I guess we're new parents..................

 If you've been following along the saga of the butterfly cocoon, Karen went out yesterday and came in letting me know that the butterfly had opened the cocoon and was spreading it's wings. It had opened up when we weren't' around and was trying to get out of the protective net she had placed over the bush so no wasps would bother it. When Karen, reached in, the butterfly flew to her  hand and she gently pulled her hand out of the net and with a strong sweep of its' wings, our butterfly took to the air. Needless to say we were pretty excited to have watched the whole process ! This morning we looked at the bush and there are about 20 small Monarch butterfly caterpillars crawling on the leaves of the bush. The range in size from 1/4 inch up to a half of an inch and they are chowing down on the leaves of the bush.

.

It looks like we are on the way to becoming a sanctuary for the Monarch butterflies. Pretty exciting !!!!!

The process has started for the Monarch

Karen was out looking at the Butterfly plant and found out how our caterpillar has disappeared or rather transformed. The change has started in the journey to become a butterfly. In a couple of weeks we should have a new butterfly to name. Reading up on them we discovered that every 5th generation of these butterflies, there will be one that will travel over the Andes to mate, then fly back, and lay her eggs and die. I'll keep you posted on the progress.

Monarchs are coming

Sitting on the deck the other afternoon I noticed a caterpillar chowing down on a leaf on our Butterfly plant. Putting two and two together I figured out that this "bug " is actually the start of a Monarch butterfly. I looked it up on the net and I was right The the article also stated that their worst enemy is a wasp. I remembered that last year I saw a wasp attack this type of caterpillar and suck all the juices out of it. All that was left was the skin drooped over the stem of the plant it was on. After our backyard visitor visitor finished eating a massive amount of leaves it will develop its cocoon and start the transformation into the end product of becoming a Monarch.  

I read further that it takes 5 generations of this butterfly to then develop into a remarkable specimen that will end up traveling south and eventually crossing over the Andes mountains in South America before eating once again. It will then have a date or two with other butterflies, then travel back to lay eggs before dying here in America.

Some time in the 80's I saw hundreds of thousands of them hanging off of pine trees on Highland in Carthage. Somewhere I have a photograph of them. The trees were completely covered with the pulsating wings of the butterflies with no green exposed....just a mass of orange and black. 

Plant butterfly bushes and perhaps you will be lucky enough to see a traveler in your yard.
 

Tomatoes are taking over....

 I guess in the ever continuing saga of "the tomatoes" an update is due. They are now taller than I, I'm only 5'9" so we aren't talking Paul Bunyan tall but that may be another story. They are producing slowly but the toms taste really good.

They are giving me about 3 to ten a day of varying size but it's been worth it as they taste great !

I'm looking at this as an experimental year of sorts as I planted about 18 plants in all-6 to a bed. I was wondering if spacing made any difference as to production of the plants. I must admit that I am a bit disappointed in the output but they are just now starting to produce multiples. Time will tell .....

I did notice that one of my beds is leaning to the south due to the weight of the plants. This afternoon I will have to attach a line anchoring the whole structure. I had the same problem last year. It's tough for a city boy to be a farmer....... 

Blooms

 I've got to admit that I have been a bit nervous about the tomatoes.....I've spent a bunch of time exploring the different varieties, building the hot house, planting the seeds, watering them, preparing the soil last fall with the fertalizer, fencing them in with chicken wire to prevent them from becoming our backyard rabbits gourmet meal, transplanting them from the seedling containers to the raised beds.......I haven't seen any blooms.........till yesterday ! It looks like they called a square-dance, a party, a global get to gather.....I have blooms. It's going to be a good year. YaHOOOOOOOO !!! More to be written soon with explanatory images !

Back to the tomatoes...

They are growing like weeds. I staked them up day before yesterday with bamboo that I got at Lowes. It's cheap and I have used the same pieces for several years now. One change that I did make this year was to use zip ties to hold them together. In the past I used florist tape which really wasn't too satisfactory due to deterioration in the sun through the summer. I also have chicken wire around the beds to keep our rabbits at bay.

We should have tomatoes to last all summer and maybe start to can some.

                        We have all the jars and stuff from Karens moms former canning days so 

it may be a very interesting and new learning experience fall for me.

A friends sculpture work from the 70's....

