tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-69589995177622771932024-03-12T16:21:08.071-07:00A Desert Rat's DiaryHighroadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02858295532318995042noreply@blogger.comBlogger20125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6958999517762277193.post-26501862555911167352010-03-27T08:42:00.000-07:002010-03-27T16:59:48.914-07:00What's Going On<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl8xuHCaouUatwFa0kpeAbK-1dZG_9Vxco31o3U4N0UrkC2BU9CX96Et9A8ltHwlxw708QTacJeN5AjfGvFolGI8111NaiWTocshpkhNtjvfLzU_3rozdmcyfJaEX7F7HSk2mmRKS2mmfP/s1600/01+Alexa+and+Betty.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl8xuHCaouUatwFa0kpeAbK-1dZG_9Vxco31o3U4N0UrkC2BU9CX96Et9A8ltHwlxw708QTacJeN5AjfGvFolGI8111NaiWTocshpkhNtjvfLzU_3rozdmcyfJaEX7F7HSk2mmRKS2mmfP/s400/01+Alexa+and+Betty.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5453340366925675330" /></a>Hey, everybody! Well, it's been almost two months since my last entry (I'm getting good at this procrastination thing!), so I thought I ought to sign in and catch you up on things. One of the major events lately was the return of my friend Alexa for a personal show at Talgar's Restaurant in Alpine. Being included in Artwalk/Gallery Night a while back was big news enough, but to have your very own show is extremely exciting. And a nice, artsy setting, too, I might add. Here is Alexa and her patron of the arts/person responsible for putting all this together, Betty Gaddis Yndo. They both look dressed for the part, don't they?<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxfpjwEW-3jP4_1cbsk-aeVsSeVftXVdriH6_u1rcHvIjIRVXnfaE1Q_K1YaOHrL55C6GtNizSQc1Akw0wLFG8MYsk0hqAUPmoGjr49sHmDsNCy5dVQ68gXaDjaPJ-cbXjwSLBNlEUgY3t/s1600/04+The+Spread.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxfpjwEW-3jP4_1cbsk-aeVsSeVftXVdriH6_u1rcHvIjIRVXnfaE1Q_K1YaOHrL55C6GtNizSQc1Akw0wLFG8MYsk0hqAUPmoGjr49sHmDsNCy5dVQ68gXaDjaPJ-cbXjwSLBNlEUgY3t/s400/04+The+Spread.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5453341597540521954" /></a>As I didn't get any real good shots of the works on the wall (I'm starting to slip a little), I did get a nice shot of the spread for this little soirée. I almost made myself sick on Talgar's green sauce and homemade flour tortilla chips. OHMIGOD!!! Truly manna from Heaven! (Their fish tacos, as I found out later, are to die for!)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj4tpQSp4yY4EUNzK7wBBPom9nE-WHR5SV6FF89DWZqH6fEDELmKjNK405nQnm4eYQMryhMSBnB-UGKcmrTukH7Ji0NSHVpUI_2TCS4jCMUtDEOOsKzPYSEWL9jSl4n1Q0zPzyyPFJKoug/s1600/01+Off+we+go.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj4tpQSp4yY4EUNzK7wBBPom9nE-WHR5SV6FF89DWZqH6fEDELmKjNK405nQnm4eYQMryhMSBnB-UGKcmrTukH7Ji0NSHVpUI_2TCS4jCMUtDEOOsKzPYSEWL9jSl4n1Q0zPzyyPFJKoug/s400/01+Off+we+go.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5453342397473002866" /></a>The next day, Alexa and my friends Jennifer and Romaldo and I headed to the Redford area for a hike to a secluded little waterfall. The way was fraught with peril at slipping into moss-infested waters, but all made it there and back again without incident.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUapqt5pPhzfuuTXiHkDS4oQCF3Wno7BQK7jUK0F9s2n5pUWBZu9n67Syyn1J_vj6eAY860g2wY-mPP6csA0RPk-HRxR_JxPbNcsZzwBCnfRjDqwHVSuaVOH15RrfXLV1gdaOsjm3tckFn/s1600/06+Mossification+study.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUapqt5pPhzfuuTXiHkDS4oQCF3Wno7BQK7jUK0F9s2n5pUWBZu9n67Syyn1J_vj6eAY860g2wY-mPP6csA0RPk-HRxR_JxPbNcsZzwBCnfRjDqwHVSuaVOH15RrfXLV1gdaOsjm3tckFn/s400/06+Mossification+study.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5453343887303496978" /></a>And here's a shot of the moss-infested waters I was talking about, just so you'll know I wasn't making this stuff up. ("It's a desert, Doug! How can there be moss?")<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheBPfGfgnuPbmTUa9k5899kx-V8krdE4QlQvEgyKLoXKzTqwtz3L028LfdqfFEhXg218sdLFddticrkWSV_hJj4DmFnEhLUVWgMdQgHjdRYcSKuu52N3JIkm7YmnVN7YMExWYEfrYLOn8C/s1600/18+High-water+mark.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheBPfGfgnuPbmTUa9k5899kx-V8krdE4QlQvEgyKLoXKzTqwtz3L028LfdqfFEhXg218sdLFddticrkWSV_hJj4DmFnEhLUVWgMdQgHjdRYcSKuu52N3JIkm7YmnVN7YMExWYEfrYLOn8C/s400/18+High-water+mark.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5453344489701714354" /></a>And here's some more stuff I didn't make up. Actually, if you look at the rock formation closely, you can see the high-water mark indicating that a lot more water used to flow through here. Amazing, huh?<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5V8qDYnMNPGezmkFf8VamgdNJkBeGHGbnJY3kz6350PA1qVqVOC5JfPBVq9i1ksYeSx6r0vznKLdiVI3FXBltcElk6Cuh1COzNhnkeEOzcTafUP1e498mw1ZeybWfyEmfSXBiza7G6jCZ/s1600/19+Goal+is+achieved.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5V8qDYnMNPGezmkFf8VamgdNJkBeGHGbnJY3kz6350PA1qVqVOC5JfPBVq9i1ksYeSx6r0vznKLdiVI3FXBltcElk6Cuh1COzNhnkeEOzcTafUP1e498mw1ZeybWfyEmfSXBiza7G6jCZ/s400/19+Goal+is+achieved.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5453344981177138626" /></a>And at last we're here at the waterfall. It's hard to believe that such a moist and lush place exists out in the middle of a sun-baked area such as this, but it happens more often than you'd think. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghzaCXFFKsSXBag6TbKBjc4SsLu6ZmH48rWfM4VTHi0hw7o88j47G7I_Ha5HDodZ1xAnm9NK9yq12qC3tEOXsYJgssFRtPUE7meghZrmu2dIHpiBWd1zVUB0xmfbwpx4r0Lh8v3Dop1g_X/s1600/29+Yellow+flower.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 288px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghzaCXFFKsSXBag6TbKBjc4SsLu6ZmH48rWfM4VTHi0hw7o88j47G7I_Ha5HDodZ1xAnm9NK9yq12qC3tEOXsYJgssFRtPUE7meghZrmu2dIHpiBWd1zVUB0xmfbwpx4r0Lh8v3Dop1g_X/s400/29+Yellow+flower.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5453345499704512514" /></a>Everywhere around here were longspur columbine (just budding) as well as a host of other flowers, mostly yellow in color. This shot of a yellow rock nettle turned out to be one of my best flower shots to date, although I found out its leaves pack a pretty hefty wallop. It looks like some variety of buttercup, but don't let that fool you. It did me.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzOxzJ80uREJH1KmNFAaZMDCyyOGyyTrkSLDltdonJUmB3UtcT7I8PydjQA3wHdRTe-XhRvUUU5ZZDLKE7-UQea8S2NsAzeyRlFGIUUrlzLPXXnj0th405mkz-3iLyunw4esZHhzvd35IL/s1600/26+Alexa.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 295px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzOxzJ80uREJH1KmNFAaZMDCyyOGyyTrkSLDltdonJUmB3UtcT7I8PydjQA3wHdRTe-XhRvUUU5ZZDLKE7-UQea8S2NsAzeyRlFGIUUrlzLPXXnj0th405mkz-3iLyunw4esZHhzvd35IL/s400/26+Alexa.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5453346482189481122" /></a>Well, before we move along (you can catch the entire show at my "Alexa's Back In Town" gallery at http://highroad.smugmug.com), here's a shot of Alexa after capturing what I'm sure will be her next show-stopping, award-winning photograph. Okay, fast-forward to present day . . .<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6JeBgFWaVRxgMTNvIWk-cuHYpedFVTOu-v2rcwoHDeLyxCXCflFReUA4NfhyawAoAfXsIOZA8BkOJaS-exAF08X6KQze1kZzL5kQc_jmyiTV_KEQIgBlijDA8pVa2-pJDHcjHa_GXz2Fr/s1600/Oh,+Baby.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 294px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6JeBgFWaVRxgMTNvIWk-cuHYpedFVTOu-v2rcwoHDeLyxCXCflFReUA4NfhyawAoAfXsIOZA8BkOJaS-exAF08X6KQze1kZzL5kQc_jmyiTV_KEQIgBlijDA8pVa2-pJDHcjHa_GXz2Fr/s400/Oh,+Baby.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5453347472440328034" /></a>Oh, BABY!!! You never know just what you'll find in the little town of Alpine, do you? I came across this window display while walking to do some errands while Pepe (he's my very own truck now -- I just made the last payment!) got his oil changed and had his other precious bodily fluids checked. Wo! I couldn't believe my eyes. And talk about just the right light, too. On my way back to the shop, I just had to pass by and check it out again, but the lighting at that point was all wrong. Those fleeting moments . . .<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQPE3jSyoybSaUF5xYllIB5ZQhI3G9vPaeja4kRGOQGKY3rOGeEhcp_QmzGTxO7wfwQOitB-nZn1YhBdPjrrrYKrWP6KQgK3r0x9a63KRIa2Jp9cJbLiGYg2MOMYV-DR6B6TRok6Actmjl/s1600/Outdoor+Cafe.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 297px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQPE3jSyoybSaUF5xYllIB5ZQhI3G9vPaeja4kRGOQGKY3rOGeEhcp_QmzGTxO7wfwQOitB-nZn1YhBdPjrrrYKrWP6KQgK3r0x9a63KRIa2Jp9cJbLiGYg2MOMYV-DR6B6TRok6Actmjl/s400/Outdoor+Cafe.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5453348601693503282" /></a>Tearing myself away from the window display, I found this scene a little further down the street. Too bad no one was making use of it. (Yeah, like you, Doug!) I'll have to do that someday.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6ANT-CgWdYhheRQ3KgZf0CWw_b0j4CzgZyNGbOPt7-yGa1TfUHNMB0nlXQExk0-FHwM-CtKrRPEGSd7I1VyqlqpNnzcjKz8JtCgf7-xupsPcj4edcTFKoGiN9ESutjFrghNW0DQuB_puD/s1600/Red+Schwinn.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 292px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6ANT-CgWdYhheRQ3KgZf0CWw_b0j4CzgZyNGbOPt7-yGa1TfUHNMB0nlXQExk0-FHwM-CtKrRPEGSd7I1VyqlqpNnzcjKz8JtCgf7-xupsPcj4edcTFKoGiN9ESutjFrghNW0DQuB_puD/s400/Red+Schwinn.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5453349816714307026" /></a>One of the best things about that outdoor café scene was this old (I think) red Schwinn bicycle, standing proudly at the curb. Old or retro, you don't see these things much anymore in this age of high-tech bicycles. This was really nice.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNmhbQ9Us0cNgaSLNRu2YcvYh8eiVRo-ckRmliq73xGShvfW6Ec_l3v9j4_SqU-6GbxqZseNwgzmQ5Rc-KV9UVOfYz36N6ylSlV5nw0ZKCASMasf_zvxN-Q-L3-wybh9GaQuF0-vS0N22z/s1600/The+New+Pothos.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNmhbQ9Us0cNgaSLNRu2YcvYh8eiVRo-ckRmliq73xGShvfW6Ec_l3v9j4_SqU-6GbxqZseNwgzmQ5Rc-KV9UVOfYz36N6ylSlV5nw0ZKCASMasf_zvxN-Q-L3-wybh9GaQuF0-vS0N22z/s400/The+New+Pothos.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5453350418308961362" /></a>Perhaps one of the best things to come out of this trip into town was the acquisition of my new best friend -- this pothos ivy I obtained at Morrison's True Value. I'd recently watched <i>Leon: The Professional</i> and found his love of his little plant quite touching, and it made me realize I don't have a single living thing in my place, which is unusual for me. So, when I went outside to Morrison's lawn and garden area and saw this little guy hanging up there bleaching himself in the unrelenting sun (the scrim covering wasn't really doing its job, but it helped), I just couldn't resist rescuing him and bringing him home. We're both a lot happier now. It doesn't take much sometimes.<br /><br />So, gang, I guess that's about it for now. Hopefully, it won't be two months until my next entry, but you know me. Until next time . . .Highroadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02858295532318995042noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6958999517762277193.post-74626800971820040052010-01-30T06:41:00.001-08:002010-01-30T07:05:20.166-08:00Weather And Stuff<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3hB8DyLa05KMjjRJwmxE2RQnJ02aJpLNnpNPSyfm6wrydprnhRbotM8N5_xb36EkPgokYmDG4TRBAg7Igghj6wqzx14BCf-KVITz_jsv-bCxJnVIaHaRWDL2REGDS2quh3czZSwcv13yF/s1600-h/Thunderstorm+over+the+Corazones.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3hB8DyLa05KMjjRJwmxE2RQnJ02aJpLNnpNPSyfm6wrydprnhRbotM8N5_xb36EkPgokYmDG4TRBAg7Igghj6wqzx14BCf-KVITz_jsv-bCxJnVIaHaRWDL2REGDS2quh3czZSwcv13yF/s400/Thunderstorm+over+the+Corazones.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5432543302543154466" /></a>THUNDERSTORM OVER THE CORAZONES<br />The other day, a cold front began moving into the area, bringing with it some winter thunderstorms. As I happened to be working that day, I got the opportunity to photograph some truly phenomenal weather, such as this thunderstorm out over the Terlingua Ranch area, with the Corazones (the two peaks on the left) awaiting their chance at catching a little rain. As you can see between the dark, massive clouds and the open areas of bright sunshine, the lighting was truly awesome.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqgNkfNQVfL1CVR5Q3mv-SoWbVQLHAfuWNDGrrxAJl7zkYtCT1aic9KWEs_wRXaucn_YVSkFrVTFftyXm4v2JkyePM_h-AxiqRZYgAOiw_BbAhyphenhyphenaJ-YBiQ0kZNebrP2q7XlFdSLiJTYM9Z/s1600-h/Mammatus+over+Persimmon+Peak.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqgNkfNQVfL1CVR5Q3mv-SoWbVQLHAfuWNDGrrxAJl7zkYtCT1aic9KWEs_wRXaucn_YVSkFrVTFftyXm4v2JkyePM_h-AxiqRZYgAOiw_BbAhyphenhyphenaJ-YBiQ0kZNebrP2q7XlFdSLiJTYM9Z/s400/Mammatus+over+Persimmon+Peak.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5432543662014014338" /></a>MAMMATUS CLOUDS OVER PERSIMMON PEAK<br />These curious-looking clouds have always fascinated me with their bulbous texture. They also can also be harbingers of turbulent weather systems, up to and including tornadoes. No tornadoes this day, but the weather was rockin'. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxXX828zaR07MfRNkIA1xvZtvcOLOMyhjEEDUDgYRPM4Y_T903lpMZAFXIgiLv_qYp3FYFXiwy6OZjEQBOnqeNbZRdEXKksArAVzwbuIHNf9LK6kQEbvIxJ-N1OHy7-cmx35tWBOtTLmGD/s1600-h/Mammatus+Clouds.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxXX828zaR07MfRNkIA1xvZtvcOLOMyhjEEDUDgYRPM4Y_T903lpMZAFXIgiLv_qYp3FYFXiwy6OZjEQBOnqeNbZRdEXKksArAVzwbuIHNf9LK6kQEbvIxJ-N1OHy7-cmx35tWBOtTLmGD/s400/Mammatus+Clouds.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5432543842899371042" /></a>MAMMATUS CLOUDS<br />I just thought I'd include a photo of just the main mass of these unique clouds. They just look like they mean business, don't they? When they turn green, that's the time to head for shelter, as that usually means tornadic activity is right around the corner.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhodMI0HesqTpS3JtO8koLjfsaiOTejSlzpT5qGQafA7ibkQOk4fFWVES_NLH4PueksQ6y-BJ5H1nbgpzMJ3eowP1qyhXj1SHTveRbumqX9pxaAlWc9FaXp8F6AY6ERSPcHQzIInnJmQ7DW/s1600-h/Persimmon+Gap+Mountain+with+clouds.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhodMI0HesqTpS3JtO8koLjfsaiOTejSlzpT5qGQafA7ibkQOk4fFWVES_NLH4PueksQ6y-BJ5H1nbgpzMJ3eowP1qyhXj1SHTveRbumqX9pxaAlWc9FaXp8F6AY6ERSPcHQzIInnJmQ7DW/s400/Persimmon+Gap+Mountain+with+clouds.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5432544604496033474" /></a>ALMOST INFRARED<br />Why I didn't think to grab my infrared filter and capture this scene in infrared is beyond me. I was just too mesmerized by the drama to think about it, I suppose. It was just perfect as it was.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHO_GwQGpjviU8VM1PY_rgCQx_HUxNYNvDMLCYZJSl8LB1DkfWX_g8F56_bh5ToJVmk1uAbpb5UvouXwApgcSbSv-UNwI0orl6G_i5fKAg5YYxNIN9uEFFuvnNENhNs5GBeaW1zDfMas8L/s1600-h/Cactus+With+A+View.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHO_GwQGpjviU8VM1PY_rgCQx_HUxNYNvDMLCYZJSl8LB1DkfWX_g8F56_bh5ToJVmk1uAbpb5UvouXwApgcSbSv-UNwI0orl6G_i5fKAg5YYxNIN9uEFFuvnNENhNs5GBeaW1zDfMas8L/s400/Cactus+With+A+View.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5432545102114874450" /></a>CACTUS WITH A VIEW<br />About a week ago, I decided it was time to head down to the Hot Springs area and see what damage nature (and the Trail Crew) had wrought. It turns out that either or both of them did such a good job, I was too depressed to include any photos of the destruction. So, I decided I would concentrate on other stuff as I made my way to the Hot Springs and sought out the Hot Springs Bluff Trail. (I guess that's what it's called; I don't think it has an actual name.)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPlhuU4JT6zUIVNjbTmBCC-z6QKMfS-LeIkKadZTR4wU61VNQR-dg2ZGhXlAbSi8wVCnZTVwwz_9bsL05Ce1KToC76_dPezoFkA4dKsz-N4906SFIx5Kc4Q5SOtyPlCJiFpOdIU2ExGUdB/s1600-h/Cliff+Swallow+Nests.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPlhuU4JT6zUIVNjbTmBCC-z6QKMfS-LeIkKadZTR4wU61VNQR-dg2ZGhXlAbSi8wVCnZTVwwz_9bsL05Ce1KToC76_dPezoFkA4dKsz-N4906SFIx5Kc4Q5SOtyPlCJiFpOdIU2ExGUdB/s400/Cliff+Swallow+Nests.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5432545363397445922" /></a>CLIFF SWALLOW NESTS<br />I'm always fascinated by these clay pot-shaped nests the cliff swallows make, especially in such a aesthetically-pleasing setting.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5uqyIQStRCBaZR0f6r8oGuJC2M5BZaIi9XIPK93CY3Nw7WYV_mTNwXMYxqRlP3T_qAeg5jBz4YGCwjb1HVlxRXYdNCW7E4q3TfTBUTSCWjX_HQ6n-1JtYBsmh7_ldhPvB2q8jcu-ufhfV/s1600-h/Hot+Springs+Pool+-+overhead.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 294px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5uqyIQStRCBaZR0f6r8oGuJC2M5BZaIi9XIPK93CY3Nw7WYV_mTNwXMYxqRlP3T_qAeg5jBz4YGCwjb1HVlxRXYdNCW7E4q3TfTBUTSCWjX_HQ6n-1JtYBsmh7_ldhPvB2q8jcu-ufhfV/s400/Hot+Springs+Pool+-+overhead.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5432545805192594882" /></a>HOT SPRINGS POOL FROM OVERHEAD<br />Well, what do you know? I found the bluff trail, at last. I'd always heard there was one, but never knew where to pick it up. (It actually starts back behind the old General Store/Post Office.) Here's a shot of the Hot Springs pool taken from up above, with Mexico just on the other side of the Rio Grande.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbVQP6GidLC22mBIoJL3mx3riruAhOYol2kcIxRPAPj6W4y8AKs8DiBq1eUS-U-c74cKJEkZX2MWZ46IijkLE0eQP-RflWe6AU7JoVC4pcKgSC_hpkHvYx5etDv7x27TL0smjs99e8Gqs3/s1600-h/Hot+Springs+Bluff+House+1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 289px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbVQP6GidLC22mBIoJL3mx3riruAhOYol2kcIxRPAPj6W4y8AKs8DiBq1eUS-U-c74cKJEkZX2MWZ46IijkLE0eQP-RflWe6AU7JoVC4pcKgSC_hpkHvYx5etDv7x27TL0smjs99e8Gqs3/s400/Hot+Springs+Bluff+House+1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5432546124243584674" /></a>HOT SPRINGS BLUFF HOUSE<br />I'd always heard there was an old house ruins up here, which is why I decided to find the trail at last, so I could photograph it for my collection. Not much left, as you can see, but I found it interesting it had a concrete floor. They sure had a nice view, though, didn't they?<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPjPQmco9R227WOrXlJo-w5DAYGZU9TW8cTgfQKUkuE2XXMd29zuJq6Isr8CtvhhJI772gPxIPr1AAt1HTWpm7DKjlNgvF5Aja3fYIX8hZqIhFpjxC42HT4im7FSOeUDrLBwaALQT6o9en/s1600-h/Hot+Springs+Bluff+House+2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 299px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPjPQmco9R227WOrXlJo-w5DAYGZU9TW8cTgfQKUkuE2XXMd29zuJq6Isr8CtvhhJI772gPxIPr1AAt1HTWpm7DKjlNgvF5Aja3fYIX8hZqIhFpjxC42HT4im7FSOeUDrLBwaALQT6o9en/s400/Hot+Springs+Bluff+House+2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5432546407038537634" /></a>HOT SPRINGS BLUFF HOUSE<br />Here we have a reverse-angle view, showing the Sierra del Carmen Mountains off in the distance. Boy, they had a nice view no matter where they looked. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnV99fmtefLY6Phq9l3WeU6RosTdGPxWsKAMzIQzdJ7Z1NXYHqPSIkRjcK79AGxVnT9451aqDMzui0Py7timkhrEBxzGuuJPz_1N6HjCf_cw76focAZVHI_ErjkJ0BoPEleiNzQ5476me8/s1600-h/Hot+Springs+Area+-+Overhead.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnV99fmtefLY6Phq9l3WeU6RosTdGPxWsKAMzIQzdJ7Z1NXYHqPSIkRjcK79AGxVnT9451aqDMzui0Py7timkhrEBxzGuuJPz_1N6HjCf_cw76focAZVHI_ErjkJ0BoPEleiNzQ5476me8/s400/Hot+Springs+Area+-+Overhead.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5432546609537623570" /></a>HOT SPRINGS AREA FROM OVERHEAD<br />We're almost at the end of the trail now (I started where the trail ends up past the Hot Springs), and below we see the motel unit, the General Store/Post Office, and the parking area. Taking the draw you cross just before you get to the store will put you at the trailhead, although you won't find any markings directing you.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0SdRVPnJEPySWQeLk9sPcKGzWPvBUwfVIGmJTXVp0NZ_NDNGdRm2v0yLrdbQJ8Rmny2RdEKyD3yyhMejXMTs4K2YcG8k7oLvGOkVYiCTkoPmjIoNdFta-Dp43dgT4Lv3yEb8h8jW8F8_M/s1600-h/Hot+Springs+Motel+Interior.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0SdRVPnJEPySWQeLk9sPcKGzWPvBUwfVIGmJTXVp0NZ_NDNGdRm2v0yLrdbQJ8Rmny2RdEKyD3yyhMejXMTs4K2YcG8k7oLvGOkVYiCTkoPmjIoNdFta-Dp43dgT4Lv3yEb8h8jW8F8_M/s400/Hot+Springs+Motel+Interior.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5432547000624222146" /></a>HOT SPRINGS MOTEL INTERIOR<br />After I got down off the trail, I decided to poke around the area some more, and found one of the doors to one of the units opened just enough to get my hand (with camera) inside. The cracked dirt you see is leftover silt from the October 2008 flood. This unit just hasn't gotten cleaned out yet. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO1bibqXRWHjPPR1zSfIztcNvwn0uoRp8iu2nFBk1u5pFymOQFS5vFMQAVb2fphoSQhKD1nI80m9rBzpjiV1gCSf5xOJUcf7iIczFZwoxYsBu5sKQVQmS0IAr-_kaU2xdNj1Py5bTfwO1m/s1600-h/Hot+Springs+Motel+Floor.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 298px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO1bibqXRWHjPPR1zSfIztcNvwn0uoRp8iu2nFBk1u5pFymOQFS5vFMQAVb2fphoSQhKD1nI80m9rBzpjiV1gCSf5xOJUcf7iIczFZwoxYsBu5sKQVQmS0IAr-_kaU2xdNj1Py5bTfwO1m/s400/Hot+Springs+Motel+Floor.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5432547251770781074" /></a>HOT SPRINGS MOTEL UNIT FLOOR<br />I've always been a big fan of cracked earth shots, so I thought I'd take one of the motel floor for posterity's sake. They always reminds me of our backyard on Ash Street in Grand Prairie during the summer, back when I was a kid. I don't know how many Army men I lost in those cracks.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxFa07ERzWS19weW4t0a2Owt6ag8Mu6e9hCmYwV3coDkErb1PM7si3jNGpVpkmrbUyz0h7cishaWs3H0-8I487Rn4GxsdShrEnveG_OwMUPYKfIU1kAkMpAjczFhrxdDPIdLByZglKtVir/s1600-h/Pyrrhuloxia.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 301px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxFa07ERzWS19weW4t0a2Owt6ag8Mu6e9hCmYwV3coDkErb1PM7si3jNGpVpkmrbUyz0h7cishaWs3H0-8I487Rn4GxsdShrEnveG_OwMUPYKfIU1kAkMpAjczFhrxdDPIdLByZglKtVir/s400/Pyrrhuloxia.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5432547541942104162" /></a>PYRRHULOXIA<br />And last, but not least, here we see a West Texas version of the ever-popular cardinal, called a pyrrhuloxia. This little guy comes and sits in the mesquite tree in front of the Entrance Station and keeps an eye on me, as you can see him doing now. They're so closely related to the cardinal, they even make the same peeping sound.<br /><br />Well, that's all the time we have for today. As always, thanks for tuning in!Highroadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02858295532318995042noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6958999517762277193.post-39780730788773534482010-01-02T04:29:00.001-08:002010-01-02T17:18:13.139-08:00Happy New Year, 2010!!!Well, it's the New Year now, and I decided I had to celebrate by taking a little hike I've always wanted to do -- a trek up the Persimmon Gap Draw Trail and up the side of a mountain I've come to know as Abuelo ("Grandfather"). It wasn't an overly taxing hike or a long one, but it was well worth the effort. We'll start off with some exit shots of 2009.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3v5oSTztyiaXiNXE4bbaAB1xRAuABs-3T-UCc_ow0goEVF7PW4evqeRlsA4nnjxvGjhYzmSugIaxR39xxO0F5LwhxVBAcTPLRvmvLvXX-riXbXWSfYciAM2auNrR4EzxVpQ1ZGvVn95ov/s1600-h/01+Dec+31+Drive+To+Work.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3v5oSTztyiaXiNXE4bbaAB1xRAuABs-3T-UCc_ow0goEVF7PW4evqeRlsA4nnjxvGjhYzmSugIaxR39xxO0F5LwhxVBAcTPLRvmvLvXX-riXbXWSfYciAM2auNrR4EzxVpQ1ZGvVn95ov/s400/01+Dec+31+Drive+To+Work.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422118919606038786" /></a>DRIVE TO WORK - DECEMBER 31, 2009<br />Well, it's the last day of the old year, and I'm off to work (my Friday!). I was so mesmerized by the full moon floating ahead of me on the drive to work, I just had to stop and give it its due. What a nice way to end the year. It was kind of a dangerous drive, though, as I couldn't take my eyes off the moon.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTeeNHWDrq2-2TckzJhlIXTZnuhMh94pb4AyjxRWOCVv0y6x8jVzkPChRRJckNzx03ZvO_ERoTXg4zHnVclI4BKHuaeIXCWZmZ1v6G5PBPxtXHwc6QEGLR0l3U_8T8ZsgUxYMTRfudlZNB/s1600-h/02+Last+Sunset+of+2009.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTeeNHWDrq2-2TckzJhlIXTZnuhMh94pb4AyjxRWOCVv0y6x8jVzkPChRRJckNzx03ZvO_ERoTXg4zHnVclI4BKHuaeIXCWZmZ1v6G5PBPxtXHwc6QEGLR0l3U_8T8ZsgUxYMTRfudlZNB/s400/02+Last+Sunset+of+2009.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422120078760427298" /></a>THE LAST SUNSET OF 2009<br />Nothing too spectacular, as sunsets go out here, just a lot of nice, warm light due to a high, thin overcast. Adios, 2009!!! Don't let the door hit you in the butt on the way out.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghjvLxd-2OD7iJ-IOI1BasDO2fPX14LLHh-QF_BIQu2wwmqVZqj-2qzP7sUBV07bVfvNCRGpNKW1FXOmSz_o2Buwi4QjF3YR-R0gppMM2BNvAdO1O7gP17C0citan5LD4uiG-ggt-y9-S1/s1600-h/03+Abuelo+Awaits.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghjvLxd-2OD7iJ-IOI1BasDO2fPX14LLHh-QF_BIQu2wwmqVZqj-2qzP7sUBV07bVfvNCRGpNKW1FXOmSz_o2Buwi4QjF3YR-R0gppMM2BNvAdO1O7gP17C0citan5LD4uiG-ggt-y9-S1/s400/03+Abuelo+Awaits.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422120283101663714" /></a>ABUELO AWAITS<br />Believe it or not, this is a very important piece of geology, as this mountain is composed of the oldest rocks of any in the park -- 500,000,000 million years old, dating back to the Ordovician Period. This mountain was formed at the same time and by the same forces that created the Appalachian Mountains, when the earth here got folded over and layers of rock that had been slumbering deep underground were suddenly thrust upward and laid atop the land. Pretty amazing stuff, huh? Since no one had taken the initiative to name this particular geological feature, I had been calling it The Old Man, but have now opted for Abuelo (Spanish for "Grandfather"), since it is indeed the grandfather of all rocks in Big Bend.<br /><br />The small cairn of rocks in the foreground is the start of the Persimmon Gap Draw Trail, which will lead us up to the top of the mountain -- sort of. Some bushwhacking (or cactuswhacking, I guess you'd have to say) will be involved. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoVA-nLSx4nWkgeHNLqPFqM9jQS0tdyDoDbFu74-vPEQUxiDEnQer2gsQhleq4YL_8fKM0ifYeliicBVBCeAYsE8Z9MhLuoMBvKMsHpgS8xf8mwhKjLgKcf4NZFmK74YyT5nKwq65zOZyJ/s1600-h/04+Colors+And+Folds.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoVA-nLSx4nWkgeHNLqPFqM9jQS0tdyDoDbFu74-vPEQUxiDEnQer2gsQhleq4YL_8fKM0ifYeliicBVBCeAYsE8Z9MhLuoMBvKMsHpgS8xf8mwhKjLgKcf4NZFmK74YyT5nKwq65zOZyJ/s400/04+Colors+And+Folds.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422120821112742322" /></a>COLORS AND FOLDS<br />You can see evidence of the folding process that went on by looking at the various directions the rock strata takes. The different colorations in the rock are quite striking. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguJgdgdRrRdncEqWl4lNzMzMWxjmeyChSKFsspJvYHDS1Ie7uAkyDFL4tEty_bjvZbdrVEXyG7WM0aqr_Y1Q6qPl-NPk7Z7w1T_k5O4_puS7jdknRRWneHmyocFQp711UNPXBEGc7Xaqxp/s1600-h/12+Layers+In+Time.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 290px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguJgdgdRrRdncEqWl4lNzMzMWxjmeyChSKFsspJvYHDS1Ie7uAkyDFL4tEty_bjvZbdrVEXyG7WM0aqr_Y1Q6qPl-NPk7Z7w1T_k5O4_puS7jdknRRWneHmyocFQp711UNPXBEGc7Xaqxp/s400/12+Layers+In+Time.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422121017515188338" /></a>LAYERS IN TIME<br />I came upon this rock with the prettiest colors in its layers. The striking light-colored layers truly fascinated me. Geology rocks!!! (Ha ha)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG1K7Zew3jqGzv_ccWQCWf0q6CDJURL8AfFOuflzatUdt_JfauCy5GCZnaxiNOHeyBy7ppMauGVGzqFPnOmd2K30KHOyBSewPQdCq7YYovZn6fZNn66hP0NdmDHgEssD_dbVU6QYg3zve6/s1600-h/05+Looking+Back.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG1K7Zew3jqGzv_ccWQCWf0q6CDJURL8AfFOuflzatUdt_JfauCy5GCZnaxiNOHeyBy7ppMauGVGzqFPnOmd2K30KHOyBSewPQdCq7YYovZn6fZNn66hP0NdmDHgEssD_dbVU6QYg3zve6/s400/05+Looking+Back.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422121658305463250" /></a>LOOKING BACK<br />For the most part, the Persimmon Gap Draw Trail follows (or is) a dry waterway called a draw, hence the name. There's not much to see as far as views go while following this draw, but occasionally one pops up, such as this one here. I finally found the side trail just before the first bowl that was hidden by a huge catclaw bush. Much perforation -- as usual -- was involved in clearing the trail entrance. This was the view from up above the bowl.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoIudtBp3cSJssGWUPJF9OvDf1lYXjZGqXILrsdR91UKIAksftWjhh5Ws6jsCYa9h1-x-ts6-TrK7l7qmzcMa2CyGFOc0y6F4RQUOn0Ve-jC6ismUSUqRzevgNpJH2fzy609nt_CMo2RfG/s1600-h/06+The+Corazones.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoIudtBp3cSJssGWUPJF9OvDf1lYXjZGqXILrsdR91UKIAksftWjhh5Ws6jsCYa9h1-x-ts6-TrK7l7qmzcMa2CyGFOc0y6F4RQUOn0Ve-jC6ismUSUqRzevgNpJH2fzy609nt_CMo2RfG/s400/06+The+Corazones.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422121967601298130" /></a>THE CORAZONES<br />The two prominent peaks off in the distance are called the Corazones ("The Hearts"). We've now left the draw and are heading up the mountain. There's no trail per se from here on, just picking the best route through all the prickly stuff -- an ocean of lechugilla, tasajillo, ocotillo, pitaya, prickly pear, and other such desert delights, as seen here. Again with the perforation. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi34V4arWEU5IIOHurwRblmkjlATUaJsrOO1agfblk-LFIer5uvHc9nsiaNvR5VEy1x9lFIvcqoxcqE0kr3-qDbcPXy_GG1roKu5NICQhCtQyjKO_JGKLdGP4UNykXMVrDWxsqvgy4rK_JG/s1600-h/07+Persimmon+Peak+North+Face.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi34V4arWEU5IIOHurwRblmkjlATUaJsrOO1agfblk-LFIer5uvHc9nsiaNvR5VEy1x9lFIvcqoxcqE0kr3-qDbcPXy_GG1roKu5NICQhCtQyjKO_JGKLdGP4UNykXMVrDWxsqvgy4rK_JG/s400/07+Persimmon+Peak+North+Face.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422122376690633906" /></a>PERSIMMON PEAK - NORTH FACE<br />Here's another little hill I intend to climb someday, Persimmon Peak. Even though this mountain sits right next to Abuelo, It's but a youngster -- a mere 65,000,000 years old, dating from the Cretaceous Period. The trick to climbing this fellow is finding the route up without getting "cliffed out." Not an easy trick, from what I can see.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXX96ALk-Iw9P4XyaHjI2GL1JvmOnrDEtr0rnTDAjKenEf-2xVGzZ-6pDEiSUftYaNEnV9fSs-t9aPl53OmLHRpC8NSRbT9tmft_uFPJbMPIwyFyUmqshYPgHdq0wZeP0sUBlGoSfxi5bp/s1600-h/08+My+Destination.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXX96ALk-Iw9P4XyaHjI2GL1JvmOnrDEtr0rnTDAjKenEf-2xVGzZ-6pDEiSUftYaNEnV9fSs-t9aPl53OmLHRpC8NSRbT9tmft_uFPJbMPIwyFyUmqshYPgHdq0wZeP0sUBlGoSfxi5bp/s400/08+My+Destination.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422122794822796610" /></a>MY DESTINATION<br />It was funny, but I could see the top getting closer and closer, only to find that once I achieved it, the real summit still lay ahead. Well, it's not like it was a whole mountain over, as I've encountered in the past. It was an "easy" walk from here. Just look at all that lechugilla out there -- the sharp pointy bushes -- just waiting for a tender, unsuspecting ankle to bite. They are one nasty customer, believe you me.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcQ8WcaKU9IPSxgyG1da6KjtiucNazg8v_ROLclv27oS7um_Ac49vsxFXQkNZq78cL18XpzLxiSahW6tOl0kfRph1mu29io-y8xqQIIuA2eyBGSpx4Zavce6yqNT9V3_ezDXQKUOvubj8Z/s1600-h/09+Persimmon+Gap+Below.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcQ8WcaKU9IPSxgyG1da6KjtiucNazg8v_ROLclv27oS7um_Ac49vsxFXQkNZq78cL18XpzLxiSahW6tOl0kfRph1mu29io-y8xqQIIuA2eyBGSpx4Zavce6yqNT9V3_ezDXQKUOvubj8Z/s400/09+Persimmon+Gap+Below.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422123201608452674" /></a>PERSIMMON GAP BELOW<br />And here we have the view from Abuelo's summit. If you click on the photo, you can make out the Visitor Center, the Entrance Station (with a car driving up), and the as-yet-completed housing unit to the right, 582' below. According to my GPS unit, we're at 3552' right now, in case you're interested. You can also see the draw that is the trail snaking from the VC through the lower left corner of the photo. Not a bad view for lunch, huh?<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZWW_5kqqbXCZERGN-YEeDHe7MFDCRKV2_VXycXYScbl-LLJTt_6T7sanZU6Yo4skzZqUCSt7_OtfLeHasJC6vOb3YSZ1WnQHCRpGGoQ2ljHueZ14osFxGCPnvWYDSGXGbnyangBslarbh/s1600-h/10+Raven+On+The+Wing.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 296px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZWW_5kqqbXCZERGN-YEeDHe7MFDCRKV2_VXycXYScbl-LLJTt_6T7sanZU6Yo4skzZqUCSt7_OtfLeHasJC6vOb3YSZ1WnQHCRpGGoQ2ljHueZ14osFxGCPnvWYDSGXGbnyangBslarbh/s400/10+Raven+On+The+Wing.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422123619321989090" /></a>RAVEN ON THE WING<br />This is either George or Gracie, one of a mated pair of Chihuahuan Ravens who have taken up residence in Persimmon Gap. When I first saw them, they were flying below me, but after they found out I was up here, they came up and put on an aerobatic display. It could possibly have been a mating ritual. I've got a video I'll put up on my video blog.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd0RWtbEVShTGRsE4QqFyUStuQ-LgKk6_oM964aXKQz8TuKeuC-Y-hwUhTWsBcNEcR1eEm-QDsYB6qjfyfKAN3RyT1dpM3LmVwfwR2Jri74GNkq14YIrfptw3Dto1gmRuS9d8X-dR_PGhG/s1600-h/11+Mountain+Man.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd0RWtbEVShTGRsE4QqFyUStuQ-LgKk6_oM964aXKQz8TuKeuC-Y-hwUhTWsBcNEcR1eEm-QDsYB6qjfyfKAN3RyT1dpM3LmVwfwR2Jri74GNkq14YIrfptw3Dto1gmRuS9d8X-dR_PGhG/s400/11+Mountain+Man.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422123935737101010" /></a>MOUNTAIN MAN<br />Well, no New Year's Day hike would be complete without a New Year's self-portrait. I look pretty happy with myself, don't I? Well, I should be, as this is something I've wanted to do for a very long time, and it was the perfect time to do it. Happy New Year, folks!!!Highroadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02858295532318995042noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6958999517762277193.post-9416265564045908812009-12-24T04:50:00.000-08:002009-12-24T06:18:13.396-08:00Just So Yule Know . . .<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxfwZsAfmYmGOlEPtuPb3TSSRLO6wWvMHL5EJnDnvL1X6WWlcjbz14fpehexRT0uXtorPdIhzFtoJd9_AmRrvcAOtLSS7yupY1Pg1LMjXK0m_Llsnk9JVm4_qkh8A8n21WCOTlJpeAWD2c/s1600-h/My+Christmas+Tree+Lit+2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxfwZsAfmYmGOlEPtuPb3TSSRLO6wWvMHL5EJnDnvL1X6WWlcjbz14fpehexRT0uXtorPdIhzFtoJd9_AmRrvcAOtLSS7yupY1Pg1LMjXK0m_Llsnk9JVm4_qkh8A8n21WCOTlJpeAWD2c/s400/My+Christmas+Tree+Lit+2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418786257607791618" /></a><br /><center>SEASON'S GREETINGS!!!</center><br />My last blog entry, especially the part about my return to the booth, got me the same basic question over and over again: "So, is that all you do at work -- sit back and relax?" The answer is no, it's not; at 9:00 in the morning, it just works out that way sometimes. Just so you'll know (see how clever that was?), here's what it looks like a lot of the time, especially during this busy Christmas season. [This photo was taken on my co-worker Cindy's workday, not mine. Just so you'll know.]<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjKhvbP9Rt7UNyfVk8RgeTWcCj4gUOrtPhsCZcjvrD2e_dIZf22fWT4VbAOo-WJ-jUD5caCGBa2IQML2bKCNrmTIa0u1gjK9e-HsjkcZdvGNj61-gsWOFdJsLQ90WC1_Gu7bsEJpBwz8UP/s1600-h/Booth+View+2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 301px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjKhvbP9Rt7UNyfVk8RgeTWcCj4gUOrtPhsCZcjvrD2e_dIZf22fWT4VbAOo-WJ-jUD5caCGBa2IQML2bKCNrmTIa0u1gjK9e-HsjkcZdvGNj61-gsWOFdJsLQ90WC1_Gu7bsEJpBwz8UP/s400/Booth+View+2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418785673592055410" /></a><br />And for those who inquired about what my view looks like while not thusly engaged, here's the same shot (roughly) taken without all the vehicles. Not too shabby, huh?<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUpbT9VL22dAhFZCYZ4jrns1eSwHcXidSyBQMGLx4vItBjOCnsaPFW1H-_mXncxZ4LokOZvI3qe6n66yGwIJT8vgPrZ7ZOl-l9l6wQp6vmu1Md4ItbDPrhHmv47YeaRMZPsGghJcJ9DL7r/s1600-h/Booth+View+1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 301px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUpbT9VL22dAhFZCYZ4jrns1eSwHcXidSyBQMGLx4vItBjOCnsaPFW1H-_mXncxZ4LokOZvI3qe6n66yGwIJT8vgPrZ7ZOl-l9l6wQp6vmu1Md4ItbDPrhHmv47YeaRMZPsGghJcJ9DL7r/s400/Booth+View+1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418787805755242082" /></a><br />Okay, enough said on that little matter. Let's move on and catch you all up on what's been going on around here the past month. One of the most exciting things was my friend Alexa Walker's debut appearance at Alpine's Artwalk/Gallery Night last month. She was invited to show her spectacular photographs at the historic and beautiful Holland Hotel.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtfLvmgh2AL1rJhd4nan8FXsClZB6jC-rxmeidnQfCA45-XUAKXxDzGFbhbLfaUFK_A8qGcPDf0ahOqhnENzdb91umnkr4bkcOAKBz8fuI1aUH4nYQT45cpS3e9dShO7bEoeQYVcfgWral/s1600-h/Alexa+in+Perspective.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtfLvmgh2AL1rJhd4nan8FXsClZB6jC-rxmeidnQfCA45-XUAKXxDzGFbhbLfaUFK_A8qGcPDf0ahOqhnENzdb91umnkr4bkcOAKBz8fuI1aUH4nYQT45cpS3e9dShO7bEoeQYVcfgWral/s400/Alexa+in+Perspective.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418789408043455170" /></a><br />As you can see, the venue left a little to be desired from an actual space standpoint, but it just got you all the more involved with the work, as if you were actually there. I'll tell you, I've always been a big fan of her work -- having viewed it on her website on more than one occasion (http://3heartsranch.com/) -- but it is truly remarkable stuff when you get to view it first-hand. Here's a shot of her standing next to one of her finest creations, The Guardian, in its handmade cedar frame she had commissioned just for it.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS4JqCJL0s6srH3neuN_8kJJPyVM1yTLvgeGcAecQWDUTOLal9IlDN7gNoVenoBOaOQKUqOekz5eAZ6GYV-7xjQk-nD7Jjthggx8V3j_l9XvyWsDfT3iqjf1nR1wMka3-7GKbEUTR5EWR3/s1600-h/Alexa+and+The+Guardian.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS4JqCJL0s6srH3neuN_8kJJPyVM1yTLvgeGcAecQWDUTOLal9IlDN7gNoVenoBOaOQKUqOekz5eAZ6GYV-7xjQk-nD7Jjthggx8V3j_l9XvyWsDfT3iqjf1nR1wMka3-7GKbEUTR5EWR3/s400/Alexa+and+The+Guardian.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418790798531832866" /></a><br />I was so excited about seeing her work, some of which I was personally responsible for, I just had to go back to the Hallie Stillwell Hall of Fame here at Stillwell's RV Park and re-shoot a stand of old boots they have there. They did some cleaning on the window used to light this shot, so it wasn't that nice diffused light as before, but you just can't beat the character of these boots. Are these fun, or what?<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMB5vZGzWJc2Ruxz0ZpuZfOhtaLRGjTGHWjs4ZYq2obUYiwnbz_Uw69wGTplAu9hMERn0hHjRnw6ZXTuQ1T4NV485Nuwdk86ao5nKsQxsb-B-Ypq78DaMtaJz11pII3_haC2R8IPxcZAec/s1600-h/Stillwell's+Boots.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 287px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMB5vZGzWJc2Ruxz0ZpuZfOhtaLRGjTGHWjs4ZYq2obUYiwnbz_Uw69wGTplAu9hMERn0hHjRnw6ZXTuQ1T4NV485Nuwdk86ao5nKsQxsb-B-Ypq78DaMtaJz11pII3_haC2R8IPxcZAec/s400/Stillwell's+Boots.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418795365793264786" /></a><br />Another exciting event of the past month was to go to Terlingua and have Thanksgiving dinner with my friends Jennifer and Romaldo, and to meet their new dog, Chewy, a rather energetic red blue heeler. This little guy's a true nut and very personable, as you can well imagine from this shot here, taken during a game of fetch. It almost looks like a studio shot, doesn't it? He's a hoot, if ever there was one.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXqkx4WPKrxIa3uKu7jSqwQlRDfWBUZZ5qfJvM_id_jZhCLXjMmD3mxZrPs4CPPoNDAN3ANdzCqvmuaQNaKRhDqcBjB-vLQDiwJf8rpK2yIG9mtCkfVgEwKybituW9fG26t7kfNPUX6-gd/s1600-h/Chewy.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXqkx4WPKrxIa3uKu7jSqwQlRDfWBUZZ5qfJvM_id_jZhCLXjMmD3mxZrPs4CPPoNDAN3ANdzCqvmuaQNaKRhDqcBjB-vLQDiwJf8rpK2yIG9mtCkfVgEwKybituW9fG26t7kfNPUX6-gd/s400/Chewy.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418791841487893346" /></a><br />In my last post, we played the "Who Can See It?" game with the Sleeping Indian Prince, which most of you did well on. In that regard, here's another object that can be found on the way back from Alpine, and one I always look forward to seeing -- Dead Dino Rock.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoWe4AZHX3MB18x9soYgaZPHMNrPqCUz6VegKaKjZmBAjAJjCnejIt_bBCWsg76TUA3rRMxzQZQHazbPe7Gpez6v0qWdGxNOB7CLj10q03Rd50bgpmkN0ZC8uWGG8sa_GUQ2cHAZvqRYQA/s1600-h/Dead+Dino+Mountain.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 284px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoWe4AZHX3MB18x9soYgaZPHMNrPqCUz6VegKaKjZmBAjAJjCnejIt_bBCWsg76TUA3rRMxzQZQHazbPe7Gpez6v0qWdGxNOB7CLj10q03Rd50bgpmkN0ZC8uWGG8sa_GUQ2cHAZvqRYQA/s400/Dead+Dino+Mountain.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418792879204507986" /></a><br />It just looks like a dead Brontosaurus (or Apatosaurus, as they call it now) lying up on top of that hill, doesn't it? Sure it does! Hmm. Okay, how about this one -- The Electric Chicken -- which I see every workday on my walk from the Visitor Center to the booth at Persimmon Gap, so named because it looks like a chicken who stuck its beak in an electrical socket.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC_JRDVtOo0ZBdl0PlzBD7RszLYzlfB9X3-exd-S9-iC5a4W7bzAQDW9DmX7R0h5H-w-4q4j_BcMyqxBj5ljQGWliXtziHtpKYPRfpT59xIZ8R9GJPJQEaD5XgOO1Ofwitv1Bpn-IGiRga/s1600-h/Electric+Chicken+at+sunrise+2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 301px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC_JRDVtOo0ZBdl0PlzBD7RszLYzlfB9X3-exd-S9-iC5a4W7bzAQDW9DmX7R0h5H-w-4q4j_BcMyqxBj5ljQGWliXtziHtpKYPRfpT59xIZ8R9GJPJQEaD5XgOO1Ofwitv1Bpn-IGiRga/s400/Electric+Chicken+at+sunrise+2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418802939912367266" /></a><br />Okay, maybe that one was a stretch, but you've got to give me the dinosaur, okay? Yeah, let's move on, shall we? Now, for all you folks in the northeast (especially any of you from Virginia), this next shot may not seem like much, but for those of us out here in the desert, it's a true miracle. We actually got snow! It wasn't much, mind you (maybe a 1/2 inch), and it didn't last long at all (it was gone by noon), but just the event itself transformed our day and set the tone for the holidays, culminating in a crock pot full of homemade beef stew. This shot was taken as I sat on the doorstep of my trailer.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi83deo2qcwdk4mxYzLmODC6HtP6_dqbmDAjfPElH1DeVf0jAT0QG7ytWLxwfvoECO6eijow-8RDrWRE7nPaFdrG18DEi_RQpSvlM_MZfqOBCU5gbFAii_2f2ccVHhHHUNLoeTd4VYvu5ac/s1600-h/Snowfall+12.04.09.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi83deo2qcwdk4mxYzLmODC6HtP6_dqbmDAjfPElH1DeVf0jAT0QG7ytWLxwfvoECO6eijow-8RDrWRE7nPaFdrG18DEi_RQpSvlM_MZfqOBCU5gbFAii_2f2ccVHhHHUNLoeTd4VYvu5ac/s400/Snowfall+12.04.09.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418796523613024322" /></a><br />Another thing that set the tone for the holidays -- at least for mine, anyway -- was the arrival of a red cellophane wreath from my sister, Lyn, the same as the one my grandparents used to put in the living room window and we would look for from across the pasture on our way into town. I put mine in my own living room window so I can see it as I drive in from work each day. For us grandkids of Beanie and Stella Moore, there's nothing that says home for the holidays like this sight. Here's what it looks like from the entrance.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpherOPxlhow0OuPrsRIKcbmvDFKB3aPCSh_DUf3rB79eHUO8GQ39B0P7pkhrZMwYEd8OCvAq1XhZcHfscWZuyy9R1FVlVhIDBo0HQNJ5i8uNAwpiIhMq4z82HL-xuK2pZZSjofZh0usIR/s1600-h/Welcome+Home.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpherOPxlhow0OuPrsRIKcbmvDFKB3aPCSh_DUf3rB79eHUO8GQ39B0P7pkhrZMwYEd8OCvAq1XhZcHfscWZuyy9R1FVlVhIDBo0HQNJ5i8uNAwpiIhMq4z82HL-xuK2pZZSjofZh0usIR/s400/Welcome+Home.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418797226349517842" /></a><br />And so, with that I will wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a happy and prosperous New Year. May all your wishes come true, and may all your Christmases be white. (You folks in Virginia won't have a problem with that last one.) Happy Holidays!!!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga50CJFvdp9-9py-LgbI7rJAesTUKwiCrhWd4O9K7nxwKepwH-xz5FyllHX6JypMX5msCqihg5lC0v64xmFx6Hgl4lS3EVK3VyabsoGrAcqgKSpKnf2UpY6dKkeIa3GMrAIWy5rJpuKt4W/s1600-h/Red+Cellophane+Wreath+at+night.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 322px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga50CJFvdp9-9py-LgbI7rJAesTUKwiCrhWd4O9K7nxwKepwH-xz5FyllHX6JypMX5msCqihg5lC0v64xmFx6Hgl4lS3EVK3VyabsoGrAcqgKSpKnf2UpY6dKkeIa3GMrAIWy5rJpuKt4W/s400/Red+Cellophane+Wreath+at+night.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418798321531072018" /></a><center>From my home to yours -- Merry Christmas!</center>Highroadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02858295532318995042noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6958999517762277193.post-47297990029268539702009-11-14T03:12:00.000-08:002009-11-14T06:07:57.070-08:00Out And About<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGjsoHNMFCvF1noNTBkbYn-wtKgyCKvNMVvAKMp-rHHo999f_NCyIgWBW090eQ0gP7dk59Ln-1QJdVwlSVe0e55an4f84XT2CrhEVXl0V_yvyj4jhyphenhyphen-7yTBBDJNsJIrgTacZQiweUJB3qY/s1600-h/Autumn+in+the+Chisos.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGjsoHNMFCvF1noNTBkbYn-wtKgyCKvNMVvAKMp-rHHo999f_NCyIgWBW090eQ0gP7dk59Ln-1QJdVwlSVe0e55an4f84XT2CrhEVXl0V_yvyj4jhyphenhyphen-7yTBBDJNsJIrgTacZQiweUJB3qY/s400/Autumn+in+the+Chisos.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5403915911538690642" /></a>AUTUMN IN THE CHISOS<br />Greetings once again, folks. Well, it's finally turning autumn out here, not that you'd notice it much unless you were up in the mountains where we keep all the real trees, like these. I don't know what kind of tree this is, but its leaves are very small, about the size of a postage stamp. Still, color is color, and I'll take all of it I can get. It's certainly not the spectacular show up in Maine I'm so used to, but it'll have to do. Funny, but without my seasonal sojourns, I really have no idea what season it is anymore -- sort of like looking at a digital watch and having to visualize an analog one to "see" the time (which is why I don't own any digital watches or clocks). I'm just funny that way. Anyway, time to move along and catch y'all up on what's going on out here in West Texas.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg11c9_chTv1mrH7oZdpQuk-2VWzqlMfDaRzw8Rx-wPJHcQszbRL4AQGCzv_8ct6dYqfDpDXPDz7wUJeO4d0vZXEovsYslQsVwdyoV4qQBuxEVGxqRi4D84-oHW5rH0KONGxobPDmsYjxtk/s1600-h/Back+in+the+Booth+1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 297px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg11c9_chTv1mrH7oZdpQuk-2VWzqlMfDaRzw8Rx-wPJHcQszbRL4AQGCzv_8ct6dYqfDpDXPDz7wUJeO4d0vZXEovsYslQsVwdyoV4qQBuxEVGxqRi4D84-oHW5rH0KONGxobPDmsYjxtk/s400/Back+in+the+Booth+1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5403917369805739474" /></a>BACK IN THE BOOTH<br />Of course, what really says autumn to me is being back in my beloved booth (a.k.a. "The Box"), sitting in my high chair and watching faithfully for the onslaught of humanity roaring in to visit the park. And I do mean "roaring", too, as I almost got my head taken off the other day by a pair of Rio Grande Electric maintenance vehicles entering the park in a full 45mph run with no intention of stopping. I completely missed the first one -- or, rather, he barely missed me -- but I wildly gesticulated to the second one to slow the Hell down, which they did. They stopped the next time in. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBny665BQ2QI8fJnO4TUGR3C7QvzNCvYjg8VWlCiYffDcVUU502u859NVnoOemChMegBgrzC7raz0H2KmMLUDOFsj9nxPQ5dOZzAzb8KRgCy2N11e-KrUx92DpB1JdoKK_QfJeBgow16Mt/s1600-h/Back+in+the+Booth+2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 294px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBny665BQ2QI8fJnO4TUGR3C7QvzNCvYjg8VWlCiYffDcVUU502u859NVnoOemChMegBgrzC7raz0H2KmMLUDOFsj9nxPQ5dOZzAzb8KRgCy2N11e-KrUx92DpB1JdoKK_QfJeBgow16Mt/s400/Back+in+the+Booth+2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5403918743003519058" /></a>OH, YEAH!<br />But, all close calls aside, I'm still much happier to be out here in my little booth in the desert than in the Visitor Center, where the vast hordes of humanity can descend upon you without notice. I just like the peace and quiet of my own space, where I can gaze at the awesome view through my own picture window to reflect on life and all it's various permutations. And, no, I don't get bored. I can read if I wish (picture books are better, though, as you really don't have time to immerse yourself in a novel) or work on the computer (don't count on whipping anything out quickly or doing much surfing, as it's incredibly <i>s-l-o-w</i>) or gaze around me with my binocuclars at the various birds and other wildlife in the area. The park being on the migratory flyway the way it is insures there is no shortage of avian subjects to keep an eye out for and identify. Oh, yeah. The booth is good.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpq51X1tVhjfOpLPbNdPX46xODS9Q1SDSMGkpiMSWKxsQscLrNriIPx4sgmNRy_6ND44a6BJFbk9dYoh_AK_EFuyfuWAGRrMrAQpYCQxMFCn_H9_wq1nEZO28wT3ZJy4cAtyVAwUdSQyG_/s1600-h/Snout+Butterfly+(Libytheana+carinenta+mexicana).jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 312px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpq51X1tVhjfOpLPbNdPX46xODS9Q1SDSMGkpiMSWKxsQscLrNriIPx4sgmNRy_6ND44a6BJFbk9dYoh_AK_EFuyfuWAGRrMrAQpYCQxMFCn_H9_wq1nEZO28wT3ZJy4cAtyVAwUdSQyG_/s400/Snout+Butterfly+(Libytheana+carinenta+mexicana).jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5403923522647278994" /></a>SNOUT BUTTERFLY<br />And here we have some of the other wildlife I was speaking of, the Snout Butterfly (<i>Libytheana carinenta mexicana</i>), a relative newcomer to the area, at least as far as I can discern. In all the years I've been coming here, I don't recall ever seeing one of these curious little creatures, but we have them in swarms around here right now. There were seven in the booth at one time the other day and I had to use my Catch-and-Release Unit (the clear glass turned upside down to my right in the preceding photo) to capture and release these little guys, at which point, of course, they merely flew back in after a bit. Might've been the same ones, I don't know. The Snout Butterfly's prominent "snout" is actually formed by its elongated mouthparts, scientifically called labial palpi. As I found out in my research, these little guys can be found in both North and South America, and the massive migrations of this species often attract attention in the Texas and Mexican newspapers. I never knew that. See how good the booth is? And educational, too.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXMN06FzuLEvi8GAwl3Zx2x-hq-LGQlqWjHNLP9djT6VkzG14Cndwe-d-ZdOMo12VhOb-gnDt6bFSMZQJsuaFz3vCQMqXqwb6UcIZJ1PIFGOW3BB1S7aRFyBTRM2OmB_fNeinDYPJdinXr/s1600-h/Baby+Agave.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 298px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXMN06FzuLEvi8GAwl3Zx2x-hq-LGQlqWjHNLP9djT6VkzG14Cndwe-d-ZdOMo12VhOb-gnDt6bFSMZQJsuaFz3vCQMqXqwb6UcIZJ1PIFGOW3BB1S7aRFyBTRM2OmB_fNeinDYPJdinXr/s400/Baby+Agave.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5403926713102550738" /></a>BABY AGAVE<br />Another added benefit to the reopening of the booth is the concept of the Special Project Day, of which most of you are well aware. For the benefit of the newcomers to this blog -- and to life as a Visitor Use Assistant -- alternate Thursdays in our workweek are spent working on special projects, counting money with our boss, or out on hikes on popular trails, called "roving," where we make contact with visitors and answer questions and otherwise keep them entertained with stories concerning park history and discussing the various aspects of the mythology of this wonderful land. On my first Special Project Day, I was unable to find my boss for money-counting and, as I had no specific special project to work on, I hit the Lost Mine Trail for the first time this season. Upon reaching one of the switchbacks in the trail, I came across this baby agave catching some morning sun. I have a special fondness for these little guys, probably stemming from the huge example that once dwelled on the west side of my grandparents' house in Central Texas.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQGkeieyFlqJGMM766c3sOjRi1cbvPTFSii-HbsKLD4Bv5eiKTlKYUZyEnT8Fgh8mUb3nzGCcisgn4vorOYbawmLqnpk8mR0dqdKd69VCii_FHmsZxxUa9gXAQhHd6tJhNTrXocjUlnNWc/s1600-h/Pine+Canyon+Vista.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQGkeieyFlqJGMM766c3sOjRi1cbvPTFSii-HbsKLD4Bv5eiKTlKYUZyEnT8Fgh8mUb3nzGCcisgn4vorOYbawmLqnpk8mR0dqdKd69VCii_FHmsZxxUa9gXAQhHd6tJhNTrXocjUlnNWc/s400/Pine+Canyon+Vista.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5403929335148061458" /></a>PINE CANYON VISTA<br />And what this trail is noted for is its staggering vistas along the way and at the end, most notably the view down Pine Canyon toward Mexico, barely discernable here due to the rather heavy haze this morning. Still, any vista is a good vista, I always say -- except maybe for that one back in Acadia with the Jackson Lab stuck squarely in it. This is the view at the one-mile point, at marker post 10 along this self-guided trail. At this point I took off down a side trail that supposedly leads up to the top of Casa Grande, one of the most prominent features here in the Chisos Mountains. For even a seasoned trail worker, that little side trail was somewhat of a challenge, and I eventually just sat down and took a break and watched the view to make sure it didn't get away. That is one nasty little trail, let me tell you.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjee74mou3RTvRNqO-0G-cdJELMTXXU8W5g6HVaGb14FpVEDf4WH9LW5GfQTAaqw5Rv08Hm6QEUEYzlIoKRTWkhUX4IZynlqizFG1zmD_Ny5TnyAsOFRlEycdkFbctSN_gCO496N0UEG51V/s1600-h/Casa+Grande+Looming.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjee74mou3RTvRNqO-0G-cdJELMTXXU8W5g6HVaGb14FpVEDf4WH9LW5GfQTAaqw5Rv08Hm6QEUEYzlIoKRTWkhUX4IZynlqizFG1zmD_Ny5TnyAsOFRlEycdkFbctSN_gCO496N0UEG51V/s400/Casa+Grande+Looming.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5403931635091185442" /></a>CASA GRANDE LOOMING<br />Due to this blog entry taking on a life of its own and growing larger by the minute, I hadn't planned on including a shot of Casa Grande, but since I mentioned it, I figured I'd better. Here we see it doing what it does best, according to the self-tour brochure -- looming. This was taken from the side trail, at the point where I stopped to eat my peanuts.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6blO0EiHnne-HldPlBJj7wBL26K8nq4RZd79anxPN-DqSNrcdBzBP5zRVXll_stkw_hfP-V-9YHs4iG007OiW5KVwYd9IFY4SNf-MNK6egpw5A52SflQX63yAIaRVfje538hjkKWDfOgh/s1600-h/08+Painted+Hillside+1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6blO0EiHnne-HldPlBJj7wBL26K8nq4RZd79anxPN-DqSNrcdBzBP5zRVXll_stkw_hfP-V-9YHs4iG007OiW5KVwYd9IFY4SNf-MNK6egpw5A52SflQX63yAIaRVfje538hjkKWDfOgh/s400/08+Painted+Hillside+1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5403933501130768290" /></a>PAINTED HILLSIDE 1<br />My reverie was interrupted by the hooting and hollering of a large pack of yammerheads heading up the trail, so I decided that I would sit still for a while until they proceeded past the viewpoint and, after chatting for about a half-hour with a batch of folks there, I called off the rest of the hike and took off to see what was happening in the Rio Grande Village area. Just as you cross over the long, curved Tornillo Creek bridge, you see this dazzlingly pretty rock strata just to the left of the road. There was a nice pull-out on either side of the road (apparently, the park figured it was a nice place to stop), so pull off I did and got out to capture this beautiful formation at last.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCl8IJjbvFDfohwcC0fTbT3BbokxqoCrB9VKc4taqn9NjIykZXSsIvjTi7cqI2tfGnOqXs4_JZYXzf9TYhfA2c9XulbMvhZoWjw-pDlK3ymdYDvkFQJrJA9BvifpR1JYVWc6ESYOL3EXDI/s1600-h/09+Painted+Hillside+2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCl8IJjbvFDfohwcC0fTbT3BbokxqoCrB9VKc4taqn9NjIykZXSsIvjTi7cqI2tfGnOqXs4_JZYXzf9TYhfA2c9XulbMvhZoWjw-pDlK3ymdYDvkFQJrJA9BvifpR1JYVWc6ESYOL3EXDI/s400/09+Painted+Hillside+2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5403935115048250082" /></a>PAINTED HILLSIDE 2<br />Okay, even though this blog is getting a little long-winded, I just felt you should get the full treatment. After capturing the hillside in a documentary style, I moved in -- or zoomed in -- for a closer look, attempting to render it in somewhat of a "color field" style, somewhere between Mark Rothko and Georgia O'Keefe. Of course, this isn't nearly as abstract as either of those artists' work, but I could take it and play with it later. The possibility is here.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVSbcNo6GOiWZFmRSaWNAERw96j3D7zVX6z7wcRdtfe5hcK8ZrvGFfuHB4_4_gfX-jS4tJ7E5H0FC68ixeFkmfI0fT8mvEXoyl-RcnEqg63StqVSaIBLdC1Vobsi8EbNXF4WDSlOnNK5qW/s1600-h/10+Painted+Hillside+3.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVSbcNo6GOiWZFmRSaWNAERw96j3D7zVX6z7wcRdtfe5hcK8ZrvGFfuHB4_4_gfX-jS4tJ7E5H0FC68ixeFkmfI0fT8mvEXoyl-RcnEqg63StqVSaIBLdC1Vobsi8EbNXF4WDSlOnNK5qW/s400/10+Painted+Hillside+3.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5403936931398790834" /></a>PAINTED HILLSIDE 3<br />Then, as I was pulling away, I found the view I was looking for, with these great, deep shadows between the "toes" of the hillside and it's colors. Oh, yes. This will do nicely. Photoshop, here I come!