Blog Archives

Eight-Hour Drive

Patrón and I took an eight-hour drive that took me through Glenwood, Carbondale, Redstone, over McClure Pass, Paonia, Hotchkiss, and Cedaredge.

Crystal River

Crystal River

20150725-IMG_2449

20150725-IMG_2461

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.

20150725-IMG_2466 20150725-IMG_2467 20150725-IMG_2503 20150725-IMG_2521 20150725-IMG_2510

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.

20150725-IMG_2496

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 South.

Looking West.

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!

Day Trip to Rifle, Colorado

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.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Saturday Ramblings

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.

Looking Toward Junction

I drove a little way up Unaweep Canyon this evening and took this picture.

Looking East

This I took a little earlier on my walk on the desert. The clouds, where there’s nothing to block them, are so pretty.

Sunset at the Parking Corral.

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!

 

Summer Storm

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

Summer Storm

 

Black Canyon, East Portal—Topaz Labs

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.

What fun!

Black Canyon, East PortalBlack Canyon, East Portal

Black Canyon, East PortalBlack Canyon, East Portal

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Black Canyon, East Portal Black Canyon, East Portal

 

The purpose of art is washing the dust of daily life off our souls.

—Pablo Picasso                                   www.brainyquote.com

Spring Hike, 2014

I took these pictures with an iPhone 5s. I think it takes pretty respectable pictures. Once I learned not to use the zoom (and I still forget) I am getting pretty consistently good pictures. I’ve also watched a few videos aimed at teaching how best to capture photos with the that camera.

This was a fun hike with my friend, Carol, on May 23, 2014. I believe she did some geo-caching along the way. And she knows stuff. I saw yellow flowers and greenish caterpillars. She saw [insert correct names here]. A hike with Carol is always informative and fun. We sat toward the top and ate lunch and enjoyed the view.

Unaweep Canyon is one my favorite places. It’s pretty every season; in rain, snow, or sunshine.

This Was Fun

I watched—rather listened to—a Topaz Labs filters video. That got me started. I filtered this to within an inch of its life, but I love it.

Fall Foliage, 2012

Fall Foliage, 2012

whimsicalwanderingsofgrinninggranny

My fun and unpredictable travels while enjoying what life has to offer. Follow me & I'll follow you!

Photo Granny's Blog

Photography and Random Thoughts

kristigallegosblog

Life coaching through positivity!

Harry's Photo Blog

My favorite photos that others might enjoy also.

Mad Cap Dog

zany dog exploits - and other tails

Ms Toy Whisperer

I am a writer whom journals about life, family, New England, everything and nothing and whispers of the Holy Spirit.

Andrew Nixon's Photo Blog

A Photography Daybook

me and my prime.

adventures in photography with a prime lens. it might be terrible

Cee's Photo Challenges

Teaching the art of composition for photography.

rachelmankowitz

The Cricket Pages

WordPress.com News

The latest news on WordPress.com and the WordPress community.

WordAds

High quality ads for WordPress

Sure.... Let's Go!

Wanderlust of a nature loving desert rat

%d bloggers like this: