Pre-fruit Passionflower

     Passionflowers bloom one time, one day, then curl up to focus their energy in becoming fruit.

Nikon D2xs, 50mm, 100 ISO, f3.5, 1/200, manual metering, 

post processed in the digital darkroom for cropping, contrast, and higher exposure.

Flower as Porch

Moth meal at noon on the front porch.

Spider on thistle.

Between Here and There

       A drive across a country or state, any state, not only Texas, will yield some interesting "grab" shots. Those are the shots you take as your vehicle zooms by on the roads and you quickly raise your camera to "grab" a scene. The scenery, among other things, makes travel so interesting. Drive safely.

Nikon D7000, 50mm, Program mode.

Safety in Knowledge, and Great Burgers, Too

      Too Tall and other instructors invited the local general aviation community to lectures in safety, rides in jet simulators, and a visit to the control tower at Sheppard Air Force Base. Many attended landing in light sport aircraft, several Bonanzas, and a Stearman, and were treated to beautifully cooked burgers.

Biplane from Gainesville, Texas, viewed from inside the vehicle that transported 

the pilots from the parking to the hangar.

Control tower at SAFB. 

Too Tall enlightened the pilots in attendance about the routes that the jets take as they train.

A simulator technician watches as one of the pilots flies a T-38.

Inside the simulator cockpit of a T-38.

Pilots Tom and Carolyn watch the monitors outside the simulator.

Fuselage of a real T-38.

Stretch marks on the empennage of a T-38. 

It was a family event.

Passionflower

It bloomed, and here we are, delightedly.

Infrared Holly, Pecans, and Oaks

I hope the trees in North Texas survive the summer temperatures. 

Remember Ryan, Too!

    Intrigued by the verses inscribed on the monument to honor the dead at the Perryville Battlefield, I surfed the Web for reliable sources. I discovered that Abram Joseph Ryan (1839-1886) wrote one quatrain consisting of two lines extracted from his poem "The Sword of Robert Lee," and that Theodore O'Hara (1822-1867) wrote the other three quatrains. No doubt that the people who erected the monument in 1902 chose the words for the relevance and emotional gravitas of their day.
    Both men seemed interesting. Project Gutenberg has a copy of a tribute to Ryan written by John Moran. The Catholic Encyclopedia notes that O'Hara "wrote little of special merit" except the poems from which came the quatrains inscribed on the Perryville monument, "The Bivouac of the Dead," and a second poem that became popular, "A Dirge for the Brave Old Pioneer."

Father Abram Joseph Ryan.

Theodore O'Hara

The area of Lexington in this picture taken from the air shows 

the undulating hills that reflect the countryside in Kentucky

where battles were fought during the American Civil War.

One way to Perryville, the (nail-biting) curving Highway 68.

Old trees grace the hallowed grounds of the battlefield.

                                   

[ . . . ]

Nor braver bled for a brighter land,

Nor brighter land had cause so grand, 

[ . . . ]

From "The Sword of Robert Lee" by Abram Joseph Ryan.

[ . . . ]

On Fame's eternal camping-ground

their silent tents are spread,

and glory guards with solemn round

the bivouac of the dead.

[ . . . ]

From "The Bivouac of the Dead," by Theodore O'Hara.

                                      

[ . . . ]

Nor shall your glory be forgot

while fame her record keeps,

or honor points the hallowed spot

where valor proudly sleeps.

[ . . . ]

From "The Bivouac of the Dead," by Theodore O'Hara.

[ . . . ]

Nor wreck, nor change, or winter's blight

nor time's remorseless doom,

shall dim one ray of holy light

that gilds your glorious tomb.

[ . . . ]

From "The Bivouac of the Dead," by Theodore O'Hara. 

The monument in May, 2012, on a foggy day. 

Rest in peace, dear fallen. 

The Contrast of it All

      Diminished saturation to black and white, increased exposure levels, and decreased contrast levels during post processing in the digital darkroom using Aperture. Shot with Nikon D7000, ISO 100, 105mm f3.2 - f3.  Fun!

     Photography has become a part of my gardening. There is so much gardening to do!

Conventional Plowing After Grazing Wheat

Peace Hybrid Tea Rose

      I feel as if I can reach up to my monitor and touch the soft petals of the rose. I can almost smell its fragrance. I can enjoy looking at my roses all year! Nikon F6 Provia 100.

Poetry: Eroding Time

Eroding Time

Gradually, the setting sun changed the colors of the Parthenon
its marble changing from ancient gold to glorious gold
the softness of its edges made smooth by time,
by air, wind, fire -- acid rain, smog, and climbing tourists.

Still, on the plaka the busy people continued selling trinkets
laughing with and at themselves and especially at visitors.
Some spoke to others into cell phones, "Don't worry, I know."
One shopkeeper quarreled with me, "No photos. Go away."

A shopkeeper's daughter pointed to her father's jewelry,
sparkling diamonds and gold on display, "The artists thread
the gold and then weave it into this necklace," she said.
"This is cool stuff here." She sounded mainstream American.

Near the church a plump woman in a red dress folded a silk
tablecloth. "Buy it," she said, and then shoved it in my arms.
"My husband dead. My children small," she told me,
her Greek brow furrowed, turning toward the setting sun.



Selling on the Plaka, Athens, 2008. Nikon D2xs, f7.6, 1/250, 100 ISO, 200mm.

Saint John

Sacred Heart Church in Wichita Falls.

Cayenne on Figs and Peaches, and Tomatoes, Too

       Squirrels do not share our fruit, even in bountiful crops. We heard that they do not like cayenne pepper. In an attempt to have some produce this year, we sprinkled cayenne pepper on some of our growing fruits.

Poetry: Waiting for the Green Light

Waiting for the Green Light

West on misty Scott Street

I waited alongside buildings

still standing, still in use

since the oil boom of the 20s.

Warm pockets of spring air

lifted strands of my brown hair 

like a caress for having lived

through another North Texas winter.

 

Scott Street bends across an old bridge

walked by people who have left the bars

tossing their Red Draw over its rails before 

turning straight on Iowa Park Road

following the train tracks rumbled upon

by the Burlington Northern and Santa Fe.

 

Like the Mesquite plant

I bloom green every spring

just after the last freeze.

The Stigmas I Like

Just Ahead in Archer County

         Not too far from where we sat to relax we spotted Purple Martins, Cedar Waxwings, Starlings, Robins, Mockingbirds, Blue Jays, the Ash-throated and Great-crested Flycatchers, Great White Egret, White Heron, Great Blue Heron, Eastern Phoebe, Scissortail, Turkey Vultures, Canada Goose, Great-tailed Grackles, Cowbirds, Western Kingbird, Cardinals, thought I spotted a Carolina Chickadee, and heard the song of a flicker. Nikon V 1, 10mm, Auto, post processed for black and white, contrast, and cropping in the digital darkroom.

Singular Parking at Love Field

Flying on the downwind into Love Field in Dallas. Nikon V 1, 10mm, Auto.

They signaled us to park our Bonanza under the roofing at the front door of Business Jet Aviation. 

Nikon V 1, 10mm, Auto.

What usually parks under that roof . . . 

I have written on my "bucket list" to park my Cherokee 180 under that roof, too. Someday . . .

Nikon F2, Lomography Color Negative 35mm film, ISO 400, f5.6, 50mm.