laanba

Autry

Mon, 14 May 2012 03:16:27 -0800

The family that lived in the last house at the George Ranch was friends with Gene Autry. He would visit each time he was in the area. Quite a journey from the family that lived at the first Stock Farm home 100 years earlier.

Flickr Set: George Ranch

Cowboy

Fri, 11 May 2012 04:00:00 -0800

The George Ranch is a really great place to bring visitors for a Texas experience, especially people from other countries. They have a cowboy show that shows how they care for their cattle including roping. You are up close and personal and can ask questions. It is a much more intimate experience than if you were at one of the big rodeos. And when the giant longhorn makes an appearance there are oos and ahhhs they are as entertaining as the show itself.

Desk Space

Thu, 10 May 2012 04:00:00 -0800

Blacksmith

Wed, 9 May 2012 04:00:00 -0800

Salt Bacon

Tue, 8 May 2012 03:17:26 -0800

The Table is Set

Mon, 7 May 2012 03:04:05 -0800

Sitting Room Mirror

Sun, 6 May 2012 04:00:00 -0800

Round Mirror

Sat, 5 May 2012 04:07:18 -0800

Wallpaper

Fri, 4 May 2012 03:08:27 -0800

George Ranch

Thu, 3 May 2012 03:26:17 -0800

In March I met some photographers for a photo meet-up at The George Ranch in Richmond, TX. The ranch is a 23,000 acre working ranch with a 480 acre historical living museum in the center. The living museum tracks four generations of the same family that lived on the property through historical homes and recreations starting in the 1830s and moving to the 1900s. It was fascinating to see the improvements in living conditions that the family made with each subsequent home. I ended up spending the whole day at the ranch and had a wonderful time.

I had my film camera with me and it really loved photographing things at the ranch. I have a lot to share so get ready to go back in time.

Link: George Ranch Historical Park

Magnolia

Wed, 2 May 2012 03:03:00 -0800

Diana in Green

Tue, 1 May 2012 03:04:05 -0800

Bayou Bend in Green

Mon, 30 Apr 2012 03:04:05 -0800

Yes, I promised Ranch photos. They will come later in the week.

I have visited Bayou Bend Museum & Gardens in the dead of winter, where the branches were bare, and in the height of azalea season where there were pinks and reds, magentas and whites around every corner. This visit was distinguished by one color, green. At every garden I marveled at how green and lush everything was. I love this place whether it is a riot of color or dominated by just one.

Ranch Mirror

Sat, 28 Apr 2012 06:56:47 -0800

I've been totally slacking on procesisng photos, but this morning I finally got some photos scanned. I'll share them starting Monday but here is a weekend Mirror Me entry. This roll was from the George Ranch Historical Park in Richmond, TX. It was my first visit and I had a wonderful time with fellow photographers exploring the ranch. I will definitely be back.

40

Wed, 25 Apr 2012 03:22:12 -0800

Today I am 40. A whole new decade awaits and I have a good feeling about it.

Kemah

Tue, 24 Apr 2012 03:44:46 -0800

Monkey Farm

Fri, 20 Apr 2012 03:10:50 -0800

Able the Monkeynaut came back with me from my trip to Florida. She likes to hang out in my photo bag so she made the trip to the family farm for Easter break. Able had fun checking out the area, finding citrus that was Able sized and just hanging around as monkeys do.

Onion Blooms

Thu, 19 Apr 2012 04:00:00 -0800

Do you know what these are? I didn't. They are onion blooms. I have never once thought of what an onion looks like growing, but I would never have guessed that they look like this.

Farm Rose

Wed, 18 Apr 2012 04:32:34 -0800

Next up some photos I took over Easter at my grandmother's farm in East Texas.

Gamboa Morning

Sat, 14 Apr 2012 21:00:00 -0800

Thus ends my photos from my visit to Gamboa Rainforest Resort. I'm finishing with a photo that reminds me of some of my favorite time at the resort. Getting up in the early hours, right when day breaks and the sun begins to lighten with the sounds of the birds as they cry good morning. I am not a morning person but this was some of my favorite hours at the resort.

