Skywatch Friday

'Scorched Cottonwood'

This was as a result of the fire at the end of our street!

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My World Tuesday

Lake Vincent's about 25 miles from us, is fed by a natural spring and is a popular fishing and boating venue. During 2008 they drained it in order to clean it up and then re-stock the fish in it.

The lake's surrounded by beautiful open countryside and topped by blue Oklahoma skies, which still never fail to stun me with their beauty and sheer scale. Another local feature I love is the wonderful red dirt, which can be easily seen at this time of the year, as everything else dies back.

In order to drain the lake, the valve below was opened on the dam to allow the water to flow out into the surrounding countryside. A good friend of ours is the local Game Ranger and he is overseeing the whole procedure, which at times has proved challenging.


One of the most interesting things to come out of it's depths, has been the re-appearance of cars from the 1950's period.

When I first saw the pictures in the local paper I thought they had all been dumped or worse still driven in! In fact they were placed against the dam to shore it up and in other area's needing support.

Since our last visit there in early summer, the rising water has already reclaimed some of these amazing old vehicles and soon they will all be gone from sight.

It is an amazing sight to see these old cars in plain view and also a photographers dream. We were also surprised at the thousands of shells covering the sand, especially the large Clam shells.

Draining the lake also revealed petrified tree's that have long been submerged. They make an interesting sight as the lake refills and will soon be back underwater.

Whilst we were there it was surprisingly busy with hunters and bird-watchers, it is a very popular local natural attraction for the wildlife and the peaceful views it offers. What I love is the total silence you get out there, with just the stir of the breeze around you.

As many of you know, I lost all the pictures I previously took when my PC crashed, and so I was delighted to return and be able to retake them. Since that time I have gained a wide angle lens, and this time all these pictures were taken using the Manual settings only.

I am much happier with the results and also deliberately chose to go later in the day, when the light was much softer and golden. It's amazing how reading a few good photography books can help!

We waited until the sunset over the lake and although it wasn't a spectacular sunset, it still allowed me some pretty shots. The Hubster also got some rock skimming in across the still waters, whilst he showed endless patience waiting on my snapping!

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Skywatch Friday

I just happened to glance up and see this Beaver Moon, contrail and Cottonwood in perfect harmony last weekend.

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My World Tuesday

Shattuck Windmill Museum & Park was established in 1994 and dedicated in May 1996, with a gathering of old windmillers and community volunteers. It is situated in north-west Oklahoma and is very much a local landmark.

As of November 2008, 52 windmills stand in the park, with no two alike, ranging from a little 5ft. Star Zephyr to the big 18 ft. Samson and Railroad Eclipse. Some of the mills are open-geared, some have solid or folding wood wheels, many are unusual steel mills.

But all have lifted water from beneath the earth to provide for a homesteader's garden or a rancher's cattle. Each one has it's own story and a book can be found in the little authentic Mercantile Store, containing the history of each one.

The focus of the park is not only the windmills, but also shows how homesteaders lived when they first came to this area, and why the windmill was so important.

Included in the Park is a small half-dugout soddy (sod-house) which was moved from 7 miles south-west of town. It was reconstructed to give a glimpse of how many of the early settlers lived. All year round visitors are encouraged to record the temperature in the soddy in a logbook. It is fascinating to see how the temperature holds relatively steady inside, whatever the weather outside!

In 1997 the one-and-a-half storey homestead house was moved into the Park. The restored home typifies the frame structure that an early family would have built, once they had moved up from their "soddy". A local family raised their four children in this particular homestead. The home consisted of a lean-to, living-dining room and the parent's bedroom. Up the very narrow staircase was a large open attic, where the children would sleep.

The gates of Windmill Park are made of Oklahoma red granite, are seven feet tall and depict two of the earliest windmills. They anchor a brick wall showing the names of many of the local homesteaders, ranchers and merchants, and the date of their arrival. It is facinating to read these names and recognise the grandparents and parents of local people I know now.

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Skywatch Friday

I went out to catch a sunset, turned around and spotted a far better shot of the moon, perfectly framed through our Cottonwood tree!

This photo was taken with Shutter Priority and flash, there has been no enhancement to the colouring, as a few have asked. It was looking into the east away from the sunset, which was also magnificent and that maybe why the blue is so intense?

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My World Tuesday

My World is currently made of leaves, leaves everywhere in great and glorious golden abundance. With a fully loaded Cottonwood, huge Native Elm and Maple surrounding us, the ensuing fall-out has overtaken us.

(By the way, the shot above involved me lying flat on my stomach amongst all the leaves for about 20 minutes as I snapped away. Who knows what the neighbours would have thought had they seen me - "what's that crazy Brit' doing now?")

They have suddenly taken over my home, last week my path to the garage was even blocked by a huge leaf-bank! Once we had grass in our backyard, now we just have leaves!

So this weekend the Hubster decided to take back our world. With the help of a neighbouring child keen to earn pocket money, a blower and his mulcher.....he set about regaining control. 23 full, mulched bags later we can once again see our lawn!

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Skywatch Friday

I was very struck by this beautiful modern new museum in Cheyenne, Oklahoma and then I looked up and saw this angle against the stunning blue sky.

The angle you see above, is the metal frame dividing the two levels of windows, overlooking the Washita battlefield. I also thought it was interesting that shooting it from the opposite angle, changed the colour of the sky when I reviewed the pictures!

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My World Tuesday - Glass or Gloss?

In February 1873 the name Glass Mountains appeared on a map issued by the Federal General Land Office. Two years later, the same office issued a map calling them the Gloss Mountains. Thus precipitating a conflict that continues to this day.

The 1875 map resulted from a survey led by an engineer named T.H. Barrett. Historiographer James Cloud is of the opinion that a draughtsmen copied this map and mis-read the 'A' for an 'O'. A persistent legend persists that a member of that first exploring party was British or Bostonian.

This member awakened early one morning in the survey camp on the knoll located east of the area and saw the sun on the glistening clear crystals of Selenite. In his long eastern dialect he exclaimed "Why they look just like glaws".

The party's cartographer simply recorded what he thought he had heard, indeed a passing error. But to think a Brit' may have been responsible for all this confusion!

The Glass or Gloss Mountains are located 6 miles west of Orienta in NW Oklahoma, which is on highway US 412. We pass through them regularly whenever I am in need of our closest shopping mall in Enid, 110 miles away!

The mountains have a high selenite content, making them appear as if they were covered with pieces of glass. Ever since my first visit here in 2003, I have absolutely loved their beauty and contrast against the flat plains around them.

This beautiful scenic strip, currently defined as a conservation area, is almost another world with its rugged high topped mesas springing up from a relatively flat land area.

A "painted desert" effect can be seen in many locations due to the exposure of different rock strata, and the sparkle of gypsum and selenite gives many of the mesas a glittering effect.

A giant inland sea once covered the area, leaving behind extensive gypsum beds. Spanish explorers passed through the area and later, the first known American explorer around 1821 described what he called "The Shining Mountains".

Today, the Glass Mountains area is utilized for its vast oil and gas resources. This 640 acre expanse is undergoing development as a State Park and will eventually provide trails and facilities.

At present, visitors can pull off the highway to enjoy the rugged landscape at a small roadside picnic area with an information kiosk on the history and features of the locale.

Astronomy groups occasionally use the area for celestial observations, as dark really means dark out there! Visitors can enjoy the 24 mile scenic drive along U.S. Hwy 412 through this very distinctive area. Here's the Hubster doing his best 'hunky cowboy' impression (which is of course is what he is!), as he reads about the area on a perfect day.

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