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSCdDfScnKi8AvaO2WpvDfmOqA8Cv2yK18yWHmyIlzJirqzOEdhzdHK6fM7pZPJ1OOcU45dF-PpGKKATotgOot4jTu1W5zUV2KjGCqRTYrmmaYRkdmPQJPG8S2ch69xnYb09H0UndOHmt2/s1600-h/11+Sierra+del+Carmen.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSCdDfScnKi8AvaO2WpvDfmOqA8Cv2yK18yWHmyIlzJirqzOEdhzdHK6fM7pZPJ1OOcU45dF-PpGKKATotgOot4jTu1W5zUV2KjGCqRTYrmmaYRkdmPQJPG8S2ch69xnYb09H0UndOHmt2/s400/11+Sierra+del+Carmen.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5403937532690316546" /></a>SIERRA DEL CARMEN<br />One of the things that most likely cause a lot of wrecks (not really) upon nearing Rio Grande Village is the stunning vista of the Sierra del Carmen Mountains of our friends across the water, Mexico. I've seen these mountains in all kinds of light, but never in light so clear. On my first visit to the park on a photo workshop in 1986, our instructor asked us to pick out the Sleeping Indian Prince in the formation, which of course I did right away, having had practice in such things from an early age. Can you see him? Click on the photo to enlarge.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3Hj_ItrqsEQHQo4iZE34vbq6Mz3fkFOO0COQxcS4H57YdLslhfDsGvxgoNUYrYFRf3hSzv0epmSF2Hu8cyufu03GuCiSFYlly4nXRwx42EHXhyphenhyphenP3pEIRiWQV9cZOgcvG68U3NA7bBT__N/s1600-h/12+Sleeping+Indian+Prince.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 296px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3Hj_ItrqsEQHQo4iZE34vbq6Mz3fkFOO0COQxcS4H57YdLslhfDsGvxgoNUYrYFRf3hSzv0epmSF2Hu8cyufu03GuCiSFYlly4nXRwx42EHXhyphenhyphenP3pEIRiWQV9cZOgcvG68U3NA7bBT__N/s400/12+Sleeping+Indian+Prince.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5403938686844502738" /></a>SLEEPING INDIAN PRINCE REVEALED<br />A lot of the other people had picked the formation to the right for the prince's nose, for some reason, but I could see the prince right away, and I can't not see him to this day. (That's one of my favorite misuses of grammar, if in fact it is a misuse.) I'll have to add a cropped shot of the prince to my "What Do You See?" file of observations from the natural world.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJUPT1bv4HAcBDF5WnDY-K4V8SViJyn7m806a0a3Ob7lZ19RmXwahFH5rwYBzr1WLgMdaKqqMUauqY69oX-nQDVrDVrkkh0rnRkavtPIC-N9JdqW8dPwC_ul357Sunav-9_S-HdEsCBhQF/s1600-h/13+Boquillas+Goods.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 296px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJUPT1bv4HAcBDF5WnDY-K4V8SViJyn7m806a0a3Ob7lZ19RmXwahFH5rwYBzr1WLgMdaKqqMUauqY69oX-nQDVrDVrkkh0rnRkavtPIC-N9JdqW8dPwC_ul357Sunav-9_S-HdEsCBhQF/s400/13+Boquillas+Goods.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5403939853480654626" /></a>BOQUILLAS GOODS<br />Moving on to do a hike into Boquillas Canyon (bad idea; hot day), we come across what is one of the sorest points to life here in Big Bend -- the closure of the border thanks to the 9/11 attacks. Due to that closure, the poor folks over in the little village of Boquillas, Mexico, who relied so heavily on our trade to make a living, now illegally cross over and set up these wares stands in the hopes that some unknowing visitor will drop their money in the jar for a sotol stalk hiking stick or wire sculpture. We at the park discourage any such activity -- and there is a pretty stiff fine for doing so, along with confiscation of the article -- but I can't help but feel for the artisans whose livelihood was taken away in such a drastic knee-jerk response to a situation they had nothing at all to do with. And such nice work, too. You can buy these very same articles in the Chisos Mountain Lodge gift shop, due to a trade agreement worked out with a woman from Marathon, but be sure to keep your receipt.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYkINGVrm5hJHUeURV6ZC1dVGzkBKMoOu-EiF7eGcFAGr8iN7vnU_J6ITVU-bNJT380rSy0GzcSqhIXMl7BDy7n1CcorFeAbV2SAdzTi0HUnj1udSgoKBkXU0HL3wvPacPhsRIj4RADulD/s1600-h/14+Rio+Grande+at+Boquillas.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYkINGVrm5hJHUeURV6ZC1dVGzkBKMoOu-EiF7eGcFAGr8iN7vnU_J6ITVU-bNJT380rSy0GzcSqhIXMl7BDy7n1CcorFeAbV2SAdzTi0HUnj1udSgoKBkXU0HL3wvPacPhsRIj4RADulD/s400/14+Rio+Grande+at+Boquillas.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5403942585742581858" /></a>RIO GRANDE VISTA<br />And so, with a view over the river of our neighbors a country away, I say Adios, amigos for now. I hope to see you all somewhere on down the trail. As always, thanks for tuning in.Highroadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02858295532318995042noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6958999517762277193.post-18662291663834838282009-10-25T05:33:00.000-07:002009-10-25T08:01:11.052-07:00Catchin' Up<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbnss9Aorm57CABUfY4gOYGUK4joMtN7LqxfplHp9w5opSq5p3KTlS8txadNyWkmG5n7mpycooByOPYkicgj36xT-IrvSscUggTPx18WTtBidY04qbg7s_o2B3AH8FX4ji9RtbBlwQvpx4/s1600-h/Beechcraft+T-34A+Mentor+N9JD+in+flight+1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 290px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbnss9Aorm57CABUfY4gOYGUK4joMtN7LqxfplHp9w5opSq5p3KTlS8txadNyWkmG5n7mpycooByOPYkicgj36xT-IrvSscUggTPx18WTtBidY04qbg7s_o2B3AH8FX4ji9RtbBlwQvpx4/s400/Beechcraft+T-34A+Mentor+N9JD+in+flight+1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5396517177354407138" /></a>Well, howdy everyone! I'll bet you thought I'd up and disappeared off into the desert, or something like that. No, I've just been too busy being lazy to sit down and tell you about it. There have been some exciting things going on, though, and this was one of them -- an aerial photo shoot of a Beechcraft T-34A Mentor decked out in the color scheme of the USAF Thunderbirds. Pretty cool, huh? Oh, yeah!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjgfvJo0-WxbwMpmSlxwqJkDzUJENQpnTV19KBEu3X3P4lqki0ZtdmkdZVf29x4v7qhw7WM5wpH7UtXKIOPlnR09hhI9-S2g1vrkLEpRkArtNdsLTw_QCPAUpsGw_DvktLhf4vghWjBz-r/s1600-h/01+Lone+Palm+by+Moonlight.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjgfvJo0-WxbwMpmSlxwqJkDzUJENQpnTV19KBEu3X3P4lqki0ZtdmkdZVf29x4v7qhw7WM5wpH7UtXKIOPlnR09hhI9-S2g1vrkLEpRkArtNdsLTw_QCPAUpsGw_DvktLhf4vghWjBz-r/s400/01+Lone+Palm+by+Moonlight.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5396515971651046370" /></a>Of course, not everything in life is so action-packed as an aerial photo shoot, nor should it be. Sometimes, it can be as quiet and simple as enjoying the effect of a desert full moon cascading upon your trailer home during one of our frequent blackouts in this area, as in this shot here. (Interior illumination courtesy of oil lantern and candles.) I was amazed at how much light was outside, considering it was around 4:30 in the morning when I took this shot. It was so dark, the autofocus in my camera had a hard time finding its target, but I managed a couple of nice shots from it.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0tmRVY7os42Wq_jNMr-r6CU5VaE6reE1YqDKFk88MRmh_QryeXPcMquxkoevPOwHMmrMdzUspnb8EI7Wj7YKTgUKIYkgJOhrGmFHumOFTYMAyTIgyAn3xHAun7dzUWWlYmTJGz5KGtqd8/s1600-h/02+Moon+in+the+Clouds.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0tmRVY7os42Wq_jNMr-r6CU5VaE6reE1YqDKFk88MRmh_QryeXPcMquxkoevPOwHMmrMdzUspnb8EI7Wj7YKTgUKIYkgJOhrGmFHumOFTYMAyTIgyAn3xHAun7dzUWWlYmTJGz5KGtqd8/s400/02+Moon+in+the+Clouds.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5396518204048125026" /></a>While we're on the subject of moons (or just "the moon" I suppose), here's a shot I just couldn't pass up while opening the Visitor Center one morning. There was just something so captivating about the clouds moving around the moon, I just had to have it. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh10TUwH8Al00s-l5KnW-m_cd3eU2aJnkGDynwX-8OntMOwzQHFBWuDv7W9T_qxuIapJ9sHVi8C31qhpKDva2wNPTLZUY-Fy-JOcB1zCTb8ByIczQjXX27HI4l3mrG6yej-pR0xTnu-PA8b/s1600-h/03+The+Post.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh10TUwH8Al00s-l5KnW-m_cd3eU2aJnkGDynwX-8OntMOwzQHFBWuDv7W9T_qxuIapJ9sHVi8C31qhpKDva2wNPTLZUY-Fy-JOcB1zCTb8ByIczQjXX27HI4l3mrG6yej-pR0xTnu-PA8b/s400/03+The+Post.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5396518865946910290" /></a>Then one day on the way back from my grocery run in Alpine, I decided I just couldn't stand it anymore and had to trek out the five miles south of Marathon to see what The Post everybody talks about was all about. (Fort Peña Colorado is its real name; an old Buffalo Soldier camp.) I was expecting a fort of some sort, but none was to be had, I'm afraid. What we have now is a huge picnic area, perfect for a family outing or a social event. I just missed a cabrito (goat) cook-off here, due to my chronic forgetfulness that seems to get worse as time goes on. Don't get me started on <i>that</i> subject!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY5_CEXU8aJEqL2XvQ1uR3I7ebed2DtgRGzeRzurI1kgDL7AKxym5zoraGjjjDWvhTYAJtbMUmm-utqgygkz9WMRYtzcf6jxMPhZJlaVNxVN5w4x7cm-Yh3nkDlO4n1df2LSKvS8_A_E0F/s1600-h/04+The+Ducks.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY5_CEXU8aJEqL2XvQ1uR3I7ebed2DtgRGzeRzurI1kgDL7AKxym5zoraGjjjDWvhTYAJtbMUmm-utqgygkz9WMRYtzcf6jxMPhZJlaVNxVN5w4x7cm-Yh3nkDlO4n1df2LSKvS8_A_E0F/s400/04+The+Ducks.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5396520428336305378" /></a>And here we have the El Quack-o Greeting Committee, three white ducks that greeted me and followed me around the place almost the whole time I was here. I'd forgotten how funny ducks can be in their simpleminded hunt for a handout. They were great company.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2zloStbSD5nhgrv94pdsOqTp_8RBXx0Ef4KX1QX1dieKxm2ZNmN5z6huMzhK1dIC8zRK7t6elkK-XqH4aVXk3zTG9qCwjUIWZQy_h1imhsbGQeQBiOzrvYpwAh8zGp9FbGgtW8eQtZiKb/s1600-h/05+Looking+Back.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2zloStbSD5nhgrv94pdsOqTp_8RBXx0Ef4KX1QX1dieKxm2ZNmN5z6huMzhK1dIC8zRK7t6elkK-XqH4aVXk3zTG9qCwjUIWZQy_h1imhsbGQeQBiOzrvYpwAh8zGp9FbGgtW8eQtZiKb/s400/05+Looking+Back.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5396521071461990914" /></a>And while I was down at this end of the park, I thought I'd take a shot looking back toward the parking lot. It's really a nice place to bring the kiddos for a romp in the outdoors, or to just bring yourself when you want to get away from life in the big city -- Marathon (pop. 455). <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDv17NVkLigk9AyoZ9idxzdivCxz-SlKVINgqY5x0IfoXsBEP9ym9vV5xVP1QuCV8KYFw3mWM1yDZAbMqJpXxxgh7KBuTDnUpmoNuDwxBfxgyqEKoiAPd7h0VgjkCMKjdumwPg7PY7GVcA/s1600-h/06+Two+Horses+1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 299px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDv17NVkLigk9AyoZ9idxzdivCxz-SlKVINgqY5x0IfoXsBEP9ym9vV5xVP1QuCV8KYFw3mWM1yDZAbMqJpXxxgh7KBuTDnUpmoNuDwxBfxgyqEKoiAPd7h0VgjkCMKjdumwPg7PY7GVcA/s400/06+Two+Horses+1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5396521695152228530" /></a>Then, on the way out, I came across these two horses who seemed posed for a photo, so I backed up and gave them a shot or two. They never ventured far from each other the whole time I clicked away.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicP7OEPySuVS-a68ItKZ_iFcc21kDMgU0EaHLWpMgnsl1eaqNnLhX2U5KI8WBvFu2QR48b-sFXrvzmP9CCAX2wSalnv5zkl-cJhiG_W3ReO_CsC2gXBpLw_kvh0ULwESZEGaOQx8pROmM8/s1600-h/07+Two+Horses+2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicP7OEPySuVS-a68ItKZ_iFcc21kDMgU0EaHLWpMgnsl1eaqNnLhX2U5KI8WBvFu2QR48b-sFXrvzmP9CCAX2wSalnv5zkl-cJhiG_W3ReO_CsC2gXBpLw_kvh0ULwESZEGaOQx8pROmM8/s400/07+Two+Horses+2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5396522182140229154" /></a>As I said, they were pretty close, so here's a somewhat normal shot for the series. Horses are funny critters, too.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM4t1HlHjDqkQ_i8AdZGLE3OckyLCeQxIEOMabMXldkqeQuCm092qfWJPUrBHqbNe0r_t7mlxjmRufN8dJcFkRcbz-cFN4sfD66r6Hma4jicLeh95EXM5Y_BeLmMTjEWCiGO6gOFHV0tl0/s1600-h/08+Two+Horses+3.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 298px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM4t1HlHjDqkQ_i8AdZGLE3OckyLCeQxIEOMabMXldkqeQuCm092qfWJPUrBHqbNe0r_t7mlxjmRufN8dJcFkRcbz-cFN4sfD66r6Hma4jicLeh95EXM5Y_BeLmMTjEWCiGO6gOFHV0tl0/s400/08+Two+Horses+3.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5396522690884276754" /></a>And for the last shot of the series, we have our two equine subjects posing as a Pushmi-pullyu from <i>Dr Doolittle</i>. Not a bad job of it, either, I might say.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRFpODf6q4vcxOLBBygecgGrI-ioj0taAcHF1WJf9eRUIKKSqcJ9xICw26zeEsAXKViF37q9WF0LhdaUaOXy1w1Nlc5TJULRpayh__0j-PL0UROF1fnA6YuZnZXdAJPWtTEzGI9L3RewE-/s1600-h/09+Morning+Light+Show.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRFpODf6q4vcxOLBBygecgGrI-ioj0taAcHF1WJf9eRUIKKSqcJ9xICw26zeEsAXKViF37q9WF0LhdaUaOXy1w1Nlc5TJULRpayh__0j-PL0UROF1fnA6YuZnZXdAJPWtTEzGI9L3RewE-/s400/09+Morning+Light+Show.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5396523152295740146" /></a>And now, for something a little more graphic in nature, we have this morning light show I caught while dressing for a little hike up the Persimmon Gap Draw Trail. What we're seeing here are the shadows of my bedroom's miniblinds caused by the reflection of the morning sun bouncing off Pepe's hood criss-crossed by the rays of the sun coming in through the blinds. Quite fascinating, I thought.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS8ES2g_qTW0wjMyI3yQX9n0fPkd2VluCQNrvqwKv92-H9DobfD56O_S726E2WFbuvcVlrcFqZtR97QP1udyZWlOICGwVzmScal9G7zjbrratI2XN3MTtLzFHqRjCU2ZnsXCWcUpgyk-yz/s1600-h/10+Persimmon+Gap+Trailhead.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS8ES2g_qTW0wjMyI3yQX9n0fPkd2VluCQNrvqwKv92-H9DobfD56O_S726E2WFbuvcVlrcFqZtR97QP1udyZWlOICGwVzmScal9G7zjbrratI2XN3MTtLzFHqRjCU2ZnsXCWcUpgyk-yz/s400/10+Persimmon+Gap+Trailhead.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5396524350412612050" /></a>But soon it was time to get down to business, which for today was a hike up the Persimmon Gap Draw Trail, which I've never done the whole time I've worked here. I'd gotten a report of excessive amounts of thorny things along the draw that turned back a couple wearing shorts, so I decided it was time to put on my Trail Crew hat again and have a look for myself. Armed with a pair of hand pruners and a folding saw, I hit the dusty draw in search of the offending plantlife. Before heading out, I rebuilt the cairn seen here under the little creosote bush, marking the trailhead. The said offending plantlife would turn out to be none other than our old friend, the catclaw (<i>acacia greggii</i>), the bush you see just beyond the creosote bush.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP3Q4E8FqKxqRqlntZh6nWnO5iPXPN0zKhUC9qMDz3RQOC6BknptLWOZBwNIDRIIXegH5IgFwXGi26w7dewOupast0KGhualCmUDe3mrzHyzxCSYdFBLruoV9omTG84qGAt_c77ICFXb9U/s1600-h/13+Catclaw.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP3Q4E8FqKxqRqlntZh6nWnO5iPXPN0zKhUC9qMDz3RQOC6BknptLWOZBwNIDRIIXegH5IgFwXGi26w7dewOupast0KGhualCmUDe3mrzHyzxCSYdFBLruoV9omTG84qGAt_c77ICFXb9U/s400/13+Catclaw.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5396525668326611282" /></a>And here we have a close-up of this nastiest of nasty bushes, whose common name "catclaw" is very well-deserved, I think. Its thorns look exactly like catclaws and are every bit as sharp, too. I once had one rip my favorite shirt to shreds, with three long gashes diagonally across the back. It looked like something out of <i>Jurassic Park</i> when it was all done. Luckily for me, none of the thorns achieved skin. I wouldn't be so lucky on this little outing.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLgSlwVXOOSG7g-UBiwW-6xiOZK3sRKCTuM1RFRfiW-zBUFOG6p3_HLz1D2VmQ2GGrD4VfDKQY6ODlBEIVmrts7MVx1X3jNezEFrVIzn9Da7Ijx7OSHnMuqVaPgOG3f8gTXBJp4TwiZMWQ/s1600-h/11+The+Pouroff.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLgSlwVXOOSG7g-UBiwW-6xiOZK3sRKCTuM1RFRfiW-zBUFOG6p3_HLz1D2VmQ2GGrD4VfDKQY6ODlBEIVmrts7MVx1X3jNezEFrVIzn9Da7Ijx7OSHnMuqVaPgOG3f8gTXBJp4TwiZMWQ/s400/11+The+Pouroff.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5396527368370871666" /></a>Well, I got so wrapped up in my endeavor (literally!), I never thought to include before-and-after photos of my work, not even of the catclaw bush completely traversing the trail. That would've been perfect. At any rate, we're finally here at the pouroff, which incidentally, is not the end of the trail. Apparently I missed a turn just back down the trail, which was poorly marked. It looks like a return trip is in order. Anyway, this was the end of the trail for me this time around, and a welcome end for this outing. All the shade was very nice, but the flies finally drove me out after a while. They seemed quite interested in all the fresh cuts along my arms and wouldn't go away no matter how much I swatted. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsVv2qCq8Q8fwHEGKOgSKlaFlMixejLih9ugwUZPD9XLh9_FbvGtrRLyAtC4VUVhRAj1MNr63izuPe0YZGnCgaI-2XQ4wcAdXeedPJYFJm4WZb5thkhyphenhyphenRo7px5pEQ2bu6H9FJDM4J9JSC7/s1600-h/12+Persimmon+Gap+Trail+View.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsVv2qCq8Q8fwHEGKOgSKlaFlMixejLih9ugwUZPD9XLh9_FbvGtrRLyAtC4VUVhRAj1MNr63izuPe0YZGnCgaI-2XQ4wcAdXeedPJYFJm4WZb5thkhyphenhyphenRo7px5pEQ2bu6H9FJDM4J9JSC7/s400/12+Persimmon+Gap+Trail+View.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5396528624507451810" /></a>And there was a pretty nice view from here, too, although I've heard the view from above is much better. Oh, well. This one would have to do for today; I'll get to the other one on my next trip. I did -- and suffered -- enough damage for one day. The long, white thing you see off in the distance are the new apartments at Persimmon Gap, or will be if they ever get finished. (You can click on the picture for a larger view.)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGXt-T5VuFcVbg9V66iivt4O0M-PlRISyTCP5iM-SHwYexyaVA2w-lYwGzGOk9TW-KyeRpRgl_iWlJdJXPlFlyoOLnKNt19mHNGkZuNGezp2H41TUZzFf3Nb77HrsV0MXu-WKoOxrCb3TF/s1600-h/14+The+Damage+Done.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGXt-T5VuFcVbg9V66iivt4O0M-PlRISyTCP5iM-SHwYexyaVA2w-lYwGzGOk9TW-KyeRpRgl_iWlJdJXPlFlyoOLnKNt19mHNGkZuNGezp2H41TUZzFf3Nb77HrsV0MXu-WKoOxrCb3TF/s400/14+The+Damage+Done.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5396529618479894498" /></a>Just so you'll know what to expect if and when you go up against <i>acacia greggii</i>, here's a testament to its effectiveness. Next time I'm bringing loppers to keep from having to reach so far into the bush to get at it. They would've been a big help, believe me.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFYha2O9mMgVKVG0-ePTpzmNuXtG1r9ED7TGXj2w4seHB4fp15nOnPF0tWYO9546B_tVb3CbWwGKXznBhM_rBzr5vfdm4ALWnMTJtCWDpL_LaTxj1h6RKqh3XE9dwOFpF33AoeS9yMOlXZ/s1600-h/15+Twister+Moon.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFYha2O9mMgVKVG0-ePTpzmNuXtG1r9ED7TGXj2w4seHB4fp15nOnPF0tWYO9546B_tVb3CbWwGKXznBhM_rBzr5vfdm4ALWnMTJtCWDpL_LaTxj1h6RKqh3XE9dwOFpF33AoeS9yMOlXZ/s400/15+Twister+Moon.