tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11352039797834875232024-02-22T03:22:08.856-08:00Freedom_to roam_roadtrip. Travel blog about getting out and seeing. Artistic view of landscapes and seascapes, traveling and photographing places.Artbygordonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10548961348156976842noreply@blogger.comBlogger77125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1135203979783487523.post-89133681728583630012020-04-05T09:23:00.001-07:002020-04-05T09:23:07.047-07:00Adobe Spark Video 2<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="270" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/pFQrHyi8IT8" width="480"></iframe>Artbygordonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10548961348156976842noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1135203979783487523.post-85901588199952835742019-08-23T20:57:00.001-07:002019-08-23T20:57:07.618-07:00Adobe Spark Video 2<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="344" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/pFQrHyi8IT8" width="459"></iframe>Artbygordonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10548961348156976842noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1135203979783487523.post-32105957728007410532019-07-21T10:58:00.000-07:002019-07-21T10:58:18.445-07:00Caddo Grasslands: An Escape from DallasNot far from Dallas is a stretch of landscape called the Caddo Grasslands. I've driven through on a work related trip, a photographic trip and a trip with my nephew. I haven't found much to do, except maybe fish in the parks but it's a beautiful place to ride and get away.<br />
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My first impression, green and lots of it. Native grasses sway in the afternoon, near several small lakes and ponds where locals sit on patio chairs and visit. I definitely plan a trip in the fall as it's so close to home and there are many larger trees that would probably be a great spectacle in the middle of fall.<br />
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The parks and lake areas are alive with native birds, woodpeckers screech in nearby trees and several warblers sing from hidden perches in the thick blackberry and beauty berry bushes. The grasses are the main focus though, natural stands of native bluestem grasses hearken of the prairie once extensive across North Texas.</div>
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It was very windy on my last visit. No people, no crowds, nothing but large expanse of trees, water and grasslands. A welcome escape from the city of Dallas.</div>
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<br />Artbygordonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10548961348156976842noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1135203979783487523.post-16428882120183700092019-07-14T15:01:00.000-07:002019-07-14T15:01:17.635-07:00In the Dallas Fort Worth Area: A collection of nature placesI've learned to find beauty where ever I can. In Dallas you need to commit to a trip to go to experience nature but there are places I've found a little closer to home and with a little less commitment needed.<br />
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When I was very young, the simplest bit of nature made me happy and gave me such peace. In New Jersey there was so much more closer to home and lots of places from mountains to ocean to get lost in with little commitment necessary.</div>
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This first location, I heard about from a guide at the Raptor center. In early spring, I found an oasis of crystal clear water, lots of native birds and many native plants. It is called Park Hill Prairie and it is in Blue Ridge-It's in the middle of nowhere and I can count on one hand the amount of other visitors I have run into. </div>
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The beauty of this place is you stand in the midst of a prairie, almost as it was many years ago. The wind blows across the plains, scissor tailed flycatcher perch on wire fences and there is a silence that calms and soothes me. I've gone out and just sat on the stone wall looking across the prairie and it doesn't seem like you're still so close to Dallas.</div>
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This is the first in a series of beautiful places close to Dallas. I will have more pictures on the website as well as more places to go see.</div>
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For more images of Parkhill Prairie-<a href="https://artbygordon.com/?page_id=1948" target="_blank">Check out the website.</a> Get on the newsletter for more places to go and art and nature for home and office.</div>
<br />Artbygordonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10548961348156976842noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1135203979783487523.post-23695095819892808402019-02-14T11:08:00.000-08:002019-02-14T11:08:01.700-08:00Cold Dark Water: February on a Kayak<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
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It’s been a while since I wrote perspectives from a kayak. The idea of kayaking just hasn’t seemed as fun with my son off to the army.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Yesterday was the first time I put the kayak on the car by myself and even with his tendency to call out every imperfection in my process: I missed him.<o:p></o:p><br />
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A windy February day and the lake at Daingerfield State Park was an atmosphere of dark water and high contrast ripples reflecting an overcast sky. I am deep in the middle of painting a series on water and I was inspired to study every element of the reflections.<o:p></o:p></div>
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What I love about kayaking is the silence and the sound of water rushing with every stroke of the paddle. Rich reds, yellows and greens of the lily pads were like abstract patterns begging to be painted. I know there will be more paintings added to the current series.<o:p></o:p><br />
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I listened to the birds in the darkening forest as the sun hid behind the clouds and moved closer to the horizon. I heard the nasal call of a nuthatch as it crept upside down on the tree trunks. There was a chorus of tree frogs that called constantly but it’s not simply the wonderful sounds, it’s the fact that I took the time to listen.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Kayaking usually ends up being an introspective time for me, a time to be still and listen to nature. This day was perfect for that, I caught one small pickerel and for the rest of the day I just floated on a dark mirror of mercury reflecting the trees and gray sky in monochromatic drama.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Very tall pine trees surround Daingerfield State Park; so it doesn’t even feel like a normal Texas lake. The trees shelter you from the wind and the experience of quiet and calm is something I’ve been wanting for quite a while.<o:p></o:p><br />
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The patterns in nature are so fluid and constantly changing form and color. It is my job as an artist to see how the eye sees for just a moment and inject that same pattern on a flat dimension while keeping the emotion and sense of space and time consistent.<br />
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I never get tired of watching water and it's many dimensions and intricacies. I am in awe of a slow moving stream or the torrent of a waterfall, it's capturing that feeling and the sound in a painting that is the hardest task.<br />
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To learn more about camping, fishing and kayaking at Daingerfield State Park go to <a href="https://tpwd.texas.gov/state-parks/daingerfield">https://tpwd.texas.gov/state-parks/daingerfield</a><br />
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To see more images and upcoming paintings go to <a href="http://www.artbygordon.com/">www.artbygordon.com</a>. This blog will be moving to that address as I continue to grow the site.<br />
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Artbygordonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10548961348156976842noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1135203979783487523.post-79585543978763433342018-07-14T12:22:00.001-07:002018-07-14T12:22:05.143-07:00Back to a Kayak After 2 years<br />
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How fast time flies, a year of selling insurance, a new car, a year of building an art and writing business and here we are out on the water again. It's been two years since I've been out on the water and I wish I could say it was smooth sailing.<br />
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First of all it was really hot. Probably one of the best mounts into the kayak but immediately that feeling of awkward anxiety. DId I mention it was hot, the heat that stays on you and drains you of any energy you had left after a morning in the Florida sun.<br />
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My son didn't seem to miss a beat but I was clumsy, broke the only lure off I had and had to get another from him, he was already in his Zen place. I know I wasn't prepared, I went through the motions of kayaking but didn't quite get into the zone.<br />
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The water still had that calming effect, the sounds and the smells soothed and kept me somewhat content. I did more enjoying being out there than fishing, again, I wasn't that well prepared.<br />
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I didn't even bring a fish clip which is very important just in case you catch a fish. I remembered the feeling of what I've missed so much. I got back to seeing water from the simplest and truest form and suddenly it was like no time had passed.<br />
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I will never be a completely agile, comfortable kayak enthusiast but I do realize why we started this in the first place; to be surrounded by nature, to feel the water move under you and watch the distance stream beneath you. There a beauty and freedom to getting out there and just enjoying the water.<br />
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I will be back with more posts shortly. Maybe I'll find a cool shady pond like one in Daingerfield. Stay tuned for more destinations on a kayak and sorry for my unintentional delay in getting back to the water.<br />
