Communing...

I went out to Compton Hollow the other day when I was actually fortunate enough to have some spare time. I'm telling you, that was a much needed commune with nature. Sad to say, but I haven't had much of that this summer. I prefer to commune when there's a nice breeze and it's a cloudy day-a really dark cloudy day. Almost stormy even. That really seems to motivate the creative juices as they say. It just really gives me a feel for the woods. A feeling that you might have gotten when you were a youngster being read your favorite fairy tale
But nature wasn't so accommodating on that day. It was sunny - sunny and hot. So hot that the sweat rolled off of my forehead before I got fifty yards down the trail. But I dug it! I dug it a lot! I have to make time for these hikes. I got spoiled last summer with all of my free time to hike and wander around the woods and trails. But I'm promising myself that I'll get out more if for no other reason than just to commune...

The Ozark Empire Fair !

Well, the fair will soon be upon us here in this part of the state. Sure there's lots of other fairs and carnivals in the region but none as big as the Ozark Empire Fair. Of course, I've been going since I was a kid. Man, I remember those days. I remember how the fair has seemed to change as the years have passed too.
It used to be a whirlwind of rides and cotton candy. The heat didn't matter and the more the rides would spin the better.
These days the only spinning I do is on the Ferris wheel and more than likely it's at night after it's cooled down some. Brendon tries his best to get me on some of those whirling dervishes but I'm telling you-it's not happening. I have plenty of fun watching him and everyone else from my view at the top- on the Ferris wheel.

Hotter'n a Firecracker...

As is the norm for this time of year- it was hot! "Hotter'n a firecracker" as I've often heard the old timers say. I believe someone told me today that the heat index was 105 degrees. I don't know about you but I don't give a hoot if it's the heat index or the "real" temperature-if it feels like 105 degrees then it's 105 degrees!
This photo just looks like a hot summer night to me and to be honest, I've been wanting to find a good time to post it. It's really nothing special as far as "special" goes but I like it and for the most part I guess, at this stage of the game that's what matters. I mean, if I don't like it how can I expect anyone else to. So, I hope that you do like it and I hope it reminds you of an end to one of those days that was ...hotter'n a firecracker!

Brenda

Some people just don't like their picture taken for one reason or another. I usually don't understand why. I know that they have their reasons that they think are valid and I respect that. But one reason that I like to photograph people is that we're all different and therefore we all bring something different to the world to look at.
Imagine that world that we often hear or read about where everyone is the same. God made us different for a reason - but that requires more than a couple of paragraphs in a blog to go into.
I often catch myself just staring at people for no other reason than to study their faces and to try to figure out what kind of a person they really are- is it a front that their putting on or am I seeing the real deal?
This is my wife Brenda. She doesn't often allow me to take her picture and for the life of me... I can't understand why...

Got My Head In The Clouds...

Funny, I had decided to have a post about my head being in the clouds lately and the first thing that I noticed (after 2 days ) was that I titled my last post Harry Independence Day instead of Happy Independence Day! (Oh yeah, I changed it!) Man, that's almost as embarrassing as it is funny. Where were all the comments on that one? Oh well, hopefully many of you thought that it was just something too deep to understand! I kind of doubt that, though.
With this sudden revelation of absent mindedness I really can't think of anything else to say about my condition as of late so I'll just leave it alone and hope for a clearer day tomorrow...

Happy Independence Day !

For the past 3 or 4 years we've been on vacation during the week of the 4th of July. Sometimes we were able to catch a fireworks show like the one in Jay, Oklahoma and sometimes we were just happy to be in a cabin somewhere like the Smokey Mountains.
This year, due to the economy, we stayed home. Our neighbors across the street invited us, along with some other friends, over for the traditional hot dogs and burgers, cole slaw, baked beans and potato salad. Oh yeah, and the ever popular homemade ice cream!
We were able to watch Springfield's annual "I Love America" fireworks display from another friend's property thereby avoiding the major traffic jams that were to follow.
It occurred to me though, that we hadn't really been fair to our son Brendon. After all, it has been a few years since we've actually set off fireworks ourselves and he is almost eleven!
So tonight we're set to put on our own show. We have great neighbors all around and I know that they will be able to appreciate the value of letting a boy shoot off a few rockets and smoke bombs all of his own...

Aaayyy...

Some time back around May of 2009 I posted a picture of this guy. The more that I looked at the photos I took of him the more I wondered about his story. I mean, just look at him-he looks like he's been there and back. Just an adventure waiting to happen. I thought that he really seemed to fit in a different generation so I figured that I could enhance that image a little and maybe take him back to another place and time. Somewhere that he seemed to be a little more comfortable in.
But really, I don't know him at all except for a couple of minutes of conversation and a few quick shots (camera shots that is). I hope that I'm not doing him any injustices when I say that at the first moment I saw him I thought that he could easily have the original Fonzarelli - or at least taught him the ways of cool!

