Worn Sulphurs

The Cloudless Sulphur persists through the cold and warm days, returning daily to the periwinkles and assorted flowers I have attempted to keep alive through the recent cold spell. His wings worn from winds and perhaps cat scrapes, he flits about the yard in regular routes.
I have been using the old manual 180mm 2.8 lens with the 2X extender attached, using it in manual mode, hit and miss.
This is the only photo of the sulphur out of about a dozen I took today. Manual focus difficult, exposure ever more so. In DX mode, with the 1.5 magnification factor, this lens combination makes about a 540 5.6 lens. Even with the TC-201 reasonably sharp if used stopped down and in bright light. Depth of field almost nil, very narrow focus depth. All metal and glass, no plastic, very heavy.

Your Portal

Enter into the geode that opens to the portals of the people of the puddle. We have placed these about in secret locations throughout the yard, I shall let you know just where you may find these portals, should your cares above become too overwhelming. Lately, I have
spent most of my days in the deepest geode, just under the largest pine, right off the front entrance. It does not take long upon stepping outdoors you see, to enter. Three steps at best. There was the day, the geode rested at the furthest confines of the lawn, but the past ten years, each year, they have migrated closer and closer, until it is in sight of the threshold of my limit.

The Heavens Declare

Amid the fallen below, in the midst of ongoing despairing, the exhultation of some, the downtrodding of others, the grand choir above continues in praise, unaffected by our minor chords of disharmony.
We can only look up and bow the head in wonder, how the proud can be so humble, the humble so proud. The great paradox all about.
Deceptions and illuminations going on all about. Knees bending, knees breaking. Heads puffing, heads emptying.
All we can truly say is, Christe eleison, "Christ, have mercy!"

Contrails to the Moon

Christ's Fellowship

Taking the verse from I John that our fellowship may be one another and Christ Jesus, the Christ's Fellowship Church has been created by Russell Taylor, former Pastor the last eight years at Grace Church. The church currently meets Sunday's at 10:30AM in the shed at Russell and Christina's home off County Line Road near Wellborn. At 3PM, the youth meet. Following each morning service, the members bring lunch and fellowship during the afternoon. The women and men meet every other Wednesday at 7PM as well.

And Crown him

This past Thursday I had a pocket draining two crowns installed for a total of 2200, due to not going to an in network dentist. Thus, my perturbed expression. This will be my last visit to Dr Marks replacement, Dr Baittle. Melanie said there was no excuse for the receptionist not telling me to check with an in network provider instead of just telling me my insurance does not cover crowns. Not the full information.
We have been going here for years. I will have to send them a letter expressing our frustration with them, though I should have known better myself. But, when I did the first work for these crowns, two years ago, with the root canal, we were in a different dental plan that did not have out and in of network. Still, no excuse. Could have saved at least half of this cost.

7 Days Outdoor Concert

This past Saturday at 3pm we attended the 7 Days Group outdoor concert at David Hamilton's mothers house. David's mother, who has poor eyesight, no longer lives there, so the 7 Days Band uses it for their practice site and a place to keep their equipment. With the recent split up of the Grace Church and Russell Taylor, the Pastor resigning, it was an opportunity to fellowship together. Russell formed a church currently out of his home called Christ's Fellowship. Three of the band members, Scott Hamilton, Tony Register and Tyler Elder now attend this Fellowship. Lani and Tim Clark and Gary Byerly of the band stayed at Grace under Brandon Elixson and Gary, the elder.
The Hamiltons provided chili and desserts. A good group of over sixty attended, though many we had hoped to see did not attend.

Melanie has a birthday!

This past Friday evening at 5:15 Meme Clara, Jordon and Hannah, Landon, Amber and Nathaniel met Melanie along with Gerald and Bille Earl, Melanie's parents, at the Olive Garden in Gainesville. We took our PT Cruiser and Pathfinder, Jordon and I in the Pathfinder to meet Hannah at Grace Church. We had the private booth which made it easy to hear one another. Nathaniel sat in his booster chair but mostly was passed around. We had a velvet cake afterwards that Amber bought along, with the Olive Garden waiters singing to her.
Afterwards, I rode home alone, Hannah and Jordon and Meme with Melanie in her Camry. They all arrived home before slow driving me.

Fishing upon Alligator Lake

This brother and sister duo were with their father today at Alligator Lake. The father had his hands full. One he said, was manageable, but together, a different story. They were fishing at the sink behind the Tiger stadium. I broke the cardinal rule of photojournalism and failed to get their names. It is hoped we will cross paths again, and I shall get their names. They were, even without names, quite the cute pair.

Anhinga Hideout

Beyond the vegatation growing thicker and thicker is an anhinga. The Alligator Lake Park series of dikes are an excellent means of exercise and wildlife observation, especially the large waterfowl, like heron, coots, pelicans and various other migratory birds. As the vegetation grows to maturity, the views are being obscured. Efforts are being made we see to keep the vegetation in check, though a continual effort is needed.

A dry lake

This is a view of the sinkhole in Alligator Lake that recently opened and drained the water from the lake. The only water remaining are on the south end, which is quite low, and the Alligator Lake Park basin which retains water due to two dams. Sometime in the near future, the Game Commission plans to dredge the deeper canals near the dikes in the lake, throwing the dirt on the dikes and making them more of a gentle slope. After that, they plan on mulching the bottom, riding it of aquatic vegetation which is evasive when the water levels are low.
They hope to try and maintain a fish population, which in low water times, is decimated by the cormorants, anhingas and now the wintering White Pelicans and myriad of other water fowl.

A study in Clover and Cypress