This week’s Foto Friday Fun features images chosen by 12 readers including diversity in South Africa, human and nature’s art, Mt St Helens and area mountains.
Jo chose #2006. “I won this in ZAR [South African Rands/$] on the Lotto – aiming for the US Jackpot next!” I hope she wins and visits the US to claim it. Sadly, no jackpot for me when visiting her backyard where I saw this colorful grasshopper while hiking with her son in the Drakensberg Mountains. (BTW Jo, many here want to know why you can watch YouTube so remotely in ZA while they can’t in say France or North Carolina.)
Jennifer chose #4222. A South African drive under stormy skies on the way to Hermanus along the Indian Ocean where I spent my birthday, March 2010.
Rita chose #4023. The day before the above South African drive I was underground exploring Cango Cave.
Barb chose #3400. Metal sculpture of a Tapir by Ricardo Breceda and displayed at Galleta Meadows in Borrego Springs, California.
Sherry chose #5879, “for the sad number of steps I walked today.” I doubt this familiar to her performer has to count steps. Hopi hoop dancer Derek was a regular for many years at the North Rim Grand Canyon’s annual Heritage Days. Held in August, but not for the two COVID years, I didn’t see his name on the agenda for 2022.
Gypsy chose #1022. “Back to the Future date (2015) We’re traveling time all the time…but what were you doing? Near date, I had 2nd grandkid, Phx valley had an earthquake and comet had Rosetta land!” Me, I was watching lions at Kruger National Park, South Africa.
Diane and Nigel chose #208. They might remember the “fence stories” from 2008. Berta and I spent a lot of time on this project and an overnight storm blew it down.
Alan chose #8158. The beauty of Autumn Aspen’s gold against the every greens as seen in the Kaibab National Forest, northern Arizona. It’s this kind of luscious colors that makes an early October meetup in this area absolutely perfect. Are we there yet?
Liberal Warrior chose #1987, “my son’s birth year who is finally getting married tomorrow.” I was about his current age back then and already married. Took art classes in Wenatchee, WA but never did master paint. Dang watercolors always turn to mud.
Jeff chose #3486, “the number of miles from San Diego we’ve traveled to reach our turnaround point.” He’ll eventually return to this serpent (note his profile pic). Another one by Ricardo Breceda.
Sallie and Bill chose #819. Made by worms much smaller than the previous pic. These are tracks left behind by worms or bugs under tree bark. Think it would make an interesting rubbing with paper and pencil. Saw this along the Widforss Trail on the North Rim Grand Canyon National Park.
Cathy chose #1793. Back to South Africa, the Drakensberg Mountains in Jo’s neighborhood, and the same hike.
Mt St Helens south flank
Spirit Lake
Mt Rainer
Mt Adams
My choices from August 1998, was that really 24 years ago. I was working at a resort south of Mt St Helens and went for a ride to my old stomping grounds and where I started my career as a Ranger.
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
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Hi Gaelyn. Those Drakensberg mountains look very dramatic, and I love the Hopi Hoop dancer. My favourite this week are those Lions just sitting in the middle of the road, they look so calm and innocent that it’s hard to believe how dangerous they can be. There is eight of them so is this what they call a pride of lions? No. 9207 for next week please. Have a great weekend.
I fell in love with those dramatic mountains. But then I fell in love with the entire country. Lions often sleep on the warm pavement overnight and we were on our way back to camp in the evening. Yes, that’s a pride. #9207 for next week.
Oh WOW, Gaelyn, my heart stopped when I saw the image which Sally’s number had evoke – I thought, I KNOW that mountain. The grasshopper in my winning number’s image is called a “intothoviyane”. We had plaques of them in Zululand in the 80s. Re the YouTube access; I’ve always watched it from any country I’ve lived in in Africa. I’m about to check if I’ve subscribed to your channel. My number for is 1900 (my guests were THAT late checking in my 14 sleeper tonight. Ergh) Have a great weekend. Jo
Lots of pics from your homeland this week. Thanks for naming the grasshopper. The only place I couldn’t get signal in South Africa was Kalahari. Sorry to hear your guests were so late. #1900 for next week. Be well.
Well this is a bonanza of great pictures. Love the Hopi dancer of course! And am sorry to hear he is not on the 2022 line up. I hope nothing is wrong. Too bad our grasshoppers aren’t as attractive an intricately colored as that first picture. The “Lion Jam” made me laugh out loud. I loved being part of a bear jam but would probably love a lion jam even more. Love the wormy wood and agree that a rubbing would be terrific and so artistic but I also would love to have and frame your “muddy” watercolor. I loved it!! So many great shots. I’ll try 8987 for next week.
Thanks. In the fall I saw Lubbers (large grasshoppers) that are very colorful on the ranch. And now I get cow jams, I’d rather see lions or bears. #8987 for next week.
I loved the photo of the worms that travel on the bark of a tree. I’d seen similar sites over the years but never wondered what it was.
Next week according to random dot org is 381
I’m sure the worms or bugs under tree bark aren’t doing the tree any favors. But the end result is cool looking. #381 for next week.
Such variety of environs! I loved I got lions and your “time travel”. Spelunking yes anytime, and that one so alive. I missed seeing that little tapir when at the great metal sculptures. I don’t understand the ZAR/Lotto reference yet. Was it winning money or a photo contest? Thanks Gaelyn. I don’t think I’ve chosen this one before, and keeping track, but feels familiar- #3116 please. Scott Kelly returns after 340 days on the ISS; that’s 5600 orbits. Christina Koch has the longest stay for female astronaut!
