Monthly Archives: December 2014
Wire knot
The wire fence around the butterfly garden seems to be providing instructions to tendrils on how to twist themselves.
Canyon of the Eagles Resort
Lake Buchanan, Texas
photographed 11.28.2014
The effects of the drought were severe
It doesn’t take a hydrologist to see that a dock without a drop of water anywhere nearby isn’t a good sign.
Lake Buchanan is part of the watershed managed by the Lower Colorado River Authority. According to their website, lakes Buchanan and Travis – which provide municipal water supplies for several cities – are currently at 34% capacity. If (or, probably, when) that number drops below 30%, the LCRA will issue a declaration called the “Drought Worse Than the Drought of Record.”* Issuance of this declaration will put into place a series of water restrictions on all customers. The LCRA says there is a “small chance” this could occur as soon as February 2015.
(what’s left of) Lake Buchanan, Texas
photographed 11.28.2014
*It’s sort of an interesting series of words, isn’t it?
Crowded fences
I found these cast iron fences around graves in a crowded part of the town cemetery. I guess it’s like the high-density, urban section of the place…
Burnet Cemetery
Burnet, Texas
photographed 11.28.2014
Angel
That poor angel seems to have some sort of skin condition (or, stone condition?), doesn’t she? It looks itchy to me, and I hope it doesn’t distract her too much from her important job there at the cemetery.
Burnet Cemetery
Burnet, Texas
photographed 11.28.2014
Cactus: it’s what’s for dinner
I just got back from spending a few days at the Canyon of the Eagles resort, near Burnet, Texas. It’s remote and relaxing and quite enjoyable. It’s been there since 1999, which means that the buildings were far too nice for my photographer’s eye to be interested. Instead, I broke out my rarely-used macro lens and took some close looks at the plants. It’s quite a change, but not likely a permanent one.
Today’s post, the first in the short botanical series, is of the top edge of a prickly pear cactus. The pair of circular shapes at the top are part of the same plant; I’ve most often heard them called “tunas,” but in English they are also called “prickly pears” or “pears.” In spite of how this plant looks, it’s edible. The pads, also called “nopales,” can be cooked (after the spines are gone, of course) and added to salads or other dishes. The tunas can also be cooked, though the recipe says to “Get them when they are bright purple and look like rat food.” which doesn’t make it sound all that much like dinner.
Also, note that the writer of the recipe assumed his/her readers would know what rat food looks like, which is sort of…interesting.
(If you want to whip up a cactus-y dinner, the recipes are here.)
Canyon of the Eagles Resort
Lake Buchanan, Texas
photographed 11.28.2014
One Day | One Image 