shiny plastic surface that gave the Body Builder a sweaty look. Given the quality of the original scultpure, that is about all that can be done for the present.
November 13, 2022 Sculpting with Blender--Day 3. Brush control (using mouse) is easier today. Adjusting the radius and strength of the brush has become less cumbersome with practice. Basic brushes in use included Draw, Clay, Smooth, and Crease. I experimented with the Snake Hook while attemtping to make eyelashes, but that will take more pracitce.
The same model from yesterday has been updated and refined somewhat. Eyes are now open, the nose flare has been reduced, cheeks are better defined, and ears are beginning to take shape. All aspects of the head and face require more work.
By saving after every 2 or 3 moves and by not trying to quickly add or subtract large areas of vertices, computer crashes haven't resulted in the loss of data.
The first two images below are shown in the perspective view with a gray background. The last three images are in the Orthoraphic view mode overlayed on a grid.
November 12, 2022 Squirrels Endure Harsh Climate--Photography. Winter weather is here. Last night's temperatures dropped to below Zero. Today is cold, but it didn't stop the squirrel family from showing up for breakfast and dinner.
The heavy snowfall failed to materialize near the Canadian border where we live, but for an hour or two, November 9 was quite blustery. Thankfully, we only received a few inches of snow.
November 12, 2022 Sculpting Mode--Blender. It's been awhile since I've used Blender (free software downloaded at Blender.org). I played with it about 20 years ago, but really never had a computer with enough memory to make use of it back then. Last year's projects--see posts, October thru November 17, 2021 located in the 2021 Archives linked at top of this page-- were also hampered by a lack of ram for a few projects I completed at that time.
Again, I experienced a crash a few minutes into a new project I tackled yesterday using the sculpting mode. By slowing down a bit, saving frequently, and being less aggressive when pushing shortcut keys, I've managed to make some headway.
I have downloaded the most recent version: Blender 3.3.1 as of two days ago. YouTube has some impressive videos that show off its potential in the hands of experts. One video showed how natural looking beards and hair are drawn. Another video demonstrated how multilayers are applied to create photorealistic monster skin complete with pores, mottled skin tones and other imperfections. Wow! Too advanced for me.
The 4 Gig ram in my old desktop computer makes it possible to do some basic stuff which is about all I need it for. Last year's projects involved creating linked nodes which overwhelmed ram very quickly after several levels had been linked.
Also, I founded it extremely helpful to review how to use shortcuts and navigational commands and their location. Here's the link to the first in a series of tutorials linked at Blender.org.: First Steps - Blender 2.80 -- Fundamentals.
The images below are views from my 3D Blender file masterpieces. It loosely followed the first half of an excellent YouTube tutorial on sculpting: Sculpting with Blender for Beginners. A Pen, tablet or special touch screen are recommend, but I made due with a mouse and my favorite cloth-covered mousepad (about 30 years old).
The heads and faces sculpted below are not anatomically correct. Left and right sides of the faces were simultaneously created with the symmetry feature. In general, it is accurate and convenient. Realistic imperfections can be added when needed with auto symmetry turned off.
It takes practice and some experimentation to become familair with the Blender's many brushes and sculpting options. Images below were taken from 3 small Blender files created last night and today. The grotesque head and face model was sculpted first; second, a better defined sleeping head and face model with fine eyelids closed; and third, another eyes closed head and face with deeper creases.
Open eyes, realistic ears, hair, and other facial detail are more involved. That will be a suitable project when I become more familiar with the rest of the sculpting tools.
November 11, 2022 Veterans Day, 2022. Today, we honor generations of patriots who have earned the title of “American veteran” — a badge of courage that unites the finest group of former service members the world has ever known. With their selfless sacrifice, our Armed Forces have forged and defended the very idea of America — a promise of freedom and equality, democracy and justice, possibility and hope. We owe them an incredible debt that can never be fully repaid.
Source: White House, Briefing Room, Prsidential Actions, A Proclamation on Veterans Day, 2022
November 8, 2022 Flash . . . The Moose are Back!. I just peeked out the window facing the back yard at 10:15 p.m. A very large moose was laying in the middle of the back yard between the window and the bird feeder which had been tipped over by you know who. It was chewing its ruminant and seemed to be quite comfortable.
The birds and squirrels will have to go hungry until later tomorrow morning. I'm not sure how many moose have arrived or if they are the same ones from last winter (see March posts below). This one chose a favorite spot used last year to rest.
Bad weather is in the forecast for the state--I'm sure they can sense it.
