Red, Hot and Sizzle!

Today the temperature hit above 100 degrees F. It was crispy. But I like that. The warm air and the not cold aspect really pleases me to no end. Heaven has finally arrived. The sunset tonight was fantastic.

Bee Mountain Sunset, Terlingua, TX 051713

Terlingua Sunset over Sawmill Mtn. 051713

I was enjoying the sunset and approached a yucca in order to get a better shot of the setting sun. A cicada must have been in the yucca because all of a sudden it sounded like a chainsaw going off. Those things are loud!

As I was closing up tonight (Friday evening) I found a mountain of these clinging to the laundry outside wall. I think they look like another type of blister beetle. Another insect to look up. I couldn't get a good shot since they were flying all around me and landing on me. I don't know. I just have this phobia of blisters an all.

THE Critter...ain't he cute as a bug?

Tomorrow is a trip to Alpine. Yippeeeee! or perhaps Ft. Stockton....Yippeeeeee! So and so wants KFC and I want Mexican. You've never lived with a picky eater until you've lived with a trained chef. No ones cooking is good enough it seems so every place I want to eat at only has one chance to please. There is Vidal's place in Alpine, Los Jalapenos. Excellent authentic Mexican cooking from San Carlos. I'ts Vidal's grandmother's recipes. My favorite is the Shrimp Culiche. Oh! The first time I ate that dish I felt like the human torch. Then he decides to stroll by and suggest that I squeeze some of lime slices on the shrimp to cut the heat.  That was nice. Especially after I ate all but three of them already. The food is delicious! It's in the old part of Alpine.

There is also the Mexican restaurant, La Casita. It's also excellent. But we are usually partial to Vidal since he is from San Carlos and Terlingua.

sigh...however, I think it's probably Ft. Stockton bound for us so I guess I will have to settle for fake Mexican food....Taco Hell....I mean Bell.

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

Charlton

A Pleasant Desert

"It was all so far away - there was quiet and an untouched feel to the country and I could work as I pleased."

       - Georgia O'Keefe

Terlingua Sunset 051313 

 An entomologist from A&M Agrolife Extension sent me an email in regards to my inquiry as to the identification of the below beetle. Epicauta atrivittata may be the species of blister beetle in my photo below. An individual in a macro photography forum I'm a member of wanted a better photo of the beetle for identification. This little beauty was waiting for me on the front door stairs when I arrived home tonight. He is also posing on a crystal encrusted rock that we have on the stairs. The beetle was attempting to fly away and kept flying into the wall of the house. I had to act fast so I reached into my camera bag on my shoulder and took this. It flew off about a minute later.

I'm not normally an insect person, at least I don't consider myself having an interest in insects, however, I have found some very interesting insects since I have been living here. Yesterday I was perusing a website for insect identification for beetles. I came across a beetle named, Darkling Beetle. I love the name and it's a beetle that I recognize from being here in the Big Bend area. I didn't know what it was called so I just recognized it and thought it quite comical. When ever I approach the dark black beetle it always stops and sticks it's butt into the air. I now know it's called the Darkling Beetle. Sounds like something from Harry Potter or a character from Tolkien.

Striped Blister Beetle (Epicauta atrivittata)- Far West Texas, Terlingua

I absolutely forgot to tell you about the beetle I found a couple of months ago. I examined my previous posts and I realized I did not post this beetle. It's also a blister beetle. When I first saw this I was on the ground and taking a photo of a flower and I saw this one rapidly crawling past. My camera was already situated for the flower and I did not want to disturb my shot. I was so disappointed that I could not take a photo of it. I had never seen it before and thought that I would never see it again. Well, Raoul and I were out shooting photos of flowers about a couple of weeks later and BAM! It appeared right in front of us. I ran over there, emptied a plastic container I had with me and captured it for a more closer photo later. Once we returned to the house, I placed the container on the table (it had also calmed down somewhat which made it easier for photos. We let if go after getting our photos. I was so glad that we could get photos. It reminds me of jeweled brooches that women wear. When the sun hit it just right, the shell had this wonderful iridescence.

Black Bladder-Bodied Meloid (Cysteodemus wislizeni)

 Someone at the office received these flowers and they were beautiful. I couldn't resist taking close up photos of them.

Tulips

Iris Blooms

Have a great day.

Charlton

I should know better...