Still Jammin'...

When I was just a kid (and I mean a kid) I used to lug my older brother's bass guitar, or whatever piece of equipment he felt that he could trust me not to drag, to band practice with him a few blocks from our house- that is, before he had a car. I guess he was around 14 or 15 when he started playing music. You know G-L-O-R-I-A - Gloria,
The Midnight Hour, Magic Carpet Ride all that. Yeah, he's that old. But I know you can guess that I'm not that far behind him or I wouldn't be remembering those songs. As I got older I did a little sound and lighting work and eventually got the bug myself and started playing in bands. There is absolutely nothing like it! I'm not sure that I could explain even if I wanted to because, like they say- if you don't know you wouldn't understand.
Due to some unforeseen circumstances in my life my path strayed from the rock star destiny I was so sure that was to come and I've not made it back-yet. Maybe someday- maybe not. I can't say for now but I do love my music and I don't go a day without grooving on something that just seems to fit the day (or the minute!). Music -it's in my blood. Always has been and always will be...
By the way, that's my brother David in the middle with the glasses-still jammin' after all these years.

The Obedient Plant

Sounds weird doesn't it? That's actually what it's called though - that or False Dragonhead. (I personally like that one better) Physostegia virginiana is plentiful in these parts as well as two-thirds of the rest of the United States. I found this one while hiking in the Sac River Woods. It was the lone one of it's kind in the immediate vicinity thereby creating a striking contrast to the patch of yellow from all of the black eyed susans in the area.
The plant is called the obedient plant for the fact that each flower is on a swivel of sorts and can be bent right or left and continue to grow in it's new position. This makes it especially popular in floral arrangements.
Just thought that it was a really cool flower and wanted to share it with you.

Happy Father's Day...

I hope everyone found some way to celebrate their fathers today whether he's here with you or just in your heart...

Golden Crowned Kinglet

This little guy here is a Golden Crowned Kinglet. I'd never even heard of one, much less known that that they are native to our region. I guess part of the reason for that is that the bird is barely longer than my thumb.
This one has a story. One day just as I was approaching our front door to go out-WHAM! something crashed right into the storm door window. I looked out to see this guy laying on my porch- out cold. I'm sorry but I had to laugh for a second, thinking about the window cleaner commercial. "Just like on TV !" I said.
Quickly, though, I turned my attention to the unusual looking bird to see if it was hurt. After a few seconds of blowing in it's face ( that's as close as I was coming to CPR) it's little eyes squinted up at me and then, more like a cartoon than real life, those eyes seemed to bug out and it flew away. The flight was a short one though as it skidded across the lawn- more reminiscent of a fighter plane going down than the delicate landing of a tiny bird. To make matters even funnier than they already were (sorry, but it was) the little guy raised up only to stagger sideways a few steps and fall over.
This time when I picked it up it's eyes were open and watching me a little more keenly than before. Well, to make a long story just a little shorter it perched on my thumb for several minutes and when I put it down to get the camera it stayed until my return to pose for several close-ups. After I had my fill of all the different angles I put the camera down and this guy voluntarily stepped back up onto my thumb for a few more minutes and as suddenly as he appeared, he left- this time testing the flight controls from one tree to another.
I'm happy to say that he only pooped once and I'm pretty sure that was at the time of the a fore mentioned bugging eyes...
Anyway, I was happy to be of assistance.

Don Tucker

This is my friend Don Tucker. There are so many stories or just stuff that I could tell you about him but that could fill a page pretty quick. I just wanted to pay homage to him not because of his generosity to those in need or because of all of the good times that we've had or because of the many phone calls I got from him just to see how life was treating me and my family (always ending with "I'll talk to you later brother...") but because yesterday my friend Don lost his life in a auto accident at the age of 58...

I'll talk to you later brother.

Catching A Buzz...

I'm sure that I said before that getting a good lightning picture is half patience and half luck. I guess this one was a lot of both. The other night a storm came in and at first there were only flashes off in the distance. But just as I was about to give up and go to bed a bolt lit up the sky- no, not this bolt- I wasn't that lucky. I set up the camera in the general direction of that first bolt and waited... nothing. Nothing that is except the flashes that I kept seeing out of the corner of my eye. Naturally I decided to try my luck in the direction that was getting all the action and, you guessed it, nothing - nothing except the flashes in the direction in which I was previously pointed!
Well, as I'm sure you can guess this went on for some time but finally I captured this beauty. I was just in the right place at the right time.
I love doing this. Talk about a rush! But when you're standing out in the elements feeling the wind whip around you all the while chasing lightning bolts and the air suddenly flashes so bright that you're temporarily blinded - that's catching a buzz!

