At the Hilltown Bog, No. 1, part 1

This afternoon, I spent some time hiking at the Hilltown Bog in Bucks County, Pennsylvania just outside of Telford. Actually this piece of property has no name as far as I know but is sandwiched between an industrial park, a retirement home, a cemetery, Telford Boro, and a railroad with a housing development on the other side of it. It is a piece of wetland that I have enjoyed hiking in over the past few years. It is not a park but people have used it for four wheeling though this year very little of that seems to have been done. Perhaps the price of gas is too high or the four wheelers simply grew up. Anyway below are some of the flowers and sights I enjoyed today. In my next post, I may show some landscape views of the area.

A Journey Begins

Garden Flowers - Mid July

It continues to be cloudy, on and off rainy weather. So I chose to post some photos of garden flowers that were either for sale or growing on the grounds of a landscaping company called Contemporary Garden Supplies located near Perkasie, Bucks County, Pennsylvania. The photos were taken back in the third week of July. I think one of the employees was watching me rather closely while I was doing the photography. I guess I would have been wondering too why a guy was taking pictures of their plants if I had been the employee. :)


Zinnias, Petunias, Marigolds, Ageratums, and More


Marigolds


Zinnias


Ageratums


A Lily


Plant Name Unknown to Me

Impressions, No. 2

The past couple days haven't been suitable for photo hiking trips. It's been cloudy and off and on showers. And we need the rain badly so I'm not ungrateful. So instead of new nature hikes today, I played around with a photo in Coral Paint Shop Pro X. The first photo is the original, the second is a kaleidoscope version, and all the rest experimentation with another effect on the kaleidoscope version. Feel free to point out any you like or dislike and why. I like to hear what my viewers think. [The last photo looks best viewed from a distance of say six to ten feet away from the computer screen and looks best in its large version.]


Original


Kaleidoscope


Hot Wax


Balls and Bubbles


Colored Foil


Fur

Big Bend National Park, No. 1, Cactus Blossoms

This post is a beginning of a scattered series on Big Bend National Park in Texas near the border line with Mexico. The photos were taken in May 1997. The first photo gives the backdrop to all the cactus photos. I was pleased that my trip took me there during cactus blooming time. Unfortunately, I cannot give you the names of them except that I think many of them were prickly pear cactus.

Trees

Trees. Have you ever stopped to think how much they add to life? There are so many utilitarian uses of trees. But that is not so much my emphasis for this post though you might want to look around your home and note what you would not have if it weren't for trees.

I'm thinking more of their aethetics and inspirational value even when humans had nothing to do with their beauty or placing. In the photo for this post, there are two trees that at their base became one and in the process became so much more beautiful than they might be as separate trees. I'm thinking of the awesomeness of trees growing by a flowing source of life and how that flowing source day by day and year by year turns them into magnificent creations that in turn becomes lifegiving to other parts of creation around them. I'm wondering if I can't learn some lessons myself from trees.

A Special Family Time

Early September, my sister will be going to Thailand under Rosedale Mennonite Missions as a part of a church planting team. She is going for an initial term of two years as an intern. So Sunday afternoon and evening most of my family and some relatives on my Mom's side of the family got together for a time of fun and fellowship over pizza at our parent's home. My sister is in the last picture with two nieces. The pictures are presented in order of the evening's sequence. We will miss her here at home but are excited for her as she follows the Spirit's calling.


Our pizza table - beginning to gather


The children's table


Playing the card game of Pit


Just talking :)


Fisbee and ?


My sister and two nieces enjoying each other's company

River's edge
Invitation to explore
Vibrations to what's ahead
Expressions of the unknown whispering
Rivulets of promise
Sojourns of joy

Edging out
Departing the known
Gleaning bits of adventure
Embarking on a journey of promise

Surreal days
Unnerving visions
Not fully here, not fully there

Flowing thoughts
Laden with torn memories
Owning the pain
Withering winds
Evoking tears
Raking the heart

1997 Texas Vacation Continued

In a previous post, I highlighted a small part of the Texas Hill Country. This post will cover a few odds and ends from May 1997 before arriving at Big Bend National Park at the bottom of Texas.


This is part of the site of the San José Mission founded in 1720. This is now a part of the San Antonio Missions National Historic Park. If you are passing through San Antonio, it is worth a visit.


This is the Pecos River as viewed from along Route 90 near the U.S. border with Mexico. The depth of the river canyon was impressive.


Another view of the Pecos River


Here is an impressive Yucca plant that I saw along Route 90 near Marathon, Texas.

Ma's Flowers

Sunday afternoon before going to my two nephews' birthday celebration, I spent with my parents. My Mom enjoys growing lots of flowers. And some of them were especially beautiful right now as pictured below.


Petunias next to the house


I don't know the name of the flowers on the tall stems. They have no leaves - just a tall stem and blossoms.


Zinnia


Gladiola


Portulaca

A Celebration of Two Birthdays in One Family

Sunday evening, most of my extended family spent with my brother's family near Coopersburg, Pennsylvania for the celebration of the birthdays of his oldest and his youngest son. It was a good evening spending time with all my nephews and nieces, their parents, my only sister, and all four of the birthday boys grandparents.


One of my nephews giving my three nieces a cart ride


This is my oldest nephew on his mini-bike. He is one of the two whose birthdays were being celebrated. Further back next to the red car is his next younger brother. In the distant left background are a number of my extended family talking.


Here is one of my nephews on a pocket bike. I love his smile. He is not from the same immediate family as the nephews in the previous picture.


Here are my two birthday nephews seated front left and back right with their candle-lighted cakes and other refreshments including fresh fruit and candy. Not seen on this picture was also fresh baked bread, a lettuce salad, and three different kinds of ice cream.


Up in a tree


Here is my youngest nephew from a different immediate family than any of the previous nephews shown in this post. His dad is standing directly behind him. His grandparents (my parents) are seated on either side. He is fascinated with the train track tablecloth.


Here is my oldest nephew playing his Yamaha Electronic Keyboard that he just received that night as his birthday present. [The boy in the orange T-shirt on the back left of the picture is the younger brother of my nephew who was riding the pocket bike in an earlier picture.]



Here is the middle brother of my oldest nephew above enjoying the electronic keyboard. His grandparents are directly behind him. The first set of grandparents are also my parents.