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Foto Friday Fun 467: every picture tells a story

This week’s Foto Friday Fun features images chosen by 13 readers including sandstone in many places, several 1900s oldies, and a black White Rhino.

Sedona Red Rock Country AZ

Sedona Red Rock Country AZSue gets #145 for the number of words in her last comment (same as the week before).  Turns out to be one of four in a panorama taken in Sedona, Arizona.  One of many places I toured with a friend after she traveled to Arizona with me after my 2007 season at Oregon Caves.

Paria Canyon-Vermilion Cliffs Wilderness AZ fff467Sherry chose #9595.  More colorful sandstone, this time located northwest of above, along the hike from the Wave.

Bright Angel Creek Grand Canyon National Park ArizonaJeff chose #148 for “the 148th running of the Kentucky Derby.”  There was no running going on during my first, or any other, 2008 rim to rim hike across Grand Canyon.  After about five miles down, the North Kaibab trail follows Bright Angel Creek through Bright Angel Canyon.

Slot canyon White Domes Trail Valley of Fire State Park NevadaAlan chose #8185.  Once again more sandstone, further northwest in Valley of Fire State Park, Nevada.  A short yet exquisite slot canyon along the White Domes Trail is easily negotiated.

Ron hiking the Norway Pass trail Mt St Helens National Volcanic Monument Washington summer 1992liberalwarrior gets #119 for the number of words in his last comment.  My ex-husband hiking the Norway Pass trail during my first season at Mt St Helens National Volcanic Monument in 1992.  Twelve years after the eruption showed lots of Fireweed and even some green regrowth.  (Scanned and digitized)

Gaelyn Champagne IL summer 1971Rita gets #35 for the number of words in her last comment.  A 1971 mini-print, later scanned, of me getting ready to board the canoe my boyfriend was in.  Taken in Champagne, Illinois.

Shells & bird skull Yarnell AZDiane and Nigel chose #605.  This cropped photo was taken in 2009 but the shells and bird skull were collected many years before.  It was a still-life sitting on a table in Yarnell, AZ.

Sunset North Rim Grand Canyon National Park ArizonaJennifer chose #2301.  A panorama sunset over Grand Canyon from the North Rim Lodge.  Rangers get paid in sunsets.

Derek hoop dancing Heritage Days North Rim Grand Canyon National Park ArizonaSallie and Bill chose #5622.  Hopi hoop dancer at Heritage Days on the North Rim Grand Canyon National Park.

lake boulders clouds Watson Lake Prescott AZCathy chose #9531.  Watson Lake in Prescott, Arizona features boulders of granite surrounding the waters held back by a dam.  Later, the clouds turned into a gorgeous sunset and a full moon rose over them eventually.

Leisure View Caravan Park Leisure Bay South AfricaGypsy chose #5809 for “my first real solo journey…”  Well, I wasn’t solo for this first time camping at Leisure View Caravan Park in South Africa near the every delectable Mac Banana.  Pretty campground huh?

White Rhino & Zebras Kruger National Park South AfricaJo chose #4175.  A White Rhino covered with black mud watched by a Zebra at Kruger National Park, South Africa.

Bride Gaelyn Sharkos resturant reception Lisle IL June 1980Doris chose #15, “the length of a new canoe I just bought.”  My wedding day, June 1980, and it lasted 15 years.  Our canoe was 17 feet, and we took the kids on the Boundary Waters in Minnesota for two weeks, and decided to move west from Illinois to Washington.

Yellow Tanzer sailboat Lake Union Seattle WA May 1988My choice from May 1988, the little yellow sailboat my ex and I lived on for a summer moored on Lake Union, Seattle, Washington.

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

Foto Friday Fun 28 Comments

Slowly moving into the 5th-wheel while watching wildlife

Blackie & calf in yard Skull Valley AZAfter a winter away from my Skull Valley home, I had cleaning to do before moving into the 5th-wheel.  It was a slow project with wildlife watching in between loads.  The neighbors stopped by.  And, I celebrated my birthday again with a friend.

Gaelyn gate Skull Valley AZThe familiar drive home from camp Congress was uneventful and nobody changed the lock on the gate.

Two RVs Skull Valley AZOnce parked and level I felt no rush for moving into the 5th-wheel.  Good thing, as when I went inside there was mouse poop, just not as bad as expected.  Everything from countertops down needed a thorough scrubbing including washing all items in the cupboards and drawers.  I set out mousetraps.  The next day would be soon enough.

grass trees mt sunset clouds Skull Valley AZInstead I took a short walk.  I’m back in a different yet familiar environment.  High Chaparral is sort of desert-like with small and sparse cactus.  It’s arid with primarily grasses, manzanita, and Arizona oak.

