This little, yellow-faced, active bird is a Verdin. It is found in the arid Southwest in small shrubs and brush. The bird was feeding and singing but would not leave the safety of the tree. This is the very best of 20 photos and I am actually pleased with it as the Verdin is sharp and I like the natural habitat for the photo. This is only the second Verdin I have ever seen, great song.
Lost at Sea /
Or at least that is what it feels like soon after you cross a few sand dunes in Death Valley NP. You can see the mountains but you quickly lost track of direction in wave after wave of dunes. But it is, besides hot, very beautiful with patterns and changing colors as the sun moves. And a surprising amount of green.
White Carpet /
Once again at the Brookgreen Gardens in SC. It must be painfully obvious to anyone who reads what I write about the flowers I shoot that I know nothing about them. I rarely even know the name. Tthese were striking to me with the fallen petals from an overhanging tree coating the ground around these tulip-ish flowers. I need to buy an ID book of flowers.
Fillmore? /
This VW van has been sitting for a long time along Route 66 in Seligman, AZ. This is the town that provided the story that became Disney’s Cars. It is not the location they would pick, that was in New Mexico, Tucumcari, where a similar story was told but with better scenery. However, it was here the the genesis of the movie began with an interview with the town’s barber. His shop is still here and is 7/8 museum and a bit of room left for him to cut hair. Still active in his 90’s but post Covid he has not returned to barbering.
Check out the color of the VW van in Cars: https://lumiere-a.akamaihd.net/v1/images/open-uri20150608-27674-cgj9fg_d8016c13.jpeg?region=0%2C0%2C2048%2C760
Aptly Named /
If you were to suggest a name having viewed this bird, cinnamon, might come to mind. Cinnamon Teal just seems so perfect. This one is feeding in one of the small ponds at the Henderson Bird Viewing Preserve in Nevada.
Detail /
There are whole hedges of these flowers at Brookgreen Gardens and they make a spectacular background as you walk through the gardens but up close a single blossom is even more beautiful.
Where? /
Not where is this taken, you may have guessed if you have been viewing pages recently that this photo is from the Alabama Hills near Lone Pine, California. Rather the question is where does this path lead and you cannot know that for sure until you crest the ridge and even then the path will often still be obscured. Much like our lives. We may have an idea where we are going or a plan but how far down the path can we really know? Twists and unexpected turns, career moves, accidents, illness, opportunities and challenges mean that life is a constant series of adjustments to changes. But you can trust in One who does know. It requires faith & grace and obedience to actually go. In my opinion the secret is momentum not simply the destination.
“The Lord had said to Abram, ‘Leave your native country, your relatives, and your father’s family, and go to the land that I will show you.’” Genesis 12:1 NLT
Found /
Just ran across the shot of Kellen and the Volvo on a covered bridge northeast of Lancaster, PA in the heart of the Amish country. We were hoping to find one where we could also get a bit of sunset. Success.
New Day /
On the Gulf Islands National Seashore in Florida we watched the sun rise over the gulf. A lovely place to camp and walk.
Spring Shade /
The beautiful Brookgreen Gardens south of Myrtle Beach along Route 17 is a delight. Stunning flowers and landscapes. It was originally started to show off the sculpture collection, now I think the blooms have taken precedence over the marble and copper statuary.
Energy /
Flock of sandpipers at Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge. They are skittish birds and when one decides it is time to leave they erupt off the sand in an instant.
Morning Light /
The sun just beginning to light up the eastern range of the Sierra Nevadas as seen from the Alabama Hills.
Memorial Day 2021 /
A small portion of the National Cemetery where nearly 14,000 union POW’s were buried during the 14 months Andersonville prison was open. A truly horrific place. Grateful that my ancestor, George Washington Leasure, 103 Pennsylvania Volunteers, survived.
All that Glitters.... /
These canyon walls were a dull mustard yellow on the way into the canyon. We progressed about 1/2 past this point and turned around. On the way bak the setting sun lit this wall and it was dazzling. No need to wonder why this trail is named the Golden Canyon.
“Truly, I love your commands more than gold, even the finest gold. Each of your commandments is right. That is why I hate every false way.” Psalm 119:127, 128 NLT
Slide /
These two kids found a natural slide in the Mosaic Canyon in Death Valley. They were having a lot of fun on the rock that had been worn smooth over years of wind and floods in the canyon.
132 Years Ago This Weekend (3 photos) /
May 31, 1889, on Friday to be precise, the dam broke 20 miles upstream from Johnstown, PA and in a short time more than 2000 people died. It is now a National Park Unit and one I was able to revisit with Kellen in April to get a couple of photographs. The first photo shows the area below the house that was the recreational lake and filled most of the valley. The second photo is where the earthen dam broke away.
One story. Cindy’s grandmother, Isabella Davison was in route from Northumberland, England to the Pittsburgh area. At that time there was one train line west from the Mid-atlantic and the Northeast and it was across Johnstown. Needless to say the railroad was destroyed in the flood and she was delayed on her journey. She - according to family lore- then made the trip after train service was resumed. It was one week and photo three shows the trestle that was built in five days. It was 400 feet long and 80 high. She was a brave lady.
Anna's Hummingbird (2 photos) /
I was pretty excited to catch this little fellow at a feeder in Henderson, NV. Both the male and the female were taking turns at the feeder. Brilliant colors on this Anna’s with startling reds and a strong white streak from the eye.
Low Down on Death Valley (2 photos) /
Welcome to the lowest place in North America. The Badwater Basin, a small salt pool of water, is 232 feet below sea level and is surrounded by 60 square miles covered in natural salt pans. It was hot here in the spring, well past 90 degrees but that does not compare to the 130 degrees set last August the 17th.
This iso the actual salt pool that is 232 lower than sea level. As the name implies it is not safe to drink.
Not Recommended /
While in Death Valley you may be tempted (see what I did here) to play a round of golf on the Devil’s Golf Course. There is no par and no one finishes well. This is a salt formation that averages about 30 inches high and they are filled with sharp edges so even walking too far in this is not a good idea. While we were here a man showed up with a club and a couple of balls and hit them out into the distance. And, no, he did not go after them.
Sand Curtains /
The dunes in Death Valley National Park are extensive and lead you quickly into a wilderness when you drop down off one or two ridges and suddenly it is much more quiet, hotter and you are not completely sure - except for your footprints, which way is back. It was disconcerting to think you might have to walk across acres of this - not that we did but what a challenge. I was also interested in the vegetation. Did not really expect too much but there were several shrubs and a few grasses. It was blooming time for the small trees and the yellow blossoms were attracting lots and lots of bees.
