Geogypsy

26 August 2022

Foto Friday Fun 482: every picture tells a story

This week’s Foto Friday Fun features images chosen by three readers including flowers, Grand Canyon, and pets.

Gypsy chose #3118, “for a full moon hike day and year.” I do love the full moon and don’t have a plan for September, yet. I did get to watch the full moon rise many times at Grand Canyon but not where this cloudy shot was taken from the Grand Lodge.

Diane and Nigel chose #1908. Some small, unidentified, pink flowers in the Drakensberg Mountains of South Africa.

Sherry chose #9350. Beavertail cactus buds and flower with spider taken in Congress, Arizona.

Most recent pets. It’s International Dog Day, don’t tell Sierra. During the summer of 1997 I began selling at a fleamarket in Carson, Washington. I also got involved with a man and figured I needed a dog, puppy Carson came into my life. He outlasted the man and traveled with me for 11 years. I didn’t figure on another pet after that. Yet when my best friend died of cancer, her cat owned me.

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

24 August 2022

Intermittent Arizona monsoon rain around my valley

My heart just isn’t into writing a blog post. I can’t even imagine why you’re here, reading this. Week after week of Arizona monsoon rain. Hope you enjoy the photos as much as I enjoy making them. I suspect a high percentage of readers only come for the photos anyway. That’s OK by me. Thanks.

I’ve come to the conclusion, that by hook or crook, I will NOT be on the ranch next year during July and August monsoon rain. Wasn’t the original plan for this year, but shit happens.

I have almost seen a full year in Skull Valley. So, I’m telling myself I was meant to be here for the heat, followed by monsoon, humidity, and storm energy.

I’ve had endless time to shoot video, time-lapse, and series photos of rapidly changing cloud patterns.

Instead of thinking lazy, it’s about learning at a slower pace. Some days just move slower than others. The storms are exciting.

I’ve tried to capture lightning with the camera set on tripod and timer but instead I caught cows.

And ended up with 70 images of the same view under a changing sky…

…then selected six at five minutes apart for a fun series almost like a time-lapse. But no lightning.

Most of my recent photos are taken from inside because the bugs eat me up and I swell and itch something terrible. They even get me in the house. After a long day inside putting out a video about Watson Lake I ventured out for some panoramic shots that didn’t include the power pole or lines. But not for long, as our tall damp grasses and weeds offer perfect breeding ground for those aggressive skeeters.

The sunset was magnificent and I took another series of shots this time on the phone over 35 minutes of dramatic change.

Should have taken time-lapse.

Now that I’ve figured it out, I’m hooked on time-lapse. Once the camera is set up I can mostly ignore it and work on the computer. So instead of gazing endlessly at the cumulus clouds billow and blow in a hypnotic dance, I watch later in accelerated time. I’ll use those in a video about Arizona monsoon rain.

lightning strikes 8-17-22 storm splits around my door step

Downloaded a lightning tracker app that mimics the radar storm patterns that most frequently miss my valley and move over the mountains.

Monsoon rain makes for colorful sunsets.

I moved the trail cam thinking I’d catch the playful squirrel family on the wood pile jungle gym. The woodpile is too busy of a pattern for background, and the squirrels are small, though entertaining to watch through a window.

West Brushy Mt

East Bradshaw Mts

Not all the rain misses me. Sometimes I see lightning less than a mile or two away and I’ve felt the thunder right overhead. I love that energy and am glad to be well grounded on rubber tires.

Recognize Brushy Mt?

I seem to experience the heaviest of monsoon rain on town days in Prescott. The drive home showed some ominous skies.

I’d never seen Skull Valley wash flow let alone churn it’s muddy waves. Made me wonder if my driveway wash would be passable.

Ran into a cow jam in the driveway as they helped themselves to my neighbors load of expensive hay for her horses. Thankful to drive across my merely damp wash made it easier to unload the days spoils.

Those heavy clouds dropped only gentle rain and a streak of sunshine lit a brief gift to end the day.

Interesting shift in the typical summer monsoon rain pattern from the south/southwest.

Recent storms coming from the north hit hard in my valley. I lost count of the lightning and thunder. The noise and energy was palpable.

So I set the phone to video, pointed at a rather bleak gray view, and recorded the sound. Wish I could capture the smell and energy vibrations of this monsoon rain.

