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@mickpic.bsky.social Oct 9, 2026, 9:44 PM

#7syllablesquad #7syllablesentence
#wind

Why blame the dog for your wind?

Labrador Belgian mix looking guilty for something
Belgian Malinois-Labrador mix, often called a "Belgiador," is a high-energy, intelligent, and loyal hybrid, blending the intense work ethic of a Malinois with the friendly, driven nature of a Labrador. They typically weigh 40–80 lbs and require substantial daily mental and physical stimulation to prevent destructive boredom. These dogs are highly trainable, often suiting active owners, search and rescue, or protection roles, but they require consistent, firm, and early training due to their potential for high-drive, protective, or intense behavior.

@mickpic.bsky.social Oct 9, 2026, 3:18 PM

#ForestFriday
"From the archives, but in keeping with the creepy season. Stumps, fog, and goblin mossy woods." -mick
#31DaysOfHalloween #Samhain #WitchSky #Photography #MickPic #PNW #WCK #ECK #MickTrip #RoadTrips #Oregon #Lassen #WashingtonState #California

The image shows a collage of four nature and forest scenes featuring weathered tree roots, gnarled wood, and misty evergreen or deciduous woodland landscapes in the Pacific Northwest.
• Top-left: A close-up view of weathered, grain-textured driftwood or a fallen log near a calm body of water reflecting trees.
• Top-right: An upturned or broken tree root system standing amidst autumn foliage and a wooded slope.
• Bottom-left: A sparse, tall forest shrouded in thick morning fog or mist over a muted ground.
• Bottom-right: A dense, moss-covered forest floor with ferns, decaying logs, and tree trunks fading into the fog

@mickpic.bsky.social Oct 9, 2026, 1:25 PM

Why so facinated
With all things ghoulish?
Skulls and and movies
Things that jump out of the Dark?
Horror is a rehearsal
For the Dark of the Year
For thinning of the Veil
For the Final Rest.
We are scared so we are not
Scared.
#31DaysOfHalloween #Samhain #Poety #WitchSky #MickPic

The image shows gothic Halloween and seasonal tabletop decor, including a black crow perched on a carved skull, winged skull figures, and crystal ball accents on a retail shelf.
The selected region shows the Custer National Cemetery located at the Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument in Crow Agency, Montana.

@mickpic.bsky.social Oct 9, 2026, 12:20 AM

#PalacesAndGardens, by #MrCalvin
"A new theme #WhatsNext? and you forget your best friend? So how about #DogHouse? (Cat House? Oh, nope.) Your favorite furry, feathered, or scaley friend must certainty have a cool hut you have customized."
#CalvinWasHere
💝 #DogsOfBluesky #MickPic #HouseIsNotAHome

The image shows a tan dog lying upside down on a couch with its paws up in the air, displaying a classic sighthound-style or slender-build frame Belgian Malinois-Labrador mix, often called a "Belgiador," is a high-energy, intelligent, and loyal hybrid, blending the intense work ethic of a Malinois with the friendly, driven nature of a Labrador. They typically weigh 40–80 lbs and require substantial daily mental and physical stimulation to prevent destructive boredom. These dogs are highly trainable, often suiting active owners, search and rescue, or protection roles, but they require consistent, firm, and early training due to their potential for high-drive, protective, or intense behavior.

The image shows a tan and brown medium-sized dog with a graying or white muzzle looking out through a flexible vinyl flap of a pet door installed in a sliding glass or exterior patio door.

@mickpic.bsky.social Oct 8, 2026, 10:31 PM

#PalacesAndGardens #WhatsNext?
"This one may have been done already, but how about #NatureReclaimed or #ReclaimedByNauture?" -mick
#Photography #MickPic #PNW #WCK #ECK #MickTrip #RoadTrips #Oregon #WashingtonState #Woods #Forest #Trees #NatureWins

Old, abandoned house, half claimed by the woods and bushes.

Rusted out car, overgrown by trees and vines.

