The Big Thicket Raptor Is Back Surveying The Tree Damage

Today, finally, I spotted the ole boy high atop his favorite tree in the Big Thicket. After a bit, he took flight over the hillside ticket east of the tennis courts and points south. I could see him diving low and then come up and ride the updrafts then back down in a swooping dive. He most likely was hunting. I could hear the crows squawking  then saw five of them doing their, "this is my ground buddy!" squawks. As I drove from Buckner up the hill at Peavy and made the loop down into the park, over W. Lawther to the cottage at the Big Thicket. I parked and walked over to the edge of the grove where the Red Shoulders and the Owls have shared for a couple of years without fail. I was about to give up and walked up closer to Buckner, finding the tree that I had seen from Buckner earlier. Sure enough, there sat the ole boy eating lunch. What a welcomed sight that was.

There was a fairly large group of people sitting on blankets. Nothing wrong with that, but they had dogs--maybe three---and the ole boy was quiet uncomfortable with the barking and the kids chasing the dogs so close to the big nesting tree. That has been one of the things that is a concern, especially at this time of year when nesting and mating are close to happening. The last thing I want to see is for the ole boy to relocate at such a critical time. Or worse yet, the increased pedestrian traffic would cause the pair to abandon the nest with eggs. That would be disastrous.

Still, there is hope that nesting will take place as in the past without any trouble. The guys from Parks
and Recreation are aware that it's nesting time there, especially with the big tree being down for a couple of months. The guys have so much work to do  this time of year and with the past two floods already this year, there is tons of wood on the floor. They are going to give it their best shot to get the tree removed before much longer and I, for one, greatly appreciate all their work. The guys are two great crews--one for West Lawther and one for East Lawther. The do such a great job helping to keep the park in order.

In fact, there was a guy today that was shooting the pelicans and finches, from Delaware who commented about the trash in the Dixon. He was surprised to hear that there are volunteer groups that work picking up trash and were even out today in large numbers with the bill board date of January 12th not until this coming weekend, it shows that people do care and were working in support groups even today. They are much appreciated, too!

Cited from Buckner Road

Mr. Squirrel with a very high post to observe and take in sunshine.

Just finished his lunch, He's back at has normal spot when the mate is on the nest--although that hasn't happened yet at the old nest. But, he's back in the neighborhood. That's a good thing.

New Features Testing Adds Two More

The final test of two new features to our upgrade have tested okay to come on line. You will note one is a searchable link on Dreamstime Stock Images and is located on the right hand side of the blog.

The other, is at the very end of the blog in the Memorial Section for my son and is a multi-use tab. It will show what our latest additions to Dreamstime that are live and also a complete view of our portfolio at Dreamstime that are available for you to purchase and download from that tool.

For the timid--- one of the reasons we test these out before going hot, or live, is that we know that some of you don't want to get in a position that causes any turmoil with your system. We are very much the same and in agreement with that fear.

In setting these up, we want you to be able to play with it and learn how to navigate it so that fear will go away as you become more comfortable.

Yesterday, I saw a license plate that said IPTYPEGUY ( I P TYPE GUY) and it inspired me to work into the night testing these tools out and getting more of the whole project on  line. In short.... I did it for YOU, my wonderful readers and followers. So, have fun, tell the neighbors, spread the word, put a note in the offering plate if you want. That will cause one of the deacons or elder to scratch their head a time or two, but hey.... even the LORD has a sense of humor don't you know.

Cathedral in Buenos Aires

Seashore art

American Advertising in  Living Color

Mission Accomplished.

The  weatherman said that when we get up today the clouds would still be present but would clear out rather fast by mid morning. Wrong, without prejudice!  There was only a thin strip of cloud in the western sky and the rest was that "make me feel happy blue sky". Oh, what a relief to see that. As I have mentioned before, at one point I didn't mind cloudy skies, but as time has ticked away...I want all the blue sky that I can get.

By lunch time, my normal routine was complete and I sat down to watch the news and see what kind of mess Donald had gotten himself into over night tweeting. Really, though, I love that guy. He is misunderstood by the vast majority because the mainstream establishment have never been around a guy like our current president. It the same thing as people up north not understanding the southern culture and then there are regions like Pacific Northwest , California, Florida, Upstate New York, Vermont, and Maine; all regions with cultures so different that most just don't get it. Take the Water People of Maryland on the East side of the Chesapeake Bay. That's a culture in both language and work that would confuse most Americans, yet don't give them the crabs and shell fish that the Water People harvest every day to satisfy their taste buds and listen to them yell.

