I started Foto Friday Fun almost five years ago right after my 2013 birthday. I thought it would be a meme where readers would also post on their blogs using a weekly number. It didn’t quite work out that way but it’s OK. March is special, it’s my birthday month. This coming Monday in fact. Funny how many of the oldest photos for this week came from the month of March over the years. 
Not only do I consider MY birthday to be MY special day it is also the day I rolled out a new blog look in 2012 with my own domain on WordPress instead of BlogSpot that I started in October 2008. So here we go with photos chosen by 11 readers choosing a number from my photo files.
Rita chose #6999. The granitic boulders in Joshua Tree National Park often look like building blocks. Saw this pile along the Barker Dam Trail while hiking 3/29/15.
Diane and Nigel chose #1603. By the third week in September fall temperatures are changing colors on the North Rim of Grand Canyon.
Jim and Diana chose #11, “as that’s how many days it is until we cure our hitch-itch.” This shot of me is less than that many hours old, and I was born with wanderlust. I wrote about changes in my life over time and historic changes I’ve lived through. I am into herstory.
Pam and John chose #3061, one photo out of five in a panorama. This pool sits along a trail not too far below the Great Waterfall along Meirngspoort, one of many mountain passes I drove during March 2013 in South Africa.
Jodee and Bill chose #9511. Look closely for the Southern Rock Agama sunning at Augrabies Falls National Park, South Africa. I celebrated my 60th birthday there.
Sherry and David chose #4045. These blooming Rhododendrons grew along walkways at the sweet little chapel of St Patricks on the Hill in Hogsback, South Africa, a land of magic and hobbits.
Yogi chose #9978. A rather blurry shot of a Blacksmith Lapwing seen in Pilanesberg Game Reserve, South Africa during March 2014.
Jeff chose #1316, “Usery’s Ranger B mentioned that 13 of the 16 North America’s venomous snakes are found in Arizona.” Well if we had mongoose like these seen playing on a log in March 2010 at Kruger National Park, South Africa, it wouldn’t be a problem. According to Wikipedia: “They are adept at such tasks [killing snakes] due to their agility, thick coats, and specialized acetylcholine receptors that render them resistant or immune to snake venom.”
Patti and Abi chose #670. My first visit to South Africa in March 2010 Joan took this shot of me at Bourkes Luck Potholes in the Blyde River Canyon Nature Reserve.
Donna chose #957. I woke up the morning of my birthday in 2011 to the sound of this Golden-fronted Woodpecker tapping away in San Benito, Texas where my mom was living.
Sallie and Bill chose #323, “for next Friday’s date.” Only off by one day, this shot from 3/24/09. Day one for the daffodils Berta bought me for my birthday.
My choice behind the scenes from a recent and quick visit with friends who were volunteering at Casa Grande National Monument where I did a thorough visit in 2011 and earned my JR badge.
Because I have a work related meeting in Flagstaff Monday morning I considered going in person instead of a conference call and then celebrate my birthday once again at Grand Canyon. Seems appropriate as the canyon was gifted to me by friends in 2005 and I also celebrated there ten years later. But instead I will celebrate with Yarnell friends. I will try to post soon about what I’ve been doing for the last few months.
Thank you for playing along with Foto Friday Fun which allows me to share these photographs and memories. Please join in next week by leaving a number between 1 and 9999 in your comment below.
Do you have a favorite this week?
The fact that we get so much fun from these photos of the past from you, is I am sure equally shared by you with memories. Love the shot of you at Blyde River Canyon, this also brings back so many memories for me when Mum and I camped there in 1978. We had an amazing holiday driving from Salisbury right down through RSA, driving the garden route to Capetown , and back via Joburg where I arranged to start my new job. Wow that was a long time ago.
2303 for next week please. Have a fabulous weekend and happy birthday for Monday. Hugs from us both. Diane and Nigel
Nice to know my memories can evoke memories for you also. Thank you for the birthday wish. Have you down for #2303.
