"Gone Fishin"

Whatever the circumstances, the fishin' here is definitely gone as is evidenced by a rusted chair abandoned at what must have been a choice location along this creek in Southeast Texas.

"Brass & Glass"

Even in silence on a weekday morning, the brass horns extending from the organ loft dramatically compliment the stained glass windows of the All Saints' Chapel on the campus of The University of the South, Sewanee, Tennessee.

"Swingin' At The Campground"

Whoever said you can't swing at an old Sunday School Assembly, never made it to Monteagle TN. While strolling the winding roads, this woven hammock, strung between two giant oaks, proved most inviting.

"Cowboy Hot Tub"

Just outside Fredricksburg, there's a working ranch complete with genuine Texas Longhorns (see previous post). And for those who are just plumb tuckered out after a day on the range, stretch out, relax and enjoy a homemade redneck spa. It's guaranteed to relieve those aching joints, especially if accompanied by an ice cold Lone Star Beer.

"Footbridge"

On an early morning stroll through the Monteagle Assembly campground, this deserted footbridge, one of several throughout the complex, proved too interesting not to capture.

"Mystery of the Creek"

While walking a creek bed for photo ops, the mystery unfolded. Enmeshed in the roots of a tree, a Ford Mustang hubcap. The mystery? How'd it get here? Where'd it come from? But the most intriguing question: where's the car to which it was once attached?

"Double Trouble"

Up close, these Texas Longhorns look pretty intimidating, but actually these cows were docile, patient and curious. Once they figured the camera would do no harm, I was free to roam about snapping different members of the herd at my leisure. The Texas Hill Country outside Fredricksburg provided the scenic backdrop on this photo safari.

"Fountain Archway"

In one of the many green spaces located throughout the city of Savannah, Georgia, this park's central focus is the ornate fountain creating water patterns in all directions. Even on a blistering, hot day, this shady setting provides a welcome respite from the elements.

"Yum-Yum"

After a harrowing day of experimentation with a new external flash for my Nikon 300, I rewarded myself by charcoaling hamburgers. Once I had created my own culinary masterpiece, it proved too scrumptious looking not to photograph. Therefore, by applying new parameters of flash photography, my prized monster was captured before consumption. This shot still makes my mouth water!

"A Special Assignment"

In my photographic career, I've been privileged to capture settings ranging from breath-taking mountain vistas to heartwarming pets to corporate annual reports. However, on a recent assignment to illustrate various phases of the liturgy of the Anglo-Catholic church, I found a new dimension in photography. Taken under restrictive lighting parameters, I can only hope that you experience the beauty of The Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament as Father Matthew Olver reverences The High Altar at Church of the Incarnation, Dallas TX.

"Faded Glory"

In its heyday, this Grand Dame of homes dominated not only its neighborhood, but the entirety of the town of Honey Grove, Texas. But even with the distinction of being recognized by the State of Texas as an official Historical Landmark, this once magnificent example of architectural beauty fell victim to age. One can only hope that the Historical Preservation League of Texas will eventually bring this stately home back to its original status.

"Hangin' With Mom"

Although past the rubbery-legged stage, this new-born still enjoys the comfort, security and warmth of his mother. And one other factor: readily available nourishment for a hungry colt. This was just one of many photo ops encountered in a leisurely drive on the backroads between Houston and Dallas on an overcast day in early spring.

"Driftin"

There's hardly a more relaxing way to spend a lazy Saturday afternoon than by dropping line and let the boat take you where it might. It's not the catch as much as the conversation, the scenery and just communicating with Mother Nature. These two week-end warriors ended up cruisin' the dam on Lake Davy Crockett in early spring. Did they catch anything? They probably really didn't care, nor should you. Just enjoy the moment as they did, while you reminisce on a long ago fishing trip with one of your best pals.

"Small Dogs Only, Please"

While exploring a small town in Northeast Texas, this water hydrant suddenly became the center of interest. Obviously, in years past, when the sidewalk was repaired, rather than adjust hydrant height, new concrete was merely poured around the existing water source creating a new look for this ageless fire deterrent. So the universal symbol for "doggie relief", suddenly limited it's prospective users to small canines only, at least in Honey Grove, Texas.

