Happy Birthday Dale...its your turn. July 31st.

To my dear husband Dale. Have a wonderful birthday, Baby!!

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Birthday Girl

Shelley is celebrating her birthday today.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, Shelley!

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Billboards

I was informed today that one of my photos was chosen to be displayed on several billboards around the area as part of an ad campaign. I had always hoped to make some money with my photos, but I never in a million years dreamed that one would show up on a billboard - let alone several! I will be posting images here when I get them.

Wow! Billboards! I'm agog at the thought. Can't wait to see them. :)

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Summer Thunderstorm

A little rain and lightning is all.

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Me? A Bird Brain?

I can't help it. I have a great fondness and respect for these raptors. To me, they have the qualities of a miniature eagle. Proud, graceful, and strong predators. When they hunt, they remind me of Peregrine Falcons as they dive after their quarry. This is one of the few species that eat on the wing.

This guy was nice enough to pose for me while I did an impromptu photo shoot - with him as the subject. No, I really don't know if this is a male or female. The female has very similar colors to the male, but is slightly "duller" - if grey isn't "dull" enough already. ;)

See more of my Mississippi Kite photos and information HERE.

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Palo Duro Canyon - Full Moon at Sunset

Thems the colors as it were. Taken with my little Powershot Pro 1.

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Is It Broken?

If it is, I didn't do it! It was fine when I was done playing with it, honest!

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Dust Bowl Stories Wanted - Ken Burns Documentary

KACV-TV (PBS) is assisting Ken Burns' production company gather tales from the old dust bowl days. Pictures, stories and interviews are needed. If you have a story to tell, please submit them here.

You know its hot in Texas when...

• You eat hot chilies to cool your mouth off.

• You learn that a seat belt makes a pretty good branding iron.

• The temperature drops below 95 and you feel a bit chilly.

• You discover that in July it takes only two fingers to drive your car.

• You know the best parking place is determined by shade instead of distance.

• Hot water comes out of both taps.

• You actually burn your hand opening the car door.

• You break a sweat the instant you step outside at 7:30 a.m. before work.

• You realize asphalt has a liquid state.

• It's so hot the birds have to use pot holders to pull worms out of the ground.

• It's so hot that potatoes cook underground and all you have to do for lunch is to pull one out and add butter with trimmings.

• It's so hot farmers are feeding their chickens crushed ice to keep them from laying hard boiled eggs.

Light Show

Storms passed to the south of us tonight and gave us a pretty good light show with all the lighning flying around. Never got a drop of rain in town, light breeze blowing, good setup for shooting the lightning. Unfortunately, there wasn't much cloud-to-ground lightning, mostly cloud-to-cloud.

(This one was taken from in front of the house, clearly showing cloud-to-cloud strikes. Cloud-to-ground is much more photogenic, IMO, as far as lightning itself goes.)

Cloud-to-Cloud strikes can be very dramatic. In the next two, you can see the lightning flowing out of the clouds to the right. This scene would have been better with some ground strikes. Maybe next time.

(Click on images for bigger size.)

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Tractor Parade - Texas Sports Cars?

Some of the members of the Panhandle Antique Tractors Association.

July 4, 2009 Canyon, Texas.

--Photos by Shelley

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Riding and Tawking

This was taken yesterday at the Independence Day Parade in Canyon.
I don't think the teen's heart was in it, do you?

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The Bombs Bursting In Air

Here are some shots of the fireworks we watched tonight. None of them have been edited other than cropping and adding text.

I like to call this last one the "Palm Tree".

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Happy Birthday America!

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Today marks the 233rd anniversary of the signing of our Declaration of Independence. It is the day that marks the starting point of our Country. Since the Declaration was signed and delivered to the King of England, many have died doing their best to keep its principles intact. The primary one is Freedom.

On this 4th of July, reflect on our history and how we came to be. When you see the fireworks tonight, know what they represent. Those "Bombs Bursting in Air" represent the battles our forefathers fought to free themselves (and us) from tyrannical rule. It has been (and still is) our responsibility to see that it remains free.

Have a Happy and Safe Independence Day!

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*** A Humbling Experience ***

This morning we went to the parade in downtown Canyon. It was the biggest they've had yet - markedly bigger than past years. It lasted over an hour this year. We loved it!

As the floats of military men past and present passed by us, they were met with grateful applause all along the route. As they passed by, I stopped my applause to take a few pictures and give them a high "thumbs up". One of the floats touched me. I was standing there with my US Coast Guard cap on, camera in hand, just minding my own business. ;-) Two of the soldiers (shown here) broke loose from escorting their Veterans of Foreign Wars float to come over to me - ME, of all people - for the purpose of shaking my hand!
I was surprised when the first one (a Desert Storm veteran) extended his hand and said, "Thank you, sir!" (I thought they just wanted to say hi to the kids in front of me.) I was kind of glad he did though, because I wanted to thank them - each and every one in the parade.

I was very much humbled. It's been over 30 years since I served and I must admit I felt a little unworthy. I remember thinking, "Everybody should be thanking you guys."

Thank you, Gentlemen!
Thank all of you who are putting it all on the line (and have put it all on the line) to keep our Country safe and Free.

--Dale

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Emily not too excited about waving the flag here.

But wait!!! Something about dad just brings out the patriotism in her!
(red headed and blue eyes!)

--Shelley

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Good ole Ken (friend of the family) made an appearance on one of his tractors.

--post by Dale

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Tonight's Sunset

Shelley and I went out behind Academy this evening to catch the sunset. Been a while for us. Here are some of the ones we took.





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Canyon Birds

We made a trip to the canyon this morning to do some more photography. The Mississippi Kites were everywhere! Must be a good food year for them down there. As we drove around checking out various parts of the park, we came across a couple of birds we hadn't seen before.

This one is a Gambel's Quail. It was one of a pair that had a brood of chicks they were watching over. This male was on lookout, and he was facing his chicks and mate that were safely hiding in the brush.

This is the Bullock's Oriole. We first saw him when this blazing orange thing flew by.

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(Addendum: Sunday - July 5, 2009)

Another trip to Palo Duro Canyon today gave us another treat shortly before sunset. Hundreds - literally hundreds of turkey vultures were amassing at the lower end of the park to roost in trees. Wave after wave of vultures arrived for a good hour anyhow. It was the most amazing thing I've seen in the bird world.



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