Saw the first Red Bud bloom this year right on time.

 As seen in our featured home page image, this image was made on March 8,2020. It was the last time that my annual sighting report was made in early March. My first recording was in 1983 while visiting my mom and I noted that the trees were already leafed out here. In the Great Lakes, I always spotted the first green by April 15th (tax day). Green--tax-- you get it.

This past week, on March 5th,2022 the red bud tree, very near my house was seen from the bus. Weather has prevented me from getting out again to go back and photograph the tree that I have used in my annual sighting reports. It looks like I will be able to do that this coming week when a window will open up in the weather for one or two days.

Out last freeze typically occurs on March 12th. Surprisingly, this Thursday night into early Saturday the 12th, the temps are forecast to hit 29°F. The following days are well back to normal and seasonal temps for this time of year as the sun has now traveled farther Nor th since the low point of December 21st. That means that not only is the sun higher in the sky now, but it is also stronger and warms the earth more as we move to the traditional March equinox of Spring. Although, I use the Meteorological date of March 1 since it is much easier than always having to check if spring begins on the 20th, or 21st or sometimes on the 22nd. 

Having said that, the daffodils are already out. Now, the red buds are out. Next comes the Bradley Pears with their fantastic pristine while and pink. But somewhere in between comes the leafing of the green on the trees. I have to get to the Dallas Arboretum to see the half million tulips in what is know as Dallas Blooms! Maybe, now with it being easier to get to Ft. Worth via DFW Terminal A to B connection, I might even make it to the Ft. Worth Botanical Gardens for their fantastic Japanese Gardens. They have some beautiful rose gardens in addition to the Japanese garden. 

We set our clocks ahead this Saturday, March 12th. So being in the Central Time Zone, Pretty much every thing East of the Mississippi is Eastern Time Zone +1 hour. Going west from us there is both Mountain Time Zone +1 hour and the Pacific Time Zone +2 hour

 

 For Alaska and Hawaii-- check your Almanac or search engine. Please (:>))

    

                                                                                                  April 8, 2021

                         March 18,2020

                                                                        April 08 2021

 

A Texas Patch Seen On A Ukrainian Soldier's Uniform and other little tidbits.

 I have known where Ukraine is located since I was in 5th grade. Having taken piano since then up through college, I've noticed a lot of reporters that are pronouncing the capital city's name much different than when I was in 5th grade. One of my recital pieces was titled.'The Great Gate of Kiev, Even the spelling is different today. Never-the-less- times change and it makes no difference to me as long as the Ukranine people are given the same respect that I learned about their country early on. 

One of my editors that has now ended her business, here in the states, is from Ukranine. Since the war began, I have wondered about her. I know she went back and forth over the hand full of years that she represented my pictures. When I got the notice that she was ending her business, I sent her an email and told her, "don't forget to take the cat!". So, it is only natural that I do wonder if she is here or there. 

There is a Texas connection that isn't just about our agent/client relationship. There was a news story about a Ukranine  soldier who got a patch after completing a training with the Houston Police. The patch is very much common to Texans. The patch on his uniform was the rectangle with the embroidery "Don't Mess With Texas".

The political atmosphere is not even the same following the pandemic. In fact, I have noticed a new breed of politicians. One that came to mind was a fellow being ask in an interview about his campaign. He replied, " I have no words. In fact, I have no comments."

Another interesting observation observed via a live camera feed was of a truck that was branded AEROSPEED. It was sitting at a crossing gate as a 1 and three-quarter double stacked containers train passed through the crossing. Then on the second track right behind the first train was a second train of a half mile or so in length. There  is a case to be made that the AEROSPEED at this point was just a big zero of no speed at that crossing. 

If you like watching the night sky, March is your lucky month. The full moon in March is called a worm moon. On March 31, Venus, Saturn and Mars align together.

One final little point is that Facebook's Parent, Meta, own Facebook, Instagram, What's App, Oculus and Messenger. It is one reason why I don't do Facebook at all. Long ago after checking out which one to use, I picked Twitter and have been very much satisfied for a decade. Facebook has pictures that I never authorized and the picture grab by social media is big money assets for them. They are just waiting for copyrights to expire. Be aware when your pictures turn up in places you never put them.

 I have over 10,000 images (assets) and use  an agent that does nothing but search for people using images that didn't get a liscense.

Not the end of the line, but the start of the Silver line that will tie into it.

Addison Park's Landmark

                                   I love to watch these birds. They can be  acrobats

                                            Addison Airport Holding For Clearance

                                            Fond  Memories of a plane like this.

