tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-638860907433377702024-02-18T22:58:27.522-08:00Transient Livesbinduhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13156291956967889455noreply@blogger.comBlogger111125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-63886090743337770.post-24539342661038101962016-02-07T13:05:00.000-08:002016-02-07T13:07:36.798-08:00LIKE A SHELL OUT OF WATER, AN INDIAN LOVES AMERICA BUT DREAMS OF HOME <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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(Published in the Community Voices Section of the Philly Inquirer in Sept 1999)<br />
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I was at the Fernbank Science museum in Atlanta recently, looking at an exquisite collection of seashells from oceans around the world, when on a pedestal proudly seated, I spied this gorgeous little shell from the shores of the Indian Ocean. It was one among many other gems from the same region, and as I looked at it, a tight lump of unexpected tears lodged in my throat.</div>
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It sat there in all its fragility, perhaps a little drier than it would have been in the salty Indian waters, its pink a little less glowing, but it still brought its unique charm to the assortment around it.</div>
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There I am! The thought was as unexpected as the tears. That is how I see myself, the difference being that I was transplanted by my own volition. But I imagined in it, and in me, the longing for the "Indian waters" still remains, and the special luster from wallowing in it is definitely lacking.</div>
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Having lived in the United States for about seven years, I naturally consider this country as a second home - one that I have allowed to change me in certain ways over time. I have never regretted my choice to come here. It is a privilege to be able to experience and compare two widely different cultures and to have the freedom to choose the aspects of each.</div>
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My mind has opened up to several ideas that I would never have encountered in the sheltered Indian environment. My interests and inspirations have expanded. I feel much less tied down by insignificant constraints, much more free to fly. This, undoubtedly, is the land of infinite possibilities.</div>
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Contradictory as it may seem, living in America also has opened several very precious Indian doors to me, making it easier to be the kind of Indian that I want to be. As graduate students, we worked in voluntary charitable organizations to raise several thousand dollars each year, to support the needy back home.</div>
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My exposure to Indian culture has reached higher levels in this country. Never in my wildest dreams while in India did I imagine that I would one day dine with musical legends like Hariprasad Chaurasia and Sivkumar Sharma, but it happened here.</div>
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Still, sometimes on rainy days, while I'm curled up in the quiet privacy of my "luxuriously" carpeted, air-conditioned, odor-free living room in Philadelphia with its view of the green lawns, my nostrils ache with longing for the musky odors of the Indian monsoon falling on the dirt-covered driveway and dusty palm fronds outside our noisy apartment back home.</div>
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That feeling of being incomplete is a friendly cloud that hovers around me like a shadow. It's the feeling of being a visitor in somebody else's manicured garden. It dims over time, but never quite goes away. Something as simple as the jasmine-like scent of honeysuckle on a jog though the park or an Indian soap opera (which I have never watched while in India) playing on the TV in the International Student Office on the university campus regularly triggers unexpected tears, much like the involuntary reaction to an onion! It is like a very private, stolen, cherished moment that leaves me feeling good.</div>
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I am a confusing mixture of emotions, values and priorities. I think most Indians who have moved away are. Or maybe it is something that descends on us after the childlike part of us has come full circle and found a comfortable routine after most of the exciting new experiences aren't new anymore. Then the heart longs for what it has left behind, for its first love, for everything Indian. And in its pounding will echo the ancient rhythms of the Indian Ocean.</div>
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Bindu Viswanathan</div>
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Ambler PA, 1999</div>
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binduhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13156291956967889455noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-63886090743337770.post-17453543776626578902011-04-29T14:34:00.000-07:002011-04-29T22:20:52.904-07:00My Art Shop on Fine Art America<div>Several of you had asked about the foster kittens from my previous post - thank you for your concern. Soon as they turned 8 weeks old, the kittens were put up for adoption, and I'm happy to say that they have all found good homes.</div><div><br /></div><div>I finally compiled some of my photographs and paintings and have set up a shop on <a href="http://fineartamerica.com/profiles/bindu-viswanathan.html">Fine Art America</a>. Please click on the link and visit my shop. If you would like to, you can buy prints and greeting cards of the art work there. Even if you don't plan to buy any, if you like any of the pieces, please leave me a comment or "recommend" the piece, so that it will increase the views of my work. Thank you!</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-oUtJfLkUz7CdPIUpR446D9OROSjLOp8mqzEhoNQEzb-Yyyk52iKAdP2KH5zXRyOz8cbktC9U9wXUPZ7PFuSTNvWQ2OL8LMlRnhEwWnJQHh5HV09bEFLiALiRyuyJZf8O8AkFmLJmtg/s1600/Bindu+Paintings+for+print.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-oUtJfLkUz7CdPIUpR446D9OROSjLOp8mqzEhoNQEzb-Yyyk52iKAdP2KH5zXRyOz8cbktC9U9wXUPZ7PFuSTNvWQ2OL8LMlRnhEwWnJQHh5HV09bEFLiALiRyuyJZf8O8AkFmLJmtg/s400/Bindu+Paintings+for+print.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5601127416457543474" /></a><br /><div><br /><div>If any of your friends are looking for this kind of art, could you also please recommend them to my shop? Thanks. :)</div><div><br /></div><div>We had a short spring here in Austin, with hardly any bluebonnets. I look back at <a href="http://transientlives.blogspot.com/2010_04_01_archive.html">my post from last April</a> and am amazed at how beautiful it was. There has been little rain this year, and hardly any color. The heat of summer is setting in now. I hope you had a colorful spring, and have a wonderful summer.<br /><div><br /></div></div></div>binduhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13156291956967889455noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-63886090743337770.post-78229965017701041342010-11-16T10:06:00.001-08:002010-11-16T12:16:19.663-08:00Fostering furry babiesIt has been a long time since my past post ... am back with a resolution to be more regular. One thing (or rather five!) that has been taking center stage at home is this litter of five kittens that we have been fostering for a month now. <a href="http://www.austinpetsalive.org/">Austin Pets Alive </a>rescues dogs and cats, including those in line for euthanasia at the shelter, and tries to get them adopted over time. In order to make room for more animals, they send little baby animals to fosters who care for them until they are old enough to be spayed/neutered and offered for adoption.<br /><br />These babies came to us when they were 2 weeks old. Three black kittens, all female, and two tuxedo kittens, one male and one female. All five of the same litter.<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitrhHvTvWPyTGZwvXKDgKkrNXldZhVuIljbkATq6mbuB1t_PTIBWbMhGr7S1X2MJAff7R4TuaLCU23COfmdi8wx1-9iHTQkpi-p9RhdfFcVMyDBhWtFfcp2ALa-r7e5Y9AJFUbKQk2jA/s1600/DSC_0084.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 254px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5540213270037701474" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitrhHvTvWPyTGZwvXKDgKkrNXldZhVuIljbkATq6mbuB1t_PTIBWbMhGr7S1X2MJAff7R4TuaLCU23COfmdi8wx1-9iHTQkpi-p9RhdfFcVMyDBhWtFfcp2ALa-r7e5Y9AJFUbKQk2jA/s400/DSC_0084.JPG" /></a><br /><br />At two weeks they had to be bottle fed every couple of hours. They all lived in our cat carrier, sleeping in a tight bundle of arms, legs, tails and whiskers over a heated pad and towels. They would start squealing as soon as we entered the room, and would tumble out of the carrier, groping wildly for the bottle.<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhntLi6gV5qqEtr3XIp0dNyKlBu91Z7NwfuPuXd5yc5ZR3KoRIxfu4dkSZff0jzHgoFXX1lUI9jl8Hwg3pXFazWIq8xda3ug6Lp6ma-fKvkLgUgE4iVjAo3qOQN7v8AU1iDqljhWqi_YA/s1600/DSC_0073.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 361px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5540213248951671154" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhntLi6gV5qqEtr3XIp0dNyKlBu91Z7NwfuPuXd5yc5ZR3KoRIxfu4dkSZff0jzHgoFXX1lUI9jl8Hwg3pXFazWIq8xda3ug6Lp6ma-fKvkLgUgE4iVjAo3qOQN7v8AU1iDqljhWqi_YA/s400/DSC_0073.JPG" /></a> </div><div></div><div>Once they finished eating, they had to be "stimulated", since they didn't know how to go to the bathroom on their own. Small wet wipes wiping their rear would feel like mom licking them to teach them how to do it, and all of them would deposit the required treasures on cue.</div><div><br /><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioK_O20uBZMAi_vy2l49F7iJyTJ-frIXBLD4Ba05NyiJ9x3S8UvaJ9CKXIwGga1BCFjLezhPHOtukPiUodfVPNljRlYtk20qib_4qOJ_v8LkJY6hKwxxjSR0oaHFQ6zW0P7NbjJCk9QQ/s1600/DSC_0067.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 272px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5540213239433098434" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioK_O20uBZMAi_vy2l49F7iJyTJ-frIXBLD4Ba05NyiJ9x3S8UvaJ9CKXIwGga1BCFjLezhPHOtukPiUodfVPNljRlYtk20qib_4qOJ_v8LkJY6hKwxxjSR0oaHFQ6zW0P7NbjJCk9QQ/s400/DSC_0067.JPG" /></a><br />They also had to be weighed to make sure they were growing at the correct rate. This was easier said than done. They refused to sit in the container, and would fall out as soon as we placed them on the scale. What worked in the end was a small cardboard box into which we would pack the kitten for a few seconds while we weighed them. They all weighed around 200-250 gms when they arrived.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_pSRY7WAsDrkdvKGhQBoHKRGfYpcwJldmoDVwj7en0wKZAwS9fWyQU_1pxjy6Y73bkS73VT0trt7104Za9j5K3L4oBdkCfFjoCVlLH68bAHxLyH252hsF5JYK8m2h_Dx4aXOw0mdlVw/s1600/DSC_0049.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 289px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5540213180918107970" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_pSRY7WAsDrkdvKGhQBoHKRGfYpcwJldmoDVwj7en0wKZAwS9fWyQU_1pxjy6Y73bkS73VT0trt7104Za9j5K3L4oBdkCfFjoCVlLH68bAHxLyH252hsF5JYK8m2h_Dx4aXOw0mdlVw/s400/DSC_0049.JPG" /></a><br />Now they are close to 950 gms, and are boisterous little rascals. They live in the bathroom upstairs, and are constantly at work, demolishing what they can of what ever is in there. They come out to another room several times a day to play, and flit about with extremely short attention spans, play-fighting, chewing everything in sight, and running around at top speed.</div><div><br /></div><div></div><div>Don't be fooled by these innocent little faces. They are naughty little devils that will entertain you for hours together, as long as you keep your arms and legs out of line or their razor sharp claws will slice you open. :)<br /><br /><div>This is Annie, the runt of the litter. She was always a fussy eater, and needs special attention because she doesn't believe in wasting time eating. She is super active though, and if there is a tussle going on, she is sure to be in the center of it.<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO-2KWtVQW4vYnXBEAk5L4DfdbLFLwQ6y3vX1VgRyX-SA1MFwWjLjsyKMKXuckJ484_lqA_AIXJRYv1kSFrxA1Xx3d70xjGzZkbuQ9oHJZl5qtJTVmTst-osjS9Pv13JIj8eZX9hUxKg/s1600/Annie-Oct23-1.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5540212988688130770" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO-2KWtVQW4vYnXBEAk5L4DfdbLFLwQ6y3vX1VgRyX-SA1MFwWjLjsyKMKXuckJ484_lqA_AIXJRYv1kSFrxA1Xx3d70xjGzZkbuQ9oHJZl5qtJTVmTst-osjS9Pv13JIj8eZX9hUxKg/s400/Annie-Oct23-1.JPG" /></a><br />Andy is the lone boy in this litter, and has a hard time keeping up with his five bratty sisters. He is growing bigger now, and is also very active and playful. He is always ready for a cuddle though, and will lie on his side quietly if you start to pet him.<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu1QVUNvVz5DgsD5ncLlWOjfi1OEa-OVND0yAmmzmWj-yJ9VyIcSlFrZLP7cw0bwLko8ok10jT1jsYSHyTDq53bzK48Re_lgDxHUHyL70-8lpL6qrmwIGe8EMhHnlowWaZkByvi7IMXQ/s1600/Andy-Oct23-4.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5540212985055217010" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu1QVUNvVz5DgsD5ncLlWOjfi1OEa-OVND0yAmmzmWj-yJ9VyIcSlFrZLP7cw0bwLko8ok10jT1jsYSHyTDq53bzK48Re_lgDxHUHyL70-8lpL6qrmwIGe8EMhHnlowWaZkByvi7IMXQ/s400/Andy-Oct23-4.JPG" /></a><br />Amelia is the only long-haired kitten in this litter, and is adorable and soft. She is extemely playful, and it's hard to put her down because she is so easy to fall in love with. She goes on and on like an energizer bunny, but when she's tired, she will lie down and fall asleep in the middle of the action.<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnbcUNu8iLCUkh9ZVL_pQ9NbxdJZjzbur8I2M-EzKPcFegrqR_b8zVoHARcsXIBnh0AolcasDs_9co_-M46W-Rz6GV9xoNW20bCbj_YhCYDttzf3tfcMybNeqsmL129X86cEOfyBpv0Q/s1600/Amelia-Oct23-3.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5540212983302676306" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnbcUNu8iLCUkh9ZVL_pQ9NbxdJZjzbur8I2M-EzKPcFegrqR_b8zVoHARcsXIBnh0AolcasDs_9co_-M46W-Rz6GV9xoNW20bCbj_YhCYDttzf3tfcMybNeqsmL129X86cEOfyBpv0Q/s400/Amelia-Oct23-3.JPG" /></a><br />Allie is the other tuxedo kitten. She has the prettiest pink lips ever, so we call her sweet lips. She is a little scared of loud noises and sudden movements, but has to keep up with her rowdy siblings to survive. She is the prettiest kitten in this litter, and is sure to find a family soon.<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-gc0UvCGEwnBf1RsX7PvE-mZuPEHKPusZfVKnLKmfNfDFvUHq08aJ_jofruBcXi3ruCm1t3NeSf7WsZ83vxYIsc_-bZHqIu5tdojqMywAJkJ9ODfLcbe5MrVXe1XVcI5DsUO8n62Knw/s1600/Allie-Oct23-5.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 284px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5540212973578290898" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-gc0UvCGEwnBf1RsX7PvE-mZuPEHKPusZfVKnLKmfNfDFvUHq08aJ_jofruBcXi3ruCm1t3NeSf7WsZ83vxYIsc_-bZHqIu5tdojqMywAJkJ9ODfLcbe5MrVXe1XVcI5DsUO8n62Knw/s400/Allie-Oct23-5.JPG" /></a><br />Addie is a little quieter than her siblings and loves to be cuddled, and will attach herself to you if she knows you might pet her.<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSXkVyA_JhunMr3K79_iJIMVOWaY1_CcuEO4sCzRPWROKhfoAU0sbiBAJvjjxSvgV_QI0YChCP35z5NKXsrNaCDEMk7A0hbLIuxqhlk4twej_BvmdLnrf2llhMM9zhcRO185dAzzYg9A/s1600/Addie1.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 309px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5540212964506366242" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSXkVyA_JhunMr3K79_iJIMVOWaY1_CcuEO4sCzRPWROKhfoAU0sbiBAJvjjxSvgV_QI0YChCP35z5NKXsrNaCDEMk7A0hbLIuxqhlk4twej_BvmdLnrf2llhMM9zhcRO185dAzzYg9A/s400/Addie1.jpg" /></a><br />We are hoping these sweet kittens find adoptive families soon and go to good, loving homes. But for now, they are our therapy kittens, for just a few minutes sitting with them drains away all the stress of the day. <div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlZGwZdPQukZQTCSt8nHJvRF7gYaAlvQwZToBYTW9Rv68qSmgOs_kFc_RSL498zD-lcHFgC29S16RXo0SWQl2bgEkP-bwVv0S-1irwZjqY3jzONliHMGDwIBXHHdSehN3csX_lqILnTQ/s1600/Addie1.jpg"></a></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>binduhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13156291956967889455noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-63886090743337770.post-89087731517911083442010-05-11T17:00:00.000-07:002010-05-11T17:38:43.773-07:00Peacocks in Austin's Rescue ZooI don't usually like to go to zoos, but the Austin zoo is an exception. That is because it is a rescue zoo and sanctuary.<div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHy54d6H6l0FM_T5vtuGZWbo6rjgCVPJ-qpzXBVeqaY7S_ddAY2-jA_6v0tyaFpUwjsdfohzaG6_ap17ApH8DQab_UpA7PzbVC2TVJD2nJSjKieI99opsgGvgebVMnXnlvPcm87oIqGw/s1600/DSC_0120.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 237px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHy54d6H6l0FM_T5vtuGZWbo6rjgCVPJ-qpzXBVeqaY7S_ddAY2-jA_6v0tyaFpUwjsdfohzaG6_ap17ApH8DQab_UpA7PzbVC2TVJD2nJSjKieI99opsgGvgebVMnXnlvPcm87oIqGw/s400/DSC_0120.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470167265766141202" /></a><br /><div>Last weekend while we were there, I was totally captivated by the peacocks and peahens that wander about freely within the zoo, hopping in and out of other enclosures at will.</div></div><br /><br /><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1c4C_kJ5BZwE-VM4tEcx95YiUdzA-fAYQB7a1bwlY16M7spJQcnfvIWdueqhyYgQvgL_ozOUkORIeWFCt5fnN71bT-BSkgVx8lugfKJVe7sQkeDLHJdOZWKRhh4MWk-2YLpftLrFAQQ/s1600/DSC_0047a.JPG"><img style="text-align: left;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 343px; height: 400px; " src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1c4C_kJ5BZwE-VM4tEcx95YiUdzA-fAYQB7a1bwlY16M7spJQcnfvIWdueqhyYgQvgL_ozOUkORIeWFCt5fnN71bT-BSkgVx8lugfKJVe7sQkeDLHJdOZWKRhh4MWk-2YLpftLrFAQQ/s400/DSC_0047a.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470167509771381042" /></a></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCATjdacLWVikiYQRDlFAC11Nh-D1Y-vH3Apl6qSkNbRvOpk_O2-3asg7bCV35kAK6HZE2XiY6w113VSuV76cUIzPgwnrH6RoWr0X9BC4I5TN5mbhbWTNhNHrESlJk8BHkcK5UJwooRQ/s1600/DSC_0050.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCATjdacLWVikiYQRDlFAC11Nh-D1Y-vH3Apl6qSkNbRvOpk_O2-3asg7bCV35kAK6HZE2XiY6w113VSuV76cUIzPgwnrH6RoWr0X9BC4I5TN5mbhbWTNhNHrESlJk8BHkcK5UJwooRQ/s400/DSC_0050.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470167504377912370" /></a><br /><div>I have seen several peacocks in India and here in the US, but I am always still awed by the extreme ostentatiousness of their plumage. How complex the combination of colors are! I wonder if they know how striking their appearance is.