Blog Archives
looking for turtles
Little kids around any body of water – a puddle or the ocean or somewhere in between – are so entertaining to watch. They squeal, they run around and jump off things, they approach almost all of it with wild abandon.
These three kids were having a great time hanging over the edge of the spring-fed pool looking for turtles. Judging from their voices (volume + emotion) they saw a LOT of turtles. (If you were wondering, they were likely to have spotted Texas spiny softshell turtles.)
Balmorhea State Park, Texas
photographed 3.22.2025
drops
I sure do like the way the water sluices off her hair…it was just about my favorite thing all day.
Balmorhea State Park, Texas
photographed 3.22.2025
spring water
This day was like the best gift you’ve ever gotten.
For one thing: the wind wasn’t blowing. Those of you who are lucky enough to live in “normal” climates, where the wind is “gentle” and “soft” and “refreshing” probably don’t appreciate that as much as do those of us who live where the wind blows almost all the damn time. This day was so calm that it almost didn’t even seem real.
Another other thing was that almost every other time I’ve been here, it’s been packed with people. But this day, this calm and warm and peaceful day, was quiet: there were fewer than five other people in the whole place. (And three of them were scuba divers and were under water it’s almost like they don’t count..)
And that water! Oh, that crystal water.
Balmorhea State Park
Toyahvale, Texas
photographed 1.14.2023
November 7
Far West Texas is my favorite part of the state – it’s got mountains, a nice dry climate, open spaces, and this gem – Balmorhea State Park. It’s an oasis where an artesian spring fills the world’s largest spring-fed swimming pool.
The pool and the buildings at the park were built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the early 1930s. This is a view looking down at the handrail at the steps going down into the pool.
Balmorhea State Park, Texas
photographed 11.10.2010
One Day | One Image 