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<br />Artbygordonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10548961348156976842noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1135203979783487523.post-7528281528324906782018-05-26T08:54:00.003-07:002018-05-26T08:54:40.850-07:00Back to Where A Passion Began: Seeking Waterfalls<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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So many times I've been to Turner Falls in Davis, Oklahoma and never visited the Chickasaw National Recreation Area in Sulphur, just a few miles north and east on highway 7. I went, I saw, I was very impressed.</div>
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The first thing I noticed is the sound as you approach Little Niagara Falls. I remembered what I loved so much about waterfalls. There is a rhythm to water falling and rushing and that rhythm connects us to nature in a very necessary but intangible way.</div>
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I had to stop shooting and just sit on an exposed root to listen to the sound and take in all the richness of color and light. Unfortunately, the light wasn't quite right for most of my trip. </div>
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After I had taken the tour of several waterfalls and was already overheated, the light changed. It is amazing to me how much light changes everything. The problem is we are forced to shoot on natures' timeline not ours. </div>
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I remember driving with family on highway to the sun in Glacier National Park. Everyone assured me we'd get the shot on the way back but you know that never happened. Light changes, conditions change not within hours but within seconds, the image that shows itself so beautifully is gone.</div>
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This is why so many wonderful vacation snapshots turn out just okay-light is everything and it creates a pathway for the viewer to experience just a glimpse of what you saw. Light leads the eye of the viewer, explains dimension and form on a 2 dimensional frame and contrasts light to explain temperature, place and distance.</div>
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I visited the waterfalls to reinvigorate my love and water. I wanted to get back to the passion of painting the many facets of water. Chickasaw is a beautiful maize of waterfalls, ice cold, spring fed water and great places to hike. I will definitely return. I will also do another post with more detail, this was more for my passion and enjoyment and the reason I went in the first place. </div>
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I forgot how much I missed the sound<o:p></o:p></div>
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No it’s the color<o:p></o:p></div>
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And the sound<o:p></o:p></div>
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Rushing fingers of blue and silver, like mercury<o:p></o:p></div>
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Beautiful and pure<o:p></o:p></div>
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I smell sulphur and earth<o:p></o:p></div>
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From somewhere deep <o:p></o:p></div>
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I compare the dimensions of water<o:p></o:p></div>
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Like the many facets of people<o:p></o:p></div>
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So many faces, moods and colors to describe<o:p></o:p></div>
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I’ve come back seeking<o:p></o:p></div>
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The beauty of what captured me before<o:p></o:p></div>
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Those steps to the tops<o:p></o:p></div>
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Of the cascades<o:p></o:p></div>
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But I was young and full of wonder<o:p></o:p></div>
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I was intoxicated by the sound<o:p></o:p></div>
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And the green rushing waters<o:p></o:p></div>
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Seeping from the ground<o:p></o:p></div>
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She was there<o:p></o:p></div>
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And that meant everything…<o:p></o:p></div>
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Now I barely listen<o:p></o:p></div>
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Had to pause the shutter to keep my place<o:p></o:p></div>
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a rich green story<o:p></o:p></div>
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where I always lose my page<o:p></o:p></div>
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distracted<o:p></o:p></div>
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the heat<o:p></o:p></div>
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the sweat<o:p></o:p></div>
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and the beauty and peace<o:p></o:p></div>
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I barely remember<o:p></o:p></div>
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And I forgot what I missed<o:p></o:p></div>
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It was the sound<o:p></o:p></div>
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No the color<o:p></o:p></div>
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And the sound…<o:p></o:p></div>
Artbygordonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10548961348156976842noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1135203979783487523.post-32572018845094108402018-05-20T14:10:00.003-07:002018-05-20T14:10:21.221-07:00My Secret Garden: A Place to Escape<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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North of Farmersville Texas the old quaint neighborhoods fade into long farm roads. Miles of empty space, small farms and cattle; it's a wonderful place to disappear.<br />
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I heard about Parkhill Prairie when I took a prairie tour at the Lavon Raptor Center on their first Saturday open house. The first few times I visited, it was cool and windy and beautifully quiet.<br />
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Hawks soared in a deep blue sky and crows called from distant perches against a backdrop of golden grasses that swayed adding to a symphony of natural sounds. I would sit on the stone wall and watch silently the distant hills and golden prairies, I had found my peaceful oasis.<br />
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Today was the first time I had walked through the green grasses and gardens of wildflowers, a perfect hot day, late spring. No cars, no people, just an explorer in my secret garden.<br />
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The crows have been replaced with the buzz of red-winged blackbirds and rich melodic notes of Dickcissel. The wind rushed through the willows and dragonflies buzzed about taunting me to catch a glimpse of their various colors, shapes and sizes.<br />
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It stirred so many memories as I walked along the edge of the several small ponds where cricket frogs and bullfrogs dashed into the shallows. My brother and I would always walk along streams looking for snakes, frogs and turtles, we were young explorers, naturalists.<br />
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Now I don't only notice the animals, it's the plants that demand my attention. Milkweed of several different species sway along with small mimosa like plants with pink fuzzy flowers, most I recognize, some are new and intriguing.<br />
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Since I've been collecting plants and wildlife gardening, my knowledge of different species has grown. I remember a trip to Tuscon where suddenly a whole new world of interest I became aware of.<br />
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I walked around several ponds, taking notes of the water for future painting, collecting notes on wildflowers and wild birds, it is my secret place and with every turn the willows blend into a green rich pasture.<br />
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The shade of the willows remind me of New Jersey, we had several giant willows where the orioles would nest in summer. The cool breeze across the prairie made the heat more comfortable and I enjoyed an afternoon of peace lost in Nature.<br />
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I will go back soon, by than perhaps summer guests will have picnics or barbecues but for now, it was all mine, an oasis to escape everything. Mission accomplished.Artbygordonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10548961348156976842noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1135203979783487523.post-19729417775231151342018-04-27T17:09:00.002-07:002018-04-27T17:09:58.271-07:00I Went Back to the Ancients and Found Myself: The North Sulphur River<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I drove to Ladonia today. It's a small town in Fannin County that was once a bustling hub of East Texas agriculture. The Golf Colorado Santa Fe Railroad once turned the town into a shipping point and its population peaked at 2000. After the Depression it never recovered and its population has continued to decrease ever since.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lillies in Ladonia Town Square</td></tr>
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I walked around the town taking pictures and I was haunted by ghosts of a much simpler time. The old building architecture and the quaint charm of the remnants made me feel like I had walked back in time. I enjoyed the quiet.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Aging Structures in Ladonia</td></tr>
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North of town is the Fossil park which is why I made the trip. I have been there before with family but never alone. It's very remote and except for two other distant figures, I felt completely alone and it was wonderful.<br />
