Raindrops in the Valley

Who remembers when we last saw sunshine in south Texas?
Nonetheless, there are a few spots of spectacular beauty outside, if only you're willing to go out and look for them.

This is a shot of raindrops on one of the many Poinsettia plants growing throughout the Rio Grande Valley.

Display of Nuts, Seeds and Grainola at Brownsville Farmer's Market

The vendors at this stall also had the most delicious oatmeal cranberry cookies.

Views From Our Back Window at Sunrise

...again? What am I doing awake at sunrise? The light is magnificent, but so is sweet, gentle sleep.

White Lake Area Shrouded in a Delightful Fog

Approaching the Fishing Bridge from the bike trail.

The park behind Trailway Campground.

White River Delta as seen from the Fishing Bridge.

Fishing Bridge from the boat ramp.

First Fishing Excursion of the Season

Shortly after 6:00 this morning, we left the pier at the White Lake Marina.

This was to be the first fishing trip in Rocky's new boat, although he had taken it out on the water for a couple shakedown cruises during previous weeks.

Just as we passed the first buoy, the sun crested the horizon.

As we approached the Channel, it was full daylight and White Lake was relatively calm. When we got into the channel, there was a bit of a roll.

Out on Lake Michigan, the water was choppy with a much larger roll in the waves. There were also a very few small whitecaps. Much too rough for comfortable fishing in a small boat.

The Cap'n brought us back into White Lake where we caught a few bluegills and sunfish until late morning.

Mobile Bay at the bottom of Alabama

Natural gas rigs sit on the horizon looking north across Mobile Bay from the Fort Morgan peninsula.

Driftwood on the beach,  damaged piers and boat houses are the result of recent storm surges and high winds.

Wasp on a Cactus Blossom

When I took this picture I was intent on getting the wasp in focus and didn't notice the spider web or the spider hiding beneath the petal of the top blossom.

Easter Lily Cactus Blossom

An Easter Lily Cactus blossoms in a window-box garden at the side of our patio. The box also holds Ghost Plant succulents and Pin Cushion Cactus.

This year there were two blossoms. This was yesterday's. It was open when we opened the door at about 9:00 A.M. and lasted until shortly after noon.

The second blossom was open when I stepped outside at about 7:00 o'clock this morning. There are several varieties of this plant with slightly different colored flowers from pristine white to brilliant pink. They begin with an ugly black hairy growth from the side of the globular cactus that lasts two or three weeks, and then very suddenly this gorgeous blossom appears.

Sunset Over the Rio Grande Valley

About twenty minutes before sunset. Because of the clouds I had hoped for more spectacular color in the western sky, but it didn't quite happen.

Notice the tethered blimp hovering between the two prominent palm trees at the left. It's "Big Brother's" eye in the sky. It keeps watch over the Valley from Mission, TX to Sullivan City.

A ground crew maintains the blimp and keeps an eye on the monitors 24 hours a day, every day. This part of the Texas border is a high traffic area for illegal immigrants.

River Patrol on the Rio Grande

Early morning at Anzalduas park in Mission, TX. The Texas Highway Patrol had their boats launched and tied up at the dock when we arrived.

I had seen photos of these boats, but seeing them in person was a bit of "shock and awe."

Each of the boats has two tandem sets of M240, 7.62 mm machine guns mounted in the bow and two single mount guns at the rear. All six guns, capable of firing 750 - 950 rounds per minute, were locked and loaded. With a range of 4,000+ yards, I can't imagine any drug runner resisting.

Texas State Highway troopers were preparing for exercises with the Border Patrol and willingly posed for photos.

 Armored as they are it takes every bit of the 900 horsepower three Yamaha outboard engines crank out to push the boats up and down the river at speed.

Look out bandidos, here they come.