After the storm~SkyWatch Friday 122310

I drove out to Indio yesterday afternoon while there was a break in the storm. I stopped and pulled off on the road by the Coachella Valley Preserve's southern boundary, but it was full of water ahead and I didn't wish to drive through it. I was able to get these two photos, and then I turned around and went back on my way. Skywatch Friday for December 24, 2010.

Water, water....EVERYWHERE! Nature Notes 122210

There is a major wash, the Whitewater Channel, which runs throughout our desert. It starts near Palm Springs and the water flows all the way down to the Salton Sea, about 50 miles away. Several golf courses, including this one in Palm Desert, were washed out during our recent winter storms that hit the desert over the past several days. I was talking to one gentleman who was also out viewing all the water washing by and he asked me, "Where does all this water go?" I believe it all does end up in the Salton Sea, which is the lowest point in the Coachella Valley at 200 feet below sea level. I stopped on Monterey Avenue and walked back to an area beside the bridge to take this photo. Nature Notes for December 22, 2010.

Geese in the desert~That's My World 121410

Yes, here in the desert southwest, we have geese. Not only do they fly overhead (click on top photo to enlarge), but here in Palm Desert, they set up winter housekeeping at some of the resorts, such as the Desert Springs Marriott. In fact, it is a bird sanctuary. A couple of times now, while I'm out on my morning walk, I've heard the "honk, honk, honk" of a flock of geese. This time, fortunately, I had my camera with me and I was able to point and shoot! Hubby and I were at our son's house in Indio one evening when flock after flock of birds (I believe they were ducks) flew over Hal's house. I didn't have my camera that evening, and we all just stood looking at them with our mouths open! There were so many birds! It was amazing. Canadian geese take up residence during the winter months at the hotel, much to the annoyance of golfers! But, ahhhh....just to hear their cries! It's music to my ears. That's My World for Tuesday, December 14, 2010.

Oatman window reflection~Weekend Reflections 121110

I'm GRADUALLY learning how to use the polarizing filter that hubby bought me for my Nikon. He showed me how, if you turn it just right, you can get a nice window reflection, like this one. HA! Now that I know how to do it, LOOK OUT! Sometimes, though, (I must confess...) I still forget to turn the filter. This is something I need to work on in the future! Weekend Reflections for December 11, 2010. For other participants, please visit Weekend Reflections at: http://newtowndailyphoto.blogspot.com/?

"Trees"~ABC Wednesday 120110

Hubby and I love aspen and we'll drive an hour out of our way sometimes to view them. These are all northwest of Flagstaff, Arizona. We traveled there during October to view the colors on the aspen, but we were too late for this area. But, they have a certain bare, stark quality about them, don't you think? I love to stand among aspen and close my eyes and just listen to the wind move through them. I think they are beautiful, even when they are bare! "Trees"...ABC Wednesday for December 1, 2010.

Red leaves~Ruby Tuesday 113010

When hubby and I drove through Oak Creek Canyon, Arizona, a few weeks ago, the oak trees were in their full fall splendor! I zoomed in on the tree in the bottom photo and caught hubby walking along the road at one point. We enjoyed our short stop there and would like to return next fall. Ruby Tuesday for November 30, 2010. It is another frosty morning here today in our desert!

Oak Creek Canyon~Scenic Sunday, SOOC Sunday 112810

I took these photos when hubby and I drove through Oak Creek Canyon, during our last trip to Arizona. The leaves on the oaks were turning colors and we hit the canyon at their peak. Aren't the colors gorgeous? We are returning to Arizona during the Christmas break (for a few days) and they will all be gone by then. Scenic Sunday and Straight Out of the Camera Sunday for November 28, 2010. Be sure to visit SOOC: http://www.murrieta365.com/2010/11/straight-out-of-camera-sunday_27.html and Scenic Sunday: http://scenicsunday.blogspot.com/ for other participants' photos!