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There were bank swallows swarming the bridge as I walked down the dinosaur sized steps to the river bottom. There are small schools of fish running through the shallow river and the sound of rippling water.<br />
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I enjoyed the sound of buzzing swallows and the quiet of nature. I remember my older son and I found shark teeth there years ago. There are several bridges and areas to access the river and each have their own diversity of fossils.<br />
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In this part of the river there were many belemites, ancient straight shelled squid and all sorts of shell impressions in the shale sediment. I felt like a child again, there is something beautiful and exciting about getting back to the hobbies you loved as a child. I have always been a rock hound, I even thought of being a geologist at one time.<br />
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I was wishing I had a 500mm lens because I could see the swallows gathering mud and they were just out of range of my 300 mm lens. Just as I got to a reasonable distance they would quickly disperse and I wasn't able to get any good photos.<br />
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The sky above the river was a deep intense blue complementing the rich green spring foliage. As I dug through the piles of rock and mud, I had an awareness of the heat. When you are on the river bed there is no protection from the sun and I knew I had to walk up the dinosaur stairs.<br />
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What was completely wonderful about the day was the peace and calm. I enjoyed the feeling of being amidst ancient stones surrounded by birdsong and river sounds. It was a great place to find myself and collecting a few fossils was a bonus for the exploration.<br />
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<br />Artbygordonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10548961348156976842noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1135203979783487523.post-29100710694145706072018-04-14T20:36:00.001-07:002018-04-14T20:36:26.915-07:00A Divine Light: The Azaleas of Turtle Creek<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Shooting during the right light is a matter of timing, there are certain times of the day where the light is so flat you can't help but capture a flat washed out image. There are other times when we just need to work that much harder with diffusing, isolating or seeking the right angle.<br />
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Today I drove down to the Turtle Creek area in Dallas. It's a very special place for me because my oldest son and I used to visit and take what he called travels; he was 5 or 6 years old.<br />
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It's nice to see some things stay the same as the old dirt roads are being developed and urban sprawl replaces wild prairies, it's nice to see the green places that have lasted and continue. It is something I think we need, nature is an essential element for our soul's wellbeing.Artbygordonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10548961348156976842noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1135203979783487523.post-67723377341996472802018-04-09T21:51:00.000-07:002018-04-09T21:51:52.456-07:00Going Back in Time: The Spectacle of Bluebonnets<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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When I first came to Texas the landscape was an adventure as everything was new. I remember long roads, barbed wire fences, longhorns and scissortailed flycatchers as I used to drive back and forth from Waco to Dallas for school.<br />
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I worked at a lumber yard where I learned about scorpions and the texas heat. I was always trying barbecue places and drinking soda pop, usually with rum in a go cup, they were different times.<br />
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Today I went back to Ennis, as I did last year, for the bluebonnet trails. I went a bit later this year than last year and they were more amazing than last year.<br />
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The whole ride I thought back to the days of jumping up into a truck for a delivery to Ferris or Ovilla and I remember how much excitement everything seemed to have back than.<br />
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The Bluebonnets are still the same and the roads are unchanged, sometimes we just need to stop and appreciate the landscape that surrounds us instead of seeking new places.<br />
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Walking through the rich blue fields where others took portraits of children, families and animals, I sought something else. I wanted to find a view that no one else was shooting.<br />
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At first I was looking for the change in pattern: I wanted a rich blue field with a few Indian Paintbrushes. The light wasn't wonderful but the clouds created a bit of a diffused look to the spectacle of blue that surrounded me.<br />
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I must admit as much I liked the way some of the images came out, I still haven't found that play of light that separates a nice photograph from something more dramatic. It remains a work in progress and will probably be back one more time.<br />
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For now, enjoy the spectacle that is the bluebonnet trails in Ennis, Texas.<br />
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<br />Artbygordonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10548961348156976842noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1135203979783487523.post-17045602318296120672018-03-29T21:44:00.001-07:002018-03-29T21:44:08.419-07:00East Texas Zoo & Gator Park: An Wonderful Menagerie<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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My idea of a great road trip is discovering what you might not have expected. So many billboards of zoos and gator farms that I've passed by, there is never enough time. I love being alone and having that freedom to go and explore just about anything; I've never been disappointed yet.</div>
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I finally decided to visit East Texas Botanical Gardens but got sidetracked. I noticed a sign on the highway for <a href="http://easttexaszoo.com/" target="_blank">East Texas Zoo and Gator Park</a> and I was on my way.</div>
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Out in the middle of nowhere is a small oasis with a huge collection of diverse animals. It's one of those places you just don't know what you're going to see.</div>
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The people were friendly, the cost was low and I was excited to explore a hidden gem. They have many gators and some of them quite large. I was able to listen to bullfrogs singing in the ponds near the gators, a sound I have really missed.</div>
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Do you know what a Cape Barren Goose is? I found out the hard way that they are quite aggressive. All the animals are in their own yard and you walk along tall fences-it really is a great little maize with something different around each bend. The Cape Barren Goose wasn't taking visitors-he threatened and attacked the fence at every change he got. I wasn't paying attention for a moment while photographing and it put it's head through the fence trying to nip at me. I survived.</div>
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I saw a sloth bear and baboons who were very curious of its presence. There were zebras and deer-all familiar animals but some I couldn't name. There were also lemurs and monkeys and a couple of very large tortoise that I believe acted as tour guides.</div>
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If you ever get to Grand Saline, ignore the groans of the family, "there's not enough time." Go check out the <a href="http://easttexaszoo.com/" target="_blank">East Texas Zoo and Gator Park</a>, it was quite an enjoyable experience-just beware of the goose.</div>
<br />Artbygordonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10548961348156976842noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1135203979783487523.post-81596091726363214372018-03-28T19:38:00.003-07:002018-03-28T19:38:56.480-07:00Seeking Spring 2: In the Pink<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uG4eQ8sRm2w/WrxQF5NTUWI/AAAAAAAAGhE/p7pf6XpcRcAzLWJZM19yAznh0M8K3ZLEwCLcBGAs/s1600/DSC_0773sm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1000" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uG4eQ8sRm2w/WrxQF5NTUWI/AAAAAAAAGhE/p7pf6XpcRcAzLWJZM19yAznh0M8K3ZLEwCLcBGAs/s640/DSC_0773sm.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
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Still a little early to catch the spring color. I plan on going down to Palestine for the Dogwood Festival this weekend but I never made it on this trip. I did get a few shots of the redbuds in bloom.</div>
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For the last week, I have been burned out on writing and photography. As spring gets closer I have more hope of inspiration but at the moment, I'm feeling a bit aimless.</div>
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I planned on getting out to Daingerfield and than it was Palestine but I ended up stopping in Grand Salene. As you can see, I'm still a bit distracted and unable to really write, wish me luck on the next post, enjoy the pix for now.</div>
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I'm excited about spring coming.</div>
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<br />Artbygordonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10548961348156976842noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1135203979783487523.post-49421032600079441402018-03-26T15:42:00.001-07:002018-03-26T15:42:17.246-07:00Seeking Spring 1: First Color<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-C5CbZLcfeXQ/Wrl1y2ZPOJI/AAAAAAAAGUY/KSZwf1QpKIIB9qDvM2G6ei1N87PR55FggCLcBGAs/s1600/DSC_0837_sm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1000" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-C5CbZLcfeXQ/Wrl1y2ZPOJI/AAAAAAAAGUY/KSZwf1QpKIIB9qDvM2G6ei1N87PR55FggCLcBGAs/s640/DSC_0837_sm.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
