Not in Texas but still a Texan

[Gator_Nutz]

I have not been by in awhile so I thought I would pay a quick visit and say hello. I was laid off from work back in February and went 6 months before finally landing a new position. The new job has taken me and my wife to the beautiful desert southwest and Tucson, AZ. While we are still trying to sell our house in Houston, we are lucky enough to be able to stay in a house my sister owns here in Tucson. It sits on 10 acres in the middle of the desert near the Catalina Mountains and it is a real oasis to some of the local wildlife. Here are a few pics I have taken since arriving. The bobcat is one of a pair that come by almost everyday to rest, relax, and play around in the nice cool wet grass after the sprinkler system shuts off. The snake was in the driveway right outside the garage. The tarantula was on the patio as was the baby screech owl.
James

[ovimo]

Nice pets, man...

I like the snake shot a lot.

[jfoureyes]

Fantastic series!! Love that Bobcat and that Diamondback don't look real happy with you making its photo (a 105 mm??)...But an outstanding image!! I'm looking foward to lots more from over there now!

[madf1man]

Good to see ya James and the pics are nice.

[corralup]

Hi, James! Love your house in AZ!

[lhdvies]

Oh man this is great love the pix and like your location also. Good luck with the new position. Love the bobcat & diamonback!

[ttusa]

WOW cool house and VERY COOL VISITORS!

[MT Stringer]

Nice pics, James. Glad to see you posting.
PS: The skeeters are still bad at High Island! :-)

[Tim T]

I was wondering where you were. Glad to hear that you landed a new job. Very cool to have those photo op's at home. Good job and keep them coming.

[ldelacruz]

Wow!! That is a dangerous group of subjects! Great shots!

[Gator_Nutz]

Thanks a lot. It is very nice having a job again. This was the first time I was ever unemployed in the past 40 years. Not a good feeling at all. My new job is keeping me so busy I don't have a lot of time for photography. In manufacturing, that is a very good thing, being busy again. Things will smooth out and get back to "normal" someday. Maybe. In the meantime I will keep my eyes open and take advantage of whatever opportunity lands in my yard. So far it has proven exciting and new. Now if I could only get the wild javelinas to come a little closer.
James

[slickshooter]

I was wondering what happened to you as well.I see you got that new lens and a D3 to boot.Have you been to Madera Canyon yet.It shouldn't be too far from you.The hummers are supposed to be there by the gazillions.Great shots by the way.

[Gator_Nutz]

At Sandy's request I am making this post update:) Still here alive and kicking. It's a glorious 53 degrees today (38 this morning) and life is good. The new job is keeping me extremely busy still so I have not had a whole lot of time out shooting. I have had more visits from our resident bobcat and he is always pretty patient and obliging as a model. We also went out to the Mission San Xavier del Bac one day on a scouting run. It is over 300 years old and a real jewel in the desert. I am going to try and make it to the desert museum this weekend.
I hope you are all doing well back in the great Lone Star State. I do miss it.
James

[Shadow]

Wow, love 'em all! You must have been very close to the owl, huh? They must really like you....

[Patticake]

Awesome pets!!! Love your shots,James!!!

Patti