It's A Bit Confusing Since the Pope's Unexpected Seagull Arriving

 This past week, Pope Francis released a couple of doves from the Vatican's balcony only to have a seagull attack one of the doves, which escaped and flew away as intended. Some were upset by the turn of events, but if you have been around seagulls, they can be aggressive because they are what I call, little scrappers!

While all-white Dover make for beautiful and peaceful settings at weddings, funerals and many other symbolic events, I actually like the seagull. No, not because of the "Jonathan Livingston Seagull" work, but because they are beautiful birds in their own right. In fact, when you look at their feathers on their tails and wings, it isn't hard to see the beautiful feathers depicted in pictures of Angel Wings. In fact, they look exactly like the Angel Wings that I have seen in paintings.

Maybe, just maybe, Angels gave the seagull their beautiful features. Take a look.

Angel wings ?

Tail feathers and wing feathers

Just a bunch of big while pelicans riding thermals

Never the Same Thing

The main thing that I like about White Rock Lake is that there is something always different going on or happening. There are several venues, but when collectively lumped together on a trip around the lake, it always will generate something different.

Over the past few years, there has been a car pulled from the lake; a fire truck and a few drownings, which are never something you want to see or hear about but it happens none-the-less. A steamboat has been seen and heard on the lake.

A coyote, many red-tail hawks, a pair of American Bald Eagles, a few more snakes than are necessary, egrets, blue herons, pelicans, seagulls, woodpeckers, ducks, geese, monk parrots, make up some of the wildlife that can been seen,

Traditional outdoor weddings are frequent on both sides of the lake. This past summer there was a Celtic wedding complete with wood-framed alter, straw wreaths and hemlock sprigs. A British Car show with rows of Rolls-Royce, MG ,Triumphs, Austin Martins to name a few. Meetings, Rowing Club lessons, also make the list of events.

Today, however, classical violin music was coming from the Winfrey Point House. What made it somewhat unusual, was that it was a memorial service for  one of the Lake residents. Fitting? You bet. There would not be a better place to hold a memorial service and why not?  These are only a few reasons why this lake is the crown jewel of the Dallas Parks and Recreation Department and a great section of the city to enjoy. Over the last couple of years, the growth and use of this lake has continued to increase. So when you are there, pick up after yourself and leave the lake a better place than what you found.

Today, I also saw my first bike rider riding his bike while both hands were on his phone as he was texting.  I hope this doesn't start a trend. Think about it. Texting while driving is bad but texting while bike ridging must be worse.

Just a couple of simple images for today.

One of two of my favorite Sycamores that have massive trunks



One of many seagulls seen today

 27/01/14 correcting construction

The Working Brain Hat and Three Others With That Je nes sais quois

Four hats for summer are ready. Chief Brain, Working Brain, Brain Shade and Brain Cover are unique but yet quality hats. Take the Down Under Working Brain hat. It is described as:

"Not just a hat, a performance accessory. 70% cotton/30% nylon. UV protective (UPF 45+) and DuPont® stain-resistant coating. Safari crown with floatable wide brim. Mesh vented insert on crown for breathability. Green under visor reduces glare.Adjustable chin strap with pull-up fabric chin lock and interior Velcro® closure pocket" says Logo Sportswear.

The three straws have colorful bands, in Green and Red and are made from natural twisted seagrass.

And, the best yet is that if you want to create a fundraiser, you can order that quantity at reduced prices. So, say you have a garden club and want to sell those hats for a fundraiser, or apply the discount to a lower price per unit. It's a win-win in either account. Personally, the Down Under Working Brain is my choice for this year. The straw that I have has another year of wear before I replace that one.

How do you order? That's easy,too. Just go over to the right hand column on this blog. click on the "View my complete profile". When it opens move over to the left column and click on the link to "My Web Page". Then to the top  and click on "Apparel"  You are there!  To review: go right, then go left, then go top in three easy moves.

Oh, by the way. You cannot get these hats anywhere else. You might be able to find some similar but they want have that "Je nes sais quois" French. an indefinable, elusive quality, especially a pleasing one. There. The French can always say the things that we can't find words for.

When you get your hat, drop us an e-mail and let us know. We'll post your response on this blog.

You can even wear it when you are out walking the dog and see this come around the bend in the road.

The two wheels are on the front end. The single, is in the rear.

