Last Remote Post #5:

I didn't win the Lotto or the Mega Lotto

I did plant three trees in large porch pots that cut the afternoon heat down from 130 degrees F to 105 degrees F during the afternoon summer sun  beating down on my porch. This tree was someone doing much the same thing as I did but on a much more massive scale of operations.

T

I took more pictures this year than in the past 10 years. The total images published with agents and distributors is at 6,566 images. I didn't win the race with a friend of mine what published more. However, my goal was to publish 1250 images this year and I did accomplish that goal. The indexing is also done, but for security reasons cannot say what that's about. So as the two on this fun ride fly and reach for the sky, the year slipped by almost as fast as they were having fun.

So, to our readers, while being  in a focus to set new records this year, we also published more post this year than  in the past few years, passing the old record of 126 post. If you, our readers, found one thing to chuckle about, or learned something about urban photography, then we have fulfilled a part of our mission statement which is dedicated to my son, my mother and my maternal grandmother. Without them as three corner post in my life, this blog, the urban photography and archives would not have been possible. 2017 was a great year in many aspects. It is to be hoped that all of you have a very good, safe and happy 2018.

Remote Publish No. 4: Wishes

Wishing all our readers the quiet peace of this season.

Remote Publish #3: The Point---Up and Down

Sometimes, Solutions To A Problem Come From Above.

Not always can one shot tell the whole story. In this case, the DFW Sectionals pinpoint towers like this and list the height, which is more or less controlled by the FAA. See the ladder. It goes all the way to the top to change the bulb and is listed on the charts as 1029. That's a lot of steps on that ladder!

The bases of these twin radio towers are upside down pyramids.

Remote Publish #2: Just Birds---The Feathered Kind

Black ring bill seagull

Double crested cormorants

Cormorants have no oil in their wing feathers so that they can dive. They need to dry the feathers afterwards.

Publish Via Remote: TEXrail Cars Are Here

Basically, I'm a geek when it comes to trains and planes. Put me at a rail station or an air field and I can zone in happiness all day long. Put me in an area where rail and planes mix and I am in geek heaven. Like the friendly Welcome! at Walgreen's, I got my Welcome! with a view of the new TEXrail cars built by Stadler of Switzerland. It is Stadler's first American order for a model outside the GTW product line. The cars are being built in Salt Lake City under the Buy American Agreement.

The 27-mile commuter rail owned by "the T" in Ft. Worth, will service Tarrant County and Terminal B at DFW. DART, the Dallas light rail, has been arriving at Terminal A for three years already. Unlike light rail, the Stadler cars are DMU's or Diesel Multiple Units and will be WI-FI ready when they begin service sometime in November, 2018. They are standard guage at 4 feet 8 and one-half inches or 1435 mm metric. They also have crash bumpers for better safety in event they are in a crash.

The video presentation on the TEXrail site explains how the two muni-operated systems will interchange with each other allowing passengers from Ft. Worth to ride the DART light rail to downtown Dallas. With so much international traffic at DFW and more to come, the customers are used to having rail service to the central business districts. With DFW being a joint venture between the two cities already, the separate rail systems  bring a unity of rail transport to the Metroplex. The Cotton Belt that DART will bring by 2022 will connect the northern sections of Dallas and Tarrant Counties from Plano to Ft. Worth. Least we forget the TRE that runs from the T&P in Ft. Worth to Dallas' Union Station many times a day and the A-Train from Frankfort Station on DARTS Green line to Denton, is also part of that same unified rail commuter system.

The rail road is very much a part of history in this part of Texas. It is only natural to have a lot of support for the railroads. With the future construction of the Bullet Train from Houston to Dallas/Ft. Worth growing closer and closer, the further transportation of  riders on a modern rail system coupled with a wold-class international airport, brings even more reasons to live in this great part of the US as yet another link is under construction. These cars are part of that link known as the TEXrail.Welcome,Aboard!!

DMU's

Service November,2018

New Platforms at Grapevine Station for TEXrail. The Vintage Railroad Train in Grapevine, is also running special trips for the holidays

Simple Walks

Trying to get out and get nice walks in has been less than easy for me of late. It seems things are out of sync and even the camera has been showing me that my lens need to be tightened up again. If it isn't one thing, then it's another. We all know how that goes. But, I need the walks for the exercise. They do make a difference.

