Skies & Snow oh boy...

Murphys, California

November 25, 2015

It was a mighty cold evening near sunset...

Came upon clouds I love, with realistic pictures I see.

This time I had a lot to look at with the fall colors, low and high clouds.

I saw a man in this sky, making his way, moving slowly like a snake.

To the wide open spaces higher up...

I stayed here awhile to take all the white snow in, not a single sound.

Then the beauty lit up the entire sky for me,
I had not seen a sky like this is a long time.

Its been a long while since I have posted on my blog...

Surprised it is still in operation.

Checking in, and I know the sparrow has sassy look going on.

I guess that is how I am feeling tonight.

Travels

Ireland 

I'm trying to get through the trip I took last year to London, Ireland and Scotland.

The goal was to put my favorite photos into a book. 

I wanted to view them in a glance, share with friends and family.

It is embarrassing that I can't seem to finish, or feel like viewing the pictures that mean so much to me.

Why?

My guess is this was such a trip of a lifetime for me.

Can't seem to get over those three weeks.

I am grateful I was able to make this trip and enjoy it as I did. 

Dragging my feet on looking at the photographs.

This may sound strange for some people.

My friend Kate feels the same way about her photographs she was the instigator of this trip.

I think it is about time I get it done!

MUSHROOMS oh my

 Today on my way out of the driveway, next to a big gate…

I noticed some mushrooms.

Four days ago they were very tiny in size, today a different story.

Clearly I can see little hearts on this mushroom.

Later looking at the photos, this one appeared to be in a shape of a heart.

I need to go back, not too thrilled with these photos.

I seek out hearts, love hearts.

Stones, rocks, wood, anything with the hint of hearts.

No standing out hearts here on this set of mushrooms.

If I had my photo program with me on the road, I could fix this one up.

GRAPES

Soon the crush will occur where I live in Northern California...

Since I am not home now, I don’t know if it has happened early due to weather.

I was lucky to take a few photographs of grapes in August before I left, at a near by winery.

Yesterday here in Colorado we went to a family’s friends home.

There was a big tree in front yard.

My younger grandson of course wanted to climb it.

He is 9 years old.

I am using my iPhone more than I ever expected for photographs.

Saturday was a full day of football for both of my grandsons, and their parents.

At different fields far from each other, we had to break up in two groups to cover it all.

My older grandson is 11 years old.

In above photograph the # 2 jersey is him, relating plan to his teammate. 
I don’t know a lot about football.
Took my Nikon to the game with long lense, almost done weeding them out.
I enjoy watching my grandsons in their daily life here in Colorado.

Howdy from Colorado

Yes, I have been absent from blogging for a long time. 

Currently I am in Colorado!

Yippee...

Taking care of my two grandsons ages 11 and 8 years old.

                       While their parents were away on a business trip for a week. 

Parents are back home, working, and I am staying for a while.

What an excellent place to obsess about sunflowers the way I do!

Corn growing in the school’s garden.
Most all schools I have seen here (because of football games) there are gardens tended by students.

Colorado is definitely all about football...

 I noticed that little boys can be as stinky as a skunk in car going home from practice and games...

KNOW WHAT?

I do not care!

Whatever there are no issues here in Colorado, easy living if I say so myself.

Flowers

Exotic Orchid Coqui Poke Patent Process

Initiated Burr, Pacific Ripple 

I've had this orchid for about four years
When I purchased it, it was in full bloom.
Then the flowers disappeared, I thought it was dead.
Went to an orchid show not long ago, and bought some food highly recommended.
It started pushing up about a month ago, and recently it exploded.
I am really pleased to know it is still alive.

Gernaniums I do really well with, unless the deer eat them.

Sitting on the deck this evening I was picking up the camera again.

A Parade

Murphy's, California

California Gold Country in the Foothills

I was in this town over Saint Patrick's weekend with two girlfriends.

There is always a big celebration and lots of things to see and do.

Not so fond of animals being put in clothing or costumes

There is always a parade, and people do put on costumes,

even on their dogs.

I like to look at Basset Hounds, they are interesting to observe.

This guy was only three years old, but he looked so much older.

Happy Belated St. Patrick's Day...

Black & White

Pescadero, California

Last weekend I was with my two girlfriends to Half Moon Bay for weekend.

We made many stops to look around and explore.

This wall of art caught my eye, especially the big flower piece.

Been practicing on black and white photography. 

We don't pass up much, it was a beautiful day.

Even the dark mysterious places.

The old dusty bent up things too.

Technical Frustration

Been struggling with the computer today.

Sluggishly slow, frustration building.

Not a tech person here.

Printed out how to reset modem.

Things are swifter now, hope it lasts.

Appears I am exhausted from wanting to get things accomplished.

Tomorrow is another day.

My Road Trip

I am visiting my son, daughter in law and two grandsons in Lakewood, Colorado.

What is different for me is I didn’t fly, 

This is the longest I have ever driven by myself.

Beautiful trip here, never were there boring moments.

Freedom on the road for me was amazing.

I am a horrible map reader, my GPS has been wonderful.

Northern California girl driving in a bit of snow.

The morning after the snow in Wyoming, I realized I had to scrape my windows.

The cold doesn’t really bother me too much.

Photo above was taken near my sons home.

Monday I am heading to the Rocky Mountain National Park.

Old Calton Burial Ground

Endinburgh, Scotland

Kate and I wandered around Scotland on foot.