November 6, 2022 Hungry Birds, Nasty Weather--Photography. When we set our clocks back one hour before bed last night, the wind was howling and snow was falling. By this morning, the snow had stopped but the wind contiued to blow.
The wind chill made it seem colder than it really was--about 20 degrees F. with a 50 mph wind. Currently (10:45 a.m. cst) it's 25 degrees with a constant 41 mph wind. The thin blanket of snow with fallen leaves are flying in strong gusts of wind.
Frantic sparrows and doves cover the ground with several squirrels in the mix. They gobbled up the food we had scattered for their morning feeding.
Squirrels Huddle. We hope the young squirrels can survive the winter. They seem to be resourceful in their attempt to stay warm. It's rare to see two squirrels eating close together, let alone three.
Snowbirds who are now residing in southern winter homes can be thankful they have left this misery behind.
November 5, 2022 Young Squirrels Eat Together--Photography. It is very seldom that you see two adult squirrels eating side by side. I suspect the two young squirrels below were litter mates.
They haven't seen me very often in their short lives and run off whenever I appear. The adult squirrels, however, are not spooked by my presence and recently come up to me whenever I bring out fresh food. I don't plan on ever hand feeding them, but they will politely take a peanut as I pour the food onto the feeder.
The bird bath and water dish on the ground for the rabbits, squirrels, and stray dogs and cats have now frozen over. Late fall has seen a steady stream of sparrows drinking and bathing that required replenishing the water several times a day.
November 2, 2022 Home Improvement--Painting and Flooring. By 2021 our home's interior began to look worn and shabby. The interior paint and flooring had not been redone since 2009. Back then, after completing painting and installing new carpeting, kitchen flooring, and appliances we listed our house for sale, packed up everything and moved to Arizona for two years. In the meantime, the housing market remained flat, we were getting older, and once again yearned for the cool breezes of North Dakota. When we returned home that fall, our newly remodeled house was waiting. It felt good to be back home.
Covid-19 became part of everyone's lives in 2020. Our house had seen 8 years of foot traffic and the wall and ceiling paint had lost its luster. We decided we could do the interior painting ourselves and did so finishing the five-weeks long project on Halloween night of 2021 (one year ago).
New carpet installation would have to wait, however. Due to the ongoing pandemic, we felt unsafe about shopping for flooring or having measurers and installers coming to our residence. By July of 2022, we were out and about more frequently and got the ball rolling ordering flooring materials and setting up installation dates.
Laminate Installation. We decided to replace the carpeting in the bedrooms and hallway with laminate flooring due to respiratory issues. The catch was, however, the installers would only do so if they ripped off our original baseboards and replace them with new material. For me, that was out of the question. I was not going to destroy hundreds of dollars worth of original solid walnut baseboards with a look-alike pressed styrofoam and vinyl trim board or something else.
I therefore decided to do the prep work myself, carefully and slowly removing, cleaning, and refinishing the existing baseboards as needed. I also cleared each bedroom and hallway, one room at a time, of it's furniture and contents while tearing up the carpet, pad, tack strips, and staples. Following that, I painted each subfloor with a mold and mildew resistent paint which I had also done in 2009. This step was a little extra work and expense but well worth it. Each room required about a week to prep. I don't move as fast as I used to.
Over the next few weeks, we bought 30+ boxes of laminate flooring hauling a few home each week until we had enough to finish the job. We selected a hickory variety that had a dark grain pattern that was a pretty good match with the existing baseboards, door, and window trim. (see photos below).
Our son-in-law was kind enough to install the laminate. He had recently refloored their new home and had all the tools needed for the job. I was a bit concerned about our 50 year old house being square and level. It was square but there were a few spongy spots in the subfloor. The new flooring layed flat. That was good enough for me. The job required 5 afternoons on the weekends. In our opinion, he did a perfect job. We took our time and had a bedroom or the hallway ready for him to cover on each visit.
Carpet Installation. We scheduled the carpet installers so that we would have ample time to relocate the living room/great room furniture and remove the carpet, pad, staples, and prep the subfloor with a fresh coat of mold and mildew resitant paint. Our extremely heavy upright piano had to be moved. The carpet company specified they did not move pianos. The piano had to be moved across the room (about 12 feet) onto the dining room floor which was covered with kitchen tile (laminate). The carpet installation company's manager said we should first lay plywood over the laminate to prevent breaking the locking system (joints) due to the concentrated weight of the piano wheels. I gathered up my 5/8 inch plywood odds and ends and had enough to cover the required area. Plywood pieces were taped together with duct tape to prevent slippage.