Still, I have managed to cover four separate trails that I don't get a chance to walk that often. So, I made a point to cover that ground and even get in another one of those that I seem to only do once or twice a year. Mostly, because they are just birds, wild life, flora and landscape. But, when things are happening, that can even tire you out. On one trail, I ran across a guy getting his golf swing warmed up. He had plates on his car from Central Michigan. That's a Mac Team! He knew it was cold up there that day and so did I. Here we are 1200 miles south and we both know how cold it is in different parts of the state on the same day. The odd things like that I have always found to be interesting even though it is not as uncommon as one would think.

As I made my way down the trail,  quickly, I noticed a major landscape change taking place as new high tension towers and old towers were coming down, going up and the tall prairie grass had been beaten down to bare ground. A tree had been splintered and will probably die this winter. The damage was just two much. Then, I start to observe the wildlife and birds. These little creatures have territories and watch over them day and night. It is amazing how nature takes care of her own and provide solutions to any kind of natural or man-made destruction in the wild. One little meadowlark was excited and at one point it was almost like he was trying to show me what was going on around his home. There was a handrail over a culvert crossing where water was flowing downstream . It looked to be a natural spring but so many of those have been covered up it is difficult at best to know if this one was one, or not.  The little meadowlark flew up on the hand rail and was chirping and turning its head toward me then chirping again as it looked away. It was somewhat comical and somewhat bothersome not knowing what the little fellow wanted or needed. He was trying so hard to express his upset mood. A couple of bikers that had ridden past were coming back after about 10-15 minutes. I ask one if the trail was closed ahead and he said that it was. The construction crew road in to were we were was keeping two guys busy with cherry pickers and more work was going on beyond our point. That fact was confirmed by both the bicyclist.

Old square base towers were coming down in three sections.

The new towers are less invasive---imagine that!

My liitle meadow lark was upset and seemed to be trying to relay that frustration.

Part II with Pictures

V-bikes. Rent for $1 an hour from your phone. Leave in any public space.

Christmas Decorations going up with 67-degree weather.

This is the Galleria Mall down LBJ about 8 miles. This is what  the hawk was watching. His Territory!

Walls A Cathedral Does Not Make, But A Hawk On a Fence A Day Makes.

Excluding today, the past two days has been exploring a section of a new trail that is part of the Compion Trails System. I have been curious about the section because of two things. One, the past eighteen months I have been trying to get some shots of the nose wheel being deployed in flight on any plane coming into Love. It's kind of a trial and error thing, but finally, I have a location. Now, working on the technical side of the camera to refine the picture into a sharp and crisp image. Actually, I have wanted to do this since the 70s when I heard the landing gear being deployed below my feet on a United Flight to Chicago. I wondered then why someone couldn't put a camera on the underside somewhere that could capture a shot. Later, I was told, you don't ever want to do that and gave a reason, true or not. Even though it is done from time to time under controlled conditions I am told later.

The second reason is that 16 years ago, when the President George Bush Turnpike was crossing LBJ 635 it looked like a normal exchange until you got  one section beyond LBJ and the 40-60-foot high roadway just stopped in mid air. It set there for a few years until finally, the last phase of the construction was complete and connected to the bridge that went to know where. I wanted to see if I could see the difference in the concrete age wise or of some indication where the original stop was made. The trail for a couple of miles goes along side and under the bridges. It's a massive expanse of concrete and columns. And while the expanse of these trails go for miles, later, standing at my car I could see my turn-around point to the west and the same point to the east. Yet, I have walked a few miles, myself. 

I must admit. I got so much walking in that my legs were a constant ache at night. When I got to bed, it's lights out and sleep cames quickly. In short. I was  beat. But, my strength level each day is still good  and as long as it is good, neither the doctor nor me have a problem with that. It has been perfect fall weather outside of today, when the gloom and doom of low clouds and misty sprinkles have controlled the day to day.

There were V-bikes everywhere and I could have rented one on the spot but choose to walk for the needed exercise that would be better for me than on a bike at this time.

At one point, I found an old barrier base sitting along a trail roadway  that had a deep recess. Thinking, this would be a great spot to sit down and hydrate, I looked over to my left and there were a dozen Miller Lite cans that had already been spent. It may not be legal to have alcohol in a park but obviously, one or two had set there like me watching the cars at night on 635  and the George Bush Turnpike  solving the problems of the world. The thing about it that is so unusual is that who ever it was that had the quiet party, they were respectful to not litter beer cans all over the trail and for their consideration, I certainly hope that they know how much I appreciate their park stewardship and thank them as a park goer. We need many many more like these Miller Lite fans.