Each day was different, nothing ever the same as day prior,

except for beer in the late afternoons. 

In Memory of Scottish American Soldiers

The Cotswold

Early July I returned from a three week vacation with my girlfriend Kate.
We went to London, Ireland and Scotland for three weeks.

There isn't a day that goes by where I find myself daydreaming about our trip.

Kate and I took a train from London to Cotswold for a day trip.

Stone villages and gardens,
we walked all over town, into green open spaces with sheep.
I never wanted to come home.

Cotswold, UK

A range of hills in southwestern and west central England,
A hilly country between Gloucester, Bath, Oxford and Stratford.

In my Yard

First time ever the Western Blue Bird visits my birdbath almost daily in evenings.

One of my favorites, the shy wonderful blue with his partner.

My faithful Acorn Woodpecker, 
never knows what to thinkof a wild woman with camera in hand.
Somehow he always tolerates me.

Daily deer
 are done harassing my peach tree.

Its all in a days work...
Waiting for the moment, stalking critters in my yard.
Yet it isn't work, it is my passion.

I have been out of the country for awhile.

                        Went to London, Ireland and Scotland with a girlfriend.

Gone three weeks having the times of our life.

I am back, but not really.

Miss my blogger friends that I may of lost by now.

I think you know I am not very reliable these days, I have so much to do.

Prickly to Feathers

We had a real heat wave that brought on the buds

The buds went to huge blooms even in overcast weather we are having now.

I got this cactus about 2 years ago, it had one flower on the top.

They don't last long, so need to get back out there in different light.

Isn't it nice the Towhee gets to enjoy the bird bath alone in peace.

Been having some bird issues, all my backyard birds are scared to come to the feeders and to this birdbath.

I love crows, however when they bring alligator lizards, snails, walnuts, and today two baby birds to the water to eat...

this is a bit much for me.

The mornings are full of these band-tail pigeons that just made their appearance into my yard recently.

FLOCKS of them flying all around, eating all the seed, and occasionally hit the large windows.

None of the other birds want to come around.

Today I covered the bird feeder with the squirrel cage we have for it.

Hoping the little birds will get in and the others will all fly AWAY!

Backyard Friend

California Quail

They wander around in my backyard each evening.

I am usually sitting on the deck with my camera in case I see something.

Their calls to one another are extreme at times, it is never old for me.

Somehow I messed up my camera again, need to reset it today.

This photo is a bit grainy.

You get the idea.

Before & After

BEFORE

Took this photo this morning while sitting on the deck with coffee.
Light coming in from wrong way, it was the victory of just taking a new photo.

AFTER

Awhile ago I set it up on my computer painting program, then went on with my day.

I don't get much time to dabble with my painting programs.

A start I suppose.

Since I don't know how to paint or draw it will do.

Maybe I can try a different style on my next photograph posting.

Distractions

Well very odd behavior for this Scrub Jay...

He has been a frequent visitor for a few years in my yard and at my feeders.

Here he is  standing on my hanging plant and tearing out the straw from the basket. 

If he flew off with it that would be fine. 

Instead he rips it out, then drops it on the ground.

My ornithologist daughter tells me...

"some birds go through nesting behaviors, get absent minded and become distracted while in middle of a task."

Readin her email of this idea of distraction reminds me of MYSELF!

This is what I do, and it is not at all how I use to be.

Being distracted is OK when you have the time like I do.

Will keep you posted on the bird process...

meanwhile I am still smiling over this observation.

Critters & Cream Puffs

 I just returned from Denver,Colorado.

Celebrated my grandsons 10th birthday, twelve days of adventure away from home.

On one of my 3 hour walks I came across this raccoon in a tree, in daylight hours!

I don't really like raccoons, but…

reason being one got in our home several years ago, I won't go on…

At any rate he was there...

I made these cream puffs for my grandson.

He didn't want a cake or a pie, he has unique requests.

His mom said "go for it".

and I did...

Black-billed Magpie

They are pretty common I know.

But I like seeing the black and white contrast of them in flight.

I called them in on my iPhone app, which was interesting as I hid in a tree.

then I moved on…

This was the terrain I was walking.

Across the street from my sons home.

Lakewood, Colorado

Northern Flicker

I love trees...

They are the essence of my walks.

Last December I took this same photo and they were covered with snow.

Nothing like a dad with his son on Easter for the hunt.

I am here in Colorado visiting my son and his family for Easter and my grandsons 10th birthday that is tomorrow.

Like always when the photo doesn't turn out, make art...

It has been a long time since I have posted, apologies to you all.

Thinking of the blogs I was following, and the photographs and stories I am missing.

Hope spring has sprung, and sending my love to you all,

Jane

Let it Snow

I was in Colorado for Christmas and New Years.

Spent two and a half weeks there.

My son and his family moved outside of the Denver area last October.

I miss my grandsons very much.

I miss the entire family...

Knowing they are content in their new home, work, and schools is comforting.

I am turning into a grandma that visits often.

Will be going there again in April.

By the way, I loved the snow walks with the boys.

Here is a frozen creek that they so wanted to walk on.

Instead they dug a hole with sticks.

Snow is beautiful, one night I took a walk by myself as the snow came down.

A dry dense warmer kind of snow than I have seen before.

I got them sleds from LLBean, and wow did they use them!

At one point I was dragging them down the streets of their neighborhood.

I dig it...