I Should Know Better...

Isn't she a beauty? Why yes she is!

The camera has been click, click, clicking for the past two and half months now ever since I spied the first flowers begin to appear. Some I've known about and others I have not ever seen since I arrived here over five years ago. Growing up in the Appalachia and Blue Ridge Mountains, a person tends to learn a few things here and there about what to do and what is highly unintelligent. And after the other week's close call with a rattlesnake you would think I would be more careful...weeeeell.  Today I was researching the names of some of the blooms and plants I've been photographing. I happened upon a surprise this evening. I'll just post the photo and it's newfound name and you can probably guess the remainder of the story...

Stinging Cevallia or Stinging Serpent (Cevallia sinuata)

Yeeeeeees. I found out that the cute little blooming blossom here has a reputation. I had no idea. I am so lucky that my hand didn't just reach out and stop it from moving around in the gusty wind that was happening that wonderful warm day. As it was, my face was just a mere five inches from it.

The description states that the bloom, stalk, and leaves are armed with little fuzzy like hairs which actually are minute hypodermic needles that deliver extreme pain if touched and release a toxin into the contacted area. The pain normally subsides after about an hour but redness and itching can continue for days afterwards.

Ain't that so nice folks? But like the title says, I should know better than to touch if I don't know what it is. A person learns this when growing up in the mountains and country but I think I forgot my roots. Well, I will just remember this as another wake up call.

I don't know what has happened this year but along with the flowers there must be a ton of insects that have decided that it's now or never. Below is one that I found waiting for me at the front door after coming home this evening. I've seen this one before and it is uniquely patterned however, it slips my mind as to what the name is. I feel like I'm being stalked by insects. Well, not really, but it sure sounds more dramatic doesn't it?

(Edit: 05/13/2013- I have since researched the ID of the insect in my photo below and it is a dousy as usual. The desert out here sure does produce some interesting and dangerous flora and fauna. The beetle below is called a Striped Blister Beetle (Epicauta vittata). The Striped Blister Beetle, if touched or handled, will produce a powerful toxin that will cause severe blisters and burns. Do Not Handle! This information was taken from the Texas A&M Agrilife Extension website. It also stated that it poses a danger to cattle and horses that if ingested in their hay or feed can cause illness and death to livestock. Well, that's nice ain't it?!  The website stated that there are approx. 100 species listed in Texas. I sent them an email to see if they could identify the species in my photo since they didn't say which species are here in far west Texas. They had species and descriptions for those in east and central Texas. We shall see. Hopefully I will receive a reply.)

Bug No.3
(No bug, insect, or pest was harmed in the making of this stalkermentary)

This evenings Dang Terlingua Sunset was not very spectacular, The weather forecaster on NOAA stated that we had a 20 percent chance of showers this evening. Hmmm. I can tell you where the 20 percent went. To the birds. You can tell in the photo that it was raining about four hundred feet up but it sure never reached the ground. Oh well, better luck the next few days since NOAA is forecasting more chance for rain within the next four days.

That Dang Terlingua Sunset #050913

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

Charlton

Gorgeous!

(gôr'js)!

The Terlingua Sunset this evening- 050813

The past few days have been wonderful as usual here in Terlingua country. If you recall a while back in a previous post, we address a sunset here in Terlingua as, "Another dang Terlingua Sunset!" We also say, It's another beautiful day today. But we say that almost every day. The temperatures have been in the lovely 100's and I am down with that. I'm so ready for the warm weather. We have started a small raised bed garden with quite a few veggies and flowers and such. This year, (unlike last year-this is said with a whisper) we are prepared to protect our garden from the small but lethal fury of the dreaded hail. Last year, it mowed down our tomates and chiles. A lawn mower could not have done a better job of it let me tell ya! This year it is in a protected space half way under the front porch. We also have a breathable cover used for plant nurseries that we can throw over it in case of emergencies. The tomate stakes will keep the cover from damaging the plants.

The Front Porch Garden

In the front is lettuce, butternut squash. In the middle are two different kinds of sun and wind resistant tomatoes and chiles. In the back are carrots and recao. The recao was ordered by mail from it's native Puerto Rico. Recao aroma resembles cilantro but it is not. The english word for it is culantro. Again, not to be confused with cilantro. I can't wait to taste it in our homemade pico de gallo and chimichurri!

