Day 34

Today Angel and I took a day trip to Bellville, Brenham, and Navasota TX with the hopes of capturing some images. We'd hoped to get images of balloons in Bellville, but too much fog this morning. So we decided to go on an adventure for the day.

SO, we went to Brenham and visited the Blue Bell Factory. The flowers are out in full force.

And went in for Ice Cream of course.

Here is a Kayaker getting out of the Brazos River just under the 105 Bridge just west of Navasota and just North of Washington on the Brazos State Park. She was literally up to her knees in the mud, but as you can see had a fun time anyway and enjoyed the humor of the moment.

We also met  Mr Walter Williams who had been fishing since the crack of dawn.Wish we had more time because he was full of stories and took us in like a long lost friend. Shook his had before we left. He said come back anytime.

We then visited Navasota. These are the tracks on the west side of town looking to the south.

Day 33

Northshore Park in the Woodlands this afternoon. Jenn wanted to study and asked if I'd like to tag along and take some images.  Twist my arm, yes!  These two images have a commonality, can you guess my mind? 

A sense of loneliness, battling life as best you can -- stoic, purposeful, and yet at times a pervasive loneliness. Perhaps a chance to strut your stuff -- need friends, companions for that. And we find them. Work, school, church or religious groups, neighbors, team mates, fellow parents as we live vicariously through our kids.

Sometimes we soar and are on top of the world.

At other times, just kinda hanging out trying to relax and be left alone.

And yet in the most unlikely places we still can show our own inner beauty and recognize that within others. I found these back behind the freeway in a spot where few would go and fewer would even see anything beautiful. I didn't notice these until I was very close.

Day 32

So, I was moping around all day. I was home just a few minutes and decided to head off to the The Woodlands and Market Street.  I stopped to capture these images just outside Tommy Bahamas. These two kids were having a blast in the colored water jets.  This is one of the few times I've put my camera in full manual mode.  I wanted to keep the background dark to emphasize the water. I had the shutter speed between 15 and 30 to blur the water -- kids as well. Needless to say, getting out for a walkabout and having fun with these images boosted my spirits. 

OK, I had a lot of fun so I'm posting a few extras tonight. Enjoy!

And a final two...

Day 31

This is a view a see many days walking onto campus where I work. I like the reflections of the overhead translucent tiles and the sky -- which is what I was trying to capture in this image taken on my BlackBerry. But I also like the tunnel effect at the bottom of the image. I took this on a whim coming back from lunch. Good thing because this is the only image I took today. I'm totally exhausted and fell asleep on the couch and didn't wake up until 9:30.

Too tired to care about much right now. Except you -- of course. See you tomorrow.

Day 30

Tonight I took a walk in the little park behind my home.  I selected this image because I really like the colors. This was just before sunset began and the light was fantastic. I've always enjoyed nature and its beauty. And even in Houston there are some beautiful wondrous things. I would say the same in your neighborhood no matter where you live. OK, I'd really like to live in the Rocky Mountains somewhere -- someday...

And tonight I was chatting online with Rhea about kids and so I'm going to add another image I took tonight of my youngest. She joined me on my nature walk tonight. Thanks for giving me moral support Jenn! She is my sidekick in photography and she really does a fantastic job. Maybe we can talk her into a blog of her own.

And I send a "Thank You!" to each of you who have journeyed with me so far.  I didn't realize how time consuming and at times difficult to take an image, post it and then try to make some comments.  At times what I write comes quickly and easily -- other times more difficult and at times too personal. You may read and think, gee that doesn't sound all that, but as we are each different, this for me has been a bit hard. A few postings have touched on the edges of some very deep personal thoughts and I don't have the courage to lay it all out -- yet. Another thing that strikes me is that no matter what I experience and feel from the lows to the joys, there are many out there who have it much worse and perhaps much better. I acknowledge those and also each of you.  My association with each of you has helped me become who I am -- an impatient son of a ...oops, just kidding. OK, I am working on that patient thing. For those of you going through dark times please join me in the celebration of beauty. You are the beholder -- seek and you shall find.

As you wish

Day 29

The last of the day's rays were trickling through the blinds giving just a hint of highlight to the violet beads adorning this candle holder. Don't know why, but I was drawn to the gold, violet, white, and blue hues. The lines are clean -- guess that's the engineer in me. Well, no great words of wisdom, sentimentality or wandering reflections for you this evening. Just thinking of enjoying beauty when and where it exists.

Day 28

Did you notice this heavenly visitor tonight? The sky is clear and the moon full. However bright, the real source of this light is our sun making our moon a cold lifeless body matching my morosity tonight.Sure, I can reflect others' light but unless I add my own internal light there seems to be this hollowness giving way to a morose emptiness. When I get feeling this way the words to an old familiar song kickstarts me and reminds me there really is much to be grateful for as these words call out to me,  "Count Your Many Blessings".  During Church services today I was struck by the reality of so many struggling to get through life. It struck me equally as hard that a simple thing act of a kind word or deed can sometimes make a world of difference in helping someone overcome their own moroseness, their own struggle within. Perhaps a bit of reflected light can help kindle a bit of warmth, a sense of hope that yes, tomorrow will arrive and it will be brighter than this night.