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Out of the gray winter landscape, spring brings us fragrant fields of yellows, golds and blues. It's been a comparatively mild winter and yet I find myself eager for the fleeting sounds and colors of spring.<br />
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I drove out to East Texas today. I've learned that it's best to have at very least a target to go see. I have found myself too often wandering aimlessly with too many nondescript destinations in mind. Today I decided on Palestine but I never made it there.<br />
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This wasn't one of those planned days. I found several fields of yellow flowers and a few white but nothing too dramatic. It's probably a week or so early and I plan on getting out on a longer trip in mid April.<br />
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I drove out 205, not much to see, a few redbuds here and there but nothing too dramatic. I looked to Daingerfield, a favorite lake of mine but it was farther than I planned on going. I decided on Canton and all places nearby.<br />
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I found a great field that seemed like I was in the middle of a pristine prairie. The more I started shooting the more subjects I found. As I headed toward my final destination: East Texas Botanical Gardens, I discovered another out of the way place.<br />
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So many trips I've taken with the family and the idea is always get ther fast. I've driven past so many gator farms and small zoos, finally I discovered the East Texas zoo and Gator, I changed my destination.<br />
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Just before I got to my new destination I discovered some wonderful fields of yellows and a great stream to shoot. I plan on getting out in mid-April so stay tuned.<br />
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Next post the East Texas Zoo and Gator Farm. It was really worth the trip and made a day of aimless driving worthwhile. For now enjoy the first of spring.<br />
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<br />Artbygordonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10548961348156976842noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1135203979783487523.post-68517042621326540952018-01-31T22:02:00.000-08:002018-01-31T22:02:38.748-08:00Sunset on Mount Scott: A Scramble in Fading Light<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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My intentions were to capture the super moon on Wednesday morning. I arrived at Wichita Mountain Wildlife Refuge a bit later than I had hoped the night before. I wasn't able to use a tripod and had to scramble to capture the atmosphere before I lost all light.<br />
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I was just one of three other cars up on the mountain which was a wonderful feeling of desolation and solitude. Th steep grade to the top of Mount Scott is lined with giant granite boulders adorned with rich yellow lichen. On my last visit I don't remember the color of the lichen being so vivid.<br />
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I saw a small animal crossing the road and what I thought was a raccoon turned out to be a porcupine. I've only seen one in the wild before and it was a treat to watch him disappear into the dense scrub.<br />
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As I came around the bend there it was in all its glory, the full moon rising above the edge of Mount Scott. Pinks and mauves in velvety waves of clouds surrounded it as it rose into the darkening sky. Below I could see Lake Lawtonka as it snaked through the valley. As the sun set, it warmed all the colors to a reddish brown complementing the blue of the water.<br />
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All the lights of the cities nearby had begun to twinkle as the wind blew hard across the mountain. The road winds around the mountain with many views of the valleys and buttes below. As darkness set in, the rich warm reds gave way to purples and blues that faded into the sunset, a violent flame of color across the horizon.<br />
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I reached the top as the light was quickly fading. Photographing was difficult because it was really cold and the wind gusts were constant. The valley below was fading into deep blues and purples and the lights of distant cities set the dark horizons ablaze.<br />
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Tomorrow would be the super moon, a grand image of the blood moon, little did I know was that the camera would malfunction and I would be forced to shoot with my Iphone. What followed was a day of peace and calm in a beautiful ancient landscape that I will definitely visit again.<br />
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<br />Artbygordonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10548961348156976842noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1135203979783487523.post-89756704381598511802018-01-25T20:13:00.002-08:002018-01-25T20:13:41.279-08:00A Day at the Zoo: Taking time to enjoy individual exhibits allows for a more intimate portrait<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I enjoyed taking some closeups in the herpetarium in at the Dallas Zoo. Usually there are too many people crowded into the space, it was a weekday and I enjoyed observing all of the reptiles and amphibians.<br />
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This I thought was very odd. A Poison Dart Frog that found its perch on a bushmaster. I liked the way the golden green stood out against the bushmasters' dull browns and beiges. I took many photos just to get one that had them both in focus.</div>
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A Komodo Dragon took a bit of notice of me as he dug a hole. He stared through the glass and I was able to get a close up of his prehistoric face. It's closer than I ever want to be to such a formidable predator.</div>
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I loved how intense the green of the mamba was, it must have been feeding time because it seemed like it was searching for something.</div>
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Prehistoric is the best I can describe this iguana. I was able to get several sharp close-ups of this monster. He was very calm and relaxed.<br />
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This was a family of chimps that groomed each other and enjoyed some time in the warm sun. A baby played in the bushes and I wasn't able to get any shots of him. Suddenly they all picked up what they were doing and they were off. I liked how the light side lit her muscular form.</div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rHOAFPDF_yQ/WmqknzbY-AI/AAAAAAAAGD0/1iwyHt45NkcD__ZUU3-ouhgXg7h1MOzeACLcBGAs/s1600/cheet_sm2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="1000" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rHOAFPDF_yQ/WmqknzbY-AI/AAAAAAAAGD0/1iwyHt45NkcD__ZUU3-ouhgXg7h1MOzeACLcBGAs/s640/cheet_sm2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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This is the closest I've ever gotten to a cheetah. It was on the other side of a window watching as the kids were tapping on the window. I loved the look in its eyes.</div>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HMcWuiEBFyY/Wmqktc-oS5I/AAAAAAAAGD8/Xy1XH-duVV4PmGGPMSuoMzsJLxchz2jXACLcBGAs/s1600/elephant1_sm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1000" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HMcWuiEBFyY/Wmqktc-oS5I/AAAAAAAAGD8/Xy1XH-duVV4PmGGPMSuoMzsJLxchz2jXACLcBGAs/s640/elephant1_sm.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
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I liked the abstract ribbing in the trunk and how the light eventuated the folds of its skin. I enjoyed listening to the zookeeper about the elephants in the wilds of Africa. </div>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KAtibsm5Bg0/Wmqky2iSokI/AAAAAAAAGEE/ZnzRVZyoFL8kZzrvGy8JFSxb7fnHnbzAACLcBGAs/s1600/gorilla1sm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="730" data-original-width="1000" height="466" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KAtibsm5Bg0/Wmqky2iSokI/AAAAAAAAGEE/ZnzRVZyoFL8kZzrvGy8JFSxb7fnHnbzAACLcBGAs/s640/gorilla1sm.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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I enjoyed watching the gorillas, I was able to sit and watch them for a while. Again, the zookeeper told me about their personalities. I liked the blue lighting and the personality in their eyes.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTMxE7so6mnKysDIArY8V6sG0MnufmlJYzGpCmkJOsPMB_lD2dbUeMAtoCxnEIIWiMiE4kJK07O3TOIL66VjwLJAiGwAZ-QeLoVEwrKV2p8FCHTCJMbhBKmHZavh8eNgmARaCrjb_khcYW/s1600/DSC_0220sm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1000" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTMxE7so6mnKysDIArY8V6sG0MnufmlJYzGpCmkJOsPMB_lD2dbUeMAtoCxnEIIWiMiE4kJK07O3TOIL66VjwLJAiGwAZ-QeLoVEwrKV2p8FCHTCJMbhBKmHZavh8eNgmARaCrjb_khcYW/s640/DSC_0220sm.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
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I photographed several giraffe as they were fed. They have beautiful textures and their eyes have much feeling in them. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSthSxUCVOnzn6P5WXLH9o6yPIjHs5bITJcAIyms8-mRz4iqD5o9WZgrL92j7_HqRNM6MF5V-tM4IrGVX38YXH-iLZaYVf9-fYjyAMDq1wKQKQvEFe1IwnQOgvXk8cvCK-Y0BnH9slka0m/s1600/lionsm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="1000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSthSxUCVOnzn6P5WXLH9o6yPIjHs5bITJcAIyms8-mRz4iqD5o9WZgrL92j7_HqRNM6MF5V-tM4IrGVX38YXH-iLZaYVf9-fYjyAMDq1wKQKQvEFe1IwnQOgvXk8cvCK-Y0BnH9slka0m/s640/lionsm.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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This lion sat and watched the people, I think it was hungry. The eyes still had that wild look and I was attracted to the shadows.Artbygordonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10548961348156976842noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1135203979783487523.post-52130097701982878062018-01-20T19:55:00.001-08:002018-01-20T19:55:43.931-08:00Parkhill Prairie: A Place to Disappear<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx10cdoMA_yTmLtQkBSHqx5f7cKbNwkcJE9uWQJdXwU71PZfWEp_T0DviTpbhgcsU-ckY74Z3WKjmsy2H74eT22wnE2yVFaFFCzf9LIjMeGJCkicRfJohuLfcbYTTNiPaNsrTxWC6hnp52/s1600/meadowsm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="1536" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx10cdoMA_yTmLtQkBSHqx5f7cKbNwkcJE9uWQJdXwU71PZfWEp_T0DviTpbhgcsU-ckY74Z3WKjmsy2H74eT22wnE2yVFaFFCzf9LIjMeGJCkicRfJohuLfcbYTTNiPaNsrTxWC6hnp52/s640/meadowsm.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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I got lost in the long flowing stalks of bluestem grasses, the great blue sky looming above where hawks dance in slow spirals. I sat on the cold, moist ground and listened to what it might have been like when bison and Indians roamed the backland prairie.<br />