After I got a good look of the massive interchange, it hit me that it was like the columns inside a cathedral from the Narthex to the Chancel. You can almost imagine yourself sitting there looking up at the towering columns, hence the statement walls a cathedral does not make.

Entry coming this way to the parking lot.

The side view of the PGBT

At Baylor Medical Center, Las Colinas, this beautiful Red Should Hawk was just watching the traffic overlooking the valley of  Valley Ranch below.

Walking The Woodlands

There is one place that I visit about this time every year that is full of wildlife from slithering creatures to bob cats and now I hear, feral hogs. It is the feral hogs that have given me pause. They are dangerous. Still, yesterday, I put on the hiking boots and headed out for my annual trip. It isn't that far away from home, but it is one of those places that few ever travel as a destination. I had one goal in mind.

While the leaves are beautiful and the running water is something I could sit and watch for hours, it is the little things that go unnoticed by most. The crop of acorns are the biggest. The wild berry bushes are loaded. It is just an enjoyable couple of hours where about the only thing you hear is an airplane going over now and then. No horns. No loud talking. And not seeing a single soul with a phone plastered to their ear.

I go this time of year because most of the snakes have already crawled. But, in Texas, that is not always a totally true statement. There has never been a November in Texas where temps have reached 90 -degrees...until this year. We have already had a 94 and a 90 and it's only the 5th. It is forecast  to be 89 today and that could easily move over the mark into the 90 range, even if only for a split second. But snakes like to sun bath, too. So the hiking boots are a must. Wednesday it will only be 54 and the slithering things should not be out at all, but I could not wait to lizard hunt with my camera.

My goal was to find a true Texas lizard. Not a little gecko. I have one of those that greats me on my gate and has even been seen hanging on my wall now and then before I show him the door. Cute but not the type of lizard that I was in search of on this trip.

If

If, indeed, it is an Alligator, this would be the type that I was searching for on this trip.

I have called this before, the Enchanted Forest because the tree trunks are so dark and outlined. Last years trip the colors were more golden and the year before that, they were even a reddish color. Don't know why the same stand of trees changes color so much, but on my next trip to the Arboretum, I'll find out. 

A Long Admired Building Gets The OKAY

Two days ago I drove past a building that I have admired for at least the past 16 years. The architecture is period for 1900's and the mason work is outstanding. Even today, as it nears it's century mark. The street where it sets is in a section of  Dallas where old Victorian houses stand as neighborhoods.

This building, which does have some subtle signs of the Victorian era, is more medival Spain with the arches somewhat more different than traditional Gothic points. Maybe even a bit Moorish with the detail.  But the mixture of brick and coping stones is the eye popper Gothic. The original stone plate above the entry suggest some difference.  The striking date line, which spells out the word, built and then AD 1926, is another give away. Most buildings just date using the year, 1926, and that is that. The builder had vision when this building was designed.

Not this one. My intrigue just burst and  I turned around and parked. The door was open with two ladies sitting on the floor working on an oriental carpet. After an intro, I pointed out that my admiration for that building was long lived. I ask if I could  take some pictures. After a bit, the okay was given. I got the preliminary shots with afternoon sun and went back in to thank the lady for letting me shoot the architecture.  She said, "are you heading out?" I replied that I was but  I ask if it would be okay if I came back on an early Sunday morning and shot in the morning light and she said that her dad would do that, too. It made me feel good that she knew where I was coming from about my keen interest in architecture--especially the older styles that we as a society seem to be tearing down without any thought of what we loose as a culture and a society as a result. 

A prime example sits right next door with a new five store apartment building, one of tens of dozens still going up in Dallas. The building it replaced would have been on that end of a main thoroughfare in the day. So, early Sunday morning will be a senior coffee at McD's and a morning of good light to shoot the balance of the extraordinary elements of spectacular craftsmanship and architecture.

The tile roof is yet another giveaway

Notice the different angle from what is traditional Gothic with the equilaateral points and some lancet but no ogees. HUM! The overlap is just wonderful for Middle Age. I still think that there is some suggestion of influence from India and Middle East. The Taj Mahal arches, maybe. Just a hint or a tad, an ounce, a drop. Okay, maybe a splash!

A mixture, but the brick and coping is still the eye popper!

With Halloween Here, The Race of Holidays to New Years Is On.

