Retirement!

Today is the day--my last day to work for NASA.  Retirement sounds good--I'm throwing away my alarm clock!  But, after 32 years of working here, it will certainly seem strange for a while.  It has been a great ride with lots of exciting projects to work on. 

So I depart the workforce with this photo of two retirees.  I am sitting just outside the hatch of the Space Shuttle Atlantis as it was being readied for flight.  Now that the Space Shuttles are retired, within the next couple of years they will be on display in locations across the U.S.  Atlantis will be put on display at the John F. Kennedy Space Center's Visitor Center where you will be able to get a close up view. 

So off to the adventure of retirement!!

Convict Cabins Site

This photo was taken  in Rocky Mountain National Park near the site of the convict cabins.  When construction of Old Fall River Road was beginning, the National Park recruited 38 convicts from the Colorado State Penitentiary to work on the road.  To house them, they built what came to be known as the Convict Cabins.  A marker now identifies the spot where these cabins stood.  These and many other old lodges and cabins that once stood within the boundaries of the National Park have been removed to return the park to a natural state.

A Birds Eye View

It was a good view of a bird's eye for me (and the rest of him). This Red Tailed Hawk had an injured wing and could not live in the wild.  He is residing in a large cage at the Armand Bayou Nature Center in the  Clear Lake Area south of Houston. Red Tailed Hawks are common in Texas. They are a raptor that weighs up to 3.5 lbs. with the females being larger than the males. They prefer live prey in the form of small mammals, birds, reptiles and fish. My grandparents usually referred to them as "chicken hawks".

I have often seen them soaring (grocery shopping) outside my office windows.  Although, even then, I am usually viewing them from below, and it makes one wonder about their name.  But in the photo above, it is clear that the top of their tail feathers are a nice red color.  And those keen eyes designed to look for prey really check you out when you are looking into the cage.

Merry Christmas

A short post today to say Merry Christmas to all.  Here's a light hearted holiday photo--log cabin, Christmas decor in bike basket, snowed in dog house.  Hopefully the dog was in the (human) house.  Couldn't resist this quaint photo op.





Downtown Christmas Lights

Estes Park decorates the downtown trees beautifully for Christmas.  This night was a very quiet one downtown, not much traffic.  A great time to walk around and see the lights.  Downtown is decorated from November to January, giving everyone who visits during these couple of months plenty of opportunities to experience this fairyland.

Winter Scene in the Park

How's this for a nice winter scene.   I took this photo along Bear Lake Road in Rocky Mountain National Park.  It was a rather protected hillside with only a little snow.  The contrast of the aspens against the hillside and the shadows in the snow with the dry grasses peeking through made a really crisp shot.   Click twice on the photo for a better, bigger view.

Southern Winter Birds

Houston is a great bird watching area in November and December.  We see clouds of migrating birds that stop to rest before pushing on to points south.  They take over all the trees and power lines in shopping areas and malls.  Some species, especially grackles, go for the fast food places--I'm sure french fries are not the best nutrition for birds but they seem to love them.  

Around the yard, we have year round residents--mockingbirds, sparrows, cardinals, blue jays, doves, and of course, more of the boat tail grackles.  The pair of cardinals in the photos have been visiting the feeder and bath.  The male is camera shy--he always keeps a part of the feeder between me and him.  The female, less so.  She sat on the edge of the bath and watched me for a long time.  But after a while, I guess she decided that I was slow moving and boring and that it was her tub time.

Walking on Water

See me walking on water at Bear Lake in Rocky Mountain National Park.  OK, so it's frozen water.   Even so, it seemed a bit scary to me.  I could see many footprints and tracks of cross country ski's on the lake, even out in the middle.   I just kind of edged out there, knowing I was over the water, but wanting to stay over the shallows.  Breaking though that ice and snow would not be a good thing.  Sometimes it's smart to be a chicken.

Autumn to Winter

We've been having a challenge getting to autumn in Houston; it's been warmish for the past several months with a few cooler periods.  But in the past week, suddenly we have colored leaves. The areas like those in the top photo that are prairie-like with native grasses have the autumn look also.  The grassess are topped with seed heads that blow in the wind--reminds me of the reference to "amber waves of grain" in the National Anthem.   Much of our autumn color (if we have it) results from Chinese Tallow trees shown in the bottom photo.  Normally they are considered an invasive imported "trash tree", but they offer the best fall color in this area.  Also, the red oaks, red maples, barton pears, and crepe myrtles can get in on the act.  

The old joke is that, in Houston last year, winter was on a Thursday.  But in fact, autumn (if it happens at all) is the most fleeting.  I expect to see the fall color fade fast--last night temps went into the upper 20s on the north and outlying areas of Houston.  Here in the Bay Area, primarily due to our proximity to Galveston Bay and the Gulf of Mexico, it was in the mid-30's.  Still, a fair resemblance to winter for Houston.

