#88 Birds of a Feather

Our photography class turned out to be a great success. On a very cold and rainy night 38 people showed up to learn a few things. I think I will do this sometime again in the future. I have already committed to present a photography at the next 4-H event in May. The weather here has been very warm this past week. Lots of birds at the feeders and plenty of the goldfinches like the one above. I have been out cleaning and readying the bird houses I have up. I added quite a few this year in the woods next to our house. I also planted a fig tree and a  mexican plum for the birds. It will take a couple of years for them to produce. Pay it forward!

The book "Woodcrafting for Birds and Wildlife" is in the printer's Que.

If all goes according to plan it will be ready by the first week of Feb.

 Now is the time I am getting excited to see it on Amazon!

Ephesians 4:31
 31 Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, with all malice, 32 and be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.

# 87 Class In Session

This week I am presenting a photography 101 class with another local photographer 

Sheila Hebert   http://sheilahebert.com/

Response to this free class has been steady so we are excited to how many folks show up.

I have come to realize that being able to teach and share some of the knowledge I have acquired is very satisfying. I am continuing to move forward with the challenge for 2015 to read two books a month for the whole year. My last completed book was Halftime by Bob Buford. If yo are over the age of 40 and have not read this book I would encourage you to stop and go get it right now, and read it as soon as soon as you can! Halftime speaks about how to get from success to significance.

 It is a great read!

Get out and learn something new this week!

Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever.

Mahatma Gandhi

#86 Progress on the Books!

Progress is being made! The final edits for our book Woodcrafting for Birds and Wildlife are almost complete. We are on track to have it in the printers hands next week and ready for shipment by Feb 1 2015. It is a lot of work, and great fun!

 I am also working with another photographer to put on a free basic photography class on Jan 22. We sent the flyer out last week and I have a at least one phone call every day asking about the class. Looks like we will have a full house. I did 2 similar classes last year for 4H and both were very well attended. This one is open to everyone, it will be held at the Hofbrau restaurant in Porter Texas at 7 pm. If you are not busy come support the restaurant and check out the class!  I will let  you know how the attendance is!

For those of you who may not know, I also have written a kayak destination book called 101 Freshwater Kayak Launch Points. I signed a  deal with a publisher last year, who also does a magazine called Texas Fish and Game. That book is also on track to be released this spring.They are doing the editing on this book. It will be marketed online and in local Houston sporting good stores.

Two books to market and photography to keep up with..Its going to be a busy year, just the way I like it!

Proverbs 6

5 Free yourself, like a gazelle from the hand of the hunter,
    like a bird from the snare of the fowler.

6 Go to the ant, you sluggard;
    consider its ways and be wise!
7 It has no commander,
    no overseer or ruler,
8 yet it stores its provisions in summer
    and gathers its food at harvest.

# 85 New Year..New Look!

I got my eye on you! 

 Happy New Year to all! You may have noticed a few things have changed around here.

 Like the blog NAME!..And layout!

The content will change a bit too as I am going to try and keep you up to date with whats going on in Paul Sr's world. I have many  irons in the fire and it should be an exciting year. I will be updating this blog every two weeks starting Jan 2015.

I think we all have said in the past: "one of these days I will..."

Today is the day!

So lets get at it! My first self published book " Woodcrafting for Birds and Wildlife" is in the final editing stages. I am pleased to have been joined by Jim Stevenson.

 Jim is a professional bird guide, ornithological professor, and  the executive director of the Galveston Ornithological Society. His knowledge and support has been amazing.

Within the next couple weeks we will finish the editing the manuscript  and it will be sent to the printer. This is all pretty exciting to see it come together.

The book will be available for purchase online as well as in person if you are in the Houston area.

It has truly been a family effort with photography, provided by Mark Batchelder,

 John and Tracy Batchelder and content contributions by all my sons and daughter in-laws!

I hope to have a firm launch date for the book by the next post,

Ecclesiastes 3:1

A Time for Everything

3 There is a time for everything,
    and a season for every activity under the heavens