Sunset Surfing
We are hoping to travel to California in the next month. Our son and wife will both have their second shots, my photography group will be finishing up the semester, and the beaches beckon! It’s been a long year without family, friends, and travel . . .
This image is from one of our trips three years ago.
An Egret in Klimt’s Garden
I have SO many egret photos I haven’t posted, so am experimenting outside the box. I had so much fun editing this one- the final image reminds me of the colors used by Gustav Klimt.
Ready . . . ACTION!
One of the effects of the year of staying home is that I have learned the names of most of my backyard birds. If you know me, you may find this hard to believe. Before retirement, it was mostly lack of time and interest. When I started taking photos, I realized I knew nothing- but I didn’t care. And then came Covid. I was home, I watched the birds, I had Sibley’s guide and two other books (which I’ve had all along) and a couple birds apps- I guessed I could take the time to look them up. And now I have found that I actually know some names. . .
So, I can say with some confidence that the new kids in the backyard are yellow rumped warblers, which I really enjoy watching. But they have the other birds a bit flummoxed. Here, a white-crowned sparrow is either saying hi or back-off to one of the warblers (the rest just flew off). I’m not sure who is flying in- the action was changing second-by-second. Lots of excitement in our backyard!
Photo Series
I have finished the series created for my Unity Church class on Stations of the Cross. I’ve been working on these for the last couple months, and, as I’ve said before, have been working way outside my comfort zone. Most of the images started out as photos from my archive which I combined or re-edited to create a personal interpretation of what we discussed in class. The teacher used metaphysical interpretations of the gospels, combining them to give us eight stations to interpret, based on the life of Jesus. I hadn’t looked at the Bible in years, so it was interesting to re-read and re-examine. I am the only photographer.
The stations in order: Creation, Nativity, Baptism, Healing, Miracles, Teaching, Triumphal Entry, Crucifixion/Resurrection. Most images are not easily interpreted- and a couple have meaning only to me.
Hopeful for Unity
It’s a new day! And, even after the events of two weeks ago, I am hopeful we can come together as a people despite our great differences. I loved the quote from St. Augustine in President Biden’s address that “a nation is a multitude of rational beings united by the common objects of their love.” Let’s focus on our commonalities and not our differences, people!
So no photography today- just these shots from our tv. Note: as a genealogist/family historian, I am fascinated by that Bible!
Shine On!
But we all shine on
Like the moon and the stars and the sun,
And we all shine on
Come on and on and on on on.
John Lennon
I’m holding a vision of a shiny new year ahead!
HAPPY 2021!
Valley of Lights
We had heard mentions of the Valley of Lights display in our neighboring Prescott Valley and somehow had the (wrong) idea that it was a neighborhood of decorated houses. We went last week and discovered a long line of cars snaking along a road through magical archways of lights with over a hundred I’m sure displays of lights sponsored by various area businesses. It was a wonderful treat and so well done. There was everything from an animated fishing Santa to wild west scenes to fairytales to Noah’s Ark to patriotic tributes. Very impressive!
Autumn Beginnings
We took a walk in Watson Woods about a week ago, looking for signs of fall. We did find some autumn color in isolated groups of yellowing leaves on some of the trees, yellowing grasses, and brown leaves scattered on the ground. What we also found were signs of drought. This stream that usually flows from Watson Lake through the adjacent woods was drying up, which you can see as the water curves to the left in the photo.
Healing Field
Today is Nine Eleven. I will always associate that day with our daughter’s wedding which happened 11 days later in the aftermath of that terrible day. Today we visited the Healing Field in our neighboring town of Prescott Valley. The Healing Field is an annual tribute to the nearly 3000 lives that were lost September 11, 2001- one flag for each life, with a tag telling about that person and where they died. The flags seem to go on forever, a sobering reminder of how many families lost loved ones that day.
I was especially moved by the BOOTS! Each flag that memorialized a firefighter had boots at the base. I couldn’t help but think of the firefighters fighting so many wildfires today- especially in California (my home state). God Bless our Heroes!
Driving to Class
We woke up to 5 inches of snow today- and the flakes continued to fall. Lonnie drove me to my photo class in his snow-worthy Subaru, and I took the opportunity to shoot a few iPhone photos out the car window.
Edited in Snapseed while watching the New Hampshire primary results