By the way, can anyone tell me what the dark specs around the bolt are? I thought at first that it was dirt but I'm pretty sure that they're directly related to the lightning...

Live and Let Live...

Along with the summer fun comes the summer pains-the scraped knees, the poison ivy, the sun burns and the insect bites. Not many of them though, as painful as a wasp sting. Man, those things hurt! I'm hoping not to jinx myself when I say this but it's actually been a few years since I've felt the sting of an angry wasp. Maybe that's because I don't really panic and start a personal war and try to swat it with whatever's handy when I come in close proximity of one.
I've found that a little shooing motion (not too close) or better yet totally ignoring the buzzing insect will generally cause it to lose interest in my business because I think that it's better to live and let live than to fight and get stung - any day of the week!

House Guests

Here's another photo of one of the tree frogs that populate our back yard and the field behind. This is one that happened into our house one evening and found it's way onto one of the many house plants that we have. Like I said before, I have no idea how they can manage to get into the house without being detected as they do. I think it's pretty cool though when one does find it's way in. I'd like to be able to leave it and let it sing it's song all night long but in the confines of these four walls as opposed to the great outdoors well, let's just say there's no need for a microphone and somehow the sweet night music seems to turn to a whole lot of noise!

Let Every Nation Know...

"Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe to assure the survival and success of liberty."- John F. Kennedy

Thank you to those that have, are and will lay their lives on the line for this very idea...

Taken With A Grain of Salt...

Every year Springfield hosts the annual Arts-Fest near the downtown area on historic Walnut Street. I love going to this. Each year I try to talk with as many photographers as possible in hopes of picking up a tidbit of information that I can apply to my own technique. Man, are there a lot of tidbits out there! By the time I leave I can honestly say that I've heard so much about digital versus film and black and white versus color and the hundreds of editing programs that are out there that I just feel like crawling back into my camera and letting the shutter fall where it may. I guess that I have my own style -to an extent anyway and maybe I'm looking too hard for concrete answers. I think that styles evolve and develop with time and of course everyone's photography is unique to themselves.
So maybe I should just relax and let it come as it may. For the most part I feel satisfied with my work and as time passes I'll get more comfortable with my style and hopefully it will be recognizable as my work.
As I was leaving the Arts Fest I came across these musicians and I stopped to watch , especially this man. As I watched him I began to think about how he had probably been playing for years and although I'm sure he enjoys listening to other fiddlers he more than likely just takes it all with a grain of salt because he knows what he likes to play and he knows how he likes to play it!

Getting Acquainted...

We have a friend across the street that tends to another neighbor's horses. She invited me and my wife to go down to the pasture with her this evening - one, so I could take some pictures that I'd been wanting to do and two, just so we could experience the closeness of the animals. My wife has been around horses a good part of her life but me well, I've never really been a "horse person" - that is to say I don't ride horses and I've never actually had much to do with them aside from the occasional petting across the fence. Don't get me wrong, I think that horses truly are magnificent animals but throughout my lifetime I've just not had that many opportunities to ride or actually get acquainted with them. At times like today though, when we watched as she fed and watered the horses and then just found a comfortable spot to sit and watch the young ones gallivant around while Mom and the others kept a watchful eye I could just feel the power and gracefulness of each animal there.
I may never ride a horse but that's ok with me I guess. I do plan on spending more time at the pasture when I can and I'm sure, taking more pictures but really I think that I'd just like to hang around.

Colors, Lines, Curves and Chrome!

One of the things that I look forward to in the spring and summer are the car shows- especially the ones that are a part of a bigger celebration. You know, the ones with lots of food and preferably live music.
Now I'm no gear head (and I use the term with the utmost respect for those of you that are) but I do enjoy just looking at the cars. The colors, the lines, the curves and the chrome all capture my attention as I cruise the parking lot admiring the endless hours of work that I know goes into each and every one. Even though I do have some appreciation for the the horsepower it's more the look on the owner's face as he or she explains how many coats of paint the final masterpiece took or the stitching in the upholstery or any number of personalized extras that make it as unique as any fine automobile could be!
These people are true artists in their field and art in whatever shape or form is what I'm all about.

But On The Other Hand...

