Rare Painted Bunting Sighting

Who knew that a painted bunting was flying around my wild bird feeder and land on my clothesline? I've been trying to spot one in the Texas Hill Country since I heard about them in the late 90's. Beautiful with red and blue and yellow colors on their little bodies, they live in cedar trees. One might think it was a parrot or pretty robin if not for keen observation skills and a powerful camera lens. Thank you, Canon. Okay, in my excitement, I couldn't focus. I'm bad.

That Deer in the Headlights Look

Here it is! A deer looking like he's frozen in your headlights...which actually is what happened in this photo. No animals were hurt in the shooting of this photo. Ha!

Cowboys and Helos

What's a helicopter doing being trailered down the Main Street of the Cowboy Capitol of Texas, Bandera? You can see the Tin Man on the right in the background....that's the town's landmark water tower which looks like...you guessed it. Due to techie problems pardon the red hood in the foreground....my excuse is that I was driving, holding the camera and trying to stay within the speed limit at the same time.

Longhorn Art

There's no way anyone's gonna rustle this longhorn! His name is Midnight and he means business. "Rustin' Midnight" comes right through the Hill Country at you!

Good Friday

Howdy Cowboys and Cowgirls! A gentle breeze rustled through the trees just like a thrown rope over the head of running calf. Today was a day ordered up by the Rodeo gods. Good Friday is a holiday known to Texas and I have recently discovered that places like the State of Oregon don't close up shop as a holiday on this extraordinary Friday. I had the day off from work, slept late, then cooked an "egg in a hole" for me and my best friend, Doug. The screen doors to our cottage were propped open so the real owners of the place, dos gatos, could come and go as they pleased. We call our special abode by the Medina River, Gypsy Wind Lodge. Bob Seger and his long ago Silver Bullet Band sang about the Gypsy Wind blowing and I believe that wind is why I have settled at this very spot. Yep, that gentle breeze this morning was a big howdy from that old gypsy wind.

Bad Day to be a Lizard

Leapin' lizards, I've finally caught one. Momma Kitty,( Yes, we are not that savvy to change the name that came with her), is the queen of the hill in this part of the Texas Hill Country. No critter that is smaller than her is safe. She just loves to bring her special treasures to show the human units.

Cactus Flower

Even the spiny Cactus Flower has a friend springtime in the Texas Hill Country. We've been building our garden enclosure and this nearby patch of bloomin' cactus was buzzzzzin' with activity today.