Purple Coneflowers at sunrise this morning
Looking through the patio table (too bad I didn't think to clean it first!)
Looking up through the Speckled Siberian tomatoes
View from our outdoor shower
For more views up, visit Sunday Stills!
Sunday, June 20, 2010
Sunday Stills: Go Low Looking High
Had a wonderful opportunity on Wednesday to take a shot from the Llano River looking up at sandstone bluffs, but not having a waterproof camera case and already slipping around trying to cross the river on foot I just didn't want to chance it. We all know I already had to bake my camera last year to get the moisture out and I didn't want to make a regular habit of it! As it was I took the camera with me on the kayak enveloped in three ziplock baggies. You can check those panoramic photos out in my previous blog post.
Friday, June 18, 2010
Llano River trip
It's been a long time since we kayaked. Last summer the Frio River dried up almost entirely, and it's still running too low for a trip without needing to portage over rocks. I don't like dragging a boat. On Wednesday the only central Texas river with enough flow was the Llano. Our friends Don and Pat went with us.
The adventure got off to a rough start. They got off late and by the time they arrived we had tied our boats on the car only to discover the kayak rack was about to come off and we couldn't find the key. So we had to throw our boats in with theirs in Don's truck which took some rearranging. The guys rode in the truck and us gals rode in my SUV.
After we got 15 miles out of town my check transmission light came on. Ugh! We decided to ditch my car back at their house and pick up Pat's car. Only we forgot their gate key. Fortunately someone else was leaving their subdivision when we arrived or it would have been a walk.
We transferred our gear into their car and met back up with the guys on the side of the road. That's when I realized I'd left the map to the put-in/take-out back in my car. I've done this run many times but not in about six years and it's all on little country roads not found on a highway map. We decided to go forth on my memory.
Which wasn't perfect. We tried a couple roads before it all came back to me. After launching around 2 p.m. the rest of the trip was wonderful!
The Llano in Mason is much wider than our river, and not as cold. You can jump in to swim without shrieking first. This five mile run was voted one of the top 20 most scenic paddles in Texas, and graced the cover of Texas Monthly. At 187 cfs it got a little thin in places and sticky on rocks but no portage was necessary. In the past I've run it more around 300 cfs. There are about five easy rapids you could almost run blindfolded. We did have a strong headwind for the first half of the trip but the weather was otherwise beautiful.
The main scenic feature is the sandstone bluffs where cliff swallows nest. The swallows were already gone, but we did see an awesome hawk, mostly light colored, catch something and take it to her nest on one of the ledges above.
It took us about 4-1/2 hours of paddling, and an hour of playing, but we got off the water in time to catch some Mexican food in town before heading back.
As we were leaving the take-out this old boy strolled out into the road and sat down so we had to stop. Don and Pat have five Bassett Hounds, so we took it as a good sign. He had a collar and a rabies tag, and probably belonged to one of the nearby ranch houses. His tongue was almost dragging the ground so we tried to convince him to drink some of our water and get out of the road, but upon seeing the truck he wanted to get in and go for a ride. We left him to carry on with his business of getting to where he was going, and got on with ours.
This was so fun we'll have to do it again soon!
(Please click to biggify the images!)
Pat on the Llano
The adventure got off to a rough start. They got off late and by the time they arrived we had tied our boats on the car only to discover the kayak rack was about to come off and we couldn't find the key. So we had to throw our boats in with theirs in Don's truck which took some rearranging. The guys rode in the truck and us gals rode in my SUV.
After we got 15 miles out of town my check transmission light came on. Ugh! We decided to ditch my car back at their house and pick up Pat's car. Only we forgot their gate key. Fortunately someone else was leaving their subdivision when we arrived or it would have been a walk.
We transferred our gear into their car and met back up with the guys on the side of the road. That's when I realized I'd left the map to the put-in/take-out back in my car. I've done this run many times but not in about six years and it's all on little country roads not found on a highway map. We decided to go forth on my memory.
Which wasn't perfect. We tried a couple roads before it all came back to me. After launching around 2 p.m. the rest of the trip was wonderful!
Approaching the bluffs
The Llano in Mason is much wider than our river, and not as cold. You can jump in to swim without shrieking first. This five mile run was voted one of the top 20 most scenic paddles in Texas, and graced the cover of Texas Monthly. At 187 cfs it got a little thin in places and sticky on rocks but no portage was necessary. In the past I've run it more around 300 cfs. There are about five easy rapids you could almost run blindfolded. We did have a strong headwind for the first half of the trip but the weather was otherwise beautiful.
Farmer Rick looking great!
The main scenic feature is the sandstone bluffs where cliff swallows nest. The swallows were already gone, but we did see an awesome hawk, mostly light colored, catch something and take it to her nest on one of the ledges above.
A lovely place to relax and swim.
Don at the bluffs
It took us about 4-1/2 hours of paddling, and an hour of playing, but we got off the water in time to catch some Mexican food in town before heading back.
Good ol' Bassett
As we were leaving the take-out this old boy strolled out into the road and sat down so we had to stop. Don and Pat have five Bassett Hounds, so we took it as a good sign. He had a collar and a rabies tag, and probably belonged to one of the nearby ranch houses. His tongue was almost dragging the ground so we tried to convince him to drink some of our water and get out of the road, but upon seeing the truck he wanted to get in and go for a ride. We left him to carry on with his business of getting to where he was going, and got on with ours.
