Can go by many different names, candlewood, vine cactus etc. You would think looking at it, it might belong to the cactus family, but it does not, it is a shrub. They are very pretty though and are easy to pick out when you’re out hiking or walking the desert, which is where you will find them. I don’t think they would do very well in Iowa…
Even though they are very pretty to look at they have nasty little spines that let you know right away you shouldn’t touch. Yes I found out the hard way. lol
You’re going on a cross-country trip. Airplane, train, bus, car, or bike?
Driving the truck, taking as many backroads as possible seeing as much as I can. Although going by train might be fun once. Just to see what its like..
You know how some songs just make you happy or sad or make you want to dance? Well the song I can See Clearly Now by Jimmy Cliff is one of those songs for me. Every time I hear it, just makes me happy and makes me want to do a happy dance. So enjoy the day and enjoy a little Jimmy!
I wasn’t as close as I would have liked to been but felt lucky enough to get the few shots I did. There were other young ones flying but stayed clear. I think they were after something in the field. But I love the sounds they make and the older one was rather vocal..
Hard to imagine another year has gone by. Seems like the older I get the faster time goes by. And each year I tell myself the next one will be better. Sometimes it is and sometimes not so much.
But I hope this year is a healthy and happy one, filled with love and laughter. And we all achieve whatever goals we have set forth.
So Make the most of this year, dont look back, look forward, embrace all the good and truly do live life to the fullest….
Visited Des Moines in late fall to get a few shots of the city from different parks around the city. Some I had been to before and one was a new park. Great views though.
Spent a little bit of time trying to take photos of water reflections. Some I like, some I’m on fence about and there are always some I’m not impressed with at all. But that’s ok, always room for improvement.
Took these the night before the eclipse or the night of. Sadly I missed the eclipse thanks to this thing called sleeping.. But I did get these atleast, and I did have this plan of waking up for the eclipse but that didn’t work out so well.
I didn’t notice the visitor in the tree til later when I was going over the photos…
Beautiful snow fall, first one of the season and probably not the last. I always like the first snow fall but then I’m over it. I have been on these trails before and never had an issue, but the snow did hide a few tripping hazards. I won’t say if they did me in or not. haha!
Halloween is celebrated each year on October 31. It started with the ancient Celtic festival Samhain, where people would light bonfires and wear costumes to ward of ghosts. Pope Gregory the III made November 1 the time when all the Saints would be honored, Eventually All Saints Day as it was called combined some of the traditions of Samhain, and the night before became known as All Hollows Eve which later turned into Halloween.
Eventually Halloween turned into this big deal which included things like trick or treating, carving pumpkins, wearing costumes etc. Today it is very commerciaized to a point and is celebrated more for the costumes and candy eating I think. Oh and scaring the crap out of everyone…lol But thats just my opinion. I love Halloween.
The Celts who lived 2000 years ago in what is now Ireland, the UK and parts of France, celebrated their new year on November 1. It marked the end of summer and the Harvest and the beginning of Winter, a time they associated with death.
The Celts believed that on the night before the new year, the boundary between the worlds of the living and the dead became blurred, which meant that the ghosts of the dead could return to earth and everyone could interact together. This was the night of October 31 and celebrated as Samhain, a pagan religious festival. https://www.history.com/topics/halloween/history-of-halloween
The following link gives you a look at Samhain, it’s history and myths associated with it. It includes tales of headless woman chasing people along with her pig. And headless men called Dullahan, simliar to what we think of when we talk about the Headless Horsemen. Remember him and Ichabod Crane, The Legend of Sleepy Hollow? I do, it’s one of my favorite Halloween shows. The cartoon Disney version, not the movie one.. https://www.history.com/topics/holidays/samhain
When we look at the history of our celebrations today, where they came from and how they were originally celebrated it really is rather fascinating. But Halloween is a favorite and always will be.
So how ever you choose to celebrate this day, or not. I hope you have a wonderfully Spooky Halloween. stay safe, dont eat to much candy and stay to the light..
For the last couple of years I have watched the Pelicans hanging out at Saylorville Lake. I kept telling myself I was going to make it to the other side of the lake where the majority of them would be whenever I was in the area. Finally made it there and got a few photos.
Not sure what the black ones are but see them alot with the Pelicans..
Would be a great place for a little cabin surrounded by woods and a view of the pond. The area is full of wildlife, which would be amazing to see sitting out on the front porch.
Show me a farm that doesn’t have atleast 1 or 2 “retired” farm implements or farm related items somewhere around. But my dad asked me why I was taking pics of those old things. I’m thinking why not..lol. The first pic is probably my favorite of the two though.
Welcome to another blog from Guest Tracey and her trip to Canada.
One morning we decided to get up early (4:50 early) to drive 45 minutes to Lake Louise in Banff National Park. It was recommended we leave early if we wanted to find a parking spot as the parking lots tend to fill up early. It’s a favorite spot for photographers to take sunrise photos at Lake Louise and Lake Moraine. We took a few shots but were eager to start hiking so we didn’t linger long.
We hiked the trails along the shores of Lake Louise, which is next to the Fairmont Chateau Hotel, and hiked 2.2 miles. We passed Mirror Lake and waterfalls on our way to the Agnes Tea House. The hike was amazing, and we were happy to make it to the tea house.
We did have to laugh though. Agnes Tea House is NOT Starbucks and a gentleman in front of us tried to order a fancy coffee for his girlfriend as the waitress looked at me like can’t he read the menu. The place is cash only with no running water. The workers stay in a cabin behind the tea house for 4 days hiking up the mountain carrying what supplies are needed and then returning.
The hike was not an easy one, but it was worth every minute.
A few skeletons hanging from the branches and vultures perched on the limbs watching an waiting would complete this picture. But no such luck this day…Still a cool tree.
Started out cloudy but sun came out a bit by the time I left. But the lake was beautiful and the trees on one side of the lake were really colorful but not so much on the other. But it’s a good place to take a drive and check out some fall foliage or take a walk and have a picnic before it gets to much colder.
“The Earth will not continue to offer its harvest, except with faithful stewardship. We cannot say we love the land and then take steps to destroy it for use by future generations.”
—John Paul II
“Accept that some days you are the pigeon and some days the statue”
“The purpose of art is washing the dust of daily life off our souls.”
“A dreamer is one who can only find his way by moonlight, and his punishment is that he sees the dawn before the rest of the world.
MY CREATIVE SELF 