Photo Blogging Challenge (February 2017): Love

Love is in the air... in all the photos you see. This month's Photo Blogging Challenge theme was love. I'd love to show you what I have!

I love the time I get to spend with the scouts. They tried hard to catch some trout at a pond in a state park that had been recently stocked. It was just too warm.

I love that this one is starting to figure out how to fix his own issues. I know nothing about cars, so I'm not much help.

I love that my wife is great at making sure we have a little something for all the holidays. She can run with a theme!

I love the crazy things we do as a family, even though we are missing one in this photo, like running through the streets of Austin for 13.1 or 26.2 miles depending on ones activity level. (hint: the boys took the shorter course)

And finally, I just love to be outside whenever I can. Especially when the weather is like this!

So, how about that. 5 photos. It's been a busy month but a good one. Go take a look at a 'lil hoohaa for the other entrys to this month. I think March is year 4! Join us. Visit my flickr stream for a daily dose of me.

Photo Blogging Challenge (January 2017): Express yourself!

January came in and went out like a light. These days just keep getting faster and faster. It's sometimes hard to keep up.

I'm kicking off my 8th consecutive Project 365. I still haven't missed a day. My goal this year is to try to be a little more thoughtful in the photo's rather than just grabbing something. I'm been mostly successful but have missed on that aspect a day or two.

This first photo really needed to be multiple photos so you could see all the different expressions welcoming the new year. But I think this one has a pretty good cross section of the folks celebrating with us.

I guess to "express yourself" a selfie is inevitable. I'm a long time out of high school but our high school dress code required socks. I still boycott socks for the most part today. But it was kind of cold this day and if you are going to wear socks, the might as well be Captain America socks!

Two shoe photos in a row. These were my dad's boots when he was a kid. My oldest is also a JMD so I always hoped to get a photo with him in them. Unfortunately, by the time they showed up again he had outgrown them. They tell quite a story and some of it is in the comments.

I have a friend who has recently decided to start a food truck. Texas is pretty picky about their barbecue and we have plenty of folks out there cooking good eats. My friend is expressing himself by adding what he calls a Global Fusion flair. This particular brisket was during his Hawaiian theme. Pineapple, mango flavors and baked beans complete with Spam. He smokes a mean brisket, I hope he does well.

Finally, we had a District campout this month in Boy Scouts. It unfortunately coincided with state choir and band contests so we only had a handful of guys attend from our troop. It was also the end of and era. Our local camp land changed hands and the new owners canceled the lease. The place was opened in 1974 and has handled area scouts since. Enough about that, the boys had a great time, they put together this "sled" for the klondike race. El Cuidado. It was a mess. But it worked pretty well. They were in the medals up until the very end. And they were one of the few that built there own.

January...DONE! I see the February theme is up and I better start taking pictures. You can check out the rest of the particpants over at a 'lil hoohaa. And, as always, see me overshare over on Flickr. 

Photo Blogging Challenge (December 2016): ‘Tis the Season

'Tis the season. December was a whirlwind of activity. We packed a lot into 31 days and got it all done. 

December started out as it should. Pretty cold. That wouldn't last, Our temps have steadily vacillated between freezing and hot all month. 20s F two or three days then back to 70s and even 80s F for more. This was a nice cold hike early in the month. 

My oldest, John, made Eagle back in October. We were finally able to celebrate his achievement at his Court of Honor this month. It was well attended and I might have gotten a touch choked up. The gentleman on the right is a state representative and presented him with a Texas flag that was flown over the capitol. Thanks to my sister for playing photographer as I was otherwise engaged.

We did see some snow, kind of. This was one of those cold days and the wind was howling. The car wash had malfunctioned and was spraying a fine mist. The wind was blowing straight through the tunnel and turned it into a snow making machine. Quite a site to see.

Singing Christmas carols by candlelight is our regular Christmas eve tradition before settling in before the fire and watching some silly Mystery Science Theater 3000 Christmas riff.

And it all wraps up bidding the old goodbye and toasting (with sparkling grape juice for the younguns) the new year!

I hope 2017 brings you all great success and happiness. I always look forward to new beginnings with excitement of what tomorrow brings.

Take a visit to A 'lil Hoohaa and see what else is up. Join us in January's photo challenge. As always, you can find all my stuff over on flickr. I'm starting up my 8th year of Project 365(6) and still going strong. 

Happy New Year, folks!

Photo Blogging Challenge (November 2016): Thanks

November is the month that we set aside, over here at least, for giving thanks. We should make sure we give thanks year round but at least we know we've got a month. :) I was quite thankful in November, let's take a look, won't you.

