Tag: desert southwest

IMAGES OF SMALL THINGS FROM THE BIGGEST COUNTY IN TEXAS #734 – MARS & THE MOON IN EARLY AM DUSTY HAZE

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Two days ago I sat in my shorts and dirty t-shirt basking in the beauty and warmth of a bluebonnet patch. Early this am up to attack my writing drills I was greeted with this mysterious view in the western darkness. A great prelude to the coming blood moon eclipse coming early tomorrow morning.

Our balm had faded to sand blown in the 40 mph winds as I stranded to hold my camera still at a 1/15 of a second at 1600 iso. All the while staving the 37 degree chill in my briefs and too thin shirt. The dogs thought me crazy and kept looking to see what the heck had the attention of their strange two legged leader.  I quickly agreed and retreated from outside images to inside words and warm coffee. Image making is fun, but word-smithing can sometimes be a little more comfortable.

I don’t normally post such fuzzy grainy images, but I hope this will keep me from having to braving the 2:00 am call to the blood eclipse. I already gave.  One needs to save their bravery as I have too little to spare.

” A good photograph is  knowing where to stand.” Ansel Adams

I think I will stand inside.   en theos monos ††† jim

IMAGES OF SMALL THINGS FROM THE BIGGEST COUNTY IN TEXAS #719 – HEY, YOU, GET AWAY FROM MY FLEABANE!

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One of the early bloomers here in the desert Southwest is this nickel sized prairie fleabane daisy. It was a challenge trying to catch an in focus image of this possessive little spider in our 35mph wind gust. I was fortunate to have gotten focus during a short lull in the wind. This little bee decided it was a good landing spot as well. The spider said no, and chased the tiny fellow along on his way.

It’s a jungle out there, go take a peak!  en theos monos ††† jim

IMAGES OF SMALL – THINGS FROM THE BIGGEST COUNTY IN TEXAS #662 – Do you have a dream?

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“I have a dream that one day every valley shall be exalted, every hill and mountain shall be made low, the rough places will be made straight and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed and all flesh shall see it together.”
Martin Luther King, Jr.

I live in a place of beautiful isolation. I fall into the trap that I am living a dream. Then at times I am shaken and realize that I have just been sleeping, not really living a dream.

Do you have a dream, are you living it, or did you just fall asleep in the middle of it? en theos ††† jim

http://thebeautifuldue.wordpress.com/2014/01/20/when-i-think-about-martin-i-think-about-james/

Photos on the journey #481-Horse Crippler, Devil’s Head, Candy Cactus, Devil’s Pincushion, Manacaballo, Monco Caballo, Viznaga

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A cactus of many names, most of them negative sounding. But it produces a fruit that is attractive to deer, rabbits, and other small rodents. My dogs always go a little crazy trying to follow all the scent trails that lead from these lovely low-lying beauties.

The horse crippler cactus is broader than it is long. Normally it is 1–2 inches above the ground and up to 12 inches across. It is difficult to see, and many horses have been crippled from stepping on it. It usually has only 1 stem, occasionally 2 or 3. If injured at the tip, it may produce a cluster of small heads on top of the old one. The surface of the plant is dark green. It has about 14 spines at each areole, with a central spine that is longer and stronger than the others, 2– 3 inches long and straight to slightly-curved downward. The inverted bell-shaped flowers are 1– 2 3/4 inches across and about as tall. The outer petals are salmon-red, the inner ones salmon-pink with streaks of red. The edge of the petals has a feathery appearance. Anthers are pinkish to red, and the pistil is yellow to pink. The flower is somewhat fragrant.

Watch where you step! Peace@U ††† en theos ††† jlawrence