Freedom for Kestrel

Smooth release of an American Kestrel. The Kestrel immediately turned into the wind, (revealing his knowledge of aeronautics) then flew over the pond and into the woods.

Conservation

   Jay drives the tractor to move earth to create terraces that will prevent erosion. In the foreground we can see plowed soil ready for next year's crop. In the background, behind the dust -- in spite of two inches of rain a few days ago -- we can see Taylor's Knob. (Intriguing name, and intriguing that it was named at all, but no one can give me a history on Taylor's Knob.)

Elaborate and Detailed Image

            I enjoy driving past this particular hangar for all of its implications. For instance, the text implies that a shop once existed here; the raised hangar door (in green) implies that they expanded the size of the hangar; and the airplanes pointing in the opposite direction of the hangar door obviously shows it opens on both sides. The airplanes point in different directions every time, implying that people fly them often (yay). 

Huge Numbers of Grasshoppers this Year

Ancient, Dilapidated Things at Valley View, Including Manners

           Passing the time enjoyably at my hobby of photography while MyMrMallory mowed the grass in front of his hangar, I walked to the hangars known as "Skid Row" for some shots. 

           Along came a crotchety fellow on a golf cart, and stopping next to me he said, "I am the owner of this airport and I want to know what makes you come here and take pictures." 

           "It's my hobby. I am an amateur. I don't sell anything," I said.

           "And you think you can come out here to this airport and take pictures?" He said.

           "We own a hangar on the other side of that row," I said. I think I said that to avoid any more conflict, but I really wanted to say in my usual jaunty way, "Why, of course!"  I wonder now how he would have responded.  

           "Oh. I didn't recognize you." 

           The crotchety fellow sees me every Sunday at Dave's house. His manner toward me at the airport came as no surprise, but it reflects an aspect of the life of a photographer. Some people feel friendly toward a person who carries a camera, and while few and far between, others express themselves in an unfriendly way. To be sure, the ones who come at one feel they are defending their territory, and as photographers one should act above reproach, at least as politely as one's tolerance can allow. Indeed, one should also keep in mind that photography may be suppressed at most airports, particularly public airports, and if seen with camera, expect an officer, or a member of airport staff to approach to say photography is not allowed. 

Window Works at the Den of Sinners

             He looks as if he has very big feet from this angle, but the rendering by the artist looks beautiful. Who knows the history behind the creation of the stained glass windows at the church MyMrMallory and I attend? And today, who knows the history behind the pictograms? I asked the present reverend deacon today to show me the allusions on some of the panels, but he did not know the story behind them. I asked the present sub deacon about the panels and to which stories in the Bible they referenced, but he did not know either. If the clergy does not know, the church-goers . . . do they know? And if not, the intended education of the artistry is thus nullified. The conception and creation of stained glass windows came into existence because centuries ago people could not read the written word, and the pictograms served to tell them, to remind them, of the stories in the Bible. Today, though people can read the written word, they do not assimilate the words, and the educational importance of the windows remains. For now, the windows make the church a pretty place in which the church-goers can sit every Sunday morning. I have taken it upon myself to gather historical and biblical information about the windows for a publication.  

Spiders, Grasshoppers, and Butterflies

           On a cloudy, predominantly rainy day, insects seemed to quietly remain visible to my lens. I had the wrong lens, needing a telephoto, rather than the 28-70mm, and the wrong footwear, needing boots rather than flip-flops. It was wet, the grass was high, and the ant beds invisible, revealing angry occupants when I stood on them with my tripod. Ouch for all concerned.
           Nature continues to surprise me with the differing occasions presented to me when I walk outside with my camera without an idea of what to photograph.
           With natural (pardon the pun) timing, numerous species of grasshoppers are born in great numbers, which the fledgling birds consume. Nature at balance.
           Today's adventure sends me to the library in search for books on spiders and grasshoppers.

Alicia Feeding Kingbirds and More

           This afternoon, George said he ate a worm. I hope he was joshing, because Wild Bird Rescue needs every single worm this spring to feed the patients. 

         After I helped Alicia write a grant that we hope will get us started in come brick and mortar capital improvements for Wild Bird Rescue, I hung around taking pictures of the fledglings growing up there. I, the volunteers, and BirdManBob, look forward to the day of their release -- a wondrous day.

         Above, I picture a gal we think is a Brown-headed Cowbird. 

