Red Rock Canyon. These formations are awesome to behold, the contours and the colors, just another of Mother Natures gifts. It appeared so primitive and untouched, until we noticed at the base of one rock formation an RV Park! Or at least a "gathering" of RV-ers. Why is it we must carry our homes on our backs everywhere we go? What happened to CAMPING, you know, tents to sleep in, campfires to cook on, bushes to, well, you know. Hey I like my comforts too, but just remembering how it "used to be" when I was a kid.

Another shot of Joshua Trees in the distant hills. they are actually a member of the lily family, though cacti is what comes to ones mind. The Joshua Tree has become the symbol of the Mojave Desert. Mormon pioneers named the species for the biblical figure Joshua, because the trees uplifted limbs reminded them of Joshua praying and pointing to the heavens. Mature plants produce beautiful white flowers, and a good Joshua tree bloom is one of the delights of the desert.

As you drive Hwy 58 from Bakersfield towards Tehachapi (or just 'after' you pass Tehachapi?), up ahead you begin to see all these little moving objects surrounding you on the hillsides. As you get closer and closer you realize they are windmills! THOUSANDS OF THEM! An alternative energy source here in California. It is almost an eery sight, as though Robots are invading and are on the attack!!

I don't know which gave me the "more anxious" feelings whenever I'd drive over to visit Rod, those hot summer days - these "alien" forms, or driving out in the China Lake desert area (IF there ever was an actual lake it must now be a dry mineral lake bed), east of Ridgecrest, where you pass what seems like thousands of acres of desert (found out its actually over a MILLION acres) all fenced in, with US Govt "No Trespassing" signs/warnings posted every 20 ft or so. I read on the net that it is part of the weapons research and development division of our US Navy. There are various and sundry buildings strewn here and there on all these barren acres, not a soul in sight, least not that I could see, and one cannot help but wonder what goes on out there???? What dark secrets are being kept. Now I KNOW I don't like living in this part of California!

A hot day in the Mojave desert - these 3 little fellas sought refuge from the sun in the shade of a transformer. Temperatures out here hang around 110 - 115 most summer days. This is a large, dried up mineral lake bed, at Trona, seems to go on forever, you can just make out the power poles, standing like tortured souls in the squelching heat.

“Alone in the silence, I understand for a moment the dread which many feel in the presence of primeval desert, the unconscious fear which compels them to tame, alter or destroy what they cannot understand, to reduce the wild and prehuman to human dimensions. Anything rather than confront directly the antehuman, that other world which frightens not through danger or hostility but in something far worse—its implacable indifference.” - Edward Abby, Desert Solitaire

Well I'm half Scottish.... does that count? Close, but no cigar? Anyways, Happy St Pats all you Irish lads and lassies. This was all the 'green' I could dig up. This was taken at Manito Park, the little feller "ducked" just as I snapped!

May those who love us love us. And those who don't love us May God turn their hearts. And if He doesn't turn their hearts, May He turn their ankles, so we'll know them by their limping. - Irish Prayer

Poised for take off.

South end of Molson Lake, the sheet of ice provided a most excellent runway!

I realized that if I had to choose, I would rather have birds than airplanes. - Charles Lindbergh

Just passing by on a winter's eve...

Winter of 05, on a quick trip home from Spokane, I was wandering around my yard admiring all the snow that had been recently dropped. It wasn't until I downloaded the pictures that I saw these ghostly images. I like to think they were kindred spirits enjoying the "silent night" and my pond :)

"Peace to all: the living, the dead, and the in-between." --Aaron Mazepink, 28 Jan 2003

"Total Eclipse of the heart"...oops, I mean "MOON!" - October 27 th of 2004 as viewed from a bluff overlooking Washington and 8th Ave in Spokane, Wa.

It was an oh-so-cold evening, the frost was most definitely on the 'proverbial pumpkin', as a mismatched dozen or so of us gathered to observe the quiet spectacle unfold late in the evening. This was a 'total' lunar eclipse, the last total lunar eclipse visible from the entire continental United States occurred on Nov 9th, 2003. North Americans will not have an opportunity to see another 'total' lunar eclipse as well placed as the October 2004 event until February 21, 2008.

The view from my living room window & the sight that greeted me every morning upon walking out onto my deck...winters it would be a vision in white, with the waterfall continuing it's journey, albeit under a small mountain of ice.

Sir "Henry" takes up his post above the pond, he was, happily, not the greatest of fishers, but he loved to watch them swim in the clear depths below. Unfortunately this wonderful creature met his demise when a huge Barn Owl moved into our neighborhood. I still miss him, his quiet presence, unconditional love, he was a soft cloud on my lap that somehow caused any stresses to simply evaporate.

This final scene is the smaller pond, as it would appear when the underground sprinklers would pop up, and the sunshine would filter through the leaves of the huge overhead Maple tree by midday.

"The little things? The little moments? They aren't little"
John Kabat-Zinn

Woke up to rain today, but thought of my son right away, he loves a good rainy day! The fresh clean scent, like the world has taken a bath...which I guess it has.

Got my grocery shopping out of the way early and couldn't resist coming home with this big bouguet of yellow roses! It's like having sunshine in my house all day long! Upon returning to the house I was greeted with a wonderful surprise - ANOTHER big bouquet of flowers on my doorstep, that a local Florist had delivered in my absence. A "thank you" gift from our Real Estate agent :). What a lovely gesture... all you Real Estate agents reading this, keep it in mind.

"I'd rather have roses on my table than diamonds on my neck". ~Emma Goldman