@mickpic.bsky.social Oct 8, 2026, 5:57 PM

#PalacesAndGardens theme we get to suggest #WhatsNext?
"How about #NewMoney? Those lumber or newspaper barons with newly acquired riches, but still learning taste. The Molly Brown House, Denver." -mick
#Photography #MickPic #WCK #ECK #MickTrip #RoadTrips #Denver

The image shows the front steps and exterior facade of the Molly Brown House Museum (also known as the House of Lions) located at 1340 Pennsylvania Street in Denver, Colorado.

Key Details

• Location: Capitol Hill neighborhood, Denver, Colorado
• Significance: The historic 1889 Victorian home of American philanthropist, activist, and Titanic survivor Margaret "Molly" Brown.
• Notable Features: Distinctive stone and brick masonry, a red-tiled roof, an ornate wraparound porch, and stone lion statues flanking the front staircase.

The image shows a stone sphinx statue guarding the porch of the Molly Brown House Museum located at 1340 Pennsylvania St in Denver, Colorado.
Added text reads: "Hey! Riddles up here!"

@mickpic.bsky.social Oct 8, 2026, 3:12 PM

#31DaysOfHalloween
"Our pumpkins have witchy hats this year. Big thanks to roommate for the extra decoration touches. Just outside our door." -mick
#Photography #MickPic #PNW #WCK #ECK #Samhain #Oregon

The image shows a black jack-o'-lantern luminary wearing a pointed witch's hat and glowing with an internal orange light.

@mickpic.bsky.social Oct 8, 2026, 1:43 PM

#PalacesandGardens #WhatsNext
"How about #LastWords? Final resting place or palace of a famous or known person. Maybe include last words. I don't always go for the joke, and as an old man this is forward on my mind." -mick
#Photography #MickPic #PNW #WCK #ECK #MickTrip #RoadTrips #California

Text reads: NATIONAL AIDS MEMORIAL GROVE
WE MUST CONTINUE TO WORK TOGETHER AS A NATION TO FURTHER OUR PROGRESS AGAINST THIS DEADLY EPIDEMIC AND WHILE WE DO SO WE MUST REMEMBER THAT EVERY PERSON WHO IS LIVING WITH HIV OR AIDS IS: SOMEONE'S SON OR DAUGHTER BROTHER OR SISTER PARENT OR GRANDPARENT THEY DESERVE OUR RESPECT AND THEY NEED OUR LOVE
PRESIDENT BILL CLINTON
The image shows the 7-ton Sierra granite boulder at the main portal entrance of the National AIDS Memorial Grove in Golden Gate Park, San Francisco, California.
• Location: de Laveaga Dell in eastern Golden Gate Park
• Inscription: Features a quote by President Bill Clinton and details about its designation as a national memorial
• Designation: Created in September 1991 and signed into a U.S. National Memorial in November 1996

@mickpic.bsky.social Oct 8, 2026, 1:30 PM

#PalacesandGardens #WhatsNext
"If I'm understanding the assignment correctly, we are supposed to suggesting the next topic? How about #WHAT? as in #WhatWereTheyThinking? 'Dare to Fail' you can only see six floors up. Or a business name that looks like a feminine care product name."
#MickPic #PDX

The image shows the "Dare to Fail" rooftop mural painted by artist It's a Living (Gabriel Alcala) in downtown Portland, Oregon, located near the corner of SW 11th Avenue and Harvey Milk Street (with Powell's Books visible in the background)

Text reads: "TANPEX"
"Why it is not always wise to mix business and city name."
(Hint: It looks like Tampax.)
The image shows the storefront of TANPDX, a former tanning and teeth-whitening salon located at 1511 SW 12th Ave in Portland, Oregon.
Naming a local business after a city code or abbreviation (like "PDX" for Portland) can backfire for several reasons:
• Geographic Expansion Limits: If the business wants to open a branch in another city or state, the name instantly becomes out-of-place and confusing to new customers.
• Domain and Trademark Issues: Local acronyms are often hard to trademark broadly or secure clean, matching digital handles and domain names.

@mickpic.bsky.social Oct 8, 2026, 3:56 AM

#7SyllableSentence
#7SyllableSquad
#Chill

You can chill in sun or shade.

