Category: Outdoors

Where the Sidewalk Never Ends

~ Crystle ~ 15 Comments

Hey Folks!

I thought I’d share a few images of the area I live in. My place is an old house in an old neighborhood. It was built in ’38 and originally had no electricity. Trust me, we could use some upgrades. What I really want to share with you is our surroundings. The photos articulate the serenity well, but you can’t hear the University bells and cicadas, or smell the cedar from them.

Coming from Bakersfield, CA (think tract homes and swimming pools) I didn’t know places like this really existed. The Adventures of Pete & Pete was a total farce. Tree lined streets? Homes built before the ’60s? No way!

But sure enough, here it is.

The sidewalk goes on forever.

Shade on a hot summer’s day is a must when dog walking.

I still live close to my Alma Mater, so I had to sneak in a picture of my old sorority house. We had a brief but memorable stint.

This little house is for sale, I can has?

Gentrify, gentrify, gentrify.

Historic homes warm my heart. Sigh.

Okie Noodling 2011

~ Crystle ~ 14 Comments

Hey Folks!

I hope everyone is familiar with a little Oklahoman tradition called Noodling, and for those of you who are not, I will explain. There exists a small portion of courageous Oklahomans who love the sport of barehanded cat fishing. That’s right, these folks like to wade the shorelines of creeks, rivers, and lakes to find large, unpretentious catfish. They are fearless.

The annual Okie Noodling Festival held in Pauls Valley, OK has accumulated quite the cult following. I for one have conflicted emotions about the treatment of the catfish, but I also get caught up in the quirkiness of the event. It’s the same way I feel about reality television.

Take a look to see what I mean:

I guess this year Pabst Blue Ribbon had quite the role in sponsoring the event.

This young man won fourth place for one of his fine catches. He looked like he was having way too much fun in the fish tank!

Guess what catfish? Noodling has now been legalized in Texas, warn your southern kinfolk!

Blossom wanted to get a picture with the Okie Noodling Queen. Ahh, look at us; brushing elbows with Oklahoma Royalty. Maybe one day you can get all hot and dusty and experience the catfish aroma of the Okie Noodling Festival!

Front Yard Bird Watching

~ Crystle ~ 2 Comments

Hey Everyone!

Today I’m not afraid to admit that I love to bird watch. I have a pretty sweet canopy over my house that allows me to do it from my front porch. Unfortunately, all we really get are Robins, Cardinals and Carolina Wrens. We are, on occasion, visited by black birds and pigeons but they certainly aren’t majestic.

This little male Cardinal was very curious as to why the Paparazzo was interested in him. You can see his thought process as I clicked away.

He saw me take a picture of him, and while I adjusted the focus, he skipped off to another fence panel.

You can actually see the growing interest in the way he turned his head to get a better look. Then he moved over to yet another fence panel.

Again, he looked at me sideways as if to say “what ARE you doing?”

Then he came even closer to get a better look at me.

Then I guess he got bored because he flew home. What a cute little nest!

I’m looking forward to capturing images of other little birds in my neighborhood. Hopefully they’re all equally curious.