Does this shift mean Autumn is on its way?

OK, I feel better now. I hear rumbles coming and there’s currently no mosquitoes in the house.

Arizona, monsoon, photography, Places I've been, Skull Valley, United States lightning, monsoon, monsoon rain, photography, rainbows, thunder, time lapse, video 20 Comments

19 August 2022

Foto Friday Fun 481: every picture tells a story

This week’s Foto Friday Fun features images chosen by 13 readers including Southwest red rock, South African wildlife, and friends.

Rita chose #9207, one of two in a panorama. These ancient dunes turned to stone tell a story over time of changing wind directions that leave behind the lines called bedding planes. The Wave, Paria Canyon-Vermilion Cliffs Wilderness, Arizona/Utah border.

Jo chose #1900, the time of late guests arrival. This, a stream in her nearby Drakensberg Mountains, seen while hiking with her son during my 2010 visit to South Africa.

Sherry chose #8987. That’s me on the hike to the above Wave. Then entire landscape is amazing.

Alan and random dot org chose #381. Me on a another hike. In November 2010 headed down the South Kaibab Trail to Phantom Ranch, the bottom of Grand Canyon. Plus that’s the view I was enjoying along the way.

Gypsy chose #3116. Grand Canyon from the North Rim Lodge. I believe you can see the trail I was on above, just right of center.

Sallie and Bill chose #7812. A herd of Buffalo at a waterhole in Addo Elephant National Park. Not the best shot, but hopefully you can see our Bison, called buffalo, look nothing like these true Buffalo. Happy Birthday Sallie!

Cathy chose #0004. While on safari I saw more sunrises than normal for me. Best time to see wildlife. This shot from Pilanesberg Game Reserve, South Africa.

Jodee and Bill chose #2516. A stormy last light and the Vallecito Mountains in Anza-Borrego Desert State Park.

Liberal Warrior chose #1982. A few days earlier than the above shot, last light on the Santa Rosa Mountains, Anza-Borrego.

Diane and Nigel chose #1308. Today is Diane’s birthday so her greeting comes from Sasha, a dog she met while visiting the Southwest. I only wish the two of them could have made it to White Pocket with Sasha.

Barb chose #1717. A morning view of Grand Canyon from the Transept Trail on the North Rim.

Jennifer chose #0816. My RV view of Transept Canyon the end of April, 2014. Yes, that’s spring, and before the North Rim Grand Canyon National Park opens May 15th.

Jeff chose #7772, “what we spent today to fill the RV freezer with Marion’s pizza.” It must be good and I hope to hear more about those pizzas. In Addo Elephant National Park, South Africa, what’s good is watching wildlife by a waterhole. In fact these elephants were seen earlier on the same day at the same waterhole as the above pictured Buffalo.

My choices in celebration of Diane’s birthday today, when Nigel and her visited me at Grand Canyon June 2016. We also went to Lee’s Ferry along the Colorado River. So glad I met you both. Happy Birthday my friend!

Do you have a favorite this week?

Thanks for the memories

I love meeting people in real time, and also online. That’s why I’m organizing a meetup. I’m really leaning towards early October on the North Kaibab National Forest, not too far from Grand Canyon.

Foto Friday Fun photographs & memories 8 Comments

The gypsy life spring-summer 1998 - "You were a real pioneer. RV'ing before it was cool." ...Yogi

How do you process photos? - “Your photographs create an Emotional feeling in the viewer...that they become One with You.” …Cindy

Life’s transitions between travel and work play - "I know you love your job as much as you love travel -- it shines through all your posts." ...Sallie

Lions at Kruger National Park - “Wonderful post, thank you. I was hooked start to finish!” … Peter B

11 lessons looking back 2013 - “A great post -- made me think, made me smile, made me want to cry." ...Sallie

Wildlife video Kruger National Park - “Gorgeous, this makes me want to go straight to South Africa now.” … Ayngelina

Living nomadically & connecting to nature documentary - “What an experience you had and gave to the "crew." Sometimes I think you don't realize how unique and inspiring you are.” …Alan

Foto Friday Fun 482: every picture tells a story

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Intermittent Arizona monsoon rain around my valley

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Foto Friday Fun 481: every picture tells a story

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Push my buttons!

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