Am I the only person that can't stand power lines??? I mean I really hate them. They are pollution of the worst kind in my opinion. I'm trying to get a great shot of an amazing storm cloud brewing and there in the photo they are...they're inescapable, everywhere you look. That's what I love about wilderness. I love driving to Big Bend and watching the lines disappear. I know there are still a few, but you can see for miles without them.
And what is wrong with all these idiots that leave outside lights burning day and night! Are they afraid of the dark??? I mean it's not like we are in the middle of the wilderness, and even if we were what good does a light burning bright all night keep them safe from??? OK, I can see needing a light to see from the front door down the stairs to the car, but that's what they make sensors for. Just another source of pollution!!
OK, that's my morning rant, have a great day :)
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
Monday, September 6, 2010
Imposters
Watching the cattle egrets as they make their daily pass overhead, heading northeast early, returning southwest late, their undersides lit by the rising or setting sun. These African immigrants that have found our fields and wetlands so to their liking. One evening looking up I see a solitary dark figure among the glow of white. Slightly smaller in form, perhaps a green heron? Not likely as they are solitary and secretive by nature. What then? It reminded me of once looking into a wake of buzzards and discovering one with a white head and tail. Ha! I thought to myself, who's he trying to fool, sticking out like a sore thumb. Ah, but then who pays attention to a bunch of buzzards!
Sunday, September 5, 2010
My corner of the world
I haven't seen the world, haven't been to the great cities of Europe, in fact I've only been out of the country once.
I've only been to 14 of the 50 states, living in four of them. But I was born in Texas, and after all the exploring; trips out west, north, east and south, Texas is where I plan to spend the days that are left. Back to the part of Texas of my youth, south Texas, the coast. All our days are numbered as I sit on my porch on a lazy summer morning listening to the summer tanager and wood thrush, watching the moist clouds slipping from southwest to northeast, hearing a bird I don't recognize. What will become of them if there are not resting places on the gulf to allow them renewal from their long journey-will they simply be absent, will I be able to bear the silence? The dog and cat lay near me seemingly enjoying the cool still bearable summer morning.
There is so much nature around me to take in, just off my porch the hummingbirds find nectar in the salvia, the butterflies finding a liking to the lantana and butterfly weed.
The young pine trees, all nine I planted two years ago, are growing vigorously thanks to a rainy summer and despite the scars from the young buck deer intent on losing their velvet, does it itch, I wonder?
The lots around me are vacant and free to do as they please, hickory, oak, persimmon, pine, most young, as this was once a meadow. Yucca and blue jack oak attesting to the dry sandy soil. Walking in the mornings going up and down the small hills the species change with the terrain, post oak,red oak, hickory, black oak, pine higher. White oak, alder,maple, black willow, river birch lower and near the wetlands and seasonal creeks. Scattered throughout are dogwood, and sassafras, american beauty bush, farkleberry,persimmon, and yaupon, just to name a few.
I have, here from my own porch, seen eagles fly over in winter, and one morning walk, discovered a pair of black-bellied whistling ducks, somehow off track, possibly one was injured, the other staying close by. They lingered but a day, then were gone.
I sit here, in the northeast Texas pineywoods, like a woman who can't chose between two lovers, living equadistant from gulf of Mexico and the Buffalo River. This is a beautiful countryside, not yet developed. Peaceful and quiet on most days. It is a good here in my little corner of the world.
I've only been to 14 of the 50 states, living in four of them. But I was born in Texas, and after all the exploring; trips out west, north, east and south, Texas is where I plan to spend the days that are left. Back to the part of Texas of my youth, south Texas, the coast. All our days are numbered as I sit on my porch on a lazy summer morning listening to the summer tanager and wood thrush, watching the moist clouds slipping from southwest to northeast, hearing a bird I don't recognize. What will become of them if there are not resting places on the gulf to allow them renewal from their long journey-will they simply be absent, will I be able to bear the silence? The dog and cat lay near me seemingly enjoying the cool still bearable summer morning.
There is so much nature around me to take in, just off my porch the hummingbirds find nectar in the salvia, the butterflies finding a liking to the lantana and butterfly weed.
The young pine trees, all nine I planted two years ago, are growing vigorously thanks to a rainy summer and despite the scars from the young buck deer intent on losing their velvet, does it itch, I wonder?
The lots around me are vacant and free to do as they please, hickory, oak, persimmon, pine, most young, as this was once a meadow. Yucca and blue jack oak attesting to the dry sandy soil. Walking in the mornings going up and down the small hills the species change with the terrain, post oak,red oak, hickory, black oak, pine higher. White oak, alder,maple, black willow, river birch lower and near the wetlands and seasonal creeks. Scattered throughout are dogwood, and sassafras, american beauty bush, farkleberry,persimmon, and yaupon, just to name a few.
I have, here from my own porch, seen eagles fly over in winter, and one morning walk, discovered a pair of black-bellied whistling ducks, somehow off track, possibly one was injured, the other staying close by. They lingered but a day, then were gone.
I sit here, in the northeast Texas pineywoods, like a woman who can't chose between two lovers, living equadistant from gulf of Mexico and the Buffalo River. This is a beautiful countryside, not yet developed. Peaceful and quiet on most days. It is a good here in my little corner of the world.
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