Time to post some recent photos. No special order.

Roller skates racked up in order.



Cattle Egret landing in a tree.


Unusual find in a vacant area near a sand pit.

Bye-Bye Houston!

Bye-Bye Houston!, originally uploaded by Noel C. Hankamer.

I was fortunate to be able to be at the north end of Ellington Field to take pictures of the Endeavour as it left Houston for California. Here is the modified jumbo jet and the shuttle on take-off.
Even though Houston has been mission control for most NASA missions and an integral part of the space program, when NASA retired the shuttles. they were sent to other cities rather than Houston.

Not a few Texas feel the decision was purely political and a rebuke for not supporting President Obama on 2008 and 1010.

I was fortunate to be able to be at the north end of Ellington Field to take pictures of the Endeavour as it left Houston for California. Here is one side as it taxied around to prepare for takeoff.
Even though Houston has been mission control for most NASA missions and an integral part of the space program, when NASA retired the shuttles. they were sent to other cities rather than Houston.
Not a few Texans feel the decision was purely political and a rebuke for not supporting President Obama on 2008 and 1010.

Found this very nice Monitor blowtorch in a small antique shop last weekend. A friend in Australia that collects them tells me it is a good one and that I got it at a great price.

Spring Flowers

Here are some Spring flowers for fun. The Primroses( also called Buttercups) are in the yard and will be mowed down soon. The Hibiscus is in front of a restaurant in Alvin, Texas.

January 13th, Friday the Thirtee
nth, I visited the Alvin Opry to hear a friend sing. The Opry is just around the corner from our house, but I had never been there in its 25 or so years of its     existence                                                                                                                                                                                  http://www.alvinopry.com/
Cherie Devine came on early in the show and was GREAT! She sang a song she had written about Friday the Thirteenth,  Elvis's "You Ain't Nothin' but a Hound Dog" , and Patsy Cline's "Crazy".

Stanley 77

The IT guy here at work emailed me the other day with a What's-It that I identified readily. Seems he had found a Stanley 77 that he wasn't sure of. His pictures taken on his phone were poor, but I recognized a Stanley rod and dowel machine. He bought it at a ridiculously low price and this morning he GAVE it to me!
I intend to clean it up and mount it as a demonstration piece. It has only one cutter, but other than not having the original release for the guide plate, it is in fantastic condition, and works! I only had some soft wood to try it out with, but with some TLC and good wood, it will make dowels as it is designed to do.
These things sell at prices that would surprise you- from $200 to $500 when complete and with all the cutters.

 

After some cleaning, the Stanley 77 looks great!

 

New Year's Beginning

I got a good start on 2012 with my first sunrise of the year, taken at the Confederate Cemetery in Alvin, Texas, on January 1, 2012.

 

Then, the same day, I got my first sunset of 2012, taken off Beamer Rd, near Dixie Farm Rd., near IH 45.

Oversized Load

http://photobucket.com/oversizedload

A very large boiler was being transported to Texas City through Alvin, Texas Friday November 18, 2011. Hauling done by H Brown of Lafayette, Louisiana. Due to bridge clearances, the load had to pass through Alvin on Business 35, right through town.About 5 hours for just over a mile.

Alvin Museum Society Fall Membership Meeting 

AMS had the Fall meeting Sunday. Tom Green of Sons of the Republic of Texas and North American Vexillogical Association presented a program on "Historic Flags of Texas". Tom has collected or made over 60 historic flags. 

Here is a slideshow of the Alvin High School Class of 1961 50th Class Reunion.

Black & White shots at Twisted Cycles

Took a few grab shots while at the motorcycle shop. These were shot in B&W in-camera.

GREEN enough?

GREEN enough?, originally uploaded by Noel C. Hankamer.

We will have our 50th high school reunion at Hidden Palms in Santa Fe, Texas, this October, so I went to check the place out. Looks like a great venue, with palms, ponds, gazebos, and meeting rooms. I guess the ponds keep the plants well watered in this drought.

Classic Chevy Truck

Classic Chevy Truck, originally uploaded by Noel C. Hankamer.