I'm going to share some photos of stuff I've been putting off while I tried to finish Gamboa, but I'm not done with my Panama visit quite yet. We went into the city at the end of our vacation and I have a few things to share from there. I will be uploading the rest of my Gamboa photos onto Flickr over the next couple of days.

Flickr: Thanksgiving in Panama

Morning Flutter

Fri, 13 Apr 2012 02:32:03 -0800

Birding

Thu, 12 Apr 2012 03:00:48 -0800

I am not a birder, so I did not go down to Panama with the express intent of photographing birds. I definitely do not have the right type of lens to get great bird shots. But you become a birder staying at Gamboa Resort because they are everywhere and their beautiful songs fill the air all day long. These are the birds I saw just around the hotel. Parrots!! I can see how a real birder would have a field day in Panama.

Patio Dining

Wed, 11 Apr 2012 05:00:00 -0800

The Canal

Tue, 10 Apr 2012 05:00:00 -0800

Lake Chagres

Sun, 8 Apr 2012 05:00:00 -0800

The view of Lake Chagres from the observation tower at Gamboa Rainforest Resort. From here, our last tour of our visit, we could see the locations of the first tour of our visit (Into the Rainforest and Embera Village). It was a nice circle to our trip.

Passing Through

Fri, 6 Apr 2012 21:00:00 -0800

From the Observation Tower of the Aerial Tram tour at Gamboa Rainforest Resort. A boat making its way through the Panama Canal.

Canal from on High

Thu, 5 Apr 2012 21:00:00 -0800

After we left the aerial tram and took our little walk through the green we ended up at an observation tower. It was a series of ramps that led you up a 90 foot observation tower. It was actually 10 levels with 4 gradually rising ramps for a total of 40. Not that I was counting.

I really thought my fear of heights would get me on the aerial tram and it never did. However it came in full force on the way up the observation tower. About 1/3 of the way up I felt the familiar clutch of fear, the leaden feet and the dizziness. But I would do it again in a heartbeat for the views. Once at the top there were fabulous views of the Panama Canal, Lake Chagres and the Resort.

Sunning

Thu, 5 Apr 2012 06:00:00 -0800

Iguanas sunning themselves as seen from the aerial tram.

Green Walk

Wed, 4 Apr 2012 05:00:00 -0800

After we rode the gondola we arrived at the top of a hill. From there we took a walk through the plant life to get to an observation tower. I loved the scenery.

Aerial Tram

Tue, 3 Apr 2012 05:00:00 -0800

The final tour we took at the Gamboa Rainforest Resort was an aerial tram tour. We boarded the gondolas and rode into the green canopy up 1.2 kilometers. I am normally scared of heights but this ride was nothing but smooth and relaxing as we slowly glided up through the trees.

Resort Pool

Mon, 2 Apr 2012 05:00:00 -0800

I don't often find myself at resorts so I made a point of swimming in this pool. I love to swim but I don't do it very often. It was late afternoon so all the mid-day sunbathers had left and I had the pool mostly to myself. There was rain and thunder in the distance to add to the tropical atmosphere. I'm so glad that I made a point of going.

Sunrise

Fri, 30 Mar 2012 04:03:00 -0800

Yellow at the Resort

Wed, 28 Mar 2012 05:00:00 -0800

Heavy Cargo

Tue, 27 Mar 2012 05:00:00 -0800

Monkey Island

Mon, 26 Mar 2012 04:00:00 -0800

Back to the Gamboa Rainforest Resort. How can you resist a tour called the Monkey Island tour. You can't of course! On our second full day there we boarded a speedboat and headed out to Monkey Island.

Of course if you read here with any regularity you know I love boats and I love the Panama Canal, so you can guess that I absolutely loved zipping through the canal on a speedboat. I loved the feel of the wind on my face and my hair whipping around. That's the fastest boat I've ever been on and I wanted it to go even faster. I still don't understand where this boat passion comes from.