</div><div><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4ciyQkzUc-ko-bjnUR7x6d-fZe544_iCWWZa1-2_MkfE99zjAW969AvEGjGdKB73ERZLI99aM9ewiwB-ZI5CORMEsE0nvGPx3q2o_YHYXk7v7B1a12Ws10XmsxPw2BwyKA7UFvF6Lew/s1600/DSC_0049.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 256px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4ciyQkzUc-ko-bjnUR7x6d-fZe544_iCWWZa1-2_MkfE99zjAW969AvEGjGdKB73ERZLI99aM9ewiwB-ZI5CORMEsE0nvGPx3q2o_YHYXk7v7B1a12Ws10XmsxPw2BwyKA7UFvF6Lew/s400/DSC_0049.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470167508025631538" /></a><br /></div><div>They must be pretty used to the attention they get, because they pretty much ignored me as I stalked them with my camera.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM0yssjca7IDozFOiSfmhvH7FNz2svZRgQJOSiyWC-Ta5y0wJ9KpqaB1KrQ3RoOM3sIQZIzWiFy07r66TsD89YIGs8lCTDJTjYdpJVQUGvg9r0bghxb7eyMQC1PFMW6oWLnO02chOy3g/s1600/DSC_0076.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM0yssjca7IDozFOiSfmhvH7FNz2svZRgQJOSiyWC-Ta5y0wJ9KpqaB1KrQ3RoOM3sIQZIzWiFy07r66TsD89YIGs8lCTDJTjYdpJVQUGvg9r0bghxb7eyMQC1PFMW6oWLnO02chOy3g/s400/DSC_0076.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470176335257600834" /></a><br /></div><div>As the sun started to go down, many of them suddenly launched into this cacophony of screams and calls ...</div><div><br /></div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjktXqsPZMBtbHr58NiEe7vswfvY3glF9dumNsWrLN54QGTP3_I32qJ_098S5PtYeUfPijckmRsck89Hkjw3taT5WP1AjszfkhQVWEtnGfpG-M4YY-ZhHAjuIkqHgTEHGlJPEalbvYaYA/s1600/DSC_0079.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 278px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjktXqsPZMBtbHr58NiEe7vswfvY3glF9dumNsWrLN54QGTP3_I32qJ_098S5PtYeUfPijckmRsck89Hkjw3taT5WP1AjszfkhQVWEtnGfpG-M4YY-ZhHAjuIkqHgTEHGlJPEalbvYaYA/s400/DSC_0079.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470176028699087682" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaXhvOzbjY07U5OymMzqv3zPJUU1nsAVCbwvpx8_L5P4xNHg9sTarH-VWgm0Vma9jIeajuvqbAadwz-vKtXk8oa43kD003UgGVxB7v9Bw7Rz-89dVcxNRE1ucHj0MoDGg4Ibyek-X4tg/s1600/DSC_0082.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 257px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaXhvOzbjY07U5OymMzqv3zPJUU1nsAVCbwvpx8_L5P4xNHg9sTarH-VWgm0Vma9jIeajuvqbAadwz-vKtXk8oa43kD003UgGVxB7v9Bw7Rz-89dVcxNRE1ucHj0MoDGg4Ibyek-X4tg/s400/DSC_0082.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470167290233972882" /></a><br /></div><div>... and fanned out their feathers as they walked about with heads held high.</div><div><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiJZTnk5xQ4p3YiwWzT-bWHKmFluY2FkpdC70_sGKPOn4cnTOSVPxdwfCqezM9g1El3NEOIisnUYSsPHoYmOHJztsSgvPX138MmG2-WaOKqxMk_l2GCi47w0nIQyeUP4I5VWDWSNJI0w/s1600/DSC_0090.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 247px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiJZTnk5xQ4p3YiwWzT-bWHKmFluY2FkpdC70_sGKPOn4cnTOSVPxdwfCqezM9g1El3NEOIisnUYSsPHoYmOHJztsSgvPX138MmG2-WaOKqxMk_l2GCi47w0nIQyeUP4I5VWDWSNJI0w/s400/DSC_0090.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470174945989739522" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt6xdNsDVpQBF3e-w1w79bfv-OK5U0odwiFjjcj-gnieVeRmqrBl-TTJq9ihJgSpYbbnWMVHoyxdqg4sI4y7oHuuPUyZ1RmaBWlXnCXu6bsYBSV1cOkqRGeotmKTmJ2lmUrqTy2PRdDg/s1600/DSC_0092.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 276px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt6xdNsDVpQBF3e-w1w79bfv-OK5U0odwiFjjcj-gnieVeRmqrBl-TTJq9ihJgSpYbbnWMVHoyxdqg4sI4y7oHuuPUyZ1RmaBWlXnCXu6bsYBSV1cOkqRGeotmKTmJ2lmUrqTy2PRdDg/s400/DSC_0092.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470175535372392434" /></a><br />Of course, the lady looked pretty unimpressed. I wish she hadn't been sitting against those trees, or I could've got a better picture of her.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga3PDP9BxvDkRnaJxJlilAM0_lg-6ttGfzLJxPIiFbe7Nbi_IWMXu1x0HPe11J3hRxfG8YZ__sP8DuKBHtFfg89K0xy8RZP-snAyGTTsKZOAxX48W0Cv0d-LOVvHMgy6dqXuaKQpzzpQ/s1600/DSC_0083.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 192px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga3PDP9BxvDkRnaJxJlilAM0_lg-6ttGfzLJxPIiFbe7Nbi_IWMXu1x0HPe11J3hRxfG8YZ__sP8DuKBHtFfg89K0xy8RZP-snAyGTTsKZOAxX48W0Cv0d-LOVvHMgy6dqXuaKQpzzpQ/s400/DSC_0083.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470175775655316722" /></a><br />I had a collection of peacock feathers as a kid in India, and remember well how soft and silky the shiny feathers are.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzIRHCq5_mxGR2vY6Q2fAW9AYy50vi5K-DF7nfjGfBHEbn8DQFXSwh7Uo6ndXg8O-BG1uaaWKotEz_4mIsUu3i8DSuLAfJMl2YIEVNrejU3vXE4xC-JMm4M0_ROLmWHAPJoZsRy4LELw/s1600/DSC_0033.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 157px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzIRHCq5_mxGR2vY6Q2fAW9AYy50vi5K-DF7nfjGfBHEbn8DQFXSwh7Uo6ndXg8O-BG1uaaWKotEz_4mIsUu3i8DSuLAfJMl2YIEVNrejU3vXE4xC-JMm4M0_ROLmWHAPJoZsRy4LELw/s400/DSC_0033.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470167565387472626" /></a><br />The weather is turning warm here, but the wildflowers still linger. Spring has taken its time here this year. Wishing you a colorful week, until next time ...</div><div><br /></div>binduhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13156291956967889455noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-63886090743337770.post-78894294245060284042010-04-02T15:21:00.000-07:002010-04-02T15:52:24.670-07:00It's wildflower season in Austin!<div><div style="text-align: left; ">It's been almost three months since my last post, and I've been trying to get motivated to start blogging again. And spring in Austin brought me the motivation I was looking for! It's been a very wet winter here, with lots and lots of rain. Maybe as a result, the roadsides are completely bursting with color now - it's wildflower season in Austin!</div><div style="text-align: left; "><br /></div><div><br /></div></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRpMCOGJeKPZVvQQWjict_qdQx1rWl8DUITvp8BfGRQe9sziJSp1W3mOos5YOYc1G1vRblgB4hVnyuM0RmYzDbTzRN1TTXmDmtMe7sZGtEB2TIZnTgGQBTCmH8D-XAL4Fhn7P8CnI-WQ/s1600/DSC_0035.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 343px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRpMCOGJeKPZVvQQWjict_qdQx1rWl8DUITvp8BfGRQe9sziJSp1W3mOos5YOYc1G1vRblgB4hVnyuM0RmYzDbTzRN1TTXmDmtMe7sZGtEB2TIZnTgGQBTCmH8D-XAL4Fhn7P8CnI-WQ/s400/DSC_0035.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5455673036576798306" /></a><br /><div>Carpeting the grassy slopes on the sides of the road is the Texas state flower - the blue bonnet. Dotting the fresh green foliage everywhere are its striking blue petals with pearl-like white tips. To add to the splash of color, there is the bright orange Texas paintbrush - its flower is actually small and yellow, but more prominent are its flame-orange bracts.</div><div><br /><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNXpf_3qEthSmTe1-ESLslZVkbW6cpn5AUDDwUHTxDZ1Sg9VIB7ZI2zvnGAwMZD4J1aUjhVkGfsI3JfEIHnKWdYNy3yLRENnD3zFrtK036ENUf1_X2SLCLkoxRd5qymWc5nKAeduEe1w/s1600/DSC_0022.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 253px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNXpf_3qEthSmTe1-ESLslZVkbW6cpn5AUDDwUHTxDZ1Sg9VIB7ZI2zvnGAwMZD4J1aUjhVkGfsI3JfEIHnKWdYNy3yLRENnD3zFrtK036ENUf1_X2SLCLkoxRd5qymWc5nKAeduEe1w/s400/DSC_0022.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5455672959433913842" /></a><br /></div><div>This highway runs outside our subdivision and I've been seeing this vision along the roadside all week as I've driven by. Today, finally, I took my camera, got off the road and took some pictures. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXGF0ZAPViB__2rRuPD_vTde5_DFdnbLdOJ94aYpngJI6jmMBQGtAcXksssilgDRNIwNdSvyZanZQIyHHRnI06pFyGP16wxftWaPYgI7vWLg1rmvgUVkkyLnCJRgqGbncFe7DPh26wew/s1600/DSC_0047.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 268px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXGF0ZAPViB__2rRuPD_vTde5_DFdnbLdOJ94aYpngJI6jmMBQGtAcXksssilgDRNIwNdSvyZanZQIyHHRnI06pFyGP16wxftWaPYgI7vWLg1rmvgUVkkyLnCJRgqGbncFe7DPh26wew/s400/DSC_0047.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5455672785413835282" /></a><br /></div><div>Sitting amongst the flowers, I noticed hundreds of tinier flowers, in yellow, magenta and pink, in addition to the blue bonnets and paintbrush that are visible from a distance. The fragrance there was out of this world. I really didn't want to leave.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh1yDubsILQbAPbuLOkM0l8rsCauckrdYbGZMfum5Fihi2NY8DJzGaPVGpa8sBQIKfDMZWAtDXFwTDZ82ROC3OME2jrpnKd5ekRG40mmjnO4zQzNyaN8VhygH6TR7gL10g4roH08H6_A/s1600/DSC_0024.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 243px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh1yDubsILQbAPbuLOkM0l8rsCauckrdYbGZMfum5Fihi2NY8DJzGaPVGpa8sBQIKfDMZWAtDXFwTDZ82ROC3OME2jrpnKd5ekRG40mmjnO4zQzNyaN8VhygH6TR7gL10g4roH08H6_A/s400/DSC_0024.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5455672722507765778" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">Spring is so fleeting in Austin ... all this will melt away soon and the dreaded Texas heat will soon be in place. I guess such is life ... But for now, I am breathing deeply and savoring this beautiful season in Austin.</div></div></div></div>binduhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13156291956967889455noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-63886090743337770.post-43481403708553165942009-12-29T21:15:00.000-08:002009-12-29T21:50:47.033-08:00The Best Walk in AustinI do believe I live in one of the prettiest parts of Texas. For just a street away from ours is a greenbelt that extends for miles and miles into the center of Austin. This greenbelt was the main attraction that convinced us that we were choosing the correct house to live in. And it has certainly not disappointed.<br /><br />A short walk from home brings us to a little stream that often completely dries up during hot summer months. So most of the time we can skip over the rocks and cross over into the greenbelt and start our hike. It has been raining heavily in Austin this winter though, and so the little stream is now a swelling river! We could still have waded across, but we took a longer, drier route into the greenbelt some days ago.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJCRB0wIZkPsnvZmkTRpxl4BQZQjr9sBz6aNz8UlBTZyEa_0Rnrn8y9G4qPGNHFlOmPBBmQ_ySngQQIKcAxoWKdvD0uSqHw3oh2OoW4IoPr1ESEu0QSKbuFGdug4x43T3qtPk1z3f4tw/s1600-h/DSC_0200.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 279px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJCRB0wIZkPsnvZmkTRpxl4BQZQjr9sBz6aNz8UlBTZyEa_0Rnrn8y9G4qPGNHFlOmPBBmQ_ySngQQIKcAxoWKdvD0uSqHw3oh2OoW4IoPr1ESEu0QSKbuFGdug4x43T3qtPk1z3f4tw/s400/DSC_0200.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5420894318924665746" border="0" /></a><br />A short distance down the trail there is a "waterfall". There is never much water here, and though the pool below the fall has always had at least a little water, it's usually dry enough to sit on the rocks above and watch the pool. So imagine our surprise when we saw this pretty waterfall that completely stopped us from crossing!<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpedvbp4aRO9wW1GFJTyABRq6sESSATS6zP_Vaw1ve_19z2WH4fmtCHTXxsa5eBJq2VdfnLnnlkZhKS-47Yz0b-0kksVAGfC6N5Mogo5skGr4W86YglArqfQqXwl9PlA0H6Gf8gJdx2g/s1600-h/DSC_0180.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 268px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpedvbp4aRO9wW1GFJTyABRq6sESSATS6zP_Vaw1ve_19z2WH4fmtCHTXxsa5eBJq2VdfnLnnlkZhKS-47Yz0b-0kksVAGfC6N5Mogo5skGr4W86YglArqfQqXwl9PlA0H6Gf8gJdx2g/s400/DSC_0180.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5420894329568930130" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgfGSnbb-9CEBPGttba1MuGk6u-Iwxp0SbX56CQASIPc4uGcxCSPbFxKIQbaCR9eai-KtdIsHmJJ5eHGa7gWbAW1_kEZZ7sVJ8JP9vQVkYqRA0HGGDAXDX1xCPDBft2-VQpq1zmGOmEw/s1600-h/DSC_0185.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgfGSnbb-9CEBPGttba1MuGk6u-Iwxp0SbX56CQASIPc4uGcxCSPbFxKIQbaCR9eai-KtdIsHmJJ5eHGa7gWbAW1_kEZZ7sVJ8JP9vQVkYqRA0HGGDAXDX1xCPDBft2-VQpq1zmGOmEw/s400/DSC_0185.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5420894324577257842" border="0" /></a><br />This beautiful greenbelt has a network of trails where one can easily get lost. So there is always another route that we can take if there's a problem with one of them. Instead of crossing over the fall as we usually do, we continued on this side of the stream and followed the trail further.<br /><br />We were in the shade, but the setting sun lit up the trees across the stream from us, and their reflection in the still water was breathtaking.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTIu4fPSWtUQJtDvXZlSeK1AI0Wp3hfsA7sXVWo7G6mbGmTNBPhVrmtJEmWZvXaBWYTfY2P-wdmoq0LzItezV1T6TZOeftO0mVLzpJF9cAQ9HfPwDe1gOP33uPKbpqT-TALBlGlcqcWQ/s1600-h/DSC_0083.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 288px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTIu4fPSWtUQJtDvXZlSeK1AI0Wp3hfsA7sXVWo7G6mbGmTNBPhVrmtJEmWZvXaBWYTfY2P-wdmoq0LzItezV1T6TZOeftO0mVLzpJF9cAQ9HfPwDe1gOP33uPKbpqT-TALBlGlcqcWQ/s400/DSC_0083.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5420894863331157986" border="0" /></a><br />We soon came to a second, more shallow waterfall where the water going over the smooth rock sheets was transparent as glass, then exploded like crystal as it fell on the rocks below.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEzGvTQx1dmSfwY41W8MUgLBYPFlNnYRbrqDz-Bz-Y1fMeVmYmGH7IhdwTr9-03PdwBn03b05HfI6Ds12lSovP5hsG8mvRqR-CrwvcAE8BViAIXv9V0QVeL_ub1QjzrXb6NXPuvVAkNA/s1600-h/DSC_0096.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 259px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEzGvTQx1dmSfwY41W8MUgLBYPFlNnYRbrqDz-Bz-Y1fMeVmYmGH7IhdwTr9-03PdwBn03b05HfI6Ds12lSovP5hsG8mvRqR-CrwvcAE8BViAIXv9V0QVeL_ub1QjzrXb6NXPuvVAkNA/s400/DSC_0096.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5420894859243265698" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhULA2KU8Qv6dtNGlo8MWSUuBZVtE_s5D3CXejfOE4igmRRUj_kcBPHW2NAGx5gYCk1NTcVfWHyOULVra7zU4UCfS0DkQv2MW9dBdts320PJDAjg1rf4-7IQUH6n654vRemiCHAA2e1Q/s1600-h/DSC_0099.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 176px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhULA2KU8Qv6dtNGlo8MWSUuBZVtE_s5D3CXejfOE4igmRRUj_kcBPHW2NAGx5gYCk1NTcVfWHyOULVra7zU4UCfS0DkQv2MW9dBdts320PJDAjg1rf4-7IQUH6n654vRemiCHAA2e1Q/s400/DSC_0099.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5420894743692861682" border="0" /></a><br />We continued on the trail, and followed the sound of the water falling as it tripped over gnarled tree roots exposed by the force of the stream.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho8XvQgflvXyzw4jhGEwjfaWR3Vax4Ace2y3zAPO-37yPVuycPK5TFBUIIsrxCy7-S2htBCuIzUwgDrniCMut_yEfZwrcPkeZH0qVvEV_MNeudEOIwcwoBo10XRmfwj9QM0JMy16ArOQ/s1600-h/DSC_0115.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 268px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho8XvQgflvXyzw4jhGEwjfaWR3Vax4Ace2y3zAPO-37yPVuycPK5TFBUIIsrxCy7-S2htBCuIzUwgDrniCMut_yEfZwrcPkeZH0qVvEV_MNeudEOIwcwoBo10XRmfwj9QM0JMy16ArOQ/s400/DSC_0115.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5420894734582008498" border="0" /></a><br />Further along, the setting sun lit up the foliage and its reflection marked the water like liquid gold.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFhwSOxqUaJjIcnKsSIOM1xOtfLV6oceBNoamDnhnoKA7zJKlxuMIgD6mG4vgDcp2WJwwRYSL1-KCPPfABUTv-BmPcG71B6TTCMN4M6sodefRLFJwO5lxXoz9UVVxvEPIAfdGCRO2M8w/s1600-h/DSC_0130.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 264px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFhwSOxqUaJjIcnKsSIOM1xOtfLV6oceBNoamDnhnoKA7zJKlxuMIgD6mG4vgDcp2WJwwRYSL1-KCPPfABUTv-BmPcG71B6TTCMN4M6sodefRLFJwO5lxXoz9UVVxvEPIAfdGCRO2M8w/s400/DSC_0130.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5420894731292944258" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf_KmyvbMIsIlkN1zujR10v24NOLPUnasdWnfLAoQ1CMcbybG41Z6IoipggmBfKsqcJ4D3PFKdzrWG-ITbQrB46Xr2kWUL-ZXJpz6-6lAgmnclW9Gypk8-QbuzY8qVwKk_ietDLa4-qw/s1600-h/DSC_0132.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 268px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf_KmyvbMIsIlkN1zujR10v24NOLPUnasdWnfLAoQ1CMcbybG41Z6IoipggmBfKsqcJ4D3PFKdzrWG-ITbQrB46Xr2kWUL-ZXJpz6-6lAgmnclW9Gypk8-QbuzY8qVwKk_ietDLa4-qw/s400/DSC_0132.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5420894725049199554" border="0" /></a><br />We had by then walked for an hour and a half, following the stream, and the sound of the water falling.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbc24sPqJIMQXeJbcyLJ3JhlLWgkqt0qk6rVpwFJAUo2vAHXrSaYFO4q7y7ypt-KFwOb9_fofPWrwW5TeA8yQVQrOGNJLisFcS_HKjRk64D6t2CQtGasCHQn1yP2DCdDtH2mWvoUmvxQ/s1600-h/DSC_0142.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 268px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbc24sPqJIMQXeJbcyLJ3JhlLWgkqt0qk6rVpwFJAUo2vAHXrSaYFO4q7y7ypt-KFwOb9_fofPWrwW5TeA8yQVQrOGNJLisFcS_HKjRk64D6t2CQtGasCHQn1yP2DCdDtH2mWvoUmvxQ/s400/DSC_0142.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5420894336318775842" border="0" /></a><br />It was getting dark, and so we stopped at this point where there was a deep, clear pool of water beneath us, and flat rocks along the stream. A perfect campsite ... and so close to home! Much as we wanted to continue along this endless trail, we decided to stop since it was rapidly getting dark. As we headed back home, we decided we would be back here to camp.<br /><br />Three hours of walking in the crisp, cool air, listening to the gurgling sounds of water ... could there be anything more serene?<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDH19jINDpFdpH3eNeNTZCnshA5EWkIwunTkH_tCOpJlYXLw-aAi2teHeVjzjJaJkPXxof4GBHSnlyV1W9Px6q7NE4l5HFQU0fV-UG-oPnSJYsoPtvIRmT6e-XTgx7U0NwZDQP0rueRw/s1600-h/DSC_0151.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 268px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDH19jINDpFdpH3eNeNTZCnshA5EWkIwunTkH_tCOpJlYXLw-aAi2teHeVjzjJaJkPXxof4GBHSnlyV1W9Px6q7NE4l5HFQU0fV-UG-oPnSJYsoPtvIRmT6e-XTgx7U0NwZDQP0rueRw/s400/DSC_0151.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5420894331696664818" border="0" /></a><br />As this year ends and a new one begins, I wish for you (and for me) a world filled with peace, and serene, quiet moments of delightful contemplation. Happy New Year!binduhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13156291956967889455noreply@blogger.com29tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-63886090743337770.post-25282637586925565202009-12-11T09:46:00.000-08:002009-12-23T16:10:30.022-08:00Goddess IIAbout a year ago I had posted a picture of a painting that I made of the Goddess Kali. She is a powerful and ferocious Goddess in Hinduism, and is worshiped as the destroyer of evil. Goddesses are usually displayed as beautiful, soft and feminine, but Kali is the embodiment of all that is powerful within us, and I like her portrayal as a warrior - one who will fight evil and destroy it.