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The clouds drifted with a calm indifference, the wind breathed and than exhaled followed by a ritual silence. Meadowlarks flew in patterns from fences and crows called out breaking the stillness, it is like going back in time.<br />
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I guess the fact that the winter chill that settled in my spine and slapped my exposed skin with pins and needles would be a good incentive not to go to the prairie. I assume that's why both times I've gone there has been no one there but I consider it my oasis of silence.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3owI0HfgZHbqeq5rKRsDa90YnOSEjf0IIbOZgfJDsfuw6lbSGwwN6MSYxSrrpaIcuhmAj-cLjOyvYKd85cqOpZEHHJxxfEReXqhZHJEY45YcgzLQAtW18x2bOIrosit3JOZT_-KaOrWnZ/s1600/prairie3_sm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="1536" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3owI0HfgZHbqeq5rKRsDa90YnOSEjf0IIbOZgfJDsfuw6lbSGwwN6MSYxSrrpaIcuhmAj-cLjOyvYKd85cqOpZEHHJxxfEReXqhZHJEY45YcgzLQAtW18x2bOIrosit3JOZT_-KaOrWnZ/s640/prairie3_sm.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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I am comfortable sitting on the cold ground. My breath is still, my senses charged with the sounds as I try not to miss anything. I can hear cattle in the background and even a truck in the far distance but for the most part all is consumed with the rush of the wind through the grasses.<br />
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All that moves is the grasses, swaying back and forth as if haunted and the clouds marching passively across the plane, I am in awe of the silence and calm.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF-expicDGs8-XzQFm4AgxuqULowm8NWifbY4IY4sXoavZSxtomuOLfG70WJFuw8Awg9Ys5bK4J9FJP40aDnMtUZyh-el-guR6HJ1DAh8ykmyzi9wTIorQu1uilzWQjPsdr3Q7oisinQnH/s1600/prairie_sm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="1024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF-expicDGs8-XzQFm4AgxuqULowm8NWifbY4IY4sXoavZSxtomuOLfG70WJFuw8Awg9Ys5bK4J9FJP40aDnMtUZyh-el-guR6HJ1DAh8ykmyzi9wTIorQu1uilzWQjPsdr3Q7oisinQnH/s640/prairie_sm.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
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I have been dwarfed by mountains, the ocean but never by a huge open field. I have images of our history and it's inhabitants that made a life out here and imagine the distant cows that cry out now were probably the sounds of wagon trains and troops of coyotes, maybe even the bison.<br />
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The coyotes are still here, I see their tracks and scat but the bison are long gone. There hawks of all kinds, the red tail, the kestrels and the prairie falcon, their mood is pensive with a mission. They rise and fall in the golden field as it should be.<br />
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I learned about this place from a trail guide at the Blackland Prairie Raptor Center and I have been back twice. Yet another great place I learned about from the Blackland Prairie Raptor center, great people and wonderful birds with lots of knowledge, if you haven't gotten a chance to go on the first Saturday of the month, I would highly suggest going.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibMU0MLC3IkijWYOWySVn65bHrnGjKprzK1uPLwu-Jcs1WAdHSmyijsaBbdcRJkPpgRyjGaKgM47aLlbfA0R_K7HrJ4p_T353i-3cJ49DhhTt_CCOeuMD4qLUgybMw9j-pQ5-DR6q_S5gx/s1600/DSC_0021.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibMU0MLC3IkijWYOWySVn65bHrnGjKprzK1uPLwu-Jcs1WAdHSmyijsaBbdcRJkPpgRyjGaKgM47aLlbfA0R_K7HrJ4p_T353i-3cJ49DhhTt_CCOeuMD4qLUgybMw9j-pQ5-DR6q_S5gx/s640/DSC_0021.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
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There is also a pond on the property and again, no one around but an occasional Blue Heron that keeps out of range of my camera. There are also picnic benches and a pavilion, I can't imagine people in this park though, it is so quiet and beautiful, I think I might just be a winter visitor.<br />
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1A8Wl2wuEuQ/WmQOsWo3eTI/AAAAAAAAF_s/a0PTQI3ZT4oxzzTVbsfA_2cxKhfXk8fkQCLcBGAs/s1600/pond_sm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="1536" height="426" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1A8Wl2wuEuQ/WmQOsWo3eTI/AAAAAAAAF_s/a0PTQI3ZT4oxzzTVbsfA_2cxKhfXk8fkQCLcBGAs/s640/pond_sm.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<br />Artbygordonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10548961348156976842noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1135203979783487523.post-88684888160430422252018-01-06T20:47:00.002-08:002018-01-06T21:43:22.870-08:00Blackland Prairie Revisited: Protecting Birds and the Environment while Educating the Public<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cuTPljDDDYs/WlGfNJiI2lI/AAAAAAAAF7w/2CpUU2l5M70YEUNN9PrGmwKVwqGMYVvLgCLcBGAs/s1600/greathorned1_sm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="1008" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cuTPljDDDYs/WlGfNJiI2lI/AAAAAAAAF7w/2CpUU2l5M70YEUNN9PrGmwKVwqGMYVvLgCLcBGAs/s640/greathorned1_sm.jpg" width="630" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Great Horned Owl from the Blackland Prairie Center Photo by Artbygordon</td></tr>
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Protecting wildlife starts with saving habitat, maintaining native plants and fauna and protecting animals that have become injured or can not compete in their natural world. These animals become ambassadors to show our future stewards of the environment why they are so important and what makes them special.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tveXaUcK_tc/WlGj17XQPPI/AAAAAAAAF78/39DA7EgdYMwJ9PHLhckzJ1F2ELBd4OyoACLcBGAs/s1600/barn2_sm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="954" data-original-width="1536" height="396" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tveXaUcK_tc/WlGj17XQPPI/AAAAAAAAF78/39DA7EgdYMwJ9PHLhckzJ1F2ELBd4OyoACLcBGAs/s640/barn2_sm.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Barn Owl hissing. from the Blackland Prairie Center Photo by Artbygordon</td></tr>
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Blackland Prairie Raptor Center is doing all of these important aspects of wildlife preservation. I visited their first Saturday of the month, it's the only time they're open to the public and they show the birds that pass through their center. </div>
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They keep the birds as wild as they can be, even the imprinted birds that haven't learned to live in the wild are treated with the respect and dignity they deserve. It is quite an impressive operation and much of what I have learned about the Blackland Prairie is from talking with the naturalists there.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsj7N8ANWOdI8dWieIpIrd232DHihVtMFM3-THFKaov-VPPxOYGhsNX-PWdnGYtkYyE1ye5zcXBjbHm5FWGZOAo5Z8cheSK01a9JO2gTTKpgQn3byUc8_K6IEq0gbx4xOvMgrgcG1gkgJc/s1600/tight_barred_sm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="1536" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsj7N8ANWOdI8dWieIpIrd232DHihVtMFM3-THFKaov-VPPxOYGhsNX-PWdnGYtkYyE1ye5zcXBjbHm5FWGZOAo5Z8cheSK01a9JO2gTTKpgQn3byUc8_K6IEq0gbx4xOvMgrgcG1gkgJc/s640/tight_barred_sm.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Barred Owl from the Blackland Prairie Center Photo by Artbygordon</td></tr>
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They take the time to show you each bird they have and explain their unique situations. I was impressed with how much the children knew about the birds and the difference between nocturnal and diurnal.</div>
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Every time I go to the center I learn something I didn't know. Here is a list of some more things I've learned from my visit today.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Red Tailed Hawk from the Blackland Prairie Center Photo by Artbygordon</td></tr>
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1. A flock of Kites is a kettle. The mississippi kite is expanding its range southward. With age comes the more grey plumage and it feeds on mostly insects.</div>
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2. I've never heard a barn owl hiss up close. They also shriek and it can be quite piercing to the ear.</div>
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3. The tuffs of feathers on the head of the owls break up their round shape and make them harder to see in the wild.</div>
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4. A barn owls ears are so intense they can hear a heartbeat and they can actually attack a mouse under the snow without even seeing them.</div>
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5. Owls have tubular eyes that are more fixed than other animals and therefore they need to swivel their heads to see.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpFidMP-dCVp3Xmh-uhpDF_rP7TQN6oy_8lMiXiC5tX67TtZMs5epAbImQY8NCFxvH3qnrNT4OefRIriXPk8nCCT4_pCMlVuDapRiYybdMelfOoz0-UE3Hg2WpmgzR8cyuu8zlOo49oq3I/s1600/DSC_0766_sm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="1323" height="494" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpFidMP-dCVp3Xmh-uhpDF_rP7TQN6oy_8lMiXiC5tX67TtZMs5epAbImQY8NCFxvH3qnrNT4OefRIriXPk8nCCT4_pCMlVuDapRiYybdMelfOoz0-UE3Hg2WpmgzR8cyuu8zlOo49oq3I/s640/DSC_0766_sm.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Preregrine Falcon from the Blackland Prairie Center Photo by Artbygordon</td></tr>
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After the bird show we took a hike on the trails and we learned about blue stem grasses, native grass and invasive non-native species. I learned about another place I had never heard of before today and I very much enjoyed my visit, the park is the Parkhill Prairie near Blue Ridge and it was an amazing visit where I saw hawks and vultures flying in their environment. </div>
