From My Protoge or Photoge?

Thought I would share with you several photographs taken by my eleven year old photo protoge. She decided that she wanted to learn to take good pictures when she was 8 years old. Each year, with my assistance, she has produced a complete themed calendar for her family and very close friends. She takes all the pictures. I am there to coach her, talk her through perspective, seeing things from different perspectives, and using different lenses. These photos were taken by her on a road trip up to the Fossil Rim Wildlife park in Glen Rose, Texas. I thought you might enjoy seeing the world through an eleven year old's eyes.

The Wildflowers of DeWitt County

It is that time of the year again. I call it the Wildflower Stampede! Thousands of people load up the car, the kids, and family pet to make the pilgrimage. No child of Texas is really a true Texan without the picture in the bonnets. They are sticky; there are usually ants in the mix, and when done, one itches in places no one should itch. As a Houstonian, I, like many, would head east and north towards Brenham, Washington County, Bellville, Industry, etc. When the bluebonnets are out in force, there is no place more beautiful. There is ONE problem....people! By the second week of the flowering, there are trample marks everywhere, the patience of the natives in that area begins to wear a bit thin, and people are trying to find a place for that perfect photo regardless of danger to life and limb. In doing research, I found the Dewitt County Wildflower page. Who knew? I took the bait and made the very easy trip down to Cuero, Texas, the county seat of DeWitt County.

All I can say is "Oh My!" Why did I wait so long to find this piece of heaven? The by-ways of Highways 90, 77, and 183 run between Schulenberg to Cuero and all points in-between were filled with scenes like this. You don't even have to get off the beaten path. The roads are wide with nice shoulders and there was not the traffic nightmare that is 290 even in the best of days. The folks who run the Wildflower Center were incredibly helpful. Do yourself a huge favor and make plans to visit there next Spring. You will not regret one moment of it.

New Life Amid the Old

Outside of Cuero, Texas on State Highway 246 is the small area of Arneckeville, Texas. There is a Lutheran church found by watching for an historical marker sign. Behind the church is an old cemetery with graves of Civil War veterans and many German immigrants who died long before the turn of the 20th century. Amid all of the old darkened gravestones are the gentle wildflowers of spring. I spend about an hour just looking at how the flowers were everywhere adding a sense of peace to this place. The birds were singing, the breeze was very gentle, and I felt like this was one of the best places I saw on this day.

Mission La Bahia in Goliad

What a combination! Historical Spanish Mission La Bahia filled with Texas history , heroes and wildflowers. For those of you who did not have to take Texas history in seventh grade, this is the site of one of the most famous and infamous events in the war for independence from Mexico. This area is filled with events from that time period and historical markers are lined up all the major roads. Goliad is a quaint little town that also has a wonderful restored Mission in a state park area. The historic downtown is quaint and has one of those marvelous courthouses that have been restored.

Come On! How Awesome is This?

On the road to Goliad, I came upon a scene that could be in France. These beautiful purple flowers and milk goats. Can you say "Le Cheese du Goat?" My apologies to the Francophiles, but this just made me smile. I think the word bucolic was invented for things that look like this.

Paintbrushes Abound Near Schulenberg

Rarely have I seen such wide open fields of Indian paintbrushes. Usually, like many in the Houston area, I tend to run to the Washington County area for the area wildflower stampede. This year, however, I took another turn and headed south and east to see other wildflower areas not so heavily dependent on the ubiquitous bluebonnet. I came across a field of about three acres in the small community of Ammansville, Texas filled with solid Indian paintbrushes. It was almost too much to take in all at once. And, all along my six hour drive I found field after field of paintbrushes. Ammansville is located off Highway 77 headed towards LaGrange, Texas. It is also the home of one of the famous Painted Churches of Texas. Hope you get to see it sometime.

Dogwoods Say "Spring is Coming!"

Having grown up in East Texas the coming of the Dogwoods means that Spring is fast approaching. The ugly little trees scattered throughout the hardwoods and pines of that region hide all year waiting for a few weeks of glorious arrival. The dogwoods are the first sign of life in the midst of the bare limbs, brown grasses, and somber remnants of a winter in East Texas. From Palestine, Texas to my hometown of Woodville, Texas, the dogwood's blooms are the reason for festival madness. The next time March rolls around pay attention to those brilliant white glimpses through the woods as you whiz by on the road. Spring is Coming!

Beatles in Houston

In honor of the release of the new Beatles box set and the "Guitar Hero, Beatles," I thought I would offer up these sculptures. In Houston, off I-10 East near downtown, is the studio of David Adickes. He is a world renowed artist who works in his studio located off Taylor Street. Anyone who has driven I-45 North towards Dallas from Houston has seen his work in the form of the ginormous statue of Sam Houston located outside Huntsville, Texas. "Back in the Day" there was a giant telephone that sat at the intersection of I-10 and I-45 near downtown. The studio area is home to other artists and at this writing was still accesible to visitors. The parking area is filled with giant busts of former presidents. Mr. Adickes is creating these incredibly lifelike works for a presidential park. However, these sculptures were there on the day I visited. I grew up with the birth of the Beatles, the Ed Sullivan Show debut, the appearance at the Astrodome, and my friend, Patty, had all of their "stuff." I hope she kept all those lunch boxes, etc. She is rich if she did :) However, the Beatles were a huge part of my pre-teen and teenaged years. I don't live for their every song, every nuance, "B-side" recording, etc. as some of my generation do. However, they did change music forever for me and millions of others. These sculptures make me smile when I see them. Today, they are on display at the intersection of Beltway 8 East (Sam Houston Tollway) and HWY 288, the exit to Pearland, Texas. If you are ever driving that way, stop and look. "She Loves You Yeah Yeah!." Rock On!!!

Mother Nature's Abstract Art

Once again, I am taken with the "little" things as I go about trying to use my camera. On an outing in the northern part of Montgomery County, Texas, I ran across a great old barn. At first, I was taking pictures of the entire structure. It was typical of property gone to ruin. However, as I sat in my car looking for the next angle, I spotted this very black "hole"( in reality a hay loft) with what looked to be "ice." Photography is such an interesting hobby. It allows one to see as much or as little as they choose. The more pictures I shoot, the more I begin to see between the shots. This is one of those times of seeing between the shots. These old vines covered the outside of the barn; however, when seen against the backdrop of the "black hole hay loft" they took on another dimension altogether. On first glance, this photo can appear to be ice cracks, not in Texas! Pictures like this remind me that sometimes we can not see "the forest for the trees." We are so busy looking for the big picture, we don't see the message. Hope you enjoy.

Random Beauty

Sometimes I am taken back by the simplest tableaus. I, on this occasion, had driven nearly 750 miles to see one of the travel destinations of the United States. It had rained during the night and as I left the hotel on a very brisk 58 degree morning, I decided to relish in the cool weather. I pulled back the inside cover for my sun roof and there was this beautiful picture. The condensation created this series of bubbles that looked like they were some type of plastic that had been hot glued to the glass. I could not help but stare at the roof for a few minutes looking at the various shadows that the drops formed. DUH! I remembered the ubiquitous camera and proceeded to try and capture the image before physics would wipe them away. I am still contemplating having this image enlarged to poster size. I think it would be cool. As "they" say, "beauty is all around us." Sometimes it is right above our heads in a Toyota Camry.