As I posted below sometimes after sitting and becoming immersed in my surroundings the colors all seem to fade. I can't say what the difference might be but on some occasions the complete opposite happens and the colors just seem to get brighter and brighter!
These leaves, for example, were from some unknown ground cover that I've waded through on countless hikes never really paying much attention to it. On this day, however, I happened to notice it . The more I looked at it, the green just seemed to get greener and greener. The sunlight shining off of the leaves made the furrows of each leaf deeper and deeper. But the most interesting part I think, was the blackness underneath it all - that unknown region of life that lived there.
For those that can let your mind wander once in a while, the woods and I guess the just the outdoors in general is a great place for travel without ever leaving your seat!

The Shadows...

Sometimes when I'm out in the woods I become engrossed in the feel of the woods. When I'm fortunate enough to find a good resting spot I'll plop myself down and and just slowly take it all in. Eventually the colors all seem to fade and the shadows and their movements take over. What was once a colorful scene has become a kaleidoscope of darkness and light bouncing off of one another, constantly changing and morphing from shape to another until it seems that I'm no longer in the same place that I found so tempting...

Happy Mother's Day, Mom!

I've already decided that I couldn't do my mother justice with whatever I could write about her. There's too many things I could say - too many things I should say. She, in all probability, won't see this for some time. She's long given up on computers and all that goes along with them so I'll have to wait for her next visit to our house to show her. She does, however, give me constant encouragement for my photography and every now and then I'll update her digital frame with some of my photos. (All the while listening to her tell me how I'll be successful at it some day-she just knows it!)
As a matter of fact, I can't remember a time in my life when she hasn't encouraged me. I firmly believe that if not for her prayers, encouragement and love down through the years (and there were a lot of years that I needed it) I would be nowhere near the person I am today. Thanks Mom, I love you.
This photo by the way, was taken last year at the capitol building in Jefferson City, Missouri. We traveled there so she could be presented by the Missouri Catholic Conference with the 2009 Citizen Recognition Award for her tireless efforts to abolish the death penalty. I couldn't have been prouder to know that she has fought for what she believes right to the point of statewide recognition. That's the type of person she is- that and much, much more...

A Member Of The Orchestra!

In my last post I mentioned the tree frogs that I like to listen to out back. Today I happened to run across this photo of one of the members of the orchestra while looking for something to post. These guys(gals) are really cool. They've got the fine art of camouflage down pretty well, don't you think? Occasionally one will somehow find it's way into the house (although, I don't know how...)and sometimes even climb up the nearest house plant.
One night I darn near broke my neck avoiding what I thought was a leaf until it hopped about three feet to the left! They're not much over an inch in length so I really didn't give it much thought until it did hop. Anyway, I like them so when one does come in for a visit I do my best to accommodate it. Hopefully they'll be around for a long time- I can't imagine a summer's night out on the patio without them.

Sweet Music...

I think that the one thing I love most about the warmer months are the evenings. There's no real way to explain the feeling that I get when I sit out on the patio at the end of the day and just relax. Don't get me wrong- a winter evening can be beautiful especially when there's snow on the ground but really, the sun going down on a winter's day just signifies the end of the day whereas a spring or summer sunset seems to be bringing on a whole new part of the day.
I think that I could sit outside and listen to the crickets or the frogs off in the field for an eternity. Probably another one of those things that goes back to my childhood I imagine. We had a pretty large family and sometimes just to escape the heat of the house we'd spend many a summer's night out on the front porch just talking or listening to the sounds of the night. Sometimes we played games until it was too dark to see and then we played a little longer usually until someone ran into someone else and ended up with a bump on their head! But I've got to tell you.When the sun sets and the birds give one last short song and the crickets and the tree frogs start in-that's sweet music to my ears.

The Privacy Fence

Recently we and our neighbors decided that the short section of old privacy fence between our properties had to come down. It wasn't very stable and it didn't even run the length of the property. They have a little girl and that fence was really just an accident waiting to happen. So reluctantly, I helped. I say reluctantly because along with the fence we had to take out the shrubs and vines that had intertwined themselves between the privacy fence and the wire fence that had been installed years ago -probably before the privacy fence. ( I wonder if there's a story there...)
Anyway, these vines and shrubs provided an abundance of greenery that, along with the weathered wood backdrop made for some nice photos and the occasional portrait setting.
Well it's gone now. So be it. I guess that the good thing is, is that we have good neighbors like them and we don't need a barrier between us.
And you know, some days it even seems a little sunnier than it used to...

