Tool Shop

I could spend hours in this shop finding angles for photographs. This shop serves one of the cattle ranches in Dumas.

El Matador

          In Dumas, in the Texan Panhandle, one can find some of the best food on Earth. Hunkering for home-made tortillas? Head for El Matador. The folks there know what to do with good tortillas. Nina, it happens, provides the tortillas that hold strips of chicken, perfectly seasoned and cooked, topped with other fresh ingredients, and served so hot it burns your fingers. Place a dollop of guacamole, if you like that, to embellish the taco. MyMrMallory said his enchilada tasted great, too.

Esfandiary Albany

        Oh, you might jump into your car, or motorcycle, or horse, and head for Albany, Texas, on a whim, for some good cooking. As I sat at the Beehive waiting for my Fort Griffin burger (hold the cheese), hordes of workers streamed through the door.
         I've always understood that large numbers of trucks parked outside a restaurant, or locals hanging around all day, or workers streaming in the door at noon determines inarguably the quality of the food and service at any restaurant, so, I beamed with expectation as I saw hungry people filing by my table.
        The waitress greeted the river of men coming in obviously accustomed to this happenstance every day at around noon. "How many ya got, boys?" One, covered in soil hat to boots, shrugged his shoulders and said, "Don' know. Twelve mayb," and then watched her expectantly, as if familiar with the routine here, ready for her instructions on where to sit, in the front room, where I sat, or in the back room with the deer heads. She commanded him to sit in the back room. She commanded everyone. She knew how to guide the flow. She knew they felt hungry and she knew she would serve good food to fill their bellies.

          This painting hanging above me seems to symbolize the restaurant: You need food and water, stop here, and dang, it's good to eat and drink after a long day's riding -- because you're hot and tired and because the food tastes good. 

          Here's the link to their website: http://www.fortgriffinandbeehive.com/index.html

Summer clouds in Texas along the way to Albany.

Hay in the sun.

Cows in the shade. 

Camels in North Texas

            Decades ago, Robert Hudson's liaisons flew to the outback of Australia, captured several camels, and shipped them to his ranch near Wichita Falls. One million dollars were made selling the offspring of these camels. His widow, an energetic and engaging woman whose love of camels has no end, continues to sell camels. The Museum of North Texas History hosted a lecture this afternoon on camels in North Texas.

This two-week old fellow greeted guests outside the MoNTH door.

In addition to looking beautiful, sensual, and soft, camel eyes have three eye lids. The three eye lids developed as protection to the eyeball from the powdery sands of the deserts. 

Robert Palmer gave a characteristically engaging lecture, this one on the history of camels in the United States, beginning in 1836, and then going into the later half of the Nineteenth Century.  

Leta encouraged the guests to enjoy drinking punch and mingling. 

Releasing a Killdeer

        Yesterday, Sunday, the Killdeer that had grown up at Wild Bird Rescue became a free bird. BirdManBob released her into the wind, but the Killdeer flew onto the grass. I was worried for a moment, but when the Killdeer began darting about the grass looking normal, and as she began chasing grasshoppers and other insects, I felt the familiar happiness of seeing a bird released back into nature. 

        Before releasing the Killdeer, BirdManBob held her against his shirt. I thought the background appropriate. It says, "Celebrate the Earth and Sky / Soar into the Wind / Let Your Spirit Fly." But the Killdeer seems to prefer to run around the grass and parking lots!

Summer Spiders

Jenny Flies Today

Larry reminded us that the Jenny, shown above with one of the volunteers, will fly today. 

Coco (below) approves.

Executive Director's Blog

Click on this link:
http://wildbirdrescue4611.blogspot.com/

       I currently serve as BirdManBob's ghost blog writer. Today seemed a particularly good day for photographs. Despite the heat I managed a few good images. My subjects remain remarkable, from beautiful birds to the joy in BirdManBob's face as he watches a bird he and his volunteers saved take flight.

A Year for Flowers

Early in the mornings, the breeze feels good, the climate feels good, and it feels good to sit with MyMrMallory, cup of java in hand, rather than go out there to take pictures. With no pictures in my camera, I sought for some images I took in the past. I continue to enjoy fiddling with single HDR images.

October sunrise in the panhandle showing a water mill and a light dusting of snow.

Mount Ararat. Post processing this image in HDR brought out some of the contrast. 

I like this image of an Arab woman looking into a mosque. 

Many Bobwhites Around Here

Tone-mapped version of a quail posing for me, beautifully. 

Ah! The Open Sky. A Propeller. Sigh.

Invigorating Scamp in the Countryside

           MyMrMallory and I rode around with Andrew in his all terrain vehicle, the Rhino. I want a Rhino now. Rhinos can go anywhere.

Easily, the Rhino drove through this wheat field . . . 

. . . and gathered wheat seeds as a combine would gather them.

We encountered several gates, most of which were creative in their method of latching. 

Some gates required the wit and strength of two men to close.

          We visited several lakes. I call this one Turkey Lake, for an American Turkey took flight as we approached. 

Here I show a view characteristic of the Red River region.

         There remains the abandoned barn. Note the corrugated zink, the wood underneath it, and holding it all up, the stones. 

The barn may seem a bit crude in its structure, but at least it has electricity.

Recycle everything. A license plate nailed to the bottom of a doorway covered a hole in the wood.

Time and storms pass by. 

Flowers remain prolific in the Texan countryside. (Yay.) 

Animals About their Business

Looking for food and water.

Blackbird.

Jackrabbit.

What Fish Eat

Mayfly.

Stained Glass in Topkapi