This really is a small flower that I have cropped for a closer look. This is such a beautiful flowering plant
It just grows everywhere here in the desert.

Research will be ongoing to find out which one this is of all the members in the daisy family
that grow and flourish here in the Terlingua area.

I don't know what this beetle is called but they have literally invaded every nook and cranny of the desert it seems. I found this one inside the house. I hope it's not poisonous. I found that it is called a Box Elder Bug. According to a source online, they are harmless and congregate in groups. (Well, they certainly do.)

I will close this evening with a Terlingua Sunset that was taken a few days ago. There was a chance of showers but the only thing it gave us was a beautiful cloud strewn sunset.

Terlingua Sunset 050613

Have a great day!!!

The world is what we make it.

Charlton

A Golden Sunset

Normally I don't take photos of the sunset if there are no clouds but this evening, the air was nice and warm with a slight warm breeze, which I enjoy because it evens out the small, insignificant fact that I spend most of the evening inside the lobby with the AC. I don't really have anything against A/C...I just don't care for it. Does that make sense? No? Okay. I still don't like it. I love the warm weather. The sunset this evening seemed to compliment the warm weather.

A caramel Terlingua Sunset 050413

The mountains behind the resort create a wonderful backdrop to the sunset. Below are some photos of the mountains which surround us to the north and east.

Tule Butte is just inside Big Bend National Park about ten minutes drive from here.
This is slightly to the south and east of us. This is the view from the back of the BBRA Lobby.

To the east and back of the BBRA Lobby is the wonderful view of the Chisos Mountains and Basin
located inside the center of Big Bend National Park.

North of us is the view of the Christmas Mountains right off of Hwy 118 heading north to Alpine.
This is also the view from the rear of the BBRA Lobby.

One of the many thousands of bell like blooms of the yucca blossoming around us. They always remind me of
a chandelier in the desert.

I hope the rest of our days are like today. At least for a time before it gets blazing hot...which if I have shade and wide-brimmed hat, is just fine with me. Nothing like a cold soda or a wonderful glass of chilled milk enjoyed on a hot day.

Have a great day!
The world is what we make it.

Charlton

Great Balls o' Fire!

Wow. 50 mph winds since early this morning! I thought for sure I was going to wake up and see daylight through the rafters by morning. The temperature has been in the fifties as well. I haven't seen this sort of weather in years since I've been living here. Usually our last cold spell is by at least the second week in March. It seems lately that every other week there is a cold front coming down from the north. Winter just does not want to let go of it's hold. I'm ready for some hot weather.  There was so much dust in the air this evening that the sunset was a glowing ball of fire on the horizon right before it dipped below the clouds in the distance.

Tomorrow morning I hope it's better photo weather with calmer winds.

Terlingua Sunset, Great Balls o' Fire 050213

Have a wonderful day!!!

Charlton

On The Hunt for Terlingua Ranch Wildflowers

I made an appointment to have my truck inspected for yesterday morning. It was that time of year again. Beechie is the local mechanic that inspects vehicles here in the Terlingua area. So, this morning I grabbed my camera and took off for Beechie's out on the ranch. Afterwards I took my time driving out since yesterday and today are my days off I planned on photographing the wildflower blooms. No sooner had I drove away from Beechie's place just about a hundred yards down the road I spotted my first photo subject. A very large Prickly Poppy plant with about a dozen blooms on it and bees buzzing around made for some good shots. I went out to my property on the way back and a few hours later I had acquired quite a few photos. Some of them are below. It was a beautiful day yesterday and today I will be out there again in the desert taking some more photos. This time I will bring my tripod and hoping there's not any wind this morning.

Enjoy.

Lady Bug on a Pickly Poppy

Bees gathering nectar on a Prickly Poppy bloom

Butterfly on a Desert Willow getting ready to bloom

Tansy Aster. One of my favorite blooms

Tansy Aster, Terlingua Ranch Main Road

Desert Verbena, Terlingua Ranch property

Desert Baileya Terlingua Ranch property

Terlingua Ranch property

Prickly Pear bloom, My property on Terlingua Ranch property

Prickly Pear bloom, Terlingua Ranch property

Terlingua Ranch property

Terlingua Ranch property

Acacia Bloom, Terlingua Ranch property

Have a great day!

Charlton