Up Close and Personal

How I love my zoom lens! 

This Texas Whitetail Deer female was just determined to pose for me.  Although I am not so close to her as it would seem, just zooming big time.  Nevertheless, I love to get photos like these and then study them closely to see the real details of the fur, eyes, whiskers, etc.  My real inclination is to pet these animals, but they would never stand for that.  Photos come in a close second.  Shooting them is not even on my list.

Lovely Postcard Scenes

The snow is falling in Estes Park regularly now.  It creates such soft beautiful scenes--smoothing out the look of the rocky slopes, lying on the needles of the evergreen trees, covering the streams.  And when the sun comes out, how bright and sparkling it can be (almost blinding at times). 

Texas Icons

I just wanted to share this photo--it seems so iconic with the yellow rose of Texas and Dr. Pepper.  If there had been a container of Blue Bell Ice Cream sitting on the porch, it would have just been perfect as part of a commercial for Texas.  I took the photo outside this antique shop in Chapel Hill, Texas. 

Computer Cleanout

As everyone no doubt knows, getting ready to retire involves cleaning out the files on your computer.  While doing some of this today, I found these photos taken back in the spring.  These are the great horned owls that nested in a pine tree here at Johnson Space Center.  Every day at lunch, there were folks on the sidewalk with cameras pointing upward trying to catch some photos of them.  In the top photo, one of the parents sits on the nest with only one of the small chicks visible in front.  In the second photo, the results of the parents care and feeding are obvious.  The chicks have grown quite large, are out of the nest, growing real feathers, and almost ready to fly away.  The parents were still bringing them food, such as small rodents, from the surrounding fields.   They were so interesting to watch.

A Conference, Retreat, or Convention?

Just a few, huh?  I get up one morning and head out to Safeway, and this is what I see!  I did not try to get an actual count, and there were actually more than you can see in the photo--must have been several hundred elk.  The small ponds and grass in this area seem to draw them. 

It was amusing because the small ponds were frozen over.  The older, larger elk would eat/drink around the edges of the ponds, but the inexperienced youngsters would try to walk across the ponds.   They could not get any traction and would be skating across the pond with a look of shock on their faces.  But they just seemed to keep all four feet on the ground and lock their knees until they made it to the other side safely.  It was fun to watch.

By the way, if you click twice on the photo (any of the photos on this blog) you will get a larger version.

St. Malo

The St. Malo Chapel (top photo) and Lodge (bottom photo) sit along Highway 7 between Estes Park and Allenspark, Colorado.  Built in 1934, both facilities comprise a Catholic Retreat Center sitting at the base of Mt. Meeker.  In 1993, Pope John Paul II stayed at St. Malo during his U.S. visit.

I was sad to hear last week that the Lodge burned badly and will be closed indefinitely while repairs and rebuilding are accomplished.  Fortunately, the Chapel, which sits just off the highway and is a well known landmark, was spared.   The Chapel is a wonderful photography subject, and is often open so passersby can visit and see the interior also.

Tropical Autumn?

My hibiscus are blooming, my oranges are ripe--now, let me get this right, it's November 26?  Not to mention that my roses, begonias, peppers, and tomatoes are going strong.  I have read that the average date of first frost in Houston is November 30.  But when I took these photos yesterday, it was almost 80 degrees. 

Today a front came through and it's expected to be in the 40s tonight, but I don't think we are going to make the average first frost date this year thanks to LaNina.  The winter is projected to be warmer and dryer than usual, so maybe it will be one of those winters when it never drops below freezing.  We'll see.

Not My Graffiti

No, not my graffiti, but it is me.  This was taken in 1957, my first trip to Estes Park and Trailridge Drive.  I believe it is in the vicinity of Rock Cut.  It was quite early in the season as you can see from the amount of snow beside the highway.  I'm sure I just had to have my Dad take my picture with that word "splash" that someone had written in the snow.   Too funny, and too long ago!

Must be Coyote Heaven

 

These two photos were taken at different times, and different seasons (summer, winter).  But they were taken in essentially the same place, in Moraine Park in Rocky Mountain National Park along the road to the Fern Lake Trailhead.  Must be some kind of coyote heaven here, which doesn't really surprise me.  This area is an open meadow with small willows and grasses lining the Big Thompson River--most likely it has quite a population of small mammals such as rabbits, ground squirrels, and chipmunks.  Handy for meals if you're a coyote.   

Who's watching us?

Although I didn't make note of exactly where I was in the Big Thompson Canyon between Estes Park and Loveland, I looked up at one point and was sure that an Indian Chief was looking down on me.

I have not been able to find a reference anywhere to this rock formation, so if anyone knows whether it has a name, I would appreciate comments.