Here's the Big Boy in a Residential Neighborhood

Just when he was getting ready to change position, a guy comes out of one of the houses, gets into his truck and roars right past me just as he took flight. My dad always said, "There's always one".

The last of the Christmas Decor although, this one just struck me as so,"Charles Dickens". I love this image with the ghostly tree branches, sky and that Holiday Theme.

 

Donald is a Construction Trade Guy. One that is also locked into the New York System that do everything for the benefit of the trades and the bosses. Dock workers, Freight Handlers, Fashion Districts, Fish Markets, Importers of wine and booze. Taxis. Hotels.  You name a trade--New York has one that is a total different world than you would think it to be. But, things get done. Business gets done. Money is made, Food hits the table when it is time.

To me---it's the old adage: There are those that want to see you fail. That's what the fake news and all that garbage set out to do. At any rate... I had my morning laughs and watched another congress go about business as normal, even though the American People had said that if you don't get it right after we clean house, we are going to clean house even better at the next election. And--I truly hope that the American People go back to the polls and wipe the second and third  terms totally clean

But, my goal of late is to keep watch on the nesting pairs of hawks and owls. Activity is picking up and I was talking to a couple of park workers today that I see routinely and they are trying to get all the wood up off the floor. There has been so many branches and whole trees that have fallen this past year and while some can be returned to nature on their own, other need human help to get rid of the wood and the damage it caused.

Much to my surprise, today, as I made my way around to check on the birds that I have not seen in the pat two to three days, still, none were found for the third day, but I did score  a major find. My Osprey was cited again. This is the fourth time that I have seen him in as many weeks. Yet, today was the fulfillment of getting images of all four bird of prey; the eagles, the red shoulders/ red tails, the barred owls and now the osprey! Mission Accomplished.

My first citing of an osprey was years ago at Pauly's Island, South Carolina. Ever since, that is the one bird that I cannot get enough of. They are populated on 6 of the 7 continents and they eat only fish. But they are  totally interesting to see, watch and bring hope that you get to see them again.  There are some great HD cams of Ospreys. They are interesting to see how they care for their mates and their chicks. Three years ago I saw my first Osprey at White Rock that I had ever seen there. Last year, I didn't see them at all, but around September, I had heard that  one had been cited. I kept watching and looking at spots where I know that they favor in a territory. Then, at the end of  November, I saw the big guy for the first time last year--now, in this nesting season he is hanging out at all the right places. I'm hopeful to spot a big nest soon. Time will tell if he hangs out at White Rock or goes to one of the bigger and more rural lakes.

Inside Yesterday--Had To Get Out Today

The rain and gray clouds and cold were closing in inch by inch by inch. By noon time, it was out the door with the bumper shoot  in one hand and the camera bag and tote in the other. Just at Love Field, already, we have picked up an inch and a half of rain. The snow went north to soon.So, to be positive about the matter, we got liquid snow instead.

For a bit, I had the wipers on intermittent. The drizzle was just enough to have them on. When I got to the lake, it was clear that the water levels were even higher than they had been with the most recent flooding on the parking lots and roadway. The dock at one of the boat club marinas had been smashed and rearranged by logs floating down stream and striking the under carriage, raising sections out of the water. So with that siting, it was a full sweep of the lake to see what else might be amiss, all- the- while looking for the pairs of hawks that are getting ready to nest. Not one hawk did I see. Not one. This is the second day and it somewhat worries me. The weather can cause hawks to go elsewhere.

What I did discover was that the pelican's island was totally under water for the second time in less than two weeks and what was worse was the the logs that they like to nap upon and preen their feathers were totally gone. None!! Even the ones out father into the bay area were missing. I also noted that the number of pelicans were  much less than what normally hangs out there. There were only a dozen more on the lake drifting and none down by the dam when I was there. It was on the way home when I made a sweep over the  top of Flag Pole Hill and down to Goforth along White Rock Creek when I discovered about thirty pelicans on the creek bank between Northwest Highway and the cross road that runs east and west behind Flag Pole Hill. There were even many more Great White Egrets and a few more Great Blue Herons that I have never seen all together hanging out like today.

