A Tampa Palm at Sunset

Tampa, the back yard,  19 November 2011, 6:15 p.m., 79 degrees.  Sunset as a form of comfort food.  Click to see the photo larger if you so desire.

What is it?

I will be first to admit that sometimes things I see look differently to me than to others.  I am not sure whether that is good or bad, but it is what it is.  So what is this?  Let me know what you think.  Remember you can click on the photo to enlarge your view of it.

The First Shots from Tampa

Any one who has looked at this blog knows that I like to shoot photos as I walk.  Well, I walked - in the neighborhood, walking up past Pride Elementary School where the girls attend.  the White Egret, and whatever the big black bird in the top of the tree is, were in a conservancy area across the street from the school.  There are many such areas near here where there is a broad spectrum of wild life, including gators, in addition to what you see here.  Alas, the ducks were in a pond on the property of a much less exotic apartment complex.  Please remember that clicking on any given photo will make it larger and will reveal more detail.  Enjoy.

Happy Birthday

9 October 2011 would have been my brother Stan's 60th birthday. He may well have been the brightest person I have ever known. Happy Birthday. 

The Neighborhood in Early October

This is a beautiful time of year, and it is especially so in the morning just as the sun comes up.  Soon I will not live in Angola - hello, Tampa - and these are some of the random things I noticed on a walk - one of my last - down our road to Crooked Lake and back a few days ago.  I hope you like them.  Remember you may want to click on each photo to enlarge your view of it.

The Deck after a Rain

It rained and everything looked better in the afternoon light so I took these shots.  Just scratch these up to having fun at the time of and after taking the photo.  Remember, clicking on the photo allows you to see it larger and in more detail.

Ray, Indiana Ray, Indiana Ray, Indiana

Ray, Indiana, in northern Steuben County is directly on the Indiana-Michigan border.  This concrete marker is at the intersection of State Line Road and a railroad track.  My assumption is that the railroad placed the marker for its convenience.

An old service station with its rusting Wayne gas pumps, made in Fort Wayne, remains in Ray next to the railroad track.  The last time that station was open the price of gas was 32.9 cents per gallon - the price is still visible.

Some folks who view this blog know the McNaughton's from Fremont - I guess you could say that Ray is a suburb of Fremont.  The McNaughton forefathers settled in Steuben County in 1836, and here is a memorial of that fact on the barn on the old homestead.

In the area around Ray are some pastoral scenes that I could not pass up.  Ray will never be confused with Manhattan - at least not since the 1700s.

The Blossoms of the Heat of Summer

We have visited Lynne's garden twice before during this summer.  The third time brings a new variety of images to see.  Don't forget that clicking on each photo allows you to see a larger view of it.

GLOWING, COLORFUL BAGS OF HOT AIR

If you look elsewhere on the blog you will find some photos of last year's hot air balloon event in Angola.  There was another one yesterday.  I was at the airport at 7:00 a.m. and then Sue and I went last night for the balloon "glowing".  Some of the participating balloons were given just enough hot air to be inflated and then the gas jets illuminated them in the darkening evening to make them glow like huge Japanese lanterns.  These shots are all from the evening event.  There was a huge crowd there - it seems funny that all of us were there to watch bags of hot air.  I have seen some trials that were like that.  You can click on each photo to see it larger.

BIRDS OF A FEATHER

Sue and I spent some time during a recent afternoon on a friend's porch watching and shooting pix of a wren house.  A robin got into the mix as well.  Remember, you can click on each photo to see it larger.