This is my entry in a contest at The Great Photo Race , subject- Cloud formations in greyscale. Photo taken outside the office in Pasadena, Texas.

Rainbow of colors on netting for a "Jumpy House".

It is graduation time!

Magnolias are blooming around Alvin, Texas, and this one is near Froberg's Funeral Home. Magnolia is a large genus of about 210 flowering plant species in the subfamily Magnolioideae of the family Magnoliaceae. It is named after French botanist Pierre Magnol.

Recent favorites of mine-

I enter a few contests now and then, nothing big time. Trouble is, I don't seem to get very high place finishes often. I have to step back and evaluate what I am doing in photography each time I am disappointed. I have decided that I am a photographer and will continue shooting, because I am really just doing it for myself.
I need to give myself credit and not undervalue what I do, while I have much to learn room to grow.

 

Big thanks to the SnapKnot wedding photography directory for offering this great camera giveaway!

I have entered and hope to win a new Canon. SnapKnot is a great site for wedding photographers.

Beautiful Lilies seen on the way to the dentist Thursday morning.

Saw some fine cars at a small car show Saturday. My favorite was a 1961 Jaguar. Here is the hood ornament.

Old fire plug seen at Stevenson Park in Dickinson, Texas.

A family friend passed away recently. He was a volunteer firefighter much of his life and was honored with a memorial service which included a "Ring the Bell" service. As a firefighter, one is called to the fire by a bell, and as a deceased firefighter one is "rung out" by a Ring the Bell service.
Here is the bell-

Butterfly Flower seedpod

Made a visit just down our street to see Mr. & Mrs. Howard Johnson. Her flowers and his yard work are always great to see, and offer plenty of photo opportunities. Masca gnia macroptera. Butterfly vine seed pods really do look like butterflies.

Under the Oak

Under the Oak, originally uploaded by Noel C. Hankamer.

Cruising Alvin looking at all the big oak trees, I spied this swing and chair under one of the big trees. The house in the background with a flag is a bonus.

Rusty old International Harvester truck seen along FM1462 near the Brazos River in Brazoria County.

Small town America-
As I cruised Alvin, Texas a couple of mornings ago, I spied this chair and swing under one of Alvin's big oak trees. The house with the flag was a bonus.

Sunrise 2-28-2013
The radio was talking about a beautiful sunrise on my way home that morming, but I had to travel 10 miles to a spot without city and freeway messing up the composition.

Froberg Strawberries

Froberg Strawberries, originally uploaded by Noel C. Hankamer.

Froberg Strawberries

Local truck farm has seasonal self-pickings of strawberries. frobergsfarm.com/

Foggy Cross

Foggy Cross, originally uploaded by Noel C. Hankamer.

I have visited this gravesite several times over the years. It is eerie in the fog.

Sunset from Confinement

Sunset from Confinement, originally uploaded by Noel C. Hankamer.

Sunset from Confinement

Stuck in a hospital room at Clear Lake, I did manage some sunsets through the shades.

Clear Lake Sunset in B&W

Clear Lake Sunset in B&W, originally uploaded by Noel C. Hankamer.

Clear Lake Sunset in B&W

I shot this one in B&W for the contrast, No cropping on this one.

Photos taken Friday and today, November 4th , 2012.

 
A mix of old and new. So much stuff has been added to these old buildings over the years! They were built between 1895 and 1904 in Alvin, Texas. One of these doors led to the local pool hall that we as teenagers would sneak into by the back door so town folks wouldn't see us and tell our parents!

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.