Downy On Wing, But This One Is a Woodpecker

Village names in the United Kingdom are unusual to us but to a Brit, it makes logical sense. Not perfect, but logical sense. My friends, Pauline and Tim, Mo-T, and Madeleine have tried to explain some of the meanings of the villages with interesting names.While Pauline and Tim and Mo-T live in the Cotswold's, Tim was from South Hampton and Madeline lived in Poweys, Wales.

 Most of the time it is a river (e.g., Stratford-upon-Avon) or an area that is known by the locals for something made or found in the region. Neville maintained a flat in London for years and when the semester or later-on, quarters  ended in May, he would go back across the pond for the summer. He traveled and would write during the summers. He was very versed in such things about the Brits way of life and would share it freely.  Of all my college professors, Neville was one you just could not get enough.  If it wasn't his writings, it was how he became so interested in American Jazz, or how to select a quality brandy. His list of friends in Parliament or with the Crown was well documented, but it was his way of explaining things that captivated me about him. To this day, I think about a lecture or his accent of certain words.  His Christmas Cards came yearly, usually of paintings that hung in one of his uncle's or family homes. I think about them, too. Sadly, they were lost in a divorce years ago and remembering the art work is now lost today.

Friday, while sitting at a picnic table, my thoughts were on why one of the boat clubs do not project out the restoration of the 'in-place' Marine  Flag Pole standing a few feet from me. Most people do not even know that there is a Marine Flag Pole at  White Rock. One time in the past, that question was put to a couple of  Corinth Boat Club members. Both of the members were totally unaware that it even existed.  With the sailing clubs present and the rowing clubs gaining momentum, it is a cause to imagine why one of the clubs are not being the keeper of such a key marine feature already standing idle in ghostly fashion on East Lawther.

The Marine Flag Pole as it stands currently.

One of the two Downy Woodpeckers. The other one was higher up in a adjacent tree.

Gazing at the pole, there was a lot of pecking going on above my head. Looking up, it didn't take long to see not one, but two, Downy Woodpeckers busy at work pecking on branches and limbs. After about sixty shots, it was on to Dryfuss Club to shoot the dried reed beds. The reeds are ready for picking and if you have ever driven 17A between Charleston, South Carolina and Myrtle Beach, you have seen the fantastic roadside sheds were women weave some of the best baskets ever made. The reeds at White Rock are the same type of reeds found along the inter coastal waterways before they mix with the marsh tidal floods of salt water.  So, it's not Downy on Wing in England, nor is it part of the coastal Grand Strand, but the little downy woodpecker deserve a look.

The State of the Macaroni

Creative ideals come from the strangest places. Ever since macaroni in the shape of the state of  Texas was found, the uniqueness of it started the creative thought process. What can be done with this stuff? It has been in a zip-lock bag in my camera bag for over a week now. When at last the opportunity came around were it would be a good day to shoot, it didn't totally turn out that way. It seems what when the macaroni was set up on the felt sheet, and the camera was placed to focus in on the shot, a gust of wind would hit the felt and upset the design. It became frustrating. Even more frustrating is the fact that one of my basic tenets is never do work twice. Do it right the first time and never work twice on the same project. Well, it wasn't in the cards that day. Finally, on day two, the wind died down and a second problem developed. It seems that the macaroni is not the best material to place on felt and there were no tweezers in my bag to set the pieces in the planned layout. Finally, it was more work than the outcome would bring. Cut your losses and move on. Yet, being more stong willed than that, working with the stuff finally made a rather crude take but it was enough to get the point across and to use the ideal in yet another project that would benefit more. So, with two samples after the edits, the fun that was had was worth more than any monetary reward had it all come out the way planned. But, that just proves than money isn't everything by any means and the reward was even more rewarding from a creative process.

356-1F270521 The State of the Macaroni

A sketch artist was having the same creative process. 