Other obstacles were the transition strip and tack strip between the carpet flooring and the kitchen laminate tile. We had to lift the piano over the edge.
Piano Moving Tips. Old upright pianos are very heavy. They have a tendancy to tip backward. Be careful! If you don't have piano movers to slip under your piano, here's how I do it. I just happen to have a 2 3/4" diameter hardwood roller that measures about 2 ft long (an old wood baseball bat would probably work, instead). I used a five-foot metal crow bar as a lever and 2 pieces of 2x4 as a fulcrum to lift the back side of the piano up far enough to slip about 3" of the roller under the bottom of the paino (which was built sturdy like a bridge). The roller had to be positioned far enough away from the leading wheel and transition strip on the floor to allow the piano to roll forward over the strip without touching it.
Once the piano was rolled into position close to the transition strip, the fulcrum and roller placement could be determined. The piano lifted easily by bearing down on the other end of the crow bar. The fulcrum was positoned about a foot from the end of the crow bar beneath the piano. Once the wood roller was inserted, the crow bar was removed and the piano and roller rolled effortlessly (wood on wood) when the piano was pulled. The same steps were taken when the other end of the piano approached the transition strip. The wheels at the front side of the piano also lifted up when the back of the piano was raised. (Mind you fingers and toes when using a roller system and fulcrum/lever principle.)
Lastly, after the carpet was layed, the lever and roller procedure was used again to move the piano back. We also used plywood to cover the newly layed carpet until the piano was nearly backed up to the wall where it always sits.
Carpet layers. Two carpet layers installed the 27' x 12' carpet and pad in less than an hour. They appreciated having the floor thoroughly prepped with all the furniture removed. It took them 5 minutes to lay and staple the carpet pad, and about 45--50 minutes to roll it out, cut, stretch, and tuck the carpet, etc. These guys were good.
Some weeks before, the carpet laying company had sent out an individual to measure the carpet. He had a laser measuring instrument and input the dimensions into his notepad/ipad. When he was done measuring, he showed us a computer generated layout/floorplan with all of the exact measurements. He also took digital photos of the floors from every angle.
In the past, I've observed other carpet layers walk around holding a tape measure grunting and snorting for about an hour before they even brought in the first roll of carpet pad. Obviously, they did not have a detailed drawing--they had only requested room measurements and a rough sketch that I provided for ordering the carpet. New technology has improved the efficiency of this trade.
Our old house has dozens of other issues that need to be addressed. It will take time.
Upright Piano (not shown) was lifted over transition strip on tile.
Hallway and bedroom flooring (Shaw Supreme Hickory Laminate) was a close match with our walnut baseboards and door trim.
November 1, 2022 Flock of Starlings--Photography. Several dozen Starlings visited our backyard this morning. They preferred to peck among the mulched leaves and didn't touch the bird feed. Along with them were a few black birds that haven't been around for a couple months. They usually stop by before heading south for the winter.
It was cloudy this morning, The starling's iridescent greenish and blue feather colors did not shine in the dim light.
Updated: 11-30-2022, 11-29-2022, 11-28-2022, 11-26-2022, 11-24-2022, 11-22-2022, 11-21-2022, 11-20-2022, 11-19-2022, 11-18-2022, 11-17-2022, 11-16-2022, 11-14-2022, 11-13-2022, 11-12-20-22, 11-11-2022, 11-08-2022, 11-07-2022, 11-06-2022, 11-05-2022, 11-04-2022, 11-03-2022, 11-02-2022, 11-01-2022.
- Viewer Stats -
Previous Visitors
00049048
provided by Google.com (Counter Deactivated 2017)
______________
Visitors Since February 2017
provided by Statcounter.com (Current Counter)
______________
Facebook members can visit my page at facebook.com ← Click here to Login or sign up for facebook.
Deb's Website at Google.com
T. Bolton Digital Art Archive About: The Archived Classic Google Website content has been converted to doc and pdf formats. Years shown include 2015 through 2020. Older content is accessible by following the Miscellaneous link in the left sidebar.
- Archive Links for Home Page Posts are listed below -
New Google Sites 2021 Archive HTML format
Previous Years Archives (PDF and Word Format)
2020.doc 2019.doc 2018.doc 2017.doc 2015-2016.doc
2020.pdf 2019.pdf 2018.pdf 2017.pdf 2015-2016 pdf