Photo Hunt #69: Spotted

I spotted:

An insect while walking so I took a picture of it.

A thistle (or teasle?) while walking so I took a picture of it.

Photo Hunt is a weekly meme hosted by TNCHICK.  Please join us in the hunt.

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Skywatch#75:

“No rain in the forecast………until tomorrow.” That’s what I heard on the radio today as I drive to work.  I don’t need to hear that no rain is expected today, because for the first time in a week or so we are bathed in glorious sunshine and up there is nothing but blue skies and for decorations some wispy white clouds. 

The picture above shows  a summer blue sky.  This is a church that I always pass by on the way to Sebastopol, this area’s main apple growing region – gravenstein apple. 

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Window Views and Doors too #7:

If you have visited Vegas, my money is on the fact that you have taken photos of this, posed here, and marveled at all this. 

Love it or hate it, Vegas seem to have everything for almost any body.  For instance someone like me who would try to wrestle the one arm bandit for an hour and then tire of the experience.  What else does this great city have for me?  It has plenty.  It has eats and shows and most of all a lot of free entertainment, like this place in the Venetian where an amateur photog and a blogger would be content to while the hours away until the call of the buffet comes knocking. 

I may never get to see the real Venice, but at least I had Vegas 🙂

If you want to see more windows, real ones or not, head on to Teach Mary’s WINDOW VIEWS AND DOORS TOO. 

 

Watery Wednesday #43:

The rains we had and we’re still having have significantly improved the volume of San Pablo Reservoir and other reservoirs and dams all around the Bay Area, giving us a little hope (fingers crossed) that the amount of rainfall was significant enough to avoid a water rationing this summer.

San Pablo Reservoir is owned and operated by the East Bay Municipal Utility District. The reservoir is storage facility for drinking water so no swimming and wading allowed. EBMUD also operated the San Pablo Reservoir Recreation Area, popular for fishing, boating, picnicking, hiking. There is an entrance fee of around 6 dollars.

There is also a hiking and biking trail that is accessible via San Pablo Dam Road. You don’t need to pay the entrance fee. One lazy afternoon, that’s where we decided to do some walking and take some photos.

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My World #57: Birdfeeder

When we bought our house last year, our family and friends were very happy for us.  We knew people like to give new homeowners “stuff” to fill their new homes.  However, the move was still fresh in our minds when we had our housewarming party so we politely requested every body who came to the party not to bring anything for the house.  We had accumulated tons of stuff that even though we were moving to a bigger space, we don’t have anymore room for a second toaster or another wok.  Majority of our family and friends heeded our requests.  One friend sidestepped our “rule” by giving us a bird feeder and a bag of bird seed; not for the house she said but for the backyard.  And I am so glad that she did.

Who would have thought that a simple bird feeder would be such a perfect housewarming gift? Not I.  I wouldn’t even pencil it on my top 10 housewarming gifts.  But the moments of enjoyment we get from watching all the birds come and visit us three times a day are priceless.  I have regulars like this pink breasted bird.    Please help me identify.  I am starting to enjoy bird watching without leaving my sink to wash dishes.  What a lovely, thoughtful present.

For a change, I am not pulling something from the archives. My thoughtful husband snapped these two shots for me while I ran some errands with my mom after church today.  Again, please help me identify this bird.  Thanks.

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Photo Hunt #68: Balanced

Meat + Bread + Beer = Balanced Meal 🙂  (Just kidding!)

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Skywatch #74

In the past few days we have seen nothing but grey skies, buckets of rain, and howling wind.  In the Sierras, the buckets of rain translate into snow.  This means of course that I again had no time to snap some photos, which is not really a tragedy considering that there is nothing but grey skies to photograph around here.  This is where Mr. Archives who lives in the Vault comes into play.  So glad that there seems to be plenty in the vault to use for now.

Here’s the sun setting over the Pacific.  Behind me is the Golden Gate Bridge.

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Window Views and Doors Too #6

Side entry to the ruins at Sonargaon.

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Watery Wednesday #42: Panning for Gold

Panning for gold – tourist style – in Skagway Alaska.  A trough representing Bonanza Creek was set up and each one is given a pan and asked to dig into the trough filled with water and soil/sand.  We managed to find three specks of gold, which I truly believed were planted there by the organizers to make the tourists happy.  Almost every one found at least one speck. 

Change topic for a bit:  We are on our second storm (5 are expected this week) today and it’s pouring, really pouring with strong gusts.  Too bad I can’t go out and photograph outside, there is so much water.  Hopefully I can take some snaps for next week’s go round.

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My World #56: Road Shots

The past decade I have discovered the joys of road tripping.  I have found comfort in the passenger seat’s view of the world that’s passing me by at 65 mph.  I get a natural high indulging in my passion for drive by shooting.  And while on the passenger seat I have found two favorite subjects: road  and sky.  I’m sharing two of my many road shots via drive-by shooting.

O public road, I say back I am not afraid to leave you, yet I love you, you express me better than I can express myself. ~ Walt Whiltman

Life is one big road with lots of signs. So when you riding through the ruts, don’t complicate your mind. Flee from hate, mischief and jealousy. Don’t bury your thoughts, put your vision to reality. Wake Up and Live!  ~ Bob Marley

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