         I employed HDR technology for this photograph of a group of Kingbirds, just to bring out some of the dark corners. If you squint hard enough, you can see another group of Kingbirds in the background, sitting in the next cage. Below, I show a series of photographs I took of Alicia, whom I like to call "super volunteer," feeding the birds. 

         It is incredibly difficult to feed Kingbirds when they near their adult stage, for they will take their food as they fly, in the air, rather from a bowl lovingly provided to them by the volunteers; this means that super volunteers such as Alicia must dangle the worms above them. 

How easy to feed a hatchling hawk! 

Katie

Dear Friend, Katie, aka Kodiak Bear, Sweet Ol' Bag o' Bones. 19(?) - 2010. Estimated age of twenty-two to twenty-six years. Remarkable dog.

Taos Pueblo: United Nations Heritage Site

         In the category of One Picture, One Thousand Words, I offer MyMrMallory's wide grin pictured below after eating a bowl of chili at Rod's Place, Pueblo Home Cooking.

Main entrance of Taos Pueblo. In the background, note the back of the church.

One of the windows of the church pictured from outside.

Church facade.

The pueblo's cemetery.

           In shops tucked here and there throughout the pueblo, locals supply visitors with gifts, water, and cookies. 

Santa Fe and its Opera: Grand

        Before you point your nose in the direction of New Mexico to travel to Santa Fe, do buy Barbara Harrelson's book,  Walks In Literary Sante Fe: A Guide to Landmarks, Legends and Lore. Harrelson makes sure that you do not have to scrounge for literature, as I did, about the grand town of Santa Fe. With only a few hours available to walk around in Santa Fe, the city provided a packed time and interesting subject matter for art enthusiasts and photographers. In addition to the remarkable culture, the weather seemed remarkable. In one direction we viewed lightning, and in another we spotted rainbows. Santa Fe seemed to me well-worth the altitude sickness for this Panhandle Plains gnome.

View outside my hotel window at El Dorado. 

Northwest corner of the plaza in downtown Santa Fe.

Visitors outside the Sage Creek Gallery.

Ken Rowe's work astonished me with its presence.

       Look through a shop's doors or windows in Santa Fe and one could encounter strong artistic renditions, such as Ed Natiya's sculpture pictured above.

 

Zuber Gallery.

We chatted with some of the artists. 

Gogy Farias sculpted the image of the Lady of Guadalupe for display at the sanctuary.

       Oh, I neglected to see who sculpted the above rendition of Saint Francis (my hero) standing before the Basilica of Saint Francis. 

       Inside and outside the buildings of Santa Fe, one can appreciate art. Here, the staircase of the Chapel of Loretto. My wager, were I a betting person, would pit all photographs taken of the staircase against any future architectural photographs by FEK. Frances, put this one on your bucket list, please.

       Gabriel stands outside the Analco House -- the oldest house in Santa Fe -- built to shelter the fellows who built the Church of San Miguel across the street. 

The Church of San Miguel has many details that make it a good stop when you visit Santa Fe. 

       Opening the season of the opera in Santa Fe calls for champagne. We attended a tailgate party hosted by our newest friends, Lauren and Walter. 

       Somehow the ominous clouds delayed their performance to provide special effects during the last scene of Madame Butterfly. As Butterfly learned of her betrayal, thunder shot across the north of the city, and rain poured sideways, drenching opera fans sitting underneath the roof of the Crosby Theatre. 

Clouds and a setting sun behind the Jemez mountains in the distance, and white pansies in the foreground at the entrance of the Crosby Theatre.

The amazing Crosby Theatre has no walls. Only until recently it had no roof. 

Experienced opera-goers bring umbrellas with them.

       Are those clouds in the sky in the background the stage producer's painting? No! Sitting in your seat at the Crosby Theatre you can see through the stage to the New Mexican horizon, stormy clouds and all. 

      Kelly Kaduce and the other artists who performed in Madame Butterfly stand, drenched by the sideways rain, before a long ovation. Flawless, perfect, and spirited performances by great artists bring tears to my eyes. The opening evening, with its great performance, seemed all the more memorable with the lightning, thunder, and rain blowing side-ways onto the people, the artists on the stage, and the orchestra. 

      After the performance finished at mid-night, the rain still poured by the bucket-full. I had the opportunity to capture the image above of ladies coming out of the ladies room at the Crosby Theatre.