It will be interesting to see how the return goes when the lake levels drop a bit and the creeks flood stage currents lower and slow down . Will the group of pelicans stay there or return to  Sunset Bay? The Park Superintendent told me about a month ago in his office that he can't put logs back into the water. Environmental control factors, nor can he take them out unless they wash ashore like the ones did along the lake shore and the marina docks. I fully understand that process. And there is a lot of loss limbs and branches  on the ground where the disease and rot weakened the branches to where finally, the rain soaked wood's weight pulled them down. Big ones. There is a good semi load of wood on the ground now just along East Lawther from trees down and branches down. So the hope to have nature replace the logs for the pelican and cormorants has greatly diminished after the scouting mission today. 

At least the temperatures will be normal and even well above above average for the next ten days or so. I noted a 70 degree day just a few more days down the pike. Tomorrow will be seasonal but the mitigating factor to all of this is sunshine!! Sun, Glorious Sun!!.  Annie, yes, "the sun will come out tomorrow"!

See the log on the left. It runs to the right middle of the undercarriage. That's what lifted the dock up.

Slightly blurred. I'm not a memeber of the 600mm club.

The Sailing Club Has been Around and Around again. It's the anchor of the Marina.

Happy New Year 2019. Welcome Guest,Visitors and Readers Alike

Already 2019 is off and running. Well, almost. Bevo charged at the Bulldog mascot!!. The handler was smart. He got the Bulldog out of there!!. Bevo,  the Number One Longhorn in Texas  ~~~@~~~  ... Not to worry. It's a Texas Thing. 

Seriously, The big Blue machine in Ann Arbor was a disappointment---again! But, in the scheme of things... they will sing, Happy Days Are Here Again, sooner than later! You can take that to the bank!

So, as we begin the new year, we have had some fails on the new upgrades and are still working on them. It may be that a gremlin, or two, still exist in our system. We found evidence of that yesterday and today. To borrow a phrase from our President, Donald Trump, "I'm in no hurry," to launch the new system until it is ready from top to bottom. We will keep you posted along the journey.

Yesterday, we were able to get out for a bit. It was cold by Texas standards.(I've survived 17-below before so Texas cold is not that bad for me.) I do want some of the snow that is knocking on our door, however. No ice. Just snow. I want to try out a couple of settings on the camera. The last time that it snowed--a few winters ago, I shot a few using the settings and the snow came out just as pretty as it should. The problem with no snow is that to gain the experience of those settings, you need to use them. So, come on down snow.

The stone work on the old T & P bridge on West Lawther that was torn down and a new pedestrian bridge hung over the roadway at the Entrance to White Rock Lake Park, is where the stone work is taking place now, but the new pedestrian bridge over the old T & P trestle where Katy Trail Extension comes into White Rock Park will get a new wall facing the lake, I have been told by the project supervisor back in the fall.  I know that there are lots of big stone slabs on the stretch between the two bridges along Williamson Road that  are awaiting  being cut into pieces that match the initial rows that are being laid at present. I'm a big fan of stone work, too! So, as Arnold made famous and has said before, "I'll be back."

With the stone work beginning, the landscape just got classy!

Also a big fan of Roof Lines. This one looks interesting.

Alright, I'm a true Romantic!! These are the things that the history books will archive hundreds of years later. Kind of like a Bach, Brahams and a Beethoven Symphony. It only gets better with time!!!

2018 Will Soon Be In The History Books.

As the sun sets  as the last sunset of 2018, the year has been somewhat a turmoil-type year. Those kind of years are bound to happen over the course of time. Living through a few myself, its just one of those thing where you deal with it as a 'give-me' or 'given'. That's part of life's equation. But, in the  grand scheme of things, frankly, I'm glad to see it go for several reasons. My hope for all here is that 2019 will be a better year all the way around for everyone.

Errands filled my late morning hours and my brother and his wife took me out to lunch at Desperados, the official caterers of the Dallas Mavericks, the Dallas Cowboys, the Texas Rangers and the 2011 Super Bowl. If you have eaten there more than once, you quickly understand how they got to be that well known, although the family has been cooking wonderful meals since 1976. I like the Chicken Chimichanga. This was my second time having them. While I don't eat big meals much any more, this is one that I can handle and not feel like I've over eaten when leaving.