Thanks. Caves are awesome but I think my crawling through holes days are over. The South African ZAR stands for money. ZA is the abbreviation for South Africa, Saudi Arabia gets SA, and Rand is their money. Rate of exchange is currently about 16 Rand to 1 US$. #3116 for next week.
I have always been fascinated with those worm tracks on trees. Our one here really would make a neat rubbing~ lots of beautiful pictures here this week. Enjoyed the PNW memories at the end and the l not-quite-as-local ones from the Grand Canyon and area. And the ones I can only dream about ever seeing in real from South Africa. So wonderful. I have watched most if not all of your youtubes and I *think* I subscribed but I will check; I don’t do much youtubing so I might have got it wrong. Next week #7812 (random).
Thanks. I’ve been missing the PNW. Maybe next summer. #7812 for next week.
Those Drakenburg Mountains look quite inviting & ready to be explored. My favorite this week is Spirit Lake – quite the beauty! I was at Heritage Days Saturday and saw the Yavapai Apache Warriorettes perform. Sadly missed earlier days performances. Maybe next year!! So for next week #0004
You’d love the Drakensbergs, so lush and rugged. When I finally get back to the PNW, I look forward to seeing St Helens and Spirit Lake again. I was never disappointed with the performances at Heritage Days. #0004 for next week.
I’m not a grasshopper fan but that one is a beauty! Love those lions taking their breaks on the road – “you humans can just wait!” Fun to see some of Breceta’s sculptures, it’s been too long since we’ve been there.
oops – 2516 for next week!
Got it.
Some bugs are prettier than others. Been too long for me also to Borrego Springs. However, you’ve seen lots of sculptures on this current journey. #2516 for next week.
Water coloring is just tough to do/ There are no do overs like oils etc.
Mt. Adams The Farm is directly south and not far away from Mt. Adams which is actually two mountains, On our foraging run into town yesterday* for the weekend crowd, we took a different route to Snowden Rd. and I saw a great photo opp of Mt. Adams. Unfortunately I had neither a phone of a camera but will return for the Harvest Moon and again for the Hunters Moon and grab a pic or three.
It appears that there is going to be and abundant ‘Choke Cherry’ harvest this Fall so looking forward to that.
*A young Black bear was in the drive on the way out yesterday so that was number two in my recent wildlife encounters. Number one was nearly colliding with a 5-point deer in our driveway as I stepped out from the front of my truck. He must have been scared by the big helicopter coming in to land at the Roseburg airport which we are under the ‘final approach’ and he was heading rapidly to the presumed safety of the river. We were just inches apart. The deer graze in our neighborhood yards and on Dad’s strawberries.
#1982 for next week
I understand color but paint is not my medium. So you are either staying or returning to The Farm over the next few months. Nice. I remember a reflection lake for Adams that the mosquitos would carry you away. Black bear is an exciting sighting. Deer wander here regularly. They were considered the most dangerous to animal keepers because those hooves are deadly. I’d graze Dad’s strawberries too. #1982 for next week.
Paint _ I do my painting in PhotoShop.
The Farm_ Got here last Monday will return through Central Oregon to Roseburg on Monday.
The Mt. Adams Pic I want to capture will have a classic 150-year old barn in the foreground.
We are seeing a lot more bears in the area around The Farm.
In the late 50’s a friend of my mother’s was killed by deer hoofs by a deer that went through her windshield and the hoofs caught her in the neck.
We are having unusually cool weather here at The Farm.
Lightroom for me.
That wouldn’t be the NWR barn would it?
Less habitat, more bears residential.
As an animal keeper I was told the deer were more dangerous than the cougars.
Better cool than cooking.
Hi Gaelyn we never had a problem with WiFi in South Africa 23 years ago, and certainly no problems in the UK for the short time we lived there, France is far behind, but they are trying hard to catch up. Just living in the country, as we do, we are at the end of the line. We had been doing banking on line in RSA for years, we arrived in France, and at that stage, if we wanted to check our bank account we got charged every time we went on line with “dial up”. Things have progressed to a degree that you cannot buy anything online now without a mobile phone, but I have to say that often that does not work. Very frustrating.
Love all the photos, the Drakensburg brings back incredible memories. I would love to return but…. We also always love the Hopi Hoop dancing. The favourite though is the tree that had all the artistic worms at play.
1308 for next week please and the 19th is also my birthday 🙂
Keep safe and have a fab weekend. hugs from us both, Diane an Nigel.
Twenty-three years ago I barely knew how to use the internet. Never thought of France as a “third world country”. I use my laptop more than my phone for a lot of internet stuff, including ordering anything. After years of dial up, I sympathize. Funny, the worm art tree seems everyone’s favorite. #1308 for next week. Hope you have something special planned for your birthday.
A great bunch of pictures chosen this week.The little tapir in my pick is cute. Don’t think I’ve ever seen that one before in any other blogs. Loved the Drakenburg picture #1793 & your picks of Mt. St. Helens and Spirit Lake. #1717 for next week.
Thanks. So many awesome sculptures in Borrego Springs, I’ve not seen them all. #1717 for next week.
A wonderful variety. I think the lions are my favourite! Great adventures all, though.
#0816
Thanks. #0816 for this week.
Really like those pictures of the PNW! But I do miss the Borrego Serpent and other sculptures.
For next week I’d like 7772 ($77.72) what we spent today to fill the RV freezer with Marion’s pizza.
Thanks. I get that filling the freezer with pizza, Marion’s must be really good. If I was in Illinois, I’d be filling the freezer with Italian Beef, or maybe Chicago style pizza. #7772 for next week. I like your style.