Tag Archives: Water

Our World – Family Hike at Keystone State Park

Tulsa went into social isolation mode last week. All the bars, restaurants, theaters, bowling alleys and other places were ordered shut to help slow the spread of the Corona virus. My employer had already ordered those that could, to start working at home. Our son’s college has gone online and the various gyms where Heather teaches classes have closed so we were home except for trips the grocery store and to check on my brother at the hospital and Heather’s mother.

The weather was kind of crappy as well so our exercise was limited to walking our one healthy dog in the neighborhood. Saturday we were ready to check out the great outdoors so we ventured to Keystone State Park about 30 minutes away and you can see post to know more about it. We went out there and there were only three cars in the parking lot so we figured that we were ethically fine to go hiking without endangering ourselves or others.

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Here are Logan and Heather right after we started.

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The trail was a little wet in places but in great shape. The state takes really good care of it with the help of volunteers. I helped out a week or so ago, lopping branches and picking up litter. What also helps is that the trails are designed as opposed to Turkey Mountain where the trails just kind of happened. It makes a difference you know making sure that water flows across a trail rather than down it.

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Keystone features rocks and trees with a healthy amount of water. This tree looks to be growing right out of the rock.

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The water level was up a little. We did about three fords. We didn’t get our feet too wet.

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Here are Heather and Logan doing a little social distancing during a rest break.

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Another tree growing out of a rock.

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And my favorite, dancing trees. When we got back to the trail head our car was the only one there. We hopped in and drove straight home. I hope everybody is being safe as we go through this Corona Virus thing together in the entire world.

Check out the World Health Organization for the straight facts. Don’t be disseminating bad information. Too much of that going on already.

I’m linking with Our World Tuesday, come join in the fun!!

Skywatch Friday – A Family Walk at Oxley Nature Center

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Last Friday the family decided to go for walk at Tulsa’s Mary K. Oxley Nature Center. One of the best kept secrets in Tulsa. Acres and acres of trails, woods, marsh, lakes, and meadows and hardly anybody ever visits it.

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Well somebody had been visiting. We saw a few of these in the park but they didn’t look like they had been used.

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I love the big and small ponds, lakes, and streams on the property.

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It looked like some beavers had been hard at work.

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A sign needs either replacing or fetched.

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A nice surprise were some pelicans. They were cruising about. The geese seemed a little put off their visitors.

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Heather taking in the view near the photo blind.

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Yep, I’m a lucky guy is what I think.

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Heather and our gentle giant of a son, Logan checking out some storm damage from last year.

And here is our route. About 3 miles and a good mix of woods, open land, and water. We saw nobody else during our three miles.

I’m linking with Skywatch Friday this week.

Wednesday Waters – Lafortune Park

Lafortune Park Pond

We are deep into Spring here in northeast Oklahoma and we have lots of rain so one can see why this area is called “Green Country” by some. Pretty soon will come the high temps and humidity but after all these years that doesn’t bother me that much. You learn how to adapt.

I’m linking with Wednesday Waters

Philbrook Museum’s Tempietto

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Sometimes I think I take too many photographs of some scenes. LIke the  tempietto in the gardens at Philbrook Museum of Art for instance. I think it is one of the most beautiful scenes I’ve ever seen especially with the reflecting pool in front of it.

Based on a tip from Spare Parts and Pics I downloaded the  Topaz’s Impressions program. It converts photographs to look like a painting or drawing. The above pic uses one of the “Colored Pencils” presettings. The program is a little expensive, at least for me, so I’m “messing” with it on a 30 day free trial. Let me know what you think of it. For comparision the original photo is below. It is not SOOC though. It is an HDR composite. Just in case you are new to this blog I need to tell you that I don’t worship pics straight out of the camera (“SOOC”).

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Let me know what you think!

Linking with Water World Wednesday

 

Skywatch Friday – RWD Water Tower

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Sunday afternoon I dropped Logan off at his friends house out in the middle of nowhere and then took off across the countryside geocaching and picture taking. Many places out in the country here have Rural Water Districts that provide water for the residences which is nice so you don’t have depend on well water. You will see water towers like this one scattered across the countryside on hill tops.

I didn’t find many geocaches but I got to get out in the countryside and that made everything okay. Its all good!

Skywatch Friday