Put a camera in my hands...

...and I'll never be bored. These are from Saturday, starting with our tailgating session in an old Austin duplex before the University of Texas Longhorns vs. Wyoming Cowboys game. I was left alone a few minutes to guard our "stuff"...

I was finally let in - and starting snapping again. I wouldn't mind living here - especially with this dream set of drums... (and yes, I played them.)

I know I'm weird to take photos in bathrooms, but I love little details like glass doorknobs... pure art to me.

We eventually made it to the game...

Remembering...

Dear Santa...

Did I mention we won?

Seasons of a Tiny Pond

We followed the sound of running water through the thick brush, fifteen years ago. 

Tucked away in the trees, this tiny grotto waited to be found and tidied up.

Buried treasure, the heart of our Long Hollow. 

Through all four seasons, through flood and drought, it survives. 

A quiet oasis... a place of reflection... a place to be still.

October, green is thinning but the water rushes, thanks to late summer rains

February, in a Hill Country "snowfall"

 April... green wakes up, bugs return... it was one of Frankie's favorite times of the year.

June... more green, less water

August... month of drought... one of the last swimming holes left

A week later... back to full flow, thanks to Tropical Storm Hermine

Time to start over again...

Posing for the Paparazzi

Dragonfly dancers.

Dashes of color, resting

Before the next show.

(Thanks to Tammy Lee Bradley for the photo/haiku idea! Check out her Fresh Guava Haiku)

An American Beauty

Metallic magenta pops against a green bower backdrop, defying the drought. 

I'm pleased to introduce American Beautyberry, now appearing center stage by our little pond, 

for our viewing pleasure and the nibbling pleasure of neighborhood deer and cardinals.

It's a limited engagement, I'm sure. 

Ready to Explore

I had heard of  FlickR, but until a few months ago, I had no idea it was this other world allowing dual-citizenship for thousands of photography addicts from around the world. Soon after strolling around in there a bit and meeting several other citizens, I became aware of FlickR Explore, an honor bestowed on the "best" 500 photos every day, determined by an algorithm which rates each photo by factors such as how many have viewed a photo, how many have commented on it and how many have "favorited" it.

Of course, right away I longed for one of mine to be chosen, but after nearly three months of citizenship and almost 200 photos submitted, I realized it probably wasn't going to happen, especially when I compared mine to those that were chosen.

Then, surprise! This email appeared from fellow FlickR citizen RuudMorijn: This beautiful picture is quite rightly chosen for EXPLORE. Congratulations!


My Morning Moon photo did it! Some of my contacts have had numerous photos chosen; I'm not sure if it's that big of a deal to anyone else and there's no trophy, ribbon or monetary prize attached to it... in fact, my photo is buried somewhere in an endless web album of other photos by now... but for me, it ranks up there with Homecoming Queen and almost with getting my first essay published. Thank you, FlickR!  

Click here to see more FlickR Explore.

Summers are for Weddings

Whether young love or hearts made young with love, in Wisconsin or Texas, the vows are the same... 

I do... want to spend the rest of my life with you. 

I will...ignore those irritating things I'll inevitably notice about you and focus instead on the awesome ones that made me fall in love with you in the first place. 

I do... promise that from this moment on I will see you as I see you today, with the sun kissing your face and your eyes looking at me like I'm your whole world. 

I will... love you always.

I do. I will.

Amen.