After speeding through the canal we pulled into Lake Gatun. We actually ran into a monkey before we got to Monkey Island. This one climbed out onto a limb, hissed at us and caught a piece of banana thrown his way. We also saw an alligator and a toucan flying through the air on our way to our final destination. Once at the "official" Monkey Island we had to circle a few times before the monkeys decided to show up, but once they did they came right onto our boat to get some banana.

Then it was a lovely ride through some more of Lake Gatun and back through the Canal to the hotel. A wonderful trip. Below is a video of our boat leaving the lake and heading into the Canal.

Video: Into the Canal

Pool Side Red

Thu, 22 Mar 2012 04:00:00 -0800

Red and Blue

Wed, 21 Mar 2012 07:00:00 -0800

Terraced Gardens

Tue, 20 Mar 2012 06:00:00 -0800

During the Azalea Trail private home owners in the affluent River Oaks section open up their homes and gardens to the public. This year I saw one of the most spectacular gardens I have ever seen. It was at a house that is next to the bayou and the home owner relandscaped in 2005 to create a terraced garden down to the bayou. The house itself was lovely though small (well small for River Oaks but perfect for me... I like smaller houses) but the gardens were the showpiece of this location.

Floral Trail

Mon, 19 Mar 2012 06:03:00 -0800

A collection of blooming flowers I saw on the Azalea Trail this year.

Pink and White

Sat, 17 Mar 2012 07:00:00 -0800

Azalea Drops

Fri, 16 Mar 2012 07:00:00 -0800

Taking a break from Panama to share photos from this year's Azalea Trail. It is one of my favorite events of the year and even though it rained heavily the whole weekend I did manage to make it out to the private homes.

Sunrise at the Resort

Thu, 15 Mar 2012 07:00:00 -0800

I'm not a morning person, but I am so glad I got up these mornings to experience this beauty.

Flying In

Wed, 14 Mar 2012 06:03:00 -0800

For someone who lives in a very flat part of the United States, seeing rolling hills of green is always a marvel.

I Was There: Orchid Nursery

Tue, 13 Mar 2012 06:00:00 -0800

Stars

Mon, 12 Mar 2012 07:42:42 -0800

I did not mean to disappear from the photoblog. Work caught up with me as we wrapped up the end of the 9 weeks grading period, budgets closed and we preapred for Spring Break. I am leaving for Orlando tomorrow! Woot! Except now I'm going to have an even bigger backlog than ever of photos. Oy!

Yellow

Thu, 8 Mar 2012 05:03:00 -0800

Gamboa Orchid Nursery

Tue, 6 Mar 2012 06:00:00 -0800

The last stop on the "eco-tour" was the Orchid nursery. With a large hill rising over the nursery as a backdrop and thunder rumbling in the distance it was a lovely, peaceful way to spend the afternoon. It wasn't blooming season so I only caught a couple in bloom, but I love walking in places like this so I didn't mind.

Butterfly House

Mon, 5 Mar 2012 06:00:00 -0800

In the afternoon of our first full day, after our Embera Village adventure, we took a much more low key tour of the resort. It included four buildings comprising an "eco-tour." The first building had fish, alligators and turtles. The second had snakes (I waited outside). The third was a butterlfy house and the last the orchid garden.

We have a very nice butterfly house in Houston, but this one was lovely as well. It wasn't very large but it was packed with beautiful plants and of course butterflies. Unlike the Houston which has to artifically raise the steaminess factor, the one in Panama was only surrounded by netting. Panama gets steamy enough. While we were walking around you could feel the breeze and hear the rumble of thunder in the distance. It added to the atmosphere.

I loved these plants the instant I saw them. It is Psychotria poeppigiana, commonly known as Hot Lips, and is a member of Rubiaceae, the coffee family. The red "lips" are actually leaves. The flowers on the plants are little yellow things. What a cool plant.

