Sunrise
Whoot are you?
Owlet peeking out at the paparazzi. There was another photographer checking on the owlets.
Osric Owl’s ear tufts blowing in the wind.
Osric Owl watching a couple wth three dogs walking under his perch. He was only 10 feet above them.
The moon the day before yesterday and today.
Sunset
You ain’t calling me no stinking Fifi any more!
Hotel Giles at night
At this time last week, we were staying at the Hotel Giles in Comfort, TX (https://www.hotelgiles.com/). We had driven 687 miles to Comfort to experience the total eclipse of the sun. Comfort, TX, was in the direct path of the eclipse, so we got around 4 minutes and 20 seconds of totality. Hotel Giles is a wonderful hotel that was perfect for viewing the eclipse with its large open space behind the hotel. The owners and staff were friendly and went out of their way to make our stay pleasant and memorable. They kept us informed on what was happening in Comfort, arranged for lunch, and made the guests dinner for a reasonable price on Monday since most restaurants were closed on Monday. A delicious home-cooked breakfast was included in the price of the room, and the coffee was excellent. If you are in the area, I highly recommend staying at the Hotel Giles.
The Hotel Giles was originally Hotal Faust, designed and built by architect Alfred Giles for Paul Ingenhuett in 1880. Alfred Giles was an English architect who moved to San Antonio, TX, in 1875 for health reasons and became a well-known and influential architect in San Antonio, southwestern Texas, and northern Mexico. He was also involved in ranching near Comfort. You can read more about Alfred Giles at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alfred_Giles_(architect).
The room we stayed in.
Interior stairway and the Parlor where guests gather. They have jam sessions on Friday nights.
This guy had been waiting for years for the eclipse.
The courtyard and gazebo at night.
The Cottage, a covered deck, and the Cabin.
The barn and a Tesla charging station out front.
Captain Jack. Lyrics and Music by Billy Joel.Vocals by Timothy Price
Captain Jack from Billy Joel’s 1973 album, Piano Man, is my latest cover. I first heard this song around 1974 after I purchased Piano Man. I fell in love with it. It’s not at all biographical; however, I had friends who got messed up with drugs in the 70s. A few died of overdoses, and a few committed suicide. Seeing how drugs destroyed people’s lives, I never had a reason to experiment with them.
These spent poppies go well with Captain Jack.
Alignment of the moon and the Pleiades on the right side of the photo.
A honey bee was working the apple blossoms.
Meet Mr. Cardinal Sin, one of many Northern Cardinals who were very vocal in Comfort, TX.
I’m hard of hearing, and I don’t hear a lot of the birds we have around our house. I was pleasantly surprised to discover I could hear almost all the birds in Comfort, TX. Including many of the same species of birds we have in NM. I don’t know if the humidity carries sound better or if the birds are just louder in Texas, but I heard them loud and clear. Especially the Northern Cardinals, who chattered and sang continuously during daylight hours. The problem was they were hard to see clearly up high in the foliage of the trees. I finally got several good shots of Mr. Cardinal Sin, who, in a fit of sinfulness, exposed himself to me.
Click on a photo to enlarge it.
Sandias @ Sunset
Osric Owl would not open his eyes for me at first. He finally woke with a hoot and gave me a “Stupid Paparazzo! And spell my name right!” look.
Nora Owl was looking sleepy also. That’s an indication the owlets might have hatched.
Beaver @ sunset
A tree with no name @ sunset
The moon was smiling tonight after eclipsing the sun yesterday.
Atmospheric effect of the partial eclipse through the clouds.
Moon smiling in a cottonwood
Sunset in Confrot, TX, last night.
We had cloudy conditions for the total eclipse of the sun in Comfort, TX, today. But the clouds made for much more interesting and dramatic eclipse photos than what one gets under clear skies.
The Buildings on either side of me at totality.
The diamond ring captured on my iPhone
Mushroom Mike
Off Center & Not Even 