Princess Mia

Mia sure is growing quick. As all children do, she just seems to be getting bigger and smarter every day! She's quickly becoming part of our family just as all the kids do that my wife baby sits, some more than others. But she does have an edge. Living next door we tend to see quite a lot of her.
She's my sweety, though. Let there be no doubt about that -that is, unless my wife asks her whose girl she is then all of a sudden she's her girl and no amount of begging from me will change that. But when Mom or Dad comes to pick her up there's no real debating whose girl she is!
Fortunately for us there's enough princess in Mia to make us all feel special. And we do...

Look Out Below!

I can remember when I was a little boy playing outside, usually with my cowboys and Indians or my army men. My brothers and I would have the best time finding things that fit the scenery for our miniature worlds. Gravel would easily be boulders, tiny twigs would be logs and leaves could be anything from rooftops to blankets for the weary warrior resting just before the ambush!
I still like to look as close as I can at the ground beneath me- just to see what there is to see. There really is a whole other world down there. And yes, it is fascinating! You never know what (or who) you might find if you look close enough.

The Absence of Color...

Some subjects just seem to scream black and white! Although it may be hard to tell by my photographs, I am a huge fan of the B/W photo. Someday I hope to become a more accomplished photographer in the black and white field.
There's something about the mood that a B/W photo sets that's really an amazing thing, especially considering the absence of color.
Now I won't continue to try and talk about the intricacies of B/W photography like I really know what I'm talking about. Usually, as in a lot of my pictures, I just get lucky and I'm happy with it. There are plenty of B/W photographers out there though, so check them out. They're not hard to find but once you do they're definitely hard to leave!

It's Here!

Yes it is, it's here! It's time to start getting my hiking fix once again. I am definitely ready to start getting back out in the woods and seeing what there is to see. I know that the winter time has it's share of awesomeness in the woods and I guess that I got a pretty fair share of winter hiking in but man there's just something about the woods in the spring and summer months. Getting out in it and and being one with nature is a heck of a lot easier when the temperature is comfortable.
This photo is exactly what I'm talking about. Having the time and patience to see all there is to see. Some days I think that I could find me a spot and stay there all day and never get tired of the things I see. Hopefully I'll be blessed with enough spare time this summer to get out in it and find as many new sights as I can snap a shutter at!

April Showers...

I'm pretty sure that it's not just me when I say that the seasons are changing. I don't think that we can really depend on the old adages anymore like April showers bring May flowers or out like a lion, in like a lamb (and vice versa). It seems like when I was a kid you could hang your hat on those things. These days, though, it's 70 degrees in December, 95 degrees in June and the rainy season is now the icy season. This April we've gotten relatively no rain to speak of (yet, anyway) and although we are loving the warm sunny days, in the back of our minds we know that it's probably not a good sign.
I'd like to say that we're doing all that we can to help reverse the effects of global warming but the truth of the matter is even though we recycle and try to do the other things that we feel are necessary I know that we're a far cry from doing all that we can.
Now, I'm no expert on global warming and I'm really not trying to get on my soapbox but I do know how much I love this planet and all it's beauty. So let's all work together on this one and hopefully we can get things back on track and hopefully it can be in our lifetime!

Just Inside!!

Springtime in southwest Missouri, as in most other areas of the U.S., means baseball. In 2005 we got the Springfield Cardinals, the Double-A affiliate of the St. Louis Cardinals. It was a chance, once again, for the area population to root for a team where the players have the opportunity to advance to "The Bigs".
Way back in 1932 the St. Louis Cardinals moved a team here until it relocated to St. Joseph in 1946. Along the way such players as Stan "The Man" Musial, Dizzy Dean and Pepper Martin got their cleats dirty in our town before becoming legends of the game.
Most in the Springfield and St. Louis organizations consider this team an extension of it's predecessor displaying championship banners from the 30's and 40's!
Anyway, this was definitely one of those lucky shots. I was actually hoping for a big hit and had no idea where the ball had frozen until I later viewed the shot! I'd like to say that I planned it that way but you know I'm not that way.
So here's to the upcoming season and the Springfield Cardinals - Play Ball !!

Happy Easter!

You know, I thought about doing a post with a real springtime kind of picture or maybe a sunrise or even some flowers blooming. It's been (other than really windy) a very nice day- spring is definitely here!
My wife, son and I arose especially early and went to a sunrise service at the Cowboy Church. It was our first visit but I'm sure, not the last. It was a simple, down to earth kind of service that we really enjoyed followed by a pancake breakfast.
Later in the morning my wife and I went to services with our respective mothers followed by dinner at my sister's. I'm still full!
With all of this going on I can say that I'm very fortunate that I have a family that does not lose
sight of the real reason that we celebrate Easter.
Mathew 28:6- He is not here; he is risen, just as he said.

Tree Buddin' Time...

