Expedition Oklahoma

Ray's Fishy Fortieth

Looking good on his 40th birthday today.....   

The birthday boy celebrates his 40th today.  

My husband is the most difficult person to shop for.  He is also the most difficult person to keep a secret from.   So when I decided back in May to get him a fish tank for his 40th birthday - I was shocked that the kids didn't let him in on the secret or he didn't figure out what I had planned.   

I brought the fifty gallon fish tank home yesterday.  I couldn't really hide it in the car. I was afraid if I took it out - I would break it.  So,  he got his present early (which is actually fairly normal in our family).   

I wonder how long these guys will make it.   I claim no responsibility for the lengths of their lives.

JJ Creations by Jennifer Riley Strong in Marlow, Oklahoma  <--- go to my friend Jennifer's facebook page and like it!  She makes amazing, artistic cakes.  Look at the details on Ray's Fishtank 40th Cake.   

The details are always amazing.  

I forgot the candles..but they would have taken so long to light- and to think of all the melted wax on the cake from his what would be numerous attempts to blow out the candles would probably ruin the cake.  So, we just had cake and ice cream after the kids got home from school.   

Yummy cake.  Breakfast tomorrow. 

Happy 40th Birthday! It seems like yesterday you were turning 23 and I was just 18.  :-)   

Random Shots

Here are a few random shots from the past week.  Year two of Graduate school began again and I'm not feeling as overwhelmed as I did last fall.  But, it is back to massive amounts of reading (my fault- I enjoy the literature classes) and another new discipline to immerse myself in (Archaeology).   

I have some new county roads to drive down on my way home and I hope to get some good sunset shots possibly tomorrow out in near a little old ghost town.   

I don't always take my camera or have it out.  But when I drive on a road I know I'm going to be on more often I always keep my eyes open and look out for new places to get good shots from. If the lighting agrees with me and the sun is behaving.   This photo above was taken at dusk, and was not the best time of day to be out shooting, but it works.  

Do you ever get tired of sunset photos?   Sometimes I do.  I know when -what- and how of glorious sunsets.   But do I chase them every night like I did initially.  No.   

Do you believe in my perceptions of the world?  Do you believe the story of my life I bring to you in images.  Do you believe?  

Do you get enough nature? Or do you experience nature from your computer desk, clicking on images.  Do you find your religion and motivation from memes across the internet?   

This photo was taken on an exhausting day in May, when I was demoloshing my then new house's kitchen.   I was in a field in my pajamas laying on the ground looking at the amazing clouds as they formed overhead.  

I miss the wildflowers.  I miss spring.   

I said I was posting random photos today.   

A Rainy Day

So, I've lost track of the weekdays.  I believe it rained on Saturday, because I think we were doing something else on Friday.  This is what happens when you're not used to having a set schedule.   

 

A view of my backyard in the rain.  I have been doing some additional photography so check it out here at the Student newspaper at the Univeristy of Oklahoma:   http://www.oudaily.com/news/2012/aug/16/movein/

 

Our gutters need some work, a river was streaming off on the patio.  

After a very dry July and August, seeing inches of rain falling was a very pleasant sight.

 

Cat in a Terrarium

A few shots of my sneaky cat who has discovered jumping in the terrarium with the little snakes and sleeping under the red light. 

This infuriates my eleven year old son....

I find it highly amusing.  

I hope he eats the snakes.  I hate them. 

Milo is slightly sinister.   

Rush Springs Rodeo

Friday night after the Watermelon Festival parade I decided to go to the rodeo for a little while and see what kind of shots I could get.  Most of these aren't the greatest, but I have a good time even if my photos aren't the best.   

So blurry but the colors are worth it,  I view blurry shots as my interpretation of the beautiful impressionism of the 19th century painters. Monet, Manet, the great ones...  Impressionism is about capturing light and was influenced by the invention of photography.   So, I may not be capturing clear images but I'm capturing light and you can use your imagination to fill in the details and sharpen the image.  

At tonight's rodeo I captured the bronc riding and a few other events. 

I don't think you can get tired of watching this.

and he's off...

"I'm FREE"  

"You can't  catch me"  

As far as a sport is concerned the Rodeo is definitely the most exciting one.  You won't get this kind of action at a football game!

I believe he hit the ejection seat button on that saddle...

Horse in motion...  grace and beauty.  

These kids were having a great time watching the show. 

There's always a clown.  

None of these guys are touching this angry critter.  Not even for a $100 bill. 

outside of the rodeo arena at night.   

Rush Springs Watermelon Festival 2012

If you aren't busy on the Second Saturday in August come to Rush Springs and help celebrate the Watermelon Festival.  Since, I spent 8 years of my life living in Rush Springs, still home to two of my siblings and a few cousins I don't know.   My Dad is from Rush Springs so childhood memories are of family reunions and playing on my Grandma's porch and going to the Watermelon Festival.   But, as an adult watching such a small town grow to a very busy traffic jam, I have avoided it.   

These Black Diamond watermelons are lined up and the ribbons have been awarded.  

At 214 pounds grown by Mike and Miley Miller this is one large watermelon!  

The beautiful Watermelon Queen representing Rush Springs.   

My cousin Craig came up from South Carolina to attend the Watermelon Festival.  We're glad he came to see us.  He also has great taste in hobbies and cameras,  since he just bought a Canon 7D which you see him shooting with.   