Butterfly Belly

Sun, 4 Mar 2012 06:01:51 -0800

386 Miles

Sat, 3 Mar 2012 05:00:00 -0800

The Los Vaqueros Trail ride is the longest ride that comes into Houston. It starts in Reynosa Mexico which is right across the southern border of Texas. The group travels 386 miles and it takes them three weeks to get to Houston.

Rodeo Parade

Fri, 2 Mar 2012 05:00:00 -0800

The Rodeo is in town! The Houston Live Stock Show & Rodeo is a huge event with concerts, shops, the carnival, the parade, a BBQ cook-off and the actual rodeo itself. The rodeo draws about 2 million people over a three week period. I love rodeo time. I love going to the carnival to take photos, to wander through the western themed booths selling their wares, to see the animals and just the whole "yee haw" attitude that takes over the city for three weeks.

The Rodeo Parade is special because of the Trail Rides. Twelve groups totaling about 3,000 people start from all over the state of Texas (and Mexico and Louisiana!) and make their way to Houston. They ride horses, eat around a campfire and camp out each night. They all converge on a local park on a Friday afternoon and they ride in the Rodeo Parade the next day. I love watching these people who just spent a considerable part of the week (or more) living like it was the Old West while the modern world zoomed past them at 70 miles an hour.

Flickr: Rodeo Parade 2012
NY Times: For Rodeo, Houstonians Dress Like Texans for a Change

Flying Texas

Thu, 1 Mar 2012 04:26:45 -0800

Rodeo Walk

Tue, 28 Feb 2012 07:00:00 -0800

Taken on my way back to my car from the Rodeo Parade. Rodeo pictures tomorrow!

For Sale

Sun, 26 Feb 2012 06:21:39 -0800

Embera Village

Fri, 24 Feb 2012 07:00:00 -0800

The resort has a model Embera Village that was our final destination after our rainforest trek. This village is completely set up for tourists, but that didn't diminish it for me one bit. The Indians living there come into the model during the day to do presentations. We were greeted by music and taken to a covered pavilion where one of the members talked to us about the customs of the Embera including their native dress, traditions, handcrafts and history. They brought us food and did native dances for us. Then we were able to buy handcrafts (yes, of course they take credit cards) and wander around the village.

The whole experience from the boat ride, to the trek in the rainforest, to the visit to the village made this a stellar way to kick off this visit to Panama.

Video: On the Chagres River

I Was There: Rainforest

Thu, 23 Feb 2012 07:00:00 -0800

Into the Rainforest

Wed, 22 Feb 2012 06:03:00 -0800

The Gamboa Rainforest Resorts has several tours that you can take. The first tour we signed up for was a visit to an Indigenous Village. The marina holds several different kind of watercraft but ours this day was the wooden canoe, motorized of course. We glided across Lake Chagres and I thought we were going straight to the village but instead we made a detour to take a small walk through the rainforest.

It was muddy and steamy and hot and it was perfect. Even just walking for that short time it was possible to feel the beauty of the place. We followed the Camino de Cruces trail which was set down by the Spanish in the 1500s to move goods across the isthmus. When we were climbing on and over the large stone steps (you can see some of them under the palm tree in the first photo) you could feel the weight of history. I could practically hear and see the explorers of days past and imagine what what it must have been like for them in this hot, steamy, beautiful place.

The Resort

Tue, 21 Feb 2012 07:00:00 -0800

Feathery

Fri, 17 Feb 2012 05:03:00 -0800

Hotel View

Wed, 15 Feb 2012 04:15:58 -0800

One side of the Gamboa Rainforest Resort is a wall of windows that looks out onto the Chagres River and the Rainforest beyond. It is a beautiful space to walk into and no matter what the weather (rain, fog, sunshine) it was a breathtaking view.

Waiting to Enter

Tue, 14 Feb 2012 08:00:00 -0800

Boats dot the Pacific waters waiting to enter the Panama Canal.