Found on a pedestrian walkway across a bridge crossing the Trinity River.

The right hand piece missing in this picture is 50 feet downstream. I would think that the timber flowing downstream during a flash flood broke it off and carried it down stream. You know, concrete can float! From the looks of the timber here, it might even have been these two pieces that broke it away.

See the RV? The guy was from Seville, Spain. His wife and daughter were asleep while he talked and ask questions about the bridges. They are touring the states. Pleasant type of  guy. He spoke very good English, too. 

 As a kid, I always enjoyed Halloween. As I got older then I realized that it was also mom and dad's wedding anniversary, too. Today, the day is marked more toward the latter than for Halloween. For me, as well, it involves more detail to changing the code in the camera for a new month  and to research the past month for total images shot. Although, October is not going to be my best month for shooting by any measure this year.

Working on the site took more time than I had anticipated this time. I have had three doctor's appointments and a visit to see my favorite vampire at the lab. The up side of all that is that my numbers were excellent and my doctor was somewhat disappointed again and he hates not being able to yell at me. I said to him that, "its going to be okay. Maybe you can yell at me the next time." His look was so stern before he cracked up, finally.

I remember an old pharmacist that I worked for in high school that would say, " if I didn't like you so much, I could learn to hate you." I ran across a street the other day that was the same as his full name. That kind of blew me away because his drug stores were 1200 miles from here. I'll have to do some research on that and find out how the developer came by that name for a street. It's possible it could be one of his grand kids or even great grand kids, I suppose. Strange things like that have always been a source of  intrigue  for me.

October has also been a month of things breaking and falling apart. Over the years, I have learned that things like that usually go in cycles and as mom would always say..."it will pass". And she was right. There is an up side to that kind of stuff too. Since Kroger killed off the senior citizens 10% discount, I don't shop Kroger's any longer. Since then I've had one full cycle of core grocery shopping. The results were even more amazing with finding better prices elsewhere. Tonight, I found even more and when I do the core shopping for this coming month, I will be able to do an analysis where I can build a routine upon.

I got a letter from Walgreen's that my insurance for prescriptions were pulling out and with the annual registration of health providers, I'll need to get on that the first of next week and get that set for the coming year. If it isn't one thing, it's another. But, it all works out in the long run.

Snowflakes Fell Briefly

Snow flakes and sleet today for a very light and brief period. The heat got turned on tonight because it's going down to 36 and the house was c-o-l-d! It's six weeks earlier than last year and three weeks earlier than 2015. No pictures today. To cold and to windy. The wind was from the North at 20 with gust up to 35. Last night as the front passed, the DFW airport reported 47 MPH gust at the 01:53 reporting hour. That's a strong cold front.

Here is a beautiful long needle pine under the flight path at Love

White waiting for The Prez! The crosswind was causing a pretty good drift off center.

A Southwest Jet coming home to Love Field.

A Note To KP

Happy Birthday

KP, an amazing son.

on this, your 47th.

 

Nineteen years without you, life has a big void, as large as the universe. 

President Trump's Visit To Dallas Was A Normal Visit By Any President...

except his plane. The icon of our flying president's plane was not the 747-200 Modified, as usual. It was the smaller 757 that the Vice-President uses with tail number 90016. Of course, technically, any plane that the President is on is called Air Force One. But to me, it was just SAM 90016. Because, like what has become the vernacular of nomenclature is the fact that Air Force One is the plane not just the Special Air Mission (SAM) anymore.

My old friend, Elliott Sluhan, Director: Air Force One: The Planes and the Presidents, taught me a lot about the workings of Air Force One. Of course, Elliott passed in 2008. His wife, Mary Ann passed one year to the day afterwords. She had been a special assistant to President Richard Nixon's White House. Both, were an amazing couple. But it was Elliott's photography and documentary films that peaked my interest. Elliott was one of the first that I had photography discussions with and for that time, I will always be grateful.

So, I heard one guy say that this was the longest wait he had ever had for the arrival of a 757! Even the cops pushed us back farther again with this Presidential arrival. Over all the arrivals of Obama, there were some security pushes but never like the one yesterday at Love. But at the tarmar, people were lined up to get autographs and handshakes from President Trump. Obama never had those on the tarmac. Back outside at the end of runway 13L, the push was so bad that it blocked my infamous nose shots and though I understood the reasoning, it did cause me to not even wait for the motorcade and simply came on home to process what shots that I was lucky to get. But, I do know that a lot of people were disappointed that the big 747 didn't show. That plane, the 747 usually carries a full compliment of what we know to be econ class filled with the Press Corp.Without those press people flying with the President why not use a smaller plane for the mid-country flight. I also understand that thinking, too. So, It wasn't President Trump that turned my car around, but the peripheral works that did.