Exploring More of Addison/Amazing People and Lots of Images

It was an amazing day on foot under the shadows of the Addison Water tower, moving shadows of aircraft overhead from the runways at Addison Airport, shadows of the Addison Transit Center, the heavy equipment working on the new Silver Line Station, and more, like a grass fire that almost got out of control at Galaxy FBO, between Building A and B, on Addison Road, from workers working in front of the buildings.

Today's trip was productive in many ways, especially in the number of shots that I had in the camera at the end of the day. It was more than I have shot at one time in the past 24 months at one time. Anytime that I have a day where the count is in the triple digits, I've had a great day.

On a personal note, I meet some interesting people today. Those days are always a blessing that I cherish. 

Quickly, this was getting out of control. There was little wind. Imagine if the wind had been up in the 10-15 MPH range.

The burn.

Two amazing men who are awesome. Their prayer was uplifting and made my day. Thanks to you both! God works in amazing ways. To God be the glory for these dedicated missionaries.

This is the third work that I have found in the DFW Metroplex made from brushed stainless steel. They make fab abstract works of art as wall hangings. It looks like the metal was 303 or 304 stainless steel.

I always stop and "talk" to the squirrels.

The new canopies at the Addison Station of the new Silver Line from Shiloh Road in Garland to Terminal B at DFW International. The silver line will share the terminal train platform with the TEXrail from Ft. Worth that is currently operational.  Dart runs the nations largest light rail system to Terminal A. It has been operational for a couple of years. Dart will also operate the Silver Line, an electric- diesel locomotives, like the TEXrail and the TRE trains. The A-rain to Denton is also electric diesel.

 

Did you know that there is a classification dictionary of clouds? I never pass up a shot of cloud formations, just for that reason. The image starts out as super cooled rain drops that are disturbed in the atmosphere. When these super cooled drops are disturbed they freeze instantly and begin to fall. What you see are those frozen drops falling Plus, they are good sellers for overriding copy as an overlay.

The First Daffodil of Spring that begins tomorrow in the Meteorological Sence

  Meteorological winter begins tomorrow and look what I found today. Right on time. 

I walked over a mile to the stop for the 202 rather than ride my usual 200 to the Red Line Station. By doing this, I got some exercise in on a beautiful last day of (meteorological) winter. Then, I rode one stop short of the Blue Line Station and caught the 200 connection within  a couple of minutes after crossing the street to catch the 200 bus. 

The ride was shot because I got off at a Kroger's. They are having a bit more problems in the Dallas Market than usual. And, I don't do my core shopping there any longer. I picked up a few fill-in items and headed back to the bus stop. Short wait for the inbound bus to make it to the Blue Line Station and start it's route back in my direction toward the Red Line Station. In short, I cut out two train station and reduced it to just two bus rides that were much shorter overall,plus getting in my walk. 

The next five days are headed to the 80s°F mark or a degree bar or two less. It's gonna be nice the rest the entire week. Getting out in the sunshine with the camera will be the goal of the week.

Amtrak's New ALC42 Engines Spotted at Truckee, California Station

Engine numbers 306 and 307 stopped at the station in Truckee, California  Thursday afternoon  on the 24th, being towed from the Siemens Mobility Plant in Sacramento, California, behind the current generation of the old fleet engines 206 and 77. Amtrak's promo shows the new generation mentioned above of number 300 with those bright red chevrons on the rear of the new contract in tow. The dark blue with the numbers up front of the engine makes the new ones easy to spot. 

The contract with Siemens was for 75 engines that are known as the ALC42 Chargers can reach a speed of 125 MPH with the average speed of 66 MPH being normal route speeds. Each new engine cost $6.6 million each. They are powered by Cummins QSK95's with Tier4 emissions that reduce nitrogen oxide by more than 89 % and particulate matter by 95%.  https://www.businessinsider.com/amtraks-new-diesel-electric-siemens-chargers-locomotives-2021-8

So, with Amtrak showing # 300 in their promotional photos, the two engines being towed that passed through Truckee being # 306 and 307, I had seen one other a few weeks back and didn't realize that it was being towed behind the two regular service  engines. So,check out the amazing shots of the promotional engine #300 on an Amtrak search via the link above that will open in a separate window.

The Truckee train is known as #6 California Zephyr that runs daily from Emeryville, outside San Francisco to Chicago. The #5 Zephyr is the same train but is westbound to Emeryville from Chicago.I have ridden the # 5 from Chicago to Denver. Amazing 18 hours and my bucket list includes the Zephyr as it goes through the both the Carson Range and the Sierra Mountains.

