Category: Nature

A fantastic weekend, so far.

And it’s only Saturday!

In my life, I’ve picked up and moved from one city to the next over a dozen times.  Each time saying goodbye to old friends, making new friends, and making a home and new memories in a brand new place.   My last move, to Austin, was different.  Not only did I stay, but when I moved here, so did over 700 of my colleagues.   One day we were all working together on one campus, in one state.   A few weeks later, we were all back together again, but everything else was different.

Many of us took root here, getting married, having kids, living out our passions, and spending a very big chunk of the time that we’ve been given here on Earth loving living in Central Texas.   We’ve scattered.  Some moved back home.  Some moved on.  Some have passed from this life.  But, this week marks the 20 year anniversary of our migration.  So, last night we held a reunion to celebrate.  A hundred and fifty or so people turned out.  And it was amazing!

I don’t know what the next 20 years holds for me, but I’ve enjoyed this last round.  🙂

TODAY, we headed to the lake, of course.  The winds were blowing 20-30 knots.  So Lori and Kurt jumped aboard Nirvana with us and we all headed out.  This is a shot of Lori at the helm.  Sunny.  Windy.  A tad chilly.  But a wonderful day.

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The sun sets on January.

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Wow.  That was fast.  January flew by.  This weekend is very un-January-like, though – sunny, with temps inching into the 80s.  I took this shot as the sun was dropping last night.  The light through the trees was gorgeous.

We’ve decided to leave the signpost up that I made for last summer’s family reunion.  It just seems right.

To catch a varmit.  

Stay tuned…

  

My moon shot.

I have much to learn about my new camera.  I was waiting for this rare Christmas Day full moon to see if I could capture a decent shot.   But, this morning the moon was already shrouded in the trees when I got out there.  And tonight it was mostly overcast.

This is the best shot I took.  I’ll keep working on it.  🙂   Here it is, folks, the Full Cold Moon of Christmas Day 2015.

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Food fight.

There’s quite a bit of action at the bird feeders lately.   A vibrant red male cardinal has been lurking about, but I have not been able to get a shot of him.   This afternoon, I saw a flash of red out back, and grabbed my telephoto.  I had to take some shots through my less-than-crystal-clear sliding glass door, since the birds scatter whenever anyone ventures outside.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERAAfter a bit, I tried to quietly open the door and take a few shots … not great detail, but a little clearer, and you can see how much more vibrant the red is.

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Pet store stop. 

From time to time, we like to stop in at the pet store where Keeto found us.  They have birds of all sizes, bunnies, fish, and the new resident — a large tortoise.  His name is Columbus, because he walks around the store, exploring, all day.  He’s a big one, over 2 feet long. 

I guess my iPhone camera skills are ruined now that I have my new camera 🙂    This was the best shot I took.   

A ride into the Hill Country.

We drove to Wimberly today with Tom and Doray.  They have property there.  We toured the town and their land and made a nice day of it.

Their property is covered with the live oaks that I have grown to love.   They look beautiful no matter which way you look at them.

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I thought this wavy cloud formation was interesting.  A cold front came through early this morning and the skies eventually cleared to become a clear sunny day.

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Paint the town red.

The red oak out front is sporting its awesome fall foliage.

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Mimosa, anyone?

We have lots of different types of trees in the yard.   Their leaves are turning lovely shades of autumn color.  This is the mimosa tree out back.OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

Walking around with a camera.

I was pleased with this one, taken while walking around a nearby pond.  Was able to focus through the brush to get a shot of this Great Egret.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERAThen back at home caught a lady cardinal on a feeder.

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Friday frames.

I’m trying really hard to focus on work.  After next Friday, I’m off for the rest of the year (!)    But, when I get a chance, I pick up the new camera to take a few shots.  I’ll share a few.

Possumhaw holly out back has donned its Christmas red and green.

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A little wren flitting in the vines along the fence – I think it’s a Carolina Wren, from its coloring.  One of the first shots taken with my telephoto lens.

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And a picture of the bouquet of flowers from Thanksgiving, still hanging in there – vivid pink lilies and white hydrangeas.

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Garden guest.

I was walking back from the shop today when I saw a butterfly fluttering among the zinnias.   She flitted around, while I stopped to watch, for a good 2 minutes, posing, in perfect light.  Of course I didn’t have a camera with me.  When I got back in the house I grabbed my phone and popped back out.  She was still there, but wouldn’t let me get as close, and didn’t pose as perfectly this time — camera shy, i guess.   I took some zoomed-in shots, not crisp, but pretty.  I think this is an eastern black swallowtail.  She does love the zinnies.

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Patience wins out.

I packed the tripod for our trip to the coast.  We went to the beach both mornings, while we were in Port Aransas, to once again try to capture a shot of Mercury, Mars, Jupiter and Venus together.

Yesterday clouded up just before Mercury rose.  This morning the clouds threatened again, but danced between the planets.   I took this shot looking above the south jetty on the Port Aransas end of Mustang Island.  The lowest in this shot is Mercury, just above the seeping pink glow of dawn.  Above it is the pair of reddish, smaller Mars just below and to the left of larger Jupiter.  And then above them, and the brightest, Venus.  The other stars above and to the left of the ecliptic are stars in the constellation Leo.

The red and green lights on the horizon are some of the channel markers that guide the ships through the channel between the jetties.

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Life’s a beach. 

It’s a beautiful morning on the Gulf of Mexico.