A Little Bird Tugs Stong At My HeartSting

Most likely, people think of me as being nuts when they hear me talking to birds and squirrels, dogs, cats, or animals in general. A little bit later, I will return to this point and tie it all together. But, in the meanwhile, there is a back story, too.

Living in the Great Lakes for many years, low gray clouds called status were something you just excepted. It's like Tampa in that every afternoon a brief shower comes ashore from the Gulf. It's just how our weather system works. In previous post, this has been addresses but, regardless how many times it is discussed, it's really never the same.  And--I have come to want clear blue skies most of the time. A week of clouds gets me in that,"I am getting cabin fever" mode.

It's been unusually hot in Texas already, this first quarter of the year. On the first day of Spring we broke an existing record for the day. (92 degrees F). It's was the first day of Spring, folks. I didn't mix up the seasons. It was indeed the Equinox. The sun was just crossing the Equator on it's journey North toward the first day of S-U-M-M-E-R. That's June and not March we humans know. It is also storm time in Texas. That means tornadoes. We expect them. They are wicked. They destroy property, take lives sometimes, and most of all, destroy our lives of things. Things that we need--or think we do. Things we cannot get through the day without. We all have those "things". I'm trying to get rid of a bunch of things, but I move them from pile to pile and they end back where they started. But most of all, things we don't need are the things we dread about spring. HAIL. Hail beaks glass in cars, It puts dents all over that thing you drive and it can wipe out a perfectly good roof. Hail is a thing alright. And in Texas, you are going to take a hit sometime down the line. My re-initiation occurred the second year that I was back. New windshield. Hail dents removed. The car I had just gotten the year before. In fact, I have a dent or two in this car already.

So, today was going to be another warm day with sunshine, but a wind advisory was issued with sustained winds of 35 MPH with gust to 40. The Joint Naval Base in Ft. Worth had recorded gust to 53 MPH officially. With that said, it was my decision to head out looking for architectural elements today that make for good stock images.  And so, I set out. My camera did not come out of the bag. It sat on the passenger seat where it usually rides with me. Somewhere along the line, something interesting pops up and I unhook the clips and pull the camera out on the seat next to the bag so if I do see something interesting, it's ready to go. But, today, it was just a windy mundane day--the quiet before the storm--if you will.


Generally, I have a rule. If I head out in the opposite direction from the way to the lake, I don't make a trip around the lake that day. In fact, I don't go near the lake. As I watched the clock, ate my Fuji apple, it was fast becoming time to head in. I had in mind a trip to the grocery story to fill in the breakfast items. Twenty minutes later, I'm at my first observation point at the lake. Then came the next point, and the next and I am half way around the lake already with nothing going on of any interest except to me. I have been watching closely in high winds, just how much the swells rise and the wave action splash height. It won't be like the 20 feet splashes that hit the rocks in Maine, but I have seen some 2-feet splashes into the shore before. For an inland lake that's pretty good. As I rounded the corner of the last turn before hitting the Marina area, I noted the most advanced swells that I have ever seen on the lake swell after swell after swell. White caps were rolling, swells built and white caps broke all across the surface of the lake . My first reach for the camera of the day had the camera on the seat as I made my way to a spot where I could park and watch the waves. Plus, I like to listen to the Sirens sing on a windy day as wind does on sail rigging. But, we all know that sound is really the Sirens singing.

Then boom! A 6 to 7-foot splash hit the shoreline. It was spectacular and I was happy. Then, the wind shifted just a bit and the gust just didn't have that umph! After half an hour, while there, my rule already broken for the lake, I had to check on my owl buddy. With the high wind I was wondering if he would even be on a branch.

I walked up slowly looking for my buddy but he was just not in sight anywhere. Then, I heard a little soft hoot and heard the swooshing of wings beating air behind me. By the time I got half turned around, he flew past me and up into the tree he went. But, he wasn't as high as he usually sits. He wasn't in his regular spot and he bobbed his head and flashed those big glassy eyes at me. I started talking to him. He even started responding as I clicked my shutter time and time again. All the time, I was talking to my bud!

He entertained me for about 40-minutes and I heard his mate call from behind so I started looking in  the trees behind me for her and then I'd look back at him asking if he needed to go to her or if they were okay. He gave me that big head bob and stretched his wing away from his body that I have come to know was the signal he would take flight. And so, he did. But my story does not end there.
He showed me where his nest was located. He did this as plain as if he was talking back to me with his blessings. I could not believe my eyes. Then I focused my camera on the trees hollow and low and behold, I see two big eyes staring at me. After a couple of minutes, as if he was satisfied that I knew where to look for him again and also remembering that he had once before call out to me when I didn't see him, he called again until I saw him. He is comfortable with me being in his little clearing and he is comfortable with the click of the camera and most of all, he seems very comfortable with my voice calling out to him. Or, talking to him as he looks down then goes on about this business, checking from time to time to see if I am still there.

