This is a House Sparrow with a difference. House Sparrows were introduced into the US in 1850 in NYC and are now widespread and part of the reason for the decline of other sparrow types as they aggressively compete for nesting space and food. This one differs by the richer colors found in the western variations and by the very dark bill and eye stripe found only during breeding.
In this image you can see the dark throat and breast
We did not see a tree larger than a decent sized shrub for miles then, walking toward the rock formation in the “Lone Ranger” section of the Alabama Hills we saw this enormous tree, towering over the landscape. Turned out there was a small spring here and a few trees thrived in the moist environment. This was taken early in the day with the rising sun illuminating the mountains. You can still see wisps of snow on the top of the highest mountain in the lower 48 states.
Evening light show over the Alabama Hills.
Heard from Oliver Company yesterday. The wiring aspect is almost complete and tested. The smaller things we requested are done. What remains are two items and final testing that must be done outside for the solar after these are finished. First the furnace that fried is on back order and might not make it before the middle of April. Instead they recommend putting the furnace that goes into the current Oliver line - it requires a couple of modifications but they have it, it is a bit more efficient and has a smaller footprint but more BTUs. About the same price.
The second issue is the brake assembly. The labor to repair all of that is half of a new whole axle with better bushings, sealed bearings (no more repacking every so many miles) and new shocks.
We agreed to spend the extra on the new axle assembly and go with the new furnace that they have in stock. The estimate for completion is still 3/31 and we are planing to pick up the trailer on 4/4, a Monday and then spend the night at the Oliver camping factory site before moving to one on the Natchez Trace (18 miles away) for a second night of testing .
We have greatly scaled back our travel after and plan to visit Mammoth Cave, Camp Nelson and a battlefield all in KY, head to Knoxville and then home.
A year ago we were in the west visiting parks in CA, NV and AZ. I have several un-edited photos from that trip that i have begun to process. The next week or two of photos will be from that trip.
The image is from the Alabama Hills just east of the Sierra Nevada range in California. I did not know the Alabama Hills existed even though I have seen them dozens or hundreds of times in movies and TV shows. Extremely interesting place. This is one of the arches found in the area framing yet more of the rock formations for which the Hills are known.
This was part of an art installation done for Valentine’s Day at the Quinta Mazatian World Birding Center in McAllen, Texas. They were suspended over a section of the path and just a few feet over head. It made a nice impression.
I hope your first day of spring was a lovely as ours here in Raleigh. Cindy and I did a nice hike of about three miles at Umstead Park. I have been looking for a tree, a specific tree in a specific location for a potential photo in the snow. It does snow here on occasion. I wanted one of these trees that keep the leaves after all the others have fallen, they are pale white to a soft gold color. It would be nice to know the name of the tree. Anyway, they are often obscured by the larger trees around them or clustered with many others making a chaotic view or in an area that gets little sun. So my “imagined” photo is one of these trees, alone in the dark forest with new snow and a shaft of light. Plus one I can access. This one fits the bill, so….
Other news, we received the check from AMICA today and are greatly relieved. No new updates on the progress or lack of for Oliver but we are moving forward on some fronts.
Detail
These Roseate Spoonbills were found in Southeast Texas near the Rio Grande. There were a lot of resident waterfowl of al kinds there and lots of wintering birds as well. Neat place.
These are the boats of some very hard working people, those who harvest oysters in the James River. They were tied up at the marina on the James in Newport News.
The Office
Four graceful ladies
The less usual rounded stern
We were parked along a two lane road (touring:) to check some directions and i noticed this cow staring at us. I got my camera out and rolled down the window to take the shot while the animal just slowly chewed and stared. I think the cow was trying to intimidate me for interupting lunch - with mohawk hair, steely glare and, of course, all dressed in black. Well it worked and off we went.
Here are my two carvings with the famous hat. The leprechaun is last year and the gnome is the first of my new series the Holiday Mad Hatters. I just finished April Fools day but you will have to wait for that one.
The penguins are a newer version as well. They are on blocks of ice - isn’t that cute:) The one with the bluish ice is the newer version
Finally the old soldier is one I did for our friend Tom (Lt Col, Ret.) It is larger than most of mine. He is pleased that his fatigue coat and hat still fit. I need to learn how to do different eyes. All I can muster are cartoon eyes. It was a fun carving.
Yesterday we received word that the evaluation of the cause, the scope of the problem and solutions were done. Not the final work but the initial work. The Oliver people figured out the cause and have a plan to fix that issue. That is good news. It was an anomoly that they are confident will be safe and there should be no reoccurrence. The work will take the better part of the next two weeks including getting some parts that may not arrive until early next week. That is news we can deal with easily.