Love the cute little baby picture of you Gaelyn,you have certainly done some travelling since then. You have achieved so much during your life, Anyway I wish you a very happy birthday for Monday have a great day. My favourite this week is the woodpecker in San Bonito. No 9789 for next weeks photo Friday please.
Thanks Rita. I’ve been a wanderlust all my life. You get #9789.
Yes, the cute baby picture gets a lot of points, but as always I love those Joshua Tree boulders. I also enjoyed your link to the past, thinking it might be a history of what has changed in YOUR life, but I did enjoy the comparison of external events from the past. Yes, things have changed a lot. I am ten years older than you are so most of those 50’s memories are from my childhood. I have no love for any of the 50’s nostalgia! So in honor of all that, let’s try 1954. 🙂
Thanks Sue. Many changes, not all for the better, but we’ve survived them so far. #1954 for you next week.
(Playa de Carmin had a beach campground way back when.)
Tried to reply to this and be the first one but I was using my phone and it wouldn’t let me put in my name or anything else so I’m back at my laptop.
Electronics are a real pain whatever good they do us.
What a great variety of pictures. My rhododendron reminds me of some I have hiked through in the Smokies so tall they were over our heads, so the blooms so big, the trunks and branches so thick you could get lost. It was like a jungle. Love those pictures of you. Who knew that sweet baby would grow up and go to South Africa. I’ll take number 4218, the day we leave confinement.
PS – In all the rigamarole I almost forgot to wish you HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!
I really don’t understand the techno things. Like they have a mind of their own. Rhododendrons bloomed that tall in southwestern Oregon. Thanks for the birthday wish. You get #4218. Glad to hear you’ll be back on the road.
The Barker Dam Trail in Joshua Tree is a very neat little trail with lots of fun rock formations. I love the jumbo rocks in that park. Our photo choice could be from here in Utah!! Rock and water doesn’t get much better:) Such a cute baby:)
#2303
I also enjoyed the Hidden Valley hike. There is a lot of red sandstone in South Africa. #2303 for you.
Loquat trees are good for the birds or rodents, very messy! But thanks to Donna’s selection I finally have a ‘eh’ picture. Baby pictures are always a favorite as are water falls. But I like my selection with “Rikki-Tikki-Tavi” on the log and your nice verbiage.
Next week I’d like 1550 the capacity of Slaon Park the Spring Training Home of the Cubs. My new favorite Cactus League ballpark.
Yes, that tree’s fruit was all over the ground and messy but did bring in some wildlife. Thank you Jeff for always leaving such fun, and informative, comments. #1550 for you next week.
Every pic is a gem Gaelyn, so much to enjoy! I love the pretty little green pond. My agama is definitely my favorite though, as we are finally seeing lizards sunning on the rocks here in Nevada.
#8511 for next week please.
Thanks Jodee. The warm temps have brought out lizards in the high desert of Yarnell too. #8511 for you.
Well Happy Birthday, a day early!! I could use a companion mongoose. The copperheads and rattlesnakes are waking up here with the warmer weather.
I love the pic of the woodpecker!
I am 618 for next week.
Thanks Yogi. You know how birthday month is. #618 for you. Do watch out for snakes please.
Like so many of your friends out here, I love Foto Friday … thank you and congratulations for keeping it going . It didn’t work out as a meme, because none of the rest of us are as organized (or as talented for that matter) as you are! Happy Belated Birthday to you and thank you for giving me the gift of that gorgeous daffodil planter in ‘my’ picture. Daffys were always my favorite flower (and still would be if I were ever where they bloomed in the Spring)…. Not having them is my payback for not suffering through Winter I guess. Loved all the pictures. I would like 41 for next week because I’m excited about April!!
Dear Sallie, you are too kind. Dafs are a sign of spring to me having grown up in the Illinois. No snow is the trade off. Thank you for the kind words. #41 for you.
From baby pic to first trip to South Africa trip – what a life’s story! And, you have such an inner peace smile on your face, you were happy in that moment.
Next week #680
Thanks. Glad to see you could comment. I did an update and hope that solved the problem. #680 for you.