Unusual for the lake

This Bard is my bud. We have started to communicate. Today, he flew in to greet me and he revealed his nest site to me, which I will protect. Although, I have an image of him peeking out at me with those big glassy eyes.

He was content to have be directly below him clicking the shutters as I talked to him. He seems to like that and I think it is why he has made an effort to let me know where he is and trusted me enough to reveal his nest site to me, as well. I am truly honored at that.

With that, and it being much later than I normally stay, I forfeited my trip to Kroger's for the day, happy that my bud, Mr. Bard Owl saw me first and then greeting me on purpose. There is no doubt: that bird recognized me again, and made a point to reveal his nest to me. That's an honor that lifted this day to the top of the mountain.

Don't forget to click on an image to enlarge all three.

A Greenbelt Insanity and Humanity

When my portfolio was low on aircraft and remembering the old days of Love Field when you could park along the fence on Denton Drive and watch the planes, it didn't take long to recall that those off-the-road parking spots were gone now. Also knowing that the big airport was now so big, the distance between the five parallel runways is so vast that take off aircraft where good pictures can be taken just was not in the picture. So where do you watch planes? Founder's Plaza someone said. So I set out one Thursday to find the answers for myself. Those Thursdays because know to me as "Discovery Thursdays" from thereon. Much has evolved over the past sixteen years but I still have Discovery Days each month when I go in search of those unanswered questions for new material. Yesterday was one of those days--as it turned out--it was also a record setting day for the first day of Spring, too. It was 92 degrees F and humid. The discovery was fun and filled with delight, however.

In Dallas, there are Greenbelts that run through neighborhoods for blocks on end. Although I drive this one street almost daily, it wasn't until this past month that I had noticed a footbridge crossing from the curbside of the street over a ravine. So at the next intersection, I turned and came back along the street on the other side. Almost instantly the Parks and Recreation Division had posted the signs that the area was a Natural Prairie Grass Area--an instant recognition of a designated greenbelt. Most of the houses on the passenger side of the car were higher ground overlooking the street below. So driving slow, you could look for wildflowers and unusual scenes. It was only a couple of more blocks before it really got interesting and I found the footbridge on this side of the ravine from where I had been when it was first sited. I crossed over to get back on the street where I had originally been only to discover that the plot layout had changed and the street there was not the street that I once had traversed less than a half-hour before. Then, I spotted the foot bridge on this side and it wasn't the same foot bridge that I had seen originally, but was the other side of the one that I had just viewed on the street over. What is going on here, I though. Vines were in full bloom with mini iris-type flowers hanging in bunches like grapes. They had grown so much over the years that they were now well up into the 20-30 foot level of some old growth. I got out and took some pictures. They will appear in stock and note cards in my sundry section on Glendine's link on my web page.

Back in the car, I made yet another left turn to get back on the street where I had been and instead of getting there, I ended up somewhere else. Over the years, various neighborhoods had seemed to confuse me like that and I learned to drive using landmarks. Many people do. But, in the process, I ended up being back on the street where I thought I had been. Instead once again, I had landed on yet another street. This one, however, had something amazingly odd about it. There was a cream colored cowboy hat hanging on a tree trunk several feet off the road and into the wooded thicket going toward the ravine. I stopped. Pulling the car to the curb, I got out and started to explore. At first I thought that there might have been some memorial as old silk flowers were in the "Y" of a tree trunk. Then, I spotted a red lantern hanging from a tree. It just got more interesting as I explored. A car pulled up and the gentleman called out, "Have you ever seen such insanity?" As it turned out, he was the curator and gave me an escorted tour of things that I had missed including the poison ivy I had almost brushed up against. It was a delight and my "Discovery Day" had once again revealed how much we all need this type of insanity. Here is a few items that I especially enjoyed.

Refreshing. An offering to the wood Nymphs?

Howdy. A Texas Bird Home.

Music in the escarpment know as Lake Highlands Area. It almost could be a state trumpet.