<br /><br />My plan was to make a series of three Goddesses in this partial-Madhubani style. Kali was my first choice since her portrayal is so dramatic and interesting. She stands on her consort, Lord Shiva, holds in her hand the severed head of one of the villians she has killed, sits on a tigress and holds in her hands all sorts of weapons. Here's that painting again -<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8rCeBA31IISxWgWYTeLrvET1z8o8sLQukrLoGOjiXeKPuP_AW5SqsGaCEetSCxpaL4n9kIcj3ZnRMrNqTqS2ZwqKwDQVUz2DpaBZgTwS9Ck5QNKNNw3nj-rJav5EayBs-xSUj4HIXyg/s1600-h/a2.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 225px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8rCeBA31IISxWgWYTeLrvET1z8o8sLQukrLoGOjiXeKPuP_AW5SqsGaCEetSCxpaL4n9kIcj3ZnRMrNqTqS2ZwqKwDQVUz2DpaBZgTwS9Ck5QNKNNw3nj-rJav5EayBs-xSUj4HIXyg/s400/a2.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5414040162894026866" border="0" /></a><br />I recently finished the second Goddess painting, and chose Saraswati this time, the Goddess of learning. In complete contrast to Kali, Saraswati is serene and smiling, bestowing intelligence and wisdom on us. She is clad in white, and stands on a white lotus, with a peacock as her companion.<br /><br />It was a lot more difficult to make this painting interesting ... I struggled with the colors, and though I initially wanted to go with a completely different color scheme, I ended up again in the realm of earth colors, which I seem to always gravitate towards ...<br /><br />Here she is -<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhutty2dAVotq3WwPSZ7VScMaiu7sKfEen2maQ9Xe-hYKZTtcKB92-zUsyd3ewM8fjDJVhYFg8wceIvKiM4q07X5SsqZ9QCPy1rWKlvq95rT1ZzjZVNaNG3ePr-YcU_0enSA4FUsb6dLA/s1600-h/a1.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 206px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhutty2dAVotq3WwPSZ7VScMaiu7sKfEen2maQ9Xe-hYKZTtcKB92-zUsyd3ewM8fjDJVhYFg8wceIvKiM4q07X5SsqZ9QCPy1rWKlvq95rT1ZzjZVNaNG3ePr-YcU_0enSA4FUsb6dLA/s400/a1.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5414040155790249090" border="0" /></a><br />I haven't decided on the next Goddess for this series. Am currently distracted with pottery, as you saw in my previous post. So it might be another year before I produce the 3rd Goddess!<br /><br />Have a great weekend.binduhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13156291956967889455noreply@blogger.com26tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-63886090743337770.post-62507359078007436512009-12-03T08:48:00.000-08:002009-12-03T09:02:26.469-08:00Experiments in Pottery - 1I took a pottery class this semester, and we are almost done for the year. The last time I took a class in pottery, it was a fully wheel-thrown, short class. I was also working full-time, so couldn't spend much time practicing.<br /><br />So I took a class again this semester. This time I mostly learned hand-building, and it was so much fun! Slab pots, coil pots, pinch pots and so on ...<br /><br />I did try one on the wheel to see if I remembered anything from the previous class several years ago. The result was yet another lopsided pot that I glazed a bright blue. :)<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs22cqRiXSJ61MCErFzyKfahkhuikmkCbyiJzcfncTraIYcbU1nfqo9sFgTvnhAYsJ0LIzg2FYZy897yROtzlI_L7wm5xNYRsjhQQef1l1MuOEryqJf40uZXJK2LZFImEgMewqYTAlCA/s1600-h/DSC_0023a.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 314px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs22cqRiXSJ61MCErFzyKfahkhuikmkCbyiJzcfncTraIYcbU1nfqo9sFgTvnhAYsJ0LIzg2FYZy897yROtzlI_L7wm5xNYRsjhQQef1l1MuOEryqJf40uZXJK2LZFImEgMewqYTAlCA/s400/DSC_0023a.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5411053205335556018" border="0" /></a><br />One of my first attempts at making a slab pot was this mug. The glazing left some uncovered spots, and I'm not sure how to fix that. So I won't be drinking tea from it as I'd hoped, but it will make a nice cactus-holder!<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQMgVbrvCgundb_EOOtqGZuky8hsuRcZhKtqbSa56g6IAP5hUlvsFG3gl-LNfsQFUl5LsWI-WrclTWZ7JdHCF4OJuqXmFymcBdnB8L7_mfLP03QF0xjX3vKB2JJmUOFVsaWiAB4LqkHA/s1600-h/DSC_0016a.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 317px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQMgVbrvCgundb_EOOtqGZuky8hsuRcZhKtqbSa56g6IAP5hUlvsFG3gl-LNfsQFUl5LsWI-WrclTWZ7JdHCF4OJuqXmFymcBdnB8L7_mfLP03QF0xjX3vKB2JJmUOFVsaWiAB4LqkHA/s400/DSC_0016a.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5411053204240524434" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5xfkS6mvM_P8_PimGrl00LV7YEMBWXUIEwisHTda8hKXiXX0jFsyTTeiryCfzMlmpxuNLuZSP6_TnivM6VJY5zmPf9uRmyxbBBwPUHZ6m0JgJf1R3bTotSDnWPxbmhU3LTfHe1LofHw/s1600-h/a3.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 327px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5xfkS6mvM_P8_PimGrl00LV7YEMBWXUIEwisHTda8hKXiXX0jFsyTTeiryCfzMlmpxuNLuZSP6_TnivM6VJY5zmPf9uRmyxbBBwPUHZ6m0JgJf1R3bTotSDnWPxbmhU3LTfHe1LofHw/s400/a3.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5411053076644891650" border="0" /></a><br />This coil pot I made just a couple weeks ago, and I think this is the one that turned out closest to what I wanted to do with it, so I quite like it. I've not quite decided what I'll do with it. It was going to be a fruit holder, but now I'm not sure.<br /><br />Before glazing -<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiGj25PV7C0QcOO_cuyBDirfSB4tkH0pWsdPo9PZ4bvdd-61K0C13xcl0Y7osXEtWz9wxiCK6OhPRq4XfEbcBcmHdVWAYR9TPeCFx_v7mbUoYRrv4R0OqHQPo0-Vk5isfcg6Vdx66aBQ/s1600-h/DSC_0311.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 275px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiGj25PV7C0QcOO_cuyBDirfSB4tkH0pWsdPo9PZ4bvdd-61K0C13xcl0Y7osXEtWz9wxiCK6OhPRq4XfEbcBcmHdVWAYR9TPeCFx_v7mbUoYRrv4R0OqHQPo0-Vk5isfcg6Vdx66aBQ/s400/DSC_0311.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5411053055132673074" border="0" /></a><br />Glazed and finished, waiting for an identity ...<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW3z7gdKKNkL4rZYaMjAaQHtQMPZgcF7kbq1AyUQcAyRyWRmgYfl43Mz3N979gLTzN9nGO9vgKpvxR9bKhivLo6Hnos2OBO60dGnAB1SDQTpymT3q_QTwRUVIHG6Z7rfPDajq6BkANtg/s1600-h/a1.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 268px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW3z7gdKKNkL4rZYaMjAaQHtQMPZgcF7kbq1AyUQcAyRyWRmgYfl43Mz3N979gLTzN9nGO9vgKpvxR9bKhivLo6Hnos2OBO60dGnAB1SDQTpymT3q_QTwRUVIHG6Z7rfPDajq6BkANtg/s400/a1.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5411053068072971650" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZpiw5_N8G7t48LWodvolfII5_eF992rfMnZewtbL4GJgouSXnT-tGMMT4j-QlH-AWm5j15PZfNx68SI0fx-PWIuGApcA6NPWmoAGblWGM8ZW62nJOPbgSivObWoAOKDDtWasGaPjQWQ/s1600-h/a2.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 368px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZpiw5_N8G7t48LWodvolfII5_eF992rfMnZewtbL4GJgouSXnT-tGMMT4j-QlH-AWm5j15PZfNx68SI0fx-PWIuGApcA6NPWmoAGblWGM8ZW62nJOPbgSivObWoAOKDDtWasGaPjQWQ/s400/a2.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5411053071260421826" border="0" /></a><br />I have a bunch more that I am finishing up. So parts 2 and 3 will feature more experiments. I'm still very unclear about glazing techniques, and need a lot more practice. So please feel free to give me suggestions and comments.<br /><br />Take care!binduhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13156291956967889455noreply@blogger.com25tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-63886090743337770.post-70513294564024912672009-11-22T11:49:00.001-08:002009-11-22T12:08:10.311-08:00The Texas CapitolBack to the blog world after more than a month ... thanks to those who sent me notes over this time asking if I was ok and saying I was missed. It was nice to know I have you as blog-friends. :)<br /><br />It's just been very busy here with various activities. I'm back for now, and am looking forward to visiting my favourite blogs and seeing what you have been up to.<br /><br />The photo club that I'm a member of is putting together an exhibit for the Austin Airport, which will go up in January. The theme for this exhibit is "Looking Up." For this I wanted to photograph the dome of the State Capitol from below, and so went over to the Capitol building several times. Once I got there I realized what an interesting place it is to photograph. I wandered around taking lots of pictures.<br /><br />The dome is so beautiful seen from below! It took a lot of tries to get a perfectly symmetric picture of it, and this one was selected for the Airport exhibit.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7RjCBwi5dtcYdG4dxj88i727izvEPTPCNzHMCTOn_8fPROhK1RI-hBwfYo4i_8X5lVC7prGeV4RvefNdy7RsSh3VRkmgM5kCE3qbjHIEqT_hfa9dRNLN3r7bXsxuDeGyQ97H5XlVY0Q/s1600/a6.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 286px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7RjCBwi5dtcYdG4dxj88i727izvEPTPCNzHMCTOn_8fPROhK1RI-hBwfYo4i_8X5lVC7prGeV4RvefNdy7RsSh3VRkmgM5kCE3qbjHIEqT_hfa9dRNLN3r7bXsxuDeGyQ97H5XlVY0Q/s400/a6.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407019304138472178" border="0" /></a><br />Here is another angle - not symmetric, but with more depth.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSKacSmRRKLMFCOdlRV-V4U5kRP0cMBH_cWQWli-3w2MirVaB4Ddi_23B2wFIBLueMT5-uXPTVR3B6TIQKcd_W6JkNnTRCU251SDzk8LajN5KTfX44O2tsgKchUq_hOmz_rRav-LkhSQ/s1600/a2.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 285px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSKacSmRRKLMFCOdlRV-V4U5kRP0cMBH_cWQWli-3w2MirVaB4Ddi_23B2wFIBLueMT5-uXPTVR3B6TIQKcd_W6JkNnTRCU251SDzk8LajN5KTfX44O2tsgKchUq_hOmz_rRav-LkhSQ/s400/a2.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407019292895590706" border="0" /></a><br />The House of Representatives has a beautiful ceiling, with ornate carvings. This picture was also selected for the Airport exhibit.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-KelbHhehJHv7R8RJGnpwzsFp4Oci1xbx1TXgfjxgMIl0qbJPGfSB4tensffQdCnYUsyYW9gQGoTcxx-nWi8J0NHLiM4ASABz5HTtRY2K23O3XjC6d8nIW9xjap9-99wUhAUusEeQxQ/s1600/a12.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 286px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-KelbHhehJHv7R8RJGnpwzsFp4Oci1xbx1TXgfjxgMIl0qbJPGfSB4tensffQdCnYUsyYW9gQGoTcxx-nWi8J0NHLiM4ASABz5HTtRY2K23O3XjC6d8nIW9xjap9-99wUhAUusEeQxQ/s400/a12.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407019380559830178" border="0" /></a><br />Even the stairway is a great subject to photograph!<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpiMdqNw2fqUJbZeTJi6hjDPvw0qC3_hq2jK9-jLIzQd_7dyGs4ReLTlesDsE0tDQkkFBoDm21aqkdkABx0ZM72esS4gj9RGl7lknY_wabc79jt6U1imk7pR8G_PiR5Z03ONeFLDCZjA/s1600/a10.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 286px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpiMdqNw2fqUJbZeTJi6hjDPvw0qC3_hq2jK9-jLIzQd_7dyGs4ReLTlesDsE0tDQkkFBoDm21aqkdkABx0ZM72esS4gj9RGl7lknY_wabc79jt6U1imk7pR8G_PiR5Z03ONeFLDCZjA/s400/a10.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407019306044426194" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyzJa1P3bwC6nElzXNpYOBORT-ZS08C3bEsWBFHB_iBI8DylC7iOseJjfszRNC30FpcYWXPjTieyl8x3x-YidVmieSD8bWD_r9z_VdmbtS-zADoH0bONsids7wgd_0YNh4xPbM6EJVXA/s1600/a11.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 327px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyzJa1P3bwC6nElzXNpYOBORT-ZS08C3bEsWBFHB_iBI8DylC7iOseJjfszRNC30FpcYWXPjTieyl8x3x-YidVmieSD8bWD_r9z_VdmbtS-zADoH0bONsids7wgd_0YNh4xPbM6EJVXA/s400/a11.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407019305553278562" border="0" /></a><br />Walking outside, I turned around for one last shot, <span style="font-style: italic;">looking up</span>, at the building against the blue sky.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDjFG8mXqlrvaZDW9ObCdp_5-d7Lr4D0MB-fHXvKy4UjeB-liN9rDtrBHFzfYYw23A7mxdn-6HViyxRelrkJg7x5IWZ4wPQi6-x5iNZegM9NROqp2adppeO7fiekbjmAXfDCxYR626Pw/s1600/a5.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 286px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDjFG8mXqlrvaZDW9ObCdp_5-d7Lr4D0MB-fHXvKy4UjeB-liN9rDtrBHFzfYYw23A7mxdn-6HViyxRelrkJg7x5IWZ4wPQi6-x5iNZegM9NROqp2adppeO7fiekbjmAXfDCxYR626Pw/s400/a5.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407019299258013730" border="0" /></a><br />In case I'm not able to post again before Thanksgiving, have a wonderful holiday, with your family and friends. <span style="font-style: italic;">Happy Thanksgiving!</span>binduhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13156291956967889455noreply@blogger.com23tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-63886090743337770.post-23058686305111866352009-09-25T13:40:00.001-07:002009-09-25T16:26:34.182-07:00New pots for my cacti?I have joined a pottery class! I took a class on wheel-thrown pottery some years ago, and learned just enough to know that I have a LOT to learn about this, and to know that I really enjoy it.<br /><br />That first time around I made a series of lopsided pots that are serving time now as holders for my cactus plants.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcKOeL5ihtKpwFYQa8zAPPiIOcF0A-aXi6WYPzEwjhhgWLSObMn9ynab4tBK_CS3aPiF7G5pLqmZaOn4G146dzYuWd0aPwunQI8D7xkHkrIGCtoSWlyo22jy_eMZFgTlm2nKEgLru87A/s1600-h/DSC_0003.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 248px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcKOeL5ihtKpwFYQa8zAPPiIOcF0A-aXi6WYPzEwjhhgWLSObMn9ynab4tBK_CS3aPiF7G5pLqmZaOn4G146dzYuWd0aPwunQI8D7xkHkrIGCtoSWlyo22jy_eMZFgTlm2nKEgLru87A/s320/DSC_0003.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5385510958147043970" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcwH6apQEHNSFWNJih0EAygNoCMN4nzHfzN0PRKrUPIE_vwdKmfhHr5FgVEoPStSsVPHscSfkFZs21MhKdgKzTdKAD9wEs93URTfQi_VxYuWZOXV1JimzUwMgu8vOvPmsdtIWnQqFJqA/s1600-h/DSC_0005.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 262px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcwH6apQEHNSFWNJih0EAygNoCMN4nzHfzN0PRKrUPIE_vwdKmfhHr5FgVEoPStSsVPHscSfkFZs21MhKdgKzTdKAD9wEs93URTfQi_VxYuWZOXV1JimzUwMgu8vOvPmsdtIWnQqFJqA/s320/DSC_0005.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5385510968482340002" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPw8HQoScsSxgzsTLh2eJEXVJz71TAVYLE4IrYJkWI6DuGjHUfHVRPS1pdYH_EAiqEQt-Un4ZTc1B8u1m64IYD_UaDWg0v5KFGedDF0eU5epdOR5GVPLX8tT4pX92-pzmYXgcG-0HxVw/s1600-h/DSC_0004.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 231px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPw8HQoScsSxgzsTLh2eJEXVJz71TAVYLE4IrYJkWI6DuGjHUfHVRPS1pdYH_EAiqEQt-Un4ZTc1B8u1m64IYD_UaDWg0v5KFGedDF0eU5epdOR5GVPLX8tT4pX92-pzmYXgcG-0HxVw/s320/DSC_0004.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5385510963339227266" border="0" /></a><br />This blue-green trio usually sits on my kitchen window sill and adds some crooked cheer to that space.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9_xRLrvTLRhcxb3kwySU31StC1gU19Afm-zLnjeA7QIm2rmxj38ydFp_2RQoJm-CYsYYO7RFYeOWQ2jK6klbURhKOFk6AXG3U3FhtjhyphenhyphenzJwL-F8f3_6BChGObbrwHuAb-MOVwLfx6BQ/s1600-h/DSC_0006.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 268px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9_xRLrvTLRhcxb3kwySU31StC1gU19Afm-zLnjeA7QIm2rmxj38ydFp_2RQoJm-CYsYYO7RFYeOWQ2jK6klbURhKOFk6AXG3U3FhtjhyphenhyphenzJwL-F8f3_6BChGObbrwHuAb-MOVwLfx6BQ/s400/DSC_0006.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5385507881987662418" border="0" /></a><br />We learned to make all kinds of pots, using one color of clay and two.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPiVgAfzcAcKJZRrp-sNYQm9HHNzP6pULhtSD2mn96WUOxG6Vh4c59dg3ON_9OZf7RMl8PqgjiRLhV1l2km1ZjW81D0PK18E1ouUzE9q09UqCgGjDlq5fEJubxop5LlACg6ugcu_rrBQ/s1600-h/DSC_0010.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 258px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPiVgAfzcAcKJZRrp-sNYQm9HHNzP6pULhtSD2mn96WUOxG6Vh4c59dg3ON_9OZf7RMl8PqgjiRLhV1l2km1ZjW81D0PK18E1ouUzE9q09UqCgGjDlq5fEJubxop5LlACg6ugcu_rrBQ/s320/DSC_0010.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5385510978809208626" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2FCr35620yR0j1b_AWZ2LGoTSWMAH6iIY_H5D4Hu4MN7vabMI9pve1wkwvRBFvcHf6qBvgt3hMQTA_3iyEcJ0eJUpJafRnA_FEfngg_UnGUkDI2F0uHBB7aXC1MzYuhE2A1Gpc1sgeQ/s1600-h/DSC_0007.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 284px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2FCr35620yR0j1b_AWZ2LGoTSWMAH6iIY_H5D4Hu4MN7vabMI9pve1wkwvRBFvcHf6qBvgt3hMQTA_3iyEcJ0eJUpJafRnA_FEfngg_UnGUkDI2F0uHBB7aXC1MzYuhE2A1Gpc1sgeQ/s320/DSC_0007.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5385510973768816354" border="0" /></a><br />My pots are really thick-walled and quite small. I really like playing with clay though, and have been wanting to get better at it.<br /><br />So since then I've been looking for a chance to take another class, and finally the stars aligned this semester to allow this chance. I have been making pinch pots and pieces using coils and slabs. None of the pieces is finished yet though.<br /><br />I will get on the wheel next week and see if I remember anything. Only time will tell if I will end up with more crooked pots for my cacti or if the pieces will find other purposes in life. In the meantime I am having lots of fun with this, and keeping really busy.<br /><br />Hope all is well with you!binduhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13156291956967889455noreply@blogger.com31tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-63886090743337770.post-80387007547076634512009-09-08T12:15:00.001-07:002009-09-08T12:40:23.345-07:00The Texas Mandrone, Some Desert Critters and a Strange StormAll over the Guadalupe Mountains National Park area in Texas, we found this gorgeous little tree, the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Texas_Madrone">Texas Madrone</a>. This tree is a native of Texas, and has the most gorgeous red bark I've ever seen. This particular tree was near the wash area of our campsite, and I spent a lot of time one evening photographing it lit up with light from the setting sun.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwo0ANRjIR9oQ2HsGhr3QsPm4qyS-E3xTdZWnYhoPmPtKjTJA9iWuQJoimNfaZYW-W3d0aGbvy2mDFzZGzmsnXwSF8rtzaFn9NYEqkQdLr1XKAhPK8JSaKSzBrEUedt617Et71onueKg/s1600-h/DSC_0253.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 285px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwo0ANRjIR9oQ2HsGhr3QsPm4qyS-E3xTdZWnYhoPmPtKjTJA9iWuQJoimNfaZYW-W3d0aGbvy2mDFzZGzmsnXwSF8rtzaFn9NYEqkQdLr1XKAhPK8JSaKSzBrEUedt617Et71onueKg/s400/DSC_0253.