Look closely

Tree trunks are amazing things.

Near Rock Creek

in the Chickasaw National Recreation Area

at Sulphur, Oklahoma

Route 66

In April I drove up to Tulsa, a cool town I wish I had more time to visit. Once you get past the Oklahoma City traffic, the road to Tulsa is a straight shot on the turnpike. But being an amateur photographer and a generally contrary person, I prefer the back roads--the state highways, or in this case, Route 66. How can you not love Route 66??

One of my reasons for taking this stretch of Route 66 was the visit the historic round barn in Arcadia. It's an official historical landmark on the Mother Road. So close, yet I had never seen it in person.


It was an overcast day--some might call it gloomy--but the low, racing clouds and the cool wind made it a great day for a drive with the windows down. I love clouds and couldn't resist a few scenic shots along the way.

Going for a walk

I went for a walk around the campus of the University of Oklahoma earlier this year and found a number of photo opportunities. Flowers are such patient photography subjects!

These are for Pamela, who gets blisters when she touches real tulips but loves them anyway, and who loves hostas almost as much.

Click for enlargements.

Purple tulips

Variegated hosta

Skylot

So it's been a while. . . . But there was a voice clamoring for new pictures, and who can resist that siren call? Not me. The hardest part was deciding which ones, because although I haven't been posting, I sure have been shooting.

Let's start with the day a little piece of the sky seemed to fall into a perfectly ordinary parking lot.

Not everything is as it seems.

Well, I've lived in Tornado Alley long enough to know that spring doesn't just bring April showers--it also tends to bring May tornadoes! And for some reason, the chances of a tornado here in Norman seem to go up during finals week. It's the week before finals right now, and what do I see while driving home on May 1? A wall cloud that appears to be hanging out RIGHT OVER my house! Thank goodness I could see the bottom of the cloud when I first spotted it; there were no funnels at all. Of course, that can change awfully fast! By the time I was able to safely take a picture, I was too close to town and the trees blocked the bottom of the cloud. I think this bad boy was actually closer to Purcell than Norman. Sure freaked me out, though!

Wall cloud south of Norman, 6:17 p.m., May 1, 2007.

I got flowers today!

I got to work a few minutes late today, grouchy from the long line at Carl's Jr., which is why I was late, only to find THESE on my desk!

Aren't they pretty?

Here's a close-up of the funky accent flowers.

They're from T. Lindsay Baker, author of American Windmills, one of "my" books. We just received the books in the warehouse. I've never had an author send me flowers when they were pleased with the book! Usually I hear about it through Marketing or some other roundabout way. Whatta guy!

Miniature scenery

Moss on rocks . . .

in the Gilcrease Museum gardens.