...of Jaunts and Journeys

Monday, December 16, 2013

TIME TRAVEL?

Yes, TIME travels...not me!! So many months have passed since I last posted here. Yes, I've taken tons of photos... but failed to share them. Something needs to change!

I will AGAIN make the resolve to TRY to be more consistent in my sharing of my photo adventures. In the meantime I am getting ready for Christmas, doing an online quilt mystery, preparing to take a class from one of my favorite quilt designers, and frantically trying to get my house in better shape before the holidays. So, yes, time continues to travel.... right past me!!

Until I have time to breathe.....


Saturday, May 25, 2013

CATCHING UP...

Last weekend I had a new experience. I attended my first ever quilting retreat at a facility in Celeste, Texas. I did not take my camera bag with me because I already had a sewing machine, supplies, and projects in tow. Adding the additional bulk of the camera gear didn't seem too logical. Usually when I make this decision prior to an outing I regret not having the camera with me once I am at the event. However, this proved to be the exception and the cellphone camera saw me through any photo ops with no problem.

However, a few weeks before the retreat, I drove to the venue so I could familiarize myself with a route and the general surroundings. On that occasion I did have the camera and this likely contributed to the reason I didn't feel like I'd made a mistake by leaving the camera behind.

The first stop was in the town of Blue Ridge, Texas. I had never been to Blue Ridge, and was surprised I was unfamiliar with the name of the town nor had I noticed the town on the map during previous ventures to that part of the state. There were several restored, old-model vehicles parked along the side of the road. I couldn't resist the urge to snap a photo or two.


This photo was taken from downtown Celeste, Texas. Nothing says "country" quite as much as a vintage tractor occupying a downtown parking space near the quilt store. This was the location of the quilting retreat. The owner of the quilt store has a dormitory/classroom facility across the alley from the shop. How convenient to have a shop within walking distance when one discovers they left a necessary tool at home. I love this photo!!


After leaving Celeste, I took an alternate route to get back to the highway. I don't remember the name of this small town, but the church and its grounds were charming. It could have been Trenton or Leonard.


The rest of the time I've been puttering in my yard: admiring the flowers, stooping to pull yet another handful of weeds, smiling at the bees and butterflies, breathing the fragrance of the roses, etc.









I am hoping to take a Water-wise Garden Tour next weekend. The city water department has put together a map of homes in the city which garden in a manner to conserve water. You can be sure the camera will NOT be sitting at home for that!

Until the next time....

Sunday, April 21, 2013

GARDEN RE-DO...

 
Today I had some chores planned, most of which involved working in the yard. Having recently had surgery, this was a HUGE undertaking and I would never have been able to do it had it not been for the muscle and help of my son, Ross. We worked for 4 solid hours and then I was absolutely wiped-out. I still haven't recovered. Although I am extremely happy to have accomplished something on the to-do list, I am hoping that I didn't overdo by pushing myself too far.
 
Since last year I've been working toward making my yard water-wise; landscaping with native plants which are drought resistant and require very little additional watering throughout the brutal summers for which Dallas and Texas are know.
 
Last year I planted a red yucca which I dug up at my sister's house. It has done very well in this rock garden area by the curb. As you can see, this year it is blossoming. Today I planted a Flame Red salvia greggii (another draw for butterflies and hummingbirds) and some Mexican feather grass to fill in the area a bit more. Will be adding more similar plants as time (or budget) allows. I will also be doing native plant beds/gardens across the front yard so there is nothing but gardens and paths. It is a slow process.
 

Last year I had some trees trimmed in my front yard. One of the red oak trees was planted by a squirrel and was interfering with the growth of another red oak (yes, a native tree) so I asked that it be cut down. Rather than cut to the ground and then require a stump grinder, I asked that the trunk remain about 5-6 feet high. I planted a trumpet vine (hummingbird magnet; native plant) next to the tall stump and will train the vines to cling to the tree.


Now for the real garden re-do. I have 2 new raised beds (again, thanks to help from Ross) that were made with the intention of growing nothing but vegetables. Thinking I knew what I was doing, I bought a load of dirt from a respected soil/mulch retailer in the vicinity. In retrospect, I made a huge mistake. I bought soil that wasn't very conducive to vegetable gardens (despite what I'd read on the website of the soil place) or else when I drove back through the soil lot I ended up with the wrong dirt, because this soil was too sandy and dense. It supposedly had 50% composted material to 50% soil mix, but I think the sand was about 80%.