#MickPic #MickTrip

The image depicts a serene beach scene where a person wrapped in a patterned blanket sits on a rock, facing away from the camera and looking out toward the ocean. They are positioned in the cool, shaded foreground of the beach, right next to a small, detailed sandcastle built in the sand.
Beyond the shadow line, the beach transitions into bright, sunlit golden sand, leading down to the wide, blue shoreline. Soft white waves are rolling in from the ocean under a clear sky, creating a peaceful and contemplative atmosphere.

@mickpic.bsky.social Oct 7, 2026, 2:08 PM

#31DaysOfHalloween #Moon
"Full moon photo by me some years ago with the good camera near North Hillsboro. Unsure where original joke came from, so I can't cite a credit." -mick
#Photography #MickPic #PNW #WCK #ECK #MickTrip #RoadTrips #Oregon
#WitchSky #BlueskyWitches

Photo shows an orange full moon rising over the hills. Text over picture reads:

SAMHAIN

A GAELIC WORD MEANING 'SUMMER'S END' IT IS PRONOUCED:

'SOW-IN' IN IRELAND.

'SOW-EEN' IN WALES.

'SAV-EN' IN SCOTLAND.

And "Give Me Candy!" in America.

@mickpic.bsky.social Oct 6, 2026, 8:10 PM

#7syllablesquad #7syllablesentence
#Rain

There is no "bow" without "rain".

#MickPic #MickTrip

Along side a road, a lake and receding clouds. Mist in the air. A rainbow has formed, with a half-seen second rainbow over it, a shadow, a rumor of a rainbow.

@mickpic.bsky.social Oct 6, 2026, 4:57 PM

Excerpt from "The Witch and the Tsar" ― Olesya Salnikova Gilmore for #BlueBrewBooks, my current read and an excellent choice for #31DaysOfHalloween.
#Photography #MickPic #PNW #WCK #ECK #TheGrotto #TheGoddess

Picture shows a tile representation of the holy Mother, Mary, at the Grotto, a Sanctuary in Portland.

Text reads: "“My usual reaction to icons was a stab of jealousy. This god was exalted, celebrated in resplendent wealth; my gods were forgotten, prayed to in shameful, guilt-ridden secrecy. He had triumphed while my gods had lost. But Our Lady of Vladimir was different. Though I was a stranger in this church, a heathen, the Lady seemed to speak to me, to convey such tender sorrow, such a depth of suffering, that I wanted to weep. I realized why the Lady was suddenly so dear to me; she reminded me of my mother.”
― Olesya Salnikova Gilmore, The Witch and the Tsar

@mickpic.bsky.social Oct 6, 2026, 5:07 AM

#Abstractia #ArtChallenge Mon 05 Oct prompt #EYES
"It is such a wonder to be owned by a dog, to look into the eyes of this amazing creature, and to know that they are looking back and recognizing another soul." -mick
#MickPic #MrCalvin #DogsOfBluesky 💝

The images show close-up views of a brown and black-muzzled dog's face, focusing on its textured black nose and dark, expressive brown eyes.
• Facial Features: The dog has a short tan coat with dark pigmentation around the eyes and muzzle.
• Breed Possibilities: Based on appearance, it shares visual characteristics with mixed breeds like a hound or cur mix, though a definitive breed identification is difficult from photos alone.
Belgian Malinois-Labrador mix, often called a "Belgiador," is a high-energy, intelligent, and loyal hybrid, blending the intense work ethic of a Malinois with the friendly, driven nature of a Labrador. They typically weigh 40–80 lbs and require substantial daily mental and physical stimulation to prevent destructive boredom. These dogs are highly trainable, often suiting active owners, search and rescue, or protection roles, but they require consistent, firm, and early training due to their potential for high-drive, protective, or intense behavior.

