I may not write much, but I might. I mostly want to post pictures of where I’ve been and what I’ve done as well as some art I’ve been doing — both with software and with my hands. It won’t probably be anything very serious at all. Thanks for looking in on me again.
The two pictures I’m posting tonight are of some trees and the moon. It was so pretty this morning, and it’s warm again, although it’s going to get cold pretty soon.
Patrón and I took an eight-hour drive that took me through Glenwood, Carbondale, Redstone, over McClure Pass, Paonia, Hotchkiss, and Cedaredge.
Crystal River
We drove over the Grand Mesa first on 65, then the Old Grand Mesa Road, and stopped at the small parking spot below the Crag Crest Trail so Patrón could stretch her legs. She and I enjoyed some time sitting at the lake and walking along the road.
I took a few pictures of sunflowers that were obviously past their prime, but they were so pretty anyway. There’s some serious standing water in the low spots, too — presumably from all the recent rains.
We then got back on 65 at the Visitor Center and soon took off onto the Land’s End Road. That first mile or so going down is kind of spooky. (I have no idea how they do that Lands End Road Rally [?] every year without someone seriously falling off the mountain.)
Looking South.
Looking West.
It was a really nice day, but Patrón wasn’t too thrilled with being tied down in the vehicle. I gave her enough lead to hang her head out the window (I’m not a completely horrible mother), but I need to find a better way to tie her down. She got herself completely tangled in her leash and the harness I bought just to keep her in place in the vehicle. I’d hate to buy a cage for her to travel in when part of the purpose is for her to have some “head-hanging” time. But she cannot wander the vehicle. I stopped several times for her to water and pee. She did neither, and she wouldn’t get back in of her own accord—I had to lift her into the seat. I also wanted to do a little exploring (like Redstone Castle), but couldn’t with her in tow. (Why can’t I lock the doors with the keys in the ignition?!! I have another set of keys!)
I won’t take her every time, but this was interesting and fun trying to figure out what to do with her. When she tried to wallow in a dead fish, I was not completely sold on this arrangement.
Outside of Paonia, I finally saw the coal mine(s) where my son used to work. While in Paonia, I visited the Orchard Valley Farms & Market and Black Bridge Winery and discovered a new, interesting addition to their vinegars—Ripe Peach White Balsamic Vinegar. Yummy! Not sure it’s new, but it is to me.
It was a pleasant day, for sure!
Everything has beauty, but not everyone sees it.
—Confucius
I try to remember to see it. Last weekend, my daughter, her daughters, my friend, and I went to Rifle Gap, Rifle Falls, and Harvey Gap. From there, we drove through a beautiful sheep and cattle (and spring-and-wet-green) valley behind the Hogbacks, then we went through Newcastle and went back home to Rifle. We had a lot of fun, and I found it was beautiful there. I’ve lived in Western Colorado for 38 years, and I don’t believe I’ve ever seen those places. Below are pictures I took of our trip. I told the grand kids that when I went up there again, I’d take them with me. I expect that will be a blast.
Last week it was in the 70s. This weekend, it will be rainy. Yesterday it snowed. This morning, it’s like I’m in Seattle. I love it all.
TGIF!
I haven’t posted for a bit. Between a very busy day job, trying to keep up with the other job, school, bowling, and then being sick last Saturday, I’ve had a whirlwind existence lately. Tomorrow I’ll go in to work for awhile to get a head start on next week (for my comfort), take Patrón for another walk, then I’ll head to a friend’s for dinner.
I was able to go for a walk last Sunday and was saddened to see that someone had moved the weathered board so there were no more tufts of grass growing through its holes. Maybe that grass just blew away, but I doubt it. I was hoping for the grass to grow longer for a bit and be able to take another photo. I was sorry to see it no longer looked as it did. And I wondered that someone could come along and not see the artistry in that mess of old wood and clumps of grass.
Today I got homework done and that’s a relief. It was due Friday and we had a reprieve, thankfully. I was at wits end trying to figure out how I was going to get that done. What a relief. Just four more weeks, I think.
After bowling is over (two more weeks), school is over (fourish more weeks), and I’m not allowed overtime at the day job, I can take weekends and go sometimes. I’m tired of being trapped at home either having to do something — or thinking I should.
Today I downloaded a new camera app for my iPhone and I think I like it. I am disappointed with the native camera’s abilities and this app will at least make the photos look more vibrant. I’ve seen so many others’ photos from their phones and they look so good — and my phone photos kind of just suck. Anyway, the photos’ editability still isn’t great, but colors are vibrant and I am able to capture light and dark in a composition that is wildly different in tonal values. The name of the app is Pro HDR-X. It’s a toy, but a fun one.