 I was recently in contact with a classmate of mine from SMS  in Springfield who is now living in Russia but traveling in Texas to keep his citizenship intact. I had no money above living expenses while a student but was working for Don Sothern and told him he should go to the Art Auction the art department was holding. He went and bought sculpture piece from Frank Williams that I really wished I could have. I have always felt that it was a piece that marked times in attitude and style. Don put it in his studio. About ten years later I dropped in the studio to see Don and saw the sculpture and commented on how much I liked it. "Wanna buy it ", he said. I knew how much he paid for it so I offered him about a hundred less. He then exclaimed that he paid 100 dollars more  than I was offering so I added a hundred and he took it. That was about 1970 and I've had it ever sense. While in Springfield Frank had a leather shop a couple of blocks fro9m Dons studio. I dropped in and bought a bottle bound in leather with part of the previous nights meal and named it dinner bottle. As seen below..........Long live the 70's....

 

Toooo mate o or big red fruit.....

 Ok a great source for a very large selection of tomatos that you have never heard of or seen. They give a touch of weirdness to a mundane garden and taste great. The source is Tomatofest and they are on the net at www.tomatofest.com. Great catalog to read in spare moments....

Plant away !!!!!!! I planted Argentina, African Queen, Ace 55 and Amish Red. Going to have a bunch to eat around July and last year my vines produced into November.

Checking in...

 Well to fill you in, my hothouse for the tomatoes seeds has been built and I have plants growing. It will be a couple of more weeks before I set them out as I really need to do a bit more work on my raised beds. I put out four different varieties ranging in. color from deep red to black and have a couple of striped ones included. Why grow normal tomatoes. I bought these from a new supplier and of course they are heirloom seeds. 

Scheduled to rain today and stay mild and next week I'll start "hardening" them by exposing them to more straight daylight so they will survive the sun. If I transplanted them without doings they would burn up in the hard light. Being pretty cheap I planted all the seeds in the packs so I don't think I'll be suffering from a tomato shortage. 

I have booked a new client that is an expert tile layer and you should look forward too some shots of tiled floors and walls soon. This guy is a true pro in the business. Must just go now I'll try to check in tomorrow....

Finally Spring..

 It seemed to be a long winter as all I did was work. Several weeks ago I built a hot house out of PVC to start my tomatoe seeds in and amazingly enough they are thriving. Next week I'll fire up my cultivator and get them in the ground. I have four different varieties that range in color from red to purple to black. It should be an interesting summer !

I have a commercial job coming up that I'm looking forward to involving exterior shots of a commercial establishment. It will be fun and I have a new concept for an additional image that I will share with you after I produce it. I also have picked up several commercial assignments from a tile layer that will cover bathrooms and kitchens and perhaps a few entryways and patios. I'll keep you posted.

It is always a question concerning my Bonsia trees that I have been growing for years. My oldest, about forty years old, may have given up the ghost this winter. But I do keep the faith as I have seen plants-trees bloom out with leaves after being seemingly dead. Our wisteria always is slow to bloom but it is doing well this spring.The moss I have growing in the Bonsia pots are finally taking over the rocks.

As soon as the trees leaf out some more I'll include them in a post.

Snow again...

 More snow.....a total of around 8/9 inches are on the ground.... I did however have a spark of "genius" by using my leaf blower to remove it. Faster than shoveling and much easier on the back. It is now safe to go out of the house and get in the car. Works really well on the cars however I wish it would wash them at the same time....may have to work on that. 

I have several commercial accounts lined up for shoots as soon as the snow leaves and life can get back to normal.....what ever that is. Karen and I are getting our second covid shots soon so that will make us feel a bit better when the process is completed. I have a bit f concern for the Koi pond as it is iced over....can't really check on the fish. This time of year they hibernate laying low on the bottom and not moving. I did take out one of the goldfish that had expired a week or so ago....must have been old age as the bubblers were working.  I'll keep you posted.....stay safe !!

The weather won...................

 Great thoughts of getting out and grabbing some shots with the light and snow...........thoughts were just thoughts ! I have never been in such cold as what is gripping Oklahoma now. If you are talking the words fall frozen out of your mouth and become a trip hazard. We had some snow, about 6 to 8 inches, depending on where you live but it was light and I was able to clean off the walkway and around the car with a leaf blower. Which is a glimmer of genius if I may say so. I have had to shovel the words though as I was in a heavy conversation with myself...No lifting of shovels of snow just the heavy conversation !  Turn on the blower and direct the snow where you want it to go and shovel up the frozen scraps of ideas and you're done in no time. 