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5396530711892398514" /></a>And so, to end on a more soothing note, here's a shot I took the following day on my way to work I call "Twister Moon." Unfortunately, I had someone behind me when I first saw this phenomenon and couldn't pull over right away, so the moon is a little off-center, but the effect is still there. It's amazing the things you see sometimes. <br /><br />So, dear friends, I guess that's just about all for this time around. Thanks for stopping in.Highroadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02858295532318995042noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6958999517762277193.post-21597635816757140082009-08-02T10:02:00.000-07:002009-08-02T16:56:37.184-07:00Four Bugs and a Mockingbird<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK1gJON2thTJcGJ54xltTI8gj3_eMqz-hlSrflVsD17gF2c-huw2zM-s3c81mN9sHGvTHS8yvYEQtTz5uEABScSowrme7-GXXbQTJDqOJJIN4RzJvRsEvwlJxdUEASFuZZzNCXxgz4nFz3/s1600-h/Chinch+Bug+Butt-up.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK1gJON2thTJcGJ54xltTI8gj3_eMqz-hlSrflVsD17gF2c-huw2zM-s3c81mN9sHGvTHS8yvYEQtTz5uEABScSowrme7-GXXbQTJDqOJJIN4RzJvRsEvwlJxdUEASFuZZzNCXxgz4nFz3/s400/Chinch+Bug+Butt-up.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5365413418646349698" /></a>Hello again, folks, and welcome to another edition of Doug Duncan, Amateur Entymologist. I've had such fun lately taking photographs of our wee winged friends, I've decided to post a few more just for fun. Here's another variety of a past subject of mine -- the Chinch Bug. I found this little guy on the Window Trail a few weeks back, and he seems a bit perturbed at my photographic persistence. I don't know if his abdomen is capable of spraying or not, or if it's just the least tasty part of his body, but he's certainly got it up for me.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjau3YLZ-OU6N_bGmO2jjWkIw4IZgZNZ2mq1BP-fgZ55WbekXphJ5xdqZuAilL-Ab_hl2Vq14LYTxvfAV27H2JNNj5MBo9NB6kALKR4Bd8ke31mdfL9glfmHiUvfWt6Z98Kew1MWbO3KGjB/s1600-h/Chinch+Bug+Profile.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 301px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjau3YLZ-OU6N_bGmO2jjWkIw4IZgZNZ2mq1BP-fgZ55WbekXphJ5xdqZuAilL-Ab_hl2Vq14LYTxvfAV27H2JNNj5MBo9NB6kALKR4Bd8ke31mdfL9glfmHiUvfWt6Z98Kew1MWbO3KGjB/s400/Chinch+Bug+Profile.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5365414419984099250" /></a>Well, it would seem that he's either decided that my presence is okay, or else he's just finally given up trying to scare me off. Now he's just trying to get away as fast as he can, but he didn't reckon with Doug Duncan, AE.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_WbSD47tS-s7tyRucmVAGOyqDSErEZlkAk5EoF7qS2DIhcF24o7IX7NGSurEaoemFLi1XFevywwljmoncSWIisfsy7gcPew-nsI6U6bWDpCEKSVwfHkHryag6Ra2VM1X5K9mXuiQhxVFG/s1600-h/Lubber.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 299px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_WbSD47tS-s7tyRucmVAGOyqDSErEZlkAk5EoF7qS2DIhcF24o7IX7NGSurEaoemFLi1XFevywwljmoncSWIisfsy7gcPew-nsI6U6bWDpCEKSVwfHkHryag6Ra2VM1X5K9mXuiQhxVFG/s400/Lubber.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5365415477270259010" /></a>Another denizen of the park I ran across at work one day is the beautifully-colored Lubber Grasshopper, seen here in its early phase before it grow its wings. This guy was very shy and wouldn't hold still for a photo, but I didn't let that stop me.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP_K5NFj0K0835roWDrcuihtnRB4fmRd0ngTRJlm9eJgLPBzbaTmQFx4i4Q3eRBvgGHfw6Kijxht2IyPvkvgYmhXEEvcGURBHHs02mDSnCr7mhakWmqVmN-IEkaZxd8o0lLxoWmLHJQdeD/s1600-h/Winged+Lubber+on+the+move.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP_K5NFj0K0835roWDrcuihtnRB4fmRd0ngTRJlm9eJgLPBzbaTmQFx4i4Q3eRBvgGHfw6Kijxht2IyPvkvgYmhXEEvcGURBHHs02mDSnCr7mhakWmqVmN-IEkaZxd8o0lLxoWmLHJQdeD/s400/Winged+Lubber+on+the+move.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5365416255306235010" /></a>Here's a more recent photo of a Lubber, taken just a few days ago on my way to Panther Junction. I'd seen about a hundred of these dark objects slowly crawling across the road on some mad suicide mission (I was dodging them like mad for a few miles trying to give them a break, but then stopped so I wouldn't get pulled over for drunk driving), so I finally stopped and took a picture of one. You can see they've started sprouting their wings now.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCYq4fLV00U8oohExB2z74anMP13m6A5kz1SlZONaEpecqPhAju2SAIxW1kJEAUgAfUuh-MzJ0MgZqMNB8-y_fHLZLExqqobQTqfeXkV_Zmufhz9auWJrw8uWAijDNi5YJi99rRle265BD/s1600-h/Lubbers+in+Lub.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCYq4fLV00U8oohExB2z74anMP13m6A5kz1SlZONaEpecqPhAju2SAIxW1kJEAUgAfUuh-MzJ0MgZqMNB8-y_fHLZLExqqobQTqfeXkV_Zmufhz9auWJrw8uWAijDNi5YJi99rRle265BD/s400/Lubbers+in+Lub.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5365417148459770178" /></a>Then look at what I found on my thermometer just yesterday -- two Lubbers in the midst of reproduction. Casting all decency aside, I promptly ran back into the trailer and grabbed my camera. I call this shot "Lubbers In Lub." (groan!) <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFxBBZ5jGEvLvMVRtTy8TkPFe4h4mNtVA8d_DkG6w52fy85IXFPMy3I230ziz8_y3wRa1O7FaTZvFEPk5GJ9oRz1iMpMIlULqQKJiRfJgXkTb8s_qboRm53FNgQ4fRMQJj7WiKf01XjTGX/s1600-h/Lubbers+Doin%27+It.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFxBBZ5jGEvLvMVRtTy8TkPFe4h4mNtVA8d_DkG6w52fy85IXFPMy3I230ziz8_y3wRa1O7FaTZvFEPk5GJ9oRz1iMpMIlULqQKJiRfJgXkTb8s_qboRm53FNgQ4fRMQJj7WiKf01XjTGX/s400/Lubbers+Doin%27+It.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5365417782537885250" /></a>Since these two were being such wonderful models (other things on their mind there, Doug), I took the opportunity to engage in a little scientific photography, capturing the very workings of their reproductive organs. This is a really great shot, I think. You can click on the picture to enlarge it, if you want to see it up close. It's really fascinating. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDvwF7v73P4SCe8Fpb7KVG6MKK7husCEhYbWLbQZQPQ20gqUgtqRXu-uCGQQJTNZiOhjB-kfl8Qu-tlQ59M89YxYp6MJKMveyzFROGWOqIxE2GiekZidV36qHgsn5sorKfTg_82SLmVQap/s1600-h/Katydid+1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDvwF7v73P4SCe8Fpb7KVG6MKK7husCEhYbWLbQZQPQ20gqUgtqRXu-uCGQQJTNZiOhjB-kfl8Qu-tlQ59M89YxYp6MJKMveyzFROGWOqIxE2GiekZidV36qHgsn5sorKfTg_82SLmVQap/s400/Katydid+1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5365418523009618914" /></a>Okay, moving right along to more G-Rated endeavors, here we have a young Katydid, captured in the early morning light. It, too, hasn't yet sprouted its wings. They're such beautiful little creatures, all lime green.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLfm-plFfAJiQpxnUgLyHZi_L3lctX203wEuy-iZ2MVRwvXfDa_HDm6y2ymqnXuIfZBn5hiUY5gLt0JJVB8FQwsiBmi088TppMYpPi92v6VkxcbYvOd2MR8v0GTDrqUiCuUXO_RDoblAYH/s1600-h/Katydid+2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 293px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLfm-plFfAJiQpxnUgLyHZi_L3lctX203wEuy-iZ2MVRwvXfDa_HDm6y2ymqnXuIfZBn5hiUY5gLt0JJVB8FQwsiBmi088TppMYpPi92v6VkxcbYvOd2MR8v0GTDrqUiCuUXO_RDoblAYH/s400/Katydid+2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5365419480763694562" /></a>He, too -- or should that be "She, too"? -- didn't much care for having his/her photo taken, but its attempt at escape allowed me to capture it in a different light.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJJiWdiaykHYy4CXwLton3c8u8NyddIVzsUP-ZK5xYUqQJ3ql3uLH1A2rbsgnN-u0oAHLUfAjtaFrx9gv329cMCQ1G-xiD5t_zCdwxpte66Zt6qEM8aBxX4Wg8cbKKz_z78j-QGCayPQYz/s1600-h/Winged+Katydid.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJJiWdiaykHYy4CXwLton3c8u8NyddIVzsUP-ZK5xYUqQJ3ql3uLH1A2rbsgnN-u0oAHLUfAjtaFrx9gv329cMCQ1G-xiD5t_zCdwxpte66Zt6qEM8aBxX4Wg8cbKKz_z78j-QGCayPQYz/s400/Winged+Katydid.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5365420005361222786" /></a>And here we have a shot taken just yesterday, with its wings now grown out and ready for flight. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzixUo9lJxEql7SnFtqvZ5uv80gT7IyrBqX5lg1F05D_bz-Ci7y7AlNJa0JoSIBVJvlHiuH6N-EyDDjFxsOxK9zCIlSNA352iLErN6G4fcMaGuVq5u4V__WGappvFu2fwfavXfaATHOlLW/s1600-h/Spider+and+Lunch.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzixUo9lJxEql7SnFtqvZ5uv80gT7IyrBqX5lg1F05D_bz-Ci7y7AlNJa0JoSIBVJvlHiuH6N-EyDDjFxsOxK9zCIlSNA352iLErN6G4fcMaGuVq5u4V__WGappvFu2fwfavXfaATHOlLW/s400/Spider+and+Lunch.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5365420455934898242" /></a>And here we have one that didn't quite make it, ending up as a nice, tasty lunch for one of our local spiders (variety unknown). Well, that's life in the Great Outdoors for you, I suppose.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6XM26o9keafsx2hyphenhyphen8HNZlYSK_L27_MBj98XdVphexADs21-3HJDnlrp0BchclUwSTFo1YywNv7tkMNbRxQ9NtEj4IUBS9Fvi-cVlG-7FtioZNOfATjCI2IEFvadvIBzMyVRv80SV0mNZf/s1600-h/Woodpecker+Chick.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6XM26o9keafsx2hyphenhyphen8HNZlYSK_L27_MBj98XdVphexADs21-3HJDnlrp0BchclUwSTFo1YywNv7tkMNbRxQ9NtEj4IUBS9Fvi-cVlG-7FtioZNOfATjCI2IEFvadvIBzMyVRv80SV0mNZf/s400/Woodpecker+Chick.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5365421103291095090" /></a>And last but not least, here we have a Mockingbird chick, clinging for all it's worth to the side of a tree. At first I thought it was a Ladderback Woodpecker, due to the way it's clinging so tightly to the trunk, but there is a Mockingbird nest in this particular tree, right over my front door. With those markings, it has to be a Mockingbird.<br /><br />Well, I guess that's about it for this edition. Thanks for tuning in!Highroadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02858295532318995042noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6958999517762277193.post-14395768911279323962009-06-30T13:05:00.000-07:002009-06-30T13:35:52.778-07:00Planes, Floods, and Vinegaroons<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjKvgaPFPGCjg02zKqxpuYxF74DeIKsgQu0qvyF9t3kxpyHcor2vma45YMDGodDN5y2IIcmEZlXJuIXtlv6VJhEsVVzWy-T6qliJVrxmYkUOgPw_E_exqeldQVIglpAwYepTAeYprfqXlb/s1600-h/Cessna+180+%5B1954%5D+N9042C.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 284px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjKvgaPFPGCjg02zKqxpuYxF74DeIKsgQu0qvyF9t3kxpyHcor2vma45YMDGodDN5y2IIcmEZlXJuIXtlv6VJhEsVVzWy-T6qliJVrxmYkUOgPw_E_exqeldQVIglpAwYepTAeYprfqXlb/s400/Cessna+180+%5B1954%5D+N9042C.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353215386413918674" /></a>Well, this day started off nicely. I was sitting at home working on some old family photos in Photoshop, when I heard a plane buzz the trailer. I ran outside and saw this Cessna 180 from the nearby Stovall Ranch breezing in with half flaps and landing on the dirt airstrip at the Stillwell RV Park. I didn't even know where it was, but I sure do now. I grabbed my camera and off I went to document this beautiful, new visitor.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-HQZNjTwlN1uvEVLVGxMEU016KtfVfjabK2teC6ifNbmKlZOhT07AwqgiB9Fm5TfeQMx-HrNYXfu0msaO8hYVQpiHG6T2f4plWeqicsfg5McR_PecEdO3k8eHsCSdJCUf33K-kvEV37kN/s1600-h/01+Contrabando+Corral.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-HQZNjTwlN1uvEVLVGxMEU016KtfVfjabK2teC6ifNbmKlZOhT07AwqgiB9Fm5TfeQMx-HrNYXfu0msaO8hYVQpiHG6T2f4plWeqicsfg5McR_PecEdO3k8eHsCSdJCUf33K-kvEV37kN/s400/01+Contrabando+Corral.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353214650317047538" /></a>The main item on this day's agenda was lunch and a swim with my friends, Jennifer and Romaldo in Terlingua. Having made good time getting to town, I decided to bop on down the River Road (FM170) through Lajitas to see what the October flood did to the Contrabando movie set, I was amazed to find most of this "stone" corral missing. The rest of it is in the floodpath, but seems to have held up by some sort of miracle. Nothing the boys in Hollywood can't fix. You can see that from here all the way over to the tree line on the other side is where the river was coursing through during the flood. That's a lot of water.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHnQ_kK7IAQziNaZC7iTW-9Icmi70_KRbh_DIHLgZGGo1abdBPQ-1J-Lat0c6Ft8X03EH-U1mVV12YDvMy9GSHyBB7AgXs1L-WUm_oUlGSvG3sAiWwyhfKBaz_Jc1wssbbZUj0-Y5NRZiD/s1600-h/02+Contrabando+Building+Interior.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHnQ_kK7IAQziNaZC7iTW-9Icmi70_KRbh_DIHLgZGGo1abdBPQ-1J-Lat0c6Ft8X03EH-U1mVV12YDvMy9GSHyBB7AgXs1L-WUm_oUlGSvG3sAiWwyhfKBaz_Jc1wssbbZUj0-Y5NRZiD/s400/02+Contrabando+Building+Interior.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353216975382328722" /></a>Peeking into one of the set's buildings, I found the dirt floor still awash with mud from the recent rains. This was not part of the flood damage; just runoff from the hill out back.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1VN0IMzG4w7HnisoRYoZFIMM8qQJC5yL23XukND3mjped38t6GC7aFGa8sPVMG4BYX4eYf3BEUVO4vj-Ke0cOWwE8YFr8oyVaIw9D5e5eyOA8MsIvA55aDbB-TW5i_Cec_plVXwkKATwP/s1600-h/03+Contrabando+Church+From+Hill.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1VN0IMzG4w7HnisoRYoZFIMM8qQJC5yL23XukND3mjped38t6GC7aFGa8sPVMG4BYX4eYf3BEUVO4vj-Ke0cOWwE8YFr8oyVaIw9D5e5eyOA8MsIvA55aDbB-TW5i_Cec_plVXwkKATwP/s400/03+Contrabando+Church+From+Hill.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353217428902603106" /></a>Well, I can certainly see a difference already, as this hill is a lot more pronounced than it was the last time I was through here, plus these plants weren't here, either. Looks like some invasive species has set up house. That's the set's church we're headed for down below.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-BxGfc0tCTWgdfOS6kUVGOY7oczTMywycdzrtL8Q8UAdq1ruGfplo0RVuScwIGA1Ckl8f-vLcv2UQyGL0M7ztZuCVFf4_DVHHzpU44JVxfG21pXIKOvWD8ERAuvgdn4K7q_PveayBkSP8/s1600-h/04+Contrabando+Church.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-BxGfc0tCTWgdfOS6kUVGOY7oczTMywycdzrtL8Q8UAdq1ruGfplo0RVuScwIGA1Ckl8f-vLcv2UQyGL0M7ztZuCVFf4_DVHHzpU44JVxfG21pXIKOvWD8ERAuvgdn4K7q_PveayBkSP8/s400/04+Contrabando+Church.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353218084493233250" /></a>Well, you can certainly see where the high-water mark was here. All the paint and most of the plaster has been eroded off in the current. At least the building's still standing, as again it's nothing that can't be fixed.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuR7PYicCBuhWzM2KqMen-9dZRXR5Y44-IInltFJ_Qqafbe0NW0ZewzajOYR66Cr8DZPYiSZj3OYPOU3mO7JqMa7a1pHJVzigYakLd3873k90ZwSOkRzb-fTtLkMw8ScwxWoF_nUvwyn7P/s1600-h/05+Contrabando+Church+Doorway.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuR7PYicCBuhWzM2KqMen-9dZRXR5Y44-IInltFJ_Qqafbe0NW0ZewzajOYR66Cr8DZPYiSZj3OYPOU3mO7JqMa7a1pHJVzigYakLd3873k90ZwSOkRzb-fTtLkMw8ScwxWoF_nUvwyn7P/s400/05+Contrabando+Church+Doorway.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353218631022359394" /></a>Take a look at all the junk the river put up in the top of the doorway. Lots of current action going on in here. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIdPbgTggO0N_u30EuQJ5jqQg9k9v9nUnA0Ag-YkWCNR5EY0FkzV7qbf4SP7lXI63WGUH-Oj1xbnqjK6HlAvkteTfeb5mB7OUt8lW4a5J9e44ccB6X0rWPTlHnCp543oPVaoOQMfCQ4-Zt/s1600-h/06+Contrabando+Church+Interior.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIdPbgTggO0N_u30EuQJ5jqQg9k9v9nUnA0Ag-YkWCNR5EY0FkzV7qbf4SP7lXI63WGUH-Oj1xbnqjK6HlAvkteTfeb5mB7OUt8lW4a5J9e44ccB6X0rWPTlHnCp543oPVaoOQMfCQ4-Zt/s400/06+Contrabando+Church+Interior.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353219005167992226" /></a>A quick look inside shows all the interior baffle walls have been knocked out. They use them to block the camera's view of the interior so the actors can move around inside without being filmed.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcGxPow5iBUjz3rjr9bdic7QPRwFfF784-4VjBQUqOZ02kMl5S2yIDgBl7PF9ryjn2Z0HxJkF9w_11VltCeVSWWvGOx5NcC2JKxw0fUquDyymXoBfiyLWMIE1DaxjnIwq9fcpcJUWMxbkP/s1600-h/07+Contrabando+Well.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcGxPow5iBUjz3rjr9bdic7QPRwFfF784-4VjBQUqOZ02kMl5S2yIDgBl7PF9ryjn2Z0HxJkF9w_11VltCeVSWWvGOx5NcC2JKxw0fUquDyymXoBfiyLWMIE1DaxjnIwq9fcpcJUWMxbkP/s400/07+Contrabando+Well.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353219535865743074" /></a>Here's a good indication of the power of the river. This well used to be sitting up on a hill overlooking the river, but is now falling down the new hill created by it. That's a little too much action, folks. CUT!!!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY1zZ7hb-3c_oSGCGKE-G9hECnQx53pLFHGS2sp3MS2AFl53J2TJQXO5iSSRAvI1g3PAOHkwOylFuPsFjKH9ar-Zq9cXFXJbLtv25SXbl-tkRC0i4_U7W9FWJF3hKKbSSoPAKeMDHd7rb_/s1600-h/08+Vinegaroon.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 306px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY1zZ7hb-3c_oSGCGKE-G9hECnQx53pLFHGS2sp3MS2AFl53J2TJQXO5iSSRAvI1g3PAOHkwOylFuPsFjKH9ar-Zq9cXFXJbLtv25SXbl-tkRC0i4_U7W9FWJF3hKKbSSoPAKeMDHd7rb_/s400/08+Vinegaroon.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353220161720447554" /></a>And last but not least, we have yet another denizen of the desert -- the Vinegaroon, or Whip-tailed Scorpion. This nasty-looking little critter isn't nearly as harmful as some of its brethren, as its pincers are the only thing to be aware of. The whip on the end of the tail is just for show, but it can give off a blast of scent from the base when annoyed which smells like vinegar, hence the name. This guy lives under my car-top carrier in front of my trailer.<br /><br />Well, I guess that just about does it for this installment. Thanks for tuning in.Highroadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02858295532318995042noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6958999517762277193.post-2244885713239776892009-06-19T09:18:00.001-07:002009-06-19T13:16:07.811-07:00Clouds, Critters, and Colorful Things<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO_aBYwOijHg1d5PIcgSS8EFihCPUvYy5JP-RGSNxsJ1sWIBZLpTFVAqvuVUAOjO-Ss353v72lmr82RmS1B-IqnJcO8ndAdR7e1Vr7nDdMAodbqwUlo-s3chC1MelqivdrvdE1ywgMvNp0/s1600-h/Columbia+Tri-Star+Cloud.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO_aBYwOijHg1d5PIcgSS8EFihCPUvYy5JP-RGSNxsJ1sWIBZLpTFVAqvuVUAOjO-Ss353v72lmr82RmS1B-IqnJcO8ndAdR7e1Vr7nDdMAodbqwUlo-s3chC1MelqivdrvdE1ywgMvNp0/s400/Columbia+Tri-Star+Cloud.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349074008939426882" /></a>Hello again, everyone. Well's it's been a while since my last entry, so I thought I'd entertain you with a few more shots from around the place. When last I wrote, we were getting kicked around pretty good by some thunderstorms, and it hasn't let up too much lately. While sitting at the computer one evening, I noticed a warm, golden glow coming in from the window behind the computer and looked out to see this billowing thunderhead looming off to the south, bathed in the warm rays of the sunset. I kept looking at it and looking at it, sure I'd seen it somewhere before but couldn't remember where. Then, the other day I was watching a movie put out by Columbia Tri-Star and there it was! It's the cloud in the background behind the woman. I knew I'd seen it!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5Qv8Benr5EDcF5bvjtxZDa8DvwAjeI-LNIK8JIspExeyxAl8Pck0I_QwiFzuazpUI-AXLK69Jvf03rZRSDZlm8cjHAuAlImQp3DagRfYssJOwvDSEYY_7nWN1hgZJCy8VWGxs8oBmZrLA/s1600-h/Mammutus+Clouds.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5Qv8Benr5EDcF5bvjtxZDa8DvwAjeI-LNIK8JIspExeyxAl8Pck0I_QwiFzuazpUI-AXLK69Jvf03rZRSDZlm8cjHAuAlImQp3DagRfYssJOwvDSEYY_7nWN1hgZJCy8VWGxs8oBmZrLA/s400/Mammutus+Clouds.