Rattlesnake Weed Skull Valley AZunidentified white flowers Skull Valley AZunidentified white flowers Skull Valley AZ

Gordon's Ivesia flowers Skull Valley AZYellow Spiny Daisy flower Skull Valley AZunidentified yellow flowers Skull Valley AZ

                     Clockwise: Rattlesnake Weed, ?, ?, ?, Yellow Spiny Daisy, Gordon’s Ivesia  (Please chime in)

I found a few flowers.

desicated Spiny lizard Skull Valley AZAnd a desiccated Spiny lizard.

boulders sunset clouds Skull Valley AZPlus enjoyed a nice sunset over Brushy Mountain.

Ash-throated Flycatcher bird Skull Valley AZAsh-throated Flycatcher

The truckcamper makes a marvelous bird-hide.  Well, the windows could be cleaner for photography.

After a morning of computer work I couldn’t put it off any longer and started the cleaning process before moving into the 5th-wheel.  I hadn’t turned the water on yet because it’s difficult to be both outside and inside at the same time watching for leaks.  I cleaned and disinfected the stove, sink, and counters.  No mice caught.

The next morning, neighbors came by to trim the weeds.  The big black and white steer, Blackie, is friendly and likes his ears scratched.  Last fall he had one or two one-year olds following who I called Sidekicks.  This year his shadow is a young calf not even weaned.

outdoor dishwashingBack to cleaning.  All the holding tanks were empty, including the kitchen grey tank that drains miserably slow. I suspect the gate is stuck or broken that allows water to flow out, or not.  It’s on the fix-it list already.  But that meant I didn’t want to put water into that tank.  So, I set up an outside dish washing table and tackled the silverware drawer which also had mouse poop in it.  Later my landlord came by and watched outside with me inside when the water came on.  Yea, no leaks.  The second cleaning project for the day was mold removal from the fridge and freezer.  This occurred because the power plug was knocked out, most likely by my weed eating neighbor.  A change to this system is also on the fix-it list.

Flicker bird Skull Valley AZFlicker

You know I’d rather be watching the birds.

I took the next day off to visit with Joann.  She brought birthday cake with sparkler candles and we laughed a lot.  The only thing cleaned was me now that I had running hot water.

Roadrunner bird thru window Skull Valley AZRoadrunner morning window view from camper

Dull women signThe next day caught another mouse and I tackled more cleaning.  Two more drawers including their contents, and the cupboard with pots, pans, and lids.  I wiped down window wells and continued to work around the house cleaning what I could.  Yea, I know, everybody cleans.  But I’ll tell you, I’m not typically one of those people.  We all have a different level of clean and tolerance for dirty.  My motto: The dust is velvet and cobwebs silk threads.  My dirt, and I live with it.  Plus there’s the long soft fur of my owner, Sierra.

desert Plomosa Mts last light clouds BLM Quartzsite AZLast light on the Plomosa Mountains north of Quartzsite Arizona 12-31-20

That evening I finally finished labeling photos from 2020.  We also all have our own OCDs.

Spiny lizard on boulder Skull Valley AZI enjoyed a leisurely Saturday morning watching a Spiny lizard bask on a boulder.  I knew it would be the last day in the camper before moving into the 5th-wheel.

Joann came over to help me ferry stuff back and forth.  I would fill reusable grocery bags in the truckcamper then unpack them in the Big House.  There’s a little more, but nothing crucial.  Very much saved my poor shoulders.  She tried to vacuum but the old machine’s motor finally bit the dust.  Sierra was the last to be moved and after a lengthy walkabout, settled in to her bigger home.  I love that she’s so adaptable.

thru window Roadrunner Skull Valley AZRoadrunner rushing off

What happened to April?  Thank you all for subscribing to my Youtube Chanel.  The month ended with 113 subscribers.  Please keep spreading the word.  I’m shooting for at least 100 new subscribers every month.

Sierra cat on lap at desk Skull Valley AZOver the next couple of days, we settled back into the Big House.  Sierra likes being able to lay on my lap.  It’s too tight in the camper so that’s not an option.  As I sat at the computer working on photos, blog posts, and video, wildlife wandered into view.

Now that I’m mostly done moving into the 5th-wheel I’m thinking about where to travel to next.  Or at least after some repairs are done.