We always feed the birds in the winter and this year is vitally important. Over the past several years we have had a pair of doves roost and nest on top of one of out tool sheds on the patio and have their kids. It's been great fun as they sort of get used to us and don't fly off when we come out in the spring. This year I have seen bluebirds in the feeder and I am surprised as I didn't think they were around in the winter. We have also had a multitude of robins this year. I walked out on the deck several days ago and a squadron of Robins appeared over our neighbors to the south, flying in formation directly toward me. There must haver been 30 of them. I dashed for the house.....you never know what a Robin is thinking's....

The pond and waterfall have frozen over and I have investigated the water under the ice and it is flowing. The main concern with that is that the falls and two bubblers are the only supply to the fish for air. No air...no fish....Being basically homebound all I have been able to photograph is the bird feeder and the Aviary Grill. Here are a couple of shots....

 

 They look as cold as I feel.....................

Driving around before the impending Blizzard......

 According to almost all weathermen in the area we are about to get 10 to 15 inches of snow dropped on our heads in the next couple of days. I was out earlier this morning and figure that after going to the market I need to take some images of the outdoors as I will probably be snowed in till next  Wednesday.

I have a couple of ideas in mind as to what I'll start shooting but that is subject change as I wade through the process. Stay posted and we'll see what happens........it might be exciting.....

Over 100,000 as of tomorrow !!! Sooooooooooo Close !!!! Factors out to 10,000 views a year......

amazing !!!!!!!!  

Orchids as Promised...

Sorry it's taken so long to get these on the blog but I have been very busy with different assignments. We have had this orchid for a number of years and this is the block buster blooming year so far. I hope to get some really close ups onion the next couple of days as time alots. 

Stay tuned...New images are on the way....

 I took delivery on some new equipment that I ordered last week and it should make the creating of images mush easier. I won't say as yet what it is but it will end the frustration that I have had photographing one particular type of imagery. What took a lot of time in the past due to the difficulty of focus I was having should be cleared up. Stay tuned....more images coming soon !!!!

A Startling new discovery !!!!!!!

 I was just writing to an old, or should I say former, High School Classmate, Dan Koch, who dropped me and several other classmates a Merry Christmas note and I scanned back over the almost 500 entries to my blog. I was amazed that I've been posting on the blog for over 10 years ! I had no idea I've been at it for so long.

I started the blog mainly as a vehicle to display my work and speak of a career that I love. I have had so many unexpected opportunities to travel, photograph, meet heads of state, go into areas of great danger and survive, see manufacturing processes that are unbelievable from start of finish within the processes.....what a kick in the pants, I'm a very lucky guy. Within this journey I met the love of my life, my wife Karen, who has stood by me through thick and thin, believing in me and also giving me the reason to try to be the best guy I can be. She is absolutely fabulous......

Many of my accounts have stretched over the decades, some in the medical areas, some in manufacturing, some in advertising, and some in personal image creation. Much of my business has come from my point to point advertising, and other parts from reputation, and some from just blind luck by asking the right questions to the right people at the right time. 

Photography is really a puzzle game. Questions to be asked are basically 1. What do you want to say, and 2. How do I get there. It is not a matter of buying a $ 5000. dollar camera and proclaiming "Now I am one", it actually takes a great amount of study, experience and most importantly understanding the relationship between Light, Shutter speed, F stops and how that all interact with the mechanics of a camera and film or a digital file, to achieve an intended result. It's not Jr. High....

With the new Year will come new challenges and I am fortunate to start it off with an assignment from one of my commercial clients in the first week of 2021. I really feel as though we will continue to prosper creating images for my past and new clients and it will be a great year for everyone.

I'll never forget Charlie....

In the mid eighties I answered an ad in a photographic journal I subscribed to from Techno Balcar looking for a rep for their line of photographic equipment. They were based out of Chicago and wanted a rep for Missouri and Arkansas. They flew me to Chicago for training and my immediate supervisor was Charlie Moore. Charlie was about my age and looked to be Italian. We hit it off and I completed the training. Balcar made very sophisticated equipment meant for the true Professional Photographer. Very pricy equipment but it was worth the money. While them I was flown back to Chicago to help them cover Chi-Caribe a celebration for the media producers in Chicago. Models, suppliers, photographers, ad agencies, designers, anyone of notation within the Chicago area was there. It was a grand time and Tecno was photographing attendees and giving them 8 x 10 Polaroid prints. Charlie and I got one together.

