Home Away From Home Part 2

After a tough week of plumbing and electrical work, the little house on the blackland prairie is starting to take shape.

I can't wait to finish this project.

Home Away From Home

I was going to name this post "Blog Cabin" because I thought I would be able to post images as the construction slowly took place.

However, building began while I was away and so my brother Bubba keeps me updated on the swift construction progress.

A few months ago, my wife and I decided it would be a good idea to build a small cabin on our land close to where we both grew up in Northeast Texas some 250 miles from where we live in the Texas Panhandle. Call our pending lifestyle bi-residential if you will.

Anyway, while getting started on the construction was painfully slow, it went blazingly fast once the framing crew began. These two images were taken 24-hours apart and show how fast this thing really went up.

It isn't a big place but big enough for sleeping quarters. If you've ever stayed in a hotel suite at a Residence Inn the place is roughly the size of those room. By no means big enough to make a permanent residence but perfect for sleeping, some light cooking, and hanging out.

We've been inspired to go green as well. The walls are framed with recycled lumber pieces finger-jointed together to make the pieces stronger that first-cut lumber. Ample windows allow plenty of natural light and eliminate the need for using a bunch of electricity during the daylight hours, and the water system will consist of captured rainwater, double osomosis filtered and supply a low-flow shower head, toilet, and kitchen and bathroom faucets.

Furthermore, we're installing a U-panel, Galvalume roof which will direct more heat away from the ventilated attic space. For now, we've wrapped the house in a Tyvek material and will insulate the attic with a cellulose material to further reduce the energy expenditures to heat and cool the place.

The cabin's exterior will be lapped Hardy Plank siding stained with a cedar stain.

Sunday, I arrive to start the interior work so I'll keep you updated on the progress.

Should be a neat place.

Planting Time

It's cotton planting season here in Childress and I was out this evening with my buddy Cade to shoot a few images of him at work.

Cotton farming is tough, demanding work both physically and financially and I commend Cade for his efforts.

My Most Expensive Trip

Fresh off of a trip to Devil's River, I have to say that the trip was fantastic. All wasn't rosy, though, as it turned out to be my most expensive trip ever.

For example, the financial costs include:

In San Angelo my truck's transmission started bleeding fluid and required time at the dealership;
I drowned a Canon 5d mark II camera, Canon 16-35mm f2.8 lens, and a 16gb memory card;
I broke a new fly rod.

Physical costs include:

Picking off leaches;
Scrapes and bruises from tumbling down some rapids after being swept from my feet from the current;
A wicked sunburn on my legs.

We also need to count the time when the shuttle van in which we rode almost ran out of gas and the only station within 50 miles had no power and couldn't pump gas. Also, after bouncing down rough and rugged roads, all of the van doors - except for the driver's door - wouldn't open.

In the end we didn't catch a lot of big fish but we caught a lot of fish. While this is my third trip to Devil's River I am still in awe that the river runs through some of the driest and harshest country in Texas. In addition, me, my brother Bubba, Ray and Shane jennings, Kirk Stephens, and Rick Restivo had a great trip.

The June 2009 Newsletter

Check it out at http://www.russellgraves.com/june09.html

West Texas Road Trip

I spent a few days out in far West Texas with the family. While most people think I'm nuts for heading to the desert in the summer, I absolutely love the Texas Mountains and Basins.

Check out a few images from the Balmorhea, Texas area.

Turkey Morning

While rain, wind, and mud kept me from the brush yesterday, I was out again early this morning. While the temperature was a bit chilly for this time of year (low 40's), the turkeys didn't seem phased.

Days like this are great. Lots of action early on and I was back home at 8:00am.

I Love Turkeys

This morning was a glorious one in the Texas Panhandle. A heavy dew and light fog had the turkeys energized and animated.

For the better part of two hours, I watched and photographed hens preen themselves and toms strut and gobble on one of the patches of Rolling Plains ranchland in which I have access.

Did I mention that I love turkeys?

Cowboy School

Last Saturday I went to my buddy David's house (he only lives a couple of miles away) to photograph his annual cattle work. This year, he told me that he was going to get his boys involved as well as some of our other friends and their kids as well.

Ultimately the event turned into cowboy school as the adults showed the kids the how to rope, flank, vaccinate, and brand.

What a day...

Successful Farming Radio

Successful Farming radio called me for an interview about a month ago. While I told them that I no longer do my old job as an FFA advisor, they still wanted to hear my thoughts on teaching agricultural science.

While there are three parts, they are all pretty short.

Have a listen!

Hunt Junkies e3.1

A brand new season of Hunt Junkies has Bubba and I in Henrietta, Texas at the Clay County Turkey Fest. Tough weather and tough birds made this a memorable hunt.

Be sure to check out the new title sequence as well as the first ever Hunt Junkies in HD! All shot with a Canon 5D Mark II digital SLR.