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It was a wonderful day.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqA4qna8giPgpXDM2Shezr_HHg1g5bQhQ488VY0tlVcWMti9OeoMoSyji4kwKhw-LAnfx5q74bNutCBlInBAl8jdx3zyEk4yq6vuvjmyHZE4KiIzWD_ubROvmtjR2MscwXYfyycuSsJqNi/s1600/redshouldersm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="879" data-original-width="1215" height="462" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqA4qna8giPgpXDM2Shezr_HHg1g5bQhQ488VY0tlVcWMti9OeoMoSyji4kwKhw-LAnfx5q74bNutCBlInBAl8jdx3zyEk4yq6vuvjmyHZE4KiIzWD_ubROvmtjR2MscwXYfyycuSsJqNi/s640/redshouldersm.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Red Shouldered Hawk from the Blackland Prairie Center Photo by Artbygordon</td></tr>
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<br />Artbygordonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10548961348156976842noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1135203979783487523.post-10778566431495403172018-01-05T20:17:00.003-08:002018-01-05T20:17:42.942-08:00One Amazing Sunset and What's on the Horizon?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RobflxBwtbw/WlBIjMP8EQI/AAAAAAAAF3g/oGUukO-5YFsL2jXdWmyBvicSgAISVSKLgCLcBGAs/s1600/DSC_0629_sm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="1536" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RobflxBwtbw/WlBIjMP8EQI/AAAAAAAAF3g/oGUukO-5YFsL2jXdWmyBvicSgAISVSKLgCLcBGAs/s640/DSC_0629_sm.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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This evening I got to watch the sun set and enjoyed so many aspects of its glory. The colors grew from yellows and oranges to salmon and pink and finally a rich red and deep blue.</div>
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This wouldn't normally be in the Road Trip section but I thought I would preview what is coming up. I"m planning on getting out road tripping and shooting more nature in silhouette.</div>
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Another aspect of nature I've been experimenting with is isolating the bright colors of nature against a dark backdrop. I am excited about the new year, so many opportunities to shoot and explore nature.</div>
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I'm running out of new parks close by so I will probably be running up to places in Oklahoma very soon and I plan on kayaking on Daingerfield for Chain Pickerel.</div>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4XsDNfAIwlA/WlBLkPY2VCI/AAAAAAAAF3s/lqrzix1-P8QFQkkgfv_3VW5Uh97sf-fdQCLcBGAs/s1600/DSC_0668_sm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="1536" height="426" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4XsDNfAIwlA/WlBLkPY2VCI/AAAAAAAAF3s/lqrzix1-P8QFQkkgfv_3VW5Uh97sf-fdQCLcBGAs/s640/DSC_0668_sm.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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My next trip will probably be up to <a href="https://roadtrippingnow.blogspot.com/2016/01/two-views-of-mount-scott-wichita.html" target="_blank">Wichita Mountain Wildlife Refuge</a>, I am looking for places to find waterfalls. I am also planning on getting out to Arkansas for the fall foliage this year. Please stay tuned.</div>
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Tomorrow I'm planning on getting out to the Blackland Prairie Raptor Center, I will have more photos of owls and hawks so stay tuned. </div>
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In the meantime, I've been doing a <a href="https://virily.com/stevelinebaugh/" target="_blank">365 day photo challenge</a> so here is a group of sunset images from day 28. I can't wait to see what new places I discover, so many possibilities, so little time.</div>
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Artbygordonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10548961348156976842noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1135203979783487523.post-91184918099508290592018-01-04T22:29:00.001-08:002018-01-04T22:29:03.784-08:00Cedar Ridge Preserve: A Great Mix of Nature, Exercise and Community<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sumac Berries by ArtbyGordon ©2018</td></tr>
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I visited the Cedar Ridge Preserve near Cedar Hill, Texas today. I had actually visited many years ago when it was the Dallas Nature Center.<br />
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It is the perfect mix of nature and community, there were just enough people on the trail that you didn't feel to isolated nor crowded. The paths snake around limestone cliffs and meanders up one hill and down the next.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">ArtbyGordon ©2018</td></tr>
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There are many large stands of cedar and the shallow roots are like snakes rising out of the chalky soil. They've added logs of cedar for easy hiking and even the steepest trail was pretty easy to maneuver.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">ArtbyGordon ©2018</td></tr>
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It was the perfect day for a hike, cool enough to be comfortable but not too cold. I worked up a sweat on a few of the steeper paths and the cool breeze was a comfortable temperature.<br />
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There are several views where you can see Joe Pool lake and the distant hills. There were a few dogs on the trails but I didn't see that much wildlife or hear that many birds. I did hear some crows, a kinglet and a Carolina wren but it was mostly quiet.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">ArtbyGordon ©2018</td></tr>
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The surrounding highways were far enough away and their sounds were muffled by the hills of the preserve and the dense cedars and oak trees. Several times along the way I was able to just relax and enjoy the silence of nature.<br />
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It was a perfect day and something that I've been craving for quite a while. Nature is an amazing source of strength and peace for me and I left the park recharged. I will definitely go back.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">ArtbyGordon ©2018</td></tr>
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<br />Artbygordonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10548961348156976842noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1135203979783487523.post-42571105396746525302018-01-02T14:56:00.000-08:002018-01-02T14:59:13.479-08:00A Love of Birds and Places to Find Them<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8Y6d_Y9HhP0/WkwAU2MyjvI/AAAAAAAAF08/hNMVVQSKQOgr4oE-PFPWrj8Vy8xPzAmwQCLcBGAs/s1600/kestrelB.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8Y6d_Y9HhP0/WkwAU2MyjvI/AAAAAAAAF08/hNMVVQSKQOgr4oE-PFPWrj8Vy8xPzAmwQCLcBGAs/s640/kestrelB.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
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I have always had a passion for nature and birds have always been the easiest wildlife to attract to my backyard. Even in the most urban of backyards you can attract all kinds of species of birds, I've counted 40 species passing through my backyard.</div>
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There are also so many local places to go see birds. This is a list and some pictures of places I love to go see birds and enjoy nature.</div>
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<a href="http://www.bpraptorcenter.org/" target="_blank">The Blackland Prairie Raptor Center</a> near Lake Lavon in Lucas, Texas. The first Saturday of the month they display their birds and give you lots of information about each raptor. They also have tours of the property where they give you lots of info about the Blackland Prairie and why it is so important in our local ecosystems. I will be there this Saturday with new pictures.</div>
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The <a href="http://www.heardmuseum.org/" target="_blank">Heard Museum </a>in Mckinney is a wonderful place to go surround yourself with nature. There are great stands of old growth trees and every time I've stopped by I've seen an owl. Depending on the season, there are many different species that pass through the park and there's a nature museum and even animatronic dinosaurs. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Heard Natural Science Museum and Wildlife Sanctuary trails</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Heard Natural Science Museum and Wildlife Sanctuary trails in the meadow</td></tr>
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<a href="https://www.fws.gov/refuge/hagerman/" target="_blank">Hagerman National Wildlife Refuge</a> in Sherman, Texas is a great place for waterfowl passing through and many different species of hawks. I have seen flocks of waxwings in the spring and this winter I've been able to get to see the snow and Ross Geese. It's a wonderful park as there are never that many people there and there are many places to hike and explore.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ross and Snow Geese at Hagerman National Wildlife Refuge</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Waxwings in Hagerman</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Trinity River Audubon Center</td></tr>
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<a href="http://trinityriver.audubon.org/" target="_blank">Trinity River Audubon Center </a> a 130 acres of wildlife habitat that was originally an illegal dump site and now reclaimed as a haven for birds and other wildlife. I've visited several times and even once volunteered with fellow employees to help improve the park, that's how I learned about the center.</div>
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They even have a night owl walk and I'm planning on signing up for one soon.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgToPfnsa2YcpeeafZ5A7LWD3A-KmDNJgcZ7e17t940k0Fhcb455uB3d5KquTeaB-2_VhkZCnWHmnL1_vgpIXcpkDLeo36xYDuGEGkOIEBJw8XTzHujJS5kaqZRnHVr-KDZycKjPPTXH0m0/s1600/possumhawsm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="983" data-original-width="1024" height="612" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgToPfnsa2YcpeeafZ5A7LWD3A-KmDNJgcZ7e17t940k0Fhcb455uB3d5KquTeaB-2_VhkZCnWHmnL1_vgpIXcpkDLeo36xYDuGEGkOIEBJw8XTzHujJS5kaqZRnHVr-KDZycKjPPTXH0m0/s640/possumhawsm.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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There are a few others I am planning on checking out in the near future including Cedar Ridge Nature Preserve in Cedar Hill. </div>
