The Satyr

This guy is one of three perpetually playing the pipes beneath some dancing nymphs on the fountain in Italian Lake on the north side of Harrisburg. A satyr, of course, is a half goat and half man of Greek mythology. Satyrs often played the pipes and loved to dance with nymphs. If you're really nice I'll introduce you to the nymphs next week.

Ruby-Throated Hummingbird

I told you all last week I was going to replenish my bird picture stockpile, so before heading over to Fire Expo Saturday morning we spent an hour at the feeders at Wildwood Lake. It was a bit different than last March when I was there, with the tree leaves all out you don't see the birds hanging out in the trees branches. So you will see some bird pictures at the feeders. While watching and waiting this Hummingbird zipped by and I realized I was standing next to the feeder, so I backed off turned the camera on the tripod focused on the feeder and set it to manual focus. Then it was a waiting game. She came in two or three times and all I had to do was hit the shutter release. Most of what I got were good, these were some of the better. This is a female ruby Throated Hummingbird. That's why there is no ruby throat. These are the most abundant hummingbird in this area. More bird picture this weekend. I couldn't wait until the weekend to show you this one though.

Foodland, Mars (PG 106)

Foodland grocery store is the third of four Painted Gentlemen in Mars, Pa. Not only did they paint up the store logo all nice and pretty but they included scenes from an earlier Mars. Click on the panorama and check out the history in a nut shell.

Fire Expo 2009

Yes, last weekend was the annual Lancaster County Fire Expo at the Farm Show Arena in Harrisburg. Unlike most years I didn't see a whole lot of cartoon mascots. The frog and Life Lion were the only ones I saw inside. The other two I found in the parking lots. The show did include it's share of whackers. I kept passing some Chief in uniform. From New York State. I'll bet he parked the Chief's buggy where he could get to it quick in case his pager went off. Lights and sirens five hours to the call.

Camp Curtin Fire Department No. 13, Harrisburg

The Camp Curtin Fire Company No. 13 began its existence in January of 1906 and formally incorporating in April of that year. It would be another two years until the were recognised by the city and become part of the Harrisburg Fire Department. It is named for the area it is located, Camp Curtin was were thousands of Pennsylvania boys left from to fight in the Civil War. The original station was an old frame blacksmith's shop at 6th and Ross Streets. This building, at 2504 N 6th Street, was built sometime around 1910. The city continued to run apparatus out of this station until 1980 when Camp Curtin, along with the Hope and Reily stations moved into the new Uptown Fire Station No. 1. The building, like the Hope's, lives on as a restaurant, the Camp Curtin Bar-B-Que Station. It was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1981 (#81000541).

Barn Swallow

While on another quick lap around the pond Saturday evening I noticed a swallow zipping back and forth, back and forth. Yes, I tried a few flight shots but that just wasn't working. Then to my surprise it landed on the bank of the pond a little far for an off hand shot but it was all I had. I snapped maybe six pictures the first picture here is the last one I got before it flew off. It looked like it was gathering grass for a nest. The second picture I went ahead and posted to show you the wing tips and tail.

Father Duck

Last evening the wife and I took a short walk along one of my favorite loops. There was lots of chirping but all the birds seemed to be hanging to the dark. I walked up on these mallards on the way back to the truck. I liked how you can see all the different feather patterns in the first picture. I'll try to reload my avian picture stock this morning. Plus some other highlights as long as the weather holds out.