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379177537404160834" border="0" /></a><br />It's deep red and orange-brown bark peels off in thin sheets, exposing the light green surface underneath. The contrast of red and green was so beautiful!<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_aqD1IHKp4QWuK-pHonqnbD2HMWwNbfdXHQ2mmuUKx0a9AdbbC-loqMjt1ncIaaP4cl1k_Dz_FeOaEaeQ-6gZ6kXTSfi3ASm33_wDa9r7MZ9oFsbyC5slTl8uWCa9PYeSJSstdz4_7Q/s1600-h/DSC_0260.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 219px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_aqD1IHKp4QWuK-pHonqnbD2HMWwNbfdXHQ2mmuUKx0a9AdbbC-loqMjt1ncIaaP4cl1k_Dz_FeOaEaeQ-6gZ6kXTSfi3ASm33_wDa9r7MZ9oFsbyC5slTl8uWCa9PYeSJSstdz4_7Q/s400/DSC_0260.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379177540463376914" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDquAdK9zVZH5a85xrmaYVeuZJtqzE8jsQmd7BysfQvpKvMs9oSinRrxzetes1bStshyOt1XGSDdmuRAqBQWy74VLZSB82I2AANIZOBoSdWism5k6Mzh33eF0pMbXS2RGFpxSUeKxw9g/s1600-h/DSC_0286.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 330px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDquAdK9zVZH5a85xrmaYVeuZJtqzE8jsQmd7BysfQvpKvMs9oSinRrxzetes1bStshyOt1XGSDdmuRAqBQWy74VLZSB82I2AANIZOBoSdWism5k6Mzh33eF0pMbXS2RGFpxSUeKxw9g/s400/DSC_0286.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379177548457062818" border="0" /></a><br />I was standing under the tree with my camera, trying my best to hold still to take slow speed shots, when I saw a tiny movement on the branch near my face. It turned out to be this showy little catterpillar. It looked so pretty, its bright green colors blending well with the reds and greens around it.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqElh4oHD1YrBZWrBA0PPoXvfgyjGXbNNXw6Fl8-nFWcLDExIwAX2SWARJQpVRQm2rfl446e-t6fXEa0cpFjViWvgOWY1ZMFZ0JK2WwCg-DhqbjqKLAn3rXzn6P0S0lih5ApCEOWpF1g/s1600-h/DSC_0287.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 367px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqElh4oHD1YrBZWrBA0PPoXvfgyjGXbNNXw6Fl8-nFWcLDExIwAX2SWARJQpVRQm2rfl446e-t6fXEa0cpFjViWvgOWY1ZMFZ0JK2WwCg-DhqbjqKLAn3rXzn6P0S0lih5ApCEOWpF1g/s400/DSC_0287.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379177552741164194" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUa-Hcz6ZmxBkdF5N3MCxHLGM8-utg0ZdCHM_qFJ-tDFoLPEw7XmN4EeSO3HR0ta0tASo7iMQU-5vdn7sLUPLnavc0pOYZz79fGVYSf5bwvjVDdcwctP3_EhdZMdZISWCHtsSrj2SMHA/s1600-h/DSC_0293.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 216px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUa-Hcz6ZmxBkdF5N3MCxHLGM8-utg0ZdCHM_qFJ-tDFoLPEw7XmN4EeSO3HR0ta0tASo7iMQU-5vdn7sLUPLnavc0pOYZz79fGVYSf5bwvjVDdcwctP3_EhdZMdZISWCHtsSrj2SMHA/s400/DSC_0293.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379177555940923346" border="0" /></a><br />Later on, on one of the trails we spotted this pair. They were pretty tiny, and so cute and colorful! I have no idea what kind of insects they are. Just haven't had the time to read up on it. Any clues?<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsN5jvviZEI2KI5UYpVKeqlgfZZhj8e7dAVH7jsYv1DK7kNfSgUSYYX66e_6aGLxIpeIEsJ3Vq7GTmQ88YyVDjfGglv43daDZn0T2-fSoRLnGQcPfscuWVfSU2cg3oVKnXdasTbJ8xMw/s1600-h/DSC_0363.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 315px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsN5jvviZEI2KI5UYpVKeqlgfZZhj8e7dAVH7jsYv1DK7kNfSgUSYYX66e_6aGLxIpeIEsJ3Vq7GTmQ88YyVDjfGglv43daDZn0T2-fSoRLnGQcPfscuWVfSU2cg3oVKnXdasTbJ8xMw/s400/DSC_0363.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379177723554510146" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgocG9YD7H6h0zL-e2TTBPm5H_tQojY3pkpP-s_EeVWxzIQhy6b5ESJnHOj6USC-Z-tYA85gWPCzBiV96mxzWQDx3me5fjioA9P1TRBKhPj4CvIjgl0fLKUl0G0S3JtopIvrfYQQsZd3w/s1600-h/DSC_0361.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 389px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgocG9YD7H6h0zL-e2TTBPm5H_tQojY3pkpP-s_EeVWxzIQhy6b5ESJnHOj6USC-Z-tYA85gWPCzBiV96mxzWQDx3me5fjioA9P1TRBKhPj4CvIjgl0fLKUl0G0S3JtopIvrfYQQsZd3w/s400/DSC_0361.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379177719144683378" border="0" /></a><br />On our drive back from this trip to the Guadalupe Mountains, we experienced the wide open Texas skies. It was very hot, but it was also beautiful in a stark and rugged way.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh96q9CVCy3h9qUsxA_rMwVSuXSjmYIXpyEmGELKoFUTmQVJ3ncuafwM4HJkck1EKGLdzrdRh7YiS7vKcF_iwgG5L4-UPGEOygGU0V8B7vN42WaK3CASTIG7UWwifEKPFQEK0JNvwKGAA/s1600-h/DSC_0388.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 268px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh96q9CVCy3h9qUsxA_rMwVSuXSjmYIXpyEmGELKoFUTmQVJ3ncuafwM4HJkck1EKGLdzrdRh7YiS7vKcF_iwgG5L4-UPGEOygGU0V8B7vN42WaK3CASTIG7UWwifEKPFQEK0JNvwKGAA/s400/DSC_0388.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379177738117572562" border="0" /></a><br />We also had the oddest experience with this tiny little storm. I have never seen anything like it before, though it probably is common in this part of the world. Though it was generally bright and sunny, there was this one cloud to the left of the highway that was darker than the rest. And there were sheets of rain coming down from it on to the ground directly below. It was moving towards the highway, and kicking up a lot of dust too. We could feel the force of the wind, and drove faster to get out of its way.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3W2xKTZDzOEoSh7b2rAhMLi4-yII7w4jlQu2_eo_onMt468an9pAbQ9YIJYdCgCzq65hOef83RU16igB3H-KrVp9SYLc14W1zwqX1B4FxfLDuk0T-RKkO-3YDlZxWQYkD17RHXNQYzg/s1600-h/DSC_0384.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 268px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3W2xKTZDzOEoSh7b2rAhMLi4-yII7w4jlQu2_eo_onMt468an9pAbQ9YIJYdCgCzq65hOef83RU16igB3H-KrVp9SYLc14W1zwqX1B4FxfLDuk0T-RKkO-3YDlZxWQYkD17RHXNQYzg/s400/DSC_0384.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379177735181773010" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFFuBrKiGfTPRKVGAQogCHjDajVZU_OuF6U7_XCQyWgmJh4DI1JojwoEmsvq9KW3d5fS-JPBWIrDq830YIfolG9KiRtY4Sz1aFs6KAKRJuaFUuJadWeOVn4RpLCmKQrqHAN4Svmv0vUg/s1600-h/DSC_0382.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 268px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFFuBrKiGfTPRKVGAQogCHjDajVZU_OuF6U7_XCQyWgmJh4DI1JojwoEmsvq9KW3d5fS-JPBWIrDq830YIfolG9KiRtY4Sz1aFs6KAKRJuaFUuJadWeOVn4RpLCmKQrqHAN4Svmv0vUg/s400/DSC_0382.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379177727913137138" border="0" /></a><br />This wasn't the only one - we saw more small rain clouds like this a couple more times on this 9 hour drive back to East Texas.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnOOK5741Tux5H1FqLwmcKusSCvDSJCGfmGRVgLMZzd5WXBc6_ke51fhoVqAiPz6UUp87dVa4XAosKMZ1Ig97WZwlK2V6yBIrpHXUqrMEFe4GKer5_bAmWFtd7IibH-kj09yCsqX1fEA/s1600-h/DSC_0390.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 258px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnOOK5741Tux5H1FqLwmcKusSCvDSJCGfmGRVgLMZzd5WXBc6_ke51fhoVqAiPz6UUp87dVa4XAosKMZ1Ig97WZwlK2V6yBIrpHXUqrMEFe4GKer5_bAmWFtd7IibH-kj09yCsqX1fEA/s400/DSC_0390.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379177804828223778" border="0" /></a><br />As it got dark, I glanced in the rear view mirror and saw this - the sun setting in the West, on the Guadalupe Mountains, as we sped away from it back home to the East.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4v-2-HPrU-A8LHiTwHap-EDpk0OI2KMfQOssEz2fZMXOKLjYNMpwCCBuaohi39GkyWuDA7vqLjV__T6ob6rbkCoTNZkXMba_1Zgq5Dem_pPXiLxeQQWilxohr7PcMh9QNt24lgFwDzQ/s1600-h/DSC_0400.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 285px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4v-2-HPrU-A8LHiTwHap-EDpk0OI2KMfQOssEz2fZMXOKLjYNMpwCCBuaohi39GkyWuDA7vqLjV__T6ob6rbkCoTNZkXMba_1Zgq5Dem_pPXiLxeQQWilxohr7PcMh9QNt24lgFwDzQ/s400/DSC_0400.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379177809757439762" border="0" /></a><br />Have a great week.binduhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13156291956967889455noreply@blogger.com32tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-63886090743337770.post-68405912424701777362009-08-28T13:52:00.000-07:002009-08-28T14:16:06.271-07:00Desert Sunrise & the Roof of TexasIt turns out Guadalupe Mountains National Park in West Texas is in the Mountain Time Zone. Just two hours east of there, we get back to Central Time. We didn't know this on our first night there, and set our little watch alarm for 6:30am, hoping to hit the trail early.<br /><br />When the alarm went off (5:30am locally), it was still pitch dark. So we lay partially awake in the tent and waited. It was very pleasant after the rains of the previous night, and so I wasn't in any hurry to get up.<br /><br />Soon however, it started getting light and I opened the tent flap and peeped out to see this -<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBss1jxKXDfgDPXEeegYC32YfBeLTJaMZ2sMgap9qI0tecYHHvk5YxUD0d83YXAmnx2cx5rMIyFs9Rf0sp60q9HZL9xUWxSMS3CApVxcMCIIgYFOqy9kg254FTZJkfmdxop3z-W1YoFA/s1600-h/DSC_0160.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBss1jxKXDfgDPXEeegYC32YfBeLTJaMZ2sMgap9qI0tecYHHvk5YxUD0d83YXAmnx2cx5rMIyFs9Rf0sp60q9HZL9xUWxSMS3CApVxcMCIIgYFOqy9kg254FTZJkfmdxop3z-W1YoFA/s400/DSC_0160.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375121315950430978" border="0" /></a><br />I quickly pulled out my camera and scrambled out of the tent. No one else was up in the campsite, and I watched the fiery red sunrise as light slowly spread through the sky.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOy6i3yivfQSzIV-uPwKJ-96LUP-tjHcsz7WDM7ThEn-YAqylxDhkEJ7MwrtxkfTchNt-ggaExulGnTEOKYZ_vxEDkHfEVaK8b29EUUvCA3mR-Ow9uoqqG5z_ZFpJLDsnTEdhtzCXhWg/s1600-h/DSC_0162.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 238px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOy6i3yivfQSzIV-uPwKJ-96LUP-tjHcsz7WDM7ThEn-YAqylxDhkEJ7MwrtxkfTchNt-ggaExulGnTEOKYZ_vxEDkHfEVaK8b29EUUvCA3mR-Ow9uoqqG5z_ZFpJLDsnTEdhtzCXhWg/s400/DSC_0162.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375121197520811938" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2DSbzOQXZ8F6SzGTqQ6n1B_iTy7qkbAknUsrFBt-caVOCbyoIEwbfMuzSMkumqJAxTnUI6F-SQBiFhEbX2qbM9dASuEzm_W6smTEr_iD29Wu5rxB3NKViUN1v-W9Ydh22-YhcOQl7JQ/s1600-h/DSC_0164.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 237px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2DSbzOQXZ8F6SzGTqQ6n1B_iTy7qkbAknUsrFBt-caVOCbyoIEwbfMuzSMkumqJAxTnUI6F-SQBiFhEbX2qbM9dASuEzm_W6smTEr_iD29Wu5rxB3NKViUN1v-W9Ydh22-YhcOQl7JQ/s400/DSC_0164.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375121188489468418" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXZ-aqVDxmvEcbuabZ8TRv3bUP5pYKg1pkb_omT1vKe-Hs98uBGJ5-U5xyXhsjkQpXCpOwDWjAOl9L-H8sbTDzKEn-aY_lBX17UXP6lI1yzaUkOD-kVhs_0PhPIqp35EOI9c9RFxlZ5w/s1600-h/DSC_0165.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 232px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXZ-aqVDxmvEcbuabZ8TRv3bUP5pYKg1pkb_omT1vKe-Hs98uBGJ5-U5xyXhsjkQpXCpOwDWjAOl9L-H8sbTDzKEn-aY_lBX17UXP6lI1yzaUkOD-kVhs_0PhPIqp35EOI9c9RFxlZ5w/s400/DSC_0165.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375121184919187282" border="0" /></a><br />After taking these pictures, I quickly went in to wash up. In the short time I was in there, the strong desert sun had come out and all the red was gone from the sky. We could feel the heat rapidly taking over. So after a hurried breakfast, we started on an 8.5 mile RT hike to the roof of Texas - Guadalupe Peak.<br /><br />There was literally no shade on the trail. It was dry and hot, but at 8:30am there still was a soft breeze that made the walk pleasant.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7OGDIyvpOyxA2j_BN-gIQA6FWT0TNlNCMkyTR2pWaxY4iVI3dn0bXXeQzV9bf89Xjcz8Kf5ORomCdcKvOGLZiSORMjjgAqz_PjZV-r1_FeYfLCSxcpI6hTi3d4N3wwV4jXKmSTUvvFg/s1600-h/DSC_0180.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 268px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7OGDIyvpOyxA2j_BN-gIQA6FWT0TNlNCMkyTR2pWaxY4iVI3dn0bXXeQzV9bf89Xjcz8Kf5ORomCdcKvOGLZiSORMjjgAqz_PjZV-r1_FeYfLCSxcpI6hTi3d4N3wwV4jXKmSTUvvFg/s400/DSC_0180.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375121172843382674" border="0" /></a><br />The trail led steadily uphill via switchbacks, and we quickly got higher up in elevation.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0Uvey7ZN_fyHv6M9xbFWikkYfxPJHZrLIRjYEO6enA6WQLhvvq_7f_MoXdSJeTa1_fD31zi2ZvlFbqfWFBAkKjlE_UGcNlXJtT3d2kVWPOl5x67BO727XLQF_T7HCaO1i5H5LPBYOCA/s1600-h/DSC_0186.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 268px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0Uvey7ZN_fyHv6M9xbFWikkYfxPJHZrLIRjYEO6enA6WQLhvvq_7f_MoXdSJeTa1_fD31zi2ZvlFbqfWFBAkKjlE_UGcNlXJtT3d2kVWPOl5x67BO727XLQF_T7HCaO1i5H5LPBYOCA/s400/DSC_0186.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375121170200320034" border="0" /></a><br />The view got better and better with each turn.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8XkzWFbAkGkYiFESMBb4SWa3RKPgn0hSAoSNxUuAkh9RPPFBeLpXmBapCB681cbcYHNczrVsxrEHegE8LBrjHgY69J07VSaiFmkfJnMldSBdWt9oa42RLC7kRFld6ilVe9k504KzNWg/s1600-h/DSC_0190.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 268px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8XkzWFbAkGkYiFESMBb4SWa3RKPgn0hSAoSNxUuAkh9RPPFBeLpXmBapCB681cbcYHNczrVsxrEHegE8LBrjHgY69J07VSaiFmkfJnMldSBdWt9oa42RLC7kRFld6ilVe9k504KzNWg/s400/DSC_0190.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375120942728902514" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh21C2WeOj5fdKMMNcwb-JsIRd8uxEFwhq936VHpQb5susjXbKX_wVPk6xREYHSxsxL_WzzRPzjszYUkEbha57dPf6qkVsZsznIPqeEfEFhzuoDkdVjENnoCbnWDU9DTABb1se3m6ipQw/s1600-h/DSC_0196.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh21C2WeOj5fdKMMNcwb-JsIRd8uxEFwhq936VHpQb5susjXbKX_wVPk6xREYHSxsxL_WzzRPzjszYUkEbha57dPf6qkVsZsznIPqeEfEFhzuoDkdVjENnoCbnWDU9DTABb1se3m6ipQw/s400/DSC_0196.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375120933764031954" border="0" /></a><br />Little lizards darted under rocks as we approached, and desert insects kept up a steady chirping as the sun climbed higher into the sky. Bright red flowers peeped out cheerfully at intervals from the rocky landscape, relieving the monotony.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVzchEl3Xn0S-cx71xmuLLB2y0Sh2WwzW4XwGZlWoiN6FyXJZMChNaJFaZU6ddsXTc9RFGIgwWmMGNnje2WLmBB_1Hw-rbch1QzcsW9Q0gdb0nysXcS1Mb5cV60Nq0riFJl7aAq1Y1hQ/s1600-h/DSC_0200.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVzchEl3Xn0S-cx71xmuLLB2y0Sh2WwzW4XwGZlWoiN6FyXJZMChNaJFaZU6ddsXTc9RFGIgwWmMGNnje2WLmBB_1Hw-rbch1QzcsW9Q0gdb0nysXcS1Mb5cV60Nq0riFJl7aAq1Y1hQ/s400/DSC_0200.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375120926739357762" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEjUmW24Z8GtNmJQCH7di9u2nM9gB65COch8cyRljwbnJJAJzWo1ARX3ReDL16_XjDtAZSCOACusTQOrj_Dp5q9VeKvt5292wpBR-t7zSMNUVFIelIvoCfoWQLkojh_RRtsqjlC9fGvw/s1600-h/DSC_0202.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEjUmW24Z8GtNmJQCH7di9u2nM9gB65COch8cyRljwbnJJAJzWo1ARX3ReDL16_XjDtAZSCOACusTQOrj_Dp5q9VeKvt5292wpBR-t7zSMNUVFIelIvoCfoWQLkojh_RRtsqjlC9fGvw/s400/DSC_0202.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375120918596624338" border="0" /></a><br />It took us about two hours to get to the top. Guadalupe Peak, at 8751 feet, is the highest point in Texas. The view from the top was lovely, and it was quiet and serene. We were the first people up there on this day, though we saw a dozen more people heading up as we made our way down.<br />We didn't stay long though, because it was too hot to sit out there under the sun.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNYE4uQ_evuypd_ttG7y7MMyJCI32kGs2hfme-g-iXvggwG3Q2VtnlVVlezXqO57Af_HudL2SEWu1byn3ExKQldzzRzBdL3vBXojbZ1XBYGHd19lZcXbrz3YyxziI_4PfstvezviL0qg/s1600-h/DSC_0224.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 268px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNYE4uQ_evuypd_ttG7y7MMyJCI32kGs2hfme-g-iXvggwG3Q2VtnlVVlezXqO57Af_HudL2SEWu1byn3ExKQldzzRzBdL3vBXojbZ1XBYGHd19lZcXbrz3YyxziI_4PfstvezviL0qg/s400/DSC_0224.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375120914904126274" border="0" /></a><br />The weekend is here again. Aren't the days just flying by?! Have a good one.binduhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13156291956967889455noreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-63886090743337770.post-12131214983068387432009-08-21T16:46:00.000-07:002009-08-21T17:25:27.804-07:00Guadalupe Mountains & the Bookmark DrawThanks for your comments and positive words on my previous (and 100th) post. I drew three random numbers today and matched them to the comments. The bookmarks will soon be in the mail to:<br /><br />1. Blu<br />2. Celeste Maia<br />3. Raph G. Neckmann<br /><br />Thanks for participating!<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(204, 153, 51);">***</span><br />Every summer we try to do a little hiking trip to one of the great National Parks in the US. This year we tried and tried to make plans, but they kept falling through. Finally we decided to just take a few days and drive down to West Texas, to <a href="http://www.nps.gov/gumo/index.htm">Guadalupe Mountains National Park</a>.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLDvnzz2-E_k8CZU73gO1Ti5CcSNb7YP0PU95vL0r9NJLE93WqBS62QaZZ8s_i8E5JihS0eyhkwOPUI5csFEGeP3Hqca1jdbWkLp_m4233l5_A-G_-Uy2M3_2VbrCHo5BWtaJOtQpe1A/s1600-h/DSC_0118.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 284px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLDvnzz2-E_k8CZU73gO1Ti5CcSNb7YP0PU95vL0r9NJLE93WqBS62QaZZ8s_i8E5JihS0eyhkwOPUI5csFEGeP3Hqca1jdbWkLp_m4233l5_A-G_-Uy2M3_2VbrCHo5BWtaJOtQpe1A/s400/DSC_0118.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372568617879372306" border="0" /></a><br />Compared to many other national parks in the US, this one is pretty remote. The only accommodation within the park is in the form of a few campsites, which you cannot reserve in advance. The campgrounds have toilets and potable water, but there are no camp stores where you can buy food or batteries or anything you might have forgotten to bring. No showers, and nothing except the wide skies and open desert with sparsely marked hiking trails.<br /><br />Rough, stark natural beauty everywhere, and as much solitude as you want.<br /><br />What I found most fascinating was that this park is an ancient, marine fossilized reef! Apparently, this dry desert was under a vast tropical ocean about 250 million years ago. The tall mountains that jut out into the sky today were part of a reef that stretched over 400 miles of the shoreline! The ocean eventually receded, and slowly the reef emerged, and with erosion over many, many years, the peaks were formed.