We Thought you was a Toooaaaad

After a wonderful Thanksgiving lunch I took a stroll to see what I could see. That's one of my favorite things to do..see what I can see, like the bear went over the moutain. I found this little guy perched on the edge of a fence post. I thought at first it was a cicada husk but no, it was a Gray Tree Frog. I've heard plenty of the little guys but this was my first chance to get up close and personal, so to speak. He was very patient. Large groups of family members took photos and debated exactly what he was. A venomous, Brazilian Vampire Frog that caused instant aging if he spat suddenly at you or a toad. What he was was a little bit of magic, just hanging out on a warm afternoon enjoying his Thanksgiving.

Sofa Solitude in Dreams

A strawberry field with a Simpson's sky. Where else would you put a sofa? Sometimes I know right away that something needs to be photographed. Those are the times when I kick myself for not having my camera with me. Luckily, this sofa stayed in place for several days and gave me a chance to get to it. Why is there a sofa in the middle of a field? I've no idea. But I had the feeling I'd stepped into someones dream. Were they about to arrive and watch the sky change like channels on a television? Had they sat on the sofa for hours until chased off by rabid squirrels after their Cheetos? Whatever the dreamers status, the stage stayed empty long enough for me to capture this sofa in a dreams solitary moment.

Flying a Freak Flag

While recently grumbling about being an "artist" or rather not being an "artist" a good friend shared some advice. "Let your freak flag fly", she says. I knew immediately what she meant. I so admire artists and crafts people that have a confidence in their work and set about embracing and expressing it without fear. That's what I'm aiming for. I'll capture images that speak to me and trust that in sharing them others will see the whimsy,magic,beauty and sometimes ugly with new eyes. Following my instints and turning on my "noticer" will help me fly my freak flag and become the artist I know I am inside. Thank you all for your continued support.

I chose this photograph because, well, have you seen a more freaky cherub in your life? He stood at the corner of a building in Glasgow. The artist clearly had a vision he wanted to share and had his freak flag flying.

A Perfect Autumn Day

Just outside the gates of Dryburgh Abbey in the borders area of Scotland, waits a view of my perfect Autumn day. There are trees waving a last goodbye in brilliant colors. A lovely stone wall with bits of moss as mortar. A further fence to keep the sheep and cattle off the abbey grounds. The view is all the more precious because there won't be another like it for me once I return home. South Texas seasons don't so much "turn" as casually glance over one shoulder and then another. So I throughly enjoyed my Fall in Scotland. Cold and rain, sunny days with a jacket still required and so many colors I felt like I had a seat next to a forest fire that burned without damage. Almost Thanksgiving and I sit here in the cottage with all the windows open and the sun shining brightly. Dreaming of a cool, damp beautiful Scotland waiting for my return.

Haunted Scotland

I'm back and about half way through doing the intial edit of gobs of photographs. I didn't want to wait to long to start sharing them with you all. Hope this one gives you some shivers even though Halloween has passed.