BP and the Angry Gulf

I was experimenting with a

graphics program and free forming brush strokes. After some initial practice I saw the contrasts of a black bottom and blue waves and of course it was reminiscent of the recent oil spill....an environmental nightmare that hopefully won't be repeated.

Blizzard of 2011

As blizzard conditions ripped across the country this first week in February, temperatures reached a low of 21 degrees in Austin last night. As news services cautioned this morning " the conditions are worse than the look". the nearly one inch of snow shut down City, County and State services as businesses also closed. With snow totals 20-30 inches in many parts of the Nation, I feel a little sheepish with friends and family north of the Mason/Dixon line. Signing off in a frigid Austin where the high is predicted to only hit 40 today..... and wondering if the kids will attempt a snow man.

Tyler was on the white blanket with his Christmas toys and I remembered....the camera in the back office. I laid down with him and snapped away while he played. I think I had more of the fun. At eight months he is growing up.

Jackson had a blast in his recent visit. I was taking pictures of his brother Tyler when he jumped in with his milk box and broad smile.

This picture of Jackson David was my favorite over the Christmas Holiday. Jon and Ali drove down from Round Rock and mid morning Jackson bolted from the car to engage the gift opening. Ali mentioned that she asked JD to get dressed but he wanted to wear his "Thomas". I don't believe Jackson wanted to stop for a pic...his clenched fist and head tilt suggests "make this short I'm coming through". We had a blast, and Jackson brought his A-game, the two year old wonder of Christmas.

Capitol Building Lincoln Nebraska

I visited the Capitol in Lincoln for the first time in 20 years. I nearly forgot what an extraordinary structure this is. The stone block construction should stand another millennium. These few pics are from the second floor.

New Mexico Vistas

On a recent trip to New Mexico I tried out the panarama feature on the Sony camera . You can press and sweep the horizon. While I don't think I will use this function often, it did capture somewhat better the expansive open country that a simple pic couldn't.

NAMI-Walks, Austin, Texas, 10/02/2010

Beautiful early fall day with about 3000 walkers on hand to call attention to the need for awareness of mental illness and hope for recovery. Mayor Lee Leffingwell and Governor Rick Perry showed up and participated. I walked with the "Recovery Rockers" and we had over 80 Austin Travis County Integral Care employees and family take part. http://www.atcic.org/ I took over 150 pictures and grouped them into a slide video. This walk was sponsored by the National Alliance on Mental Illness, NAMI-Austin.

Nambe Falls and Reservoir

Northeast of Santa Fe there are string of Pueblos that have governance over their lands. Here in the pictures are the Nambe falls and reservoir. I hiked around the lake and up to the falls. Notice not a cloud in the sky. In early fall it's 75 degrees and a great day to be in the outdoors.

Santa Fe, New Mexico

Life and death in the high desert. The bleached bones, no longer held together as a living backbone, lay strung out in contrast to the living plant pushing through the arid soil.