Beginning in January, I started planting veggies at the appropriate time. January was for onions; March was time for tomatoes. Lettuce was planted in February.

Here we are at mid-April and the tomatoes have done absolutely NO growing at all. I revisited the equally reputable nursery where I purchased the tomatoes to again go over the proper conditions for the plants that I'd been instructed in a tomato-growing class I'd attended. I had protected the vegetation in the colder nights, had fertilized when the initial planting was done, kept the moisture applied consistently, and more.

Yesterday I stuck my finger into the soil to see if the ground was still moist. Oh, it was moist all right, but the sand content caused the soil to be so tightly packed that I could barely get my finger into the ground. Then I knew what was the problem and what I need to do.

The soil was too compacted and wasn't allowing air to the roots, nor was the soil loose enough for roots to spread out. I went to the DIY home improvement store and bought bags of composted material and cow manure. I carefully dug up the plants that were floundering, removed about half of the "bad" soil in each bed, mixed bags of composted soil and manure with the remaining dirt and then replanted the tomatoes, peppers, cilantro, green beans, red bell peppers, and strawberries. I left the lettuce, onions, and chives alone, figuring they would not withstand a major transplant. I am willing to write them off as a learning experience. Here are the newly re-planted gardens.


I added a couple varieties of lavender in the garden below. I still need to plant some squash, but I'm waiting to see if this new soil was the right prescription!


The soil that was removed from the raised beds (the "bad" soil) was put to use in another way. I have been using the old swing-set frame as a holder for bird feeders and hanging plants. If you are wondering about all the cardboard you see, I use that as weed barrier when I plant a new bed. It will eventually biodegrade, but in the meantime, the grass and weeds underneath will not be able to push through the cardboard. (It is also environmentally friendly in that I don't have to use harsh vegetation eradicating sprays that also cost a fortune... like RoundUp). The soil on top of the barrier is about 4-5 inches thick. I sprinkled native prairie grass and flower seeds indigenous to the ecological region in which Dallas is located - The Blackland Prairie. Lots of Little Bluestem, Buffalograss, Coneflowers, Eryngo, Lemon Mint, Evening Primrose, Indian Blanket, Gayfeather, and many more.


To make working in the raised beds a bit easier (and so the weeds and grasses between the 2 beds will not require mowing or removal), I re-purposed .... don't you wonder who came up with that synonym for "reuse"... several stepping stones I had at various locations around the yard. I am spreading decomposed granite between them so the surface is level and won't be muddy. Again, I employed the cardboard weed barrier trick.


And lastly, I saw these Spring Cactus plants at a nursery the other day and couldn't resist their bright colors. I bought one of each and put them in a pot... red, pink, orange. I hope they do well. They remind me of Christmas Cactus, which I enjoy seeing every winter.


That was enough work for one day!!

Until I recuperate from the activity.....

Monday, April 15, 2013

ALL ABOARD.....

Today I chased trains... or I should say chased a train. There is a railroad museum at the Fair Park grounds in Dallas, Texas. Having outgrown its space, a new Museum of the American Railroad has been built in Frisco, Texas and now the contents of the old museum must be relocated to the site of the new museum. You'd think it would be relatively simple to relocate train engines, freight cars, and passenger cars to a new location.... being a matter of hooking the couplings and off they go on the connecting track. WRONG!!

First, many of the cars and engines are not in working condition, having been neglected or out of service for many years. Based on the website[s] I've been following, some of the cars are made track-worthy by repairing the wheels, oiling bearings, replacing minor parts. Other units aren't as easy and must be loaded on flat cars to get them to the new location.

Regardless, the process has been ongoing since late last summer. Then the State Fair of Texas intervened and the relocation activities were halted until after the conclusion of the Fair.

Activities have resumed in recent months and weeks. Of course, the main items that I hope to capture with photos have yet to move.... 2 massive train engines that will not be able to travel the rails under their own power. (They will be transported via flat cars). I am told the 2 extremely large engines will be the very last pieces to move.

Today was a gorgeous day and there were more cars being moved. As I mentioned above, it is not as simple as it would seem. Today proved no exception.

I knew the train was on the move and headed to my "secret" spot I'd scoped out for when the actual move of the 2 engines took place. As I waited, word started coming via Facebook that there were delays. Bearings were overheating on some of the cars and oil was being added. Then there was a crew change. Knowing another location where I could see the train with ease, I headed to the new location in the hopes I'd get lucky. I hit the jackpot! The train was on a siding and would undergo the changes and maintenance as reported, so the time it would be side-tracked would be longer than expected.