Also, some think that they are a bit over priced. Not so. The service is exceptional and any time you have waiters and host and busboys standing at the ready in the main dining area, you know you have a quality place to eat. I should go back there more often than I do.

The errands took me to the gas station, the drugstore and the supermarket for a couple of items to help make New Years Day to feel welcomed. I sat in the driveway talking to a neighbor. He was on his way to the drugstore where I had just come from myself. In the middle part, I had made a pass of the lake seeing the little Kestrel Hawk (sparrow hawk) sitting in his favorite tree. He's a cute little devil, having remembered that the last time that I shot him just has I clicked the shutter, He evacuated. There are funny moments in photography.

The other stop was to photograph one of the Dallas Sears Stores that made the latest list of 80 Sears and K-Mart Stores closing. Actually, there were more than just a handful that I recognized in four states. This store was part of a mall that closed several hears ago and was torn down around  the Sears Store leaving it truly a stand alone store with Lowe's and several others building on the old mall site. I noticed a bit of maintenance that always seems to be the case when businesses are let go and fall in disrepair.

The fast moving cold front that is forecast to bring snow and sleet and freezing rain very near us on Wednesday has slowed down and will linger another day even closer. I'm so hoping to have snow to photograph. I'm not wishing for ice and the misery that comes with down power lines and tree limbs. Time will tell. It is time to start reading the National Weather Service Discussion topics more closely on the time cycles that they generate.

So, with this post, I'll close out this year. I have already changed the codes in my camera for 2019 copyrights. Which reminds me---I have to do that on the blog and the web page, too!.

American Kestrel Sparrow Hawk

This Sears Store and one other that are closing are the two closest to my house. The last time I was in here was about three years ago and the clerks were NOT helpful. I never went back again.

American Kestrel Hawk. Cute in a cute way.

Happy New Year. Hope to see you in 2019, again. Thanks for reading our little corner of the world.


12/31/18: to remove ghost words from text.

A Surprise I Had Not Expected.

My surprise was to discovered and read an article written by an NPR reporter about my great uncle and his son, which would be my dad's full uncle and his son being my dad's full cousin. In the line of family history, my paternal grandmother's sister was the wife of great uncle. Farther down the line there was a mention about another enterprise of my great uncle and his nephew had been the one to keep that going for many years. He would have been the son of my paternal grandmothers other sister and their dad had been the leading  one who provisioned  live stock for several counties of farmers. In addition to being one of the board members of the Board of Education for that community he was a well know businessman. 

Now, I have seen and read articles that  were on the web by other family members, but never by a journalist that wrote for NPR  ( I love NPR stories that they produce). So I took my time exploring the article from top to bottom and reading all the captions under the pictures only to find that there was one image that the reporter published but captioned, "I have no ideal who this is." Well, I do. It was my mother when she was in her teens. Several months before she passed away, she had retold the story to me because I had found an old picture and had ask her about it. After she had passed, I was going through some of her things and I was in particular, looking for that picture. It was no where to be found. Mom had a little habit to sending things to people  that were in the media that she knew without any explanation who had sent it. Then, she would wait to see if they picked up on the story or made mention. There was a an anchor that she was particularly found to banter back and forth with.

One of our neighbors was a local news anchor. There were a few radio personalities that she was fond of as well. The link to all of these were the fact that they were broadcasters at either radio stations or television stations. And that link was something our family had always been proud to be a part.


In the article, the reporter noted his photography interest  and how that also included trains. Both of those things are long noted in this blog of my own profile. So, this coming week, I will send an email to the reporter and let him know about his picture that he had no ideal who it was. Hopefully, It will help in some way. He has authored a book on the subject.

My youngest brother and I are having our Christmas lunch on Monday, New Years Eve.  Ice, sleet, freezing rain and S*N*O*W are being forecast for Wednesday. While the models are all coming closer to agreement on the Pacific storm, Not any of the models can give an accurate track or how much unforeseen moisture  there is to work it above the fact that there will be some!

My Great Uncle Founded KBTM AM 1230 Radio

and his son began the first FM radio station in the state of Arkansas

.