Five minute ISS pass at Flint Creek

There was an amazing pass of ISS overhead tonight. It lasted five whole minutes with a maximum elevation of 65 degrees. However, at Flint with the darkness of being in the country, even its 10 degree initial and 14 degree final elevations were still quite high in the sky. With a magnitude of -3.4 it was brilliantly bright! Most satellites seen in the night sky are a magnitude of 4.5 (weak) to 3.5 (bright). The -3.4 magnitude is due to the size of the ISS (now at Assembly Complete) and looks much like an airplane flying overhead - although with NO blinking lights! Through the binoculars it was absolutely booking and even looked like it was going 17,000 mph!

The picture was taken with only a small Coolpix on sunset setting. I was braced on the split rail fence.

Christmas Cheer

I put some Christmas lights for mom while she was making a McKinney run. I didn't know how dad had done it before that Christmas we spent here - and I just had the lights we found in the sheds. It was easy to focus on just getting some lights up instead of making it just right with the frigid cold! I also wrapped a tree out by the greenhouse. She was super surprised when she got back.

Iced Over

Bundled up, took a walk to the new property and took some neat pictures. The ice is gorgeous.

Freakin' Cold!

I have had an awful hard time doing anything this trip. The cold is stiffling... it takes forever for me to get warmed up and just start the day. Great view though without the leaves in the trees!

Fall at Flint

One parting shot on my way out of here this trip... always so sad to go!

A Wet Firecracker Island

The water is still pretty high. Firecracker island is mostly under water. I took a walk down the creek to see water levels on the newer property.

A Path More Travelled

I was really tired of all the stacked rock and muddy walkways that remained. I had tried to be respectful and patiently wait on Mike to finish where he left off. But I finally ndecided to throw them down on my own - saving mom some money. What would have taken days by other means was done in a couple of hours! And now we have rock paths going everywhere! You could go all the way from either house on rocks with no shoes all the way to the garage! I am amazed sometimes when I remember the very first path dad laid between the two houses so long ago - and then the massive steps down to the bluff I dug out a few years ago...