Profile picture~Sunday stills Challenge 112810

That's me and my gelding, Sunni. I actually took this photo with my little NIKON Coolpix by holding it arms' length out and praying that I was actually taking a picture of something besides blue sky! HA! IT WORKED! (sort of...) I very rarely have anybody else with me when I work my horses (unless a friend offers to come along and help!), so it's usually just me and the horses. I have 5, all rescues. I fell off a friend's horse in the summer of 2008 and I haven't been back on a horse since then. My orthopedic surgeon said I would never ride a horse again. I now have permanent nerve damage in both legs and I get horrible leg cramps, and I haven't been back on a horse, so we'll see. My cousin has offered to let me ride one of her Tennessee Walkers and I plan on doing that this winter, while she is here in the desert. Sunni is still young and skittish and would NOT be a good horse for me to ride right now. Frankly, none of mine are really rideable for me right now, but I do have two of them in training. Sunni was my first horse and I adopted him from United Pegasus Foundation when they were in Hemet, CA. I had been going there, looking at their horses, and giving them carrots. Little did I know that Sunni was one of the horses in the yearling pen, along with several others that I was feeding. He is a PMU gelding, which means his mother was bred for her urine, which was used to PREMARIN. PMU stands for pregnant mare urine. I also have two thoroughbreds and two mustang fillies. I never had a horse as a child and once our children were out of the house and FINALLY on their own, I adopted Sunni and then the others. Sunday Stills Challenge for November 28, 2010.

"S" is for sprinklers...ABC Wednesday 112410

If I take my morning walk after 7:00 a.m., the SPRINKLERS are on at the golf course where I walk. I've become fascinated by them! They are so interesting and often create little mini-rainbows if I catch them just right in the SUNLIGHT! I have to be careful, however...one morning, I nearly got SOAKED by one! ABC Wednesday for November 24, 2010.

Mt. San Jacinto~Scenic Sunday for 11/21/10

As I took my morning walk yesterday morning, the storm clouds were moving in and they partially hid Mt. San Jacinto. The desert is just so much more interesting when we get a storm rolling through! There is a snow forecast down to 4,500 feet, so this mountain should have some snow on it by this morning or during one of the next two storms forecast to roll over our desert. Scenic Sunday for November 21, 2010. I wonder what this morning will bring?

High tech vs. Low tech~SSC for 11/21/10

We have two can openers in our house...an old fashioned one and an electric one. I notice that when hubby makes his infamous "turkey chili", the electric one comes out because there are various cans of tomato sauce and beans to open! Of course, I get to clean up the kitchen when he is done! High tech/low tech...SSC for 11/21/10.

"Riders" ABC Wednesday 111710

These two RIDERS RODE RIGHT by us when we stopped at Williams, AZ for breakfast at the Pine Country RESTAURANT. There was a little girl watching them and this one blew her a kiss! ABC Wednesday for November 17, 2010.

Coffee mug~Sunday Stills Challenge 111410

Hubby and I love to stop in Williams, AZ whenever we are headed to Flagstaff and we ALWAYS stop at the Pine Country Restaurant, which is right across the street from the visitor center and the Grand Canyon Railway. If you want a good, hot meal, this is the place to come! Oh, and their pies are great, too! I bought a coffee mug one time we stopped there and I use it quite frequently at home. It brings back wonderful memories! Sunday Stills Challenge for November 14, 2010.

Palms and sunrise~Skywatch Friday 111210

I'm out walking again in the mornings at a new spot, one that isn't in the shadow of our nearby mountains. This was the view yesterday morning. There was a slight breeze and it was chilly here in the desert southwest. SkyWatch Friday for November 12, 2010.

Old building~Window Views and Doors, Too~ 11/11/10

I wonder what stories this old building could tell? We found it outside of Oatman, AZ. Hubby wandered off and was taking his own photos and received a friendly warning from a rattlesnake! Of course, he heeded the warning and backed off. Window Views and Doors, Too for November 11, 2010.

Quiet river~ABC Wednesday and Watery Wednesday 111010

Hubby and I stopped along the Colorado River last weekend to take in these views of the Bill Williams River. There were 9 kayakers quietly going up the river and we stopped to watch them. They silently moved by the reeds and if you click on the top photo, you can see them. We enjoyed this moment of QUIET tranQuility! ABC Wednesday and Watery Wednesday for November 10, 2010.

Tree stump~Outdoor Wednesday 111010

Sometimes a simple object can be the focus of a photo, like this tree stump near Flagstaff, AZ. There's a lot going on in the photo, like the new pine trees growing by it, and the tree branch next to it. I like to just sit and look at it and wish I were outside in the forest. Outdoor Wednesday for November 10, 2010.