A Turn of Events For The Better

It was early when I headed out on Saturday. The humidity was like 88% and the dew point wasn't much better. In short, it was muggy and it's still was not officially spring with mother sun. During my outs and abouts, generally, my gas comes from Kroger's gas pumps. Yes, I use my discounts! Once in a while I might stop at QT or RaceTrac if the price is lower than my Kroger discount at purchase. The main reason is that on my rounds, I travel between two Kroger gas stations and it's just johnny-on-the-spot to get gas. On Friday, I had noticed that the southern Kroger gas station sells gas for $1.99 per gallon and I estimated (wrong, as it turned out) that the northern Kroger by my house would be the same. So that's where I headed Saturday morning to gas up.

When I got to the pumps, the price was $2.06 and with my $0.03 a gallon discount (I already used my $0.10 a gallon discount up) it dropped the price to $2.03.That's a $0.04 per gallon difference. However, that was not worth the effort or the savings to go elsewhere. Sometimes, I get Kroger's. Sometime, Kroger's get me. That's the way of the gas cycle. Alright. It cost me a big $0.40 to stay put.  That just means that I have to sell more photos.

When I left the station, normally, I would go right. Yesterday, my car turned left for some reason. As I got to the first intersection, I spotted a line of people holding place cards and signs outside the  Islamic Association of North Texas. It's the Dallas Central Mosque and to the Muslim community, it's like the Archdiocese Church which is usually a cathedral in the Catholic diocese. You get the point none-the-less. So, I made the block and came back around, parking in the parking lot of the church across the street from the mosque.

The local TV stations were there with their heavy tripods and video cams. I ask one of the cameramen what was going on. He pretty well summed it up but omitted a key factor that there was an opposition side and then a counter opposition side to the protest about the Mosque congregation. Then, I saw the AK-47s or what ever they call those curved clip rifles. I'm not a gun person. Then, I saw the Richardson Police. One here, one there, one over there and they were a bit jittery. That made me even more jittery and I got in my car and made another block coming in the back door lot of the Mosque  parking lot.

Never seen one of these at a protest before, but glad that they do.

This is not a Texas 6-shooter and somewhat disturbing to me.

Some of those that embraced the Mosque with their support. The two opposition groups were on the other side of the street.

Making my way around to those lined up along the side walk it was soon to be made clear that they were not formally, part of the armed protest but where embracing the Mosque with a line of supporters. Then, something else happened that was so different from some of the other marches that I had photographed in the Dallas area. I saw several people with blue vest like they wear at Home Depot with the words on the back in white letters that read: ACLU of Texas Legal Observer. They all had clipboards with a form-type check list that was a notation of various things they observed. Later, there was a chance to speak with one of the women and she told me that they were just bringing back this type of operation. There were fourteen of them.  Most people don't realize that the ACLU needs community support financially to do some of the things that they do such as this type service.

As it turned out after some time had gone by, a spokesman from the IANT came along the line bringing the supporters that had embraced the Mosque together to announce that an agreement between the opposition and the counter opposition and that they would be going to a local Mediterranean restaurant to have lunch and discuss the differences that they had. He also announced that those that had embraced the Mosque in support were welcome to stay but that the IANT would suggest that they disband so as not to add any more discourse to the meeting. With that, people began to leave peacefully.

 It was announced later in the evening news that the meeting had gone well and that differences were smoothed over to the point that both sides would march together in the upcoming march for unity later this month. After looking at my images again this morning, I noticed that I had missed an image that to me was more chilling that initially though: A Richardson policeman with creased marks between his eyes brows holding one of those AK-47- like tactical guns at the ready.

From there, I went looking for angles in a very large and old cemetery. This is what I found.

I looked at this amazing art for nearly forty-five minutes reflecting on what had just been witnessed earlier in the day.

The Real Leprechauns Come Out Tomorrow

Yes, Irish folklore says that the real Leprechauns are filled with mischief. Do you believe that? If  you do, then there are more leprechauns in this world than was first thought. Why then, do you think they are so hard to see if there are that many of those little black bearded men in green tails and high hats?
Me, personally, has my own opinion. I think it's because it's all a rough. They want you to believe that they are hiding under the rainbow with a big kettle filled with gold. You know, the old Kelt's were like that. They won many a battle by making their enemy think they were someplace else and then, they could come riding in on their white horses with their blond hair blowing in the wind and scare the H-e-c-k out of the enemy who would then surrender on the spot. Maybe, the leprechauns were in deed sitting under a rainbow with a pot of gold. So, if you see one tomorrow. Just give him a little wink of the eye and go on about your way because it's St. Patrick's Day everywhere and those mischief little Leprechauns are too.

Leprechauns??

Now, I know who this is and he ain't a Kelt!, But WE still love ya, Barney!

Y'all Have A Happy St. Patrick's Day, even if you don't have any of that little Kelt's blood running in your veins.

