Another Tornado Just Missed Me!! Hit Leonard, Texas

 I walked out on my porch to check on my plant that I have been carefully taking care of inside all winter. It had just begun to show new shoots about an inch above where it was when I brought it inside. With temps being in the 60°F to 80°F all week long and no freezes I had put in out on the porch for the next several day. But with the hail warnings, I was being a helicopter human over my plant.

Just as I stepped out on the porch,  a flash of lightening drew my attention to the sky. Back into the house, grabbed the camera and I returned to the porch where I shot images for over an hour of very, very angry clouds. As they moved NE of me at a fairly slow pace compared to the faster movement I usually see, I remember thinking at the time that someone is going to get a funnel cloud because of the evident rotation that I was seeing. 

A couple of years ago my front door blew open. I got up to close it and saw a funnel cloud with so much rotation, I was having trouble shutting the door. That cloud destroyed about 16 miles of homes, businesses and schools, right through my old neighborhood, cutting a continuing path of destruction that missed my house by under four-tenths of a mile. I was just walking in that same area this past Sunday and took a picture where I washed my car, taking my cat, Hotdog with me. Looking at the leveled space there I stood at a skid of bricks that remained from storm repairs on a privacy fence, I thought about how much I loved that cat! Now, a day later  it was Déjàvu again. This time while the clouds were low, areas had cleared away along the dry line showing the blue sky and the towering clouds above what I was also seeing from my porch. Leonard, Tx did have a touchdown with a lot of damage from the news storm chasers reporters. Again, it was a close call. To close for comfort.

Another 4-mile walk finds some interesting things along the way.

 Since the cold returns tomorrow and today was the high end of the roller coaster, I set out at noon to see what I could find along the way on one of my discovery missions. One of the things that I was going to be looking for was the red bud tree that was seen from the bus last week. Almost instantly, I began to notice that tree limbs had been butchered one after another. The complaints are well documented as the utility cuts the branches that are under the power lines. The red bud was a casualty.

The seed balls from several Sycamore trees were smashed under the tires that had driven over them between the street and the sidewalk. One tree trunk came up to within 5 feet of the wires and the other side of the trunk towered to some 40-45 feet. From an landscape point of view. It looked awful. So sad. I do understand the need to do the process but that is a whole separate point of view. I just can't understand why the city planted the trees there in the first place. So many of these were city plants. I guess that some one in the department that does that just never thought that the trees would ever grow that high. 

Next. The Atchison,Topeka and Santa Fe tracks, historic in their own right, now part of the Kansas City Southern Railroad, yielded to the city for trains running from the yards that put together double stacked Inter modal trains. Running not far from my house, the trains once blew their whistles. The city went to a no horn crossings that were served by crossing gates.  For years I loved listening to the sound of the trains coming to and fro, Depending on the wind, as a train approached or diminished in distance after passing, I could judge by the sound of the horn if it was approaching one of the two crossings that I live between. Recently, however, I had noted a strange difference in sounds giving the assumption that the trains were always going the same way. Today, I discovered  why that had changed. Atop the two signal poles is a remote controlled whistle operated from the trains traveling in either direction. That is  fixed horns that never move like a locomotive. Mystery solved. 

Years ago I listened to an vinyl album named,"One Stormy Night". It was an amazing recording of sounds of train horns mixed with amazing orchestration of music scores. It was an amazing album in which to listen while reading a good novel, or to study by. As a kid, when our family traveled to my great aunts for a few day, her front porch was the first place that I headed for. She lived on a street--Railroad Street---in fact. Amazingly, that AT&SF train track was the same one some 300 miles north of where I live now. It was a busy two-track line with sidings. My paternal grandfather's farm butted up to an old Missouri & Pacific line. My dad bought a lot in town that had the same train tracks into town that had passed by my grandfathers farm. Dad later sold the lot for one on a hill side where our new house was built. 

Here I am still fascinated with trains and don't mind riding them even today. Now that gas is expensive again, it is likely to rise even more. Selling my car nearly two years ago in favor of the trains and buses here has not been one problem outside of the normal weather delays in ice storms for the light rails. The big diesels run with no problems.In fact, it's been a good move to have sold it when I did.

Across the street was a station selling at $4.05 for unleaded regular. But see the $5.29 in green? That's diesel that delivers your groceries to the stores and why you are paying higher prices for food stuff and the like. It's a double whammy! I can remember the gas wars of the mid 60's when diesel went for $0.04 a gallon and regular gas was selling for $0.17 a gallon. Dad had a rule that I could take the car on Friday nights and go out with my friends. The rule was to bring the car back with equal or more gas than what you found it. My friends would kick in a buck each and I never had a problem with dad about not having left the car short on fuel. $4.00 would fill the car us in those days. The gas wars on the Ohio Michigan border were fairly regular as in Detroit, the Imperial gallon was more than the US gallon in volume so to counter that, the gas wars equaled the playing field.

The remote control horns on either side on the flashing signals solved the mystery as to why the sound never moved in location like it once did when the trains sounded the horns on the locomotive engine.

Most all the sycamore trees seen today all had branches loaded with buds ready to pop open. Next week we are forecast to have mid 70's and lows in the mid 50's for at least a week to 10-day run. That will bring them out as green for sure.

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.