Month: June 2019

How I Got the Shot

In August 2011, we were experiencing a drought in North Texas. We decided to put a birdbath in the yard so that the birds could drink water and cool off. As an unexpected consequence, we began having a family of owls visit our backyard nightly for about a month. Every night, just as it got dark, two owls would fly in and land somewhere in our backyard, and eventually they would make their way to the birdbath. We started sitting on our patio so that we could watch them. We would be very still and suddenly without making a sound, they would appear. Being a novice photographer, it was unbearable to think that I wouldn’t be able to capture a decent picture of these beautiful creatures. But every time I would move, even just to lift up my camera, they would fly off. After about a week of the birds watching us and us watching them, they became slightly more relaxed around us. I was even able to take a picture of them. But in the dark, at the distance I was taking the photo from, they just weren’t good enough. So I hatched a plan. I brought a flashlight out with me, and every night I began shining it on the owls. The first few times, they’d fly away, but eventually, they got used to it. I’m not sure if it was because the light was “blinding” them or they just were more comfortable with me, but I slowly started moving closer to them. So every evening, I would go outside, turn on the flashlight, move a little closer and take a few pictures.

One night, we noticed a third, smaller owl. We decided that the original two must have been its parents. Because he was younger and less fearful, I was able to get relatively close to him, even with the flashlight and the camera clicking away. If you would like to see the pictures that I got that night, please visit my Etsy Shop. There are three pictures listed, two full sized and one smaller. It is smaller because I cropped it from a different picture to show the owl’s gorgeous eyes.

Please look around the shop. I hope you enjoy all of my pictures.

https://www.etsy.com/shop/GrannyShotIt

A Little Fun For a Friday!!

A few years, I went out to the garden and picked a whole lot of cherry tomatoes. When I got inside and started sorting them, I ran across this guy! He is straight off the bush. The only thing I did was prop it up on the closest thing I could find and take the picture. I hope this brings a smile to your face and brightens your day!

Our Love Hate Relationship with Squirrels

In general, we love squirrels.  They are so cute and playful.  They entertain us for hours.  There is nothing like watching a squirrel as it bounces through the grass when it’s tall enough to tickle their tummies, or they jump when they are scared.  In hot weather, squirrels will sometimes sprawl out on a branch trying to cool off.  If they feel threatened, they will fuss and shake their tails at us.  Squirrels actually help us because they spread nuts and seeds.  They forget about most of these, and in the process plant new trees which is good for the environment.  Another benefit to having squirrels is that they are a food source for many other animals, such as hawks, coyotes, and owls, etc.

But, squirrels, as cute as they can be, are pests. First, they chew on anything – trees, wooden swing sets, eaves of houses, fences and even electrical wires.  Squirrels also eat birdseed, birdseed that you pay money for and want to feed the birds with.  I had to build an obstacle course to keep them from our birdseed because they were taking the lid off the feeder and reaching in and grabbing handfuls of seeds – greedy little critters.  We taped the lid on the feeder, but then they just hung from it eating through the holes.  This kept the birds from eating so I had to do something.

And finally, as a gardener, squirrels are always eating our crops.  This year our tomatoes are having a rough time.  There just aren’t that many of them.  We have covered them with netting to protect them from the birds and other critters.  Well, it just isn’t working.  Every day we see squirrels carrying off green tomatoes.  Sometimes they just take a bite or two and drop them right under the plant.  We are not even sure how they are getting in the netting.  It’s weighted down with bricks!

It looks like this year we are growing tomatoes for those pesky squirrels! 

If you have any suggestions, other than killing them, on how to get rid of the squirrels eating our produce, please comment below. 

White Rock Lake Park

One of Dallas’ most valuable and most used assets is White Rock Lake Park. People from all over come to the park. It is a very relaxing place. Although swimming is not allowed, there is no shortage of things to do. On a typical day, many people use the trail system to exercise before or after work. They mainly walk, jog or bike. Although many rowing clubs train in the lake year round, recreational boating usually occurs in the warmer weather. Since the lake is relatively small and shallow, boats with large motors are not allowed. Sailboats and kayaks are the primary water vehicles seen.

Another activity at the lake is fishing. There are piers at various locations, but most fishing is done from the shore. The fishermen are comprised of all ages from children on their first outing, to veterans, who sometimes fish at night. Something that is totally unexpected is the number and size of large-mouth bass that can be caught along the shore, especially when they are spawning.

At the north end of the lake, the city has built a dog park where dogs can run around freely without leashes and socialize with other dogs. There is even an area where the dogs can swim, which at times can be quite amusing.

Another unique feature is a building called the Pump House. It has been restored and can be rented out for various social functions.