Javelina Skull Valley AZJavelina, just one of the herd

I think I added Google AdSense to the blog.  Please let me know if you see it and what you think.

 

Arizona, moving, RV life, Skull Valley , , 22 Comments

Foto Friday Fun 466

This week’s Foto Friday Fun features images chosen by 12 readers including panoramas for big landscapes and bridges, crazy crystal shot, a little snow, snake, bird, and two-seater.

Ogden Bridge OR

Ogden Train Bridge ORTwo-shots stitched together

Ogden Scenic Wayside Bridges ORAll four shots, what happened

Sue gets #146 for the number of words in her last comment.  One of four in a panorama that just doesn’t come out quite right.  The Ogden Scenic Wayside Bridges in Oregon over the Crooked River, but I’m not sure what road.  Help me out here Sue.  I’m pretty sure this was seen along a journey south to Arizona from my 2007 Ranger job at Oregon Caves.

Sunset thru crystal Yarnell AZ

Sunset Yarnell AZJodee and Bill chose #301.  Sunset through a crystal that hung in my RV window taken in December 2008.  And with the same number and Yarnell view without the crystal in January 2009.

View S over pool The Wave Paria Canyon-Vermilion Cliffs Wilderness AZJennifer chose #9191.  She LOVES rocks so should enjoy this view below, and with backs to, the iconic Wave.  The erosion of ancient sand dunes turned to stone reveals the bedding planes we see as curves and ripples.  They indicate which way the wind blew on the dunes.

Gaelyn on Lodge veranda North Rim Grand Canyon National Park ArizonaJeff chose #1862, “the Battle of Puebla took place on 5 May 1862.  It’s been celebrated in California as Cinco de Mayo since 1863.”  So this is not on May 5th or drinking a margarita but celebrating ice cream on the Lodge verandah, out of uniform a rare event.

Badwater Death Valley National Park California

Badwater Death Valley National Park CaliforniaGypsy chose #0205, “for one Death Valley trip.”  One of four in a panorama shot of Badwater Basin on a Death Valley trip to see the Super bloom during February 2016.

Sunset over Badlands from Fonts Pt Anza-Borrego Desert State Park CaliforniaDiane and Nigel chose #3004.  Sunset over the Badlands from Fonts Point in Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, California.

snow meadows Hwy 67 S Kaibab National Forest ArizonaAlan chose #1252.  Late April 2009 driving towards the North Rim Grand Canyon National Park before it’s open to the public.  Over ten years I saw this Spring view differ from buried in snow, flowing with water, brilliant green, and bursting with tiny flowers.

Wandering Garter Snake Rainbow Rim trail Parissawampitts Point Kaibab National Forest ArizonaJo chose #8353.  Just a harmless Wandering Garter Snake seen along the Rainbow Rim trail near Parissawampitts Point on the North Kaibab National Forest along the rim of Grand Canyon.  I’d been driving around looking at Autumn colors.

Gail Olmsted 18 months 1955 Studio in IllinoisRita got #45 for the number of words in her last comment.  Yup, that’s me at 18-months old taken in an Illinois studio in 1955.  Seems the 50s were big at this type of posed photography.

Crane Lake Hwy 67 Kaibab National Forest ArizonaCathy chose #2111.  Lush green meadows filled with tiny white flowers surround Crane Lake the end of August, 2010 and during monsoon.  Another scene along the drive to the North Rim Grand Canyon along SR67.

Raven Desert View South Rim Grand Canyon National Park ArizonaSherry chose #5120.  This Raven’s territory seemed to be near the Desert View Watch Tower on the South Rim Grand Canyon National Park.  Staff from 2016 stopped at this far eastern overlook after three days of training and headed back to the North Rim.

Outhouse at North Rim Lookout Tower North Rim Grand Canyon National Park ArizonaSallie and Bill chose #526, “a granddaughter’s birthday.”  Wonder how she’d feel about this old two-seater seen at the North Rim Lookout Tower I hiked to in 2009.

Ed Hoffmann White Pines State Park IL May 1974

Gaelyn at White Pines State Park IL by Ed Hoffmann May 1974I frequently go back as far as I can find for the current month, in this case May 1974, long-time friend Ed at White Pines State Park, Illinois.  He took the photo of me the same day and place.  Sadly, he died of cancer last year.  Though I’m sad he’s not here I am happy for the good memories.

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

Foto Friday Fun 28 Comments

Lijit

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