Spinning wheel, spinning round

If this gives you a sense of vertigo, it was meant to. You slide around the track going totaly topsy-turvy and the top and multiple G's at the bottom.  If that wasn't fun enough, you stop at the very top and do the whole fun things backwards.   You get to pay for this privilege.  I think I am still spinning from watching it long enough to get a in-focus shot.
The South Texas State Fair.   But then, you probably have an event with that spins this much fun in your neighborhood, too.
--steve buser

South Texas State Fair, Texas, Beaumont

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Fair days, fun days

Linda and I were at the South Texas State Fair this weekend in Beaumont.  I observed that a lot of the fun seemed to be the spinning, twisting, grinding, yelling, 10+ G's, that I used to enjoy when it would not put my body into a week of intense pain.  Those were the days.  Or, I guess I should say THESE are the days, just not for me.
--steve buser

State Fair, Beaumont, Texas

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Green Heron practices hunting skills

It a small lake at the Aboretum in Austin.  I suppose that the competition makes  a bird like this green heron have to travel some days to find food. Nonetheless, he was patient, practicing all of his hunting skills -- the bank-side waiting, the shallow water-wading, the stealthy, slumped low warrior, the tree branch sniper and more.
--steve buser

Green Heron, Austin, Texas

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Roseate Spoonbill -- grooming time

In a crowded neighborhood like the one this Roseate Spoonbill lives in (Shangra La, Orange, TX) once you have the kids down for a nap, it's time to stay quiet.  Many like to do self grooming during the kids's name time.  If your a Spoonbill, that's a little harder than it sounds.
--steve buser

Roseate Spoonbill, Texas

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Pines busy preparing for the summer

More evidence of Spring.   The pine trees are budding -- getting ready for mating and this year's crop of pine cones.
-- Steve Buser

Pine tree, pine cone

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Flower springs out

Digging in God's rich soil this weekend.  Linda looked over and pointed it out.  The first flower after what has been a brutal winter.  It came suddenly springing out this week.


Other signs -- waves of ducks flying high over head -- yesterday they were spaced out about 15 minutes apart.


Robins -- a pack of them flitting through the woods scavenging -- on the road out of our subdivision.


Sprigs, starting to appear.  Shoots, shooting up.


Spring.
--steve buser

Spring, flowers

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Ring billed gull -- whispering wind

I fly, held up by the wind.  Feeling it's gentleness. Sensitive to the minute differences above and below my wings. It whispers to me.  The sky is my domain.
A ring-bill gull at the river front in Port Neches
--steve buser

Ring Billed Gull, Port Neches, Texas

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Egret: instant fish dinner

Splash.  It was sudden and explosive.  In less that the blink of the eye, the egret sliced the dark soupy waters with his beak and neck to grab some unsuspecting fish.  

Hunting time, was suddenly meal time.
--steve buser

Egret, Birds

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Shoot for the star

Linda and I had the grandchildren this weekend.  This was the drop-off-- we met our daughter Vicky in Jennings, LA,  to pass the grandkids over.  Sullivan took the time to show his climbing skills at the park on the Interstate.

He was about halfway down when I decided to take a shot.   Always the kind of drama that he is,  and letting no good opportunity for showmanship go,  he climbed back to the top and told "okay,  now shoot."

The climbing piece resembles a derrick.  Makes sense, sense it is the Oil and Gas Park, in the town that since 1901 has claimed the moniker of "Cradle of Louisiana Oil."
--steve buser

Jennings, Louisiana, kids

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