"Mind If I Join You?"

An open-air safari buggy proved just too enticing to one of the wild animals on display at the Glen Rose Animal Reserve. Luckily, I was armed with my trusty Nikon and squeezed off a shot of this majestic intruder. In this close proximity, you suddenly realize how misleading their size can be as you acknowledge one another nose-to-nose.

"Metro Barn"

In the spirit of some of my recent posts where I went "rural", here's a shot that would appear to be on the north forty of someone's ranch. Actually, this is a barn sequestered slap-dab in the middle of Metropolitan Dallas. A small pocket of land still untouched by urban development, the limited area still offers stables, grooming and riding for those adventurous enough (and well-heeled enough) to keep a horse for their week-end diversion.

"Tractor Graveyard"

While traveling a farm-to-market road out of Paris TX to Honey Grove, a large, manicured pasture played host to an assemblage of tractors all neatly spaced, row after row, not unlike the used car lot at an auto dealership. In varying stages of deterioration, these John Deere, International Harvester and Ford tractors were obviously fertile sources for obsolete or hard-to-find parts. One must assume an enterprising individual saw the opportunity to provide a service to his fellow-farmers, and a mini-industry was born. It would have been nice to get closer to squeeze off some additional shots of this unique phenomenon, but the sign prominently displayed on the barbwire fence read "Beware of Dog". And for some reason, I had a feeling that this landowner, whomever he might be, wasn't kidding.

"A Christmas Wish"

The Week-End Warrior was securely ensconced, precariously hunkered down between the sharp thorns of treacherous rose bushes, his trusty (and obviously brand-new) cordless drill in hand, prepared to fulfill his wife's fervent request, "Honey, can you fix the fence?" Maybe next year Santa will leave a tool belt under the tree so dear, old Dad will not have to resort to using his daughter's discarded doll carrier to carry his equipment. Faded denim, power tools and a hot pink "Classic Cruiser"....just not the image for the serious handyman.

"Creative Insulation"

This is a prime example of desperation becoming the Mother of Invention. After all, what do you do with an exposed three-spigot water line standing unprotected at a motorhome pad in the dead of winter? Simple enough: you rely on what every red-blooded American handyman has come to know as the answer to all mechanical problems: duct tape. With a little foam rubber and a jumbo roll of the distinctive silver tape in hand, this dilemma is no longer a concern. Voile! Another problem solved thanks to American ingenuity.

"Limo Lore"

The stories that could be told as this stretch Lincoln Town Car transported revelers to weddings, anniversaries, proms and graduations would probably defy logic. But probably the most interesting story would be how this once luxurious coach ended up deteriorating in a field in South Central Texas.

"Hanging Hot"

Just the color sends up a warning that these peppers are hot, hot, hot. Displayed prominently at the Santa Fe Farmers Market, these culinary delights can also be utilized as decorative touches in your kitchen, patio or anywhere you want attention-getting color. And if you're really brave, you could also spice up a bland dinner with the spicy tastes of New Mexico cuisine.

"Italian Precipitation"

Neither the rain nor vehicular traffic seemed to phase shoppers as they made their way through the narrow streets of Florence during an afternoon storm. The overcast skies and colorful umbrellas only seemed to enhance the beauty of this beloved Italian city.

"Feeding Frenzy"

It didn't take long for this Hilton Head beach picnic to attract a noisy choir of gulls to participate in the festivities. Whether it was "tuna salad sittin' on a Ritz", peanuts, Fritos or morsels of raw shrimp, these airborne gourmets were eager to capture anything thrown

their way.

"Just Plum Tuckered Out"

Even with the excitement of Ft. Worth's famed Stockyard, a man's gotta grab a little catnap from time to time. This candid shot, captured in front of one of Cowtown's famed beef emporiums, confirms that a Texas-sized rib-eye, when consumed midday, can result in an unplanned siesta on a summer afternoon.