A Mid-Autumn Picnic Lunch, Pelican Flights and A Unicyclist with Dogs

It felt pretty good to discover that I had slept in this morning for an additional three hours. But, with today being the last day for more than the next ten days below today's forecast of 68-72 degrees with sunshine, I crawled out of bed, did my morning routine, took my meds, checked mail and other light task, packed my lunch in the picnic bag that is insulated and headed out the door.

It was delightful and at times, the approaching cold front was  pre-mixing some cool air at times. In reality, I think that the wind was changing directions as the low pressure approached from the Northwest. Still, the air temperature and gentle breeze was just the way that I like this time of year.

Having eaten a full breakfast before leaving the house, I had planned to have lunch about two in the afternoon. As it turned out, it was more like a later regular lunch hour.  For these lunches this time of year, I like to eat at the picnic tables on the patio of the cabin at Sunset Bay. That's were the pelicans hang out before they scatter for fishing trips or after lunch thermal riding. Much to my surprise, it hit me that all the color that I like to look at while eating was already spent. The trees were brown and barren. Just two weeks ago the colors were at peak and really amazing. But, I had forgotten we have had some strong winds, heavy rains and that brought down the leaves that I have been walking through the past two weeks. Where the time went I will never know. It has been a busy time for me with other things to do in addition to the pictures. The car problems took up a week or so. The state inspection took up a day. There was a doctor in there some where and a couple of days spent in the house when the weather was just plain mean. Trying to recall the number of times that I have said to myself---"we just can't catch a break anywhere"; the times that was said could not be accurately tallied. It has been a rough year weather wise.

The squirrel came down and visited while I ate.

Pelicans were riding thermal currents already.

The editorial image of the day was a unicycle rider "walking" his two dogs. 

Unusual In One Way or Another.

Seeing palm trees grow is a new experience. Noticed yesterday that outside the main gate of Exon Mobil's Corporate Headquarters they have palms growing one after another for several hundred feet. Never noticed that until yesterday. Their compound is rather unusual anyway. It's set in gated woods and  all you can see of the facility outside of the gates, is the expanse of roof tops that look like a sprawling ranch style home from atop the hill across Carpenter Expressway.

took off the auto focus and used manual focus on the trees getting this of the pigeons. 

I like this duck. Not only is she colorful and very different, she's also friendly and comes from the lake to see you on shore.

Learning The Ropes---Literally

Oh!, that's what that does!

Two identical. One on the east side and one on the west side. Tradition always wins in my book. Mr. President and I were born on the same day.

Nice!

A couple of things around the lake that had nothing to do with it being Veterans Day. However, I did see a fleet of convertibles drive around the rental cabin at The Big Thicket. American flags were waving for them all.

The main topic was the guy at Flag Pole Hill learning the ropes of a par-a-sail-type shoot. He might have had a jump later in the day--or that's how he got to where he was at Flag Pole Hill. Judging from his actions, I'd have to say that he was in the learning process. Don't know this for sure since I didn't get a chance to talk to him. He was pretty preoccupied, don't you see. When the wind stopped, so did he. That's the thing about that sport. Wind is required and doesn't come with the kit!

Meet a very interesting young man that had just moved here from the eastern seaboard. We were talking pictures and I didn't get one! Hopefully, I will run across him again.

The final leg of the trip today was to check out the George Bush Library to see if they had any decorations up. They did. In Bush tradition, it was in good taste. Plain. Simple. Perfect! Also noticed that the new East Campus of SMU that crossed US75 aka NCX or North Central Expressway, behind the George Bush and just north of Mockingbird Station had a new neon Mustang that covered  two of the top floors on the building facing SMU. The SMU logo banner had been there almost since they moved the support offices across making it the beginning of the East Campus. My old friend, Sarah Rincon was in that move, one of the first. There is already a new Aquatics complex that is now open. Somewhere in the files, I have that specific image. I'll look for it and pull it up with colder days setting in for the holidays.

With this being said--- to our veterans past, present and those to come-- Thank You! With out you, we would not be secure in our democracy.

Second Coyote in Past 10 Days

It was another rainy low-hanging cloud kind of day where the sky and the horizon just melted together. The temps were good at mid 50s all day and showers were  hit and miss but increasing ahead of a second cold front  ready to pass and plunge us weeks early into a freeze warning.