<br /><br />Guadalupe Peak within the park is the highest point in Texas, and we hiked to its top one day.<br /><br />We arrived in the park in the middle of a harsh thunder and lightning storm. We found an open campsite, but sat in our car wondering if the showers would stop at all. The clouds were dark and low, and the lightning was incessant.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrJ1atZbAPv2bDmQwstuePxac2nGpV1-VeAR-_lunj3PCfw4laM0a93pChuuPX52uR5XiY6zfuUDtGKqhaiBhCdpBITEnLyzc7Jcjl0NPE3uuNCj69AlFCRlkxE5oHLj9dezCQoLXSZQ/s1600-h/DSC_0120.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 215px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrJ1atZbAPv2bDmQwstuePxac2nGpV1-VeAR-_lunj3PCfw4laM0a93pChuuPX52uR5XiY6zfuUDtGKqhaiBhCdpBITEnLyzc7Jcjl0NPE3uuNCj69AlFCRlkxE5oHLj9dezCQoLXSZQ/s400/DSC_0120.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372568625422680098" border="0" /></a><br />After an hour or so, the rain stopped and we could see the clouds slowly moving on. We quickly got out and pitched our tent, so that if it did rain through the night, we'd have a place to stretch out!<br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqJbW-nHLCCiIKD7Eu_YpfOY7KJpcMY7IYGb9-JcTRkcAdcD0oITGip00gH8A7BK-zLCVsL-GVUzlINURgQg72tG3SpCZFNZK5Qa3yAmhuzauDNcFtzTxQxrjvA0D3K6nXgbxY3rfJJQ/s1600-h/DSC_0127.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 268px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqJbW-nHLCCiIKD7Eu_YpfOY7KJpcMY7IYGb9-JcTRkcAdcD0oITGip00gH8A7BK-zLCVsL-GVUzlINURgQg72tG3SpCZFNZK5Qa3yAmhuzauDNcFtzTxQxrjvA0D3K6nXgbxY3rfJJQ/s400/DSC_0127.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372568630617689954" border="0" /></a><br />So this was home for the next couple days, where we sat every night under the trees, watching the incredibly clear night sky, with billions of stars shimmering like shards of crystal. Guadalupe Mountains National Park is so very far away from any city that it has some of the clearest night skies possible.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPjDIYXw-OYnycNWlVNQ-cKxZtRoTGZDBwKvMliTawHwcXJgoVvvA5mR8Hv5uBqMOCVRGmQre0bLjYufrIvFW3XvtArrD9GlUegzxt9a8dBTzoXFjyWISXf7EzCSQBmUAXpi1UE7gyYg/s1600-h/DSC_0177.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 257px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPjDIYXw-OYnycNWlVNQ-cKxZtRoTGZDBwKvMliTawHwcXJgoVvvA5mR8Hv5uBqMOCVRGmQre0bLjYufrIvFW3XvtArrD9GlUegzxt9a8dBTzoXFjyWISXf7EzCSQBmUAXpi1UE7gyYg/s400/DSC_0177.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372568643470374578" border="0" /></a><br />Later that evening as we were getting settled in, the rain had almost completely stopped, though bulbous dark clouds still hung from the sky. What made us feel completely welcome though, was this pair of cheerful rainbows that were painted across the sky!<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGdWMaXsOdWYmcX_rEpRjmUlRvxC2GrFjHrf4a8bhwz1PD3RXCwIjdY5fjdEkKtQLTE-Mc8nENi888UNbQp91blWi84YoWok22HPU6diApIQWczU-P6zrjKzGYhx5zRoUwAs8DqZHpSw/s1600-h/DSC_0137.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 280px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGdWMaXsOdWYmcX_rEpRjmUlRvxC2GrFjHrf4a8bhwz1PD3RXCwIjdY5fjdEkKtQLTE-Mc8nENi888UNbQp91blWi84YoWok22HPU6diApIQWczU-P6zrjKzGYhx5zRoUwAs8DqZHpSw/s400/DSC_0137.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372577601984893506" border="0" /></a><br />Have a great weekend.binduhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13156291956967889455noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-63886090743337770.post-87725305658399552542009-08-12T17:55:00.000-07:002009-08-12T18:32:36.996-07:00One hundred posts and some bookmarksIt has been a year and two months since I started this blog one hot, hot summer day last year. This summer has been just as hot, and as I sit cooped up in my air-conditioned bubble, avoiding the sun at all costs like a mole in a hole, I am amazed that it has been this long.<br /><br />I wasn't sure then how long this will last, but this here is my 100th post. A milestone!<br /><br />To mark this occasion, here is a modest little give-away. Having been bitten by the bookmark bug (see my previous post), I have been making some more bookmarks, painting the designs on paper. Since they are a little flimsy, I thought I would get them printed on better paper, and laminated as well.<br /><br />I know most of you are avid readers. So if you would like to have this set of three bookmarks, leave me a comment. <span style="color: rgb(153, 102, 51);">I will pick three names at random about 10 days from now, and mail these out to those three of you. </span><br /><br />Before I show you my bookmarks, here are some from my collection, along with some of my favourite books.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZe8l12fGBNAvnJfxMhzHTWj2v1wpKYbfh-4GCJ8kYjMsb4eNvEZunvc_lba1aCzRrml8KFYUVDlYeQKXafLPlq8te20O2VzxzLe7mP-j5G0m74OgK9zAAMK2zOt59cDSFWkzyz_tWww/s1600-h/DSC_0033.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 327px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZe8l12fGBNAvnJfxMhzHTWj2v1wpKYbfh-4GCJ8kYjMsb4eNvEZunvc_lba1aCzRrml8KFYUVDlYeQKXafLPlq8te20O2VzxzLe7mP-j5G0m74OgK9zAAMK2zOt59cDSFWkzyz_tWww/s400/DSC_0033.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369247907568007042" border="0" /></a><br />Can you read that? This and the next bookmark are Ilan Shamir's words. Check out more about him <a href="http://www.speakingoftrees.com/about-ilan-shamir/">here</a>. This one says:<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 102, 51);">Advice from a Bat</span><br /><br />Trust in your Senses<br />Spend Time just Hanging around with Friends<br />Get a Grip<br />Enjoy the Nightlife<br />Sometimes you've just gotta Wing it<br />Guano Happens!<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6-z81x4h4xfVDcWGXM-rjhiOSpThRa8h6KKJYgNoADAqXzsYjq5BfcjjoaVJH27PMi2JSRMY8jxS5lY8vH9MrUyZAG9ntsx4QhT6-2soXtj7OAqrElkXuv-IAMOqwQ3LVsuAxx5tIJw/s1600-h/DSC_0036.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 365px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6-z81x4h4xfVDcWGXM-rjhiOSpThRa8h6KKJYgNoADAqXzsYjq5BfcjjoaVJH27PMi2JSRMY8jxS5lY8vH9MrUyZAG9ntsx4QhT6-2soXtj7OAqrElkXuv-IAMOqwQ3LVsuAxx5tIJw/s400/DSC_0036.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369247916006059314" border="0" /></a>This one says:<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 102, 51);">Advice from a Bear</span><br /><br />Live Large<br />Climb beyond your Limitations<br />When life gets hairy, Grin and Bear it<br />Eat Well<br />Live with the Seasons<br />Take a Good, Long Nap<br />Look after your Honey!<br /><br />This third one was a present from a friend who visited South Africa and wanted to get me something small. I thought it was a very thoughtful gift. Such a simple idea, no?<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZWnWCQXxOjOc55lTxjQNv_BDPTHIF1CR92afvuKH2PLv3qOEiT1hJUdrXHSGvcZg2coHCuO66RqW8__y9NgNgiPBuwgpJNjl0LmtZFujWOfbC4bYJ_mCbycLJOUo7-oRLkEvFB_5s_A/s1600-h/DSC_0038.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 352px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZWnWCQXxOjOc55lTxjQNv_BDPTHIF1CR92afvuKH2PLv3qOEiT1hJUdrXHSGvcZg2coHCuO66RqW8__y9NgNgiPBuwgpJNjl0LmtZFujWOfbC4bYJ_mCbycLJOUo7-oRLkEvFB_5s_A/s400/DSC_0038.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369247927140458754" border="0" /></a><br />Now, here are my three bookmarks. Remember - if you leave a comment, you are at risk of being picked to get these in the mail. :)<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg_hBaTNl8Ha_DyX-eyRhuvleWuPLSH7AyRYk2b02p_fp_mde0QsfvZG55FnYojIRrz6Oc82VDYgqLOTCkg1hMMPVLIF29c_hyphenhyphenG5wqjPE9_gbz21Cwe9QDc4TROCmnm99rJM7vQ8VApg/s1600-h/DSC_0040.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 340px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg_hBaTNl8Ha_DyX-eyRhuvleWuPLSH7AyRYk2b02p_fp_mde0QsfvZG55FnYojIRrz6Oc82VDYgqLOTCkg1hMMPVLIF29c_hyphenhyphenG5wqjPE9_gbz21Cwe9QDc4TROCmnm99rJM7vQ8VApg/s400/DSC_0040.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369247929423335538" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfsK7R1qJBvFvBEPN9vkmtsJItyJ266SCU8nGrWLwOA2zHkwAZKdbHozCtyhhDxKDMMbN91VnM0xSsdZ4WMTHJxCD7zpwVxqo5HbRg3ZhbYQEUXPg9gAEq59WNUm2T3gKbGk0lofH8Qg/s1600-h/DSC_0023.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 364px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfsK7R1qJBvFvBEPN9vkmtsJItyJ266SCU8nGrWLwOA2zHkwAZKdbHozCtyhhDxKDMMbN91VnM0xSsdZ4WMTHJxCD7zpwVxqo5HbRg3ZhbYQEUXPg9gAEq59WNUm2T3gKbGk0lofH8Qg/s400/DSC_0023.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369247901478827330" border="0" /></a><br />This past year of blogging has been fun. Through this medium I have found some of your incredibly creative blogs that I find so inspiring. Keep creating, and keep posting!binduhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13156291956967889455noreply@blogger.com36tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-63886090743337770.post-47365809694873476252009-08-04T08:05:00.001-07:002009-08-04T09:42:47.066-07:00Chaurasia on the Flute: Sublime!Pandit <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hariprasad_Chaurasia">Hariprasad Chaurasia</a> is a genius on the flute. His name is synonymous with the hindustani classical flute in India, and his music is divine, really!<br /><br />If you haven't yet heard him, you really must. His music literally lifts you up and transports you to a serene, happy place. I tried to download a video of his from youtube and upload it here, but I got errors from blogger. So here's a link, to a beautiful piece by him, recorded in his youth.<br /><br />(click on his picture for the link to the video).<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ji4jcKTZgM&feature=related"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 172px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkHVIm_yuujt88S9aa72wzGiWI74ugjYhy9-Oj8IF_f2SQtcyF1KR8zdE46nUXSejS9wP7I9UHu9dKIMaki8ZgPXaNOEagEHSum6wYkxHR5sLpG-u6aB716olKEYtpH5wnAxoKOtzoGQ/s200/hari_prasad_chaurasia_20060925.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5366133012951429282" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ji4jcKTZgM&feature=related"></a>He also is one of the many artistes in India who are happy to do fund raising concerts for charitable organizations, and as a result has been on tour in the US several times expressly for fund-raising concerts with specific groups.<br /><br />While I was still a graduate student about 14 years ago, I got to listen to him live for the first time. It was so utterly magical! After that concert, I was one of the students who escorted him to his host's home. During the drive, he asked me simple questions like what I was studying and what I planned to do after graduation. I don't know what I replied - I was so tongue-tied!<br /><br />He is older now than in the above video. He is 71, but the music still is as sweet as ever. We listened to him live over the weekend. A part of the proceeds were going to AID (<a href="http://austin.aidindia.org/">Association for India's Development</a>), my volunteer group.<br /><br />When he came to the US on tour in 2000, I was a volunteer with Child Relief & You, and I had made these little flute-shaped bookmarks to give away at his concert. But since I did it at the last minute and we didn't have the time to print them, they never got used.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheWd6kF9MOn_SbKZaZB8twLAR0YbD1YTKix5TWNlxs7gd3vMt8-4wqU_1WBz5yQpXwDJbw9miQXQ-F0g5lRmx51_J7eHLyI2Ei3mrpCGSc9YWVEIrBur4f-Raz40uIhq7IQuSa9aAoKw/s1600-h/flute1.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 120px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheWd6kF9MOn_SbKZaZB8twLAR0YbD1YTKix5TWNlxs7gd3vMt8-4wqU_1WBz5yQpXwDJbw9miQXQ-F0g5lRmx51_J7eHLyI2Ei3mrpCGSc9YWVEIrBur4f-Raz40uIhq7IQuSa9aAoKw/s400/flute1.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5366129018472867314" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXTMerlBFMrgGO-fPfmy6SbbhsGv-ppQDEQAJSq7q0EpkPYBMAAYb7qwFIbfGunTHtVQgdwSGXtBczu_pwyXFOYhv5CLxyp0vfyc12vRRxc5eQz754o0PaGQ3QADuaOaSt5yiXzPJo0A/s1600-h/flute2.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 134px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXTMerlBFMrgGO-fPfmy6SbbhsGv-ppQDEQAJSq7q0EpkPYBMAAYb7qwFIbfGunTHtVQgdwSGXtBczu_pwyXFOYhv5CLxyp0vfyc12vRRxc5eQz754o0PaGQ3QADuaOaSt5yiXzPJo0A/s400/flute2.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5366129033351574306" border="0" /></a><br />This time, I again remembered these bookmarks on Saturday, and quickly re-made them for AID, in powerpoint. A quick dash to Kinkos for copies, and we were able to hand these out to those who showed interest in our AID table.<br /><br />I haven't ever taught myself to use better software ... so these aren't perfect, but they worked for the tight deadline, and served the purpose.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg23ua9hzUIoynpKikc6QI23eEUXaz_-xQfQz9dW_O8rCzgglD297CP1EpwhxQypklSx1JGXyXB_VJ4TNmuBfX_j7WvSMGkdeeUTmkHEhARqdiQxK3XTHNT19qttZvo_sEhPEYNpnn1rA/s1600-h/Picture1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 104px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg23ua9hzUIoynpKikc6QI23eEUXaz_-xQfQz9dW_O8rCzgglD297CP1EpwhxQypklSx1JGXyXB_VJ4TNmuBfX_j7WvSMGkdeeUTmkHEhARqdiQxK3XTHNT19qttZvo_sEhPEYNpnn1rA/s400/Picture1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5366129031762189074" border="0" /></a><br />Hope you like Chaurasia's music as much as I do!binduhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13156291956967889455noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-63886090743337770.post-70382311394005760732009-07-29T09:41:00.000-07:002009-07-29T11:19:10.802-07:00A package from Shady GroveLast week I was the lucky winner of a giveaway on <a href="http://shadygrovestudios.blogspot.com/">Chris' blog</a>. If you haven't been there before, you must visit. She posts beautiful pictures of the Wisconsin countryside, and shares her art and creations as well.<br /><br />Chris is a quilter and stained glass artist, who makes the most unique and pretty quilt-block earrings. I've never seen anything like them before. So when I got lucky and won her giveaway, I took the chance to request one of her cute earrings.<br /><br />On Friday last week I received the package in the mail, and it was pretty exciting.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu1TkNPVLTSWuNlxE573H973KoPOHQslrgpnICQ3ohRw7itT_qdqVIuGuHEDaXgH53gpTCqxiG1RZYMsudYq7eocSz7VXA222m0HZRLBxPfOsP49kynbW8ihlZF8wsOz84y5nL3AgbgA/s1600-h/Picture1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu1TkNPVLTSWuNlxE573H973KoPOHQslrgpnICQ3ohRw7itT_qdqVIuGuHEDaXgH53gpTCqxiG1RZYMsudYq7eocSz7VXA222m0HZRLBxPfOsP49kynbW8ihlZF8wsOz84y5nL3AgbgA/s400/Picture1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363924137368754674" border="0" /></a><br />Inside were the earrings I had requested, a card, and an extra snowflake ornament gift too! That was such a neat surprise. Here is her card, and the pretty snowflake. It's transparent glass, but in this picture the glass seems to have captured the sunlight in purple and green hues, making it all the more beautiful.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXzpXmbpfA0GllcqHX1q98HmdjlXPu3KjtblEcj1k9F8ZrH8WGA5smN1nw1JnPr3vH0nN-F7McmZhMU0d3PKqCWl97Z5Ej8lqr6ltdJctJ7tg8OQbvmUAL6AOePwEOEds9e2gTLoSr6Q/s1600-h/DSC_0053.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 386px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXzpXmbpfA0GllcqHX1q98HmdjlXPu3KjtblEcj1k9F8ZrH8WGA5smN1nw1JnPr3vH0nN-F7McmZhMU0d3PKqCWl97Z5Ej8lqr6ltdJctJ7tg8OQbvmUAL6AOePwEOEds9e2gTLoSr6Q/s400/DSC_0053.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363924104451247618" border="0" /></a><br />And here are the earrings that I am really excited to receive. Aren't they pretty?<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-bf6fSPVpGv_1lARAJkQ15vK7lv1wF59FkDyJ6eoYnkghDLJ53cZVJLGI2osUIsU5skfh8MnFvYeWz5b_nW7QsmMbyBnxdYmguff1EMY6kW9Sy9oA7yGtOe-1MWDIa4OfOVNbsvw9hg/s1600-h/DSC_0057.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-bf6fSPVpGv_1lARAJkQ15vK7lv1wF59FkDyJ6eoYnkghDLJ53cZVJLGI2osUIsU5skfh8MnFvYeWz5b_nW7QsmMbyBnxdYmguff1EMY6kW9Sy9oA7yGtOe-1MWDIa4OfOVNbsvw9hg/s400/DSC_0057.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363924135095749794" border="0" /></a><br />Please take a moment to go check out <a href="http://shadygrovestudios.blogspot.com/">Chris' blog </a>and her two etsy stores where she sells beautiful quilt-block jewelery, embroidered handbags, gorgeous hand dyed fabric and more. Here is her card.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYQ5MUdvwqRZOs6DA729zU1I9P6Y_0ele4ZTpVSoZXb8M8yMslbCYCCXkjeqqL_xHm4XQMOm8hn-2g4iRstgSR3vnQx0jOCHRNxCawmfZnY1WOjXb1xyqtsB3OyDZ9tj3JtBWHSYG9qQ/s1600-h/DSC_0055.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 246px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYQ5MUdvwqRZOs6DA729zU1I9P6Y_0ele4ZTpVSoZXb8M8yMslbCYCCXkjeqqL_xHm4XQMOm8hn-2g4iRstgSR3vnQx0jOCHRNxCawmfZnY1WOjXb1xyqtsB3OyDZ9tj3JtBWHSYG9qQ/s400/DSC_0055.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363924130076511554" border="0" /></a><br />This is the first time I have won any give away. Thank you, Chris!binduhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13156291956967889455noreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-63886090743337770.post-61118544230078411222009-07-23T07:08:00.000-07:002009-07-30T08:07:35.060-07:00Howdy Du, Some Rain(1)<br />Thanks to all of you who have sent rain thoughts my way. It worked!! It <span style="font-style: italic;">finally </span>rained here after weeks and weeks of temperatures in the 100s. The rain started last evening and for a few minutes I just stood still and started at the wonder of it ...<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCaB00Iv7Y4hXEOI8tGTJSwZNg_sjKWRDIsE8UE8SAFb6wkSnOIdP-ni1aHNVxYgl_zj6Ye369KVCeBRh7Zc1tVzxYbXmtIx8cowEF8TGP6BWV4LWSvnFM4557pSyOcj9b0Aj7aDkQVA/s1600-h/DSC_0021.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 294px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCaB00Iv7Y4hXEOI8tGTJSwZNg_sjKWRDIsE8UE8SAFb6wkSnOIdP-ni1aHNVxYgl_zj6Ye369KVCeBRh7Zc1tVzxYbXmtIx8cowEF8TGP6BWV4LWSvnFM4557pSyOcj9b0Aj7aDkQVA/s400/DSC_0021.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361663122006454850" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">* sheets and sheets of cooling rain drumming a steady rhythm on the roof</span> <span style="font-style: italic;"><br />* steam rising from the thirsty tar road and pavement</span> <span style="font-style: italic;"><br />* sun-scorched leaves of the tomato plants in our vegetable garden nodding in the rain</span> <span style="font-style: italic;"><br />* fat cat staying close to my feet under the desk - he's the only one that's not happy</span><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS7A3VQEr07ysyFJZMv1zxI_Tsscby1LKBSqs0bhk7_yVi9i87FAfGxyCYDGDH3QDEMdTIU6aDEHmRN4GrwvJlGPPsqJ_DZshANEAluw5oBga96v5y2aGiV1k1HupE8l9MsdgecgniHQ/s1600-h/DSC_0075.