Aspen leaves~Mellow Yellow Monday 110810

There were just a few aspen with leaves still clinging to them at Sunset Crater this past weekend. I zoomed in on this one! I like the clouds in the sky, too! Mellow Yellow for Monday, November 8, 2010.

Oak Creek Canyon~Scenic Sunday 110710

Hubby and I drove over to Arizona for the weekend. We both took a day off work (and a day away from stress!) to drive up along the Colorado River on the Arizona side. We are staying in Kingman, AZ and yesterday we got up early and drove to Williams for breakfast. Then, we drove through the aspen forest outside of Flagstaff and out to Sunset Crater. The aspen near Flagstaff were pretty much gone, but there were still some out at the crater. Then hubby suggested we drive down through Oak Creek Canyon. Oh, my! While the aspen were past their prime, the oaks and other trees in the canyon were in full glory! We spent over two hours there and enjoyed every minute of it! There were a lot of people out enjoying the last burst of color, too! I'm glad we visited the canyon while we were in Arizona. We were there a few summers ago, long before the leaves turned, so this was indeed a feast for the eyes! Scenic Sunday for November 7, 2010. For other participants, please visit: http://scenicsunday.blogspot.com/

Meal~Sunday Stills Challenge 110710

Hubby and I are in Arizona for the weekend. Yesterday we drove from Kingman, AZ to Flagstaff, and then down through Oak Creek Canyon. After that, we stopped at our favorite place to eat in Flagstaff, which is Brandy's Bakery and Restaurant. I ordered the turkey melt, which had sliced turkey, green chilis, and muenster cheese and hubby ordered the southwest melt, which had sliced roast beef, swiss cheese, and a poblano tomato chutney. Both sandwiches came with a side of pesto mayo. We split an order of fries. Here is our late lunch (3:30 p.m.). That's hubby's sandwich. My photo of mine is too blurry to post! Sunday Stills Challenge for November 7, 2010. Fortunately, we have Internet in our hotel this trip, unlike our trip to the Sierras a couple of weeks ago!!!

Colorado River bridge

Hubby and I both took a day off work Friday and this weekend we headed over to Kingman, AZ. Along the way, we stopped at the Colorado River and took these photos. We headed up the Arizona side and stopped at Parker and then Lake Havasu City. We drove up the Vidal Junction road, which we hadn't been on for 37 years!

Halloween decorations~Sunday stills Challenge 103110

We went to our daughter's house yesterday for dinner. My cousins had just flown in from Alaska with the two year old son and were staying with our daughter and son-in-law for a week. These are the decorations she had up at her house. We'll be going back there for dinner tonight and trick-or-treat with our grandson and his little cousin! Sunday Stills Challenge for October 31, 2010.

Desert sunrise~SkyWatch Friday 102910

This was the sunrise one morning last week. SkyWatch Friday 102910.

Fall Foliage~Sunday Stills Challenge 102410

Hubby and I spotted this tree in Bishop, CA, right along Highway 395 last weekend. It must have been a maple tree because all the aspen were yellow and orange! Sunday stills Challenge for October 24, 2010.

Cars~Sunday stills challenge for 101710

Any takers? It's only $8,500! We drove by this antique car in Big Pine, CA on our way to the Sierras last weekend. Unfortunately, we didn't have an Internet connection our entire stay in Silver Lake. Sunday Stills for 101710

Sierras and rain~SkyWatch Friday 102210

As hubby and I drove home from the Sierras, we had rain on and off the entire trip back to the desert. This was south of Lone Pine. I stopped to take some photos of the rain slanting down in front of the mountains. SkyWatch Friday for October 22, 2010.

Open door~Window Views and Doors, Too 102110

This shed was right next to a pasture of horses and sheep and, of course, I couldn't resist checking it out. It is right across the street from the Ranch Cafe, near Olancha, CA, where the Crystal Geyser bottling plant is located on Highway 395. Upon closer inspection, I discovered that it was an OUTHOUSE! ACK! Apparently it hasn't been used for some time (thank goodness!) Window Views and Doors, Too for October 21, 2010.

Another view of Mt. San Jacinto

Here's another view of Mt. San Jacinto, the mountain in my header. I took this one last weekend when I was out and about early Saturday morning.