Brrrr!!!!! It was about 20-25 degrees here last night. Our little pond and any sitting water had a fine frosty film of ice reflecting the bright stars. Being it was such a cold, crisp and frosty fall night the stars were gorgeous; not a cloud in sight. They were as bright and twinkly as a late December night.

       I was out was to take pics of course and stargaze for a while, as well as trying to find Comet Hartley 2, not sure if I did have to look at pics. Did get some interesting ones though. Saw two meteors too. I love watching Orion rise, and it was exceptionally bright tonight too. I think I even got an Orionid whilst taking a shot of the Nebula.

       I discovered two things tonight. One is that my umpteen year old, Made in the USA, jean jacket with sweatshirt lining and hood, is still the warmest coat, comfy too, even though it's falling apart it is so worn, torn, eatin' by goats, scratched, and all around hobo looking I still prefer to use it for a barn coat. Also that metal Talon Zipper is awesome; lasts longer than the five minutes these new plastic ones do. Now on the other hand, my deerskin, stuffed gloves, that are made to wear in deep winter, however were helpful but not as warm. Yeesh, very, very cold fingers!

       The second thing is that boys make better photography assistants than girls; cats that is. Mister Fiddle, one of my barn cats, is my usual sidekick when my dog is not helping, for star photography. He'll at least sit on your feet or wind himself back and forth for attention, but at least it helps keeps your feet warm. Now he can be a pest because he'll wind himself around the tripod too, and purr, which ruins the shot. He'll hang around till he gets bored then disappear. However in August he did push the line and brought me a mouse... a live one, which proceeded to crawl up my leg. Yikes!!!!

        However his mama is a total brat and nuisance, and completely unsuited as an assistant. Oh she wound around my legs too, then stood on my boot and proceeded to use my leg as a scratching post, got her claws stuck in both pants and leg.  Then after that incident and a few minutes hunting away from me, without warning used me a a tree.   

        With claws fully extended she jumped on the back of my leg and crawled up my leg, back, got stuck and was falling off my coat, and made it all the way to my shoulder, then full on pounced on my hood covered head!!! Ouch all over. She even tried to jump on the camera. All to tell me she was cold and wanted in the barn, where she should have stayed. In her defense, she was shaking with chills all over, however less drastic measures could have gotten my attention. She's not a tiny little kitten anymore, and hasn't been for three years!

Anybody want a cat? (Just kidding, this is not a cat ad)
       Being as the fall rutt is underway for White-Tailed Deer I also heard two bucks fighting in the field next to the pasture. It was a very quiet night and there was no mistaking the sound of antler hitting antler and grunts and snorts. Very cool, wonder who won.

       Camera is thawing out. Always remember: When coming in from cold temps into warm, camera needs taken apart, and set out to dry so condensation does not build up. That's my photographer tip for the day.