Journey with John Stokes

Tuesday, January 6, 2026

Home on the range

O give them a home

Johnclarestokes

We tried to give them a home

Bought some buffalo to roam

Even had deer and antelope with them to play

Seldom heard a discouraging word

The sky even obeyed with n’er a cloudy day

But it didn’t help

They left anyway

Haven’t heard from them since

And the yea sayers say

Oh they will return some day

And we say

You think?

What makes you such an authority

In home on ranges?

Monday, January 5, 2026

The 2 mile walk was at Alligator Lake park. Out and back on the Montgomery trail. Lugged heavy D850 with 200-500 for extra exercise. Didn’t even shoot, looking in it once for a fellow asking if I saw any ring necks among the coots. Met another new photographer friend at Watertown recently moved here. She had the little Canon my friend Larry Perry uses. She thought just because my lens was so large, it would reach further. I told her hers would reach just as far as would the Nikon P1000 another friend Marion uses.

So you guys with tiny lenses on tiny cameras, take heart.

The final glories

It’s been a good run with the glories

Something to look forward to visiting

But as in all things there are seasons

Long into winter I shall recall their story.

Beyond winters

Johnclarestokes

There atop the azalea bush one bloomed

Prelude to Spring on a most winsome day

While above just a hint of the new moon

So much more than words could say.

City barber Bill

Give me a head with hair

Now that it is all gone save the out of control brow and ear and nose hair, it’s difficult now to see what was all the fuss and rebellion when my father would give me a few dollars and tell me to get a haircut.

Ever since the Beatles forever ruined the flat top with the butch wax bangs sticking up, going to Bill Griffis and father barbershop was a nerve wracking ordeal. I would try and give explicit instructions, just a little off the sides, keep it on the ear, etc. Mr Bill would mostly get it right and I’d return home to a father who’d say, why didn’t you get a haircut?

But, on those rare occasions you found yourself in Mr Bills fathers chair, who couldn’t hear, and who coughed the entire time, causing the clippers to jerk, you’d return home in near tears to a father proud you got a decent haircut.

City Barbers

Williston