 Here is a direct link:            http://logosportswear.com/u/cgd8

Extreme Rides

Zero Gravity (http://www.gojump.com)
 was the busiest that I have ever seen it when I drove by this afternoon. I had gotten lunch on the road and was heading toward Las Colinas to check out the mountain bike trail that has been undergoing a major water/drainage type construction project for the past six months. But, after seeing all the rides in full operation, it was time to stop and get some shots. I talked to the counter guy, who talked to his manager and I was allowed to shoot from a couple of spots. It was fine because the place is a bit small inside and it can be very hard to turn and move when rides at in full motion. It worked out very well.

Click on the image for better viewing and for the next 48-hours, click on the back icon square that says "Alamy"on the right hand side of the page and when it opens up, click on live news tab.Look for the rotating images as they move farther down the page. They are being replaced with other late new  images.

This isn't for the faint-at-heart either.

This was the highest of all. It spins forward, stops about 200 feet up and then reverses the spin backwards!

Never thought that I would say it, but the ole bumge jump was the tamest of them all!

Edited 19/01/2014 for omitted text or typos found.
 

Lessons of the Masters

I once said to Dick Ransom that I had tried to make his beef stick at home and had decided that I would purchase it from his stores from here on out. Laughing, he said that he didn't make his  either and would, " continue to buy it from the guy in Wisconsin that did". That was in the days when Dick was building Hickory Farms of Ohio. I often think about that when I see one of the Hickory Farms Beef Sticks today. Dick sold the business a decade and several years ago, or more, now that I try to add up the years.

In the last forty years, I probably have not eaten a Wendy's hamburger more than once or twice. In the last two months, they have been my Tuesday lunch main stay. Why the change? Well, I discovered by accident Wendy's chili could be substituted  for fries in a combo. So I would end up with a double stack burger, a chili and a small drink. Perfect for me! I got hooked on the chili, too.

The last time that I ordered one was this past Tuesday and I paid particular attention to every thing that I could see in the chili, spoonful by spoonful. It hit me that while I can cook pretty well, I had never made chili and living in Texas, I should know how to make chili. My search of the web  led to the discovery of a receipt for Wendy's chili. Looking at the list of ingredients of spices, I was a bit surprised. Then I looked at some famous receipts and noted the difference. I can do this, I thought.

To shorten the story, tonight for dinner, I had two big bowls. My receipt only needs a minor degree of tinkering, but it was good enough to let be as made. In the freezer is four more meals. Dang, I did good.

A cold front rolling in on a jet stream made chili seem a good ideal.

 

Folk Art Rules

 First and foremost, the Ransbottom-Robinson garden pot (see 2013 post) has a new home tonight. It sold in the grand tradition of all great auctions: value for a price; want vs. desire; give and take; satisfaction and joy. Every body was happy, but I might have come away a little happier. I got some unusual pictures.

However, every thing in life is a trade-off. I've been going to this architectural antique dealer for about three years, now. It's a family owned operation in its third generation and today I saw in print and heard it from the second generations mouth that the place is for sale. Another family- owned business, even in the days of Craig's List and e-Bay, will take leave of a tradition that built this country (with both gentiles and Jews).

 The American scrap dealer, albeit the hand-pushed carts of the 1800s and early 1900s; the modern dump trucks and electro-magnet lifters, of the 20th or 21st century looses when it comes to  source material for art. For it is that that is found at scrap yards world wide. Every time you see a new house foundation or a new sidewalk or swimming pool use a sticks of reinforcing bar, it was the local scrap dealer that sold the scrap that got melted down by the steel mill to make the rebar. Another basic industry in America is slowly loosing the businesses that have an eye for art--folk art.

Here is a classic example:

Monkey on a Bike

Roadrunner Bird

Parrot Bird

 

Don't You Wonder About Somethings?

I've seen balloons flying high in bundles in the Dallas TRACON before. I've seen daily sonar soundings released by the National Weather Service.  Sometime, just go outside, pull up a chase lounge and look at the sky for a while. You will be astounded  at what  you see overhead. Sometimes, it is things that you need to think about for a while. Like, your first weather balloon from the weather service. I had not seen one in actual flight until this past October, but knew what they were from seeing one firsthand up close as a kid. But, then, there are other things  I still wonder about some of those. No UFOs mind you, but as they say in midtown Manhattan, "You'll have that from time to time. Yes, you will".

Today, in between  the drugstore and the grocery store, I came across these. Don't you wonder sometimes?

From Flag Pole Hill looking east as the rain moves out and 60-70 degrees returns to Texas tomorrow and Sunday.

Better stuck here than in one of many airliners that criss cross at low and at high altitude across the Dallas area.