Man! It was into the lower 80's today and I'm noticing more and more trees budding. Our neighbor's maple tree was the unfortunate victim of the utility company's tree trimming campaign last winter and we've been missing it ever since- not to mention how much we will this fall.
Our red bud tree, even though it was right beside it, was spared and we're reaping the benefits of the 70-80 degree days right now. That's definitely the prettiest time of the tree.
But anyway I'm hoping that the vacancy left by the maple tree will allow more sunshine for the red bud and give it enough of a growth spurt that in time the area won't seem quite so empty.

Many Thanks...

Many thanks to my friend Claudia at In linii mari for giving me this award. I really appreciate any acknowledgment I get from fellow photographers. I'm pretty new to the world of photography so these things mean a lot to me as encouragement.
A while back David at One Foote Closer sent me an award and in turn I was supposed to award fellow photographers that I thought worthy. I dropped the ball on that one and I apologize.
So here's my list. Please look them up if you're not already familiar with them. It's quite a diverse group- all very worthy.


1. http://amatamari.blogspot.com/
2.http://ruthikenneyphotos.blogspot.com/
3.http://justamomentpixels.blogspot.com/
4.http://www.fiftypercentchanceofrain.com/
5.http://david-foote.blogspot.com/
6.http://blog.highton-ridley.co.uk/
7.http://oneloosenut.blogspot.com/
8.http://hb-foto.blogspot.com/
9.http://przekornie.blogspot.com/
10.http://photographyrobzabroky.blogspot.com/

Typical Sunday...

You know, sometimes I just don't have much to say. It's been kind of a busy Sunday with church, out to lunch, home to watch a movie, getting a workout in and taking Brendon for a couple of games of bowling (I've started calling him The Dude ala The Big Labowski). That's pretty normal for us though- we don't seem to stop for breath too often. So I guess I've been left speechless (or thoughtless or maybe just clueless!)
Anyway here's another "no particular reason" picture. I was just going back over some older pictures and this is one that I've always liked- I hope you like it too.

Ladieeeees and Gentlemen !

The Shrine Circus came to town the other night and although Brendon thought that he was too old to like it -he's almost eleven! - we all had a good time. It's been a few years since we last went so I didn't really remember what to expect. I would guess that in the "big cities" the circuses are well, bigger. But this circus had just about everything you could want under the big top. There were clowns of course. There were tigers jumping through flaming hoops. There were performing elephants and there were, among a variety of acts that took place high above the circus floor, these ladies. Situated at intervals around the perimeter each lady did a variety of twists, turns and "falls" each at her own pace so that you had to constantly look from one to the other in order to take it all in.
When the last act had finished and we waited for the crowd to thin I thought about how cool it was to be at the circus. I felt a little different than when I first walked in but yet I knew that I'd had this feeling before. I think, yeah I think I felt... almost eleven!

St. Louis Blues Hockey !

Notice the exclamation point after the title. That's there for a couple of reasons. One being- I love St. Louis Blues hockey and the other is , well you really have to be there. Hockey is not easily explained to those that don't know the sport. I mean there's cross checking, there's boarding, there's icing, there's face offs, there's off sides (probably the easiest to explain) and a whole list of other infractions and rules that seem to be unexplainable to those that aren't already familiar to the game at least a little bit.
Unfortunately, I don't have the luxury of having a large fan base that I can relate to here in southwest Missouri. There are some fans but we seem to be awfully scattered out.
At any rate, my family took our annual trip to St. Louis for a Blues game this past Sunday and unfortunately didn't get back in town until around midnight so I'm posting tonight. (By the way, that was six hours of driving in the rain and sleet.)
OK imagine this- a 6 ft. 2in. man (somewhere around 220 lbs.) skating as fast as he can from one end of the rink to the other and coming to an abrupt halt with shaved ice flying. As he stops he passes the puck backwards between his legs to an on coming team mate who in turn skates forward and passes the puck to another player waiting to bank the pass to yet another team mate who one times it ( that's a shot off of a pass without stopping the puck) to another player that manages to get his stick at just the right height and just the right angle to get the puck into the net past a, by now, very disappointed goalie that seems to cover 90 percent of the goal opening all in just about the amount of time it took to read this scenario.
That's hockey! Exclamation point!