Day Breaks

Mon, 13 Feb 2012 07:03:00 -0800

Each morning that I was at the Gamboa Rainforest Resort I felt compelled to get up before the day began and greet the sun. This coming from someone who is decidedly not a morning person. Considering the fact that Panama was one hour ahead of Houston, and I was going to be getting up even earlier than normal, I was very proud of myself for making the effort. I wouldn't trade the time I spent those mornings for anything, watching the sun come over the hills, listening to the bird calls and watching the world wake.

Four Flags

Sat, 11 Feb 2012 08:00:00 -0800

Stop. Fog.

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 08:00:00 -0800

Esperson Way

Thu, 9 Feb 2012 08:00:00 -0800

One of my very favorite buildings in Downtown Houston, the Niels Esperson Building, fades into the fog.

Four Corners

Wed, 8 Feb 2012 08:00:00 -0800

One recent foggy morning I took the Vivitar Ultra Wide & Slim to Downtown Houston to capture the mood. Fog is such an interesting element to shoot in. It seems the best foggy days are always on days I have to work, but I made it out for this one and I'm glad for it.

Zookeepers

Tue, 7 Feb 2012 08:00:00 -0800

One more from the zoo. This one is from a roll of film that I just scanned. Most of the photos were taken on a foggy morning in downtown Houston but a few were taken at the zoo and I quite like this one.

Hey, did you notice the spiffy new design? I haven't updated my photoblog design since I first moved to Pixyblog in 2008. Whoa that's a long time! It feels good to look at something fresh. Feel free to poke around and check out the about page complete with new photo, archives, galleries and tags. I have to go back and update my tags now that they show up on entries. I used to put random things there but now I will be more deliberate. It wil probably take me a few weeks to update my old entries. Thanks to Richard from Pixyblog for helping me with the final details. More photo-y goodness to come and now in a prettier package.

That Face

Sat, 4 Feb 2012 07:00:00 -0800

Meerkats are so cute and they photograph well. You can see the rest of my zoo photos in my Flickr set. I never think I'm going to enjoy myself at the zoo, but I always do. Hopefully I won't wait three years before I go back again.

Flickr Set: Houston Zoo Jan 2012

Stare

Fri, 3 Feb 2012 08:00:00 -0800

Houston Zoo

Thorns

Thu, 2 Feb 2012 08:00:00 -0800

Houston Zoo

Flora

Wed, 1 Feb 2012 08:00:00 -0800

If you look around you can find more than animals at the zoo.

Nuzzle

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 08:00:00 -0800

I can't take this

Mon, 30 Jan 2012 08:00:00 -0800

I made the mistake of listing all the things going on this week and this is what I feel like. Suffice it to say it is a busy week and weekend to come. But I did finally process some photos so yay for new things to look at.

Above the Canal

Tue, 24 Jan 2012 07:03:00 -0800

An update. I am slowly working my way through my Panama photos from November. Each trip I approached processing photos in a different way. The first one I slogged through a ridiculous amount of photos. The second one I processed the trip photos in record time. For this one I am taking a leisurely route that is quite enjoyable, but I need to kick up at least one notch or I'll still be processing in May.

This photo was taken at an observation tower at the Gamboa Rainforest Resort. You can see the Chagres River to my left and the Panama Canal curving up and off behind me into the distance.

Favorites of 2011

Sun, 22 Jan 2012 09:26:12 -0800

I have finally sat down and written up my year in review for the photoblog for 2011. Hop on over and read the stories behind this year's selections.

Blog Post: Favorites of 2011

Seats

Sat, 21 Jan 2012 06:00:00 -0800

This is from the Hipstamatic Disposable App for iPhone. It is an interesting concept. You have a "roll" of film and you can't see any of the photos on the roll until you finish taking all of the photos. I started this set in December and didn't finish until last night (just like when I first started using real film... I'm slow!). I don't even remember where I took this, but it was fun to see a little history of my photo taking show back up. The Hipstamatic Disposable App also lets you share a roll with friends. Everyone takes photos on the same roll and when the roll is finished everyone sees all the photos. Hipstamatic is one of my favorite iPhone photo taking apps.