Techno was sold to another supplier and my tenure with them was ended. It was a real shame as I had to return $ 100,000 worth of equipment they gave me to use and demonstrate to clients with. Part of the job was to demo the products at different shows. One was in Kansas City and I was responsible for my own accommodations. I took Motel Six close to the Missouri River as the Show was across the river and M6 was much cheaper that the hotel that housed the convention. Charlie had all of the ingredients for the hospitality room Techno was hosting and I had a six pack in my room. I had a car so I picked Charlie up as we were going to dinner at one of the KC steak Houses on the Plaza We decided to have a beer before we ate so we stopped by by room to get one. I pulled in about the same time a mud strewn Cadillac pulled in and three guys hopped out in Bib overalls. Reaching for the door handle in the car I started to get out. Charlie grabbed me and said STOP !! I looked at him and he had a look of terror in his face. I said "what's going on ??? Morgan you have to change hotels !! he replied. With a look of confusion I said "WTF Charlie...?? He asked if I had seen the guys get out of the car. I said "Yes"...He replied..."Didn't you see the overalls ??? I said" Yes"........."They're Rednecks Morgan......They may start something....MOVE OUT !!! " I was astounded....I explained to him that people in rural America have all at one time or another have owned one or more pairs of Bibs to work in.....don't be concerned. We got out of the car went into the room had a beer and went to eat. 

Techno closed and Charlie then started an apartment rehab business and was doing well and then had a cardiac surprise at almost killed him. He called after he got out of the hospital and gave me an update. The heart attack ended his rehab career but he then became a guide at night for the Observatory on the lakeshore and loved it. 

I got an assignment from the National Funeral Directors to create a multi-image slide show introducing Chicago to their attendees. I called Charlie explaining that I needed to show all parts of the city and some cemeteries to be included. I asked him to guide me through the city. I used Carl Sandburg writings as a basis for giving the city a personality of an old man. The show started with the morning light and ended with dusk into night. My nephew Tim Putnam created a terrific music background for the narration. Charlie and I covered the city in a day and decided to hit some Jazz clubs after dinner. We got back to his apartment about three in the morning and were pretty wound up after the day of shooting. 

I noticed a large photo album on his living room table and started to thumb through it. There were pictures of different black families, Charlie as a kid, his brothers and sisters, and as I was looking the asked me if I knew he was black. I said no, but so what ! He then started to tell me a little family history. He was what his family called high yellow....evidently meaning light skinned. I frankly told him that I thought he might have been Italian. In the conversation we had he told me one thing I had never considered.... the difference between being in the Minority and Majority. Charlie decided several years before that he needed to trace his family history which led him to take a trip to Africa. He said he found a tribe that he thought his ancestors came from and was pleased. He did say that for the first time in his life he was in the racial majority and he had NEVER been there before. 

Be low are two photographs Charlie and I at the Chi Caribe in an 8 x 10 polaroid and Charlie in one of the cemetery shots. Looking back...how much it says about the future. I got a call from one of the former employees of Techno telling me that Charlie had passed.....

He had a heart attack in the observatory and died. The Chicago Tribune ran an article on him with the Byline....Master of the Universe has passed......

Charlie was just a great guy and good friend.

Great Catalog for amazing seeds...

Check out amazing seeds.com for the best selection of non-GMO altered seeds available. This company has the catalog that is a true visual joy to see and just thumbing through it makes me want to start planting seeds right now for spring planting. However I will wait till February to do so. 

Order the catalog and become a true Gardner......I'm not responsible for your whole yard becoming a huge and great garden....but enjoy the fruits of your labor.

Almost done with Fall....and a fabulous bit of family news

 I've taken down the banana trees and probably going to eliminate them as they are spreading like poison ivy. Karen is afraid of my creating a new Banana Republic. I think the only way to contain them is obviously in a pot or whisky barrel. The garden beds are done and the mushroom soil mixed in with the Oklahoma sandy loom. It will be a great spring planting time. In February I will start my seeds in the north window of the house and by April they will be ready t plant.The cycle starts again.....

I did move my 40 year old Sego Palm outside this last spring and it flourished. I built a small greenhouse to protect it from what might be a very hard winter. I would hate to lose it as it's been around so long and through moves to New Orleans, Dallas, Joplin, and finally landing here in Tulsa. By this time I guess I should give it a family name.