Isle of History

Galveston, Texas is a city with so much history that has been preserved in the form of its old homes (the oldest existing dating from 1837) and its original business district, the Strand.  Galveston has recovered from Hurricane Ike (2008) quite well, although much of the island was covered with up to 8 feet of water and badly damaged.  One big difference in the island that is noticeable still is the absence of the many large old live oak trees that were killed by the salt water.  Fortunately, most of the palm trees and oleanders survived. 

The Bishop's Palace, pictured above, is open for tours.  It was designed by Nicholas Clayton, Galveston's premier architect, for Colonel Walter Gresham and completed in 1892.   This stone home with multiple towers and fancy architectural details has been cited by the American Institute of Architects as one of the 100 most important buildings in America.   It has weathered a number of hurricanes, including the 1900 storm that truly devastated the city and killed between 6,000-8,000 people

 Galveston's Texas Seaport Museum is home to the Elissa (below), a restored three-masted tall ship dating from1877.  You can take a tour that will allow you to explore the decks of this floating National Historic Landmark.

 The photo below shows the Strand, Galveston's early business district near the warves. The restored buildings host gift shops, restaurants, and galleries.  Street cars take tourists on rides along the brick streets through the historic districts and down to the beach. The Dickens on the Strand Festival, inspired by Victorian England, will be celebrated here prior to Christmas.  Featuring many costumed staff and attendees.  The many activities include entertainment on the festival’s stages, strolling carolers and roving street musicians, bagpipers and other entertainers. Additionally, costumed vendors peddle their wares from street stalls.

 Galveston is a very popular place to visit at this time of year when the weather is mild.  Those of us who have lived most of our lives nearby probably take Galveston's charms somewhat for granted.  When I am there, I hear many languages being spoken and see license plates from all over the country.

Our Ducks and Turtles

I previously posted a photo (on October 27) of the ponds that lie at the center of NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston.  Needless to say, they are home to many animals.  There is a permanent population of Mallard and Muscovy ducks, as well as visiting Black Bellied Whistler ducks at times.  The permanent ducks are well adjusted to being around people.  A little feeding by the people here and there probably encourages this. 

As we walk from building to building for meetings, we really enjoy them (especially the babies in the spring).   Note that the Muscovy duck in the photo below has built herself a nest in a planter outside our office building.  Muscovy's are quite profilic; she may hatch up to 17 babies--but infant mortality rates are very high.  Predators visit the ponds also, including hawks, osprey, coyotes, and owls.

The ponds are also home to Koi--some are really large and colorful, probably 18 inches long.  And then there are the turtles--red eared sliders.  Native to Texas, these turtles can often be seen around lakes and bayous in the area.  Some of our NASA turtles get quite large, say 8-10" across.  A little wildlife viewing makes for an interesting break or lunch when at work. 

Lost Maples

Probably the best place in Texas to catch some fall color is Lost Maples State Natural Area near Vanderpool in the Texas hill country.   What a beautiful area along the Sabinal River, with miles of trails through forests, rocky hills, canyons.  This large stand of big tooth maples provides great color most years--timing wise, it varies but right now seems to be a good time this year.  Check out this video on You Tube:  http://www.youtube.com/user/TexasParksWildlife#p/c/84/dRKbWOTm6Cs

Snowy Beauty

This photo shows Prospect Mountain at far right with its two rocky projections, The Thumb and The Needle.  Rising behind it, Longs Peak is at right with Mt. Meeker to the left of it.  They are looking beautifully snowy.  At the base of Prospect Mountain below the bottom of the photo, the Big Thompson River runs along the  riverwalk in downtown Estes Park.  A truly dreamy place to sit outside and eat (in warmer weather),  Even in winter, a beautiful place to walk and listen to the river gurgling under the ice and snow.

Rest and Rumination

I failed to warn you that, at times, this blog may become the science lesson of the day.

This large bull elk is resting in a field not far from where Mary's Lake Road intersects Hwy 66 on the west side of Estes Park.  Elk are members of the deer family which means they are ruminants, a category of animals that also includes cows, goats, buffalo, bison, giraffe, and moose. 

Ruminants have a four-compartment stomach.  The first part, or rumen, is essentially a storage area for food that is quickly consumed, then later regurgitated, re-chewed, and re-swallowed. The rumen is a large fermentation vat containing billions of microorganisms, which allow ruminants to digest fibrous feeds such as grass and hay that other animals cannot efficiently utilize.

So, if you see all those elk lying out in the field and they look like they're not doing anything, that is not the case.  They are very busy ruminating.  