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349075180445400818" /></a>And on the heels of that were these odd-looking clouds -- our old friends the mammutus clouds. Remember, I told you they were associated with violent weather? Well, these didn't have any teeth to them this time around, as they don't look too well-formed, but it definitely could've happened. We got hit pretty good, anyway, so someone else might've gotten hammered.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKOrwidwx61M29xQjcVfjlhtiZWhhEk4OIHWZpvKom93pvdEJaUjF_7xLakDp4ouujngYM7YwV2SWIxFYO9WGiu1tOmlsuGD_HNnDx5Iv5Ke8uP7wxGGmGyhX9PqPqTGX1AV7EAnqIIswK/s1600-h/Scorpion.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKOrwidwx61M29xQjcVfjlhtiZWhhEk4OIHWZpvKom93pvdEJaUjF_7xLakDp4ouujngYM7YwV2SWIxFYO9WGiu1tOmlsuGD_HNnDx5Iv5Ke8uP7wxGGmGyhX9PqPqTGX1AV7EAnqIIswK/s400/Scorpion.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349075915403597362" /></a>Moving on to the critter portion of our show, here's somebody I ran across as I opened the Open/Closed sign the other morning. Found himself a real cozy spot to sleep the night, he did. He was very agreeable to sit still while I ran in and got my camera and took a few shots of him.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiutv_jVh9VvVCEMesaWzO8qUMwUf-J0p0LK8H1fbU3HDs6dIcLzzUCaFjC-NoU201RPB78FgyVErSHi6jHSeXgAMqHgk2CjNp4p2yN_oqoTTl_Bz8ygF29XhVighcW3PgMyZI0_m_gRyfm/s1600-h/Scorpion+and+Finger.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiutv_jVh9VvVCEMesaWzO8qUMwUf-J0p0LK8H1fbU3HDs6dIcLzzUCaFjC-NoU201RPB78FgyVErSHi6jHSeXgAMqHgk2CjNp4p2yN_oqoTTl_Bz8ygF29XhVighcW3PgMyZI0_m_gRyfm/s400/Scorpion+and+Finger.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349076428105200882" /></a>He did, however, have some doubts as I attempted to add something in the shot for scale -- my finger. After I got through taking this shot, I thought I'd poke him and get him to raise up. (I ain't the sharpest tool in the shed sometimes.) All he did at that point was drop off the sign and scurry off into the bushes. Oh, well. Better than a poke in the finger with a stinger. I mean, really, Doug!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8WJyjmLjw3PgNaqT__vX_1gbc4SsbD-4BzIcmvgSM2y745F7jBJBsc8U6lp85-_pB3QOyUDoOnTCGflZutY85lfZh1R1qrmdMb37FSheo-SSaEYRMM7XBTNg4T-PpFTYTKCBuNNCtoQ6d/s1600-h/Chinch+Bug.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8WJyjmLjw3PgNaqT__vX_1gbc4SsbD-4BzIcmvgSM2y745F7jBJBsc8U6lp85-_pB3QOyUDoOnTCGflZutY85lfZh1R1qrmdMb37FSheo-SSaEYRMM7XBTNg4T-PpFTYTKCBuNNCtoQ6d/s400/Chinch+Bug.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349077440206763154" /></a>Here's another nasty-looking critter I came across the other day on a hike -- an Assassin Beetle, or Chinch Bug as my Grandpa used to call them. I'm not sure if they're really as nasty as they look, but I've never given them the opportunity to teach me, either. They do stink when squashed, I know that.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ_iZhy2uYxCxaGy-o9D5syLoKEt6bozrqXaABTdr-DsXGoyXEf6vI1paEjV2L_C-qxUiPAHhdkwx12qfeakbcGCAmIqAwK39KSLChVHr-eTByN43iyeQiXJSs8wRb01yJcgtqJEr0kTnH/s1600-h/Boinkin'+Bugs.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ_iZhy2uYxCxaGy-o9D5syLoKEt6bozrqXaABTdr-DsXGoyXEf6vI1paEjV2L_C-qxUiPAHhdkwx12qfeakbcGCAmIqAwK39KSLChVHr-eTByN43iyeQiXJSs8wRb01yJcgtqJEr0kTnH/s400/Boinkin'+Bugs.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349078132984984658" /></a>And here we have a couple of bugs doing it, right there in broad daylight. I don't know what kind of bugs these are, so I just call them Boinkin' Bugs. As I prepared to shoot another picture, they suddenly became self-conscious and disengaged and flew off. Well, if you're going to indulge in that kind of activity in public, you have to expect the <i>paparazzi</i> to show up some time or another. Just ask anyone in Hollywood.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-J7pUvIfW-THMwg6TGR_SOocXmxcEHDRtNMAA07ElCi2v62otrBmtWInC4mWtlY_MUnYu9SFugevEWUgIbgp9nkKTGaHnAfF_1TbiE70hDVLa5B47SU_63EdyfhkSOpHbnxQx8w0Ec0aL/s1600-h/Ocotillo+Leaves.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-J7pUvIfW-THMwg6TGR_SOocXmxcEHDRtNMAA07ElCi2v62otrBmtWInC4mWtlY_MUnYu9SFugevEWUgIbgp9nkKTGaHnAfF_1TbiE70hDVLa5B47SU_63EdyfhkSOpHbnxQx8w0Ec0aL/s400/Ocotillo+Leaves.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349079467818090834" /></a>All the rain we've been getting from these thunderstorm has really greened up the desert nicely these days. All the ocotillo -- which normally look dead and lifeless and very thorny -- have got leaves out all over the place. Once the rain stops and things begin to dry out again, they'll drop their leaves to conserve water.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFiUYXFCXCeVEUX106I3seb50C9AEs2gfvtymylSfKVH3XpXRFEugji3sQgCFN2gSuDwYETcnDbvwBZF-djDDVZXV1DOU9XvPU_sttBrUCPhZRjP-dNMlObL8N9sOSrM1yPCSqky_s47mM/s1600-h/Sotol+Bloom.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 292px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFiUYXFCXCeVEUX106I3seb50C9AEs2gfvtymylSfKVH3XpXRFEugji3sQgCFN2gSuDwYETcnDbvwBZF-djDDVZXV1DOU9XvPU_sttBrUCPhZRjP-dNMlObL8N9sOSrM1yPCSqky_s47mM/s400/Sotol+Bloom.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349080243619947618" /></a>Never having been out here in the desert in the summer before (okay, sometimes I <i>am</i> fairly sharp), I'd never seen the sotol blooms opened up. What a curious little cluster of what I can only assume are stamen used in pollenation. Very interesting. They remind me of eggs under the tail of a female lobster.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3nFvlISJ3WORQSaruXNy3pPT1MIpwXBMzKuAnB160q1uIkNpoIfgNFgxHopFPROj5mYac23WBORcj2ztEv9Sj4p77N1_laLpgROJQ6AnvqmG4M2iUde2Hskr_J6xVZLjxPnUS1T_g2Qsg/s1600-h/Cenizo+Bloom.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 308px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3nFvlISJ3WORQSaruXNy3pPT1MIpwXBMzKuAnB160q1uIkNpoIfgNFgxHopFPROj5mYac23WBORcj2ztEv9Sj4p77N1_laLpgROJQ6AnvqmG4M2iUde2Hskr_J6xVZLjxPnUS1T_g2Qsg/s400/Cenizo+Bloom.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349080870737502306" /></a>And here we have our last entry of this post -- the cenizo in bloom. They really are quite delicate and beautiful, a perfect match for their velvety leaves. The colors go well together, don't you think?<br /><br />Okay, I guess that'll just about catch us up for now. As always, thanks for tuning in.Highroadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02858295532318995042noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6958999517762277193.post-74039269847988998842009-05-16T08:24:00.001-07:002009-05-16T11:17:51.580-07:00Texas Weather<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwmTraYaOE2nuHtD8dWdBWgw-5DmtwTqI61oHcfjrJQ2tN8m3yiIwDmdy8qPl1eAHuCpcemyhN32zLwq4JOVRkbs16YcD1nRHq5HwlH3jFJi1ZkNYVke5blOvN1ZsB7CWL1E7Sg1V-hDC-/s1600-h/01+Thunderclouds.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwmTraYaOE2nuHtD8dWdBWgw-5DmtwTqI61oHcfjrJQ2tN8m3yiIwDmdy8qPl1eAHuCpcemyhN32zLwq4JOVRkbs16YcD1nRHq5HwlH3jFJi1ZkNYVke5blOvN1ZsB7CWL1E7Sg1V-hDC-/s400/01+Thunderclouds.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5336443336595457650"></a>Welcome to my first Texas summer in ages, and all that that entails -- namely thunderstorms. Here's a thundercloud out to the east, possibly over Lake Amistad, although I can't be certain of that. I've since found out that you don't have to be near a large body of water to get the crap kicked out of you. One of these storms came rolling in the other day and I thought my trailer was going to get blown over. What a ride! Why I didn't catch the effect on video is beyond me. Dang!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN-fwqxyX_589RZIjD5NocWk2QGcs_vEjH-m1KggyNZvNz-3mIIe6C4mzuMTQbthTbpvA4QeqZdtebqeWA0KAbZk0vzt-xlsuYcF8e-43oBEF8tWWLu-TaeG9P9zjGIwQv0CP9cYzCZrp5/s1600-h/02+Thunderclouds.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN-fwqxyX_589RZIjD5NocWk2QGcs_vEjH-m1KggyNZvNz-3mIIe6C4mzuMTQbthTbpvA4QeqZdtebqeWA0KAbZk0vzt-xlsuYcF8e-43oBEF8tWWLu-TaeG9P9zjGIwQv0CP9cYzCZrp5/s400/02+Thunderclouds.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5336444469432999602"></a>And here's another big bruiser, this one a little closer but still in the same general direction. This one is shaping up nicely.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAfqLBIQyQJ3IHOAByv3i39EY106e0Tty-PTg4PGvA-oM5Wv33XPziM_XgyVSrA10lJXnpfED2ZaVkL12yhiQaGy66SwwcV7kjl-cQTTOmU2G-1hK6RfoVKQIvu4ZaQ9BjQC5pbRJXoZuR/s1600-h/03+Thunderclouds.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAfqLBIQyQJ3IHOAByv3i39EY106e0Tty-PTg4PGvA-oM5Wv33XPziM_XgyVSrA10lJXnpfED2ZaVkL12yhiQaGy66SwwcV7kjl-cQTTOmU2G-1hK6RfoVKQIvu4ZaQ9BjQC5pbRJXoZuR/s400/03+Thunderclouds.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5336444911325506498"></a>The same stormcloud, just a little later on in my drive. Boy, this thing is blossoming out beautifully. Just look at the flow of those clouds. This one would prove to be a harbinger of things to come this evening, though not as severe or prolonged as the previous storm. It still gave us cause for pause, though.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbzyiA0r7aNhoHXjdpv6pfUi_wygR7hwLiiNFnA6uPbiTN86w6FL0kRpcfb3lz2BD5BRZcLihsioHEjr7PqY3coJCKrAk7UBR02WripMdiy0BV6uQ-RAaygz49AzPsyZ7ONpUL_gZgz2eX/s1600-h/04+Incoming+Storm.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbzyiA0r7aNhoHXjdpv6pfUi_wygR7hwLiiNFnA6uPbiTN86w6FL0kRpcfb3lz2BD5BRZcLihsioHEjr7PqY3coJCKrAk7UBR02WripMdiy0BV6uQ-RAaygz49AzPsyZ7ONpUL_gZgz2eX/s400/04+Incoming+Storm.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5336445581998313826"></a>And here she comes! Now, this isn't the same cloud that we saw just now, but another cloud in the whole system of buttkickers. One of the guys here said he saw a funnel touch down, but I never saw one and the National Weather Service didn't, either. Sure looks like the kind of cloud you'd expect one in, though, especially that area just above and to the right of the trees.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOwnPVi-2UOT3cfjPEaYeGXMsJHpE1ACF4Q-oVvc3qExDScz1wLuQtU8jHeUvad0vTKnNtHeMEq-AsyaWApeRYSBIwz2py1VYuNmGoqjtlHAaniigwNgf3R_e8YWWddCOKjfHUv1x8IbtV/s1600-h/05+Mammatus+Clouds.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOwnPVi-2UOT3cfjPEaYeGXMsJHpE1ACF4Q-oVvc3qExDScz1wLuQtU8jHeUvad0vTKnNtHeMEq-AsyaWApeRYSBIwz2py1VYuNmGoqjtlHAaniigwNgf3R_e8YWWddCOKjfHUv1x8IbtV/s400/05+Mammatus+Clouds.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5336446447450165714"></a>These are called mammatus clouds and are always associated with very severe storms, possibly tornadic in nature. (Did you ever see the movie <span style="font-style:italic;">Twister</span>?) Right after this shot, the blow started and we began to get pelted with rain, but it didn't last long. The last time a storm like this hit the area, 40 power poles were knocked down by a tornado somewhere between the Black Gap Wildllife Management Area -- right next door -- and Marathon, some 40 miles away. Not so this time, thank goodness. Whew! Once is enough, thank you very much.<br /><br /><center><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dztpr06Er_b1hLYshQ7zhpc4P6xgN29svS3jhHvtFHyUPgyh4Z3JAANcPvOIJszNsI25wNM3r0DZbwARAjj-w' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></center><br />So, moving on to things a little less threatening, here we have a video of a curious little creature I ran across the other day -- a millipede (Latin for "thousand feet"). I've seen their bleached white husks here and there, but this is the first time I've seen one alive and moving. Very smooth. This guy's about five inches long, which is larger than any I've ever seen before. In reading up on them in Wikipedia, I found out that there are 10,000 species of millipede throughout the world, the largest of which is the African Giant Black Millipede, which can grow to over 15 inches long! That's one big bug, folks.<br /><br /><center><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dz38mmejqFb8Ao-FyVwVw6zeUZD6ZMe0dlZd8cpWg4ryw-8DBM42Wd1Ig2RvXD0L4a8TFdS2MvLI79L947QgQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></center><br />Ending this blog entry on a humorous note, here we have a video of Pancho, our resident "Paisano" (roadrunner), having it out with himself in the mirrored front door to the Visitor Center. Roadrunners were called Paisanos -- or "Little Friends" -- by the early native Mexican inhabitants in the Big Bend area due to their habit of following the cattle herds and eating the insects stirred up by the cattle's hooves. I'd say Pancho looks pretty stirred up himself right now. What a hoot!Highroadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02858295532318995042noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6958999517762277193.post-64473846271238814902009-04-26T07:56:00.000-07:002009-04-26T10:27:41.055-07:00Movie TimeWell, since some friends of mine had such good luck uploading videos onto this website, I thought I might try my hand at it, too. I've collected a number of videos over time, but I'll only put up a few to try this out. The first two were taken on slides in the City Museum in St Louis, which is great fun. Roll 'em!!!<br /><br />This one is called the Monstroslide and is very, very long. It reminded me of the old slide in the school playground in Lometa, Texas -- or at least how it seemed to a youngster. I actually did this one twice.<br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzF3qSJnAO8FOUn4hDvJJuNtNSHSCxcCY2s2FaUAla_HkJKOL5Zp-zKKuUYojQP4yfP4dXrdHuveGnwc3QjOA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br /><br />I'm not sure what this one was officially called, but it looks like you're crawling into a bedpan to me, so I called it the Bedpan Slide. That'll teach them not to name their slide. (FYI, "sharp turn" is a warning, not the name of the slide. You'll see.)<br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dy47o_ltFMIBHx0AeVbzK04n4yShDTKQCxdXmE7hNvW9tdo2x7RGdqX2qpHY1GepvTBtzaypEMicdgvylBRPg' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br /><br />And here's one I did just for fun when I got my new digital camera. This one is called Zoomin' Around The House, because . . . well, that's what we're doing. It's pretty simple, folks.<br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dz5N5PiHa74jrKGycpFVDjqu2_I_UEo12b6mw56F52m_jadCUHoB57lyzcKYRPEoncmkyW4wFicyUyCMapKjA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br /><br />Here's one I took a while back in the Trails Shop at Adadia National Park in Maine. This is Jeff Chapin's dog, Hank (a.k.a. "Hank the Tank") and he's just begging for someone to play fetch with him. How dogs make that high-pitched whistling sound is beyond me.<br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dw2a9mgO_DWtUZ72ezYl1gaDElT5sqSM986VKE4HKKB9JDde9y-P7zYdTlSM8TwPX6hh1ZeuVkc-Fytsy17' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br /><br />Well, speaking of dogs, I guess we might as well end this with a couple of videos I took during a "hunt" in Star, Texas, over my birthday. The only hunters were the dogs, and the hunted -- a couple of rabbits -- never had anything to fear. They always loped by us about 5 minutes before the dogs arrived. Still it was fun. So, why don't we open up the boxes and let 'em run? Watch quickly, because it doesn't take long. The first group to be let loose are Joe's dogs.<br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzaP1GEKNXLasrNn7WNR7zYtDmNuobON8xALJRyaqUP4EmiU7_F5cYrwfNjHDZmWdOR5ImOO_i0gKG6OlA0Rg' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br /><br />Next up, we have Joe's cousin, Pete, and his dogs. Again, watch quickly as they're gone as soon as they hit the ground.<br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dydhATd-auJ_4JxsV57LkZiMIV2-dNxnZUGZHDzZnfoWziRd9HWbLg4cZMNs6-kkebYbWHcasKs-qzJuW3A0A' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br /><br />Okay, that'll do it for now, I guess. I hope you enjoyed the show(s). Stay tuned for Coming Attractions in the near future. Ciao, baby!Highroadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02858295532318995042noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6958999517762277193.post-62295980413942239882009-04-25T09:24:00.000-07:002009-04-25T23:24:10.926-07:00A Day In The Life<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJNinU7ujA9voE8FbXqd870subNqfh6rW_MhsJteB28SJRCQzXfsEuineJz6h1Zyij1JwnRj1GtMgZCSH4FojgC0CHDgb2zFJckZHrv-IZeHwd3nrgjmgcKWZeUR5Pp3OqCrJ48IW5SwiT/s1600-h/01+Sunrise+over+Dove+Mtn.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJNinU7ujA9voE8FbXqd870subNqfh6rW_MhsJteB28SJRCQzXfsEuineJz6h1Zyij1JwnRj1GtMgZCSH4FojgC0CHDgb2zFJckZHrv-IZeHwd3nrgjmgcKWZeUR5Pp3OqCrJ48IW5SwiT/s400/01+Sunrise+over+Dove+Mtn.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5328666217414336946" /></a>Not every morning starts this way but, with any luck, sometimes they do. I just couldn't believe the sights and smells of this desert morning. That jaggedy mountain to the left of the sunrise is Dove Mountain.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOFc6t0P6r6oeClC0wXmeaVVeCRUiyP-Io5i6GhHZB8QlTr2L37iDN-LJBtsSGZu9BgashZZgLkhlv7sR6qbRDSjhSSTW4DoEZzIlcNrZFuMGV_Ls4w-izj-g7tchx9520yFwQwu7Jn5pV/s1600-h/02+PGAP+VC+w+mountain.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOFc6t0P6r6oeClC0wXmeaVVeCRUiyP-Io5i6GhHZB8QlTr2L37iDN-LJBtsSGZu9BgashZZgLkhlv7sR6qbRDSjhSSTW4DoEZzIlcNrZFuMGV_Ls4w-izj-g7tchx9520yFwQwu7Jn5pV/s400/02+PGAP+VC+w+mountain.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5328666843607591954" /></a>By now, most of you are aware of my transfer into the Persimmon Gap Visitor Center for our summer operations, as the budget wouldn't allow for two places to be open at the same time -- plus the Entrance Station turns into quite an effective oven during the summer months. This view (a historical view at that) is taken on the hillside across the road. You can see the new apartments off in the distance, just sitting there now due to the contractors being given the heave-ho for taking their own sweet time and not doing a decent job while they were doing it.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiolRbBSEkHNfvi9I_tAov344hZKU7DF7WZLky93OZ7H2BcIfQUvnEOY3h3Js5rEgPMVhneehXGP9p4k6fg4-KNkgOvTmnqFrKIs2-rb_OWJXjowkm-1pvneql-TgV1jui_Ri66Rjv1Q1Op/s1600-h/03+Yucca+w+Moon.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiolRbBSEkHNfvi9I_tAov344hZKU7DF7WZLky93OZ7H2BcIfQUvnEOY3h3Js5rEgPMVhneehXGP9p4k6fg4-KNkgOvTmnqFrKIs2-rb_OWJXjowkm-1pvneql-TgV1jui_Ri66Rjv1Q1Op/s400/03+Yucca+w+Moon.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5328667913577591010" /></a>Down off the hill now, here's a little shot of the moon caught between the tall yucca and the front of the building. It adds a nice graphic touch, doesn't it?<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmZGt7pM5ub8r33Xl5EkpHaWfTDqYXBXvAlTPeolTPHk_priuf5utnfDaY9Rm0xSvIH8UT0SB5RUfIq8HtgOpHEiHZOvRxgzEv2VxmUA55IaWyfdWn2gN1BtsJz47I2Pbs30DdUBYFbSLB/s1600-h/04+False+Pitaya.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmZGt7pM5ub8r33Xl5EkpHaWfTDqYXBXvAlTPeolTPHk_priuf5utnfDaY9Rm0xSvIH8UT0SB5RUfIq8HtgOpHEiHZOvRxgzEv2VxmUA55IaWyfdWn2gN1BtsJz47I2Pbs30DdUBYFbSLB/s400/04+False+Pitaya.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5328668387235572034" /></a>One more image of plantlife before heading in -- the false pitaya in full bloom in the flowerbed to the right of the door. I promised you some photos of desert blooms, didn't I? Unfortunately, they're few and far between out here this year.