Wind Turbine Tree

From the Solar Impulse 2 guys Andrè and Bertrand on Twitter this morning. Instantly, it makes sense. You can go to Vine.co or to the Solar Impulse2 site and continue to view the solar tree. We have withdrawn the tree after a week because of the bandwith being used and the Vine counter continueing to run.Not all our visitors shut off the item when done viewing.

Cape Canaveral Thirty Years Ago Yesterday

Mast Poles Sing

Wind generated song

Thirty years has passed like it was yesterday. In fact, at that time, with cargo on the ground at Port Canaveral, my telephone conversation with the port director was interrupted when he said, "I'll call you back, I think the shuttle just blew up!" He was looking out his window at Cape Canaveral as the shuttle lifted off. 

That got me to remembering 9-11 and being at the mail box when the maintenance guy said that the first tower had just collapsed. Rushing back to the apartment, turning on the television just in time to see the updates on the television and then, the collapse of the second tower happened.

On November 22,1963, found me in my high school senior history class when from the principals office, the school PA system started broadcasting the live radio coverage from Dallas of the assassination of President Kennedy with no precursor announcements--just the sound of the broadcast coming into every classroom over all three floors of classes.  My history teacher, lived around the corner of where my first house was purchased twelve years later.

The irony is that if I was not in Dallas, the days event came from Dallas. The Port Canaveral  Port Authority is within eye-sight of what is now called, The Kennedy Space Center, and if that wasn't enough, the link of world trade was also in the mix, so in someway, the three main events in history were tied to either Dallas or world trade, or both, collectively for me. But even more weird was  the fact that when the another shuttle broke up on reentry, it happened right over me here in Dallas with parts landing to the east and slightly south.

Trying to figure out how all this fits together in some logical way still has a piece missing to make it all fit together. Maybe, even a couple of pieces are missing. But, I have worked out odd dreams before. Able to make sense of them, sometimes maybe as much as a year later is an awesome experience within itself. The point is, your brain is wired to answer some of these questions that life ask, but you have to be patient and let you brain work on its own. Then, when you least expect it, you have what I call, "a Eureka Point" and it comes to you as clear as day.

The main point being this: Never give up on learning. Always try to learn something new every day. Look for things that generate new learning, but listen well. Today, I heard song being generated by the wind. I had forgotten that wind could do that. Although, when the Margaret Hunt Hill bridge was under construction, it was pointed out that on super windy days, the cable stays would vibrate from the wind causing sound to be generated. I have listened before but at the size of those bridge cables, it does take a very strong wind to produce any sound at the bridge. Yet, today, the wind was generating song with the vibrating of the stays and between the mast at the marinas at White Rock. I leaned on the hood of the car and listened to the hissing and singing of song coming from every sailboat in dry dock. Over an hour passed when the trance was finally broken and I realized it was time to go start dinner.

On the Great Lakes, it was not so uncommon, but here in Dallas, things had to come together to get that sound and today was the day that nature produced song. I recorded it on my phone. Now, I must find a way to put that recording into a audio file and see if I can upload it here. This might be my new thing to learn for the day. In the meanwhile, here are a couple of shots of the mast at the marinas.

♫ In Search of Eight Clydesdale's and a Big Red Wagon ♫

It was a fun afternoon with sunshine and above seasonal norms at 64 F. The afternoon started with driving to City Place and finding a parking spot. With that done, my wait on the M-Line Trolley didn't take but about thirty minutes. When the tolley arrived, it was one of the subs that is being used while some of the old cars are being refurbished. It was not a problem at all. Regardless of what you ride, the ride is free. The coin box is used but for tips. Not every ride is  but most of the trips end with a George Washington.

