Don't Get Me Started On Winter...

There's a lot of beauty in summer. But sadly, summer is coming to an end. There are a lot of things I am going to miss about being home during the summer. Like my fields of flowers. I sure am going to miss them. There are all sorts of different flowers there.

Check out the white spider, sitting in the middle of the next flower.

I am going to miss the hummingbirds.

And how they hover over the flowers.

I am going to miss the butterflies.

I am really going to miss the things I see at my pond. Like the Cat tails, and the strange looking grass that grows around the edge.

And I'm absolutely going to miss seeing Timmy, the turtle. I hope that he'll be alright over the winter. He's so cute! And I rescued him. I found him trying to cross the road around my neighborhood. I think I saved his life. He could have been hit by a car.

Just look at that cute little tail of his. I really think he loves his new home.

And let's not forget all the animals I see in my backyard. Like the deer. True, I will still see them out my window over winter.

And the many, many different birds. Speaking of birds, I found this feather, on the ground, from a Wild Turkey.

Oh, look! There goes those Turkeys. I sure will miss seeing them. Although, come to think of it, I will see them out my window this winter too. They are always wandering around my yard.

I sure will miss seeing my favorite squirrel, hanging in his tree, right outside my window, on a hot muggy day.

And my neighbors horses, they'll be keeping warm in their barn all winter.

But I am looking forward to fall. Fall brings out a lot of colors. Just look at the colors already, on the berries in my yard.

Come to think of it. May be I won't miss summer all that much, because Fall brings out a lot of beauty too.

But don't get me started on winter!

Brush Fire Gone Wild

One thing about traveling... there's never a dull moment. Take for instance, yesterday. You might not be aware, but there is a bush fire currently burning in the Lebec area, of Tejon Pass (in California, just north of LA on Interstate 5). It has scorched through 1,100 acres so far. I call it: Brush Fire gone Wild.

I give a lot of credit to the firefighters. They are dealing with elements of a wildfire such as; cross-country hiking, standing on steep slopes (I'm sure they endure bruises, cuts, & scrapes), lifting and moving branches/brush/debris out of the way, working for long hours, even weeks on end to put them out. And in this case, they are putting up with 104 degree temperatures outside (as per my thermometer on the dash) to go along with that extense heat, of the fire. That has got to be one dangerous, sweaty job. It involves a lot of physical and mental effort to contain a massive fire like this one.


  As I neared Lebec, CA the smoke loomed high in the sky. In the air was helicopters and airplanes, fighting to get this fire under control. There are houses/business at stake should this fire spread further. 

As I got closer to the fire, I saw part of the mountain smoldering. This part must be some what under control already. But I'm not completely sure.

And as I came around the side of the mountain, I could see flames shooting up tall. I stared in awe. And then realized, I had put my camera down; instead of getting pictures. I swear the flames made the smoke light up in orange.

At one point the sun peirced through the smoke.

There were choppers refueling on the ground. There were choppers in the sky, headed off to dump water on the flames.

Then I got to the backside of the mountain. I took a look back to see a big puff of smoke hanging in the air, like a mushroom cloud. I snapped a couple shots in the mirror, looking behind me.

As I traveled further away, all I could see was smoke drifting above in the skies. And a slight burning smell in the air.

I spotted another part of the mountain, that was smoldering, down further from the brush fire. It appeared to be somewhat under control. And a helicopter was there fighting it.

And the most amazing thing to me, was at the end of the day. How that smokey sky, created the most beautiful sunset. Although, it was very hard to look directly into. I think the camera lens really captured it.

The last shot before the sun completely vanished behind the mountains. The warm glow it gave... breath-taking.

Where Earth Meets Sky

The last couple of nights in my travels, the sunsets have been extraodinary. On the first night, while driving through Iowa, as the sun went down it was enormous on the horizon. You know, the sort of sunset that makes you feel teeny tiny. It's humbling. I took some shots, but driving in a moving vehicle, with the light going down fast... I'm not sure I did the above sunset much justice.

The next evening, as I made my way through Utah, there was a rainy drizzle in the air. And the wind gusts were pretty powerful, making it hard to hold on to the steering wheel. Both hands were required. But the strong wind did something else. It created a haze in the sky. But I'm not complaining, all that dust made for one extraordinary sunset against the mountains.

And wouldn't you know it... directly across from the fading sun, where earth meets sky, the moon was shining bright.