This week’s Foto Friday Fun features images chosen by 12 readers including Illinois, Oregon, Arizona and South Africa. Plus seems a reason for coincidence with Berta images as this month marks the third year since her passing.
Doris chose #361. Not quite the oldest photo as I usually try to choose, but darn close anyway. And besides this month marks three years since Berta died of brain cancer. It was a cold December morning when I got a call and Berta whispered, “I have a baby pig in my arms.” What?
Jo chose #1500, “the time I attend a Zoom meeting today.” This is from the time I attended my 40th high school reunion in Illinois, and visited my old stomping grounds walking canyons in Starve Rock State Park.
Cathy chose #0482. Another memory of time spent with Berta this time visiting Bandon in October 2014. She once lived in Bandon and we were there for an AA convention.
Diane and Nigel chose #2506. A little history found in my room at the Old Mill Lodge in Oudtshoorn, South Africa. I spoke to Boy about my search for mountain drives and he suggested the nearby Swartberg Pass Road which I dearly loved.
Jennifer chose #1425. Being a wildlife lover and photographer I hope she understands about this shot of Baboon scat taken in Kruger National Park, South Africa. Sure glad you have a great sense of humor Jen.
Rita chose #1099. From my August 2011 trip of a life-time, rafting on the Colorado River as a National Park employee.
Sherry chose #9820. Another highlight memory seeing this leopard in Pilanesberg Game Reserve in South Africa.
Lisa chose #328. In 2009, Berta gave me a bouquet of daffodils for my birthday. Was such a joy to watch them slowly open over several days.
Alan, a new commenter, chose #718. I never tire of seeing and photographing the meadows on the North Kaibab National Forest during drives in and out of Grand Canyon National Park over the ten summers I worked at the North Rim. This is a July 2009 glimpse of the luscious green just outside the park’s entrance station..
Alan and random dot org chose #3735. A visit to Kidds Beach in South Africa during February 2013. Been too long since I’ve been to the shore.
Sallie and Bill chose #148. Oh how loved that view, watching wildlife, and listening to Cave Creek burble past camp, container garden with fresh salad every night. I was a camphostess at Cave Creek campground while working as a Park Ranger at Oregon Caves just two miles apart during the summer of 2007.
Jeff chose #4152, “the number of wildfires CalFire mentioned in their briefing thus far this year.” Very scary and disturbing. The Kaibab National Forest, where this one of six in a panorama shot was taken, has closed the forest for recreation to reduce the chances of human caused fires. Took this shot in July 2014 after leaving Jumpup Point.
Sometimes it’s difficult to pick just one photo from your numbered choices or discover a hidden gem, so I frequently process others. This #148 brought me back to Ribbon Creek flowing into Bright Angel Canyon during my second rim to rim hike across Grand Canyon in May 2009.
And then labeling photos from March 2020 makes me homesick for the diversity seen in the Sonoran Desert during winter.
Thank you for playing along with Foto Friday Fun which allows me to share these photographs and memories. For more of the story just follow the links. Please join in next week by leaving a number between 0001 and 9999 in your comment.
Do you have a favorite this week?
Thanks for the memories.
I love the meadow photo! Let’s do 72 for next week, as that is how many days it has been since we arrived in Michigan to our un excavated build site for our cabin.
Thanks. I miss those flower filled meadows on the North Kaibab. You have gotten much done in those days. #72 for next week.
Sharing memories of your friend Berta surely brings a smile and warms your heart. The surprise of… a baby pig … lol. And the daffodils you received to enjoy as the blooms opened. Wonderful friendship. Next week #0524
I miss her every day. #0524 for next week.
I am so sorry for your loss. You were such a great friend.
I love my photo! You are right. I love to laugh and I love science. The scat tells us so much about the critters!!! #7777
Thank you. Miss her every day. I just knew you’d get a kick out of the scat. #7777 for next week.
As always great photos and interesting. Our favourite though has to be Berta with the little pig. Hard to believe that it was 3 years ago that she passed on. 207 for next week please. Hugs from us both, Diane and Nigel
Thanks. So many memories shared with Berta. #207 for next week.
The photo of Berta was so heartwarming. And yes, the poop shot was hysterical. as always, fun photos and so much fun looking back. For next week, 116 for our temperature last Sunday here in Grants Pass
It’s so hard to lose a close friend. Thankfully the memories of such a friendship live on. #9149 for next week please.
I think of Berta everyday as we have a long herstory. #9149 for next week.
Thanks. That’s a gruesome temperature for Grants Pass. #116 for next week.
I love the Cave Creek campground photo plus the small waterfall, all your photos are good! I’m using the 9’s complement from my number last week so it will be 6264
Thanks. #6264 for next week.
Lovely photo of your dear friend Berta,it’s so sad when we lose a friend but you have good memories of her Gaelyn. Love the one I chose “Rafting on the Colorado River” ,always fancied having a go at that, when I was much younger of course.Hope all is well with you. No 2139 for next week please. Enjoy your weekend.
Thanks, we did share a lot of herstory. Rafting the Colorado River was a dream come true. #2139 for next week.
Love, love, love, love, my leopard picture!! I can’t believe you saw him live, in person. Wow! Your view at cave Creek really was lovely. How wonderful to see that every day out your window. The flowing ribbon Creek picture is beautiful. That was on our bucket list for David and I a rim to rim hike but he never was able to do it. So rim having done it twice. I’ll try 7946 for next week.
Thanks. The leopard was an awesome sighting among many. I’ve been blessed with many good RV window views over the years. Glad I hiked rim to rim when I still could as now I’d need a sherpa to carry the pack, and maybe me sometimes too. 😉 #7946 for this week.
Dear Gaelyn I love the photo of Berta. Your forest photos are always so perfect. And the highway photo makes me look at what’s at the end. Thanks for sharing. My number for this coming Friday is 1796. Came into my head as I was typing, Have a great week. Jo
Thanks. You are always so kind. #1796 for this week.
I didn’t realize you did double duty while you Rangered at Oregon Caves way back when! What a beautiful campsite you had. Love the desert scene at the end too (talk about diversity — look at the difference between where you lived in Oregon and where you are now!.) It is bittersweet to see the reminders of your dear friend Berta. She was a sweetheart — I’m sure I’m not the only one of your readers who felt like we got to know her through you).
The camp host volunteer job was easy with only 18 sites and never more than half filled, plus a beautiful place to live two miles from work. Very different environment that now. I miss it during summer, but maybe not this summer.
Lots of readers did feel like they knew Berta and I’m glad. Help carry on her memory. #841 for this week.
Oops I did it again. 841 ??
I too feel like a ‘friend’ of Berta, even f just a virtual friend. Your pictures are always awesome, but you’ve captured a friend in your photo of Berta.
The city of Coronado has designated 13 Heritage Trees. For next week I’d like 4308, Coronado designated a Torrey Pine as its first of 13 Heritage Trees on April 3, 2008.
(Blog to follow …)
Thanks. I love this idea of Heritage Trees and look forward to reading more.