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If you can't get out to see the birds, bring them to your backyard. Make sure they have water, seed and Suet available for them. Also it's important to have lots of plants and shrubs in different levels and the birds will use all the different areas to roost, feed and nest.</div>
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I have had the following nest in my backyard: wrens, chickadees, bluejays, cardinals, squirrels-they think they're birds-mockingbirds and several different sparrows. I also had bluebirds nest in a previous residence. </div>
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I grow plants specifically for wildlife and have also attracted 35 species of butterflies that also lay eggs, feed as caterpillar and grace the garden with colorful wings all summer. It really is a rewarding endeavor to make your yard a haven for wildlife and it's also a passion that pays in peace and calm. Nature is my favorite addiction.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Red Admiral at Hagerman</td></tr>
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<br />Artbygordonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10548961348156976842noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1135203979783487523.post-59277648827421342952017-12-30T21:26:00.002-08:002017-12-30T21:27:23.253-08:00Hagerman National Wildlife Refuge: A Gray Winter Day<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-COodwpqjy9c/Wkho-AHbRnI/AAAAAAAAFyQ/t4qrbEqzIpMkXT9xAs2tzUFwt6IQ8aFWQCLcBGAs/s1600/DSC_0142sm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="1536" height="426" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-COodwpqjy9c/Wkho-AHbRnI/AAAAAAAAFyQ/t4qrbEqzIpMkXT9xAs2tzUFwt6IQ8aFWQCLcBGAs/s640/DSC_0142sm.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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It was a cold winter day. I wasn't sure if I had missed the Snow and Ross Geese that migrate through the park but I decided to take a chance. The ride up was a long misty gray highway and it seemed longer than usual.<br />
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I needed a bit of nature, even though my backyard is full of chickadees, kinglets, cardinals and bluejays, there are too many distractions. Too many things to do, the television and the daily life struggles, so I went up to Hagerman to escape for a little while.<br />
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I wrote this about the morning.....it seemed like a long endless gray since Christmas<br />
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A Soft Morning, the winter breath of hungry ghosts</div>
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gnawing at my spine and cortex</div>
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it was as if we were both barely alive</div>
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me and this gray landscape</div>
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all colors given up</div>
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all light and character absent</div>
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we were both colorless forms</div>
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an old oak</div>
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shaking off the autumn</div>
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the wind rushed through </div>
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breaking limbs</div>
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leaving scars</div>
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but that's what winter does</div>
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it breaks us to the bones</div>
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leaving a shell that believes</div>
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in spring</div>
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that remembers color</div>
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A soft morning</div>
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awake and alive</div>
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but my soul asleep</div>
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in some gray lake</div>
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where the frost keeps the reeds</div>
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still</div>
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in winter all we have left</div>
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is our skeleton and a force of wind</div>
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our will</div>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-m4VIiwi5tO4/WkhrN9zkXFI/AAAAAAAAFyc/dm6hc9D3NPg_UDLGEJpyGprBVelEU145QCLcBGAs/s1600/DSC_0052.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="1536" height="426" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-m4VIiwi5tO4/WkhrN9zkXFI/AAAAAAAAFyc/dm6hc9D3NPg_UDLGEJpyGprBVelEU145QCLcBGAs/s640/DSC_0052.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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The Snow Geese were still there, not quite as many as previously, but just as loud and beautiful. They looked more like large white stones as they huddled in masses in the fields. Again they kept their distance but with less cars they all waddled closer to the road to get a drink. </div>
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What I enjoyed the most was the sound of the constant chatter and a new chorus would begin as another ended. I got out of the car to a huge flog that covered the sky as they reshuffled the flock.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj4YFDOKixpcfanLYOL2mbbejC5XwSQiHpv16v-YyKZ3GF-DKkwL9HP0waxqTFYH92gzhlne-ZR5wJiKjvdA2e2JK6PQfgO_dgoVsamd7AjFaAxzl7ncy1b6NtrtDIM_8xFd71NjAUZggH/s1600/Geese_flightsm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="969" data-original-width="1536" height="402" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj4YFDOKixpcfanLYOL2mbbejC5XwSQiHpv16v-YyKZ3GF-DKkwL9HP0waxqTFYH92gzhlne-ZR5wJiKjvdA2e2JK6PQfgO_dgoVsamd7AjFaAxzl7ncy1b6NtrtDIM_8xFd71NjAUZggH/s640/Geese_flightsm.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Besides the ducks there were many hawks including several kestrels, red-tailed and red shouldered hawks. As I was leaving I got a last glimpse of a hawk scanning a field outside the refuge. </div>
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It was a very cold gray day but I enjoyed the needed escape. I also got some sketches for future paintings as well, so stay tuned. Let me know what you thought of this post, more poetry? Less?</div>
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Did the photographs make you feel like you were there? I would love any input on this post. Have a happy New Year and get out there and enjoy nature.</div>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Z5lqXJz0-44/Wkh02xa-PKI/AAAAAAAAFzA/tdVjoJKKKV89hMeBPytw5rY5ayO-AzatgCLcBGAs/s1600/hawk.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="1536" height="426" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Z5lqXJz0-44/Wkh02xa-PKI/AAAAAAAAFzA/tdVjoJKKKV89hMeBPytw5rY5ayO-AzatgCLcBGAs/s640/hawk.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<br />Artbygordonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10548961348156976842noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1135203979783487523.post-19714947058126698852017-12-10T08:36:00.000-08:002017-12-10T08:36:29.762-08:00The Edge of Concrete: Escaping Gray<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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The light today was flat. An overwhelming gray that dumbed down the entire landscape. It was like a metaphor for my mood.</div>
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Amidst all the grays-the light jumps out of the obvious. I sat and listened, trying desperately to get lost in nature. This was a small moment of letting go and being peaceful.</div>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QMX8TzSm1mY/Wi1c6hg0vCI/AAAAAAAAFo8/-t5S6D5BbLsjcEJfZafExBOu7Ry4Lzm_QCLcBGAs/s1600/leafsm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1141" data-original-width="1024" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QMX8TzSm1mY/Wi1c6hg0vCI/AAAAAAAAFo8/-t5S6D5BbLsjcEJfZafExBOu7Ry4Lzm_QCLcBGAs/s640/leafsm.jpg" width="574" /></a></div>
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<strong style="border-style: solid; border-width: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The Edge of Concrete: Escaping Gray</strong></div>
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It’s against my nature to not respond. I’m the student that explains to the teacher how much I’ve learned while the lesson is in progress.</div>
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It’s natural as a creative to respond, we explain things, we describe things. I get the distinct impression the class has just begun and I need to be silent to fully understand today’s lesson.</div>
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The woods are insistent, both in voice and presence. The only comparison I can describe is sitting by a grave stone or in a tree stand hunting, both of these activities demand silence. We must surrender to the quiet, there is a purpose to it.</div>
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The voice is always the same, that constant breathing, the long inhale and that slow expelling of wind. The trees shake, the leaves fall and amidst the uncomfortable silence the lesson begins.</div>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-b5mr6T3b7xI/Wi1gT9Jkv2I/AAAAAAAAFpc/RMX24JW7QVMhQ6C9xi80lc3OyXju_EUzACLcBGAs/s1600/redleavessm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="965" data-original-width="1536" height="402" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-b5mr6T3b7xI/Wi1gT9Jkv2I/AAAAAAAAFpc/RMX24JW7QVMhQ6C9xi80lc3OyXju_EUzACLcBGAs/s640/redleavessm.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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I sit on the ground. So many thoughts seem to be simultaneously shouting for description. I feel so much weight of everything but you never realize it until you sit down. Stop, for even just a moment.</div>
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I feel the ache of age, I wonder if the oak feels the groan and bending in the winter wind. I feel every ache and pain, the long walk has my heart rate accelerated, even while its cold outside, I’m overheating.</div>
