Mountain sunset and clouds~SkyWatch Friday 103009

I love to watch the sunsets while I'm up at the ranch with the horses. For some reason, they are just spectacular up there, like this one. A couple of weeks ago, there were clouds in the mountains and I drove up to give a couple of horses some psyllium and spotted this one. SkyWatch Friday for October 30, 2009.

"O" ABC Wednesday 102809

O is for "open range". This sign is near Monument Valley (see the cliffs in the rear of the photo?). We didn't see any cattle on this day, however. ABC Wednesday for October 28, 2009.

Fall morning ~That's My World 102709

I like to spend Sunday morning puttering around the house and yard. Last Sunday I was out taking pics of my newly planted garden and I noticed these shadows and rays of sun on my porch. That's My World for Tuesday, October 27, 2009.

Fall shrubs~Mellow Yellow 102609

Our local mountains are covered with these yellow shrubs. We stopped by this spot yesterday morning, on our way to see and work our horses. Mellow Yellow Monday for October 26, 2009.

Cottonwood and Mt. Whitney~Sunday Stills 102509

We drove up to the eastern Sierras a couple of weekends ago to hunt for fall colors. It was still pretty early, but we did find some cottonwoods, like this one near Mt. Whitney. Sunday Stills for October 25, 2009.

Guess where this is~SkyWatch Friday 102309

Sometimes I forget that we don't have to travel for hours to see interesting scenery or rock formations! These rocks are only 8 minutes from our home in the desert. Combined with clouds and a late autumn afternoon, their colors and texture are as interesting as any we saw in the Alabama Hills near Lone Pine, CA! SkyWatch Friday for October 23, 2009.

Courthouse~Prescott, AZ~Sunday Stills for 101809

We love to travel to Prescott. There are so many sights to see! And, they have a beautiful COURTHOUSE with interesting doors and statues outside~Sunday Stills for 101809.

Sunrise~Alabama Hills, Lone Pine, CA~SkyWatch Friday 101609

Hubby and I arose early one morning in Ridgecrest and drove to Lone Pine to capture early morning light and then go to breakfast. We love the light on the rocks in the Alabama Hills and weren't disappointed on this morning. SkyWatch Friday for October 16, 2009.

M is for movie museum~ABC Wednesday 101409

Lone Pine has a fabulous movie museum which honors the over 400 movies filmed nearby in the Alabama Hills and Mt. Whitney. We have driven by it many times, but this past weekend we finally stopped by and visited it. It is covered with murals on the outside and inside are many props and posters from the movies filmed nearby. They were getting ready for their annual Lone Pine Film Festival that weekend, so we were fortunate to have arrived a day early! It's free and it is a fun place to visit! ABC Wednesday for October 14, 2009.

May I take your order please? Excuse me? That's My World for 101309

As we drove through Lone Pine, on our way back to Ridgecrest from Bishop last weekend, I finally saw the crowds there for the Lone Pine Film Festival, which is held in October every year. They have a wonderful little film museum that honors all the 400 films filmed near Lone Pine, including Tremors! There were several mounted police officers on patrol. I spotted two of them at the post office, but these two were in the line at the local McDonalds! If you click on the photo, you can see a beautiful mural right behind them. "May I take your order, please?" Not sure if hay is on the menu! That's My World for Tuesday, October 13, 2009. HA! I WISH it were my world~~we LOVE Lone Pine!

Yellow shrubs~Mellow Yellow for 101209

I took this pic when we were in the Alabama Hills, near Mt. Whitney, this past weekend. The fields there were covered with it. We went looking for fall colors and these were in full bloom and they dotted the landscape. I don't know what they are...anybody know? I caught these in the early morning light. Mellow Yellow for Monday, October 12, 2009.

Rocks~That's My World 100609

How many times have I driven by these rocks on my way to the horse ranch? Too many to count! But, Saturday morning, the early morning sunlight was hitting them just right and I had my camera with me, so I stopped to take a closer look. I love the soft morning light! That's My World for Tuesday, October 6, 2009.

Autumn has arrived! Mellow Yellow Monday for 100509

Last Monday, it was 107 degrees (officially) here in the desert. My thermometer read 109, but what's a couple of degrees? Today's forecast is 80. Think about it...from 107 to 80 in one week! That's a big change. And, our bodies haven't adjusted yet. So, this morning, the kids will have to bundle up for school and I'll take a sweater (it's only in the 50's here so far...) Up in the mountains, the leaves continue to turn yellow and the fields are fallow. Mellow Yellow for Monday, October 5, 2009.

Meadow and Mountains~Scenic Sunday for 100409

I went for a drive in our local mountains yesterday morning. It was crisp, clear, and cool. What more could I ask for? Scenic Sunday for October 4, 2009.

Camel at the Living Desert Reserve~Camera Critters for 100309

This handsome(?) fellow was at the Living Desert Reserve in Palm Desert, CA. Don't you love all his facial expressions? Camera Critters for 100309

Rainbow over Canyon de Chelly~SkyWatch Friday 100209

It was pouring just a few minutes before I took this picture over Canyon de Chelly, but the sun came out, and so did a beautiful rainbow. SkyWatch Friday for October 2, 2009. Canyon de Chelly is one of our favorite places in the desert southwest.

Temps are falling~Fall is here!

Okay. I admit it. FALL is here. Last week, we were still in the throes of triple digit temps, but yesterday it was only 99 degrees and today will be about 93. Our nighttime temps have dipped, too. This morning, it is only 65 degrees and by next week, temps will be in the 50's at night and 80's during the daytime. I'm glad that summer is over and we can turn off our overworked air conditioner and open up the windows! Here are some signs of fall I found up in our local mountains last weekend. It's time to clean off the front porch, hose it down, and get the BBQ ready for some family dinners and time to decorate it with autumn things.