RESTING IN A FOREIGN LAND

Attached but separated from the original Ft. Reno cemetary lies 62 German and 8 Italian Prisoners of War from WWII. Brought from Camps in Oklahoma and Texas this is their final resting place. Orderly and properly spaced, each grave contains a headstone with name and dates, including the Country from where they came. Only one of the 1335 German Prisoners who were in captivity at this camp died while being here. Relatives and fellow countrymen frequently visit these, Gone but not Forgotten souls, each year.

One of the remaining works of theirs is this Chapel built in 1944. A beautiful structure inside and out, is still in use for weddings, funerals, and special occasions.

LAST OUTPOST

Fort Reno Post Cemetary. Located in Western Canadian County, Oklahoma. A lonely but lovely place with a view from a prominent rise in the thousands of acres surrounding its hallow grounds.

A sturdy wall of local quarried stone keeps the prairie in its place. Buried but not forgotten are the early Soldiers, Wives, Children and Civilian personnel assigned to occupy this Post during the days of the Indian Wars and later.

Included in this Place of Remembrance are the Indian Scouts, the Buffalo Soldiers from the Calvary and Infantry alike.

General Phil Sheridan's favorite scout Ben Clark is perhaps the most famous resident. Chief Scout Clark's wife Moka and five of their eleven children are interred here.

Also on the West end, under separate containment lies the bodies of 62 German and 8 Italian P.O.W. from WW II which I will show in my next Post.

Decorations on the graves were placed for Christmas.

I invite any reader who might have an interest in this important early day Fort to take a look at its History at www.fortreno.org/history.htm

This may sound weird but . . . .

The other night I had a dream that I would find a triangle shaped opening and that if I went to the back of it I would be able to go around a large rock to the left and find a small tunnel that I could get in. I woke up before I could see what was in that tunnel but I made a mental note not to forget that image I saw.

The very next day I went hiking . . .

After about two hours of walking around I came upon this site. It looked exactly like my dream. I had to climb up about 15 feet to get to it but needless to say, I went in! It went back about 20 feet and at the very back was a crack about 18 inches wide and I could see another tunnel heading off at a 90 degree angle from the crack. I don't think I've ever taken my pack off so quick!

The rocks that formed this triangle shape are larger than a full size SUV.

Once I was into the crack I could kneel down and get into this small tunnel. It turned out there was a small opening at the other end that would take you out but it also turned out I'm too fat to get through that opening! I guess that comes from eating too much of Q's asian style ribs. LOL

The tunnel went back about 10-12 feet.

There wasn't anything in the tunnel except some rocks that I couldn't figure out where they came from but it had to be one of the weirdest days I've had in a long time.

These were shot with the Nikon S8100 and the bottom photo was with the built in flash.

An oldie from my files

I posted a different verison of this photo back in October but I posted this version today because I haven't had time to get out and take any new photos. This was taken with the Sigma 10-20mm with a CPL filter.

I guess I need to buy a lottery ticket today, maybe I will have more free time after I win! LOL

Hawaii Photo Contest

I came across this photo contest and thought just in case there was anybody here that might have a picture from Hawaii they would want to submit, I would let you know about it.

Share Aloha Photo Contest:

Gather up your great Hawaii photos, our contest begins in February, with four $100 prizes each month*, and four $250 grand prizes* at year's end. Winning photos will be published in one of our Drive Guide magazines. *One for each island. http://www.honolulupublishing.com/?utm_source=Aloha+from+Hawaii+Newsletter+Subscribers&utm_campaign=3ffe5beed9-AFH_December_2010&utm_medium=email

They are also giving away a free trip to Maui!

Does anyone have any Hawaii photos?? LOL



HO HO HO Merry Christmas Everyone!

I just want to showoff my cooking skills again. This is what I just made for my family Christmas feast.

HO HO HO! Today's the day!

MERRY CHRISTMAS

No matter which one you choose " Have A Merry Christmas " will be heard!!

May all my Shutterbugs Family along with our followers and readers have a "Jolly Good Christmas"!!

Mele Kalikimaka!

For all of the haoles out there, including myself, Merry Christmas everyone!

"Mele Kalikimaka" (Merry Christmas)

Found this character driving a trolley bus in Waikiki... And he's getting paid to drive around paradise! Imagine that... Where do I sign up? LOL

Merry Christmas "Mele Kalikimaka" to all!

I CAN BEAR'LY WAIT

Quynh Le , here is a Patience Bear my wife painted for our Grandchildren to help them wait for Christmas to open their presents! Maybe it will work on your kids?? Didn't work on ours, they still wanted to open everything " NOW ".


Ron and Cheryl celebrate a new Grand Daughter this year as the Parkers celebrate their first Great Grand Daughter this Year !! One more Chance to teach the Virtue "Patience". When it comes to Christmas " All Bets Are Off " !

Do you remember this Ron?

I just want to recap what we had on our dinner with Ron, and Cheryl from my previous camping trip. On the first picture, on the left is the pork chop, and the bottom picture is the Korean BBQ short rips.
Well, Parker if you wonder what Korean BBQ short rips looks like!

A "LIL" BIRD TOLD ME

Only " One More Day " Till Christmas !!