Link: Hipstamatic Disposable

Avenging Angel

Thu, 19 Jan 2012 07:00:00 -0800

The last of my Glenwood photos for now. This is one of my favorite stories from the Greater Houston Preservation Alliance's walking tour of the cemetery. It involves gun battles on trains, avenging sisters and just like any good story, a wonderful ironic twist at the end.

Glenwood Cemetery, Houston TX
Pentax MX
Ilford XP 2

Save the Internet

Wed, 18 Jan 2012 05:03:00 -0800

Educate yourself! Watch the video, read the article (yes the whole thing) and then get involved. Call your Congressperson, let your friends and neighbors know and do not let one of the greatest inventions of our age be destroyed by greedy coroporations that are only out to protect their own interests.

Video: Protect IP/SOPA Breaks the Internet
Article: Dear Congress, It's No Longer OK to Not Know How the Internet Works
Contact Congress: Stop the Internet Blacklist Legislation

Fredericks

Tue, 17 Jan 2012 07:00:00 -0800

Glenwood Cemetery, Houston TX

Pentax MX
Ilford XP2

Hunt

Fri, 13 Jan 2012 07:00:00 -0800

Glenwood Cemetery, Houston TX
Pentax MX
Ilford XP2

A.B.M.

Thu, 12 Jan 2012 08:00:00 -0800

Glenwood Cemetery, Houston TX

Pentax MX
Ilford XP2

Snowbirds

Wed, 11 Jan 2012 08:00:00 -0800

The Canadian Forces Snowbirds at Wings Over Houston 2011

That's a wrap for airshow photos. If you haven't had enough you can head over to my Flick set to see even more. Yes, I have a plane obsession.

Flickr: Wings Over Houston 2011

Formation

Tue, 10 Jan 2012 07:00:00 -0800

Up and Down

Mon, 9 Jan 2012 07:03:00 -0800

Canadian Snowbirds

Wings over Houston 2011

Up and Over

Sun, 8 Jan 2012 07:03:00 -0800

Time to finish up with Airshow pictures. The final act this year was the Canadian Snowbirds. They have a beautiful show and their red and white planes are fun to photograph against a blue sky.

P.S. The Texans won!!!!

Go Texans!

Sat, 7 Jan 2012 08:03:00 -0800

I love football and my hometown team, the Houston Texans, are in the playoffs for the first time in franchise history. Go Texans!

Branches

Fri, 6 Jan 2012 07:00:00 -0800

Sunlight

Thu, 5 Jan 2012 08:00:00 -0800

Celtic Cross

Wed, 4 Jan 2012 08:00:00 -0800

Poinsettias

Tue, 3 Jan 2012 08:03:00 -0800

The Quiet Path

Mon, 2 Jan 2012 07:00:00 -0800

Glenwood Cemetery

Black Diamond Jet Team

Sun, 1 Jan 2012 07:23:01 -0800

Wishing you a 2012 that soars beyond your expectations.

The Show in the Air

Thu, 29 Dec 2011 07:00:00 -0800

Vapor

Wed, 28 Dec 2011 07:11:44 -0800

USAF

Tue, 27 Dec 2011 08:00:00 -0800

I hope everyone had a lovely Christmas. Back to some airshow photos. I have a few more to share with you.

L

Mon, 26 Dec 2011 08:00:00 -0800

One last one from my tree.

Jingle Bell

Sun, 25 Dec 2011 08:00:00 -0800

Merry Christmas!

Mirror Tree

Sat, 24 Dec 2011 08:00:00 -0800

I guess it should come as no surprise that someone who loves reflections has a reflective tree. My tree has white lights with silver, glass, metal or white ornamnets. I love it.

Reindeer

Fri, 23 Dec 2011 08:00:00 -0800

Candlelight

Wed, 21 Dec 2011 07:00:00 -0800