I really liked these bags, I was tempted to buy one.  But I took a photo instead.  But since I was cheap-  I am giving her business a plug on my page... "Deb B's Bags" out of Norman Oklahoma -   is my "almost" craft fair purchase. 

Plenty to buy at the Festival,  and remember people..you are in a public event. In public.  If photos are taken. You are in public.   I'm not responsible for the fact that your stuffed animals caught my eye, but I won't give you any free advertising.   

Unicorns on a string.  

Our wonderful banker working at the Festival.  I recommend using the First National Bank and Trust in Rush Springs for a small town bank.   

Boomer and Sooner came down from the University of Oklahoma to visit and show everyone that OU loves Watermelon.  I don't know where that "other" team was, but they weren't there.  

Horses like watermelons.  

So many beautiful bows that you can buy. 

You could have eaten frog legs.  You...not me.  You.    

Oooh Shiny things.   

State Representative and Rush Springs Native Joe Dorman being interviewed by KSWO Channel 7 news.  

Plenty of photo-opportunities by the 200 pound melon.  

These events are to create childhood memories.  While fun for the whole family it is the kids who will always remember them.   I remember going with my cousins and we  had matching pink cowgirl hats and we both wore pink when we were about this  young girl's age. 

This is why people come to Rush Springs.  For the watermelons.   

You can buy watermelons from the locals everywhere at Festival time.  

Come to Rush Springs, the festival is the Second Saturday in August every year.   

 

Rush Springs Watermelon Festival Parade 2012

I swore I would not go to another parade when it was 100 degrees.  Well, I lied.  I took the kids to the Watermelon Festival Parade on Thursday.  It was hot. It was miserable.   The lighting sucked.   

The beginning of the parade. Oh, the horrible lighting.   

The football team.  I don't know who these kids are but  these guys were little boys when my kids went to school in Rush Springs. 

The Watermelon Festival Queen May'Zey Brown who was in my Daughter's class when she was little and I remember she was the first person my daughter had a sleepover with.  I feel old now, when I see that they are all almost grown up. 

2012 Watermelon Festival 

This festival is held yearly. Rush Springs is a small town with around 1200 people and it swells to hundreds of thousands on Festival day.  

Little Mr. and Miss Rush Springs

Little Mister and Miss. 

aren't they sweethearts.  

The parade in motion,  kids catching candy.  A fun celebration for the community. 

My Sister is the local veterinarian and one of the smartest people I know.  She also hates having her picture taken.  Shame she was throwing beads and I got a good shot.   She throws beads at the parade because if she has any leftover at the end she can put them in a tub and use them the next year.  And they don't get sticky.  

Your local veterinarian needs, 1 1/2 miles west on Highway 7, Rush Springs Veterinary Service, Dr. Tammy Sharp DVM 580-476-2042.   Yes this is advertising, no there isn't a link to click on.   

I think everyone should head out to the Elgin Rodeo Next weekend.  Because this is pretty darn cool. 

Bull on a truck! 

Elgin Rodeo next weekend..Go.  

They should have drove this through the parade twice. 

I love watching bull riders,  this is the safer version.  

Cheerleaders doing a routine in the parade. 

The cheerleaders!

Four wheelers in the parade.

Miss Congeniality.  

Of course my favorite parade goer.   My baby boy. 

Sunset in Velma

A few shots from this evening.  Downtown Velma Oklahoma.  

This is truly what Southern Oklahoma is about, the oil industry and small towns with a certain rural beauty you won't find anywhere else.

ah, I like sunsets, I hate powerlines and anything that is not  nature, but I will tolerate it - because I think pump-jacks are cool

Such a pretty sunset, I really can't say a lot about these shots.  

You know what I hate in photographs?  Powerlines. Yeah, those.   

always in the way... blocking landscapes.  Bringing power to you all. Enjoy it, because they annoy me. 

Don't let the sun go down on me.... one of my favorite songs. 

If you notice no name stamps.  Yes, I'm an "artist" yes I created these images with my time, effort and resources.  No I don't want them "stolen"  but I don't mind a teenager throwing one in a powerpoint or a photograph being a screensaver.  Yes they are copyrighted and stamped with my data.  It is called metadata, it is the driving force of imagery on the web.  My name doesn't screw up the images, but it is there.  In the background.   I'm tired of photographers and artists over inflated egos, the self importance of the photographer in a world where everyone owns a camera is insane.   

Rainy Summer Day

I finally had the chance to do a little photography yesterday when it was slightly cooler and we had a little bit of much needed rain in the middle of our late summer drought.  

I know I've failed my readers on the barbed wire and cow pictures here lately.  I'll start working on that to make up for it.  

The dark clouds over the unique landscape in southern Stephens County Oklahoma.  This is called one of the "Sugar Loaf Mountains' 

Rain, sweet rain.  

I desaturated this shot, It is almost eerie.  This is a couple of miles north of Velma off of Baseline Road.  

a dark and stormy afternoon out on the range. 

Cows, pasture and Hat Top Mountain 

Beautiful rain  

A beautiful sunset from downtown Velma Oklahoma 

oil is the industry in this little town. 

A beautiful sunset.  

A glimpse of the small oil refinery.  Refineries are fascinating places, a testament to human ingenuity, a mass of pipes and chemical reactions.  Creating the fuel that runs our modern world.  At night they glow with their industrial beauty. 

Almost beautiful in their ugliness, but at night they glow.