It was a perfect and delightful afternoon waiting for the President's arrival. We are in a period of roller-coaster weather right now. Yesterday was bottom out humidity at 17 % with temps in the low 70s. Today, it is going to be 88 and tomorrow it will be 50 with possible frost at night. If it does frost, it will be again, another early occurring weather phenom this year.

 I had forgotten that Governor Abbott  and his crony the AG, Ken Paxton, were waiting to meet the President for a meeting at Love Field about the Hurricane funding. There was big money from all over the country here, too. Texas politics is almost like having two countries in one. Texas still reminds people that we were once a Republic of our own. And it is not something that has been put on a shelf somewhere to collect dust. It's life is live and active in this state for sure. I had to laugh at the Fox news guys  showing the film clip of  a CNBC  reporter doing a report at "the wall" and on camera behind the reporter  were three illegal aliens coming over the fence into the US. In short, the reporters were saying, "Look, the President was right, we need the wall" while the Boarder Patrol Officer was saying that he sees this many times during the day. For those that don't like the Donald, "Look, he's a New Yorker". New Yorker's were some of my best customers over the years. They look at things different but still come up with the same answer that the rest of America does. It's like me saying here's your 35-cents and you saying here's your 65-cents and we are all talking about a  product you bought for 65-cents  and I'm talking about your  change of 35-cents as we exchange a one-dollar bill. It's all in how we look at a situation and the perception we have from living in different parts of the country. It's nothing to get upset about, really.

So, I came away from Love Field with some pictures. Not as many as before. Still, I am pleased to see the crowds turn out to welcome the President. But I still think that we should go back to teaching Civics in our schools instead of expelling students for dying their hair.We need to understand the basics of  civilization and know our history. We are not some Egyptian Pharaoh who didn't like the pharaoh prior and erased him from buildings, and monuments and basically wiped him out of history.  We need to view history as a moment in time when we thought a certain way or how we have changed as a society since. To wipe it out totally is a distortion of history itself.
 





 There will be a short post to following this one immediately so you may get an extra email alert.

Air Force One is not 'the' plane, it's a designation that the President is aboard a SAM flight with that plane's tail number. So, technically, this 757 is Air Force One for today.

My traditional nose shot was altered by the Dallas Police when they moved us back at Bachman Lake. Before, we have been allowed to stand under the runway and shoot. Not today, folks.

The Cormorant's had the best view ever. They are on the ILS landing system tower 7 and seem to be enjoying their view. Right below the sigh that says don't feed the birds for safety reasons. And, parks and recreation moved the geese and ducks than usually hang out below. Now, there are egrets and mud hens (coots) and these cormorants below the tower as planes come in some 50 feet above. Such is life among 4.9 million people in the Metroplex

I Love Them Chickens That Are Laying Those 44-cent Grade A Large!

Over the years, I have seen gas wars, cigarette wars, milk wars, but never an egg war! Actually, it is kind of nice. During the past three months or so, I have not paid over 89-cents per dozen for eggs. Yesterday, I was in Aldi's to pick up salad and bread and they had eggs at 54-cents. Today, I was in another Aldi's for bacon that I had forgotten to get yesterday. This latest Aldi's had eggs for 44-cents. And before you ask, no, the dates were not near expiration. They were for the normal time frame for eggs.

Since Albertson's has purchased Tom Thumb from Randall's or Safeway---which every one it was at the time, they have shared weekly ads and made digital coupons attractive. Now that Kroger's has eliminated my senior citizens discount of 10% I don't mind shopping different stores. Sprouts, Trader Jo's, HEB Central Market, and sometimes Fiesta and El Rio Grande for spices.It's getting to be chili weather and I make a big kettle and freeze individual servings that last me through the winter.  So, between Aldi's and the Al-Thumb boys, eggs have been spectacular!. Fried, poached, hard boiled (eaten sliced up in  salads or deviled) and perfect moist and fluffy scrambled

This was what I was looking at while I ate my Krispy Cream glazed and drank my coffee yesterday.

The berry crop this year is record breaking

I named her Gertrude. She is my favorite out of all the bronze cows in this herd.