Why you want an ultrawide...

Because with out one you would never get both ends of the rainbow in the same picture!


So I am having a bit of a dry spell when it comes to taking pictures, mostly weather related and partly so darn busy! Thankfully the phone isn't ringing so much these last few days as most of my customers have spent all their money on Christmas stuff and are broke! Now maybe I can get out (weather permiting) and take some pictures...

PONY BRIDGE-Circa.1933

Route 66 crossing of the South Canadian River. Thirty-eight "Pony Trusses" of over 100ft. each were used to span the river.

Almost 3/4 of a mile long it is still an impressive bridge.

My Dad told me that when it was opened some folks danced from one side to the other. One fellow he knew claimed to have wore holes in his shoes on the trip across!

In the 1939 movie Grapes of Wrath this was the Bridge where GrandPa was buried on the family's journey to California trying to escape the Dust Bowl Days.

What's for Christmas Dinner

Although I won't be harvesting my own steak and lobster (from Oklahoma and Hawaii respectively) it is what we will be having for Christmas Dinner. Since Cheryl and I will be without the kids and grandkids this year we have decided to splurge a little with some grilled steak and lobster, a mimosa or three and probably some twice baked potatoes if I get energetic.

HOT JOB

Usually our photo journalist from The Mountain Gazette covers these types of stories. Today I had to fill in as Ron was following other pursuits closer to home. LOL

My brother and I were driving west of El Reno, OK on Route 66 looking for a pic and story of our own when we came upon this praire fire about to eat this Eastern Red Cedar for lunch.

Shooting on the fly I stopped just long enough to capture these pics. Heat from this burning cedar was intense. Route 66 served as the firebreak probably saving a couple of barns which were across the road. About 160 acres were burned.

Acting as a Roving Reporter and Shooting On The Fly makes a Hot Job with Risks! Who would have known? LOL

What's on your menu for Christmas dinner?

I made this from few weeks ago. This is very easy to make, and it tooks me about 1/2 hour from start to finish. This dish is call Seafood crispy noodles.

I assumed everyone are done for your Christmas shopping! The stocking is full of Nikon stuffs from your love ones. Yeah, I hope my stocking containing a D3X, and a 600mm lense.

Beside the nice presents, what are you cooking for your Christmas dinner? For me I'm thinking a Prime Roast, and a roast Turkey.

Winter time in the mountains

We've had a few really good frosts the past couple of weeks so everything here has turned brown and the leaves are falling off the trees. I really like this time of year. Because of the cold the bugs are gone, the snakes are gone, the leaves are gone and the campers are gone. It gives me lots of extra time to do what I like to do.

Is that the glint off of a gold bar in that cave? :~)

This was taken with a new toy I decided I needed. Nikon's S8100 point and shoot. So far it seems to be a nice little back up camera for when I don't want to carry or can't carry my DSLR.

OVERHOLSER BRIDGE

A few minutes east of Yukon,Ok., driving on the original concrete of the Mother Road " Route 66 " , you will come upon the Overholser Bridge.

Four "Parker through Spans" with a "Pony Span" on each end are needed to cross the North Canadian River. Replacing a Ferry Crossing the Bridge was opened for traffic in August of 1925. Connecting Canadian County with Oklahoma County, and Oklahoma City our State Capital. Can you imagine the Celebration at this "Ribbon Cutting" ?

Also catching my interest was this wonderous, large, Sycamore Tree. Was it a Witness to the constuction of this bridge? What stories and memories could it tell of the many different people that was witnessed traveling this Mother Road from Chicago to Santa Monica, California?

Still standing guard over this crossing, it will be known to me as "The Silent Sentinel" ! The largest of all the trees around Lake Overholser that I could find, (Lake was built in 1918) . I'm glad it's Silent! In my High School Days the Lake was known as "Lake Holdercloser" for reasons unknown to me!!!!

Playing with Nikon Efex

I've got kind of a down day today because of rain in the area so I am trying to catch up on all of the things I have been gettting behind on (read procrastinating). I got bored with that so I started playing with the Nikon NX2 software again!

I'll be back out on the trail again tomorrow, trying to bring something home before Christmas, but I thought while I had the chance I would post another photo. This one is from Hawaii, of course, I just like seeing what I can do with my old photos.

Love birds.

Not sure I have post these photos already or not. These are old photos from last year, I have not got a chance to go out take more photos, after my dentistry surgery from last week. Also, I think the pain med. got to do a lot of it. But, I like it.

In need of some Ginko Biloba

I was going through some of my photos and found this one in a file where it wasn't supposed to be. I had reworked it in Elements and apparantly saved it to a spot I didn't really want it in.

I may have already posted this one but I couldn't remember. Either way, I need that ginko biloba!

Sometimes its nice just to look up!

I know Christmas is just around the corner and all the leaves have fallen off the tree. But I thought I would share this photo I took a while back and just recently had time to retouch it. Hope you enjoy a brief touch of fall colors.

Still dreaming ....

And still playing with the photo editing programs!

This is Ka'anapali Beach on Maui about twenty minutes before sunset. I reworked the photo in NX2 and Elements 7.