Which reminds me,,,,My grandson Adam Cain has just told us that he tried out for the Marine Band with an audition. A man was flown in from the band to hear him play and he was accepted !!!! He will report to basic and them take his place in the band. What a GREAT choice he has made which I hope leads him around the world and helps cement his future into music history. What an excellent choice he has made. Way to go Adam !!!!!

Yes I have bananas.........

 We cut down the banana trees yesterday but saved the one with the bananas, The flower is edible and we may try that today for a twist in  the usual menu. In the picture with the cut trunks my leg and foot are in the lower left to give you an idea of the size of the trees. They were actually taller than the roofline. I think they will soon take over the neighborhood.....wife IS concerned...

The upper deck is ready for the fall however the plants are soon to be history as we dig out the bulbs to put in wood chips and seal for the winter. We have saved about $ 300. to $ 400. a year by doing so. The bulbs are stored in the garage and in the spring we replant them and all is well. Have a great Fall and stay safe....we are NOT out of the woods.

An oldie from the 70's...............

 I think this was my first award in "73" from the Missouri Professional Photographers Association. This was when I had hair and no knee, hip, or back replacements....the start of a fun career. Had I known then what I know now, I would have never believed it would be possible. I've traveled the world on assignments, including Canada, Central America, and the Middle East, as well as all over the U.S. It goes to show I think that if you pay attention to who you meet, find out a bit about them, be interested in them and be open about your abilities, anything can follow. I could NEVER believe this could happen to a small town guy. SHAZZZZAAAAAAAMMMMMMM !!!

FlapJack

One more plant note....

 Just a quick note on one more favorite plant....the FlapJack....Had this for years and have propagated several from it. It just hangs out and grows but in the Fall the leaves get the red trim. That becomes the really BIG DEAL for this plant....

Tomorrow I'm going to work on the gardens putting new mushroom soil in them to replenish them from this season. I'm heavily tempted to try straw bail gardening for a new crop of potatoes but haven't decided yet if I will. Starting in the fall you take one bail of straw and wet it down and cover it with commercially purchased manure and let its over the winter. In the spring plant the potato eyes deeply into the straw and water it as you would a regular garden. The potato plants will grow and by late summer the potatoes will be available harvest by digging through the straw. In the Fall the straw composts into the garden improving the soil. 

Fall has arrived...

 For the first time one of my Bonsai trees has turned with the weather. This Red Maple is about 6 years oldand has finally realized that it is to change colors in the Fall. I have several others that may change next year.....

I guess that makes it a red letter day....

My favorite time to photograph........almost..

 Fall is in the air and I'm getting in the mood to do some work for myself. Kind of a strange thought - photographing for myself-but I like the mystery of setting out to capture what is usually missed through everyday seeing. It's kind of like William Last Heat-Moons book "Blue Highways." In it he just started out to "discover" the America he lived in. The journey took him on a path that was determined by what seemed to be the "right" direction amnd ended by completing a circle through the United States.  

A touch of fall/The Moonlight is done

 I bought the "Moonlight" as a nonfunctioning searchlight at a flea market several years ago and I have finally taken the time to mount it so that it is working properly. I'll photograph it tonight to give you a clue as to what is casting that spotlight over Tulsa tonight. Eat your heart out Batman !!!

Hard rain gonna fall.....for days

So many songs, great songs in fact, have been written about the rain. The first that comes to mind is Bob Dylans " A Hard Rains Gonna Fall, "followed up by Jose Feliciano's,"  Listen to the Falling Rain", and then tremendous thunder storms that I loved as a child. Middle of the night booms followed by brilliant flashes of light. I was always amazed. My Grandfather Speer told me that the thunder was the sound of Trolls throwing bowling balls down the alleys and the lightning announced the strikes. As a kid I wondered what it would be like living on top of a cloud and what the bowling alleys looked like. Always a concern as I looked up, and wondering what it would be like to see earth from above, was the question of how thick the cloud must be before you would fall through. I also surmised that although I thought of space as black, the world was covered by white clouds that turned the black into blue. I really felt sorry, although I did admire jet pilots, ( Buck Rogers ), watching the jet trails across one horizon to the other, eventually crashing as I had never seen one land.

The thoughts of a kids' reality in the 50's. Surprised that I made it through childhood.

