Birds Gone Wild

Over the next few days I'll try to bring you a few pictures taken during my Phoenix trip.  I didn't do a lot of photography on this trip but one of my most fun days was getting together with Tracy (Life is a Road Trip) and Magpie (In Over My Head) when the three of us rode the light rail into downtown Phoenix for a walkabout.  This one was the result of either Tracy or Magpie asking either Magpie or Tracy to scare the pigeons feasting on the germinating winter grass on the lawn of the Civic Space Park in downtown while I and either Tracy or Magpie tickled the shutter.  This photo was processed on Topaz Adjust with the Venice filter.

Squirrel Monkeys

A trip to Phoenix is never complete without a trip to one of Arizona's zoos.  The Phoenix Zoo is a wonderful experience, especially when the weather is nice like it was when I visited last week.  And of course you can't go to the Phoenix Zoo without visiting Monkey Village, where 16 squirrel monkeys entertain kids and adults every day of the year.  Notice that these dudes don't have claws.  They have fingernails just like me and you.

Generally weighing somewhere between one and a half and two pounds, these little simians are very fast and very entertaining.  Be careful and watch what you touch.  They pee on everything.  The entrance to Monkey Village has a hand-washing station as you leave!

Natives of Central and South America, these little guys seem to be right at home in Phoenix.  A visit to their village made the purchase of a 300-mm lens entirely worthwhile!

Old and New in Downtown Phoenix

The Luhrs Tower, the city's first skyscraper (14 stories) looms over a new CVS Pharmacy in downtown Phoenix.  The art deco building was constructed in 1929 and appeared in the background of a scene from the 1960 film Psycho.  The CVS caters to a growing number of people who make their homes in the many lofts, condos and luxury apartments in the downtown area, although a grocery store is still in much need.  Perhaps all those people who live there just eat in the wonderful restaurants that now dot the downtown streets.  When I worked downtown back in the 1980s there were only four or five places where one could even have lunch.  The wires in the upper right of the photograph are electrical lines for the light rail system which transports commuters from the central corridor and from Tempe into the heart of Phoenix.  Rail lines still need to be constructed to bring the West Valley into the system.

Kitambi

I think this is my best shot during my trip to Phoenix.  I spent one morning at the Phoenix Zoo since my love of animals draws me back over and over again.  I know there are a lot of people who detest zoos but so many of the animals in our zoos today are there because they have found a sanctuary rather than simply being an entertainment for humans.  This is Kitambi, a three-year-old African lion who came to live at the zoo from Columbus, Ohio, just one year ago.  He was brought to Phoenix to be a romantic companion to Connie, the resident lioness.

Desert Beauty

This is just one example of the many beautiful desert plants I found in bloom on my trip to Arizona recently.  I'll try to post a few more photos in the next few days of some wonderful flowers that bloom there in the fall.

Cotton Candy Skies

A setting sun turned this cloud formation just prior to my landing in Tyler, Texas, into a beautiful blend of pink and blue, and a little golden aura from the area's pollution just added some extra color to the palette.  There is very little visible pollution in the skies over East Texas and it is one of the few places I've been recently where a gajillion stars still twinkle on clear nights, but the sun's reflection on dust and other particulates in the air contributes to a dramatic sunset.

I returned Tuesday evening from my trip but I'm still very unorganized and busy so I probably won't get back into the full swing for another few days.  We're preparing for a big family reunion (our first in 11 years) for this weekend so maybe next week I'll be around with new posts and renewed comments on yours.

Skies Over Jerome

Jerome, Arizona

It's time for a little R and R in the desert of Arizona.  A much needed vacation starts Friday for a couple weeks, although I probably won't make it to Jerome on this trip.  This photo was taken on one of my trips last year.  I dearly miss the beautiful Arizona skies and landscape.  Can you see why?

I'll post sporadically and visit when I can.  Hopefully when I return the autumn leaves will be decorating East Texas for Halloween!

Signs of Fall

Yep, it's happenin'!

The One that Got Away

I kept following the egret  which is shown in the most previous post until I finally ticked him off and he took off in flight.  Seeing this beautiful bird aloft and soaring over this pretty little blue lake made my heart glad and I just knew I had the perfect shot.  But being a very amateur bird photographer once I got home and took a look at the photos, imagine my disappointment in discovering that all I managed to catch with the camera was the reflection.  I barely even got the bird within the camera frame!  So in your mind just flip the photo upside down, give it lots of light and definition and maybe you can imagine what it looked like to me - the one that got away!

Great White Egret

Daybreak in Cleburne

Cleburne, Texas

Population - 30,000

County Seat of Johnson County

30 miles south of Ft. Worth

Cardinal on a Foggy Morning

SOOC

LINKING TO WORDLESS WEDNESDAY

Acorns

This little twig with a giant cluster of acorns fell from the old oak tree into one of our bird baths.

I loved how the blue color complemented the earthy tones of the acorns and the leaves.

Weathered Door

Weathered door in (where else?) Weatherford, Texas

(Side Note:  I'm older than this building.  I just hope I don't look older than this building!)