Hazy Day to DTO

The City of Wichita Falls. 

    Haze covered Texas this morning. From 3,500 feet MyMrMallory and I glided smoothly above the thermals toward Denton airport. On our way, MyMrMallory took control of the Scissortail to make turns on a point -- the point being, specifically, his son's new home -- while I took pictures of the acreage upon which it stands, all green now, after the construction of the house. 

    After a few shots, I flew along Highway 380 toward the airport. Denton tower was open and busy, talking to students and other aircraft enjoying the experience of flying during the 4th of July. The tower controller nimbly handled a stream of aircraft approaching, landing, taking off, doing touch 'n goes, and departing. 

    We followed control tower's instructions to continue over H380 and then make a 90-degree turn to final for runway 18. I flew my approach almost perfectly, with the right speed and settings. My landing spooked MyMrMallory, but then, they usually do. I followed instructions from ground control to stop and shut down at Business Air, a nice FBO at Denton airport. We feel especially fond of Business Air in Denton for the kindness they showed us last year. We flew to the radio shop on the field, and while they worked on the radio for a couple of hours, we walked around the buildings, stumbling upon Business Air, whose gentle receptionist offered a crew car for us to look for a place to have lunch. 

    Fueled up (all of seven gallons for the Scissortail), and licking our lips after a tasty homemade ice cream cone, we started up and flew toward the Wichita Falls VOR. Ten miles from the VOR, MyMrMallory took control of the aircraft and began his practice. I peered over the nose at Wichita Valley airport. 

   "Where is everyone? It's a holiday and I thought they'd be flying around all over the place."

   "It's hot and it's lunchtime," said MyMrMallory. His eyebrows frowned as he fell deeply into focus on flying the plane. 

    Neither was the Municipal airport occupied with aircraft. We had the runways all to ourselves as I approached on a right base to runway 15R. The runway, having 13,100 feet in length, and the airport, located at the very end of that runway, make for a long, long taxi; so I maintained 500 feet AGL, glided along over the concrete until I had about 1,000 feet of it left at the end. Then I descended and gently landed, then exited at the end and headed to the airport. Whether MyMrMallory felt spooked or not, I may not ever know, but I did hear a sigh of relief coming from my right before I opened my window and a gush of cooling air blew inside the cockpit. 

   

Water Off the Nose

Banking toward the Red River along the Oklahoma and Texas borders, off the nose of the airplane.

$111 Coffee and Cookie

   To fulfill some of my flying requirements, I flew to Abilene with MyMrMallory in the right seat. In Abilene, we sipped some coffee, sampled a chocolate chip cookie, and then returned home. 

   Early mornings during the summer provide the best time to fly a little airplane, with mild temperatures and not too many thermals to bounce us around. During our flight, we heard other general aviation traffic on the radio, but had both airports all to ourselves, which is one of the charms about flying, in my view. One mustn't become complacent though, thinking we have the sky for our own, and should maintain a look out for other aircraft whose occupants also experience the delight of aviation.

    iPhone photo of the Red River and the nose of the Scissortail as we banked toward final on 15R at Sheppard.

Infrared Sunflower and Chair

     Nikon D2xs, IR 720 filter, 35mm, f3.5, 1.0s, 100 ISO, auto WB, manual mode; cropped, lightened up a bit, and increased contrast during post processing in the digital darkroom using Aperture.

Turkish Art

In my kitchen, I placed Swiss chard in a hand-painted bowl from Avanos, Turkey, 

painted by an artist in the shop called Firca. iPhone photo.

Underside of the bowl. iPhone photo.

One of the artists of the Firca shop at his work. Nikon D3, 45mm, ISO 1000, f2.8, 1/20.

A Bite Taken on a Moth

Dry Ice in the Sink

Nikon D700, 50mm, ISO 100, f1.4, 1/400, manual mode, auto white balance.

Air Race Classic 2012 Took Off Today

Story in today's News Herald.

Follow the racers by visiting their blogs 

at the Air Race Classic's Web site listing 

and by visiting the racers' Facebook page.

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.