Talking of clouds and flying, Superman on TV was a big deal. It's a bird !!! It's a plane !!! It's SUPERMAN. I remember one afternoon I figured if he could fly so could I. It had to be the suit he wore. I found a pair of longjohns and put them on. Then a pair of Jockey shorts so I had a super suit almost like his, and safety penned a towel to the shoulders on the top of the longjohns, I was Euclids Superboy. I tried to jump a couple of times and nothing happened. Our 56 Ford was parked in front of the house and I just figured I needed a head start to get into the skyway like SUPERMAN. Climbing on top of the fender on the passenger side I took the leaf of faith !!! I flew for less than the time it takes to realize I couldn't fly, and knocked all the wind out of me. I knew I was going to die......then I got my wind back, looked around, and slowly walked back to get in regular clothes before anyone saw me as an earthbound superboy. I never tried to fly again....

Tomatoes/walkway

Just a couple of images from the backyard. We added some river pebbles to the west walkway to prevent the soil from eroding. As I mentioned in a couple of past entries my tomatoes luck is fantastic. These are the Cosmic tomatoes I have mentioned before. They are cherry size and varied in color from black to yellow, orange blue and black. The really taste great and can be eaten like popcorn-by the hand full. A truly great find 1!!!!

Dog days...

It's hot here in Tulsa on everything is slowing to a crawl. Our governor Kevin Stitt, who has been somewhat of a skeptic to the Covid situation, and refused to close down anything state wide has come down with the Covid problem. It will be interesting to see if he changes his tune. Masking is vital to staying free form the disease however being at home is the best.

Please stay safe and watch what you do......life as usual is too short.....preserve your health.

MURDER !!!!

This morning I went out on the  deck to water and was shocked as I happened upon what was an untouched crime scene. White, one of our caged birds, had been attacked sometime in the darkness of night.

I immediately noticed that she was missing from the cage and then saw her feet and a tail feather

    which had been discarded due to obviously no interest.

Further investigation led to the discovery of her remains.....

It is obvious that the culprit, the fiend, had a good part of her anatomy for a late snack.

All I can say is that I hope it has a great time trying to digest her styrofoam body.

Rest In peace White, and sing on for eternity......

Cosmic tomatoes...

I was a bit surprised at the size of the tomatoes I chose to plant....at least one variety, The Cosmic set....

I expected large tomatoes like I had was a kid but these came out like cherry tomatoes.....disappointed
till I tasted them. They are fantastic ! We've been taking them off the vine in multitudes as they grow on one stem with a general count of 6 per stem. yum....yummmm..


I have several different types taking off and I'll follow up with a review when I get them in my hands....click on the picture to make it bigger...

Potatoes...

Tomatoes-potatoes..the grand experiment...

One of the pots of potatoes had dying plants which is generally an indication of what should be an impending harvest. I took the hint and got my crop out of the dirt. I have another pot that is still vibrant and I'll wait on it. I initially questioned the sense, or lack of, in plantings the seed potatoes. Potatoes are cheap at the store and it had been decades since I planted them and never in a pot. The grand experiment took place with two large pots on the deck and patio.

In the spring I planted the seed potatoes in good soil, watered them faithfully and watched them grow. Homegrown tomatoes have a great taste and I was wondering if the taste would be different with homegrown potatoes. The jury is still out....we'll have them for dinner tonight....so I'll have to keep you posted. Only the Shadow knows for sure...

However.....it was fun watching them through the growing process......it doesn't take much to keep me entertained...

Tomatoes

As mentioned before and shown in previous stories I planted tomatoes in my raised beds in the garden. They have taken off and we are enjoying the taste I haven't had since I was a kid. Home grown tomatoes. What a kick in the pants !!!  These are a cherry tomato-smalll but fabulous in taste. I have about 30 more plants of a variety called Cosmic Tomatoes that are just now starting to bloom.

These come in clusters of about 6 and they are striped with green and black with a touch of red and orange. Small but really tasty. I'm going to trim the stalks tomorrow-never done it but it is to make the plant produce more fruit.....will let you know....

A wild six weeks.....

I have had, being isolated, a really great time working like I never had before on our "studio" yard. What generally took a year or so to get together in terms of planting, removing, cleaning and creating was done over the past few weeks. Today capped it all as I put up the sunscreen for the Koi pond so the fish wouldn't overheat.  DONE !!!

It is a great feeling and pretty exciting to say the least. DONE .....