I had a quick business trip to Bermuda. The weather was horrible two of the three days there. On Remembrance Day, the weather cleared up and I got to see a parade! And then attended my first rugby matches. You can see those pictures in my flickr stream.

My oldest, John, finally completed all of the requirements and passed his Board of Review for Eagle Scout. He has worked very hard and I'm super proud of him!

Speaking of scouts, I'm thankful that my scouts have a good sense of serving as they helped sort food at our local food drive.

I'm thankful that these turkeys still like each other, still make each other laugh, still make me laugh, and will still occasionally pose for pictures.

 

Finally, I'm thankful that this big guy didn't appear to notice me sitting on the ground not 10 yards from where he came out of the woods. I haven't had a lot of experience with coyotes but I certainly waited until a brush pile was between he and I before I picked up my camera for some shots.

I'm also thankful that I found a few minutes to get this thing together and posted. I hate when I took the photos and then just forget to post. Take a look at the others over at a lil hoohaa. See you next month!

Photo Blogging Challenge (October 2016): Water

Crap! I've been so busy I haven't put this together. I missed last month and don't want to skip out again. I was excited to see the theme as we had a camp out the first weekend of the month that was water based.

The lake at Ft. Parker State Park makes for some of the best sunset/sunrise photos. I don't know why.

We had about 20 scouts with us for the weekend. We had canoe races and a cajun style supper for Saturday night.

Mornings are pretty great too. Especially in calm winds.

We had a little fisherman hanging out with us most of the month. He finally made a catch.

We finished up the month back at Ft. Parker SP. The gentleman in the green shirt built this bridge over a creek in the park as his Eagle scout project. We had a couple of guys leave early but this is most of his helpers. It turned out super nice and strong/wide enough that the ranger was able to drive his Gator over it saving time and money getting to other areas of the park.

There's water. I can't believe how fast this month and year have gone by. I'm looking forward to Novembers theme.

Photo Blogging Challenge (August 2016): Black and White

I just noticed that all of these were taken with my iPhone. I took a bunch of photos this month using several different cameras but here we are with all iPhone shots. This month's challenge was Black and White. I don't have much to add, let's get to the pics.

This was taken at 11:45-ish PM as I remembered I had not taken my photo of the day. I was running through the house trying to find something to shoot and turned on the wrong light and found it.

My wife collects cats. We now have two black and white ones. Penney, the baby, was found in the JC Penney parking lot. I call her lil' bit because we were just going to keep her for a little bit.

This, I originally posted to Instagram but got to playing around with it and liked the textures in B&W.

We waited all summer trying to find someone to fix our pool. We started putting water in it the day before the boys went back to school. This was prior to that. I just like the textures.

William collects goofy shirts. This is an example.

There's my five. August was busy and hot. Hopefully September will get me excited again. I'm ready to see what next month's challenge will be. Take a look at the other participants at A 'lil Hoohaa.

Photo Blogging Challenge (July 2016): Photographer's Choice

I just got too busy and had to bow out of the June challenge. We were travelling a bunch at the end of June and on through July. We had a couple of super adventures. We finished up a week of SCUBA at BSA Florida National High Adventure Sea Base. After a short stay at home we headed to the Atchafalaya swamp of Louisiana for BSA Swamp Base. I could fill my quota with photos just from that event. But, thinking on Photographer's Choice and scanning through my photo-stream, I ended up with a common thread, we'll call it The Skies of July!

This was pretty much my first and last view every day down at Florida Sea Base. Hard to beat a scout trip where we stay in air-conditioned dorms and log eleven SCUBA dives.

I had decided I wasn't going to take pictures at our 4th of July celebration this year, but honestly, it was so boring I ended up doing it. They hired a new company that had electrical problems and there was so much time between the shots that no one knew when it was over. I'm glad I had a camera.

Next up was Swamp Base. I don't know what I expected to see, marshy, muggy, and hot is what I expected to feel. I was pleasantly surprised. We were blessed with overcast during the canoeing times and an occasional shower. And beautiful sunsets.

Our last day, we woke up at 4AM and were on the water as soon as we could see it, abut 5AM. We paddled to this spot the guides knew and enjoyed breakfast and this sunrise!

Those of you who follow me, know my oldest just turned 16 and he and my dad have been rebuilding this 1983 Jeep CJ7. He still only has a learners permit so we have to ride together. Nights like this, I don't mind at all. We had a nice summer storm blow in and when it cleared it left the temps in the mid 80s F. A welcome relief to our week of 100s+ F.