It was still a day of sightings that you look for and generally don't find all in one day. But, timing is everything proved the wizard correct with pelicans flying just above the water line  half the length of the lake in a line one after another. It was also pouring rain at the moment and putting the window down in the car was just not gonna happen. But, I got to see perfect shots fly by one-by-one and that will give me a mental image of what to watch for in the future. Another old adage is that you need to think like the bird and know their habits recognizing signs that they are about to take flight or about how long their glide path is if they are landing. It really does help.

The second and third sighting was two hawks in tops of trees. One at Dreyfuss Club; the other at Big Thicket. The Big Thicket hawk was getting drenched in a down pour of rain and just sat there like a stone.

The fourth sighting was another coyote with the past ten days. This one was in the horse pasture just south of where Hillside comes into West Lawther just beyond the street that goes up the hill to Cox Cemetery. There was a guy in a truck parked off the road. He waved me down and pointed to the coyote that I had already slowed down to observe. At that point, the coyote was stalking two horses and was way to close to the animals who were somewhat  nervous of his presence. As I turned around, I got three really good views of the animal but they were shot through a while split rail fence in the car with the window down. So, I did get the white of the fence and the blur of the wire backing, but the coyote, unlike the playful female 10-days ago, was a big stout male with an old mange spot that had healed over leaving a bare patch of new fur on his right hind hip and leg.

In the shot  you can see the horses.

When you click on the enlarge you get a really good look in detail of the coyote. I will devote all three shots to this amazing animal in urban settings.

A Fish Story That Holds Promise

Well, as I have explained time and time again, people discover White Rock Lake every day. I have never meet one that went away unimpressed. Such was the fish story today of two gentlemen that "were on their lunch break". I'm still trying to figure out the prop one held in his hand---a fishing rod.

Of course, I'm having a bit of fun with these gents. But, how many fishing stories really focused on a fish? Generally, fishing has been an excuse to explore. I recall when I was a kid that my best friend had lost his mother to cancer and his father had started to date again. People that new the couple put signs on their car that said, "Gone Fishing".

My friend and I had a fight in first grade over a fish that the two of us  found in a rain puddle on the play ground. Our first grade teacher was surprised  that 'you boys' who never caused a problem in class were at each other short of a fist-a-cuff. In that cloak room, we worked it out and have remained friends over the years, since.

Both situations involved a fish story and only one had a fish in it. A small  minnow at that. But in both cases---the ruckus was not over the fish in reality--- it was the story board  that won the prize in those fish tales. Such was the fish story today. Both men left to return to work having been motivated to return later and explore and enjoy the park. While the guy with the fishing rod can bring it back  again and actually fish, there is so much to see and explore at the lake that it might be a while before this fish story materializes and actually pulls a fish from the waters of White Rock Lake.

Of course, I didn't mention these guys. They do eat a lot of bait form those hooks!!

Briefly mentioned the hawks all over the place, an osprey, Bald Eagles, Baard Owls,

Places to explore from sports to activities are high on the list to check out, too!

Get Ready. They Are Coming Novenber 12th

Yes, time waits for no man ---or woman. And, with the forward motion of time, Christmas is going to be here before anyone knows. So what is November 12th? That's the day the first Christmas trees arrive from Oregon, North Carolina and Michigan. They are being cut this week. My source tells me that the deliveries will roll in on time.

Tonight, the National Weather Service has notices out about a major winter storm for the Northern Rockies and Upper Great Lakes. You might know---Interstate 80 and 90 pass through a portion of the warning area in Montana, Wyoming, Nebraska, South Dakota, North Dakota, Minnesota and Michigan. F2 Tornadoes are forecast for the South and up the Eastern Seaboard. North Carolina--heads up and get those trees cut and loaded  and heading toward Texas.

This year, numerous times I mentioned  that we just could not catch a break from the heat. Then, it was a repeat changing the word heat to rain. Now, its changing the word rain to storms, cold front and early onset to fall and even  winter.

Anyway, as stated earlier...time waits for no one and  whether we have real live trees for Christmas or not for any reason, the stage is being set now.

Landmark Neon Christmas Tree

A Dallas Landmark in Name as well as Location.

Beautiful Day, High Winds and Fantastic Yellow Black Swallowtail

The total shots today  were in the 200 range with 99.5 percent on one butterfly---the Eastern Yellow Black Swallowtail. It's black on the topside, yellow on the bottom side with counterpoint patterns in the opposite colors. The wingspan is nearly double of the Monarch.