My online journal where I share my interests in photography, nature, journaling, fountain pens, bicycling, coffee life, spirituality and the mystery of it all.
I like people. I like photography. I like putting them together. Its fun pointing a camera and lens at people and then pressing the shutter button. I like the interaction I can have with them, watching them relax as the session moves along, watching them laugh, move to create poses. If done right, its fun for all and good images will present themselves.
It started falling yesterday morning around 7:00 am and continued to snow all day long. Sometimes heavy but mostly just a light wet snowfall. I think these spring snows are pretty but I do not want the cold that always seems to come with it. Sun is shinning and expected to reach 45 degrees then back into the 60’s and 70’s tomorrow. Have a good week!
Technology has added much to our lives but along with it has come side effects. First, we’re so accustomed to these technologies that life would seem unbearable without them: electricity, gas, clean water, supermarkets, medicines, etc. And, arguably, some side effects may cause more harm than benefit. We have come to feel our luxuries are really necessities such as television, microwaves, phones, automobiles, etc. Can’t live without them. But can we?
I was taking in all the beauty while walking the path along Spring Creek when I realized I could not enjoy this beauty without the my glasses. For me my glasses are both a luxury and necessity. I had to laugh and knew I wanted to write about it. But first, I wanted to know who invented or discovered eyeglasses? Using one of my other technological tools I did a google search.
Wikipedia states: The earliest written record of magnification dates back to the 1st century AD, when Seneca the Younger, a tutor of Emperor Nero of Rome, wrote: “Letters, however small and indistinct, are seen enlarged and more clearly through a globe or glass filled with water”. Thus began the invention of using optics so “I” could see on my walk. Without optical technology I would not be looking at the world through my glasses or camera or writing this post. And, that would not be a good thing. 🙂
And, it’s snowing this morning.
At one of the stops along the road in Arches National Park I noticed the Common Paintbrush were blooming, and usually do from March to June. They are also called Slickrock Paintbrush or Early Paintbrush. The desert is a harsh land so plants find ways to survive in this arid land. This plant is hemiparasitic (partiallyhalf-parasite). It is a water parasite that survives drought by attaching to the roots of other plants using them as a source of water.
Strange as it may seem I was drawn more to the plants such as these Paintbrush and the twisted junipers. The rock formations were amazing but looking within inches of you was just this incredibly amazing world.
“You can search throughout the entire universe for someone who is more deserving of your love and affection than you are yourself, and that person is not to be found anywhere. You, yourself, as much as anybody in the entire universe, deserve your love and affection.”
Gautama Buddha
“We must make the choices that enable us to fulfill the deepest capacities of our real selves.”
Thomas Merton
I’m heading north for Colorado and home. Will drive through Arches National Park on the way and scout things out. Maybe we can have a meet-up there.
“What day is it?”
It’s today,” squeaked Piglet.
My favorite day,” said Pooh.”
― A.A. Milne
I decided to stay one more day and head back tomorrow. So this morning I headed out to meet the rising sun and was greeted by a choir of birds and one lone howling coyote.
“I travel not to go anywhere, but to go. The great affair is to move.”
Robert Louis Stevenson
Still in Phoenix. Teasing my parents that I’m moving in with them now that I’m retired. For some reason they are not laughing. Anyway, I met up with this guy on my way back from a morning of shooting on the Peralta Trail. He was standing along the road. I stopped, rolled down the window and asked for directions. No response, only the stare. So, I grabbed the camera and took a photo. It’s amazing to me they can live in such a harsh environment, eating cactus does not seem feasible, but they do.
I’ll be back on the road tomorrow, heading home. I plan on taking a new route and pass through the Moab area.
Well, I arrived in to Phoenix yesterday evening about 6:30 pm, an hour later than I expected. Even though I left Cortez early I found myself stopping way too often. When I awoke I could hear the wet pavement from passing cars. But I was in for a surprise when I stepped outside my hotel room and found 2-3 inches of snow on my car. Glad I did not pitch the tent. 🙂 Below is an image taken just west of Cortez before sunrise. What a beautiful serene morning.
I arrived in Canyon De Chilly about 9:00 in the morning and spent more time there than I expected, which was not enough time. The scenery was breath taking but not as much as the sacredness I felt there. There were very few visitors because of the cold and snow from the night before and it is still early in the season. Loved the quiet of walking to vistas and looking out over the canyon. I had no desire to leave and will go back.
I took the above image along Highway 191 in northeast Arizona. You can see the storm system that moved through yesterday on the eastern horizon. You can also see the dirt on my lens. 🙂
If you enjoy scattered clouds against a blue sky then yesterday was the day for it.
I also made a quick drive through the Petrified Forest National Park. It was more than I expected, the colors and art work of nature at it’s best can be found in Painted Desert area of the park. It is called the ‘badlands’ for a good reason but what beauty in such a desolate and harsh land. Now to relax and spend time with my parents and eat!
Well, I chose plan B and got a hotel in Cortez, Colorado. About mid morning the clouds rolled in and by the time I got to Pagosa Springs it was a mix of rain and snow. So far I’ve driven through rain, sleet, hail and snow. Plan A was to camp and plan B was a hotel, thus the decision for plan B. Snow plows were out on Wolf Creek Pass while only light snow and rain on Konosha Pass, Red Hill Pass and Trout Creek Pass. Been and up and down day! It has been a beautiful and scenic drive. I’m expecting the same tomorrow as I head to Phoenix.
I found this small one room house in the South Park area. Sure has a big yard!