'Possums (Or Opossums)

OK, this isn't exactly what it seems. I could tell you some story about stumbling across this 'possum (or opossum if you prefer) in the woods one day while on yet another great hike but I won't. I like to be honest with my stories, that way when something really unbelievable does happen you'll believe me.
This was the second 'possum that I managed to trap out behind my shed. The thing is, my shed is 20ft. by 30 ft. and in the process of becoming my man cave. In addition to the two 'possums there's also an armadillo and at least one groundhog that have decided to make their homes under the future man cave! Besides the damage that the armadillo and the groundhog do to the foundation and the yard in general I just can't have them as tenants- I want them gone. So being the humane type of person that I am, I decided to trap them. Actually the 'possums weren't really doing any damage that I know of (other than driving the dog crazy at bathroom time) but they needed to go so I could get to the armadillo and groundhog.
I'm hoping to see the armadillo in the trap in the morning so I can move forward to getting that dang groundhog! We'll see. By the way, the 'possums were released in the woods at the same spot so hopefully they can reunite and make a new home together and have hundreds of little 'possum (or opossum) babies!

Take A Deep Breath...

This is actually a continuation of the last post. It seems like it's been rainy, cold and dreary ever since that front moved in. Spring is almost upon us so although the weather is not what we want, we also know that there's not much of it left. These cloudy wet days eventually take a toll on one's psychological well being so I'm just being pretty blah lately and I don't have much to say. You can bet though, that when the sun finally comes out and the temperature starts to climb into the 70's ( and I know that it will soon) it will be reflected in my pictures and words. Until then I'll just take a deep breath, think about sunny days to come and wait...

Hang On Tight...

It was what you call a gorgeous day in the Ozarks today! The temperature got up to 73 degrees from what I gather. Unfortunately when the temps rise at this time of year it usually brings with it the big storms. As we speak (or I guess as I write) the weather over in the Missouri, Oklahoma and Kansas corner is getting pretty rough.
I can sure understand the exhilaration that the storm chasers get when they're in the midst of a big storm. I get a real kick when I'm out in it taking pictures. I've yet to have the opportunity to photograph a tornado though. I think that it would be a hell of an adrenaline rush but at the same time I am aware of the damage they inflict and the lives that are lost every year to the storms. That being said I wouldn't wish a tornado to ever show up just so I could get some good pictures - I'm just saying if I had the opportunity...
At any rate it's soon to be that time of year so grab a hold of something and hang on tight.

Baxter Springs, Kansas

Every now and then I may refer to something or someplace as a "Mayberry" kind of thing or place. Hopefully you understand that this is in no way a slight to this particular thing or place. As a matter of fact it is, in my mind, a very high compliment. (For those that aren't familiar with Mayberry you should Google Mayberry, RFD or Andy Griffith - just to get the whole feel of what I'm talking about.) At any rate I don't know if it's because of the age I am, the life style I used to live or what but I find myself being drawn more and more to places that go at a little slower pace.
Now, don't get me wrong I'm no expert on Baxter Springs but this last weekend my wife and I did get a chance to eat at a very good restaurant there called Cafe on the Route (named for the fact that it sits on the old Route 66) and afterward take a walk in the historic district. I left feeling like I had a pretty good picture of life there in general, or at least hoped that I did, and I liked it! I There's just something about the old buildings and the neon signs that just make you want to hang out there.
Unfortunately we did not get a chance to check out the soda fountain but we did grab a soda pop from the Coke machine in front that still cost only 50 cents. That's what I'm talking about!

The Field Behind Our House...

The field behind our house has been a great place for me to catch some really nice sunsets and various other weather conditions that happen to roll through. Our neighborhood used to be a row of houses, mostly on one side of the street, surrounded by fields. Unfortunately the fields are shrinking and the houses are multiplying. There has been four, yes four subdivisions rise up in our immediate vicinity in just the last three years.That's way too much, way too fast! I can see some day having to find a more secluded area to live- maybe when I become a "successful" photographer. But for now I'll keep climbing the fence out back to get a good view and every time I see the man that comes twice a year to mow I'll reiterate my plea for him to hold onto his land and never give in to the urge to sell.

A Good Sign

Well today is the last day of February and in my way of seeing things, spring is just around the corner. March, being the month of spring, is the first step towards warmer months. I say this in part as some sort of encouragement to my friends on the east coast- we all know that they've seen more than their fair share of snow and harsh conditions.
When summer turns to fall and fall turns to winter everything is cool - for awhile. It must be the temperatures that tend to slow me down, I guess. I don't know but by January I'm just plain tired of it.
Anyway this Crocus popped up the other day and just the mere sight of it seemed to give me hope that the trees will start budding and the flowers will all start blooming any day now. ( I know that it's still winter and even in spring it gets cold and can snow plenty but work with me here.) It is a sign though and a good sign at that.

I'll Get The Shot...