I drove a little way up Unaweep Canyon this evening and took this picture.
This I took a little earlier on my walk on the desert. The clouds, where there’s nothing to block them, are so pretty.
After driving up Unaweep Canyon for bit, I backtracked to the Gunnison River Bluffs/Old Spanish Trail parking corral. As the sun set, I captured this. I didn’t get light adjusted properly, but even so, I thought this turned out cool. I had to wait until a hiker’s silhouette fell below the horizon. For the longest time, while the sun set lower, there was a solitary figure walking from the left to the right along the top of those hills in the background. Had I been able to zoom in on him, that might have made a nice photo, too, but with the phone, he would have just been too small for any artistic impact.
It’s been a nice quiet day and I’m ready to call it.
Happy Saturday!
For the class I attend this semester, Office Procedures, my classmates and I are each tasked with making a presentation. We’re not allowed to use Powerpoint so I believe I’ll have to do a video, then figure out how to post it to my YouTube channel. I’ve done it before, but mostly of my silly Patrón, or a montage of photos I’ve taken.
The biggest challenge is to decide what to present to the class. I’ve presented HDR photography before, and that is fun. It has to be a relatively simple task since the entire presentation should take somewhere between five and ten minutes.
This morning I thought perhaps, if making a video isn’t too complicated, I might try demonstrating how to make an omelet. I also thought it would be possible to get a small burner and actually cook one in class.
Alternatively, I could demonstrate how to put drops in a dog’s eyes. The fact she does not like the process could make it that much more comical. The process includes straddling her so she can’t get away, then prying open her eye—a hair-width, if I can. I then hope some of the drops that hit her lashes ooze their way into her eye where it will do some good.
Perhaps I could show how to draw a sun. With a face.
Or change a photo to art using a filter package.
How to irritate Patrón? THAT should be pretty easy. I’ve had lots of practice.
Any ideas out there? I have until Monday to get it figured out and complete.
As irritating as it is that I don’t have any wonderful ideas, this will be fun—whatever the result. I’m excited to see what others produce.
Meanwhile, here are some close-to-the-ground photos. This is such a different perspective.
It was pretty warm on the days these were shot. It’s supposed to snow this weekend. In fact, I hear there’s supposed to be snow on the ground in the morning. I’d like that—and time to take some pictures.
Happy almost Friday!
I know I post lots of pictures of this view, but I never tire of it. Tonight again, the light reflected on these mountains illuminated them to look pink/orange, and leaving everything else in shadow. They really stand out.
Bookcliff Sunset
If you shoot for the stars and hit the moon, it’s OK. But you’ve got to shoot for something. A lot of people don’t even shoot. —Confucius
It’s cold here in the mornings. Starting the vehicle 15 minutes before leaving gave me time to take a few pictures of the moon before it sank below the hill in front of my house. As I write this, it is rising in the east and big and white and brilliant. It’s too bright now.
I took the camera to work this morning, hoping I could get a shot from a higher floor of the parking garage. I couldn’t even see it from there. I didn’t have time to climb to the top of the garage. Maybe tomorrow morning will be better.
Morning Moon
Toured some of the Palisade wineries today. We stopped at Red Fox Cellars. What a fun place! Among other attractions, not the least of which was their wine, was this arrangement of flowers that I have filtered.
Flowers
We wandered around Palisade Colorado via Clyde and his wagon.
Meet Clyde!
Meet Clyde
We had such a fun time. Palisade is a sweet little town that sits below Mt. Garfield, in Colorado. They grow grapes and make great wine. You should visit sometime.
It was a great day in Western Colorado.
#westerncolorado #palisade #winetour
While it’s cold here now, I am looking through old photographs and found this one. I love how the clouds seem to fall out of the sky as sun still lights the Bookcliffs in the background.
Summer Storm
A storm moved through here today. It snowed a little, but melted almost as fast as it fell. As the weather cleared out, in the distance, the clouds hugged Mt. Garfield.
Mt. Garfield
This is a photo I took in October. I filtered it using Topaz Labs’ Impression. The first photo is the original picture. The following are the same picture, filtered differently in Impression.
To see detail, click on an image. A full-size image will open in another window.
The purpose of art is washing the dust of daily life off our souls.
—Pablo Picasso www.brainyquote.com
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