Saturday 01-27-24

 

Sunset view from front porch into Russell Street, a cul de sac.

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Epiphany 01-06-24

I was surprised to run across this image online.  Seems odd to me to use Happy and Epiphany in this juxtaposition. Is Epiphany something to be happy about?  I'm completely out of the loop on this, but for some strange reason the word has come up more frequently this season, this year.

The temperature has gotten more like winter this past week and morning temps are in the 40F range. I try to  wait until it gets to 50F, but KoKo needs to go out.

Our pastel sunset tonight. It looked like rain but the clouds moved on,

We have had a bit of rain, but mostly at night. One morning last week we got soaked on our morning walk, so I just put KoKo in the sink  and gave him a bath since he was very wet and a bit muddy.

If we lived in Tucson, Arizona this is the sunsets they have been having!

Photo by Sherrie Spanger -Tucson, Arizona

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Sunrise - Sunset 12-30-22

Being a night owl I don't often see a sunrise.  And I obviously am not good at taking pictures at that time of day.  But the sky was brilliant one morning last week and I was up at 6am or so.  These two recent pictures are from my back slider looking east over the patio homes that are at a lower level.  

Sunsets in my life have always been plentiful.  

Sunset from front porch

Another from front porch.

This is from a few doors down, also looking east, of course!

Naturally the very best sunsets are looking out over the Pacific. 

The desert offers fantastic sunrises and sunsets like this one near Tucson.

Not my picture - maybe Sherrie Spangler?

This is my original sunset made years ago.  About 36" wide. 

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Ten years ago in the desert 01-04-21

Ten years ago I was in Lake Havasu City with Corky, the poodle I took care of.  His "parents" had a lovely home with a view over the lake and always went out for the holidays.  This time of year the sunsets are amazing, so I have a vast collection of pictures.  How can I decide which to delete?  The moon is just a tiny crescent high in the image.  The lights on the other shore are in California, not much of a settlement over there.  .  

Corky went over the Rainbow Bridge just before Thanksgiving in 2013 and soon after everyone's life changed and eventually the desert house was sold.  Partially because it is a very long five to six hour drive out there from Long Beach where the family lives.  

Most of the drive is on I-40.  Sometimes there are other cars and trains (the light streak across the middle of the image) and, of course, big rigs.  There is a line of five big trucks going around the left curve ahead.

But usually there is not a lot of traffic and the barren desert stretches out on all sides.  Not a route to take without A/C in your vehicle.  I remember driving it in a VW Beetle with all the windows rolled down, gallons of water to drink, and wet towels to drape over our heads and necks.  That must have been about 1965.  Such a trip would surely kill me now!  I luxuriate in A/C, Cruise Control, and recorded books.  But now with Covid I am not going anywhere.  There is a huge surge of the virus in SCalifornia so I am really sticking close to home.  Wish I knew when I could be on the road again!  

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Surviving the Virus 04-20-20

Well, I am surviving the isolation, but it is a struggle.  The last few days have been big time isolationitis.  I just wrote a long explanation and Blogger erased it!  All you received was the title of the post. So, I am trying to recreate it.   Today I had several contacts with other humans and it cheered me greatly.  First I visited with a neighbor who I sometimes see when KoKo and I are walking.  She had workmen to fix a wall in her backyard so she was out on the sidewalk when we came by.  We stood ten feet apart and had a nice visit.  Then I had a call from a friend in SDiego to talk about quilt making and our dogs - KoKo and CoCo.  CoCo is new to their family so they are still making adjustments to each other.  Then I received an e-mail from Floyd's niece Traci who lives with her family in Florida.  She is a substitute teacher so is currently unemployed.  It was great to hear about her family.  I haven't seen her for about 33 years and have never met her husband and kids.  One day I may drive that way and stop for a visit.  

So, my day was full of interaction and maybe that is what I need to keep me going.  So, if you receive a call from me, just chat for a bit - human to human. 