Upon reaching the location of the siding, I watched the new crew emerge from a van that provided the transportation. Another truck carried the men with the oil cans and other gauges for making sure the bearings were still working.



Two BNSF trains side by side. The green one on the left is the one which carried the vintage cars. The orange train on the right was actually a coal train and would eventually move south (the direction going away from camera rather than coming toward me). Within about 10 minutes the coal train moved away.


Wait a minute! Here comes another train from the north, also heading south on the track just vacated by the coal train.


Finally there was a clear view of the entire vintage consist.


This Pennsylvania RR engine #4903 has an interesting history. It was an electric engine and was built in 1940. In June 1968 it was used to pull the funeral train of Senator Robert F. Kennedy from New York to Washington, DC. (Google is a wonderful invention!)


The remaining cars were not marked well enough for me to locate additional history. Here is an old engine.


Another old engine in desperate need of paint.


A caboose from another era. In a way it is sad... they are rarely seen today.


A wooden boxcar...


An old passenger car...


These 3 cars remind me of Army green.... transporting soldiers during WWII.


This passenger car (dining car?) was in a major state of disrepair. Hopefully someday it will be returned to its former glory. The curtains in the windows seem to tell tales of long-ago grandeur.


And that is how I spent my afternoon chasing a train. At least it wasn't a wild goose chase!!

Until another adventure....

Saturday, March 02, 2013

DEFINITION OF CUTE...

Here, my friends, is the definition of cute.


Here is the definition of "in case you didn't get it the first time".


Here's the definition of HO-HUM. Wait til someone asks my opinion of the little squirt.


And finally, here is the definition of oh &%#$, the cat is bigger than me!!


Until there is something more interesting...


Sunday, February 24, 2013

IN THE MEANTIME ....

As usual, I've been busy. I'm trying to get the backyard ready for all my spring gardening, but it is a slow process.

After the raised bed was made, it was time to fill it with gardening soil. With much assistance from some male muscle, I was able to get 2 cubic yards of dirt. I really like going to the soil "store".  Hard to believe there are so many varieties of soils, mulches, and compost!


After unloading the truck, the next destination was Dallas Farmer's Market. I wanted to go so I could practice photo-taking with a speedlite. It made an amazing difference. Usually I prefer to shoot without using any flash. In a few weeks I need to take photos at a family wedding and didn't want to chance ruined photos because of poor lighting or no flash. I've been practicing the "bouncing" technique for taking photos without directly pointing the flash at the subject(s). The first photo is without any flash.


And here is a photo of the same booth using the speedlite:


Back to my gardening projects. Here is an example of what I am trying to do with my yard. The plants are all native to the area and survived centuries of growth despite periods of drought. In other words, they have adapted to using no more water than what rain is provided. It will take a couple of years to achieve the completed look, but think of all the money I will save by not watering and not mowing!!


You have to look closely, but there are interesting objects spaced throughout the yard. Metal yard art, unusual boulders, and garden signs. Some paths are flagstone; others decomposed granite. To me this is much more visually appealing than a manicured lawn, sculpted shrubbery, and straight cement walkway.


Yesterday I went to a part of town I can truthfully say I'd never ventured. I was searching for "junk shops". Instead I found myself at a salvage yard. There were windows, doors, old lumber, rusted metal, and more. The sad part was that none of the prices were salvage prices!!!


This was a view from a vantage point I'd never been. I rather liked it.


The salvage yard was on the south side of the city, along the Trinity River. Many decades ago Dallas built numerous bridges traversing the river as the city grew and needed to accommodate more drivers. This is one of the remaining old structures.


The last photo of the day was not intended. As part of the city's vision to make the Trinity River bottom more attractive (translated as capable of producing income for the city), new bridge structures are being built, decades-old streets are being renamed to sound more inviting (i.e Industrial Boulevard suddenly became Riverfront Boulevard), and plans move full steam ahead to renovate, revitalize, and transform a previously decayed industrial area to a retail and eatery destination. The Margaret Hunt Hill Bridge was completed last year, but I'd never purposely sought an excuse to see the structure. In my opinion it is more impressive at night with the lights that shine on it, allowing it to be seen from miles away. (It's also very difficult to drive and take photos at the same time).


Today I worked in the veggie garden. Got my tomatoes planted then fertilized and gave another dose of root stimulator (as always, organic and pet-safe) to the already planted onions. With any luck, by the end of May I will be eating home-grown onions and tomatoes. The peppers won't get planted for at least a few more weeks. If I get ambitious enough to make another raised bed, I might try some beans, peas, or squash. We'll see how it goes.