. An yes, I have finally nudged  my weight loss off that plateau where it seem to have anchored itself during the early part of the year.

Aldi's had massive-sized premium chicken breast for a spectacular price and I froze them. I'm thinking tonight that I might not even buy a turkey this Thanksgiving and cook a couple of those big chicken breast. With dressing and all the trimmings...it will work for me. Although I have cooked traditional 12-16 pound turkeys before and alternate with ham for Christmas. One year Ham on Turkey day and Turkey on Christmas day and the next year, just the opposite. In fact, having those chicken breast will honor those hens that laid those super cheap eggs!  My breakfast is 600 calories every morning. With black coffee which has no calories. Then, I try to do a 550 lunch and a 450 dinner. Sometimes... I cheap a bit. But all in all I'm pretty loyal to the ole diet. It's not hard with steaming vegetables, both fresh and frozen with a three ounce meat--pork, chicken or wild catch salmon. Any hamburger that I get, comes in a tray at In-n-Out . I've stopped french fries and only do the hamburger thing 2,sometimes 3 times a month. Now, I'm loyal to Whataberger, but they lost me on the price. My next best is In-n-Out. I like the taste, the price and and the drive through, the outside picnic tables or the inside atmosphere reminds me of my high school days and the White Hut burgers that were so good.


So, say a little prayer for them chickens that they can continue to lay them super cheap eggs for us old folk in Dallas and we will thank y'all!

Once Upon A Time...

In a little neighborhood not far from here, there was a tree where a pair of peafowl chose to be their roosting tree. They were a pair let loose to be wild just a little bit farther up the street. The peahen and peacock raised  nest eggs into a generation of wild peafowl.

The pair were so successful that the flock grew and grew until one day, the city showed up to catch the peafowl and cart them away to zoos and wild nature facilities. This has happen more than once since the original nest. The little neighborhood is surrounded by park and woodlands on a couple of ends and the quiet neighborhood over the past 35-years has grown to enjoy the birds on their roofs, on their front porch railings and walking their yards keeping insects and bugs down to a minimum. It has also been reported that peafowl will catch and lunch on baby snakes in the animal kingdoms of the world so this is another good thing for the neighborhood being near a woodlands and open fields of native grasses and on a creek were snakes love to hang out.

A month ago, I got a chance to see and photograph  a couple that were out on a street corner. Yes, I had to go back again to see if I could get even more shots of fascinating birds--which are part of the pheasant family. Yesterday, I drove by again to see if I could see them and they were not anywhere in sight. Instead of turning around and heading out as I had arrived, I drove on up the hill. In an open area, I saw more than I had counted  on the first encounter. A lady pulled in behind me and got out of her truck and was walking up to take a picture. We got to counting and zeroed in on the tree where they roost. A neighbor was out walking her dog. We, the lady parked behind me, were asking about the peafowl. The neighbor confirmed the tree as the roosting tree and said that the couple that lived in the house had lived there over 35 years and knew when they bought the house that the peacocks were roosting in their tree. It was the house with the porch railing lined with peafowl that were looking out at the three of us like "who in the heck are those people and why are they interested in us?"  On the roof, were several more and in the time spent, it was confirmed that there were at least 15 peafowl that roam the neighborhood. In the original three that I first shot, there was a white one. So to that 15 the white one must be also included in the count. Thus bringing  it to a total confirmed of 16 peafowl. I've visited zoos that didn't have this many peafowl. This has been a remarkable look at nature for me from a native setting. 

From two came many...and many...and many more.

The ultimate in landscape architecture.

,

Oops, here is the tower crane that was to be posted with the previous post. It's all relevant.

Tower Cranes Are Everywhre

There are tower cranes at White Rock. More at  Lincoln Park, North Park with two. Medical City has two. Love Field has four. Southwest Airlines between Denton and Harry Hines has two. Downtown has them every where in all four quadrants. Houston Street, Ross Avenue just added more.  Even Richardson High School across from Cottonwood Park has one at their athletic field. Uptown always has one or two. If one were taken down today, the guy that got it would have been waiting for 14 months plus or minus one here or there.

There are some 90 plus cranes in operation locally.

This one maybe wants to be a tower crane when he grows up.

This one playing in the water before going to work as a crane operator.

This view from the diamond's light shelf has one of nature's paradox at play.On the ball diamond field below is a field covered in pigeons. The prey of this hawk as he protects his territory from above.