Autumn Elsewhere

Late October and early November brings fall to Virginia and West Virginia.  The first photo above shows trees in their autumn color along the streets in Harper's Ferry, West Virginia.  This National Historic Park is situated at the confluence of the Potomac and Shenandoah Rivers.  The town of Harper's Ferry dates to 1763 and has figured significantly in American History in many ways.  The United States Armory and Arsenal, established here in 1799, transformed Harpers Ferry from a remote village into an industrial center.  In 1859, abolishonist John Brown's failed raid on the armory resulted in his trial and hanging here.  Now Harper's Ferry is quiet and scenic, and in the fall, very colorful.

I took the second photo on the main street of Colonial Williamsburg, VA.  The tree was very bright red in contrast to the white buildings.  A most interesting place to visit and learn how the early colonists lived.  We enjoyed Christiana Cambell's Tavern, one of George Washington's favorites, where we had a colonial dinner without electric lights.  Before bringing our food, the waiter tied a very large napkin (almost a table cloth) around our necks, lest we muss our clothing with our crab cakes and sweet potato muffins as we consumed them by candlelight.

View to the South

It is a wonderful thing to walk outside and look down your street and see this.  Meadows, trees, and mountains.  The two mountain peaks at right make up Twin Sisters Mountain.  There is a trail to the summit from where a spectacular view of the Estes Park valley can be had.  This is an October photo, before the snows began.  The grass and wildflowers in the meadow are no longer green, but the evergreen ponderosa pines, spruce, and firs always provide greenery.  In the winter, they are a beautiful contrast to snow.

More Snow

Bear Lake Road in Rocky Mountain National Park is showing the effects of another round of snow this week.  This part of Colorado is known to receive a lot of wind in the winter months. I have been outside in Estes Park, the sun shining brightly, not a cloud in the sky--and its snowing.  The snow is coming off the mountains in the national park and blowing into town.  It's a weird sensation for it to be snowing with the sun shining--but it's beautiful as always.

Safety in Numbers

As I was coming down the main entrance street to this housing area, I saw this group of elk crossing the street together.  There may be safety in numbers from predators, but not necessarily from cars.  On my return trip, I saw that one adult female had a fatal encounter with a car.  The wildlife folks were there with their flatbed trailer and it took 4 men to lift her onto it.  It is my understanding that, in cases like this, the meat will be donated to a food pantry or some other charitable organization.

Shorter Days

The days are starting to shorten.  It's almost time to "fall back" and go off Daylight Savings Time (Nov 6).  I have always felt that they do this thing all wrong.  In the summer when it stays light until about 8pm, they try to make the daylight last longer.  In the winter, when it's dark by 6pm, we're not trying to make it longer--seems backwards to me.

Brings to mind a place with really long days--Alaska.  The photo above is one I took at the Princess Denali Lodge at 11pm in August.  It's kind of fuzzy because the light was low--but certainly not dark.  As a matter of fact, I woke up during the night about 2pm and it was still somewhat light outside.  Now that's Daylight Savings to the extreme!!

Happy Halloween!

Batman and black cats.  For the past several years, this Batman guy has shown up at our house looking for candy.  I wonder if it will be Batman again this year, of if his mom has talked him into a little variety. 

As for black cats, that's Zig, our empty nest child.  Only allowed to watch the proceedings from inside the house on Halloween.

Addendum:  This year Batman was replaced by a Ninja warrior!

Autumn in Texas

My thoughts always turn to travel in the fall.  I guess because I am coming out of heat induced hibernation and ready to GO!  I'm ready to go see some autumn leaves, can you tell?

Texas doesn't generally have the bright fall colors of states further to the north, but there are exceptions.  On "good" years, the east Texas piney woods, the central Texas hill country, and the Guadalupe mountains in west Texas can offer some nice fall colors.  Even the Houston area has its moments, although usually later in November as seen in the top photo, taken at Armand Bayou Nature Center south of Houston.    The second photo above was taken in late October at Garner State Park on the Frio River (about 90 miles west of San Antonio).  

Office View

Although our part of Texas may not have the dramatic beauty that our part of Colorado has, it does have its scenic aspects.  Take the view from my office window.  From 70 feet in the air, it overlooks the open space and ponds referred to as "the mall" at NASA's Johnson Space Center (JSC). 

There are ducks, turtles, koi, squirrels, egrets, and herons in or around the ponds.  Flying over the ponds (often just outside my window) are hawks, osprey, and vultures (or buzzards as we call them here).  In the spring there is a pair of great horned owls that returns each year to nest in a tree by the ponds--usually producing two offspring. 

JSC also has a large Texas whitetail deer population.  This year one doe had twin fawns, and possibly due to the drought and lack of vegetation, she elected to raise them among the office buildings.  Usually, the deer  will remain at the back of the Center where there are fields and forests.   Often when walking to or from the parking lots, I will see her and the twins eating grass in front of the building. 

I will miss the people I work with when I retire in a couple of months, and maybe I will miss the work at times.  But I know I will certainly miss the wildlife viewing.