N Scott Momaday

Bear, the poet, attended the Mayborn conference this month. Always charmed by the magic of his words.

Next Up: Gnome's Georgia

Sent my entry fee today to the Oklahoma City Concours d'Elegance in September. Feeling low-key and non-competitive, so I entered Georgia in the Driven class. Probably Cliff will move her up to Championship class, and then I'll feel some stress caused by my competitive spirit. I should curb that and enjoy the competition anyway! My Mr. Mallory has already agreed to attend with me, and good thing that he will be on my team: no one can buff a car as meticulously as he can to make it look perfectly shiny.

I entered Tex, too. I always feel up to entering Tex in competition. However, it becomes more difficult to win as time goes by, though, because I have to compete against the boys who buy a new Jaguar every year; so every time they simply drive off the show room floor and into their slot at the concours. Their car is impeccable, while mine shows a little wear here and there -- and that's the way it should be for one who loves her Jaguars. Well, maybe there won't be any brand spanking new Jaguars this year. Either way, no stress will be felt!

Out for a Spin on the Honda

One thousand fifteen hundred and fifty cubic centimeters of power: I sat on a Honda Valkyrie motorcycle this evening and rode as if on a cloud floating down the road. I'd forgotten what it felt like, the interaction of that machine and me, and the road and the wind displaced by the windshield, the wide berth allowed to me by gawking motorists when they see a woman on a large machine. I had forgotten how much I miss my husband on our road trips, all the motorcycles he had, and that this one was his last, so new when he died. At the fuel station I pretended my tears were caused by the wind.

Tom Danaher and the Jenny

They flew, determinedly, this morning against fourteen-mile per hour winds, Tom and the Jenny, both still as strong today as when they were younger.

Iconic Photo of Texas

Ysabel mentioned me in her blog again.
"A while back, I posted a quintessential Texas photograph by Elizabeth Hawley. Part of what made her photo so wonderful was another photo that formed her photo's background. I recently learned who took that great Texas photo and want to give credit where it's (over)due.
The photographer is Sean Fitzgerald. To see more of his work, go to seanfitzgerald.com. Click on Portfolio, and have a good time "traveling." Africa, Guatemala, VietNam, 30 days on a Texas ranch, . . . This is special work, done with an exceptional clarity of vision and a clear and deep sense of appreciation for the natural world. If you've never been to Texas, or been only to its cities and not to its landscapes, then you owe it to yourself to go to the 30 Days on a Texas Ranch portfolio on Sean's site. He truly captures the spirit of the land that is Texas: rugged, uncompromising, fascinating and beautiful.
I'll leave you with this double treat of Sean's image of two hummingbirds in flight. When I see an image like this I feel convinced that photography just had to be part of man's evolutionary progress and God's divine plan. Enjoy!"

Bird Photo

Trying to follow my friend Mike's footsteps, so I set out this evening to practice bird photography. The first thing I learned is that one needs to be closer to the birds. Otherwise, I found a nice photograph to bring home with me.

Peach Festival

Heartwarming to attend an event at a small town nearby where they gave everyone free peach ice cream and cobbler.

Musicians asked for suggestions written on green pieces of paper, preferably the green of twenty-dollar bills.

At the Crow

Some of us in the audience swooned with the intensity of the exquisite music played on the santoor by Pandit Bhajan Sopori at the Crow Collection of Asian Art in Dallas. This is an iPhone shot of Pandit and his fellow players.

Stroll at the Fort Worth Botanical Gardens

2200 Miles from Istanbul to Mount Ararat

Gnome in Ankara

We visited Ataturk's mausoleum this afternoon.
 

Graduate Gnome

My medals and cords as seen from my point of view.

Pig Flew

Pig flew and landed on a 53 New Yorker.

Birdwatcher Gnome and Gnome

Gnomes birdwatched this evening.

The pansies under the pecan trees continue to thrive.

Bluejay on the new fence.

American Robin on the new fence bounced away as the bluejay approached.

Gnome Sees Patster

I took some supper to Patricia this evening. Still convalescing, she felt weak as she came out to the sun room to greet me. I informed her on the most recent inside WGA activities, and caught up on her granddaughter; then, I told her about Aunt Carmela's ninetieth birthday, which I will attend. Then HershMeister started the oven for me. I warmed their supper, washed a few dishes, then sat at Pat's feet. At one point she said, "Herschel, pass me that blanket. I feel cold." He rose, took the blanket, and as he covered her he said, "My girl feels chilled sometimes." I tucked her feet under the blanket he spread over her. HershMeister took over at that point, because I wanted to leave Pat to herself while she waited for her dinner. I gave her a hug, received a highly-cherished kiss from her, then left, saying on my way out that I might just drive off in HershMeister's '89 black Corvette.

Corvettes in the Parking Lot

The two Corvettes in the parking lot, parked far and by themselves, reminded me of bulls in a pasture.

Gnome Day

Mac took this photo of me while doing four Gs in his biplane. Glad to have a photograph to embellish my memory of such an outstanding experience.


On my way to class I have seen this pair either at my house or here, in this pond.


Friends Judy and Winnifred cover their faces when I bring my camera out of my bag.


I still own my T-bird -- and enjoying it very much, thank you -- and don't mind it at all that I cannot sell it. That's a Pilates plane in the background.

Candies for Season Ticket Holders

Facade of the Memorial Auditorium where the symphony plays every month.

The orchestra practiced with the Beatles band while we worked.


A little rest between notes.



This year, season ticket holders received a treat in the form of a candy bar. We taped them to the seats in the auditorium.

Population Scientist at Gnome's House

These are the links:
http://www.timesrecordnews.com/news/2008/apr/20/population-explosion/
http://www.timesrecordnews.com/news/2008/apr/23/growth-causing-trouble/

Photo by Neta, taken at a nearby restaurant.

"The writer made so much mention of my coming back: Doesn't anyone ever return to Wichita Falls?" These were the first words out of his mouth after he entered my house. Later in the evening, I found him wandering in the hallway looking forlorn and tired. He said, "They left without saying good bye."
"Who did?" I asked him.
"The Germans. They left without saying good bye."
I wondered about which Germans he meant, then realized he referred to Dr. Wiederman and her husband, and whom I happened to have glimpsed in the dining room as I walked by moments earlier; so, I lead Werner to them.

Dr. Wiederman pointed to the silk scarf she wore, as she walked out the door, subsequently, as she said good bye, and said she matched the living room which contains all sorts of oriental things--a collection brought together from my things, John's things, his mother's and my late David's--and indeed, I thought she looked striking, especially in that room, but I think she would look striking everywhere. Her husband seemed a fine fellow, and I was glad, like Werner, that they had not left without saying good bye. Charles had to leave early, so Karen took Werner to his hotel. I was saddened to see him go before I could visit with him more.

Hummingbirds

How nice to spot -- and photograph -- the first hummingbird I see this year.