Uncle Joe Buck's Old Tractor 355/365

Spreading Purple Angelonia 354/365

Such a strange plant that Mom found at the Ace Hardware store over in Center when we went to buy more Jomax for the fence (yes, I'm still washing the fence!).  It requires a lot of sun and supposedly produces tiny orchid-like blossoms when it blooms.

Comments:  Tracy:  Yes, they are llamas.  At least that's what Kay says they are and when I looked on the WWW and compared llamas to alpacas, they do appear to be llamas.  Kay said she got a bargain at $500 for the pair, and I've heard of alpacas selling for up to $20,000 each.  Llamas have curved ears at the top; alpacas have pointed ears.  Llamas have straight backs for carrying packs; alpacas have sloped backs.  Llamas have many tasks relegated to their species (pack animals, guards for alpacas, wool producers), whereas alpacas only produce wool.  Llamas are tall and thin while alpacas tend to be short and stocky.  Now you know everything I ever wanted to know about llamas and alpacas.  Magpie:  Knowing Kay I doubt very seriously she will shear them.

Tracy:  It's pronounced Nack-uh-doe-chez.  It's sometimes referred to locally as Nackanowhere or just 'Doches.  It's a Caddo Indian name dating from ancient times (sorta like our Hohokam here in AZ) and from what I remember from my early school days it means "land of many storms," although I can't find a reference to that on the Web, so I may have just dreamed it or made it up!  P.S.  Thanks for the link on the Archabbey.  Fabulous stuff.  If I weren't planning on being cremated I'd order my casket from them today!

Loyal Companions 353/365

Llamas 352/365

Mom's neighbor Kay has two new additions to her farm menagerie, these two elegant, if not disheveled, llamas.  I think they must like to roll around in the grass.  She said the previous owner had them groomed up like French poodles when she purchased them.  I don't remember which is the male and which is the female, but I definitely think she should name one of them Dalai.

This is the first of three posts today - I'm trying to get caught up my 365 Project!

Washing Fence 351/365

The work around a farm is never done.  My mom has reached an age where she has trouble keeping up with general maintenance and I provided a helping hand to accomplish a few chores.  One that was sorely needed was the washing of the fence.  It shouldn't have taken me three days to do it, but with the temperature and the humidity, about two and a half hours in the early morning was all I could tolerate.  In this type of climate outdoor chores such as this should be scheduled for the spring or fall.

First Methodist Church of Nacogdoches, Texas 350/365

The historical marker for this church indicates that at least one Methodist sermon was delivered in Nacogdoches (believed by some to be the oldest settlement in Texas; others say it's San Augustine) before 1821.  The church was founded in approximately 1837 by Missionary Littleton Fowler and was the first Protestant congregation organized in the town after the Texas war for independence.  Samuel A. Williams, the first pastor, came to Texas from Tennessee in 1838.  In 1860 the first church building was constructed across the street from the present site.  Until that time the congregation met in homes and other places.  A larger frame church built in 1887 was lost in a fire in 1907 and a brick building was erected in 1910.  The present church building was constructed in 1969.

Approaching the Storm 349/365

                                               Highway 59 north of Nacogdoches, Texas

Back From Vacation ~ July 28

Hello Blogger Friends!

Yes, I have been suffering from blogging withdrawal!  I've been gone a little over three weeks and I have all the pictures needed to finish up my Project 365.  It's just going to take me a few days to get them all posted.  I've missed you all and will catch up with your blogs in a few days.  I'm back-dating everything to keep the 365 in date order and hopefully within a week or so I'll be back on schedule. I've missed you all!  I took over a thousand photos on my trip.  It will be interesting to see how many of them are usable! 
I'll try to post three to four days' worth of photos until I get caught up.  I'm too tired tonight - could only get through two days, but in the days to come, I hope to show you all a beautiful area of the Deep East Texas that I love.

Lovely Lady No. 16 - 348/365

                                                                     Even cows love earrings!

This sweet Black Angus who calls my mom's pasture home wasn't so sure she wanted me to take her picture.  Her girlfriend in the background sported No. 7.  It's great to be a breeding cow.  You have your own number and nobody better try stealing your identity!

Up, up the long, delirious burning blue 347/365

                                               Oh! I have slipped the surly bonds of Earth
                                           And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings;
                                        Sunward I've climbed, and joined the tumbling mirth
                                          Of sun-split clouds, — and done a hundred things
                                 You have not dreamed of — wheeled and soared and swung
                                                 High in the sunlit silence. Hov'ring there,
                                             I've chased the shouting wind along, and flung
                                            My eager craft through footless halls of air. . . .
                                                Up, up the long, delirious burning blue
                                       I've topped the wind-swept heights with easy grace
                                               Where never lark, or ever eagle flew —
                                            And, while with silent, lifting mind I've trod
                                              The high untrespassed sanctity of space,
                                          Put out my hand, and touched the face of God.

                                                                                                   High Flight
                                                                                                   John Gillespie Magee, Jr.

As I winged my way eastward my thoughts and my view from my camera reminded me of this wonderful poem.

Check out other fabulous "blues" shots at Rebecca's Midweek Blues.

Old Glory 346/365 (On Vacation)

This blog will be on vacation starting tomorrow until the end of the month.  I had planned to take my vacation later in the month but my mom has been having some health issues and I've decided to have a more extended stay with her.  I will take pictures every day and will post the remaining days of my Project 365 upon my return.  She lives in a very rural area and I will not have access to a computer or the Internet.  I look forward to catching up with all of you on my return.  In the meantime, keep on bloggin'!

Let freedom ring!

I Need a Little Heat in My Life 345/365

Yellow Chili Peppers, Not Quite as Hot as Orange or Red Ones

With yesterday's high temp of 115 and today's big cool-down to 105, I felt like I needed to add a bit of heat to my life and  I just happened to spot these beautiful yellow chili peppers while at the grocery today!  Tomorrow may actually be 103 - it's time to bring out the sweaters!

Lightning Z Ranch House 344/365

About one mile north of my home in Central Phoenix is the Lightning Z Ranch house, constructed between 1904 and 1908. This area in the early 1900s was miles from the heart of downtown and surrounded by 25 acres of citrus. It would have been considered very rural. The current owners purchased the property in 2004 and spent two years returning it to its original character while incorporating modern conveniences. Today the property includes a pool and a guesthouse. The Lightning Z has been listed on the City of Phoenix Historic Properties Registry.

Comments:  Sharon:  What happens to this blog in 21 days?  Scroll down to the post on June 28 and your question is answered.

An Apple a Day 343/365

This is Day 343 of my Project 365.  You might notice yesterday's post also says 343.  Every month I print a calendar and number the days as they progress to the 365th day.  Today when I looked back to see when I had started this little blog and discovered it was July 24, as I numbered from the 23rd backward I discovered that I'm one day off somehow.  I don't plan to go back and find where the mistake was.  In the long run it doesn't matter and no one cares - so 22 days to go after today!

Today's High: 114
8/100 Strangers can be found today at FKH Photo Journal