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7_J65kWhuyInJzZEQfixZVNRm2YZUiytxBTHjwTn7hL9BcgG8ZxYKIIhv6eqP44u296diubaX_yaFf9MZQdVYAZfGliABUYWRMII2uq3SmnN9PlFHxXfX-J5NW_EkuMYYknzattZDiwzG/s1600-h/05+Duty+Station.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7_J65kWhuyInJzZEQfixZVNRm2YZUiytxBTHjwTn7hL9BcgG8ZxYKIIhv6eqP44u296diubaX_yaFf9MZQdVYAZfGliABUYWRMII2uq3SmnN9PlFHxXfX-J5NW_EkuMYYknzattZDiwzG/s400/05+Duty+Station.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5328668919312535714" /></a>And here we are, inside the Visitor Center and looking at my new duty station. It's kind of fun getting to sit and chat with the visitors, for the most part, but when they pile in all at once, it loses some of its charm. Oh, well. (Obviously, this shot was taken out of sequence, as you can see the flag still folded on the counter.)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPoBoG0IK7YI_ceTYRXSYJjWMFtlN2VlFBU4f7V9L_fHRykFsge_IfoviuUEKMAz83AnS-zT-FpQbsYZ__-HGios8gCs6t-W0wWxYLZ6phDRmpX97p-SFGBlj9i8TRJbHaYz2hXHmMDujV/s1600-h/06+VC+Display.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPoBoG0IK7YI_ceTYRXSYJjWMFtlN2VlFBU4f7V9L_fHRykFsge_IfoviuUEKMAz83AnS-zT-FpQbsYZ__-HGios8gCs6t-W0wWxYLZ6phDRmpX97p-SFGBlj9i8TRJbHaYz2hXHmMDujV/s400/06+VC+Display.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5328669391958946082" /></a>This is one of our display areas, picked for a couple of reasons: 1) It's got the most information for the display in the picture and, 2) It's just the best photo of all I took. This particular display deals with being on the river and showing what you should take with you when you go. I want that hat!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVymlqz5FhGZcJJf22JL9acwRcW6mru1uPrcXc2qcLs0K9qhPTyon3mEDXIOPYjmYytUIny-EJs9ZuUKEh8N3_0dEhkzM7ZKZWF7-JF38UmVCDRiE5OX_zLK0_HSAkyTQORo1QpnomWazk/s1600-h/07+Picture+Window.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 230px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVymlqz5FhGZcJJf22JL9acwRcW6mru1uPrcXc2qcLs0K9qhPTyon3mEDXIOPYjmYytUIny-EJs9ZuUKEh8N3_0dEhkzM7ZKZWF7-JF38UmVCDRiE5OX_zLK0_HSAkyTQORo1QpnomWazk/s400/07+Picture+Window.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5328670176550553586" /></a>This is by far one of the most appealing aspects of working in the VC -- the picture window. This photo is a rough approximation of the actual view, as all the displays blocked me from getting a good shot of it. You get the general idea, though. No back ends of Exxon stations for Doug anymore.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9Y6FX6PShNCSGL9kB1WQv4DRgBDnUBemUn1aEkJneJakycGRUXYKPajMb6xckqQxe2Q_FV6s5QCRi9BJafVBc8Fo23NE1bGf74Gq_lmQpPAru0bkcExNBt6ciEoHXwIH1lz0dwWSFn-Jw/s1600-h/08+Route+66+shotglass.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 289px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9Y6FX6PShNCSGL9kB1WQv4DRgBDnUBemUn1aEkJneJakycGRUXYKPajMb6xckqQxe2Q_FV6s5QCRi9BJafVBc8Fo23NE1bGf74Gq_lmQpPAru0bkcExNBt6ciEoHXwIH1lz0dwWSFn-Jw/s400/08+Route+66+shotglass.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5328670726460687730" /></a>Well, the day is done and it's time to kick back at home with a "beer-and-a-bump" as Garrison Keillor put it in <i>A Prairie Home Companion</i>. I was on my way back for another bump to accompany my beer when I caught this ray of light illuminating my Route 66 shotglass I got when I was at the Meramec Caverns in Missouri. I was just stunned by the lighting, so of course I had to grab the camera. I really like this shot.<br /><br />And so, friends and nieghbors, that will close not only my day at work, but this blog entry, as well. Thanks for tuning in to our show. Till next time . . .Highroadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02858295532318995042noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6958999517762277193.post-67356201927890180402009-04-02T08:47:00.001-07:002009-04-02T09:32:02.181-07:00Pepe vs. Deer<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA1t-aNPMbYJ4EmRIwFSMSs3s1Ph9QJswIgmN6Fo4B9OsaJinrmgJQPsiLgHxb7qcZTC0p-ciyw4DgGErk3EyqNVRxcrf4y1XrSUsazOJ2KTiNXES8giQA6ZL-QiQKHmpq14VaiIf9kfAj/s1600-h/DSC05562.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA1t-aNPMbYJ4EmRIwFSMSs3s1Ph9QJswIgmN6Fo4B9OsaJinrmgJQPsiLgHxb7qcZTC0p-ciyw4DgGErk3EyqNVRxcrf4y1XrSUsazOJ2KTiNXES8giQA6ZL-QiQKHmpq14VaiIf9kfAj/s400/DSC05562.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5320125458586696258" /></a>And welcome to the Wild West, folks, where if you're not careful -- and sometimes even if you are -- this sort of thing can happen to you. I was headed to work on Tuesday morning early and shortly after I turned onto Highway 385, a 6-point buck came charging out of the bushes at me with his head down. I stomped the brakes and turned away from him, but he was on me in nothing flat and <i>BOOM!</i>, down he went. In looking back, he was in an out-and-out charge, as I've never seen a deer run across the road with his head down like that. After I got out and went back to check him out and move him off the road, a doe ran out of the same bushes and across the road, so he was definitely in his protective mode.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib6ySEeHEMROKX7CwlKHptFpfSEErL93CtY49vOZToNRL6s1bHkkcglxuGh4u4G2_6-l1uwAPkkfX1cDsqAOC0WMINMtRsY-MTVXi83C9s1lDi2t1h5NQ1qT9ZNCYCAXTiIF21gy_7aWlT/s1600-h/DSC05558.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib6ySEeHEMROKX7CwlKHptFpfSEErL93CtY49vOZToNRL6s1bHkkcglxuGh4u4G2_6-l1uwAPkkfX1cDsqAOC0WMINMtRsY-MTVXi83C9s1lDi2t1h5NQ1qT9ZNCYCAXTiIF21gy_7aWlT/s400/DSC05558.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5320124344816135378" /></a>And here's another angle to show the impact area where his body hit. Fortunately, he didn't knock out the headlight, but it does point down at the ground and is virtually useless for night driving and I can't get it adjusted out. Looks like a job for an auto body shop. Dang! Well, at least Pepe's still drivable.<br /><br />Oh, well. That ought to just about catch you up on big events around here for now. Next weekend I'm going out on a wildflower photo safari throughout the park, so stay tuned!Highroadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02858295532318995042noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6958999517762277193.post-56442564584501432602009-03-11T07:10:00.000-07:002009-03-11T07:56:30.990-07:00WE GOT RAIN!!!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0HJL1upC6MM07uxzLOgzY91RgkZx_jY8aCEZnAldPp4EwZbBxpvMc_kxZ0ydsZWTvZ_2HML43U46XWSaEOAFNrXWiYWAEapwaj5ghyphenhyphenrHUDQf99qStHRZPu2Atc2m-8QBdCfLfhqohzGGh/s1600-h/Rain1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0HJL1upC6MM07uxzLOgzY91RgkZx_jY8aCEZnAldPp4EwZbBxpvMc_kxZ0ydsZWTvZ_2HML43U46XWSaEOAFNrXWiYWAEapwaj5ghyphenhyphenrHUDQf99qStHRZPu2Atc2m-8QBdCfLfhqohzGGh/s400/Rain1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5311933419316008194" /></a>Hallelujah, brothers and sisters! Last evening a miracle happened. I was sitting in the trailer watching Disc 2 of <i>Comanche Moon</i> when the wind kicked up, the air got very fragrant, and the pitter-patter of little rain droplets could be heard pelting the trailer's windows. I dashed outside to find this scene off to the northwest. I did a little dance, gave a couple of whoops, and dashed back inside to get my camera. I wasn't about to miss this.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-l7KeslIRba0_vLBN-VORGg7gfeVPXAgVNXoHS3_x5t3lNvrqRXju7kXc67XKod_raLbx36rqrvqVurOcsZmkEnXngyS-122-Wr2WtFjOtbXJn48QMAQJHTvCPQfoqfkwuE38OvZ9_p4_/s1600-h/Rain2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-l7KeslIRba0_vLBN-VORGg7gfeVPXAgVNXoHS3_x5t3lNvrqRXju7kXc67XKod_raLbx36rqrvqVurOcsZmkEnXngyS-122-Wr2WtFjOtbXJn48QMAQJHTvCPQfoqfkwuE38OvZ9_p4_/s400/Rain2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5311934559460499778" /></a>Then, looking a little further off toward the west, I beheld this sight, where the mountains were completely obscured by a curtain of rain. Hallelujah, indeed! As the wind was coming from that general direction, I knew it was only a matter of time before we got ours. I didn't have long to wait.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7Q4C6irhgigKodR_VR5VmrDktJAAIMchYhR1hyphenhyphendzttVOE2RBfmzHomLWPVO61SH8E8cVHKUI1d3jOr6UmRe4EwrHu6qvXkLl_v6iWoJqj7MPnau4qxeq9JoDcpBGPtJHoBc_v6FNIc40g/s1600-h/Rain3.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7Q4C6irhgigKodR_VR5VmrDktJAAIMchYhR1hyphenhyphendzttVOE2RBfmzHomLWPVO61SH8E8cVHKUI1d3jOr6UmRe4EwrHu6qvXkLl_v6iWoJqj7MPnau4qxeq9JoDcpBGPtJHoBc_v6FNIc40g/s400/Rain3.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5311935522806793234" /></a>In about 20-30 minutes, the wind began to howl, the pelting rain began in earnest, and the windows were cranked shut as the rain was coming in from <i>all</i> of them, no matter what side of the trailer they were on. Woo hoo!!! We're gettin' it now! This picture was taken through the doorknob access panel on the screen door. I'll tell you, after a winter of virtually <i>no</i> precipitation to speak of -- the last measurable amount occurring back in October -- this was truly a blessing. Since they're forecasting a 70% chance of more of this stuff coming our way today (it's raining even as I type), and 60% chance of more coming tonight, we might just have a showing of wildflowers around here this Spring, after all. Stay tuned for further updates as they occur.Highroadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02858295532318995042noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6958999517762277193.post-54950946642159183732009-03-10T11:07:00.000-07:002009-03-11T07:54:14.299-07:00The Lone Palm Resort<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9fUnrXgIJBaWZTtP5VuSplnunr6nYBkyLaLi1hEL1XQN60VlvmsgB12lvQzmo82sx_1s37b-w5ksNIgq0Jknwp6-40D-Iw6MqSuuroqGCT_OHLGLffwVYCKomZh3pP1YVwYKsvLf5B8rr/s1600-h/The+Lone+Palm+Resort.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 296px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9fUnrXgIJBaWZTtP5VuSplnunr6nYBkyLaLi1hEL1XQN60VlvmsgB12lvQzmo82sx_1s37b-w5ksNIgq0Jknwp6-40D-Iw6MqSuuroqGCT_OHLGLffwVYCKomZh3pP1YVwYKsvLf5B8rr/s400/The+Lone+Palm+Resort.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5311624328812107346" /></a>Hey there, everyone. Just thought you'd be interested in seeing the new site my trailer got put into -- right in front of the only palm tree around. Pretty sweet, huh? I'm <i>much</i> more pleased with this setting, especially since they're stringing a phone line to the pole right behind the trailer. Woo hoo!!!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFyj6_d2D_yBIMusLL7RQNg6ns3hU82NKVqUO8Rcz-Va5BcLU2XiU6pazd9g7hyphenhyphen4slVVl8-PowRW_3fCIb_uuGGyDnpakdsBG7VYSopAJbAaejnrS1EECht-KiUD_Cj-wjZeUE4pxoV1c9/s1600-h/Osprey+1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 274px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFyj6_d2D_yBIMusLL7RQNg6ns3hU82NKVqUO8Rcz-Va5BcLU2XiU6pazd9g7hyphenhyphen4slVVl8-PowRW_3fCIb_uuGGyDnpakdsBG7VYSopAJbAaejnrS1EECht-KiUD_Cj-wjZeUE4pxoV1c9/s400/Osprey+1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5311942519702380642" /></a><br />The other day, while driving up to the Visitor Center to get my day started, I saw this huge, dark bird sitting on top of the flagpole. I wasn't sure just what I was looking at right at first, but it was a beautiful creature. In perusing my bird book, I found out it was an Osprey, most likely resting up on his way up from the Gulf toward his new home in the northern climes.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEu4CkkKlv61emL5Beh_HoVLOaxNeeqyY97GyOABVXeTJ7hyrvYPsn8sJitKfTttp6ful8G0OYEIR7zE_Ym97kPHphQgry9kdlN-glbA80QXohER-ZRsX8rTTyeNqaplEexTKq0BoGhUF_/s1600-h/Osprey3.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 292px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEu4CkkKlv61emL5Beh_HoVLOaxNeeqyY97GyOABVXeTJ7hyrvYPsn8sJitKfTttp6ful8G0OYEIR7zE_Ym97kPHphQgry9kdlN-glbA80QXohER-ZRsX8rTTyeNqaplEexTKq0BoGhUF_/s400/Osprey3.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5311942733471417330" /></a><br />I don't know if he thought he'd be less conspicuous impersonating one of our gold-plated Bald Eagle flagpole ornaments, but he did a pretty good job of it, nonetheless. What a great way to start your day, getting to see such a magnificent specimen showing off.Highroadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02858295532318995042noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6958999517762277193.post-41069964279938794302009-02-22T08:25:00.000-08:002009-02-26T15:33:02.822-08:00Diggin' In<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZOmK_UrYVdFP81ZrSfpDE6MNFkhfLjLhYc7g5JpuJCOpIdPIqTnYsxfcFZ4lxJGEF3G_4IzrjGVs9mkNFkBpxlyoPE3Ztv85asAEOyegrQdqOveekgYHoVmlIimuKXm3rrgJ6rVJWmgwd/s1600-h/DSC05497b.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 289px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZOmK_UrYVdFP81ZrSfpDE6MNFkhfLjLhYc7g5JpuJCOpIdPIqTnYsxfcFZ4lxJGEF3G_4IzrjGVs9mkNFkBpxlyoPE3Ztv85asAEOyegrQdqOveekgYHoVmlIimuKXm3rrgJ6rVJWmgwd/s400/DSC05497b.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5305659047636541570" /></a>Well, howdy once again, buckaroos and buckarettes! The move to not only a permanent position but a new set of digs is done at last, and here are the digs. (It's really hard to capture a permanent position on "film." I'm still working on capturing it in my head!) It's not nearly as roomy as my 1-bedroom apartment was, but I lived in a much smaller trailer than this with a girlfriend and a medium-sized dog for four years once, so this is quite spacious compared to that. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_4tYK_D6hIBnWLmSeewHf31JeHZc-p0sjAvAqXXNLiqINQKn8KqByAWamTiG2NaVct9_9zvY_-rjL-X-Xh7suyyFEXKT8cPpCxUIosE-4hEz_sdege1BR3CfYdYVs9aa0VAdhrn_1g0Ds/s1600-h/DSC05481b.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_4tYK_D6hIBnWLmSeewHf31JeHZc-p0sjAvAqXXNLiqINQKn8KqByAWamTiG2NaVct9_9zvY_-rjL-X-Xh7suyyFEXKT8cPpCxUIosE-4hEz_sdege1BR3CfYdYVs9aa0VAdhrn_1g0Ds/s400/DSC05481b.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5305660526333685202" /></a>I won't give you the whole tour (I'm planning a photo gallery for that), but I thought I'd go ahead and touch on the basics -- like the living area here. Tight but cozy. The shiny black box with the Texas flag magnet on it in the lower left corner is the Beer Fridge, right there by the sofa. Now how convenient, huh? Oh, yeah!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaLBdpoV5bSQETmmCnS3ra6umvd8VYN2hyLnh-9K4qs_wYjO4ajChPr6CHlCOcTLeGUzsta5SPkBLItStNQQMXVQScaLYAlUQmczWpQE-jWAn9JdCnj62GO4-wL2opsfURHE-ZVOteOtqf/s1600-h/DSC05483b.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaLBdpoV5bSQETmmCnS3ra6umvd8VYN2hyLnh-9K4qs_wYjO4ajChPr6CHlCOcTLeGUzsta5SPkBLItStNQQMXVQScaLYAlUQmczWpQE-jWAn9JdCnj62GO4-wL2opsfURHE-ZVOteOtqf/s400/DSC05483b.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5305661696280058066" /></a>And here we have the kitchen area, also small and compact. I like the way they put mirrors everywhere to give the illusion of space. Pretty psychological, that. I'm going to go ahead and use their Barbie dish drainer instead of my folding wooden one, as there's just not enough counter space for it. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivEu4AbnMblE-lvV9H0D_1GfHIZmaxOi5ROH8OV_u6VxPQ06erTOwkZwE8lJ7qmVLkaRwazYAsNzOZFAWl78oLFMrzQPc8Puie9HnXo0cK2k5Sx5K6-vALo75ZTguJe5uvr50bDtRsD-Xw/s1600-h/DSC05482b.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivEu4AbnMblE-lvV9H0D_1GfHIZmaxOi5ROH8OV_u6VxPQ06erTOwkZwE8lJ7qmVLkaRwazYAsNzOZFAWl78oLFMrzQPc8Puie9HnXo0cK2k5Sx5K6-vALo75ZTguJe5uvr50bDtRsD-Xw/s400/DSC05482b.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5305662563864609138" /></a>And here's my office, as it were. It gets the job done, more or less, but I really haven't put it to the test yet with a major task. I have an extra TV tray available for that, if necessary.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilq_NOiOL4j4s0Ea2LOe-6B3zj-1yQzM030LHGVcW-H6fi7BOSfUdGfSwpmq3GsEgKuJ1p_FPwp9t2Pu4Gsk7zO3xS_HHaHdJ_Kg3hVs6SCBWY0pQicaVWdFEvsyoPHAs4BFxAt7Sof7Do/s1600-h/DSC05491b.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilq_NOiOL4j4s0Ea2LOe-6B3zj-1yQzM030LHGVcW-H6fi7BOSfUdGfSwpmq3GsEgKuJ1p_FPwp9t2Pu4Gsk7zO3xS_HHaHdJ_Kg3hVs6SCBWY0pQicaVWdFEvsyoPHAs4BFxAt7Sof7Do/s400/DSC05491b.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5305663206586981874" /></a>And finally, we have the bedroom. My little camera didn't have enough wide-angle lens to handle it all, but I think you get the picture. (ha ha) How much room does it really take to sleep comfortably, anyway? It's got a full-sized bed, so who's complaining?<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn_dmNAaprT47EvRGK4TKo-iYNCbJew1dZngPkxbRhZNC6guzm3JZ92SSgSela9TSSMT8U1nsi1X7rp1DOrKzvvflO-JDYpDUgN108YLhtznQZ13OlnohfnVIycYTxohLl1D_mfT6x-ny8/s1600-h/DSC05442b.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 299px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn_dmNAaprT47EvRGK4TKo-iYNCbJew1dZngPkxbRhZNC6guzm3JZ92SSgSela9TSSMT8U1nsi1X7rp1DOrKzvvflO-JDYpDUgN108YLhtznQZ13OlnohfnVIycYTxohLl1D_mfT6x-ny8/s400/DSC05442b.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5305664045581462098" /></a>Of course, with the new digs outside the park comes the need for a new address more conveniently located than 34 miles away at Panther Junction. And here we have it: HC65, Box 437 -- only 6 miles away, and on the way to work -- in all its aerated splendor. (You can actually look straight through all nine mailboxes on these posts, thanks to all the bulletholes.) No, no; this will not do. So, it's off to the big city of Alpine I go to procure a more modern, less meteorologically hazardous mailbox.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKkL4sQAYnuTb2HdNkuo7uXJOxmqsihgqYYSrXkLa8kVIIt_0ViE55WlrlZSYYFnPDNHZthE_M7CX3Y_GqbGDW77Vz3bO_1JeToxS83z1wCIJcIp_4jRirN2N3CoUTSqSfKrikh_9QRlqu/s1600-h/DSC05444b.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKkL4sQAYnuTb2HdNkuo7uXJOxmqsihgqYYSrXkLa8kVIIt_0ViE55WlrlZSYYFnPDNHZthE_M7CX3Y_GqbGDW77Vz3bO_1JeToxS83z1wCIJcIp_4jRirN2N3CoUTSqSfKrikh_9QRlqu/s400/DSC05444b.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5305664992421989042" /></a>And, <i>voila</i>! We have a nice, new, shiny mailbox, all ready for business. Pretty nice, huh? Notice the bulletholes in Box 438, no doubt what brought about the ultimate demise of the old plastic Box 437. With any luck, that kind of malarkey is over and done with, but you never know about bored and drunk cowpokes.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC0hUvzfXhOkVFDNClcDsBuz_5fIVAm97B2UzrKStqO7HocVwydIyU9u9SwokAT34n5MXzweGMZ7BjrzitAStrXIFB6D6weqGkHV3lKT1sOpxptSUepSAOvqoCgfVkpF2cFYJNVsbpH1Nk/s1600-h/DSC02775b.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC0hUvzfXhOkVFDNClcDsBuz_5fIVAm97B2UzrKStqO7HocVwydIyU9u9SwokAT34n5MXzweGMZ7BjrzitAStrXIFB6D6weqGkHV3lKT1sOpxptSUepSAOvqoCgfVkpF2cFYJNVsbpH1Nk/s400/DSC02775b.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5305666186640349042" /></a>Moving on to more artistic and cultural endeavors, here's a shot I call "Moonset Over Pepe" in honor of the esteemed Ansel Adams' "Moonrise Over Hernandez" that I love so much. I was on one of my last to-work stopoffs at the Dog Canyon trailhead to stretch my legs and smell the desert morning. I just couldn't resist.