And, as you know by now, I bend the rules occasionally. The photographer chooses to add a sixth photo because I finally got to ride on a fan boat. I had to share the sheer awesomeness of it! I made it smaller so it's not like it's really a sixth picture, right? Right!

It was quite a fun-filled month, I've got the whole thing on line over at flickr. Please, Verizon, don't screw that up! You can find more photos over at a 'lil hoohaa. Keep a lookout for August's theme and join us, won't you!.

Photo Blogging Challenge (May 2016): Outside the box

I decided early on that my take on the Photo Challenge theme of 'Outside the Box' was going to be very much in a box. You'll see what I mean. It also meant that I had to come up with more pictures in order to make it work. I'm pleased with the outcome. So, here we go:

May saw quite a bit of travel. The craziest trip was a one day 13 hour marathon that took me to Ft. Lauderdale and back for a short but necessary meeting.

My youngest celebrated his last year with a great group of kids. Their school only goes through 8th grade and the team is going different directions. Some of them have been together since Pre-K. I chaperoned their field trip down to Galveston. I'll miss seeing them all together. They really are a special group.

We visited Moody Gardens, it consists of three pyramids, one is and Aquarium, we visited the Rainforest and saw a few animals. The seagull is just a Galveston tradition.

Will also celebrated his 14th birthday with a trip to the bowling alley.

Finally, I said goodbye to the old Suburban. We rolled all 'ones' on our trip to Galveston. She had been having computer issues and electrical problems. As I was pulling into the dealership to pick up the new car, Ol' Black Betty said goodbye. It might have freaked me out just a bit.

It's hard to teach an old dog new tricks so we stuck with black for the new ride. My oldest starts driving this summer and I don't need the extra seats anymore.

There you have it. May's submission for the a 'lil hoohaa Photo Blogging challenge. You can check out the other participants there. Or go to my flickr stream to see what else I've been up to.

Photo Blogging Challenge (April 2016): Vibrant

Oh goodness, I'm late again, I don't know why I can't get this together earlier. VIBRANT! That was our theme in this month's photo blogging challenge. Here we go!

April kicked off our monthly free concert series. We had a couple of vibrant performers. First up, the legendary Lee Fields, nicknamed Little JB due to his similarities to James Brown.

The headliner was a group out of Austin called Brown Sabbath. They perform Black Sabbath songs with a Latin Fusion twist. They were fantastic! The lead singer really captured Ozzy and the horn sections added a dimension you wouldn't expect. 

Jackie has worked for my family's business for 40 years this month. She is always vibrant!

We've had weird weather this spring. It's been wetter than normal. But we've gotten some nice, cool days for walks.

More weather, we've also had a lot of storms. They have caused a lot of damage and flooding. But have made for some beautiful sunsets.

Whew! Is that five? I better get this sucker posted and start taking photos for next month. Go check out a lil hoohaa for the others.  As always, all my stuff is on flickr...

Photo Blogging Challenge (March 2016): Three

The photo blogging challenge turned three years old this month. I can't believe three years have gone by. The theme for this month was: THREE! It seemed easy enough. I was surprised again. SO bear with me as I present to you my five of THREE.

THREE marquee's on the movie theater facade. I used to love going out to the movies and then cell phones were invented. I can spend less money staying at home in a more comfortable chair and watch a movie without distractions just a few weeks sometimes after others. Zootopia was pretty entertaining though.

This was the 3rd Annual HOT Comicon, William enjoys video gaming and nerding out occasionally. He really likes his Fallout 4 Vault 111 hoodie. THREE Ones!

John, on the other hand, likes cars, trucks, and all the other things with motors. It's a little hard to tell, but that ATV only has THREE wheels. You can see the fourth in the background against the fence. He was getting a demo ride and the driver made an aggressive turn shearing the lug studs off the rear driver side of the vehicle. Not a very good testimonial to the ruggedness of the ATV.

Easter Sunday, these THREE knuckle heads went swimming, The water temperature was 47F. There was a fourth one but he held out until later.

Last, but never least. These THREE. They are my life. Without them I'd be incomplete.
This also is the first year in the fifteen year tradition of Bluebonnet photos that no one complained. We went out, they sat down, I took the pictures, and we left. Just like that. They have given up. :)

So, there's my five. I am pretty happy with them even if I did kind of backdoor this one. I had great plans once again but I think I enjoy sharing these more than a bunch of photos of threes. Visit a 'lil hoohaa blog to see the other entries. As always, check out my whole March and all of my other photos for that matter over on Flickr. Hurry up before it goes away. And join in with us in April. It's fun.