Chalk It Up

Posted on by
Reply

Plano had an event this past Saturday called Chalk It Up.  It was free, and I was hoping for some really cool 3 D chalk art.  Took my camera and headed to downtown Plano.

They had a band playing in the little park just West of the DART line.  There were 44 sectioned off places for the registered artist to draw.  We got there around 6:30, since it started at 5:00 PM.  There were only about 8 people drawing and none were done.  I snapped off a couple work in progress that look to have some potential.

KJ5D2204-FrameShop KJ5D2205-FrameShop

I was really hoping they would have been drawing since daybreak and had some 3D artwork like these.  3D Chalk Art

At least I finally got to eat at Lockharts Smokehouse.  Best BBQ so far in my Texas adventures.

One of the juvenile Ruby throated hummingbird has been hanging out at my office window.  She gets so close my telephoto lens won’t focus.  I’ll have to shoot her with a 24-70mm.  More to come of this later.

Enjoy the photos and what you read? Subscribe to be notified of future posts via email by either clicking the Follow button at the bottom or the Subscribe section on the right.

Life is good and I am blessed.

Kent

Jarrett-ise Ranch Hummingbirds

Posted on by
Reply

Last year in Illinois I planted several hundred dollars of hummingbird plants.  Towards the end of summer finally had a couple skittish females, but nothing worth photographing.  The hummingbird season is longer in Texas and I knew I wouldn’t have time with my Eagles, so I have started working on a hummingbird garden down here.  Right now I have a decent sized Trumpet vine blooming.  Put up a three feeders and have been able to attract one set of Ruby-throated and one Black-chinned male with at least two females.

Photos are not great as it has been over 100 for 14 straight days and they are feeding first thing in the morning.  As soon as decent light for photography, they are gone.

PBKJ1881-FrameShop

Black-chinned malePBKJ1906-FrameShop

close up portrait of the black chin.  Pretty grainy that time of morning.PBKJ1920-FrameShop

Ruby throated femalePBKJ1964-FrameShop

Juvenile Ruby Throated male.  His colors are starting to come in. They live 8 to 10 years and come back to the same feeders year after year.  I am hoping I can hook this guy and his harem into returning next spring.PBKJ1972-FrameShop

My red Hummingbird fountain.  I bought it 2 summers ago and never put it out due to not having enough local birds.  Sharon saw one drink, but neither of us have seen them bathe and play.

No where close the quality of photos I am looking for, but these are special because they were taken from my patio in my yard!  More hummingbirds can b e found in my gallery.

Stick around and see if they bring the babies out in a couple weeks.  As temps up north drop, the hummingbird activity should pick up.

Enjoy the photos and what you read? Subscribe to be notified of future posts via email by either clicking the Follow button at the bottom or the Subscribe section on the right.

Life is good and I am blessed.

Kent

Squirrel!

Posted on by
2

Sometimes when it is 102 in the shade, you just need to hang out on a branch and chil!

KJ5D2142-FrameShop

Enjoy the photos and what you read? Subscribe to be notified of future posts via email by either clicking the Follow button at the bottom or the Subscribe section on the right.

Life is good and I am blessed.

Kent

Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden

Posted on by
3

Went down to check out Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden.  At first I thought it was pretty pricey.  It was $15 to park and $15 to get in.  So I broke down and got a years pass for $85 and it includes parking.  With the pass I can take one guest.  I figured I will go two or three more times.  I went in hopes of finding some hummingbirds.  No hummers, but tons of flowers.  Pretty interesting place.  One of the coolest parts were there were 8 or 9 mexican 15 year girls in like thousand dollar ballroom gowns. The had professional photographers with hair and makeup people.  It is their coming of age called: Quinceanera.  I really wanted to snap off a couple to show you.  Looked pretty cool and huge money down here.  I am guessing I would need to learn spanish to make it work for me.

KJ5D2133-FrameShop

Blue Agave only bloom / seed once every 25 or 26 years, and then they die.  I had never seen a seed head before.  I am guessing it was 12 to 14 feet tall.KJ5D2135-FrameShop KJ5D2136-FrameShop KJ5D2139-FrameShop KJ5D2147-FrameShop KJ5D2150-FrameShop KJ5D2151-FrameShop KJ5D2152-FrameShop

 

Enjoy the photos and what you read? Subscribe to be notified of future posts via email by either clicking the Follow button at the bottom or the Subscribe section on the right.

Life is good and I am blessed.

Kent

Sachse Texas Fireworks

Posted on by
4

The little town of Sachse we moved to has their fireworks (Red, White and Blue Blast) on the third as to not compete with the larger displays on the fourth.  The park is less than a quarter mile from our house. I started off in our driveway, but quickly walked 4 houses down the hill by the pool to get a better angle on the fireworks.  Started out with my 70-200mm and quickly switched to my 24-70mm.  Almost all these shots were at 24mm.

Hope you enjoy them!

KJ5D2006-FrameShop KJ5D2042-FrameShop KJ5D2043-FrameShop_1 KJ5D2051-FrameShop KJ5D2077-FrameShop KJ5D2089-FrameShop KJ5D2090-FrameShop KJ5D2100-FrameShop KJ5D2126-FrameShop All in all a nice little display and a pool party cookout will be planned around this next year.

As messed up as this great country of ours is right now, there is still no place I would rather be.  God Bless the United States of America and THANKS to all who have served or are serving so we can enjoy the freedom we still have today!

Life is good, and I am blessed!

Kent