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgTQnE1kBwbs9RNakbu5Bx4wlZgNgOPfX_p99P7N4nmuk3P0X8lcKTqQDtUSh0Wuq19lh18ETC6VfT-gi01vi8mNr-5dapQyA2HduaR4ioZTfrHmUrm2RMTTxeP_y0Gn3A7pwq13ebTOUe/s1600-h/DSC02796b.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgTQnE1kBwbs9RNakbu5Bx4wlZgNgOPfX_p99P7N4nmuk3P0X8lcKTqQDtUSh0Wuq19lh18ETC6VfT-gi01vi8mNr-5dapQyA2HduaR4ioZTfrHmUrm2RMTTxeP_y0Gn3A7pwq13ebTOUe/s400/DSC02796b.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5305666918857007938" /></a>They dropped The Bomb!!! Well, maybe they did; maybe they didn't. Anyway, it was a curious and fortuitous cloud formation, to be sure, so I had to grab it quick. This cloud was moving right along.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFmJ7N-WlD9RnGGxAioju6n8FDNRf3UXYTTXyb_UR46sWrYdu-DNQ1y_xeiOEOWWGckNZGZONrNftLASBe1ucLkh23t8nCkINbj4LhGc8MpM-HWiI3fOZ-RdBj6oIT-EnglPaWlhFwsEYi/s1600-h/DSC02794b.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFmJ7N-WlD9RnGGxAioju6n8FDNRf3UXYTTXyb_UR46sWrYdu-DNQ1y_xeiOEOWWGckNZGZONrNftLASBe1ucLkh23t8nCkINbj4LhGc8MpM-HWiI3fOZ-RdBj6oIT-EnglPaWlhFwsEYi/s400/DSC02794b.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5305667342311460994" /></a>To give it a little more impact, I decided to shoot it through my dark red 87B Infrared filter. Pretty neat! The vegetation didn't separate out as much as I would've liked, but it was the cloud I was after, after all. It's a really nice effect, something like what you'd see in an electron microscope. Is it just me, or is that cloud staring at me? Shades of <i>The Brain From Planet Arous</i>.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7K7ck7GEkxVZrpioD0X9MXnNs2Xl5vgDPOEds-eRSj1Gd6m1ZWQ3N6LziOMAaRUTGBKYq1ZhTf3d8ihFdv_Mlxci4li4LwSPP6ZT1ktrzBe6xV961dhMxcZ0Va1r04WYlx5K8g1N9Tjs2/s1600-h/DSC05475b2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 271px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7K7ck7GEkxVZrpioD0X9MXnNs2Xl5vgDPOEds-eRSj1Gd6m1ZWQ3N6LziOMAaRUTGBKYq1ZhTf3d8ihFdv_Mlxci4li4LwSPP6ZT1ktrzBe6xV961dhMxcZ0Va1r04WYlx5K8g1N9Tjs2/s400/DSC05475b2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5305958280306604450" /></a>Now here's something you don't get to see everyday -- a horse running through your yard. Actually, there were two of them, but I could only get out there in time to catch this one running along the road. Nice morning lighting, huh?<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJeagqx95bXAcrWgQU5p9InZIBySl6N392E9q_RBcbUWU3SnFDfs_SmuZxXPksMQuD5pcsHvfayZFl1jZpDSLBaJGU2YhA733EG0k95Sekb0Lxnpe-tOFVQ830XH3TF3xeKrJAaVgc74Z-/s1600-h/DSC05504b.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 270px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJeagqx95bXAcrWgQU5p9InZIBySl6N392E9q_RBcbUWU3SnFDfs_SmuZxXPksMQuD5pcsHvfayZFl1jZpDSLBaJGU2YhA733EG0k95Sekb0Lxnpe-tOFVQ830XH3TF3xeKrJAaVgc74Z-/s400/DSC05504b.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5305669888160173650" /></a>And, finally, here's a little shot I did for my friend, Sally Jones, who recently lamented in an email about how she loved and missed the "mailbox corner" since they won't be coming back this year. This is for you, Sally! For those of you not familiar with the area, that's Highway 385 heading north toward the mountains, with Ranch Road 2627 -- the road whereon Stillwell's RV Park resides -- branching off to the right. (That's for you, Lyn.) The park boundary is about 3/4 of a mile or so behind me.Highroadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02858295532318995042noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6958999517762277193.post-42712319782860115112009-02-08T09:53:00.000-08:002009-02-08T11:50:22.855-08:00Bildwerke Gallery Opening<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPDssd9bEOT20xa8NE-sG060lkn5tn5W3MHbOPQyWHD1bMenGaBX3265IPNTrmKwE4FKctuk73vfXLFsVuhq-vaJ-1jMuv_yYRQEFdLITzEs3XxJC_qEGgZ-Ym0YPfR6m6MosrrForooX2/s1600-h/Wunner+Show+1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 282px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPDssd9bEOT20xa8NE-sG060lkn5tn5W3MHbOPQyWHD1bMenGaBX3265IPNTrmKwE4FKctuk73vfXLFsVuhq-vaJ-1jMuv_yYRQEFdLITzEs3XxJC_qEGgZ-Ym0YPfR6m6MosrrForooX2/s400/Wunner+Show+1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300486735888365810" /></a>Greetings once again, folks. Not much happening around here lately, except for this awesome gallery opening at Building 98 of the former Fort D. A. Russell in Marfa. I'd met these two a couple of years ago and was totally jazzed to hear they had an opening nearby. (Ha! If you can call 125 miles nearby.) It was a great show, though, and I'm <i>so</i> glad I made it. By the way, Bildwerke is German for "Picture Works".<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8B2B70Vo9mg6UeBenDtAp8LvK6X69jm5vi-IptNtvfzeY-wjh-eyL5-438BoJRh3JW_thZTfVvhY7re2lVUmL-xDH7-EUHrzB2Ca0951bEiTK0QpxKRnCT0LkPK234IemccMoGyvPc3a8/s1600-h/DSC02701b.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8B2B70Vo9mg6UeBenDtAp8LvK6X69jm5vi-IptNtvfzeY-wjh-eyL5-438BoJRh3JW_thZTfVvhY7re2lVUmL-xDH7-EUHrzB2Ca0951bEiTK0QpxKRnCT0LkPK234IemccMoGyvPc3a8/s400/DSC02701b.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300487641176380018" /></a>Here I am in the foyer of Building 98 with friends Johannes and Sallie. Johannes is from Salzburg, Austria, and I just found out that Sallie's from, of all places, Fort Worth. I had no idea. Hey, we were neighbors!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHYNw1FldWm4zBd-Yf7_o8YnSZhRxqW2Yvkjv7HgvP7SkOUaJCqUY5kJlq71G-MHYJrxjR8quxngMdFizbNMth6Asq1rKAQL8EYjDJTPOGCDCgFgmA-9jrDwv6kHKYAhBNZw5xa8r6rqu8/s1600-h/DSC02708b.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 305px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHYNw1FldWm4zBd-Yf7_o8YnSZhRxqW2Yvkjv7HgvP7SkOUaJCqUY5kJlq71G-MHYJrxjR8quxngMdFizbNMth6Asq1rKAQL8EYjDJTPOGCDCgFgmA-9jrDwv6kHKYAhBNZw5xa8r6rqu8/s400/DSC02708b.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300488538450506770" /></a>This is an example of Sallie's painting, although the photo really doesn't do it justice, as usual. You just can't get all the tonality and subtlety of the original. It's truly wonderful work.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYzOJuWLukg_xR3o3B50lVeY9tYqLYsMJ_q3SUPIw_Md2q4FKh6it0vEGzFOF83mPdXGtOntVXHx5g80qPO7lM9S-2m89WsyxaGdxFmIuyTXO7tUBMMPUe-bJ-jDXazYU7H1jhvum6TSkn/s1600-h/DSC02711b.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 333px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYzOJuWLukg_xR3o3B50lVeY9tYqLYsMJ_q3SUPIw_Md2q4FKh6it0vEGzFOF83mPdXGtOntVXHx5g80qPO7lM9S-2m89WsyxaGdxFmIuyTXO7tUBMMPUe-bJ-jDXazYU7H1jhvum6TSkn/s400/DSC02711b.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300489227692276898" /></a>And here's a piece of her drawing that totally floored me. I just couldn't stop looking at it. All of her work was so intricate and delicate, but this really had me locked in. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYF_qltV7tXepFFr6y2MeOBEEzSgEs7V2R3Ur1MHnJTNwjIr_YZU9v2_kaidIU17nhiw2Iylt_3NqUVMVgD9aZSnmWHTaGxImUMDJSqXVOqvspnH2hZsPnvi-th_JmDteKO6SpjTdTwf9c/s1600-h/DSC02702b.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYF_qltV7tXepFFr6y2MeOBEEzSgEs7V2R3Ur1MHnJTNwjIr_YZU9v2_kaidIU17nhiw2Iylt_3NqUVMVgD9aZSnmWHTaGxImUMDJSqXVOqvspnH2hZsPnvi-th_JmDteKO6SpjTdTwf9c/s400/DSC02702b.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300489672689462082" /></a>I didn't get any photos of Johannes' exquisite photography, but you can get a glimpse of some of his more graphic work behind them here. When I first laid eyes on these particular pieces (there were several styles represented throughout the exhibit), I was shocked to find they looked so similar to work I did a number of years ago. It was amazing.<br /><br />Well, that'll give you a taste of the event for now, but if you'd like to check out my photo gallery and catch the whole show, copy and paste this link in to your search window (I can't get the link to appear):<br />http://highroad.smugmug.com/gallery/7303514_XiVsW#P-1-12Highroadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02858295532318995042noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6958999517762277193.post-60710039088869416702009-02-01T13:59:00.001-08:002009-02-01T14:19:31.007-08:00If you don't like the sunrise . . .<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUbzGbjUpXqnLPJtG8unnkMWCwIU-TgGJQ-Q49ZykMpszy-hYoZPlKirhus0B9bkpskvDxFbqyKH5eFEBImwt766Bu7Ft74kEFuO-hqvQVHe6pqDqlgkj-glY5QUG9PAWd0h6mNSWEc2Ga/s1600-h/Persimmon+Peak+Sunrise.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUbzGbjUpXqnLPJtG8unnkMWCwIU-TgGJQ-Q49ZykMpszy-hYoZPlKirhus0B9bkpskvDxFbqyKH5eFEBImwt766Bu7Ft74kEFuO-hqvQVHe6pqDqlgkj-glY5QUG9PAWd0h6mNSWEc2Ga/s400/Persimmon+Peak+Sunrise.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5297952208631056130" /></a> . . . just wait a few minutes; it'll change. Now we've all heard our own states of choice make that claim before (usuallly about the weather), but out here in West Texas it can be so true. Take, for instance, this sunrise one fine morning. I'd stopped off at Dog Canyon to take in the morning and saw these clouds taking shape above Persimmon Peak. Noting they were too high above Dog Canyon for any real photographic impact, I decided to head on to work and await developments there. I must say I was not disappointed. Sunrise properly documented, I began my usual morning routine to get things underway in the booth, when not ten minutes later I came across this scene:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMjpUEybiIvSaU3Rm5Hx4v4Lfk6aNnLsfOz9O20MF-qliXWxCwwWfAoQwJu4zWGeXv05HEGscwNLALq7Z0jpTgcx87KVJZrbpvtiMBDVoKQJe2pbHvLaIzumXxIuR0gByJOCs9QBIQAMTc/s1600-h/Persimmon+Peak+Sunrise+w+Fog.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMjpUEybiIvSaU3Rm5Hx4v4Lfk6aNnLsfOz9O20MF-qliXWxCwwWfAoQwJu4zWGeXv05HEGscwNLALq7Z0jpTgcx87KVJZrbpvtiMBDVoKQJe2pbHvLaIzumXxIuR0gByJOCs9QBIQAMTc/s400/Persimmon+Peak+Sunrise+w+Fog.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5297953136126761042" /></a>Is that remarkable, or what? I couldn't believe that in just the span of ten minutes -- that's 600 seconds in dog years (no, wait; that's not right) -- the sky could change so much and the whole mood with it, all thanks to a bank of fog rolling in from the north. That nice glow given to it by the early sun was an added benefit. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg05TFK7DChi4bCWoglJJveTaGOnhp_eEUIbhR54vx_wuGNjJLTXv1KVlGqBh7pCse3yigwHNJw5PMf5oWm9IUv0Xw9pvObzqIR4fLJ0adkA57Qu6WmcL6B-bbuuHJ0Lg_KMAAenPDZkc4g/s1600-h/Electric+Chicken.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 297px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg05TFK7DChi4bCWoglJJveTaGOnhp_eEUIbhR54vx_wuGNjJLTXv1KVlGqBh7pCse3yigwHNJw5PMf5oWm9IUv0Xw9pvObzqIR4fLJ0adkA57Qu6WmcL6B-bbuuHJ0Lg_KMAAenPDZkc4g/s400/Electric+Chicken.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5297953966859329922" /></a><br />Now, on a lighter note, I'd like to leave you with yet another favorite silhouette of mine -- the Electric Chicken. I first spotted this little phenomemon back in my first season here on my walk from the Visitor Center to the booth, so I thought I'd go ahead and add it in here. Don't think you're going to get a silhouette every week, though. The Grinch and the chicken are the only two I've found so far, but I'll keep looking. (Oh, and that's a yucca, by the way, in case you were wondering.)Highroadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02858295532318995042noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6958999517762277193.post-58662110251649542812009-01-24T07:14:00.001-08:002009-01-26T03:03:59.165-08:00Desert Doings<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNwyzZbJtR2oTUKytapsW8K0jokQyOwMjVO95EnQ4jfc876TDUl-UimZYTgH9Ska2Wu9sYNP4lDbGM7aCIosVjav-chq1ss6ogAeRfilZJbclGsA0bUHUkWcvMqnBjY5AEfCao3Civrh5H/s1600-h/Morning+Drive.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNwyzZbJtR2oTUKytapsW8K0jokQyOwMjVO95EnQ4jfc876TDUl-UimZYTgH9Ska2Wu9sYNP4lDbGM7aCIosVjav-chq1ss6ogAeRfilZJbclGsA0bUHUkWcvMqnBjY5AEfCao3Civrh5H/s400/Morning+Drive.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5294878964143385666" /></a>Okay, here we go, folks! The year started off on a sad note, as I had to attend the funeral of my cousin Mary's father in Austin. In order to get there in time, I left here at 4:00 in the morning in the inky desert darkness. Somewhere between Sanderson and Del Rio, I took this shot as the sky began to wake up. Looks like it may be time for another dose of coffee.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDzChTm_T7yR9mkgjTeA11l49WFF0XTwyGdBGNVfa5SvDknb_zdYk8wp5VDF2s83n_J28kagDK-_Fu20ML1je0WYp5D1BpxDYNh82fjGgQlA-DmMfvrnXW05CBG2jGm3lkGRXjEpCn8cVL/s1600-h/Cactus+Wren+Nest+in+Cholla.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDzChTm_T7yR9mkgjTeA11l49WFF0XTwyGdBGNVfa5SvDknb_zdYk8wp5VDF2s83n_J28kagDK-_Fu20ML1je0WYp5D1BpxDYNh82fjGgQlA-DmMfvrnXW05CBG2jGm3lkGRXjEpCn8cVL/s400/Cactus+Wren+Nest+in+Cholla.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5294879795625407986" /></a>On my way back home, I happened to look over at just the right time to see this Cactus Wren's nest in a cholla, one of our many varieties of desert cactus out here. What a great find.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN2SklqdPgl4GXi94b175ap5AOL5HotMIYo1kC16umI_y0TGmCCWXc57xfV78ZYGv4tR3f5eFxHI4P1TaQ5XHeFtxZm32fo8iDQqS9DevOzc0fSyHaldJQpg0TFx15KtUARUzbZDD0jDc4/s1600-h/Pigs+In+The+Yard.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN2SklqdPgl4GXi94b175ap5AOL5HotMIYo1kC16umI_y0TGmCCWXc57xfV78ZYGv4tR3f5eFxHI4P1TaQ5XHeFtxZm32fo8iDQqS9DevOzc0fSyHaldJQpg0TFx15KtUARUzbZDD0jDc4/s400/Pigs+In+The+Yard.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5294880305820728770" /></a>This particular photo I happen to call "Pigs In The Yard" although the javelina isn't really a pig at all. It may look like a pig, especially with that snout and all, but due to its elaborate stomach makeup and rather intractable temperament (you won't find any of these guys becoming domesticated), it's really more closely related to a hippopotamus, if you can believe that. They're also sometimes called Musk Hog, due to their rather strong, musky odor that is very reminiscent of a skunk. I still call them pigs, though, especially when they're roaming around in my yard.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJKC5HZJ4zj3kE1ETI9IOHno0b1wv378fIuINIk83oXzzyFIrSEi_i2SAppsSqwqnaIMlGxSRcB-Jlh-DjVG07rgJ6mTFJEvGNCqGFuwAtT9yQTa9l16bFNEJoXP6effOVzEQmEnTw4wb8/s1600-h/Black-throated+Sparrow.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJKC5HZJ4zj3kE1ETI9IOHno0b1wv378fIuINIk83oXzzyFIrSEi_i2SAppsSqwqnaIMlGxSRcB-Jlh-DjVG07rgJ6mTFJEvGNCqGFuwAtT9yQTa9l16bFNEJoXP6effOVzEQmEnTw4wb8/s400/Black-throated+Sparrow.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5294881417450537122" /></a>Big Bend is the place to be, especially if you're into birding at all. You won't believe this, but I took this shot of a Black-throated Sparrow from the comfort of my chair in the entrance booth. There was a lot of activity in the mesquite tree out front this day.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgzhxbw3JJPaVCJiBc8kmmxWm16Abq6J23bAb7Ufcx3MWFgubbC1ixL11iAcvYPYfE8MzkxB0FNxs0NETh7Pae5waGeEg3GKI0WuvE-Xfckus8MNTGaYcvoYqdipWoqoO224zIDJAZbLwd/s1600-h/The+Grinch.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgzhxbw3JJPaVCJiBc8kmmxWm16Abq6J23bAb7Ufcx3MWFgubbC1ixL11iAcvYPYfE8MzkxB0FNxs0NETh7Pae5waGeEg3GKI0WuvE-Xfckus8MNTGaYcvoYqdipWoqoO224zIDJAZbLwd/s400/The+Grinch.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5294882331358667234" /></a>Okay, everybody wake up their inner child and look closely at this shot, a scene I see every evening on my way home. Does anybody else out there see the Grinch lying down, his mouth open in a snore? Come on, you can do it! I can't not see it anymore. This is actually a silhouette of the Chisos Mountains.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhf-jvKZvFNKbC1Z_Cjnfot5bNLgwXrFO2MQwR24Qus2n18UeYSdYEU5QlxRtl5nQnrpAQ2eI7R_zUIJNkZ5zr-N2s6ZpFR99uKg146NpYQjjfqPQGNUgHITSEdTa-U-FfF2IABkiZwdJM/s1600-h/Early+Bluebonnet.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhf-jvKZvFNKbC1Z_Cjnfot5bNLgwXrFO2MQwR24Qus2n18UeYSdYEU5QlxRtl5nQnrpAQ2eI7R_zUIJNkZ5zr-N2s6ZpFR99uKg146NpYQjjfqPQGNUgHITSEdTa-U-FfF2IABkiZwdJM/s400/Early+Bluebonnet.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5294883130996235554" /></a>Well, if you couldn't see the Grinch (how could you not?!), maybe you can see this Big Bend Bluebonnet, although it's rare for anybody to see any this time of year. I mean, it's January, for cryin' out loud! Here we have the entire northern realm of the US setting record lows (-50º in Maine, for instance), and we've got bluebonnets peeking their way up in our balmy 80º-and-sunny weather <i>way</i> earlier than anyone's ever seen them. This is just nuts. They aren't up in any great quantities yet, but they're there just the same. Craziness, pure and simple.<br /><br />Well, I guess that'll just about do it for now. I just wanted to give you all a quick tour around the park to launch my brand-new blog in proper fashion. Be sure to add it to your Favorites (that would be Bookmarks to you Mac drivers out there) and be sure to check in from time to time. I won't be announcing new entries unless it's something really earth-shattering. Till next time . . .Highroadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02858295532318995042noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6958999517762277193.post-16964587417345424892009-01-24T05:51:00.000-08:002009-01-24T17:21:19.223-08:00Happy 2009!!!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKwMvgDARWcVxePTgrCPKBhanQIOdt_CrgsLgJUHVypyI-AO1Avtv9F4J1goLRefCfuWMpV_60VoF6mZef7J1KK3DkXgz_JHhFynY6ylwixyGna4TpOQbG9gTwe6ujNLz81AhNV_mTUWSR/s1600-h/January+1,+2009.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKwMvgDARWcVxePTgrCPKBhanQIOdt_CrgsLgJUHVypyI-AO1Avtv9F4J1goLRefCfuWMpV_60VoF6mZef7J1KK3DkXgz_JHhFynY6ylwixyGna4TpOQbG9gTwe6ujNLz81AhNV_mTUWSR/s400/January+1,+2009.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5294864928770205138" /></a><center>New Year's Dawn 2009</center><br />Well, greetings once again, everyone! I hadn't planned to do another blog this year, as time seems all too short these days, but I just couldn't help myself. I've been collecting miscellaneous pictures along the way, have taken on a fun and rewarding project involving iPods, and -- here's the kicker -- I've accepted a permanent position as a Visitor Use Assistant here in Big Bend National Park! I guess I'm just going to have to find the time, aren't I? A permanent position is something I've wanted and dreaded for quite some time now -- wanted, because I'm getting a little tired of the 3000-mile jaunts every six months which require me to uproot myself; dreaded, because now I won't have those 3000-mile jaunts to see this wonderful and diverse country of ours. However, my new job does require me to take two months' worth of furlough (unpaid leave) every year, so I guess I'll just have to get my kicks on Route 66 during that time and attempt to document the western leg of the Mother Road at some point. This may turn out to be a good thing after all. (Of course it'll be a good thing, Doug; it's just going to be different.) So, anyway, that's the news from this end so far. A photo entry will be following shortly. Adios for now, amigos and amigas.Highroadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02858295532318995042noreply@blogger.com