Until then...


Wednesday, January 30, 2013

SO LITTLE TIME...


It's been almost a month since I last updated the blog and I decided it is time. I've been busy doing a little of everything, so although I am not doing anything terribly important, there seems to be so little time to accomplish much of anything, let alone keep current with my photographs.

A few weeks ago we got some snow and ice. I was wakened to the sound of periodic thumps against my bedroom window. Figuring it was ice falling off the roof or something equally mundane, I ignored it. But the thumping continued for the better part of an hour and I got curious enough to check it out. Here is what I found.....


A flock of cedar wax wings had attacked the red berries on my holly tree. The thumping was the occasional bird flying into the window. I never see these masked fellows except for ONE TIME each winter when they literally strip every berry from the hollies in my yard. Then they are gone as quickly as they came... until the next year.


Mixed in with the cedar wax wings were a few stray robins. Being familiar with robins (they are the state bird in the northern state where I was born), they tend to feed on the ground rather than in the trees. I can't decide if these stragglers were being industrious or lazy. Regardless, they waited on the ground for the berries that got bumped from the tree as the others were being consumed.


Naturally, in an attempt to get a closer picture, I scared the flock sufficiently to abandon the holly tree. They didn't go far as there were still plenty of the tasty red berries to scavenge. Instead they gathered in a higher tree nearby, waiting for me to leave o they could resume their meal uninterrupted.


On January 10th my sister got married to one of the nicest men I've had the pleasure to meet. They were polite enough to let me play wedding photographer for the event despite the fact I'd never attempted to do such a thing until that day. I learned a few things about what to do and not to do.

This adorable cake was my contribution. My sister decided she was going to forego having a wedding cake because there were too many other things to do with coordinating kids being in town during college break, etc. No wedding is complete without some sort of cake, so that is what I set out to do. I surprised them with the cake and I think it was really a surprise they had not expected. I was happy I accomplished that much!


The next Bride and Groom. My brother is marrying his high school sweetheart even though it is about 35 years later!! They will marry on March 9th. Again, I've been called upon to provide the photography services. This time I'll be a bit more prepared and a whole lot more professional. I will rent an external speedlite so I can avoid flashing people in the face with the built-in, almost useless flash that comes with the camera.


After all the wedding excitement and more activity than I can recall, I took a weekend drive to northeast Texas. Ate lunch in Bonham, Texas (Fannin County) and visited Bonham State Park. The park itself is very small, but the sky was a beautiful, crisp blue against which the bold colors of the flags were particularly striking. By the angle of the flags you can tell the wind was very brisk.


I was on my way to Honey Grove, Texas. I had a purpose for driving the distance, but I wandered into this quaint little town along the way and was urged to take a photo or two of the lone Main Street. I don't recall the name of the town, but it might have been Dodd City. Or Ector. Or Savoy. Or some town that was too small to even locate on the map as I try to remember its name.


Here is the reason I went to Honey Grove, Texas. Meet Arthur. He is a year old (or so) Yorkshire Terrier that needed a home. His owners had been renting a house from a landlord in Honey Grove. The renters vacated the property and "forgot" to take their precious little dog. The landlord kept the dog for a few weeks in case the owners "remembered" they had left something (or someone) behind. She was never contacted. Being a lover of dogs herself, she was prepared to give the dog a new home to fit in with her other 4 furry children. Her husband was adamant he needed to find a home for the orphaned boy. In steps Gena, lover of all things adoptable. (As evidenced by my children and all the other rescue animals I've owned or currently own).


Arthur is one smart little dog! He has already learned his name and is getting used to his 4-legged brothers (Clancy the golden retriever and Tabby the orange/white cat). He's current on his shots and heartworm medication; just waiting for his appointment for neutering. He is maybe all of 5 pounds. I hope to include him on some of my adventures and jaunts.

This past weekend, with the help of Ross, we put together a raised bed for my vegetable garden. It turned out better than I expected, so now I want to make another one for herbs and lettuce. My agenda includes having some good composted dirt and mulch delivered to the house so I can get my onions planted.


I am in the midst of a 6 week rose gardening class and will probably add another rose specimen or two to the yard. I am trying to grow Earth-Kind roses with as little watering as possible regardless of our scorching summer heat. Last summer I started a rose bed with 8 plants. I watered twice at most. They have all survived and already exhibit signs of spring growth. I am thrilled!

Until another day .....