D60, 50mm, f5.6, ISO 400

        Sometimes I want to JTP, or Just Take Pictures. That's when I carry a lighter load and bring out my Nikon D60, a 50mm 1:1.4 lens, place the settings on Aperture Priority, f5.6, and ISO 400, which under many circumstances can yield adequately measured photographs. As usual, I set out with MyMrMallory not knowing what my JTP attitude would yield. Over the last few days, I snapped images of crop circles in the Texas Panhandle, noting that from 7,500 feet in altitude, the crops looked like art on soil. I had previously explored "farmer's art" and show it on my PBase site, so I felt interested in re-visiting this concept once the thought came to me.

Corn quarter circles. Circles can have one mile in diameter. 

Overlapping circles.

Water ditches meandering across the circle.

Cotton fields in the circle.

Wheat circle surrounded by corn.

Harvested circles of corn.

Corn crop circle view from the ground.

Harvesters gather the corn, separating the kernels from the stalks. 

The kernels fill up the bin, and from here, the bin fills up the eighteen-wheeler 

that will transport the corn to the elevators for storage.

The combine pictured above can tackle eight rows of corn.

Trucks stand in line to fill up with corn.

At the office of the elevators, this device measures 

the moisture content of corn, and important factor in its quality. 

         In the old days, farmers employed a more simplified device to measure the weight of corn. Today, in case of a dispute, farmers may need to search through their storage to find the measuring device, as Bud did (above, to show it to us), for the court of law will not accept measurements made by electronic devices.

            And so ended my D60, 50mm, f5.6, ISO 400 experience. Post processing in the digital darkroom  involved only minor cropping and enhancing contrast. 

Holding My Breath for Handheld Images

Room for Possums

          Our mission: Release two captive young possums back to the wild. Penny met us at Wild Bird Rescue with two possums. MyMrMallory and I loaded the crate containing the two fellows into the white jalopy, then drove into the countryside, as far away from civilization as humanly possible. 

          Along the way, we drove across fields of flowers. The countryside remains covered in flowers, delightfully. Cows watched us drive through the brush toward the lake. 

           Finally, we came to our destination, Duck Lake, where we released the two fellows.

           Frogs hopped into the lake as we approached. No, we cannot see them in the photo above. I wish I could have spotted them before they disappeared into the water!

Hesitant, the possums remained in the soft bedding inside the cozy crate. 

           Slowly, they investigated, sniffing before every step they took, and then, together they ambled under the grove of trees, disappearing under the broom brush.

Marvelous Bugs

Millerton Water Tower

'Bows at Broken Bow

          I adore trout and every single fish on Earth, and I adore my brother, but in the presence of each, I found myself enthralled by nature in the area of Broken Bow. If I caught Browns or 'Bows, I did so with more luck than skill, for my focus remained on my surroundings.
          Bird life included several overhead flying ducks (Why did I leave my binoculars in the car!), Turkey and Black Vultures, Pileated Woodpecker, wrens, phoebes, and various, no, many hawks. Next trip: Return to Broken Bow with binoculars!

         Jesse and Linda, from Three Rivers Fly Shop, work toward improving the rivers for the benefit of trout and anglers. Below I show some of the work they and the community of Broken Bow have accomplished on the river. Utilizing logs and stones, they shape pools and eddies, great for trout to thrive, and great to create a challenge for anglers. 

Owls at Wild Bird Rescue Recently

Eastern Screech Owl.

Barn Owl.

Fledgling Great Horned Owls saved by Lila.

Pump Jacks, Power Lines, and Birds

Driving along the Texas countryside with MyMrMallory, 

I glimpsed egrets hanging around cattle and sunflowers.

I spotted pump jacks surrounded by summer flowers.

I may not like to see huge power lines traversing 

farms and ranches, but the vultures seem to like  to sit on them.

Ann My Rancher Friend

Ann, one of my fave persons, invited me to hop on behind her on her

All Terrain Vehicle to go see her new-born calves. Above I show her interacting with a Holstein.

Distracted by Nature

I particularly appreciate it when snakes play dead, instead of lunging at me, frightfully.

Above, a Scissortail Flycatcher standing on a Mesquite branch 

observes me; another dives to catch an insect.

Mourning Dove.

At this time, Starlings grow into adulthood and change into their Fall plumage. 

Flowers still abound in the countryside. 

Prairie Dogs barked, alerting others of my presence. 

The Burrowing Owls remained vigilant of a Northern Harrier hunting above the Prairie Dog town.