
Thee flags show up all around the neighborhood, every June and July.

Thee flags show up all around the neighborhood, every June and July.
I was at Huffines Park with my camera, surrounded by ducks who were eager to see if I had brought them anything to eat. The ducks the followed me as I walked along the edge of Huffines Creek were cute but the duck who caught my attention was swimming by itself and didn’t seem to care whether I had food or not. The duck had a confidence that left me with no choice but to take its picture.
I believe this is a Muscovy Duck, though I’m hardly an expert. Some people have told me that they find this duck to be ugly. I think the duck has too much personality to be ugly. Sometimes, the loners are the most fascinating subjects around.
Previous Moments:
To all of my fellow Texans, don’t forget to vote today in the run-offs! Curtesy of the pulps, here’s a little extra inspiration to get you down to your polling place!
One day in 2023, I stepped out in my backyard with my camera. I was just planning on taking a picture of some storm damage and maybe the oak tree in our backyard. Instead, I immediately spotted a little squirrel running along the chain link fence that separated our yard from our neighbor’s. He was moving like he had some place to be but, as soon as he saw me and my camera, he stopped. He stared at me, as if he saying, “Well, hurry up and take your picture.”
I snapped his picture and then I said, “Thank you.”
Upon hearing my thanks, he immediately went on his way, running down the length of the fence and then jumping into a nearby tree.
I think about that squirrel sometimes. This is Texas. We have a lot of squirrels that run through the backyard and living in the neighborhood tries. But it’s hard for me to think of one that had made a great impression than this one. Squirrels don’t have a long lifespan but I like to think that he’s still out there and he’s still posing for anyone with a camera.
Previous Moments:
It can be difficult to know how to observe Memorial Day, especially in these times when people are so divided and there are so many voices out there that are promoting cynicism and apathy. For me, though, these images sum up what Memorial Day is all about. It’s not day for celebrating war. It’s a day for honoring those who lost their lives fighting for this country and it’s a day to hope for peace. It’s a day to give thanks and to pledge that their sacrifice will not have been in vain.
Since today is San Jacinto Day, it seems appropriate that today’s song of the day should come from Texas!
Here is the University of North Texas’s One O’Clock Lab band performing Maria at the Addison Jazz Festival.
To all who are observing today, Happy Easter!
This picture, a favorite of mine, is from many years ago. The original photograph was taken behind an abandoned Albertson’s, which has since been torn down and replaced by a Gold’s Gym. The picture is entitled Faith but it’s not just about religious faith. It’s about having faith in anything and how that faith can help us both get through the bad times and appreciate the good times.
I hope today is a good one for you.
Today is Texas Independence Day! 190 years ago today, 59 delegates signed the Texas Declaration of Independence and the Republic of Texas was born.
To celebrate this day, here are just a a sampling Texas art from the pulp and paperback era!
Happy Texas Independence Day!