Texas Wildflowers, Part 2

Awhile back, at the end of March, I posted about Texas Wildflowers. There was a patch near my own house that I never got a chance to photograph before I left town and was hoping it was still in bloom when I got back.

It was. It took me a few days to get down there (yucky Houston humidity, usual post-job laziness/attachment to the couch). It was worth the few honks that I got and probably a few strange looks that I didn't see.









Up next: Houston Roses

Happy List, Week 22

1. JapanFest. It was a lot of fun, plus I got out with the camera and spent some time with fellow photographers from Flickr.

2. Being around all of my own stuff.

3. Sleeping in my own bed.

4. Cooking in my own kitchen.

5. PS. Because hanging out with good friends is fun.

6. Getting more feedback on pictures lately. It's really rewarding, especially when they're from photographers who I consider better than me.

7. Houston Zoo. It may cost an arm and a leg to get in, but visiting the baby sifakas and Toby the Red Panda was worth it. Despite the millions of children.

8. Crosswords on the iPhone. It constantly makes me think, be creative and I've got an incredible backlog to catch up on. Keeps me on my toes.

9. Good Houston food. It's been awhile since I've had Chuy's, and I remembered why I liked it so much.

10. Getting ready to leave Houston right before the really hot yucky weather starts getting going.

Japan Fest 2009, Part 2

The first day, I just worked all day. The second, I came back to deliver photos from Day 1 and to experience the festival at a slower pace. And I'm glad I did. I experienced two performances of Taiko Drumming (as beautiful visually as it is musically) and wandered in and out of exhibits and vendor stands.

I got my name wrriten in Japanese calligraphy:



Watched a turtle balance and sun itself simultaneously:



And tried to capture Taiko Drummers making music:









Up next: Rose Garden and Houston Wildflowers, cont'd

Japan Fest 2009, Part 1

This weekend, I spent a lot of time in Hermann Park, mostly working on and/or visiting Japan Fest. A fellow Flickr photographer ask for volunteer photographers to help him out in a booth he helps to run at Japan Fest. So I agreed to help out.

People pay a very small fee to try on Yukata (lighter version of the kimono, if I remember correctly) and we take their picture. These are mostly pictures of our props which were a lot of fun to use, but a few of my favorite shots... whether they were ones taken for the official site or just candids of other subjects.









Coming up next: More Japan Fest, Houston Wildflowers and Rose Garden

Cutest Animal In the World?

Pandas are pretty cute, but I'm partial to the big black and white ones. However, I'll settle for a darling red panda named Toby who is pretty darn cute.

His debut at the Houston Zoo was the day I left for Tosca so I didn't get to see him that day. I finally went to visit him and the new Sifaka baby the other day. I spent far too long with the sifakas, and perhaps to my detriment. Toby was fast asleep when I arrived at his exhibit. Determined to see him (I paid $10 after all, darn it) and with only loose plans with a friend for lunch, I waited him out.

It was worth the wait, because he did wake up after about 30 minutes.



He stretched really cutely.



And he ambled about, using his litterbox and munching on some bamboo.



And then he went to sleep again. Most of the hundreds of students on field trips saw this:



And had to settle for this:



He's pretty cute, but he'd be cuter if he was awake more... I know it's a lot to ask of a nocturnal creature. I just hope he's more up and about the next time I drop by.

Sifaka Family

Despite my allergies acting up (this is getting to be a very boring and annoying pattern), when I awoke very early in the day, I decided to visit the Houston Zoo. This was both a smart and stupid idea. Smart because I went before the crowds and got some great pictures of a few animals. But it was also Earth Day and therefore elementary school field trip day. YIKES.

I was introduced to the sifakas by some colleagues who love them more than I. However, I agree that they are adorable, especially when they have a newborn son. Kelyfamata was born Jan 6, 2009. I finally got to see him and it was so worth waiting for. He's quite adorable and starting to get more independent so there were times he was away from momma, cuter than can be.

When Zenobia (momma) was pregnant, she didn't get along with her mate, Dean, so it was really nice to see the whole family out on exhibit.

Here's the highlights of the 40 pictures I uploaded to flickr (downgraded from who knows how many):











Post about the world's cutest (yet sleepiest) animal next...

Palo Duro Canyon

Many day offs ago, BF and I went to the Palo Duro Canyon. It's apparently the 2nd largest canyon in North America (guess which one is first).

BF had never seen a canyon before (he's a NY'er) so he was a bit more enchanted than I. Nevertheless, a canyon is still an impressive feat of geological history.

Here's a few photographic highlights:











More can be found on my flickr photostream a few pages back... I uploaded them awhile ago but forgot to blog about it.