If you spend anytime reading truck history you will soon learn that a common design theme which is repeated over and over again is that of "massiveness." This word was used to describe the front appearance of the new 1941 Chevrolet Trucks. Especially on light-duty trucks designers continually worked to get just the right look of massiveness and ruggedness in the truck's grille, front bumper and front fenders. I'm not so sure that the ruggedness and massiveness have stood the test of time for the 1941-1946 Chevrolet pickups. John Gunnell coined the term "Wurlitzer" for these trucks, which is a wonderfully descriptive term. I think the point is clear: these are attractive trucks but maybe not all that massive. We must admit that it is hard to miss all that bright chrome, however I tip my hat to the Chevrolet designers for their work, which has stood the test of time.

The 1941 3/4-ton Chevrolet pickup was built on a 125 1/4-inch wheelbase chassis. Series AL 3/4-ton trucks were equipped with 15-inch wheels and tires.
Posted for the Monday Photo Challenge- the letter C.

Magnolia Bloom

Magnolia Bloom, originally uploaded by Noel C. Hankamer.

The magnolias are still blooming in Alvin, Texas!

Red Leaves

Red Leaves, originally uploaded by Noel C. Hankamer.

I saw the lightplay on these red leaves from across the yard while working on a car. Just had to shoot it!

Railroad Wye Switch

Railroad Wye Switch, originally uploaded by Noel C. Hankamer.

Modern Wye switch on the Burlington line south of Alvin, Texas near Liverpool. The electric switching mechanism is much more complex than one would think. We don't see these things in everyday passing or crossing railroad tracks.

Foggy Canal With Frames

Foggy Canal With Frames, originally uploaded by Noel C. Hankamer.

Our area is criss-crossed by rice canals to irrigate the important crops in the Alvin area. Looking down the canal with the rising sun off to the left, this foggy canal drew my shooting eye to it today. Here I have made multiple reflecting frames just for fun, using Picnik.

Winter Leaves

Winter Leaves, originally uploaded by Noel C. Hankamer.

A poor little sprout that might have survived the winter, backlit by morning sun.
View On Black

Crawfish Chimney

Crawfish Chimney, originally uploaded by Noel C. Hankamer.

Crawfish burrow underground and "stack" mudballs to form a "chimney" over the burrow. this stack of mud casts a long shadow in the afternoon sun.

Soft Focus

Soft Focus, originally uploaded by Noel C. Hankamer.

Retreaded for the Monday Photo Challenge and Retread Group. Played with curves, layers, and frame in Picnik.
View On Black

Spooky Eyes

Spooky Eyes, originally uploaded by Noel C. Hankamer.

The Stars and Stripes keep watch over the spooky eyes of the skull. Perfect for the eve of an historic mid-term election!

Ring Toss

Ring Toss, originally uploaded by Noel C. Hankamer.

Just some rusty rings found tossed away, shot in B&W in camera for the Monday Photo Challenge- things that are round, or go round.
I worked on the shot in Picnik to get a grainy feel, like old B&W film.
View On Black

Breast Cancer Awareness Stamp

Breast Cancer Awareness Stamp, originally uploaded by Noel C. Hankamer.

October each year is designated as National breast Cancer Awareness Month to promote breast cancer awareness, share information regarding the disease and provide greater access to screening services.

Twin Morning Glories

Twin Morning Glories, originally uploaded by Noel C. Hankamer.

These twins vie for the emerging sunlight this morning after a night of rain. The dew is still on them, but they are ready for a sunny day.

Coming on By!

Coming on By!, originally uploaded by Noel C. Hankamer.

I "Ghosterized" this hotrod in Picnik, fooling with curves. In the old days, while out hotrodding, often a "ghost car" would creep up on you and suddenly appear, passing on the left at such a high rate that you couldn't even tell your buddies what kind of car it was!
Retreaded for The Monday Photo Challenge and Thursday Retread Group.
The original- www.flickr.com/photos/nhankamer/4962250228/in/set-7215762...

Zeiss Ikon

Zeiss Ikon, originally uploaded by Noel C. Hankamer.