Egret at one of the many piers

The lake has lots of wildlike and numerous birds. Some of the wildlife includes coyotes, foxes, nutrea, beaver and even the occassional bobcat. These animals can sometimes be seen roaming the streets of the nearby neighborhoods. All types of birds stop by the lake while migrating or live there. There is a flock of monk parrots that have lived in the park for years. In the winter, white pelicans reside in the lake.

One area of the lake has been named Sunset Bay. This is where the pelicans roost in the evenings and is a wonderful place to take pictures of the setting sun.

At the southern end of the lake, there is a spillway. Lots of birds congregate there when the lake is low, but when the water is flowing over the spillway, many people come to check it out. The power of the water is an impressive thing to see.

Spillway

White Rock Park is used for many activities, but one of the best is for family gatherings and picnics. It is nice to drive around the lake and see all the families playing and relaxing together without their televisions and other electronics.

The main reasons that I think Dallas is a wonderful place to live are because of the friendly people and the wonderful green spaces provided by the city, like White Rock Park.

What is your favorite thing to do when in Dallas?

Our Backyard Garden

The first things to come up in our garden every year are the wildflowers. My husband originally planted them behind the fence in our backyard. They were beautiful, and they saved cutting a little part of the grass in the yard, which is pretty large. But soon the neighbors were commenting on how wonderful they looked, and even the walkers and bikers just passing through the neighborhood were stopping and taking pictures of them.

Next my husband started a vegetable garden. It began as just a small area, and we grew some tomatoes, green beans, eggplants and squash. Then each year, he expanded the garden a little more. The next year he cleared an area behind our shed where he grew more beans and okra. Then he expanded it to an area along the fenceline – in front of the fence and on the fence – all one hundred and sixty feet of it. After that, he dug out twelve more beds, some four feet by eight feet, others twelve feet by twelve feet. Finally, we built two raised beds to grow lettuce, beets, carrots and radishes in. I’m sure, by now you have an idea of exactly how massive this garden has become. It’s a whole lot of work!! But there is nothing like picking a vegetable or herb and either eating it raw or cooking it right then. It makes eating so much more enjoyable, and do we like to eat!! The health benefits of knowing where the food comes from and what has or hasn’t been put on it are unquestionable.

These are some of the early veggies from this years garden. The radishes are some of the prettiest that we have ever grown. This year, it has stayed cool for a longer period, and we have received much more rain than we ususally do.

I decided to pick a few green beans for a meal so I came in with just a small amount. My husband came in a few minutes later and said that he had potatoes and onions to add to the meal. All of these were grown in our backyard.

As we pick more vegetables, I will ocassionally update you, but for now, have a wonderful and safe day!!

The Journey Begins

Hello!  Thanks for stopping by.  I’m hoping that we can become friends and learn a little about each other and our interests.  I’m going to start by telling you a little about myself.  I am a 65+ year old grandmother of twelve amazing grandchildren.   I enjoy doing lots of things, but the main thing that I am interested in is photography.  It is a hobby that I started about nine years ago, and I am self taught, thanks to the internet.   I am not a professional by any means, but somewhere in the middle of my journey.  I do have a small shop that I just started a few weeks ago on Etsy.  It goes by the same name as this blog:  Granny Shot It.  I would really appreciate you stopping by and looking at my photos.  Purchases, of course,  would be awesome, but if you would be able to share the store link with all of your friends and acquaintances, I would be really happy.  I also would appreciate any comments and constructive criticism that you would be willing to give.

https://www.etsy.com/shop/GrannyShotIt 

Last week we visited relatives in Arkansas.  We had a great time with them and loved seeing them, as we had not done so for a while.  But the trip  was somewhat eye opening to say the least.  They have lived in Arkansas for about five years now.  Everytime we have gone to their house, we pass Lake Eufaula in Oklahoma.  Every year we have commented on how low the lake was.  Last year we even said that if we didn’t get rain soon, it looked like it would dry up.  Well, thanks to El Nino of 2019 that is no longer the case.   The lake is full almost to the brim.   But when we passed the Arkansas River on Interstate 40, we were in total shock.  Sure, you hear on the news there’s lots of flooding this spring.  You even see pictures on the news.  But to actually see a river above its banks and that water flowing into the nearby fields, is truly shocking.    On the way home, the water was so high in the fields that it looked like it would cross the interstate soon.

We like to fish at the dam at Lake Texoma.  That is another place that has been extremely dry for the last few years.  Since we passed right there on our way home, we decided to drive to the dam to see how fast it was flowing.  This is the fastest I have ever personally seen the dam flowing.  The Red River has been very low also, but with the water gushing out of the dam, it is filling up quite rapidly.OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

Luckily, we made the trip home safely, but now I have a new insight into how much of the country is having to deal with the flooding problems.  I will keep them all in my prayers and hopefully, the government will help these poor folks sooner rather than later.

Good company in a journey makes the way seem shorter. — Izaak Walton