@mickpic.bsky.social Oct 5, 2026, 9:12 PM

#MountainMonday
"Sisters are doin' it for themselves
Standin' on their own two feet
And ringin' on their own bells, we say
Sisters are doin' it for themselves" -Annie Lennox
#Photography #MickPic #PNW #WCK #ECK #MickTrip #RoadTrips #Oregon #Sisters #Mountains

The image shows a view of North Sister (left, with the jagged peak) and Middle Sister (right, covered in snow) in the Oregon Cascade Range, as seen from the Dee Wright Observatory at McKenzie Pass.
Now there was a time
When they used to say
That behind every great man
There had to be a great woman
But in these times of change
You know that it's no longer true
So we're comin' out of the kitchen
'Cause there's somethin' we forgot to say to you, we say
Sisters are doin' it for themselves
Standin' on their own two feet
And ringin' on their own bells, we say
Sisters are doin' it for themselves
Now this is a song
To celebrate
The conscious liberation
Of the female state
Mothers, daughters
And their daughters too
Woman to woman
We're singin' with you
The inferior sex, has
Got a new exterior, yeah
We got doctors
Lawyers, politicians too
Everybody take a look around
Can you see, can you see
Can you see there's a woman
Right next to you, we say
Sisters are doin' it for themselves
Standin' on their own two feet
And ringin' on their own bells
Sisters are doin' it for themselves
Now we ain't makin' stories
Oh, we ain't layin' plans
Don't you know that a man still loves a woman
And a woman still loves a man
Just the same way
Sisters are doin' it for themselves
There was a time
When they used to say
That behind every great man
There had to be a great woman
But in these times of change
You know that it's no longer true
So we're comin' out of the kitchen
'Cause there's somethin' we forgot to say to you, we say
Sisters are doin' it for themselves
Standin' on their own two feet
And ringin' on their own bells
Sisters are doin' it for themselves
Sisters are doin' it for themselves
Sisters are doin' it, doin' it, doin' it
Doin' it, doin' it, doin' it
Sisters are doin' it for themselves, yeah
Sisters are doin' it for themselves, yeah
Sisters are doin' it for themselves
I said, " Hey, hey, sisters are doin' it for themselves"

Songwriters: Annie Lennox / David Allan Stewart

@mickpic.bsky.social Oct 5, 2026, 1:39 PM

#AlphabetChallenge #WeekNforNeon #MagentaMonday
"Can you have neon outside a light? Sure, if you have a handy Telsa coil nearby. At a Sci-Fi convention from a few years ago, a demonstration of fluorescence. Info in alt text as always." -mick
#Photography #MickPic #WCK #ECK #31DaysOfHalloween

Fluorescent tube lights glow near a Tesla coil because of the powerful wireless electromagnetic field it creates.
When the Tesla coil is active, it generates a high-voltage, high-frequency electric field in the surrounding air. This field is strong enough to interact directly with the gases inside the fluorescent tubes.
How it Works
• Gas Ionization: The intense wireless electric field forces the electrons inside the tube's low-pressure gas (usually mercury vapor and argon) to separate from their atoms, creating ions.
• Ultraviolet Light: As these free electrons collide with other gas atoms, they excite them. When the atoms return to their normal state, they emit invisible ultraviolet (UV) light.
• Visible Glow: This UV light hits the phosphor coating on the inside of the glass tube, causing it to fluoresce and emit the bright, visible light you see—all without any wires or physical connection to a power source.

@mickpic.bsky.social Oct 5, 2026, 1:18 PM

#31daysofhalloween, by #MrCalvin
"Here We were, at guard, looking over The House as We always did. Never really sure why My People thought the ballon dragon was needed. What was it going to do? Fart at intruders? #Luke had gas enough. *whew*"
#CalvinWasHere
💝🌈 #Dogs #DogsOfBluesky #MickPic

The image shows two dogs sitting in front of a large, black-and-red inflatable dragon Halloween decoration. One is a Labrador/Belgian mix. The other is a Red Doberman. Bothe have passed on.
Belgian Malinois-Labrador mix, often called a "Belgiador," is a high-energy, intelligent, and loyal hybrid, blending the intense work ethic of a Malinois with the friendly, driven nature of a Labrador. They typically weigh 40–80 lbs and require substantial daily mental and physical stimulation to prevent destructive boredom. These dogs are highly trainable, often suiting active owners, search and rescue, or protection roles, but they require consistent, firm, and early training due to their potential for high-drive, protective, or intense behavior.