Zeiss Ikon
Fine lines and wrinkles is our challenge this week, so I got this old Zeiss Ikon Super Ikonta down off the shelf where my small collection of classic cameras sits.
The fine lines of these old classics always attract me, and you can see the wrinkle of the bellows. Never mind that I didn't straighten out the backdrop!

Restored Home

Restored Home, originally uploaded by Noel C. Hankamer.

Nice restoration of a turn of the century home in Alvin, Texas. I cropped out the window for The Monday Photo Challenge group windows and doors challenge on Flickr.

Canna Lily

Canna Lily, originally uploaded by Noel C. Hankamer.

I saw this nice lily at the Houston Zoo Thursday.
www.houstonzoo.org/
View On Black

Tower Lines

Tower Lines, originally uploaded by Noel C. Hankamer.

A tower has been under construction on Donaldson Rd just off Hwy 35 between Alvin and Pearland for some years, and I have never seen anyone there to ask about it.

Vintage Baggage Cart

Vintage Baggage Cart, originally uploaded by Noel C. Hankamer.

This vintage baggage cart is on display at Alvin's Historic Santa Fe Depot.

Perfect Handle Counterfeits

Perfect Handle Counterfeits, originally uploaded by Noel C. Hankamer.

These are some H D Smith tools that a friend has rebuilt for me. The hammer is a one of a kind. An H D Smith Perfect Handle open end wrench mated by forge welding to a ball pein hammer head. The pipe wrench is a PEXTO mated the same way to a long H D Smith Perfect Handle screwdriver. The two screwdrivers are original except he has put new wood on them for me.
Discussion of these can be seen at www.papawswrench.com/vboard/showthread.php?p=22669&po... on my Tool Talk Forum.

Spooky Bridge

Spooky Bridge, originally uploaded by Noel C. Hankamer.

It isn't Halloween, but I rendered the original like this for the Monday Photo Challenge and Thursday Retread Group.
The path curves gracefully at the end of the Mustang Bayou bridge on the Tom Blakeny Hike and Bike trail in Alvin, Texas. I've shot this bridge several times, especially in early morning fog.
See more here- www.flickr.com/groups/1091826@N21/pool/

Uploaded by Noel C. Hankamer on 20 May 10, 10.08PM CDT.

Reflection

Reflection, originally uploaded by Noel C. Hankamer.

"Now to consult the rules of composition before making a picture is a little like consulting the law of gravitation before going for a walk. Such rules and laws are deduced from the accomplished fact; they are the products of reflection."
Edward Weston

It's not a UFO!

It's not a UFO!, originally uploaded by Noel C. Hankamer.

I saw a neat photo on Flickr with some colorful streaks of light, and wondered how it was done. Some investigation revealed it was simply light reflections from a common CD. I took this shot by the light from a compact fluorescent table lamp, the cropped it some. Looks like a UFO!

UP 844

UP 844, originally uploaded by Noel C. Hankamer.

UP844 approaching the crossing at Liverpool, Texas, April 17, 2010. The train was behind schedule and went by very quickly!

"The road must be built, and you are the man to do it. Take hold of it yourself. By building the Union Pacific, you will be the remembered man of your generation."
— President Abraham Lincoln to Oakes Ames, 1865

Fountain in early Morning Light

Fountain, originally uploaded by Noel C. Hankamer.

Fountain at Joe's Bar-B-Q in Alvin, Texas in early morning light. Posted for Monday Photo Challenge Group. This week's challenge: "shoot something having to do with H2O...whether it's a drop, your favorite watering hole, an umbrella or a bucket"
I shot this fountain in January when it was frozen. Now that Spring is here, I have shot this view, and will revisit it a few more times.

Wisteria Vine and Blooms

Wisteria Vine and Blooms, originally uploaded by Noel C. Hankamer.

Been watching this old Wisteria vine lately, because it is a sure sign that Spring is here when the Wisteria blooms.
Taken for the "Look UP" challenge in the Monday Photo Challenge group on Flickr.

See more here.

Van Tassel's 54 Mercury Custom

Van Tassel's 54 Mercury Custom, originally uploaded by Noel C. Hankamer.

A beautiful custom 1954 Mercury seen at Brad's Muffler in Alvin, Texas.