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I remember yesterday the traffic jam, how intense we are in our own lives we don’t realize how life is changing and affecting so many families. Our main responsibility is to savor every moment but do we?</div>
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So in this moment as the ground is alive with bugs and tiny things moving around, I am having a hard time keeping my mind from wandering to things to do, chores, ideas, I am overwhelmed. </div>
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It used to be a given that I would get lost in a place like this, but now it takes a bit of work. I struggle, the adult says look at the time, pay attention to strangers, make sure your hydrated. The child that got lost in fallen leaves and could lose himself in the shadows and ignore the thorns…where has he gone? I’m still searching, desperate to be calm…what a grand task it has become even here in the middle of the woods.</div>
Artbygordonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10548961348156976842noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1135203979783487523.post-5445113439682925652017-12-09T14:02:00.002-08:002017-12-09T14:03:49.530-08:00Back to the Discovery Gardens: Regroup, Revamp, Recharge<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iaKdNyUZuvg/Wixa_fsnjLI/AAAAAAAAFoM/_CYNgM3PtKkxHFcpacK0pdGnH1S_DaRMgCLcBGAs/s1600/DSC_0663sm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="1536" height="426" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iaKdNyUZuvg/Wixa_fsnjLI/AAAAAAAAFoM/_CYNgM3PtKkxHFcpacK0pdGnH1S_DaRMgCLcBGAs/s640/DSC_0663sm.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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For the last ten months, I have embarked on a sort of deconstruction of Gordon.01. I've learned about sales, people, the ins-and-outs of social anxiety and the precarious side of finding and growing a business.<br />
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I've learned certain careers will devour any free time necessary to make them succeed. This is fine as long as the work is in line with your passion than you never truly work. I've learned about the tightrope and it's frightening and liberating ride that makes us aware of what truly living is all about.<br />
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I've also learned how tenacious one can be against all obstacles. When you don't think there is anything left in your tank, dig a little deeper and suddenly you're back and more excited than ever.<br />
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I also learned about how faith and following God can often be overshadowed by your daily work and often when times are hard is when we seek him the most. <br />
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<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">"The tightrope is frightening and liberating, awareness of </span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-size: large;">the absence of a net shows us what truly living looks like"</span></blockquote>
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Silence, Motivational speaking and prayer have all become habits that have literally changed my whole scope of mental wellness. I've realized how much depression can be healed even if only for a period of time with the right activities.<br />
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After taking a time out from the career I took on, I've gotten back to the gym and know that it is an integral part of feeling good. Goals and direction, discipline and focus are all parts of a successful life and aid in healing depression.<br />
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A few days ago, I stopped everything and went to the Discovery Gardens. I found the passion and enjoyment that continues to be my calling. Nature in all its perfection is my secret weapon to keep myself grounded and connected to my faith.<br />
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When people are enjoying nature, they are at their best. I got to share stories with people about photography, traveling and art. I stopped and watched as colorful wings spiraled and danced among the beautiful foliage.<br />
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It was one of the best few hours I've spent in a while. It's hard to stop long enough to see what's around you and in a place where butterflies are everywhere in every color, shape and size, it really was a few hours well spent.<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bHyZ6wqEb7c/WixcMxY--iI/AAAAAAAAFoY/2K_oQ_6mlNQGQLwt7iVs8UuklxfBZBVjQCLcBGAs/s1600/closeupsm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="614" data-original-width="830" height="472" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bHyZ6wqEb7c/WixcMxY--iI/AAAAAAAAFoY/2K_oQ_6mlNQGQLwt7iVs8UuklxfBZBVjQCLcBGAs/s640/closeupsm.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<br />Artbygordonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10548961348156976842noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1135203979783487523.post-54924220873197683102016-11-15T07:49:00.001-08:002016-11-15T07:56:00.667-08:00A Road Trip to Arkansas: Just What the Soul Required<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hDVUoPS7oXI/WCsp-Lh5JXI/AAAAAAAAEhs/Uh_MGKT4S-AoP8OnG6VlRDnpyU6qtJ-wACLcB/s1600/arkansas.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hDVUoPS7oXI/WCsp-Lh5JXI/AAAAAAAAEhs/Uh_MGKT4S-AoP8OnG6VlRDnpyU6qtJ-wACLcB/s640/arkansas.jpg" width="538" /></a></div>
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It's easy to put off doing what you love, there is no necessity for the body or for your financial state. There is always time to do it tomorrow, always room to assume there will be a tomorrow. I have been talking about shooting the fall foliage in Arkansas for many years and have consistently missed it.<br />
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This year, I lost my job, it seemed appropriate to go and finally shoot autumn in Arkansas. You either have money and no time or time and a lack of funds. There is also the doubt and apprehension that seems to follow you when you do what you want and not necessarily what convention says you should.<br />
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I described the ride as melancholy: <a href="http://roadtrippingnow.blogspot.com/2016/11/highway-30-east-traveler-haunted-by.html" target="_blank">so many ghosts on highway 30 going east.</a> Several times I would have preferred turning around and coming home, feeling a bit isolated and lonely. I pressed on and what I experienced was that blissful moment of being out there. Freedom is never more evident than the feeling on the road and solitude welcomes great insight.<br />
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I've been intent on living on the continent and not necessarily in one state, that's my goal. The apprehension I felt making the break is the muscle that has atrophied with time. It's foreign for someone that has been responsible for a family, a single dad for the last 14 years, to be somewhat emancipated, even if for just a day or so.<br />
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I'm always looking for someone to say you're failing, not being responsible. I have an eighteen year old son that insists I get out there and supports me breaking away. I'm not sure which of us is growing more at this point, all I know is it's a natural progression for both of us despite my feelings of discomfort.<br />
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I used to think I'd be a wildlife photographer and yet I didn't think I wanted to be alone for periods of time doing my job. Now everything is questionable- I am open to what ever destiny makes itself known. I am learning more about myself outside the constraints of fear and apprehension.<br />
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I realized yesterday, it was exactly what I needed. When we get off the treadmill, we realize the apparatus that surrounds us. The distance between places to go, people to meet, things to discover seems less. You realize the anesthetic we use to keep us feeling comfortable, at ease; waking from that anesthesia is a little unnerving.<br />
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With the feeling of being refreshed and renewed, ideas flood my mind, options and opportunities seem more available. Today I went and bought painting supplies, a new palette which will be a clean slate for the next series of paintings.<br />
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I feel open and available to create. When you are running in the static of daily life, sometimes the best you can do is jump off and realize adventure is just a drive away. Freedom is truly not only in our grasp but by choice.<br />
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Jump in, the water is fine!!!<br />
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The newsletter is going out this weekend. it's filled with photos, paintings and writing.<br />
<b>To Subscribe to Newsletter go to </b><br />
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<a href="http://artbygordon.com/?page_id=4">http://artbygordon.com/?page_id=4</a><br />
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<b>More posts and photos about the trip.</b><br />
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<a href="https://niume.com/pages/post/?postID=163253">https://niume.com/pages/post/?postID=163253</a><br />
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<a href="https://niume.com/pages/post/?postID=161436">https://niume.com/pages/post/?postID=161436</a><br />
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<a href="https://niume.com/pages/post/?postID=162323">https://niume.com/pages/post/?postID=162323</a><br />
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<a href="https://niume.com/pages/post/?postID=160664">https://niume.com/pages/post/?postID=160664</a><br />
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<b>To subscribe to Niume and share your pictures and ideas go to:</b><br />
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<a href="https://niume.com/?ambassadorID=20979">https://niume.com/?ambassadorID=20979</a><br />
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<br />Artbygordonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10548961348156976842noreply@blogger.com0