Nikki's Photography

I recently watched a very interesting documentary about the perilous state of our planet, and things we can do to affect the course of necessary change. Narrated by Leonardo Dicaprio I highly recommend seeing this film,  The 11th Hour

Frog and spider in my back yard pond, Lewisville, Texas

Awesome sunset near Little Rock, Arkansas – heading back to Dallas…and Happy 26th Birthday, Adrian!

If you can grow tomatoes in Texas, I figure you can grow anything. If the plants manage to survive Summer’s 105* F heat they will still not produce tomatoes on those leggy vines until November.

One day in July when I was outside tending to yard work, my neighbor came shrieking out of her yard with a tone higher than her usual typically high octave that native Texan women have. All the fuss was about a tomato presenting itself in her garden, and she was mighty excited about it. She told me that someone told her that someone else told them that throwing used coffee grounds on the base of the plant will do the trick. I had heard about putting coffee grounds on rose bushes and do know the goodness that composting provides, but for fear of attracting snakes, rats or scorpions into my yard – which I’ve never seen but apparently they exist here – I have not kept a compost at all in this garden. I’m not fond of the idea of Snake Surprise. Anyway, coffee grounds have regularly been sprinkled on the tomato patch since July, plus this particular plant was propped up onto a bird bath stand. It’s November on the verge of frosty nights and the fruits are looking quite healthy. Next year the tomatoes will have the advantage of this years’ supply of the ol’ Texas coffee-ground-trick a lot earlier in the growing season. I can hardly wait for next year’s giant tomatoes to appear in June.

Excerpt from “Heaven’s Here On Earth” by Tracy Chapman from her CD, “New Beginnings”:
…Heaven’s here on earth    In our faith in humankind    In our respect for what is earthly    In our unfaltering belief in peace and love and understanding     I’ve seen and met angels wearing the disguise of ordinary people leading ordinary lives    Filled with love compassion forgiveness and sacrifice     Heaven’s in our hearts…

The changing seasons in Texas are not as dramatic as in the North. There’s more time to appreciate the cooler weather and enjoy the colors of lingering leaves. Autumn here is all about extremes though; AC on during the day and furnaces on at night. Petals in the wind blowing off the remaining white Crepe Myrtle flowers remind me of the snow already flying up north. It’s so beautiful today.

Old barn near Taos, New Mexico

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Hispanic workers loading trucks with grapes for transport, Southern California

Sequoiadendron giganteum, Sequoia National Park, Mariposa Grove, Sierra Nevada, California
Giant Sequoias are among the oldest living things on Earth – the oldest known tree is 3,500 years old. Sequoias grow to an average height of 164–279 feet, or 50–85 metres, and 20–26 feet or 6–8 metres wide. Record trees have been measured to be 311 feet high (94.8 m). Visiting the Redwood and Sequoia forests in northern California needs to be on your bucket list..certainly, going back is on mine!

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A colony of cormorants lives on SS Palo Alto, a beached concrete ship at Seacliff State Beach, CA

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Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco, CA

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Mohave Desert sunset near Edwards Air Force Base, CA. 5,000 wind turbines all spinning miles into the horizon is a thrilling sight to see, even if you don’t appreciate their great contributions. I suppose I’m pretty naive in assuming that everyone everywhere holds the sake of the planet in highest regard, even at the risk of paying higher taxes and energy bills…which are inevitable anyway no matter what resources we consume, and if we depend on others to create electrical energy for us.
Proposition 7, a Renewable Energy Generation Initiative Statute proposes all Government owned and private Utility companies in the State of California to generate 20% of electricity from renewable energy sources by 2010, 40% by 2020, and 50% by 2025, with possible penalties for not complying. I was kind of surprised that there is a controversy at all until hearing arguments from both sides. Now I’m confused! Who do I believe? A contraversial statute with good arguements from both sides. For details visit voterguide.sos.ca.gov/audio/proposition7.htm
To give an idea of scale of each Wind Turbine at the Tehachapi Pass, California. Apparently six people can fit inside to fix and maintain the turbines.

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Burnt Cafe, Yucca, AZ