If You Build Them, They Are Already Here.

First came the need for 40,000 additional new housing units. And those filled up. Then came the need for 40,000 more and the people were already here. And then...they built more, and more, and even more.Then came the P.G.A. (Professional Golf Association)  HQ with two new courses at the new HQs in the Metroplex. Toyota came, one of the big advertising firms came and then...Buc-ee's to gas-up and feed 'em all.

The big railroads created a north south and east west system for container shipments by rail. Dallas is in the cross hair with an inland port for containers. Called intermodals, meaning containers filled with goods that can be used for shipments using all three forms of transportation to move goods.  Ocean-going vessels then moved to railroads for double stacked per car then loaded directly only a semi truck frame.

The BNSF ships massive amounts of traffic from west to east to north to south connecting Canada, US and Mexico shipments. The  inland port in south Dallas receives containers from rail, stores and ships out by truck to the Gulf for shipments from Asia to the islands in the Caribbean Sea to South America, Iceland and Greenland. Newfoundland and Nova Scotia can also come cross Canada or the US. In short, besides good weather most of the time, Dallas  sits in the perfect spot for most everything in terms of business and living. Especially living as there is no personal income tax. 

Then came the need for even more services like parks, skate board parks, and wider streets than 6-lanes. More restaurants, more entertainment venues, faster trains, more trains, as the Metroplex hits 2.6 million with 1.3 in Dallas itself. 

A Splendid Day All Around.Talking, Touring, Discovering in Downtown Garland and a Worrysome Note sidebar

  There is always something happening in Downtown Garland. To me, it is just one of those quaint places that has an amazing history and while things continue to change and upgrade with the times, part of past history has been saved. Allbeit, by moving it from where it was made. That's okay in as much as it is still being preserved. Not so long ago that history became a hot potato in the political sense. Like most things in that  bin, it usually blows over in time. 

Today, I had a great opportunity to hear a little more history from a young 84 year old lifetime resident. Much of the downtown history I have known. But today, he filled me in where the downtown auto dealers had been located at one time. I did not know that. His friend was also helpful in refreshing some things that I was uncertain about. 

I met a couple of  guys making a video for a business on the south side of the square. One took me down to his shop and said that I could come into the shop anytime and shoot there. It will be fun to go back and after the construction is all done that has one side of the square all torn up. 

Then,  I always play the chines and look at the art on the walls. Some pretty amazing things turn up there. I noticed  a little wooden rise with a couple of tables and chairs that was interesting because of the shadows that they cast in the late winter afternoon sun. While there, I see a lot of  prayer cloths hanging on a back patio of one of the bordering businesses to the air space outside. Long story short I was invited in to the shop after I finished up some shots. I enjoyed my chat with the gentleman that was the husband of one of the women I met inside. When I walked into the shop, one of the two women at the table at the back ask if I was the one outside earlier. They were doing crafts and as we talked, I watched some beaded jewelry being made. The shop: the FROCKSY Vintage Vogue.

 I had ask if they had heard the news today about the at-large black-banded cobra what had escaped from it's cage in Grand Prairie several weeks ago. As of this writing it had not been found. But, the troublesome report came from the arrest warrant of the guy who had the cobra in a makeshift cage where it got loose. It now appears that the cobra at large is a female. The more troublesome news from the report today was the fact that the guy also had a male black-banded in the same house. Now, it is most frightening to me in that no one in the latest report could say that the cobra's had mated or not. 

Seeing a bunch of little black-banded cobras hatching in the wild some 40 miles from my house is  something no one would want near them either. Look what happened to the python population in Florida from someone's dangerous attraction to snakes. Over the years, I have observed many people bring  their little plastic cages to White Rock Lake and release, gold fish, turtles and lizards, etc. People, please don't do things like that.Invasive species disrupt the natural species of the area and that is dangerous, not to mention playing with fire from a black-banded cobra gaining a hold in this area. Just last week there was a report of a snake in an overhead bin of a flight that had to be returned to it's origin. Yes, I know the joke about the snake on a plane. That isn't funny, either. 

So, go to downtown Garland and pay the featured shop a visit. They are nice people. They have a nice shop. They don't play with snakes!! In many ways, they made for an interesting afternoon in Downtown Garland, Texas. Every been to G_A_R_L_A_N_D, Texas. It's a nice place.