A Gullywasher and a Shower

Hints of rain, a little rain, a lot of rain, and then one helluva windy gullywasher of a rainstorm all in the same day. Yep. All...in...the...same...dang...day. It was wonderful.

The new member of the family. Meet 4Runner. Now Lil' Red won't be so lonely. 

Yep. I got another vee-hickle. A 95 Toyota 4Runner. It's got that new-fangled Ay-Cee that throws out free air. I just love it. It's also 4x4 just like Lil' Red. In fact. The body and many of the functions are the same since Toyota did use the Pickup body and basic functions and motor as the basis for the creation of the 4Runner. I also like it for the extra room for groceries and hiking trips as well as to tote the kids to the Vet when they need it for their shots and basic care.

El Rio Grande at the exit point of Santa Elena Canyon inside Big Bend National Park, August 2013

I took some photos of some wildflowers that we encountered along the way. You see? No matter what time of the year it is here in the Chihuahuan Desert, one can always find something blooming and thriving here. The desert is not the barren place that folks think that it is.

Santa Elena Canyon, BBNP August 2013

If you have never been to Santa Elena Canyon, you would probably not know this but this is looking into the exit of Santa Elena Canyon and you can't tell it, however, Terlingua Creek is emptying into the Rio Grande from the right of the photo.

One of the many species of wildflower in the daisy family blooming here in the Chihuahuan Desert, August 2013, Maverick Rd, BBNP

I think this is the Mexican Poppy but I am not sure, August 2013, Maverick Rd,  BBNP

One of many butterflies, a Sulphur I do believe, taste-testing the flora, August 2013, Maverick Rd, BBNP

Terlingua Sunset, August 2013

The mountain you see in the distance is Sawtooth Mountain which is the usual landmark in many of my sunset shots as taken from the front desk of the Big Bend Resort and Adventures motel.

I hope you all have a great evening and remember...

The world is what we make it.

Charlton

Wonderful Times are with Wonderful Friends

India and William's Blueberry and Apple pies. Dee-licious!! Sabroso!!!

Ya'll have a great day and remember,

The world is what we make it.

Charlton

It's Rainin'...just a rainin'

It's Rainin'...well, I wish I could say something else..but it ain't...it's just rainin'. But it is some beautiful storm clouds rolling through these here parts. The weather forecast is predicting rain for the next two or three days or so. This one was Wednesday evening right behind the house looking into Indian Head and Big Bend National Park.

It was a beautiful storm passing through but we, here at the Y in Terlingua didn't so much as see a tiny weensy itty bitty ...what the hell was that all about...drop. Oh well, there's always tomorrow.

Have a great day.

Charlton

Summer Storm Weather

Today there are a few separate summer storms forming around us. We might get some wind since it's already kicking up outside. The power has been flickering on and off all day long. I went outside when it was calmer to see if I could catch a better photo of the flowers I spotted yesterday evening.

Terlingua Storm Clouds forming over Indian Head and BBNP behind our home.

Terlingua Summer Storm Clouds forming over Bee Mountain in front of our home

A flower in the Daisy family blooming all around us in Terlingua.

This is a close-up of the bloom I spotted yesterday but I needed to get a better, closer shot today.

Have a great day today.

Charlton

Shapely Clouds and Delicate Flora

This Terlingua Summer season is usually our 'monsoon' season here in the desert. The sunsets have been fewer since alot of evenings the horizon is obscured by clouds. But due to the clouds, sometimes the sunset is even more dramatic because of the sharp shapes of the towering, gigantic cloud shapes that form around the storms that come in. The storms can also be deceiving. We don't always get rain even if the storm appears inevitable. The thunder and the lightening is just as dramatically opposite as the lack of rain.

Terlingua Sunset with dramatic storm clouds as seen from the "Y" (junction of Highway 118 and FM 170)

Walking back from taking in the sunset this evening, I noticed the wonderful warmth of the air as it passed around me. That was one of the reasons I chose to move down to Terlingua.  I passed by some plants at the side of the dirt road that seemed brighter. Perhaps that was because the sun wasn't beating down relentlessly on the ground while appearing to bleach the color from everything it touched.  We have had some considerable rain this season so far and some plants are blooming a second time around. The yellows and blooms just popped out brighter this evening as the light level dropped.

Ain't this the cutest thing? It's a seed pod from the Creosote Bush by our house. Yellow blooms are appearing again.

I have just loved these flowers of the Acacia shrub since the first time I arrived here. They remind me of pom-poms

 The tiny bluish shrub with it's minute trumpet shaped flowers seemed to shine just a little brighter than the disappearing light in the evening. I don't think I've ever noticed the blooms before. I had always assumed it was a Cenizo or Purple Sage plant. It may be a type of sage but most definitely not the sage I had thought it was. Notice the thorns hidden among the leaves of the same color.

The shrub above is the sage looking bush with the thorns and trumpet shaped blooms.

This place never seems to stop amazing me.

Have a great day and remember...the world is what we make it.

Charlton