A 5000 Mile Cloud from Asia to the Pacific NWest

It's not a first time event. It happened about 2009, too. But, it is a very unusual set of events that allow it to happen. It's been called a river of water for the heavy rain and snow fall that it brings. Some mountain elevations at 10K or higher are going to get 11 feet of snow.

I've had a gut feeling about this winter already from the things that I have observed from the early flipping of the leaves to the heavy berry production. My maternal grandfather always said that if you watch nature, it will tell you what's to come. He was right. The squirrels have been out in super large numbers planting their acorns. The pelicans got out of Canada a whole month early this year and the cormorants were right there with the pelicans. The seagulls come from the gulf and their absence is not surprising with the gulf being hit so hard this year with major hurricanes. Most of the people that I have talked with haven't even noticed the absence of the seagulls.

The monarch migration got caught behind the last cold front that blew in and got rid of our 90 degree days. There has been an increase of seeing them around the lakes but not in the numbers that should be seen for this time of year. With all the wildfires in on the west coast, the California monarch's that handle that Pacific Northwest  migration might very well loose a lot of monarchs this year. I had observed more species around this year; the most of the beautiful black and blues that I have seen in years.

There was a stunning new sailboat trailer[ed] in to Corinthian Sailing Club this afternoon. Seeing it reminded me of how I learn[ed] about the St. Patty's Day snows the Great Lakes states get every year. The year was one of those years that I decided to purchase a new car. Knowing that the road salt took its toll on cars, I decided that I would wait until March to get the car. That way, I would get an extra winter on the car without any salt buildup. The day came and I bought the car and drove it home after work. It was going to be so nice not to worry about getting salt on my new car. What I didn't know is that almost as regular as clock work, the last big snow of the winter is wet and heavy and usually will fall within a week to 10 days either side of Saint Patrick's Day. You should have seen the look of disbelief the next morning when I looked outside and saw about a 7-9 inch snowfall over night. Yep! the St. Patrick's Day snow have got my new car without delay. The snow came up over the front bumper. I shivered ever time someone would pass me and splash road salt on the side of my new car.

I don't think that the guys new sailboat will have that problem as I did with my car, but I know an old friend that just got a new car about a couple of weeks ago!. It's not St. Patrick's Day either,  but all the indications from that 5,000 mile cloud of rain to the Farmer's Almanac seem to think that it's going to be a more rough winter than most think. All those acorns and berries are probably just some freak nature thing, I suppose.

The blues are stunning.

May snow not fall upon this sail.

But winds can blow beneath a gale.

May this mast stand tall and straight

So when you tack and duck

Your head will miss the blow, with luck!

One of the arriving migratory Monarch's

We Are Under Construction Again!

Please be patient while we wreck the site and reconstruct it to be even better (overall).Some of the changes you will not be able to see on your side as we continue to work on the site. However, we will be able to post again and get that part back to working order immediately.

The Monarchs Are Looking Good....

and the other are showing their stuff, too! I've seen as many as five different flies on a goldenrod plant plus a wasp, honeybees and a hornet. To me, it's more than just amazing that Monarchs every 4th generation (the longest lifespan so they can migrate) is 6 to 9 months while the 1st through (pick up below the last image to continue to read)

Don't forget to click on any image to get them to enlarge. These are best at 100%.
 This golden rod is loaded with butterflies, moths, hornets, wasp, honeybees. The Monarch's have just started to arrive. They came in on the cold front we got Tuesday but the numbers are beginning to show strength now, as well.  There were some that I wanted to shoot but that's for another day.

The bees are amazing, too!

Check out the pelican on the far right. He was so tired from the flight in from the Canadian Border, he has his sleeping head on the back of his fellow pelican. They are so comical. That is what I love about these pelicans.

3rd generation only live up to 6 weeks and they head north from Mexico in the spring producing  both the 2nd and 3rd generations along the way.

But, they can be spotted so easily fluttering along at a pretty good clip. I watched one today for many minutes as it made it's way down the road in almost a straight line. Thinking to myself how this butterfly half the size of my palm would fly 2500 miles to hang in clusters of thousands on trees in the mountains of central Mexico all winter.

There were some awesome shots of tree leaves today. My favorite, the Sycamore, just does not have that lush tan to brown to beautiful leathery brown that they have produced the past several years. But everything is a trade off it seems. When one lets you down, another lifts you up and such is the cycle of nature.