Many of my commercial accounts took a beating with the isolation and I am in the process of connecting with them however everyone seems to be a bit afraid of the "recession " that we are entering ....no place to hide so ...in my opinion surge forward to look and be strong and capture the market you have and the one looking for a way to proceed. BE A LEADER !! The company that has the open door is the one that is going to be the winner.

In a lighter note it's time for the yearly "Lilly" image...............

Every year they come back and look healthier and bolder. I really like to photograph them-just a great time. I'll be back on tomorrow with a bunch of images of the yard and maybe a story of past challenges...

Thinking of others in the strange times we're in...

Like everyone else we have been spending time concerning updates on the Corona Virus, My wife came up with an amazing stroke of Genius !!!  She spoke with the president of our neighborhood association and suggested that our subdivision be broken up into areas that were basically straight lines, ask a volunteer from each area to be responsible for picking up curbside boxes, bags or crates of food the homeowner wished to donate, and the volunteer  to drive the load to the Tulsa Food bank.

IT WAS A GREAT SUCCESS !

All told we delivered almost 600 pounds of staple foods and canned goods! You never know where your situation will be in these unsettled times. If you can do the same collection and delivery in your area please try to do the same thing. No business or community is like it was 6 months ago....we are all in this together. Try to help someone else.

One of the area collection carts

The back of our car..

The collectors and the food just our group delivered to the Food Bank

Covid time in Tulsa

It looks as though the virus has come to roost in Oklahoma. There are reports in Tulsa, Oklahoma City, and random towns throughout the state. There has not been a total shelter in place decree from our Governor who seems to be oblivious to the situation but people seem to be taking the situation in hand. There is not traffic to speak of on the main roads through town and people are staying close to home. I've been doing nothing but yard work the past few days as the weather has been really exceptional. The garden is in and the tomatoes are growing well. I started several varieties from seed and was disappointed to see no results. No patience ! They have finally sprouted and will be late producing which is good.  By the time my first grown plants stop these will be beginning to produce.
A perfect addition to our Fall menus.

Many of my commercial accounts have been closed due to the situation so I will have to get creative in my sales approach. I can see that the main drive will be online sales of pictorials that I have amassed over the years. I'll keep you posted. Stay in your own domain-make do with what you have and take the free time to be creative. You may uncover new talents. Be safe.....

Remembering the song...

It occurred to me that the old standby of the early "60's anti war movement "Where have all the Flowers gone........fits the times today. The virus seems to be all consuming as it travels around the world with confusion everywhere. Some world leaders who at first refused to acknowledge it have finally sobered up to realize that this is a Pandemic that is pretty much uncontrollable unless explicit guidelines are followed. Families will be decimated if rules aren't followed and simple behavior respected. Be glad to be home and if you are lucky enough to have  a yard to tend to now is the time to excel in its care. 

My gardens are planted, watered and the lawn mowed. My wife and I are playing Rummykube almost everyday and she has become the internet Guru of her sunday school class, the net Hero. She has almost all of them on Zoom for chats, discussions, and just checking up on each other.  Something I probably couldn't have done. Remember to call your neighbors and friends, keep in touch, and be safe.

A double edged sword...

The virus is something out of a Steven King novel except that it's true. It has arrived in Tulsa and deaths have been reported and are destined to grow. As many of you know I have been working part time at Home Depot as a greeter-a job I love-but as of Friday I am taking a 30 day leave. I have been working with a recommended respirator and so far have experienced no issues. However there comes a time to stop pressing you luck......I reached that point. Traffic is coming to a halt on the roads however the customer count in the HD store is way up as people suddenly have the time to start and complete work in their yards and homes that until now would have taken many weekends.

I'm also one of those people.

Very frustrating time getting back on...

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It's a long story but it doesn't start with "It was a cold stormy night"...I had just forgotten my name to get into Google. I gad misspelled it on my first entry and quite frankly forgot it. I figured out today how to do so so I'm officially back on. I've been very busy in the meantime. I've had a great commercial job photographing some really fine craft work on a home building structure. This company builds in the old world - way trusses, beams and supports out of vintage wood and secures them in place by using wooded pegs. Amazing craftsmanship.

Last of the peppers

Although I'm still getting tomatoes the pepper side of the garden is about done. I have several still "on the vine" so to speak but the bulk of production is almost over. I really hate to see that, as I like to grow stuff. It really makes my wife shake her head...

These are some of the last that I'll have and I think their color is remarkable.

