sticks and stones

It always takes a second glance. When my eyes first move over them I see a twig, a smooth stone, another piece of forest litter. Then my brain clicks the stick is not rigid enough it's fluid, it curves too perfectly against the earth. The rock is too smooth, too round.
Much to their dismay I see through their camouflage, wait for them to give up, come out, look around. So I can click away with my camera, pick them up, study the pattern on their backs: shells and scales. I interrupt their lives for a few quick minutes and then let them go on their merry way.

I've decided that I would like to be able to identify all the Texas snakes. This one is a brown snake (I think I could have come up with a cooler name.)

farting around

Listen: We are here on Earth to fart around. Don't let anybody tell you any different!

-Kurt Vonnegut, Timequake

happy earth day

I love the whole world.

wall : a prologue

Some how she knew that you didn't get many moments like this in your life: moments when you knew, without any doubt, that you were alive, when you felt the air in your lungs and the wet grass beneath your feet and the cotton on your skin; moments when you were completely in the present, when neither past nor the future mattered. She tried to slow her breathing, hoping somehow to make this moment last forever.

- Neil Gaiman

great-horned owl

This guy fell out of his nest a little early, but thanks to TWRC he will be fine. It was a remarkable experience to get to be near this bird, still covered in baby fluff, but two feet tall and with talons that could rip the flesh from my forearm, he was beautiful. I have more photos that I haven't gone through yet, but I had to get at least one up tonight.

Enchanted Rock

Spent the past weekend at Enchanted Rock State Natural Area with the SHSU Outdoor Rec group. I have so much fun on these trips. This one included sunrise yoga on top of a batholith, rock climbing, bouldering, hiking, and caving. If you want to, check out my trip photos here.

Monstro

Meet my new friend Monstro. He moved into my office today. I like him.

beep beep!

This guy has been hanging out in the driveway for a while now. I went out to walk with the dogs and he was still out there, let me get pretty close too, I didn't have the telephoto lens. This is him just chillin'.
I snapped a couple of photos then I gave a little whistle. My roadrunner friend's feathers stood straight up on his head. His expression of "ZOMG" gave me the giggles and he ran away but not before I caught him in his moment of surprise.

a day in the garden

Spent the day in the garden today, pulling out thorny vines and weeds until my hands are sore and my arms are scored with tiny pink line where the brambles raked across my skin. I planted several different kinds of basil, two cherry tomatoes, some peppermint, lemon balm, bee balm, and lantana.
I rearranged my outdoor furniture so that it sits in a little grouping on the side porch, under the shade of the balcony, looking out at the side garden.
The perfect place for a cup of tea.I also found this chrysalis in the dirt of one of my beds. It is still alive, when you squeeze it lightly it wiggles. I thought I might of knocked it off something when I was terrorizing the weeds. I took it over to Gina's house thinking she would be able to find a way to attach it to something to let it hatch. She knew what it was and said that it was a big moth and the chrysalis belonged in the dirt. So I took it home and reburied it in the garden.