The May Newsletter

Check it out HERE.

Come to the Pasture

It's finally here... After a couple of months of planning and work, I am proud to announce the launch of my new micro-site, The Picture Pasture.

The Picture Pasture was designed an an exclusive home for my huge collection of agriculture and rural lifestyle imagery. As time goes on, all of the ag imagery at www.russellgraves.com will be gone and all of it will live on the new site.

While www.picturepasture.com is now fully functional with over 1,200 images on-line, watch for the number to grow exponentially over the next couple of weeks as I work diligently to upload new and fresh content.

For those who have used russellgraves.com a bunch, you'll find that The Picture Pasture's keyword based system makes finding images easy. Furthermore, the ability to build and send lightboxes makes this search system easy and intuitive.

So take a look around, and welcome to The Pasture.

Young Farmer

I've known Cade for a while now and though I am well acquainted with him, I've never spent much time with him at his job.

Cade is in his early twenties and he is doing something most unusual for his age - he is a full time farmer.

The United States Bureau of Labor Statics cites that of the 285 million people living in the United States less than 1% claim farming as an occupation. And of those 1% that are farmers, the median age is 55 - over thirty years older than Cade.

So with a positive attitude, Cade breaks ground a new cotton crop for 2009.

Farming is tough anywhere but farming cotton in the vertical strip of Texas real estate between the 100th meridian and the Caprock Escarpment tests anyone's mettle and resolve due to the fickleness of the wind, hail storms, and rain. So much of this year is reminiscent of what I've read about this part of the country in the 1930's during the Dust Bowl and the depression. Economically tough times coupled with an oppressive drought might make anyone give up. However, the red dirt is part of Cade as he grew up in a farming family just outside of Tell, Texas.

So as this growing season passes, I plan on finding out more about what makes someone so young stake a small financial fortune each year against market volatility and weather. And documenting him every step of the way.

Stay tuned...

Wild West Workshop

Ready for a weekend of learning about photography? Then check out the just-scheduled Wild West Photo Tour happening on the weekend of May 22nd - May 24th.

This year we'll be on the historic Mott Creek Ranch near Matador, Texas where we'll immerse ourselves in the history, culture, and natural beauty of this rural area of Texas.

This is an all inclusive workshop so be sure to sign up soon as I think the spots will go fast!

In the meantime, if you have any questions, please feel free to contact me at russell@russellgraves.com.

I hope to see you there!

Score!

Day two of Turkey Fest started like day one except that it was accompanied by more rain, lightning, and 50 mile per hour winds. For yet another morning, the same tom we chased yesterday humbled Bubba and I again.

What we needed was a change of scenery. So this afternoon, we moved to a new property and within thirty minutes, we'd called in three mature toms and two jakes. With a single shot, Bubba downed a nice 18-pound bird.

Tomorrow, it's my turn...

Henned Up

The first day of the Clay County Turkey Fest (www.claycountyoutdoors.org) was a fun one but the turkeys had us beat.

On two separate occasions, Bubba and I had a tom headed our way when a trio of hens cut the toms trail and he followed them into the mesquite brush.

The Score:

Hunt Junkies 0, Turkeys 2

We are winners in one regard, though. Our hosts here in Henrietta are top notch and the chamber of commerce is working hard to make sure that the Turkey Fest is a top rate event.

More tomorrow. I hope our luck changes...

Bois d'Arc Creek

Over the past couple of years I've been blessed to have worked on an astounding variety of projects. The latest of which is a documentary film project about a place that is dear to me - Bois d'Arc (BOW-dark) Creek in Fannin County.

I grew up in Fannin County along Bois d'Arc Creek and growing up, I spent a ton of time hunting, gathering cattle, fishing, and photographing all I could find. In a few years, however, a lake project will flood over 16,000 acres of old growth hardwood bottomland.

So before it's all gone, Bubba and I plan to explore all of the creek. So far, we've paddled 50 of the 60 miles in which the creek meanders. The only part we haven't canoed is that which probably can't be floated because it is in the upper reaches of this tributary of the Red River.

Last Friday, Bubba and I were accompanied by Texas Parks & Wildlife television producer Don Cash and Kyle Lazenby as we floated and documented another five or six miles of the creek.

Smith von Bach

I have always maintained that one of the coolest things about photography are the people with whom I work.

Yesterday, I had the chance to do a lifestyle shoot in support of the new furniture line called Smith von Bach.

Working with current PRCA World Champion calf roper Stran Smith, Stran's wife Jennifer who is the former Miss Rodeo American and now is an ESPN broadcaster who covers professional rodeo, their two boys, and three time PRCA World Champion team roper Alan Bach was indeed an honor that I will cherish for a long time to come. Plus the whole gang was a blast to photograph.

The April Newsletter

Check it out HERE.