I will have to take up the elephant ear bulbs after the first frost and put them in the garage in dog litter for the winter. They will go in a large plastic bin with a top that I seal for the winter. Not only have the bulbs grown new bulbs but also have continued to increase in size themselves individually. I didn't mark the name of the bulbs last year so I ended up with variations in every pot. I'll probably have the same outcome next year.......chance is wonderful. I would like to put out some tulips this year but I don't want to lose the potting space for peppers and cilantro. My sage will need to be repotted in the spring as well as my oreagno which has prospered over the last two years in a large pot. Grow baby grow...............

Fall may be in the air....

After a very long summer here in Oklahoma land I'm glad the season is drawing to a close. It is just too hot.  However, it's been a very prosperous summer with more work done on our outdoor studio area.  I eliminated a really underused area to the south of the pond and created an area that offers a couple of posing options I didn't have before. With the emphasis that I have placed on my commercial work photographing architectural interiors/exteriors and product photography, this space may not be used too much.....but at least I have it to offer clients should I need it. This should complete all renovations of the environmental area. I'll be marketing to some new clients the rest of the week so I may be somewhat silent for a week or so. However. I will keep you posted.
Have a great time next week and we will be in touch......

Several years ago...

I had a fun challenge with an account several years ago with the problem of getting an image of a printing press that was very large and could only be photographed on location-in the plant. This company rebuilt presses and this was the first they wanted photographed......no one else had been able to do it. Typical excuse...not enough lights.

There is more than one way to skin a cat so to speak and I reverted to the old technique of painting with light. I had the company build a 16 foot wall behind the press on the back and on one end. I suggested using styrafoam board for the wall due to cost and ease of use, and paint it white. This hid the rest of the plant and by having them wet the floor with water I not only bounced the light but also got rid of an ungly cement floor. I used one had held light and finished to job in about 4 hours. It was fun.

Another job well done and problem solved.

A note about The Challenger....

I just thought of a note about The Challenger, Mickey Thompsons land speed car. Mickey was my wifes' cousin and he was murdered by a former partner in his multiple business enterprises. He had a son Danny that carried on with the dream of smashing the land speed record. This past year Danny took Challenger to the Salt Flats and breaking the standing record. His total speed was 442 miles per hour combining the two required runs. Danny upgraded internal parts of the machines motors and other parts but kept the same design that Mickey created.  The Challenger has a new home in the Smithsonian Museum in Washington D.C.

This summers peppers...

As most followers know I do plant peppers and tomatoes in the spring primarily because I like to eat homegrown veggies. I built raised beds last year and they worked well and this year I added some mushroom compost in the spring. That stuff is a great addition to the sandy soil we have here. I think that a couple of more years of adding it will make the dirt similar to the soil I had in Missouri. The tomato plants are still producing as are the peppers so we will probably be in good shape till the first frost.

As a new addition I also have potatoes in two containers just to see if I can grow them. They can't be harvested until the first frost so don't hold your breath. It seems like a really dumb idea growing them as cheap as they are in the stores but if there is a difference in taste I'll put in a larger bed next year.
Obviously as most people know tomatoes are radically tastier if home grown. John Denver was right.

These are some of the garden treats from this year.

Touching base...

I've been really busy getting ready for some Senior Portrait sessions. Did some work on the outdoor studio in preparation and am pretty much done with it. Later today I will post another page showing how some of the previously shown commercial images were used by one of my clients. It's always good to get a "tear sheet" from my clients to add to my portfolio. It really adds credibility to my sales attempts. It really solidifies my "Sure I can do it.." statements I give my clients. Stay tuned...

That time of year...

I guess it has become somewhat of a habit over the years to post my first crop of tomatoes and following tradition.....these are my first ones. It is also my first in years to be picked before July 1.
I'm looking forward to a bumper crop !!!

I started the plants from seeds I had purchased from Baker Creek Seed Company in Missouri.
They are non gmo and taste like the tomatoes I ate as a kid. It's going to be a great summer !!!

Completed second job for my new Client-----------

My new client is an interior designer was that was invited to decorate a room in the historic Harwelldon House for a Designer Showcase that was held recently. This room is in the basement of the house but has the feel of a normal ground floor of a home. The chest was carved and I think was made of mahogany. The chairs were covered with a very fine leather, really top line appointments.

I sure love my job. Watch for more interiors as she has told me that she has several kitchen installations she has done for clients recently.