 

A Spectrum of White Rock Activity

Today started early at the vampire's. She drew three viles of blood!! I made my way to the car, drove down the service road a mile, did the loop DE loop coming out on the service road going the opposite direction and into McDonald's. My body needed food and coffee. Thankfully, I brought a little jar of my favorite orange juice with pulp to take my meds with while I ate.

The clouds were low and gray again and there were enough drops of water on the windshield to put the wipers on intermittent. At the lake, I sat in my favorite spot and ate in the car overlooking the lake. It was so pretty this morning with just the right amount of rain to make the buds, new leaves and flowers glison on their own without the sun.

By this time it was time to check on the birds,  Stopping at the lake's MC Donald's and ordering my second cup of coffee I made the short distance to Aquatics Center Shelter House which has a picnic table under roof on either end of the Center with open air picnic tables in the front and chatted with a birdwatcher who was passing my way. When finishing my second cup of coffee, it was time to stroll down to the lake's edge. Spotting the shovel bills almost instantly, the reports were coming in that the wood ducks have been sited looking for nesting sites, but the hot new was that a Chiloe Wigeons from South American had been sited and in short order appeared with two others looking for the rare site. There was also talk about a Texas native duck that is only seen in south Texas islands. Never did find that duck.

As the day progressed, the workout guys were making use of the cooler weather to do the heavy stuff. But the non bird hit was when I came around  a curve on the West Lawther side of the lake and heard
the piping of pipes!! Bagpipes!! It still sends chills down my spine to hear that sound, St. Patrick's week or not. In fact, on Saturday after shooting the parade on Greenville, I was thinking that  if I had a set of pipes, I'd go to White Rock and play the pipes.

Here's a recap in pictures.

A South American Chiloe Wigeons

Marco

Jonathan & Alejandro

More Pictures: St. Patrick's Parade

The Rolls, The Marine, The Chief,The unknow

Cute girl, but I don't know who she is.

I love bagpipes. If I had a set of pipes, I'd go to the lake and pipe all day.

They sound good, too! That's a semi trailer converted to a moving stage. with garage doors or flaps.I really don't have that figured out yet.

An Enjoyable but Short Conversation with Former Chief Brown

We all remember that awful day when gunfire began to echo in the canyon of tall buildings downtown. That's when then chief, David Brown stepped forward as the leader that he was and became the "wise father" for the police department. 

The nation listened as he spoke at new conferences, critical updates to past press conferences and at the funerals to come later. He stood like a rock for fallen officers families to lean upon. He stood as a rock in support of the men in the department he lead, although there were some bitter sweet times off and on before that tragic day outside El Centro College in the heart of downtown, the Chief stood as the top man leading a department with much success.

He was named the Grand Marshal of this years St. Patrick's Day Parade and Festival. For some reason this year, I landed a great spot at the beginning of the parade. Generally, I'm a bit farther down on Greenville Avenue. A little trick I learned from the Christmas Parade is that you want to be where the celebrities are before they take their place in the vehicle or float that they will be riding on. So, that may have been the reason I stayed at the corner of Blackwell and Greenville. The old Sam's Club Park Lane store parking lot was filled with trucks and floats and staging activity. It is a "fur" piece from there down to Blackwell from Park Lane and Greenville, the official start of the annual parade.  I wanted a good picture of the former Chief to add to the portfolio of images from the memorials outside Jack Evans when the Chief was master of the domain so to speak. Ironically, I saw him pose with a couple of characters depicted in "Lord of the Rings" earlier.

Before the five minute warning was issued to parade participants, the new Rolls-Royce convertible was moved into place driven by a young Marine Corp enlistment in his sleek dress uniform, I called out to the former chief and then waved. He turned and looked my way. At that time, another man did the same thing and private consultant David Brown was on his way over to the metal barricade. I shot images while he was walking and while he greeted the man next to me. Then, I said to Chief Brown:" you look relaxed and happy now." He replied, " I'm getting there. After about 4 months it sets in."  From my experience of being retired, I said to the Chief," once you lay down the sword, it takes about six months before you really feel free and start to have fun again." The five minute warning was sounded and the chief said," You got to get a shot of these kicks" making a reference to his green athletic shoes, then he headed over to his position in the parade. I got the picture of the chief and the "kicks" and if another picture didn't come out, my day had already been made and I was that "happy"photog that I mentioned to the Chief.

 Click on any image to enlarge all three. More images will follow in a second post. 

These "Kicks" are Beau-T-Ful

The Chief Turns in response to the call.

Chief Brown looks really good and relaxed.