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 297px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS7A3VQEr07ysyFJZMv1zxI_Tsscby1LKBSqs0bhk7_yVi9i87FAfGxyCYDGDH3QDEMdTIU6aDEHmRN4GrwvJlGPPsqJ_DZshANEAluw5oBga96v5y2aGiV1k1HupE8l9MsdgecgniHQ/s400/DSC_0075.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361663124647319650" border="0" /></a><br />Here's <a href="http://transientlives.blogspot.com/2009/06/avocado-story.html"><span style="font-style: italic;">the avocado plant</span></a> with fresh raindrops. See how well it's doing!! :)<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhwQlgMdre1d8QaQO_zvjsNpV6KZgmIjVTL1JuqP74ubKXS3IDP-4AxZ6SaiwEjpNvJJGmqS7Mh3-eXSlqN9tbJm6aVlz522an2AFlEQdf4FyEeyghRcUkKrPoFa0ndDfI0J2a7kUdSg/s1600-h/DSC_0015.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 311px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhwQlgMdre1d8QaQO_zvjsNpV6KZgmIjVTL1JuqP74ubKXS3IDP-4AxZ6SaiwEjpNvJJGmqS7Mh3-eXSlqN9tbJm6aVlz522an2AFlEQdf4FyEeyghRcUkKrPoFa0ndDfI0J2a7kUdSg/s400/DSC_0015.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361663116116816994" border="0" /></a><br />(2)<br />Last weekend I did my first duathlon: Howdy Du 2009. It was a 3 mile run, 17 mile bike ride and another 3 mile run. It was a hot and extremely humid day, but still a lot of fun. I finished in 2 hours and 9 minutes. The runs went well, but I really need to work on my cycling speed. In Austin everyone is into cycling - thanks to Lance Armstrong. We recently joined this group, and it's been a lot of fun so far.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj0XFb5T7q9CgKW4UMp0hqX38xoDE-rkjhsrv2qH94j4P-6Wk9oRzb1_w4Rwt-If7MP6whpdzjh2ZZ1W-b6dD1q3c_d6VYbkfYv7azgof0owDWHzt8WhPcW8AdWCCoHaHabIZYq7pXEw/s1600-h/DSC_0009.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 338px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj0XFb5T7q9CgKW4UMp0hqX38xoDE-rkjhsrv2qH94j4P-6Wk9oRzb1_w4Rwt-If7MP6whpdzjh2ZZ1W-b6dD1q3c_d6VYbkfYv7azgof0owDWHzt8WhPcW8AdWCCoHaHabIZYq7pXEw/s400/DSC_0009.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361662315411748402" border="0" /></a><br />The weekend's almost here ... enjoy it!binduhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13156291956967889455noreply@blogger.com33tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-63886090743337770.post-53854256531430817362009-07-14T19:23:00.001-07:002009-07-14T19:37:47.256-07:00Unexpected VisitorWe had an interesting visitor a few days ago. I happened to take a break late in the afternoon on this day and thought I'd see how hot it was outside. Stepping out onto the deck, I saw our fat cat sitting on the stones in the backyard, swatting at something. I chased him away, thinking he'd trapped yet another lizard. But on closer scrutiny, it turned out to be this:<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjl-GQMmc5PN2opY-NXjxjnRpGSLRgPnODB64e8PfOHe488MARyDrf_GKa62hW917vemleHZbrGWSRfTDdNKvLZh5gUgip2h-LXAjShJloMr4IhgNWqe29_2okwABVOjhugOCwQwLMTQ/s1600-h/DSC_0038.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 268px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjl-GQMmc5PN2opY-NXjxjnRpGSLRgPnODB64e8PfOHe488MARyDrf_GKa62hW917vemleHZbrGWSRfTDdNKvLZh5gUgip2h-LXAjShJloMr4IhgNWqe29_2okwABVOjhugOCwQwLMTQ/s400/DSC_0038.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5358507042002060370" border="0" /></a><br />Do you see it? It's right in the middle of the image, at the edge of the shade. Here's a closer look:<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh8CL3a5dLHFxvEw6XBQ5e6VMVS4Ggr-8sW2YDJgsPlEzaCrDrnWOV2gtyJbTaQhT_K5BvRxZWRFRueXWwrrO74M-wMl4uRk-3Kbfu6drXSnp1cWlEghY_fHVx_NKwqk5CkE0ZIYnTqg/s1600-h/DSC_0037.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 268px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh8CL3a5dLHFxvEw6XBQ5e6VMVS4Ggr-8sW2YDJgsPlEzaCrDrnWOV2gtyJbTaQhT_K5BvRxZWRFRueXWwrrO74M-wMl4uRk-3Kbfu6drXSnp1cWlEghY_fHVx_NKwqk5CkE0ZIYnTqg/s400/DSC_0037.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5358507032403842914" border="0" /></a><br />It was a gorgeous little <a href="http://www.bugsinthenews.com/Texas%20Snakes/redstripe_ribbon_snake_060203.htm">Red-Striped Ribbon Snake</a>. It's non-venomous, and likes to live in ponds and swamps. There's a creek a short distance from our backyard, so maybe this little one wandered away from there.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOeMC81iuuCabaN_PMamN5OdcEjzNZuDZyI_CfZbYsmBpRvBLGLhnRvfaBHBsmVdCDDwY4BowiZn0H6oBwUfXDr1MwyMlVnmwqkGMiEi82RJMDyZrzI8oSfk-JxnmpD481wsw6w_tHlw/s1600-h/DSC_0076.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 256px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOeMC81iuuCabaN_PMamN5OdcEjzNZuDZyI_CfZbYsmBpRvBLGLhnRvfaBHBsmVdCDDwY4BowiZn0H6oBwUfXDr1MwyMlVnmwqkGMiEi82RJMDyZrzI8oSfk-JxnmpD481wsw6w_tHlw/s400/DSC_0076.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5358507056157448050" border="0" /></a><br />After I shooed our fat cat away, I ran inside to get my camera. But this little guy didn't budge at all. I don't know for how long our cat was terrorizing him there, for he sat completely still; a beautiful little model for my pictures.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLI3-ySar9W4hE1ih37yaJdviZgJgkZX5Z9vZniBxxUmNzxczhP5fUeWeCtmcoYn4cQ_Ugjj2vfbDKWJLyjKRpNqpbC6T21GmNLXcuX2Mn1XFE477iw4yuzAxYSBQLOs6KQ-ccacKIlQ/s1600-h/DSC_0071.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 286px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLI3-ySar9W4hE1ih37yaJdviZgJgkZX5Z9vZniBxxUmNzxczhP5fUeWeCtmcoYn4cQ_Ugjj2vfbDKWJLyjKRpNqpbC6T21GmNLXcuX2Mn1XFE477iw4yuzAxYSBQLOs6KQ-ccacKIlQ/s400/DSC_0071.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5358507048396292546" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdGog40G6Aw1_SSjG4orNLmWKb_bh5NV4BznWl7VPPxtnRRPbMpARP92HNTzZzUMi185Y8-520omvIFlHMfI7lMoyK30A13QpvQK5pvslhFxDn0Wh_VPnZmv13ydQ-nHXuIUKx8RtP2Q/s1600-h/DSC_0067.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 184px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdGog40G6Aw1_SSjG4orNLmWKb_bh5NV4BznWl7VPPxtnRRPbMpARP92HNTzZzUMi185Y8-520omvIFlHMfI7lMoyK30A13QpvQK5pvslhFxDn0Wh_VPnZmv13ydQ-nHXuIUKx8RtP2Q/s400/DSC_0067.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5358507044747667602" border="0" /></a><br />Husband came home from work just about then and picked it up and relocated it to our vegetable patch. It did emit a foul-smelling odor in self-defense, but I'm sure it was safer within the fenced patch, away from the cats.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLO6kXwWIH-sRfDjHHIe6U-9j8EdZoKNYDjUDPDXZnNX-3b2WsnNl-veyrXCnPbgroa-etsgT8GTvc6D9ysxTP6JCwE8mxV7lgFxhf8x-ClkcewFXQAfgByR4NOo8L6As3cexaelo6kw/s1600-h/DSC_0100.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 359px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLO6kXwWIH-sRfDjHHIe6U-9j8EdZoKNYDjUDPDXZnNX-3b2WsnNl-veyrXCnPbgroa-etsgT8GTvc6D9ysxTP6JCwE8mxV7lgFxhf8x-ClkcewFXQAfgByR4NOo8L6As3cexaelo6kw/s400/DSC_0100.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5358507156932524274" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfNsFIfovopBUaqMI9vtnWChQl4tY7Jxcs5oyoyY7iSuGjfafkwBtUaotgsiskm1fu7lYCw66du1qyEpnr6_n7FOB75hnkDWoIJ4yfTP-an9vrr2ZAvzL5P0S7Bnz9lLvjhfVUlVNsGQ/s1600-h/DSC_0101.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 268px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfNsFIfovopBUaqMI9vtnWChQl4tY7Jxcs5oyoyY7iSuGjfafkwBtUaotgsiskm1fu7lYCw66du1qyEpnr6_n7FOB75hnkDWoIJ4yfTP-an9vrr2ZAvzL5P0S7Bnz9lLvjhfVUlVNsGQ/s400/DSC_0101.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5358507185099152658" border="0" /></a><br />Hope it's cooler where you are than here. We've had 100+ degrees for the past 4 weeks straight. If you have lots of rain, do send us some.binduhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13156291956967889455noreply@blogger.com29tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-63886090743337770.post-73323545627726718782009-07-07T19:49:00.000-07:002009-07-07T20:44:36.260-07:00FireworksI learned something new this July 4th. And that was how to photograph fireworks displays. I have joined a photo club here, where we have friendly "competitions" every other month. This month's theme is Fireworks.<br /><br />I need to decide which of these photos to take to the competition - I can take a max of two. So here's where I need your opinion. Which two of these eight photos do you like most? Do tell me your first and second choice. I'll number and title them through this post.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: rgb(153, 102, 51); font-style: italic;">(1) Harvest</span><br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMpYyx2rh-Ak6J4R-j7KehCDo164FQyP2tyHDKEnWgpY9knFPnG6sRkbDmzqGTvF-KLB5QLMhczc8sgFlaTZfz2WISfxltpB1f3b27qOeuoX_Yh8PApkr-S9ZD6KqQCxoWQNF_QWDzTA/s1600-h/DSC_0175.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 268px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMpYyx2rh-Ak6J4R-j7KehCDo164FQyP2tyHDKEnWgpY9knFPnG6sRkbDmzqGTvF-KLB5QLMhczc8sgFlaTZfz2WISfxltpB1f3b27qOeuoX_Yh8PApkr-S9ZD6KqQCxoWQNF_QWDzTA/s400/DSC_0175.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355916950960986818" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: rgb(153, 102, 51); font-style: italic;">(2) Dandelion</span><br /><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtoFE-zpBH94U-_0Y7-J9ozU9J-tW54CfIDgVitQajVQs86zFTQ8QkDMAINek1UrZXVDgCrQSvMBU47v0zxQaWT94bspT0CABRHgMNunQ3fX_yUiapCQQcEutc4356rm1tH8Ats7X_Og/s1600-h/DSC_0209.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 268px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtoFE-zpBH94U-_0Y7-J9ozU9J-tW54CfIDgVitQajVQs86zFTQ8QkDMAINek1UrZXVDgCrQSvMBU47v0zxQaWT94bspT0CABRHgMNunQ3fX_yUiapCQQcEutc4356rm1tH8Ats7X_Og/s400/DSC_0209.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355917246233072946" border="0" /></a><br />We watched the display at Ladybird Lake in downtown Austin this time. Maybe watched is not the right word, because I hardly saw the display. I was frantically working with my tripod and camera, changing lenses and trying to get at least a few good pictures.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: rgb(153, 102, 51); font-style: italic;">(3) Feathers</span><br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBHDroyqRGRRItLUv_RI-fRFDRzilXdVoHxTZ5WYmvDbj65UROp9OSX9GpN60SeYjHGqQwnks99vU0-Wnr2jOPlAVBP2ybZwPr9owo4wFmmjaB3iu8Vu9BWE3B6iYKAelw4B1gMBEwvQ/s1600-h/DSC_0199.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 288px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBHDroyqRGRRItLUv_RI-fRFDRzilXdVoHxTZ5WYmvDbj65UROp9OSX9GpN60SeYjHGqQwnks99vU0-Wnr2jOPlAVBP2ybZwPr9owo4wFmmjaB3iu8Vu9BWE3B6iYKAelw4B1gMBEwvQ/s400/DSC_0199.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355916963097287250" border="0" /></a><br />By the time we got to Ladybird Lake, it was pretty packed with people. The neatest thing we saw was a whole bunch of people out on the lake in their canoes, lit up by the ambient light, paddling toward the area where the downtown skyline and fireworks display would be clearly visible. What a great idea! If I hadn't been in such a hurry to find a good spot and set my tripod up, I would've got a picture of them.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: rgb(153, 102, 51); font-style: italic;">(4) Cotton Candy</span><br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZs5LA-NGywSfuDvwkiRMiGBUi8MzVokll1NA859l9LJa-1kKiMxJFZyrf6MrQdqqfLHMsIGZaB55Ift8rle9LfKyVY2_YJjrqkMF3QCDpvP1WL-eGHdQO1oKtgZb4j_UAEAni4hXgJw/s1600-h/DSC_0208.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZs5LA-NGywSfuDvwkiRMiGBUi8MzVokll1NA859l9LJa-1kKiMxJFZyrf6MrQdqqfLHMsIGZaB55Ift8rle9LfKyVY2_YJjrqkMF3QCDpvP1WL-eGHdQO1oKtgZb4j_UAEAni4hXgJw/s400/DSC_0208.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355917242353570162" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: rgb(153, 102, 51);"><span style="font-style: italic;">(5) Sun Rays</span><br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgULCzx01tBRU6ZNqbmdG_uMJrQos-gj-FivLfxGwIp8ahtP-f0SnZ3eLqKnyqr9EFX0xpZiVHj78THUgI_iErZyeruNL-8Rum8fnuSA-rwMCQ2kc_GFS5ULow-iJbsZQlZ6krr8FwtPQ/s1600-h/DSC_0215.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgULCzx01tBRU6ZNqbmdG_uMJrQos-gj-FivLfxGwIp8ahtP-f0SnZ3eLqKnyqr9EFX0xpZiVHj78THUgI_iErZyeruNL-8Rum8fnuSA-rwMCQ2kc_GFS5ULow-iJbsZQlZ6krr8FwtPQ/s400/DSC_0215.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355929823385029074" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Since we got there so late, I couldn't get a spot where I could photograph the lake and the skyline along with the fireworks. Even as we got close to the lake, the first few fireworks went off, and we hurriedly found a spot under a bridge where there were no other people. Because of this bad location, I could only hope to take close ups of the display, which is what I have here.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: rgb(153, 102, 51); font-style: italic;">(6) Flower</span><br /></div></div></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh__u3s3VW-NLPyO6TqOXkw1aEJ8q9IoOGP7b-ZnaOM4HIvuJhOJQfH86qGuOJglT6ihb49OKm6BIku-_ZtN0Sf0HERlJuFqEmz_6uFZ78lguZo4iTUMZmiiAmGXtiHtb1D7OgsgbLFYg/s1600-h/DSC_0158.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 279px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh__u3s3VW-NLPyO6TqOXkw1aEJ8q9IoOGP7b-ZnaOM4HIvuJhOJQfH86qGuOJglT6ihb49OKm6BIku-_ZtN0Sf0HERlJuFqEmz_6uFZ78lguZo4iTUMZmiiAmGXtiHtb1D7OgsgbLFYg/s400/DSC_0158.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355916948263267490" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center; font-style: italic; color: rgb(153, 102, 51);">(7) Purple Rays<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhIjp6bRQuS4VcJnNRV6u1SEaraAJdzvplCZZHOVh9Px7J0uByMQh5EbzDuUgmVguD4XBYydwPU8QWtbfYAga5NPi5iuBV8c63jWpATnLN07KG9b3kaNLGhP5dhCT3Hopztr_p8-CzLg/s1600-h/DSC_0164.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhIjp6bRQuS4VcJnNRV6u1SEaraAJdzvplCZZHOVh9Px7J0uByMQh5EbzDuUgmVguD4XBYydwPU8QWtbfYAga5NPi5iuBV8c63jWpATnLN07KG9b3kaNLGhP5dhCT3Hopztr_p8-CzLg/s400/DSC_0164.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355916946573167554" border="0" /></a><br />While I still have a <span style="font-style: italic;">long </span>way to go in getting this right, it was fun to learn how to do it. Next time I will go early and try to get some landscape along with the fireworks.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center; font-style: italic;"><span style="color: rgb(153, 102, 51);">(8) Hibiscus</span><br /><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDt4clFfKmxEWWp9J8y68euyA9OXC7XsrLkHwyHvqpJuh9oT5JYKkgt8Un7DW4c_1DNyxhdkfPHY-XO5uYobe_Lq9i1FZQ9kXhw3d3XWO6a0joZLI60a3z4MQTBe85xN61QFJC852jCQ/s1600-h/DSC_0156.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 299px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDt4clFfKmxEWWp9J8y68euyA9OXC7XsrLkHwyHvqpJuh9oT5JYKkgt8Un7DW4c_1DNyxhdkfPHY-XO5uYobe_Lq9i1FZQ9kXhw3d3XWO6a0joZLI60a3z4MQTBe85xN61QFJC852jCQ/s400/DSC_0156.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355916942901986210" border="0" /></a><br />Hope you got to watch some great fireworks too. Have a great week, and do let me know your choices.binduhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13156291956967889455noreply@blogger.com30tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-63886090743337770.post-52273305346990329852009-06-30T14:58:00.000-07:002009-06-30T15:53:51.338-07:00How can you Buy or Sell the Earth?Some years ago when we were in Rocky Mountain National Park, we bought a poster called "How can you Buy or Sell the Earth". Here's the story:<br /><br /><b style="color: rgb(153, 102, 51);">In 1854, the United States Government offered to buy two million acres of Native American land in the Pacific Northwest. The following statement on behalf of the environment was supposed to have been made by Chief Sealth (Seattle) in reply to President Franklin Pierce in December, 1854. It has been described as the most beautiful and prophetic statement on the environment ever made.</b><span style="color: rgb(204, 153, 51);"><br /><br /></span><span style="font-style: italic;">Note: There is some controversy about whether or not these words were exactly what the Chief said, but the words still hold a lot of wisdom, so I'd like to think they are true.</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(204, 153, 51);"><br />The Great Chief in Washington sends word that he wishes to buy our land. The Great Chief also sends us words of friendship and good will. This is kind of him, since we know he has little need of our friendship in return. But we will consider your offer.</span><span style="color: rgb(204, 153, 51);"><br /><br />How can you buy or sell the sky, the warmth of the land? The idea is strange to us. If we do not own the freshness of the air and the sparkle of the water, how can you buy them?</span><span style="color: rgb(204, 153, 51);"><br /><br />Every part of this earth is sacred to my people. Every shining pine needle, every sandy shore, every mist in the dark woods, every clearing, and every humming insect is holy in the memory and experience of my people. The sap which courses through the trees carries the memories of the red man. So, when the Great Chief in Washington sends word that he wishes to buy our land, he asks much of us...</span><span style="color: rgb(204, 153, 51);"><br /><br />This we know: All things are connected. Whatever befalls the earth befalls the sons of the earth. Man did not weave the web of life; he is merely a strand in it. Whatever he does to the web, he does to himself. But we will consider your offer to go to the reservation you have for my people. We will live apart, and in peace.</span><span style="color: rgb(204, 153, 51);"><br /><br />One thing we know, which the white man may one day discover - our God is the same God. You may think now that you own Him as you wish to own our land: but you cannot.</span><span style="color: rgb(204, 153, 51);"><br /><br />He is the God of man; and His compassion is equal for the red man and the white. This earth is precious to Him and to harm the earth is to heap contempt on its Creator. The whites too shall pass; perhaps sooner than all other tribes. Continue to contaminate your bed, and you will one night suffocate in your own waste.