I took this picture one morning at Drummond Lake. I actually went there to see if I could get a good picture of this Great Blue Heron. As far as I know he (she?) is the only one there which I find hard to believe because I found that they normally nest in large colonies of up to several hundred pairs. I can only assume that they tend to venture out alone to do their hunting because in several visits to Drummond Lake I've only seen one - possibly not the same one but probably so. At any rate getting this one's picture was an exercise in, well, exercising! It didn't take long to spot it and apparently it spotted me. Just as I was focusing in it took flight- all the way to the other end of the lake. I kept it in my sight as I made my way to the other end. As soon as I got close I slowed my pace as not to spook it again. This time the heron's head was down so I eased closer - you know what's coming here- just as I again lifted my camera and started to focus off it flew- all the way to the other end. This went on more times than I really want to talk about.
I followed it back one last time only because it was on the way out. Like I said, I got a couple of pictures but not near the close up I envisioned on my way to the lake. I did get a few shots from a distance and my stay was a little longer than you can tell from this post but all in all it was not a very fruitful day. Some day I'll bring my lunch and find a nice place to sit and wait and wait and probably wait some more but I'll get the shot I want- I will!

The Sleddin' Hill

Well for now the sleddin' hill is bare - bare of snow that is. For now... It's still winter and it's still February and the weatherman is still predicting a chance of snow in the next couple of days but for now there's no snow. We've had an extra amount of the white stuff this winter and I'm not so sure that's it's not a developing trend for future winters but then again it seems like every winter when I was a youngster it snowed and snowed and snowed. So maybe it's a recurring weather pattern(once every one hundred years!)I loved it then and I guess that I love it now - to an extent. I just seem to tire of it a little quicker than when I was a youngster.
My son thinks that there's something wrong with me when I mention that spring is just around the corner with a smile on my face. "Why does that make you happy?!"I guess I don't really have a good reason it just does...

And Now For Something Completely Different...

As most of you know, Monday was Presidents' Day and school was out. I happened to be off work that day so we felt that a trip to the Discovery Center was in order. (It also didn't hurt that our neighbor works there and she provided us with free tickets.) But even so, it's a place we like to take Brendon to and a place that he likes to go.
So on a cold and blustery day (as most of them seem to be these days) we went. We had a lot of fun with Brendon and Mia checking out the kinetic wheel, making giant bubbles, printing newspaper articles with pictures, walking through the giant mouth and building towers as tall as we could reach.
At one point as I was left behind and making my way from one floor to the next to catch up I sat on the stairs to change my lens (you know that I had my camera!) I looked up and this is what I saw. Dizzying to say the least but really cool . Needless to say, I spent the rest of the afternoon shooting stairwells, block glass and assorted structures from any and all angles.
I think that I like this form of abstract architecture- if that's what you call it. I'm sure I don't know but I do know that I think I'll be taking a little side journey every now and then into it and just getting into something completely different!

Happy Valentines Day

Here's a rose to all of you for Valentines Day. As it is Valentines Day I have better things to do than sit on the computer and type some long winded post. So here's to you (and me) and here's hoping your day is all that you wanted it to be!

What It's All About...

I can't write much tonight because unfortunately, I'm getting over a short bout with the stomach flu! No major deal really but I'm worn out.
Anyway here's my daredevil just hitting the bottom of the hill. He loves the cold and he especially loves it when it comes with snow. On this particular day he ended up with a sprained ankle. There just happened to be a curb at the bottom of one sled trail. Fortunately (and unfortunately)he wasn't traveling head first that time!
I guess when you're 10 years old that's what winter is all about.

A Simpler Life...

For some reason people seem to have a fascination with barns- old barns, new barns, painted or weather worn- it doesn't matter much one way or another. They just want a good barn picture. I don't know why that is but I do know that I'm one of them.
Maybe it takes us to a simpler time. You know- Andy and Barney and Opie and Aunt Bee(that's pronounced Aint Bee by the way).
This is a barn that I stumbled across one morning when the fog lifted and I was trying to find my way back to the main highway. I sat at the cross roads and took several shots before turning around and retracing my route. I guess that's part of the fun of photography though-stumbling across the unexpected and being lucky enough to have your camera with you when you do!

The War Eagle Mill

This is the War Eagle Mill and the War Eagle Bridge on War Eagle Road next to the War Eagle Creek near- yep, War Eagle, Arkansas. Which, by the way, is on the National Register of Historic Places for those of you (like myself) that aren't "in the know".
At any rate, the mill here is pretty well known around the northern parts of Arkansas and the southern parts of Missouri too. It's chock full of history-way more than I could fit in this post.
So look it up, check it out and go visit it. It's a great place with a big commitment to your health and the planet as they explain in detail on their site.
As their slogan says, "Rising above the daily grind since 1832"!