Thing of Purpose

Right time and place • I was a little too late as the dawn patrol aircraft were flying in and out of the General Dick Stout Field this morning. Also, illumination on them would have been too poor for a worthwhile photo as they flew low in shadow of the escarpment, so I took a photo of the horses standing quietly on the opposite side of the road with the sunrise on the Pine Valley Mountains in the background. On my return alongside the airport perimeter I saw an airplane and a power-wing circling to position themselves on on the glide path towards the landing strip. As they came in I was in position and awaiting their arrival. I love it when a plan comes together. Click on the photo above or on the collage below to view full size. WEATHER report: • Start: 07:11, Clear, 69°F, Feels like 69°F, Cloud: 0%, Humidity 55%, Dewpoint 52°F, Wind 5mph from ↖, 7mph • End: 09:08, Clear, 74°F, Feels like 74°F, Cloud: 0%, Humidity 47%, Dewpoint 52°F, Wind 4mph from ↖, 7mph • Act...

Making the effort • Read the Storyteller ride report at the link.

Rainbow at sunup • Read the Storyteller ride report at the link

Au revoir souplesse • Read the  Storyteller  ride report  at the link.

Hoodoo encounter • Read the Storyteller ride report at the link.

Defeat at dawn Click the image to view a photos/flythrough feature • Read the Storyteller  ride report  at the link.

Just some cloud photos taken on a fine day.

From a UK perspective, the Eurovision Song Contest was a shaky start in the first decade of the second half of the last millennium. The entry deadline for the inaugural 1956 contest was missed. For the second contest in 1957 Patricia Bredin sang ' All ', the first contest entry to be sung in English, being voted seventh out of ten finalists. After such a lackluster performance—the Netherlands won with ' Net als toen ', performed by Corry Brokken, despite the handicap of having to sing in Dutch as mandated by the rules of the time—the UK rested between engagements in 1958. The second UK attempt was in 1959, when Pearl Carr & Teddy Johnson performed ' Sing, Little Birdie '. Fortunately, I remember it like it was 55 years ago. I claim one point for being able to name the song; another point for naming the duo that sang it; a third point for being able to sing a snatch of the lyrics. Unfortunately nul point (a Eurovision joke in the UK) for thinking it was ...

This week, both our trumpet vine ( Campsis radicans ) and our silk tree ( Albizia julibrissin ) came into bloom.   --------------------oOo-------------------- The blog author almost never checks emails or comments.

Most of the sundown meteorological action last week was to the North rather than the West. There were some spectacular moonrises for those prepared to wait. On the following Monday, in an otherwise cloudless sky, a mothership appeared at sunset.   --------------------oOo-------------------- The blog author almost never checks emails or comments.

  --------------------oOo-------------------- The blog author almost never checks emails or comments.

  --------------------oOo-------------------- The blog author almost never checks emails or comments.

Sunset on the second day of Easter and a local garden on the third day of Easter.   --------------------oOo-------------------- The blog author almost never checks emails or comments.

Yesterday, I made a mental note to try and find more wildflowers—this was growing in the shade of a pecan grove. I photographed these eight tulips ten days ago [ inset ] before they bloomed. I am not sure my photograph does justice to this exquisite rose. These yellow blooms are all over the neighborhood and are one of my favorites. Again, perhaps my snapshots are inadequate and these blooms deserve expert attention with extra gear and techniques. Obviously I was out of order when I described the flowers in the center of this Zen garden as weeds. Next, what you have all been waiting for: cattle! Unusual to see in our neighborhood they were very inquisitive & frisky.   --------------------oOo-------------------- The blog author almost never checks emails or comments.