</span><span style="color: rgb(204, 153, 51);"><br /><br />But in your perishing you will shine brightly, fired by the strength of the God who brought you to this land and for some special purpose gave you dominion over this land and over the red man. That destiny is a mystery to us, for we do not understand when the buffalo are all slaughtered, the wild horses are tamed, and the view of the ripe hills blotted by talking wires. Where is the thicket? Gone. Where in the eagle? Gone. And what is it to say goodbye to the swift pony and the hunt? The end of living and the beginning of survival. So we will consider your offer to buy the land.</span><span style="color: rgb(204, 153, 51);"><br /><br />If we agree, it will be to secure the reservation you have promised. There, perhaps, we may live out our brief days as we wish. When the last red man has vanished from the earth, and his memory is only the shadow of a cloud moving across the prairie, these shores and forests will still hold the spirits of my people. For they love this earth as a newborne loves its mother's heartbeat. So, if we sell our land, love it as we've loved it. Care for it as we've cared for it. Hold in your mind the memory of the land as it is when you take it. And preserve it for your children, and love it ... as God loves us all. One thing we know. Our God is the same God. This earth is precious to Him. Even the white man cannot be exempt from the common destiny. We may be brothers after all.</span><span style="color: rgb(204, 153, 51);"><br /><br />We shall see...</span><br /><br />The words are deep with wisdom, and I wanted to frame the poster in a simple way that matches the sentiments expressed in it. So I bought some hemp twine, dark handmade paper and wooden sticks.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHyG41R79pGsIrRYFPAyLkzv2NNMuos27BQsQoYxSrqbtkwzJn0mGMGljzWhHheB_ZF0rVO9WPY7Oceyba2ISHpp900k763iBU4s_nfjBIxAvJkxprQMtNBkzkrJlaEZAN0Cb3KVxAMw/s1600-h/DSC_0027.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 309px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHyG41R79pGsIrRYFPAyLkzv2NNMuos27BQsQoYxSrqbtkwzJn0mGMGljzWhHheB_ZF0rVO9WPY7Oceyba2ISHpp900k763iBU4s_nfjBIxAvJkxprQMtNBkzkrJlaEZAN0Cb3KVxAMw/s400/DSC_0027.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353248169117194818" border="0" /></a><br />I painted the sticks and tied the poster to the sticks with twine, the way I've seen some Native American art framed. Here is how it looks now:<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQg6G8EoyxuAR3ZuF8N7yT0b58HUCWJsmiGPYiBbcfOrbSfuGA2CLz2VqtXqEoqu7QhXsY2JwxqgnPaoDtJP_uALrgA8pIuwbOqNTd0szFOzXOc09W-EZ5UWQdWTbXgI0hs7drnmEW3g/s1600-h/DSC_0031.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 306px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQg6G8EoyxuAR3ZuF8N7yT0b58HUCWJsmiGPYiBbcfOrbSfuGA2CLz2VqtXqEoqu7QhXsY2JwxqgnPaoDtJP_uALrgA8pIuwbOqNTd0szFOzXOc09W-EZ5UWQdWTbXgI0hs7drnmEW3g/s400/DSC_0031.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353256734689970802" border="0" /></a><br />What do you think?binduhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13156291956967889455noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-63886090743337770.post-39670091795965472242009-06-24T16:07:00.001-07:002009-06-24T16:38:19.419-07:00The Avocado StoryI took a little time off from blogging to focus on some other things without distraction. I've missed reading many of my favourite blogs during this time too. It's time to catch up.<br /><br />I'd posted earlier in February (<a href="http://transientlives.blogspot.com/2009/02/wood-apples-and-avocados.html">see here</a>) that I'd put a couple of avocado seeds in water to get them to grow into plants. Here is an update on them, four months later.<br /><br />When I first put the seeds in water, I didn't have much hope that they would sprout. I'd done this many times before, with no results.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8rPknHeMla7ZGiKtIXcolT5Tv2dSzjrjPhVL4r5WWFi9fkk124-4KDzWOSIvJuBSU2PJFQM-w-JG1yN3-marONS8MGJZO2ZzhTvKxcHiB42wIHL8__0itFKIwwn4poVkQozsLEZpIPw/s1600-h/DSC_1242.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 268px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8rPknHeMla7ZGiKtIXcolT5Tv2dSzjrjPhVL4r5WWFi9fkk124-4KDzWOSIvJuBSU2PJFQM-w-JG1yN3-marONS8MGJZO2ZzhTvKxcHiB42wIHL8__0itFKIwwn4poVkQozsLEZpIPw/s400/DSC_1242.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5351037310495363090" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheVEzh26ckTnXDek_saMthtoWZZ-g0ezbPHnVftZ2zCX6ZuMZ7gv1OhOncpsuhyphenhyphenI4sN_27SjNuwicXlRi6WNlTRkApkcfZGFw6U3iQAWfy9rXSWAckPD0g3TZOVxofnZ6DTWZVppzRUw/s1600-h/DSC_1240.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 268px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheVEzh26ckTnXDek_saMthtoWZZ-g0ezbPHnVftZ2zCX6ZuMZ7gv1OhOncpsuhyphenhyphenI4sN_27SjNuwicXlRi6WNlTRkApkcfZGFw6U3iQAWfy9rXSWAckPD0g3TZOVxofnZ6DTWZVppzRUw/s400/DSC_1240.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5351037307211160786" border="0" /></a><br />This time again, the seeds sat suspended in water by the windows, while I patiently watched their apparent inactive state, all the while hoping something was happening inside. They had the full benefit of morning sunlight, though they were sheltered from its intensity indoors.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii9lR2hhX9OSiBLWu_60s-HZx8BdWd8vVR6zbOP3cIiy2lQAITbSSlomDvXhW0a0fGJcVb5pkeeuZjk8hqt988SqE8AHMZrNGAWnn9eX3z5EBBymXAjWsf7-UE0u6D0j8S295aPeT4Zg/s1600-h/DSC_0071.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 265px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii9lR2hhX9OSiBLWu_60s-HZx8BdWd8vVR6zbOP3cIiy2lQAITbSSlomDvXhW0a0fGJcVb5pkeeuZjk8hqt988SqE8AHMZrNGAWnn9eX3z5EBBymXAjWsf7-UE0u6D0j8S295aPeT4Zg/s400/DSC_0071.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5351036126746912482" border="0" /></a><br />Some time later, their bottoms cracked open and slowly split apart, allowing a root to peep through. These roots rapidly grew longer and I checked their progress daily.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWaX7RwfcgOqpOg2Ve6BNRYHoxwkZp9Xm5YsiJ24fPLm7zAPUB2IjLgaADCKbR02UkllBCz8ZlRe8WOVis6SI8oZesKameU2IZ7sbYmntb8wUdGYLmwzwqcPklL_U36lzn6MkM8ZjoBg/s1600-h/DSC_0063.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 268px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWaX7RwfcgOqpOg2Ve6BNRYHoxwkZp9Xm5YsiJ24fPLm7zAPUB2IjLgaADCKbR02UkllBCz8ZlRe8WOVis6SI8oZesKameU2IZ7sbYmntb8wUdGYLmwzwqcPklL_U36lzn6MkM8ZjoBg/s400/DSC_0063.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5351036120534959874" border="0" /></a><br />Soon the entire seed cracked open from one side, allowing me a glimpse of the seed within, and the shoot that was beginning to emerge as well.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBpVaZKPjMpLY22U7E2HUWAB2OHNyrrjaYspzzak0ifQxCD3emCDn8SFti_PJ44MQVVBEoVGSPo5i-mijuel-8N4zVJO6Lch3P6VoaqmIpt5a8jfq1pAl0LiOdOnUvlDuhZ6osO8Ov_w/s1600-h/DSC_0095.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 268px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBpVaZKPjMpLY22U7E2HUWAB2OHNyrrjaYspzzak0ifQxCD3emCDn8SFti_PJ44MQVVBEoVGSPo5i-mijuel-8N4zVJO6Lch3P6VoaqmIpt5a8jfq1pAl0LiOdOnUvlDuhZ6osO8Ov_w/s400/DSC_0095.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5351037298244373682" border="0" /></a><br />How was it that both my seeds sprouted this time, while I had failed on all previous attempts?? Probably because I had a secret helper, assisting me all this time in his own quiet way.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXFralEImCk_NuDitbuJJ_aEjRmcKqR8f3GbsFTntI5yJ0E6n5X9MUtei_G6ur3n2cMNYPZBphdOIegeo2Dh6tPsUmJmv8-q9f9teOVxTX4J-SB9CauQRV05J0jNPldj2o_UGQmnuTVg/s1600-h/DSC_0009.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 269px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXFralEImCk_NuDitbuJJ_aEjRmcKqR8f3GbsFTntI5yJ0E6n5X9MUtei_G6ur3n2cMNYPZBphdOIegeo2Dh6tPsUmJmv8-q9f9teOVxTX4J-SB9CauQRV05J0jNPldj2o_UGQmnuTVg/s400/DSC_0009.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5351036113770500594" border="0" /></a><br />Shadow likes slimy rainwater - this we know. But it seems like he has a taste for avocado flavored water as well! He came in every day to take a few licks from this water, which might just have been my magic ingredient! Here he is - caught in the act.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJPpyok2MBXXo54IsG2XcvEI8CgLiN0Ll345pz0VV835GZZ4K8qm-pYMQx8JUUwbF3sCamMyXRlk0OBoSzvkNq93iX0xL81uDDXYuTR3orKti-0VwI76RAYVwYh5E_t0SRZzNHfbdAPg/s1600-h/DSC_0010.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 261px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJPpyok2MBXXo54IsG2XcvEI8CgLiN0Ll345pz0VV835GZZ4K8qm-pYMQx8JUUwbF3sCamMyXRlk0OBoSzvkNq93iX0xL81uDDXYuTR3orKti-0VwI76RAYVwYh5E_t0SRZzNHfbdAPg/s400/DSC_0010.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5351036117946190962" border="0" /></a><br />After some time, I decided to move the seedlings to pots, and took them outside to plant them. Shadow watched me doing this, and came over for one final drink of avocado water.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXvzHsEjAgdqaNVu3faeM-9_eHdDgNsB4YUeIj6OXdIe15lvdpei_0RTvEW1XVwNltq2zQowwFoDMxtvW6o0HO-BxVmNkaVWMMXPRY8tm6p7eilJ01Sap5xx6TxnzFbSxpueVeE8KtJA/s1600-h/DSC_0138.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 333px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXvzHsEjAgdqaNVu3faeM-9_eHdDgNsB4YUeIj6OXdIe15lvdpei_0RTvEW1XVwNltq2zQowwFoDMxtvW6o0HO-BxVmNkaVWMMXPRY8tm6p7eilJ01Sap5xx6TxnzFbSxpueVeE8KtJA/s400/DSC_0138.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5351037302257441314" border="0" /></a><br />And so it is that we now have two happy avocado plants (in the white pots) that are growing rapidly. They grow to be large trees, and I don't know what I will do with them when they grow larger. For now, this experiment has been very successful, thanks to my little helper.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKxNES03W5F2VrIXSew0yDqrAd1NMTAYi0YGz9aTFpKMzX5ocPV_rugiu6-EUpgRj53rY54rmL96fxHTTKZUeH3_e_988URAlTdx1RuxXOLMjC_4WJu_hO20kzb9sDkCTR94NdnW7Nyg/s1600-h/DSC_0023.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 310px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKxNES03W5F2VrIXSew0yDqrAd1NMTAYi0YGz9aTFpKMzX5ocPV_rugiu6-EUpgRj53rY54rmL96fxHTTKZUeH3_e_988URAlTdx1RuxXOLMjC_4WJu_hO20kzb9sDkCTR94NdnW7Nyg/s400/DSC_0023.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5351036120622887602" border="0" /></a>binduhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13156291956967889455noreply@blogger.com27tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-63886090743337770.post-89805714376247312572009-05-14T10:09:00.000-07:002009-05-14T11:48:58.388-07:00Beagle Channel: Harberton FarmAt the end of the <a href="http://transientlives.blogspot.com/2009/04/day-cruise-on-beagle-channel.html">Beagle Channel cruise</a> off the coast of Ushuaia, we visited Harberton Farm, one of the oldest Estancias in this region. Besides being stunningly pretty, with sweeping vistas of daisy fields and grazing horses, this farm has a lot of historical significance as well.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6C5w3XuGrK-xT6EBoqraGKc14MzPAw4MMgV7jAWW_vHJw8lCTN_uqg3KlfeQl1UU2pNprA_bhDb6zYyvCLdiEl7h68e6DlDyMdfB-LDBHUeNFBsuzMvKcdq1LNSIxgZbjXEyYgwuTfQ/s1600-h/DSC_0975a.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 268px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6C5w3XuGrK-xT6EBoqraGKc14MzPAw4MMgV7jAWW_vHJw8lCTN_uqg3KlfeQl1UU2pNprA_bhDb6zYyvCLdiEl7h68e6DlDyMdfB-LDBHUeNFBsuzMvKcdq1LNSIxgZbjXEyYgwuTfQ/s400/DSC_0975a.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335729271382291186" border="0" /></a><br />It was constructed in 1886 by Reverend Thomas Bridges, who had a close relationship with the native Yamana people (see <a href="http://transientlives.blogspot.com/2009/03/ancient-people-of-tierra-del-fuego.html">this post</a> for more about the Yamana.) He authored the first Yamana-English dictionary, which has helped preserve this language whose native speakers have almost completely died out.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirFDU5ANg-nUo2xRYAD0ej7rsm8Zc28gjZr_aOt94R3KiF7q77NhQ9q4Ha-SDSPz1YiLOVgtJkOe6cuHkD1j4xtYfyXEEPdCeysXpKI4lsdoj9eneTD3ibXQdpdLTJbX5zKe3EqiwieA/s1600-h/DSC_0966a.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 268px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirFDU5ANg-nUo2xRYAD0ej7rsm8Zc28gjZr_aOt94R3KiF7q77NhQ9q4Ha-SDSPz1YiLOVgtJkOe6cuHkD1j4xtYfyXEEPdCeysXpKI4lsdoj9eneTD3ibXQdpdLTJbX5zKe3EqiwieA/s400/DSC_0966a.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335729270612122514" border="0" /></a><br />The 150-year old main house was constructed in England, brought in pieces by ship to Ushiaia and re-assembled here. Along with the house, lupins were also brought to Argentina and were first grown here. The Estancia garden was filled with their color when we visited.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEP6-HDxAczNQUvlTygxavoX-ES4YY9gHTjPZ7OIfh-7jTdmajJ3vsJfhcCIqc_p-IhOXL1l6W2hU7jKxs_i1m8aJK3XhjQRFzlYVR51JPv2bKMJCmmP_8X5GXj2Z2r8c2r8utgFWEpw/s1600-h/DSC_1033a.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 268px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEP6-HDxAczNQUvlTygxavoX-ES4YY9gHTjPZ7OIfh-7jTdmajJ3vsJfhcCIqc_p-IhOXL1l6W2hU7jKxs_i1m8aJK3XhjQRFzlYVR51JPv2bKMJCmmP_8X5GXj2Z2r8c2r8utgFWEpw/s400/DSC_1033a.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335729507463683442" border="0" /></a><br />This farm was a safe haven for the native Yamana and Selk'nam people, who were otherwise treated quite badly by the settlers. They found work here, and could live on this farm with dignity. Upon their death, they were buried alongside the family, all in one common grave. The crosses marked "Native" belong to the graves of the Yamana who lived on the farm.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLSS9EJ3nh2PW_b1DL9UpiPzmMurZHI14a-4MBu42f3n3vzOFrw7Le1yaY_Qzmke4fOro_01H7VXn_J03NS4QqmLbTrE_YPj12vHi-0GitAVxSmPtM_U5gHyBIXQR7lAMNTpQBr5WU8Q/s1600-h/DSC_0992a.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 268px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLSS9EJ3nh2PW_b1DL9UpiPzmMurZHI14a-4MBu42f3n3vzOFrw7Le1yaY_Qzmke4fOro_01H7VXn_J03NS4QqmLbTrE_YPj12vHi-0GitAVxSmPtM_U5gHyBIXQR7lAMNTpQBr5WU8Q/s400/DSC_0992a.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335729429446756770" border="0" /></a><br />Today the farm is owned by Tommy Goodall (Thomas Bridges' great-grandson), and his American-born wife Natalie Prosser, a famous biologist. The traditional activities in the farm have long come to a stop, but relics from those days are visible everywhere.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2VHrovZOnuKWqcvDL_71NJAM4DvKQGPIfdmkaFQJG0mTEDuyRpiVuVVHnqp1rmPIjUzoSSGtJb8-oupok_RAOA9986ydJLSMuCEIVTdnAbzXEMC5A7nOgu4gWRX46s-SRWxjWh4ImpA/s1600-h/DSC_1013a.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 256px; height: 382px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2VHrovZOnuKWqcvDL_71NJAM4DvKQGPIfdmkaFQJG0mTEDuyRpiVuVVHnqp1rmPIjUzoSSGtJb8-oupok_RAOA9986ydJLSMuCEIVTdnAbzXEMC5A7nOgu4gWRX46s-SRWxjWh4ImpA/s400/DSC_1013a.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335729501262144834" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvv0k3Fy2Dxwgoapk979ZTAL_vAF53NOwpWIIK_0Z5nJjv-SkZu1RnEjkeokwvD53BJxzoSzUDEedMANTwkitsibkBQS0bZDuYyC0g4KhE2bCTIA8fCb2rdb9dbat4ko2muWRoDDnAvQ/s1600-h/DSC_1011a.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 256px; height: 382px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvv0k3Fy2Dxwgoapk979ZTAL_vAF53NOwpWIIK_0Z5nJjv-SkZu1RnEjkeokwvD53BJxzoSzUDEedMANTwkitsibkBQS0bZDuYyC0g4KhE2bCTIA8fCb2rdb9dbat4ko2muWRoDDnAvQ/s400/DSC_1011a.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335729435193470466" border="0" /></a><br />Now the main activity on the Estancia is tourism. I couldn't get enough of the beautiful scenery there. The deep blue of the peaceful waters and sky, lush green fields filled with white and yellow daisies and wildflowers, horses grazing lazily in the warm sunshine, and the timelessness of the place itself.<br /><br />Though there were no daffodils there, <a href="http://www.poets.org/viewmedia.php/prmMID/15925">Wordsworth's poem</a> played itself in my mind, and I tried to retain the sights in my memory, for when I am in a "vacant or pensive mood" later.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9CXWxkI1j0ImgOEsn23B18ShCpsV0e8dvwnHK6yYi4FM4C66m4YRetssiLG12YGM3UiuHSrBlAFdN7BZAWHz1c5H0884KT8G0MfXMALPL0ikuiztWqNY_QEKk2VuuFoBtFsPlOK4t-w/s1600-h/DSC_0977a.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 268px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9CXWxkI1j0ImgOEsn23B18ShCpsV0e8dvwnHK6yYi4FM4C66m4YRetssiLG12YGM3UiuHSrBlAFdN7BZAWHz1c5H0884KT8G0MfXMALPL0ikuiztWqNY_QEKk2VuuFoBtFsPlOK4t-w/s400/DSC_0977a.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335729428448780882" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbPT1v4gGoiCJbFYBRl_OmM7Tsoifpe1nrchD4m6PCd4c0y9rHLkEtsW-ZkLJDcS8fgEBQo5-ESp2n5x3u_oiEDcJrk3lWWJa8N9UMaXi9b5rcm1WnhBN9is9UQcXzRMu3hlI5BB4KfA/s1600-h/DSC_0976a.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 268px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbPT1v4gGoiCJbFYBRl_OmM7Tsoifpe1nrchD4m6PCd4c0y9rHLkEtsW-ZkLJDcS8fgEBQo5-ESp2n5x3u_oiEDcJrk3lWWJa8N9UMaXi9b5rcm1WnhBN9is9UQcXzRMu3hlI5BB4KfA/s400/DSC_0976a.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335729277166394850" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1yUxEt0_-yNBqZn8Qtr5g06HQQGyXoi7J5n9xjCJUHCrKMEuyKvS5gDOlLTnvTHmTvMDp4sDwTfdvQx9zVNa96tj-vLNlI70OHdspCrVy0PwtNfYDzgdlrjDq3d4MMEH6Bx7cdQOAgw/s1600-h/DSC_0972a.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 254px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1yUxEt0_-yNBqZn8Qtr5g06HQQGyXoi7J5n9xjCJUHCrKMEuyKvS5gDOlLTnvTHmTvMDp4sDwTfdvQx9zVNa96tj-vLNlI70OHdspCrVy0PwtNfYDzgdlrjDq3d4MMEH6Bx7cdQOAgw/s400/DSC_0972a.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335729269411641330" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT5LFspVAn9OOHDFzninVjfgfkdF3_tImpoRn1akgaHbPXVB0TBY3oKNTXy8S4e_nLX-RQLzRBNiNEo92430oc0Q7EbPb6ZSWoAh6X0WAK20x1624t9I9WNgWqI9YaiHDDyc3ZRlVAPA/s1600-h/DSC_0970a.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 268px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT5LFspVAn9OOHDFzninVjfgfkdF3_tImpoRn1akgaHbPXVB0TBY3oKNTXy8S4e_nLX-RQLzRBNiNEo92430oc0Q7EbPb6ZSWoAh6X0WAK20x1624t9I9WNgWqI9YaiHDDyc3ZRlVAPA/s400/DSC_0970a.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335729269447034258" border="0" /></a><br />Have a peaceful day.binduhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13156291956967889455noreply@blogger.com30tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-63886090743337770.post-48608131339709866932009-05-05T11:43:00.000-07:002009-05-05T13:26:41.494-07:00Cactus FlowersIn Austin, soft spring days are lengthening into the warmer days of summer. The purple sheen of bluebonnets along the roads in the hill country are slowly fading. Golden yellow wildflowers still nod cheerfully along the roads, sprinkled with reds and pinks here and there.