A green anole lizard shows his signature display on our trip this week to the Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve's Barataria Preseve. The green anole shows its throat fan -- called a dewlap. Green anoles have a throat fan called a dewlap to attract females (has to let them know he's their kind of man) or to make territorial displays.

The Preserve is one of six sites of the Jean Lafitte Park and is south of New Orleans in the swamps and marshes.

--steve buser



Today on Pixel Eyed-- You've bounced past all those other water drops. You're at the top. You've won. Now it's time to look down. Find your destiny. Don't hit the ground in vain.

Gator wader

Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve's Barataria Preseve was the location for this shot today. It was cool for a May day, and not one mosquito. The walk was a real pleasure -- leisurely with plenty to stop you along the way, including more than a dozen gators sunning in the bayou -- actually it is a canal not a bayou, cut for access back in early days and later used by loggers to float logs to the mill.

It was interesting to think that somewhere in these swamps and marshes, Jean Lafitte, the pirate turned patriot turned patriot, hid with his men and smuggled goods into the young country of the USA.

The gators were having fun soaking up the sun and waiting for food to wander by. One of them laid perfectly still and suddenly lurched forward and snapped what looked like a small snake. It makes you take a step back to see that kind of motion in the bayou that nearby.

This shot is of a alligator about 5 feet long. The largest we saw was probably 7 to 8 feet. There were quite a few baby ones, including a little guy about a foot and a half long in the shallow shady water.

The Jean Lafitte Historical Park has six sites, this Preserve is on the West Bank, South of New Orleans.

-- steve buser

"It's rain in my heart.."

It's rain again today. A big front blew through before daylight, but it looks like it will stay around. So maybe May feels like April didn't do it's job ("April showers bring May flowers") or maybe this is just a jealousy thing -- "Anything you can do, I can do better." I wish they would settle their differences and quit dumping on us.

C'est la vie.

--steve buser

Sign of the times

I didn't see it when I took this picture, but the phone on the ear of this street performer strikes me as a sign of the time. Is he going to take a call while his performing? Maybe he is waiting on his agent to call. We seem to have become ruled by our tools. (by the way, he did a very good job of entertaining -- this was outside the Cafe' du Monde in the French Quarter of New Orleans.


--steve buser

Tucked Duck

Another scratchy duck. Apparently ducks spend a lot of time grooming and going after crawling critters they have picked up. I thought the ripples added a nice effect to this picture.

--steve buser

Scratching the itch

Ever had that itch you just couldn't find a way to scratch? Maybe you just need a longer neck. This gal found a way to get to the itch, but it's tough to get between the feathers.

-- steve buser

Happy Mothers' Day, Linda!

Happy Mothers' Day to my bride and soul mate of 32 years, Linda. We had a different kind of Mothers' Day -- driving home from having visited our children and grandchildren. We were mostly sleeping from exhaustion but had a lot of time to spend together and share memories on the drive.

Happy Mothers' day wishes are also in order for my mother-in-law, and my sisters (Sue, Karen and Judy) and sisters-in-law (Cindy, MaryAnne, Karen, Cathy, Robin, and Cindy), And of course, for my own mother, who is waiting for me in heaven.

--steve buser

Drink up

The rain leaves behind a few extra drops for its friends to drink.
-- steve buser

Taking cover

On the way to see our grandchildren the other day, the sun was sliding behind what ever it could find.

--steve buser

Dousing the flames

Busy week, so I am featuring some sundown shots. This shot was crossing the Causeway one night -- a 23-mile-long bridge across Lake Pontchartrain. The sun was taking its time slipping below the horizon. It was like making sure the fire is out before you go to sleep.

-- steve buser