Smiley Devil Sprayed on Tank Battery

Crescent Moon Over Hangars

To the Shop

     On a day when I decided not to fly on account of the strong winds, MyMrMallory walks in my office and declares, "Bobby wants the planes this afternoon." A studied look at the weather, followed by a quick jaunt to the airport, and off we flew to the mechanic's shop, he in his aerobat for radio repairs, and I in the Bonanza to bring him back home. I realized for the first time that I've become handy to another pilot now that I have a pilot's license, similar to having someone pick you up at the shop when you drop off your car for repairs, except that this particular shop is seventy-eight nautical miles south of town. 

       "I got lost," MyMrMallory said, after landing. No functioning radios in his plane meant flying with a map, which he confessed he'd held upside-down, east and west on the wrong sides of north and south." First there was Lake Arrowhead, then there was Archer City, then Graham, and then . . . and then . . . I got lost."

       I indulged with the iPhone app, OldPicture, to finish the images I took along the way, and what a beautiful way it was with several layers of clouds.

Bobby signals the aerobat to park.

Bonanza waits for the return flight home.

Several decks of clouds.

North Texas from 5,500 feet in the late afternoon.

Four Planes on Taxi

Shiny tops of wings of four aircraft on the taxiway.

Nice Day for La Madeleine

Another nice and clear day for flying. Such is life in North Texas.

Dallas skyline in the distance and the historic Love Field in the foreground. 

The propellers of the airplane show up as bars across the screen 

when the image is made by a cellphone.

While in Dallas, we had lunch at La Madeleine. Smart thing to do!

Tomato basil soup, a croissant with tuna salad, a Caesar's salad, and a mug of coffee.

Brought home some soup for Dotti, and coffee for us. 

Tractor Turns

On a Tin Roof

Ponds, New and Old, from the Air

Grasses and other plants cover the sides of the roads. 

The pens, middle of picture at right, made a soft landing area on its grass for our helicopter.

North Texas looks green this autumn, and new (to me) flowers have bloomed.

A joy.

In the middle of a wheat field, a newly-dredged pond starts to retain water, thanks to the recent rains.

An old pond might return to its former size after several years of drought.

Unusual Clouds Under the Moon

Above the Pecan trees, the swiftly passing clouds, southwest to northeast, and the light of Moon.

Four-o-clock, Perhaps?

      Would you consider that "gorgeous flower" sounds redundant? I came upon this flower by chance, by taking a different path after a moment's decision. What a joy. "Uncommon," said Paul. "I'm guessing it's in the four-o-clock family (nyctagineceae)."

Rat Snake on Cracking Road

Still as a statue, the snake waited for me to leave. 

I pondered, what scares me more, the snake, or the drought-cracked asphalt?

Purple Ground Cherry

Indian Rushpea

     In her book, Wildflowers of Texas, Geyata Ajilsvgi notes that the Indian Rushpea "forms large tubers about 6 inches underground which are sometimes used for food for hogs, thus giving it another common name, hog peanut." She adds that the native Americans gathered and roasted the tubers. Sounds yummy, until you read further: "A common Spanish name is camote de raton, meaning, 'mouse's sweet potato.'"
     Note the mound of soil in the background of the photograph? That is a prairie dog den.

Blue Sage

Gulf Fritillary on a Gayfeather

Just off Hunters' Ridge, I spotted a gulf fritillary among several species of flowers.

Maximillian Sunflowers and a Shed

A charming view of the Maximillian sunflower and an old shed with a tiled roof.

Air Tractor Taking Off at Sunrise

An Air Tractor takes off into the sunrise and then heads north to dust a field somewhere. 

Colorful Helicopter Pre-flight

        My weekly helicopter jaunt with Gary had some added color and cloud formations, just to add to the treat of a ride.

Ivy on Bark

Pumpkins Out Now