@mickpic.bsky.social Oct 5, 2026, 3:55 AM

Late night entry for #AlphabetChallenge of #WeekMforMachinery #StunDay
"The 1st picture is by me from the grand road trip in 2021. 2nd photo is archive from the National Park Service showing the unique machines needed to create a first-of-its-kind building." -mick
#Photography #MickPic #WCK #ECK

The image shows a collage of overlapping photographs of the Gateway Arch in St. Louis, Missouri.
• Monument: The Gateway Arch stands 630 feet tall as the world's tallest arch.
I had to piece together a full photo as I did not a wide-angle lens at that time.
• Design: Finnish-American architect Eero Saarinen designed the stainless steel weighted catenary structure in 1947.
• Location: It sits inside Gateway Arch National Park along the Mississippi River in downtown St. Louis

The initial design for the Arch included the use of guy cables at about the 530-foot mark to provide stability. However, calculations showed that this would require either one 6-inch cable or two 3-inch cables for each leg. This would be quite expensive, especially since the cables couldn’t be reused effectively. Due to this cost and some additional issues related to the cables, the designers decided to use a stabilizing strut or truss instead at the 530-foot level.

When the Arch reached that height, the two creeper derricks worked together to lift and position a steel stabilizing truss that was 255 feet long. This truss connected the tops of the two legs and braced them against each other while additional sections were added to complete the Arch. The truss was similar to a bridge, fabricated in the shop using small wide-flange beams and tubular sections made from high-strength construction alloy steel. It was assembled on-site using 325 high-strength bolts and lifted into place as a single unit.

The truss measured 40 feet wide and 15 feet deep, weighing approximately 60 tons. It was connected to the Arch with a steel harness that fit around each leg, ensuring that the extra weight and wind forces would be transferred directly to the foundations. At each end of the truss, two 45-ton horizontal jacks were used at the points where the strut met the harness, applying pressure to secure the brace onto the legs.

After installing the stabilizing truss, 21 additional sections were added to each leg of the Arch. The next step was to place the final section to complete the structure. A jacking frame was used to apply pressure against the two legs, allowing this last section to be set into position. Once the Arch was complete, the stabilizing strut was lowered by the creeper derricks, which then began their descent down the legs, dismantling and lowering their tracks along the way. They also plugged and smoothed out the bolt holes in the stainless steel surface. NPS

@mickpic.bsky.social Oct 4, 2026, 10:35 PM

#StunDay #Sunday.
"Mount St. Helens. From somewhere up on 47 south." -mick
#Photography #MickPic #PNW #WCK #ECK #MickTrip #RoadTrips #MtStHelens

Mount St. Helens. From somewhere up on 47 south.
The image shows a distant, snow-capped volcanic peak, Mt. St. Helens, a Pacific Northwest peak, viewed over a wooded ridge line at sunset.

@mickpic.bsky.social Oct 4, 2026, 4:48 PM

Last day for #AlphabetChallenge of #WeekMforMachinery
"I might as well toss in another #31daysofhalloween. I used to make props for no budget films. Examples: 'hack punk' and making a deamon crawl on the ceiling of her trap." -mick
#MickPic #MickProps #IndieFilms #GreenScreen

The selected region shows a collage with electronic parts, a disassembled laptop on a workbench, a circuit board mounted to a wall, and dark or surreal artistic graphics with text reading "The Devil Knows His Own."
The green tape is where images would be inserted electronically later.
cluttered workbench featuring disassembled electronics, including a deconstructed laptop with an overlaid "X" mark, circuit boards, and other tech components.
an electronic control board or power inverter assembly with visible capacitors, wiring, and a mounted controller daughterboard, closely resembling a Whirlpool Refrigerator Inverter Control Board.
dark, eerie room from the survival horror movie, featuring padded walls marked with crosses and the word "HELP," along with an open book on the floor in the dim light
promotional artwork and scenes from the psychological indie horror film The Devil Knows His Own (2013)