The insurance company, AMICA, accepted the estimates and are sending me a check for the repair minus our deductible. Excellent news. I will say that we have had AMICA for 15 years and it is a tad more expensive however, even though this took a bit, they have been excellent to work with on our three claims. When our Honda was totaled by a man who drove through a red light (and was cited by the police for three violations) they got us a full amount check the next day. They were equally prompt with the broken water pipe in our ceiling and had a very good company here working in two days.
The scope of work on the trailer includes a lot of new wire, a new furnace, new safety equipment, testing of all the systems, brake work and install of a buss, a shunt and some new solar connectors.
We also are having a window replaced that lost its seal and water seeped in between the two layers of glass, a window blind that was starting to drift down when raised, some new hoses on the LP tanks (maintenance) and a new shower bracket. That is not under the insurance company.
We will be excited to get the Oliver back and do a week or two testing everything to make sure we are back in good order. We will do this mostly in Tennessee and Kentucky area. We have late April and early May obligations but we might get a week in at the beach in May before we head in late June to Florida for a wedding and Pennsylvania in July.
You may resume humming, “Back on the Road, Again”
Oliver in the wild at Texas state park near Big Thicket National Preserve.
Another new bird found in Texas before we had to leave because of the breakdown of the electric system on the trailer. Just a bit of an update. AMICA insurance is covering - at least that is the information currently and I expect that to be the case, the repairs to the Oliver less the deductible of course. As of last Friday little was done but with the go-ahead from the insurance we expect that will change. We hope that is the case. We would love to be back on the road by the first of April even if we cannot afford to go far. We have also asked for four small jobs to be done and an upgrade on another item.
Back to the bird. In North America the only place these are found is the very tip of Texas on the Rio Grande. They love oranges and other fruit and so are attracted to feeders like this one by bits of orange and orange zest. They were active and skittish birds and never seemed to stop, so hard to capture even at the feeding station. Note the one on the left has been banded. My NA bird list now is at 409.
How rare is it for me to have a name for a flower. The camellia is one of about 3000 varieties found in the world but not native to the US. Now they common in gardens and parks. This one is in a park in Newport News, VA and shot after a rain shower.
Photography is not as it is often depicted even on a modest site such as this. I like to post photos of sunsets and sunrises, purple majestic mountains, breaking waves on ocean shores and beautiful locations in our National Parks with glorious waterfall and eagles swooping across the landscape. Photographing the bears of Katmai or moose in Yellowstone is an exciting experience. But what happens in between all those events? Lots of waiting, driving, missed shots, poor shots, ordinary shots and days of nothing very special. And there are days with nothing that you even thought worthy of a photo!
I went out with Dennis Mook on Wednesday last and it was that kind of day photographically. It was cool, grey, occasional rain, and things we hoped were there were not. No oystermen unloading boats, no birds on the ponds. I shot today’s photo in the gravel lot of the marina where the oyster boats tie up and thought at the time, maybe the color is good. That is how desperate I was.
So not worth it, right? No, it was great. Got to spend a few hours taking photos which is simply fun, spent time with a great friend, saw some places I had not been before, we shared stories and ice cream and had a completely excellent day. “But you did not get any award winning, wall worthy amazing photos,” someone might say. True and I actually don’t —ever. I shoot to please myself, to remember, to have mementos of nice places and beautiful days, to spark my interest in traveling, history, birds, nature, people and places and to spend time with fine folks. The pictures when they come together are a bonus. Occasionally even beautiful.
So, enjoy the blue port-a-potty it is an amazing photograph.
Those were the times of day when you needed a “Pepper” for a quick refresh. And were a part of the advertising of Dr. Pepper for many years. Formulated in the 1880’s in Waco, Texas it began to be sold by 1885 from this soda fountain in the Corner Drugstore where Charles Courtice Alderton developed it.
And once you have climbed up into the 92 foot span of Tower Arch this is your view back from where you started.
We walked a long way in 90 degree heat to get to Tower Arch in Arches National Park. It is the fist one discovered and it was the reason for the park to be established. It is not as well known or visited as many of the others. You drive across a dirt desert road for several miles, park and walk 2.75 miles one way including up two large sand hills to reach this arch. It was neat however to leave the crowds of people at the main area of the park near the road and get to this spot seeing only abut 5 or six other people all afternoon.