Here is a picture from Facebook of a sunset in Tucson, AZ, taken recently.  The caption said it is not Photoshopped, and I believe it.  The desert sunsets in that area are astounding. 

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A splashy farewell to June 06-30-19

On our evening walk these pictures are one minute apart.  Taken looking west down the cul de sac across the street. 

Very disappointed in the color, the originals in my phone are much brighter. 

But this was an amazing sunset for this time of year.  

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The drive on Wednesday 02-22-19

Here are some pictures straight from the camera, no editing, no cropping, no color adjustment.  Sorry, it the best I can do currently. 

Driving north on the south side of the mountains on what is referred to as "The Ridge Route".There is lots of old snow all along the way. 

Fresher snow in the Fraser Park area and more dark clouds.

Over the top and down the Grapevine the sun is shining and a few wildflowers are up. 

Oh, Oh!  Just the beginning of periodic showers. 

The almond trees are just beginning to bloom and the sun has caught this orchard making it glow white under the low black clouds.  

The almond orchards stretch for miles and....

….miles on both sides of I-5.

The sun is setting under the cloud layer and glows wonderful colors.

This is what I get when I think I am taking a picture of the landscape and inadvertently have the phone set on selfie!  

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Looking Back, again 12-01-18

When I was taking care of Corky, the Poodle Prince, I enjoyed the views of Alamitos Bay and Lake Havasu.   I miss them now.  But thanks to computers, digital cameras, and Picasa, I am still able to revisit them when I want to look back.  

Alamitos Bay on December 5, 2003.  Notice that a couple houses on the right have their Christmas lights up. 

Not sure what that planet is high in the sky, might be Mars. 

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Monday Browsing 11-05-18

These two things have nothing to do with each other - other than I like them.

https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/gallery/2014/jun/29/in-pictures-gilbert-legrand-faces-unexpected-places#/?picture=440560238&index=0

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Traveling again 10-11-18

I frequently see sunsets and take far too many pictures of them, but I am a night owl and rarely see sunrises, usually when traveling and out on the road early.  

Sunset along I-5 in California's central valley - Tuesday 10-09-18

I drove north to Redding, CA, to deliver some of Toni's stuff to the people collecting quilts and quilting supplies for those quilters burned out of their homes in the horrific summer fires.  The next morning I was up and on the road early because I had an appointment in Pacific Grove at 10:30am.

Sunrise south of Sacramento - Thursday, 10-11-18

I saw three Sandhill Cranes flying off from a field in this dawn's early light, a thrill for this old birder.  I wish I had time to visit one of the wildlife refuges because this is peak crane season.   Next trip?

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Wordless Wednesday 06-06-18

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Wordless Wednesday 05-16-18

Not so wordless tonight.  These are things I will see on this trip to Washington state.  

Lots of wide open country, lonely roads. 

Pokey trucks and maybe some funny licenses. 

Many, many, many trees, including some cedars. 

Mount Hood (MY mountain), if I am lucky. 

Some weird roadside signs and attractions. 

And hopefully this view only from the motel parking lots.  

I don't drive much a night anymore. 

I might not get off tomorrow, or perhaps later in the day.  Left too many tasks until the last minute.  And that minute got away from me! 

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Wordless Wednesday 04-26-17

 

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Still Sick! 12-21-16

Can you believe it?  I still have bronchitis - since November 10!  I've done all kinds of pills and some different Inhalation Therapy, but the doctors say that rest is the most important thing.  So, I have been resting.  However, people who are resting have nothing to talk about!  KoKo is good company, but he doesn't say much besides, "Bark, bark, bark."

Here is a photo for Wordless Wednesday, even though I am talking tonight - I needed it.

Long Beach - Marine Stadium - January  2013

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Wordless Wednesday Lake Havasu 2006 11-23-16

 

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Wordless Wednesday - Along the highway 10-05-16

 

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