It was off for a fun ride down to Klyde Warren Park. When the park first opened my interest was very much pro-park  and the success was overwhelming to say the least. However, over time, it because a park that just was not for me. There were to many restrictions and most of all, being a freelance photographer, unless you were "local media--meaning the TV stations and the Dallas Morning News," you could not sell your pictures commercially. Well, sales of  that kind of pictures commercially don't happen any way. They are listed as "editorial use" and those are not considered commercial because of the limited use. Still, it is a bug that sticks in my craw and always will. It reminds me of high school days when the clicks at school ruled your every social move. The Dallas Morning News has their newspapers in the racks at the "reading room" in the park. That could explain some of the restricted postings. The other one is that if you purchase a permit, you can take pictures and even sell them commercially. (I've seen hundreds sold from there that way.) Still, it reminds me of a very bully click and this photographer wants no part of that bully what ever it is attitude. Freedom of the press does not apply at Klyde Warren unless you pay ( kind of like the bully collecting lunch money from the weak kids). So, walking the fringes (only) is the routine.  Shooting from the street side and not on their property works best. Interestingly enough, fringe shots usually turn out better than if  in the park itself.

After walking the 5-acre deck park from east to west on the south and then west to east on the north half the trolley would be back and time to ride back to McKinney and Allen to Big Al's to await the Clydesdale's arrival. Not knowing from which direction the hitch team would be coming, the late afternoon shadows were quickly moving in and even if the team is the world famous Clydesdale's from Budweiser's Farm in St. Louis, it was learned a long time ago, with purely respect, using a inboard or hot shoe flash is a no-no. And none was used.

Ironically, the hats are St. Louis Teams! And--the hover board has not burned up! Thanks guys for the picture. It was my pleasure! Enjoy.

The lead pulls have a very genuine personality their very own.

Sun set on a perfect weather day in late January from White Rock Lake

When the motorcycle cops turned onto McKinney, it was only 20-30 yards before they pulled to a halt for pictures with well-wishers and first-timers seeing such a beautiful team. Then, like a swarm of bees defending a hive, people with iPhone were holding their arms above the crowds and no one could get a picture. Actually, for a moment the thinking was that this is gonna get out of hand. One of the senior officers on the wagon had a somewhat worried look on his face, too.Still, a few good shots were had and that made the fun afternoon well worth the effort and time. Thanks In Bev Anheuser- Busch for bringing the beautiful animals to Dallas.

Red Shoulder

A beautiful bird of prey. The Red Shoulder is quickly becoming a bird that I like more than the larger hawks. These just have a regal flare about them. It's rather difficult to explain but they are just different  than the others some how.  The nest site was found. It is made from some very big sticks, too. Woven into the fork of one of the old trees at White Rock it could almost be a mini-eagle nest. Frankly, the nesting site was nearly missed. At first, it seemed the big Red Tail was using it but as it turned out from over an hour of observing, the red-shoulder took flight and sat down on the nest. Now, during the course of the breeding season, close attention will need to be paid. The excitement is already building.

Be sure to click on one of the images to enlarge the entire series for a better look-see.

It's Election Time Once Again

Yes, it is election time once again. There are all sorts of  issues, array of candidates and  even tax and bond issues that will come to event time this November. Already I'm getting phone calls and surveys and polls about how my voting will be done. Democrat? Republican? Green Party? Libertarian? . The interesting thing is not how my vote will be cast, but what kind of call will this call be? Is it a real person? A robot call? It becomes a game of amusement so answering them always happens.

My attitude at one time was that voting was my business and not something for anyone else to be concerned with. Then, it came to me that it really made no difference if my answers were confusing or cluttered with weeds on purpose. It was no different than our government developing stealth finishes for our air force. Why couldn't my answers about voting or religion preferences be like a weed patch or a jungle? If someone wanted to find that out, make them work for it rather than just giving them the refined answer. Since that eureka point arrived, it's just been fun to answer the phone. When it comes to religion, being main-stream is important to me and being a good ole Presbyterian is where you will find me, cut grass, weeded flower beds and edged sidewalks. There might even be a white picket fence in there somewhere being main stream Presbyterian.  Politics?  Well, it is back to having fun again! If you use a drone to look into my weed garden of politics, you are going to find a well-entrenched Republican who votes Democratic when I'm mad! Or is it a Die-hard Democrat who votes Republican when I'm mad?Oh, well, I've got until November to remember.

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