<br /><br />It's a beautiful time here. Red-headed cardinals sing sweet songs from their perch in our backyard trees. The cats laze in the sun and the squirrels in the trees scold them incessantly. Woodpeckers and hummingbirds too visit, on occasion.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgATwz2KmRt-qjxD6DzllYLT8gLKREJ788gUyNXc1itL0e_Y4cGKyZ2zio5-JVyNnD1sEfPm8QoWpopjrFekFqu8JFCkNRLnc5667tKWJUZacw65hOOUre9CUVHj7WhEuWmwbrIqDYbkw/s1600-h/DSC_0020.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 268px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgATwz2KmRt-qjxD6DzllYLT8gLKREJ788gUyNXc1itL0e_Y4cGKyZ2zio5-JVyNnD1sEfPm8QoWpopjrFekFqu8JFCkNRLnc5667tKWJUZacw65hOOUre9CUVHj7WhEuWmwbrIqDYbkw/s400/DSC_0020.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332414980843542770" border="0" /></a><br />Above all, these early days of summer are when the cacti are in bloom. How bright and showy their flowers are! Here are some pictures from around where we live and from near my university.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK4EHWIrhhVt7lxoriW0D_1tJkd7ggF9JVKCXf4_P8QW-fP2JW8QfDZvktYWfHUap-iNRLGpcoPYn2CR9L0ABKiwyfvE5DlfSU5dmm-M8KFQmuxT8MgO3GkA1CVI280z3kjq4onhDwgA/s1600-h/DSC_0069.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 376px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK4EHWIrhhVt7lxoriW0D_1tJkd7ggF9JVKCXf4_P8QW-fP2JW8QfDZvktYWfHUap-iNRLGpcoPYn2CR9L0ABKiwyfvE5DlfSU5dmm-M8KFQmuxT8MgO3GkA1CVI280z3kjq4onhDwgA/s400/DSC_0069.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332438667524988322" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqy3edciXmYXX8rzgpLd9yMY_hBY5LrKvm1HUkpc40rSYw1CITmLYxPls5XMpZjnTp9S5o6HOlkeuRVZgld43Y_lnqHH3_c1YPATsKYj3Faba_u-aY3xNizV-qxqdSInrFtmjvTmrlKg/s1600-h/DSC_0073.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 299px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqy3edciXmYXX8rzgpLd9yMY_hBY5LrKvm1HUkpc40rSYw1CITmLYxPls5XMpZjnTp9S5o6HOlkeuRVZgld43Y_lnqHH3_c1YPATsKYj3Faba_u-aY3xNizV-qxqdSInrFtmjvTmrlKg/s400/DSC_0073.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332412571097766562" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIUpfVBxrEs9NgbHvMBW9jw73glAwa0IVnUmTl6QKP8-S6yWXKwOLH1ZzvaPPJvBiQVohPXu3zv6SqbPZQCBfYEwS8ltcM4tmjVKpTyxsAcEKwfGvsTQTzUvTz7tASZZON48KJrTWpYA/s1600-h/DSC_0039.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 282px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIUpfVBxrEs9NgbHvMBW9jw73glAwa0IVnUmTl6QKP8-S6yWXKwOLH1ZzvaPPJvBiQVohPXu3zv6SqbPZQCBfYEwS8ltcM4tmjVKpTyxsAcEKwfGvsTQTzUvTz7tASZZON48KJrTWpYA/s400/DSC_0039.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332438663871793346" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL7-MgNSWvXe5e3MuEjcOL_kiekNpFGhli4ojmYY7wwAMIgge318mFRMJcSYiwdVU1UUXa0t5Z8ESH2K516gM5sw_8xKkwsdbBbtqDQ_OLNYUGQVjrVHwX6m5-JdIEqxXQm1GUZC92Kg/s1600-h/DSC_1248.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 296px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL7-MgNSWvXe5e3MuEjcOL_kiekNpFGhli4ojmYY7wwAMIgge318mFRMJcSYiwdVU1UUXa0t5Z8ESH2K516gM5sw_8xKkwsdbBbtqDQ_OLNYUGQVjrVHwX6m5-JdIEqxXQm1GUZC92Kg/s400/DSC_1248.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332412636651909106" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKbo0xpeDE-tmIIAHpFAO4Tm86cZWiLdG0OL29ugULQOT81PSnJHHIfscGyUtFo3bvhqmeoxJHnI7nhbcZV5-zOBF7LfidH3gPtVV1e5chyphenhyphenMBxb3gQ7I4GJfxIkPTWS3Lr6y_SEikKyg/s1600-h/DSC_0059.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 393px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKbo0xpeDE-tmIIAHpFAO4Tm86cZWiLdG0OL29ugULQOT81PSnJHHIfscGyUtFo3bvhqmeoxJHnI7nhbcZV5-zOBF7LfidH3gPtVV1e5chyphenhyphenMBxb3gQ7I4GJfxIkPTWS3Lr6y_SEikKyg/s400/DSC_0059.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332412568413626258" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjui5ji2P5VgYG4InD6q41uExT4_tIbrgSTJQzeC0hmjLS1rWmfWxtcU85W3L0PoqTKd8oFCwTcIeWydlZJ0WErww2HnJzaTh-sfwwRlk4FNkM4_MQRemiplIrXyRZXswfYBGNWJiinFg/s1600-h/DSC_0058.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 384px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjui5ji2P5VgYG4InD6q41uExT4_tIbrgSTJQzeC0hmjLS1rWmfWxtcU85W3L0PoqTKd8oFCwTcIeWydlZJ0WErww2HnJzaTh-sfwwRlk4FNkM4_MQRemiplIrXyRZXswfYBGNWJiinFg/s400/DSC_0058.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332412562108900322" border="0" /></a>Have a colorful week!binduhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13156291956967889455noreply@blogger.com25tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-63886090743337770.post-4832623820360283532009-04-26T09:14:00.000-07:002009-04-26T09:28:16.015-07:00What a Wonderful WorldThis is one of the sweetest videos I've ever seen.<br /><br />It will soon be baby deer season. We have had baby deer in our back yard, and our cats have sat patiently close to them, watching them. But I've never seen something like this. It's amazing.<br /><br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwT5fy6I6GG8lEfZe7umNreIpxMu2BfYVHfJU76GIQQGVSIAEzWABywtMZj7K2VNbSj2uQdLljUjk3TMbps' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br /><br /><br />Truly - what a wonderful world this is! How can people hunt deer for recreation?<br /><br />Let's do our part to protect this planet, and advocate the cause of innocent animals. They don't have a voice. We should speak for them.<br /><br />Have a wonderful day.binduhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13156291956967889455noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-63886090743337770.post-15131435195738909522009-04-19T13:39:00.000-07:002009-04-19T14:36:12.960-07:00A day cruise on the Beagle ChannelThe Beagle Channel separates the largest island in Tierra del Fuego from some of its smaller islands. This strait is 240 kilometres long, with a minimum width of about 5 kilometres.<br /><br />Many companies offer day cruises on the channel from Ushuaia, to visit some historic locations and to see the channel's famous inhabitants - the sea lions and Magellanic penguins.<br /><br />When we arrived at Ushuaia's beautiful pier early in the morning, the sky was overcast and metallic grey. I wondered if it would just rain the whole day and we would have to see the sights through the boat's rain-spattered windows.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX4uQ8W2O5NYX0v7_4P1gACmMgEEztuDtLY9vhfr_vH_AV7yUhPnhlg4axhrCBOnSWo0wB2667loWWVs_NA6AsJQ8-Gv4PKBjCcJMuEjUzC43C8Sda0trr3Cflh-GcroNabmU9iZr_8Q/s1600-h/DSC_0834a.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 263px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX4uQ8W2O5NYX0v7_4P1gACmMgEEztuDtLY9vhfr_vH_AV7yUhPnhlg4axhrCBOnSWo0wB2667loWWVs_NA6AsJQ8-Gv4PKBjCcJMuEjUzC43C8Sda0trr3Cflh-GcroNabmU9iZr_8Q/s400/DSC_0834a.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5326505540477779570" border="0" /></a><br />As we pulled away from the pier, it started drizzling, and all of us crowded into the room below. It rains most of the time in Ushuaia, so no one was perturbed. Though a little disappointed, I decided I would still make the most of it, even if it rained the whole day.<br /><br />Thankfully though, the rain stopped within the next hour, and we could see the clouds lifting at the distant horizon. Though there was a cold, wet wind still blowing, we bundled up and went up to the deck to watch the dark grey waters and the cloud covered mountains in the distance.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWZbZ2zMWD8Z_bpHjeqDhu32fLjnzl01YjCXQDBW1mmYGCl0diZYbHsXvOunAL0p_zlyROtCmkHxICEQqKIhdwra2U-3uxqaNecOlFXfqsY49oIIIOiDyTgDHCnNkzhY82A0GGRXA1IA/s1600-h/DSC_0874a.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 268px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWZbZ2zMWD8Z_bpHjeqDhu32fLjnzl01YjCXQDBW1mmYGCl0diZYbHsXvOunAL0p_zlyROtCmkHxICEQqKIhdwra2U-3uxqaNecOlFXfqsY49oIIIOiDyTgDHCnNkzhY82A0GGRXA1IA/s400/DSC_0874a.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5326505739150624242" border="0" /></a><br />Soon we passed the Eclaireurs Light House standing on a small island. Bright orange lichen covered the rocks, contrasting beautifully with the blue and white surroundings. This old light house dates back to 1919 and is one of the landmarks of Ushuaia.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQHkwOO_C7jv1KHvlrgwLHSotjfg7AcRdwC8LMo-trgn_F9OHrqyNsArCkQIv4OBGYNqymIaqTOi8VRLk3n5_enS_y86kz5NEej3-oiQ6q_PyNRjSNSUzs_Plfd-Y1oPXsOmy-yMpBVw/s1600-h/DSC_0870a.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 268px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQHkwOO_C7jv1KHvlrgwLHSotjfg7AcRdwC8LMo-trgn_F9OHrqyNsArCkQIv4OBGYNqymIaqTOi8VRLk3n5_enS_y86kz5NEej3-oiQ6q_PyNRjSNSUzs_Plfd-Y1oPXsOmy-yMpBVw/s400/DSC_0870a.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5326505736567739010" border="0" /></a><br />The Beagle Channel was named after the famous ship HMS Beagle on which Darwin first sailed as an amateur naturalist from 1826 to 1830. The ship's mission was to survey the coasts of the southern part of South America. When the ship reached the channel on 29 January 1833, Darwin first saw the region's glaciers and wrote in his field notebook "many glaciers beryl blue most beautiful contrasted with snow."<br /><br />We tried looking at the scenery through his eyes, as the first colony of penguins, sea lions and gulls came into view, framed by snowcapped peaks at the horizon.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiLTNc3Zb_17v6QMgZl50pI_OsdL4CRQ3sYVd7S0In-Sji13Bo6vXVv_gKAApfDI5joNiY2ch5YnkKDO5nTX8424pVKNuPUm0B7Z5Aa0DzYUBMvzNgEAuLKvTUHd5e1CPPjKXKiGCieg/s1600-h/DSC_0858a.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 268px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiLTNc3Zb_17v6QMgZl50pI_OsdL4CRQ3sYVd7S0In-Sji13Bo6vXVv_gKAApfDI5joNiY2ch5YnkKDO5nTX8424pVKNuPUm0B7Z5Aa0DzYUBMvzNgEAuLKvTUHd5e1CPPjKXKiGCieg/s400/DSC_0858a.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5326505733293121906" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwfZVK8V0VLzXhOSZD2gW6hUHcJyMSNVXVByoloyHXNLZk_1TobfOs6BcWCKPZ71TQXykWGCnVTit7ZdRRI-gpVGHtT4uVIJuwk16DQAErT-e9KCTnJauM07hmfyU6SrqOLKzeWK-xlA/s1600-h/DSC_0852a.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 276px; height: 380px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwfZVK8V0VLzXhOSZD2gW6hUHcJyMSNVXVByoloyHXNLZk_1TobfOs6BcWCKPZ71TQXykWGCnVTit7ZdRRI-gpVGHtT4uVIJuwk16DQAErT-e9KCTnJauM07hmfyU6SrqOLKzeWK-xlA/s400/DSC_0852a.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5326505735948222082" border="0" /></a><br />It was snooze-time for the sea lions and they lay basking on the rocks, enjoying the cold, brisk wind that froze my fingers!<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSWRvh1eONynh6NUG-TjW4D7x1c4p4Y9UWH3zONvZlPuwrPQYtmoFL5DYbyngn1vxeRBZC51VoFWV7oRsKy3-lCPzbTNY8_pM0qruDOYknViKYopysrIQ2xelDL0rIE-O38vyY2R4ymQ/s1600-h/DSC_0845a.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 274px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSWRvh1eONynh6NUG-TjW4D7x1c4p4Y9UWH3zONvZlPuwrPQYtmoFL5DYbyngn1vxeRBZC51VoFWV7oRsKy3-lCPzbTNY8_pM0qruDOYknViKYopysrIQ2xelDL0rIE-O38vyY2R4ymQ/s400/DSC_0845a.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5326505548900286466" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwOKVXiPXNURv9s2OT-Rcsr57fKD3c5N9qZTw0WaYJH5DijzuZV2bZU4EGAdPOcGoUV625mpbpciC1rmXDvfNAbv-VYn69jl8TgBc78HrEWn8mp5bOe79kDC55TJhSU8Z2oFFsD0wnEw/s1600-h/DSC_0841a.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 251px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwOKVXiPXNURv9s2OT-Rcsr57fKD3c5N9qZTw0WaYJH5DijzuZV2bZU4EGAdPOcGoUV625mpbpciC1rmXDvfNAbv-VYn69jl8TgBc78HrEWn8mp5bOe79kDC55TJhSU8Z2oFFsD0wnEw/s400/DSC_0841a.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5326505548862246690" border="0" /></a><br />Tiny penguins briskly walked around on the cluster of rocks, going about their day as we gawked at them from our boat.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghs4YsKC-qOZewLs-kic1gk63mNwbYVz1s7YvBPTiZ4rev1VFDpIaPkQn_es0e5YuwMOnTJ_Oy1GP5Hu3VoMEG-5J3215-Iw57b1KjUjCqpzcQPHGgAKcB_dNsjn4Bc_wA08UOXkvJTA/s1600-h/DSC_0839a.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 268px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghs4YsKC-qOZewLs-kic1gk63mNwbYVz1s7YvBPTiZ4rev1VFDpIaPkQn_es0e5YuwMOnTJ_Oy1GP5Hu3VoMEG-5J3215-Iw57b1KjUjCqpzcQPHGgAKcB_dNsjn4Bc_wA08UOXkvJTA/s400/DSC_0839a.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5326505545488587138" border="0" /></a><br />We next arrived at what appeared to be beach day at the penguin colony. They were out on the sand, soaking in the watery sunlight, with adults just lying around rolling in the sand while the young ones chased each other, diving into the water.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig3bJ7TyWRK24-braGa4Rzzh0d6M98EfAbVfjQBQPMmJQf5mHrumNW9bTB75Aa9YZVcmJIIJhRKwXENNVhzEMvusfpcVHOjYNAAffU94nPvbHXDdJ2CICrsRiqbNKGAjdsxNNmqx_mCw/s1600-h/DSC_0939a.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 268px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig3bJ7TyWRK24-braGa4Rzzh0d6M98EfAbVfjQBQPMmJQf5mHrumNW9bTB75Aa9YZVcmJIIJhRKwXENNVhzEMvusfpcVHOjYNAAffU94nPvbHXDdJ2CICrsRiqbNKGAjdsxNNmqx_mCw/s400/DSC_0939a.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5326505894429754770" border="0" /></a><br />Most of them were busy preening themselves and looking cute for the camera.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd5sUVZceI0fle_wNSP8GqvRQ46fXpPAthlJoEBy9eyXP2QaqDIpiJznpASuJvoEmXgvTXf8r1OL0g2nTp4W7RWL76Eg4yT3sqdsRdODSSl1QUYNbsK-zjViv88tVl3FJaLRVsPsMmhg/s1600-h/DSC_0912a.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 298px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd5sUVZceI0fle_wNSP8GqvRQ46fXpPAthlJoEBy9eyXP2QaqDIpiJznpASuJvoEmXgvTXf8r1OL0g2nTp4W7RWL76Eg4yT3sqdsRdODSSl1QUYNbsK-zjViv88tVl3FJaLRVsPsMmhg/s400/DSC_0912a.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5326505889026480306" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEOBQbx7YxL5CaG0uHFFNoxK7jkm6ysUJtUtu1nmm9yr6_3q_sOt5FvW3dS1MFy7DLLU3ccbPyw1HeP4JATnPlJd5GWj9yFLx-hCFnhElGO1Iesq9u_JeOrh41jK3918PK1ufXkcpysA/s1600-h/DSC_0934a.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 268px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEOBQbx7YxL5CaG0uHFFNoxK7jkm6ysUJtUtu1nmm9yr6_3q_sOt5FvW3dS1MFy7DLLU3ccbPyw1HeP4JATnPlJd5GWj9yFLx-hCFnhElGO1Iesq9u_JeOrh41jK3918PK1ufXkcpysA/s400/DSC_0934a.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5326505891272481106" border="0" /></a><br />But some waddled up close to the boat and stared at us with their cute, smiling faces. I so wished I could communicate with them!<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMcKkk4WQWTlfuZVqecEz00mTfkfmFCgmN4ar4bIQzJYl6y2w-JmNvZ5BMjPUjUczeLnUZ49y4rsPBV6YAnOnp_ta94NKskJ3G9XqrGOWd7jtfBl9XzveAu2HwFThf3_ILRonr94xf2A/s1600-h/DSC_0945a.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 260px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMcKkk4WQWTlfuZVqecEz00mTfkfmFCgmN4ar4bIQzJYl6y2w-JmNvZ5BMjPUjUczeLnUZ49y4rsPBV6YAnOnp_ta94NKskJ3G9XqrGOWd7jtfBl9XzveAu2HwFThf3_ILRonr94xf2A/s400/DSC_0945a.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5326505904401617986" border="0" /></a><br />There were a few that stood there with their eyes tightly shut, probably praying that we'd be gone when they opened them again.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLGMz5OvVNbelYDM9YSyDNlTNKmbvbk-3OUI0IVh12rmnY-MO2CrqyTLwv1Cgvo13OUS0v6rFdl5Lu5biO99nxOE9CA70AwUsn8-XCxbwGZIZanzoNozKGllwou88wMxTL7DRBWYwhCg/s1600-h/DSC_0944a.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 263px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLGMz5OvVNbelYDM9YSyDNlTNKmbvbk-3OUI0IVh12rmnY-MO2CrqyTLwv1Cgvo13OUS0v6rFdl5Lu5biO99nxOE9CA70AwUsn8-XCxbwGZIZanzoNozKGllwou88wMxTL7DRBWYwhCg/s400/DSC_0944a.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5326505895843107378" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHB2kfgbU0PLK26fbNllB4LleMdPvRD2bjvmqPqNltoNZ1lU8QEkxbmvqNi648xSETLTd2LOQID08hZRQKXr9uKSwCCJeyxquUn1aS8bRZeXfV_Vq_ChoFrqe4nPir1eKc-CE2O5cDog/s1600-h/DSC_0958a.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 293px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHB2kfgbU0PLK26fbNllB4LleMdPvRD2bjvmqPqNltoNZ1lU8QEkxbmvqNi648xSETLTd2LOQID08hZRQKXr9uKSwCCJeyxquUn1aS8bRZeXfV_Vq_ChoFrqe4nPir1eKc-CE2O5cDog/s400/DSC_0958a.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5326505994560770594" border="0" /></a><br />We were all very quiet, and the only sounds were from the water lapping at the sides of the boat or from the racket created by the penguins themselves. The sun had come out by now and was slowly spreading its warmth around us.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuDsFz86qGz24lhEpNwuqx4iVA8Dji0uJC8bDdiJBlVV-tXarygpWo9-9GvNRUzzm1o6oGlYLfGST8QHDuNeMXzh5BUV9T1-hl8YSpm_U8QiAfTxaBHmxNxgWy_Q-iyU1lzV__TjllGw/s1600-h/DSC_0905a.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 268px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuDsFz86qGz24lhEpNwuqx4iVA8Dji0uJC8bDdiJBlVV-tXarygpWo9-9GvNRUzzm1o6oGlYLfGST8QHDuNeMXzh5BUV9T1-hl8YSpm_U8QiAfTxaBHmxNxgWy_Q-iyU1lzV__TjllGw/s400/DSC_0905a.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5326505744359531682" border="0" /></a><br />It is such a beautiful world out there! Even as we hurry back to our lives in the concrete jungles of the world, these penguins and sea lions will still be here in these tranquil surroundings. Our wasteful actions will deplete the quality of their air and water, and will change their climate. But they will never realize it.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4GrfF6Luy9m8tMEVy5REBefLT1EgPeBru_Jlk3icHjl6v4RSWogAJUlkXFLx-HcGs2-HBHTutz8uHNdGtMgjbHt3H7jMiUkxbkRDL4Rew7R7kHuFGUP_uJa_t_sivFuzm1gtxRPQTrw/s1600-h/DSC_0962a.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 268px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4GrfF6Luy9m8tMEVy5REBefLT1EgPeBru_Jlk3icHjl6v4RSWogAJUlkXFLx-HcGs2-HBHTutz8uHNdGtMgjbHt3H7jMiUkxbkRDL4Rew7R7kHuFGUP_uJa_t_sivFuzm1gtxRPQTrw/s400/DSC_0962a.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5326506000631395778" border="0" /></a><br />We soon left the penguin beach behind and headed over to Henderson Farm, a historic landmark of Ushuaia. More about that in the next post.<br /><br />P.S. I am busy trying to make some progress on my thesis, because of which my posts and blog visits have become less frequent. Once I get a chunk of work done, I hope to have more time ...<br /><br />Hope you are all doing well.binduhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13156291956967889455noreply@blogger.com21