This was so fun we'll have to do it again soon!
Sunday, June 13, 2010
Sunday Stills: Eyes
OK, I'll admit this one is really more about mouths, since their eyes aren't quite open. But I thought you'd enjoy seeing who hatched out of my last Sunday Stills egg photo.
I'm still not sure what kind of birds these are. The mother is sparrow-like, kind of gray without much marking, no tuft. If I station myself out in the prairie perhaps I'll see more of her coming and going to feed this hungry brood. Too bad none of these are in very good focus.
I thought this butterfly with the big eye looked like part of the Tithonia (Mexican Sunflower) I found him on.
After several shots, I realized the butterfly had expired. The flower was looking like it was on the way out, too. Looks like a male Sleepy Orange, Eurema nicippe.
For more images of eyes, visit Sunday Stills!
I'm still not sure what kind of birds these are. The mother is sparrow-like, kind of gray without much marking, no tuft. If I station myself out in the prairie perhaps I'll see more of her coming and going to feed this hungry brood. Too bad none of these are in very good focus.
I thought this butterfly with the big eye looked like part of the Tithonia (Mexican Sunflower) I found him on.
After several shots, I realized the butterfly had expired. The flower was looking like it was on the way out, too. Looks like a male Sleepy Orange, Eurema nicippe.
For more images of eyes, visit Sunday Stills!
Saturday, June 12, 2010
Where Babies Come From
This one is too good not to share. Used by permission from Doug Savage. Visit www.savagechickens.com for more of his funny cartoons.
I remember as a child asking my mother where babies come from and she got me a book about where hippopatamuses come from. I didn't make the connection, and I thought my mom was pretty stupid for not understanding my question. I stopped asking her important questions after that!
Sunday, June 6, 2010
Sunday Stills: Black and White
Skeleton Flower gone to seed in the Short Grass Prairie.
Down in the creek, now lush from the rains.
Bird's nest lined with wool.
For more black and white images, visit Sunday Stills!
Monday, May 31, 2010
Macro Monday: Borage of a different color
This weekend I noticed that our Borage plants had pink and lavender (sort of the pink and blue mixed together to make it) flowers along with blue ones on the same plant. I have never seen anything but blue petals before. A quick Internet search showed that this does happen, but very infrequently. I kind of like it!
For more up close images, visit Macro Monday!
For more up close images, visit Macro Monday!
Thursday, May 27, 2010
How to Afford Your Hobbies
Like I needed one more, right? My friends were amazed when I announced I was becoming a beekeeper.
What, too bored with the garden? Not enough pets?
At a recent Beekeeper's Field Day, I learned how to make liquid soap using honey, oils, and lye. I decided I wanted to try this at home. Yes, a spin-off hobby already!
So needed to purchase a crock pot dedicated to soap making. While in the city yesterday, I was able to find a large one with two heat settings--exactly what I needed--at my favorite resale shop for just $4.
For decades I have been shopping at thrift stores. For one, I despise shopping malls, and most thrift stores support good causes--humane societies, battered women's shelters, schools for at-risk kids, AIDS hospices, etc.
I also have expensive tastes but relatively little to spend.
Even if I did, I would still shop this way because I like the treasure-hunt adventure of it. I can be frugal and stylish at the same time.
So yesterday, I scored on a summer wardrobe. Skirt, pants, two silk blouses, long-sleeved linen shirt, long and short dresses.
$12. Total. (About the same amount I just spent on an additional bee hive tool).
That's right. Pick yourself up off the floor. Twelve dollars! Throw in a $3 shirt (splurge!) for Farmer Rick (not pictured; he loved it so much he wore it to work today), and the aforementioned crock pot, I still had enough change left over from a $20 for a celebratory soda for the road home.
Now I don't feel so bad about what I do spend on beehives, garden seeds, books, and art supplies!
What, too bored with the garden? Not enough pets?
At a recent Beekeeper's Field Day, I learned how to make liquid soap using honey, oils, and lye. I decided I wanted to try this at home. Yes, a spin-off hobby already!
So needed to purchase a crock pot dedicated to soap making. While in the city yesterday, I was able to find a large one with two heat settings--exactly what I needed--at my favorite resale shop for just $4.
For decades I have been shopping at thrift stores. For one, I despise shopping malls, and most thrift stores support good causes--humane societies, battered women's shelters, schools for at-risk kids, AIDS hospices, etc.
I also have expensive tastes but relatively little to spend.
Even if I did, I would still shop this way because I like the treasure-hunt adventure of it. I can be frugal and stylish at the same time.
So yesterday, I scored on a summer wardrobe. Skirt, pants, two silk blouses, long-sleeved linen shirt, long and short dresses.
$12. Total. (About the same amount I just spent on an additional bee hive tool).
That's right. Pick yourself up off the floor. Twelve dollars! Throw in a $3 shirt (splurge!) for Farmer Rick (not pictured; he loved it so much he wore it to work today), and the aforementioned crock pot, I still had enough change left over from a $20 for a celebratory soda for the road home.
Now I don't feel so bad about what I do spend on beehives, garden seeds, books, and art supplies!
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