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Foto Friday Fun 446: every picture tells a story

This week’s Foto Friday Fun features images chosen by 13 readers including the North Kaibab Plateau, Grand Canyon, birds and other wildlife.

Bison hybrids on meadows Hwy 67 North Kaibab National Forest ArizonaRita chose #731.  Visitors are happily surprised to see “buffalo” when driving past meadows to the North Rim of Grand Canyon.  They are actually an intentional bison/cattle hybrid descending from the early 1900s.  They are prolific and destroying habits for the native species.

Beaver dam on overflow Upper Peninsula Michigan Sept 1974Lisa gets #27 for the number of words in her last comment.  A 1974 print later scanned from canoeing above a beaver dam somewhere in the Upper Peninsula Michigan.

trees Colorado River mountains sunset clouds reflection Ox Bow Road Ehrenberg ArizonaSue chose #2021 from looking at my calendar.  Though a brilliant sunset not a calendar worthy shot taken along the Colorado River near Ehrenberg, Arizona February 2020.

Stormy sky Point Imperial North Rim Grand Canyon National Park Arizona

Stormy sky Point Imperial North Rim Grand Canyon National Park ArizonaDiane and Nigel chose #1012, one of two in a panorama.  A stormy view from Point Imperial overlook on the North Rim Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona.

Male lion Kruger National Park Mpumalanga South AfricaAlan and random dot org chose 1009.  A good place to spot lion in the morning while on safari, the warm roadway.  Kruger National Park South Africa, first visit in 2010.

BLM Cottonwood Springs Road Joshua Tree National Park CaliforniaCathy chose #6087.  Nice view camping on BLM just outside of Joshua Tree National Park.

Crocodile skull Elephant Museum Letaba Rest Camp Kruger National Park Mpumalanga South AfricaGypsy chose #1234, “One step at a time.”  Which is what you’d want to do around one of these crocodiles in the wilds on safari.  This skull was on display at the Elephant Museum in Kruger National Park, South Africa.

Sunset from Jumpup Point Kaibab National Forest ArizonaJodee and Bill chose #4021.  This sunset over Grand Canyon from the most remote place I ever drove to, Jumpup Point.

Five Turkey Vultures in tree top Hwy 67 North Kaibab National Forest ArizonaDoris chose #2063.  Five Turkey Vultures sharing a tree on the Kaibab National Forest in northern Arizona.  They are social animals and watch out for each other.  Or, there was a carcass nearby.

View leaving Tuweep Grand Canyon National Park ArizonaJo chose #2548.  A view up canyon from Toroweap campground.

Fall aspen along FR610 Kaibab National Forest ArizonaSallie and Bill chose #7453.  September colors starting to change the Aspen in the Kaibab National Forest, Arizona.

Bald eagle Padilla Bay Washington March 1990Sherry chose #10.  During 1990 I went to school at Western Washington University and spent some of my outdoor time at Padilla Bay where occasionally I’d see a Bald Eagle.

Raven at Swamp Canyon parking lot Bryce Canyon National Park UtahJeff chose #1222, “the James Webb Telescope is to launch that day.”  Ravens launch every day.  (Did you see how I did that?)  Seriously, at Bryce Canyon there seems to be an over familiar pair of Ravens at every overlook.  This one I saw at the Swamp Canyon parking lot during a 2010 visit.  But it might have still been there while I worked at Bryce many years later.

Christmas Downers Grove Illinois 1969Tis the season.  A 1969 version of tree decorating in my parents livingroom.

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 20 Comments

Packing the camper and gone to the desert

Saguaro cactus Cemetery Road Congress ArizonaPacking the camper seemed to take all week, at least a few hours a day, before I could finally leave for the desert where I love to spend the winter.  First stop a familiar sight.

bag of booze bottles packingPart of packing is first organizing what’s already in the camper.  I went through the canned food stash, which I consider mostly emergency food, and threw over half of it away being out of date anywhere from five to fifteen years.  I took the limited number of cans out of the 5th-wheel and put them in the stash.  Can’t be leaving liquid items behind that could freeze and burst.  Back and forth, with reusable grocery bags full of stuff to move.

Christmas tree on cheese boxes Skull Valley ArizonaGoodbye November, hello December.  How does a year filled with slow days go by so fast?

window view coyote tail Brushy Mt Skull Valley ArizonaLook closely for a busy tail disappearing behind bush, close to center

Coyote went past too fast for my camera.

Bradshaw Mts Iron Springs Road North ArizonaBradshaw Mts north to Prescott

desert trees mt sunset clouds Ferguson Valley Road Skull Valley ArizonaSunset in Skull Valley

Morning temperatures in the low 40s slow me down.  It’s not easy to heat the 36 foot 5th-wheel using only two small heaters on 30amp service.  But I get it together for a shopping day in Prescott, stocking-up in a big town like I might not see for a few weeks at least.  Still, I have to shop with discretion because my camper is a tiny house.  And yet, it takes all day to complete the chores.  And then I have more packing the camper.  Biggest score was 600 count, 100% Egyptian cotton, queen-size sheet-set for $25.  I bought two sets, for each RV.

fall trees boulders Brushy Mt Skull Valley Arizona

unidentified lizard Skull Valley ArizonaI like to take a day off after a full day in town, but there was a little more packing.  And the next day I had a few more chores in Skull Valley.

fall yellow Cottonwood trees driveway Haverfield Ranch Skull Valley ArizonaThe dump is only open three days a week and I had a bunch of garbage to get rid of before hitting the road.  Also needed to mail the last of the calendars.  (Hope they all arrived.)  Plus I wanted to check out a marvelous local driveway lined with huge ancient Cottonwood trees in hopes of fall color.  Got lucky with that.

Sierra cat on camper bed Congress ArizonaDon’t forget me

Still packing on Saturday.  A different kind of packing because the big house doesn’t have to be packed away, just no liquids left behind.  Yet the back and forth moving of the almost last minute stuff took all afternoon and I thought about putting off leaving one more day.

pigs Skull Valley ArizonaTime to slaughter (according to my landlord), yet I’d say looking a little lean

Naw, Sunday was good with only a little packing.  I fed the pigs my food garbage and had to winterize the 5th-wheel after a shower.  Joann was ready and hitting the road Sunday also.  We planned to meet and camp in Congress off Ghost Town Road, where I’ve been many times.

blackie cow sniffing metate Skull Valley ArizonaBlackie sniffing the metate

Yet I kept dragging my feet, wanting to both stay and go.  I finally convinced myself if I forgot something, I’m less than an hour away. It will be alright.

driveway wash Skull Valley ArizonaOver my driveway wash

 signs Elephant curve SR89 Yarnell Hill ArizonaDown Yarnell Hill

truckcamper Saguaro cactrus mts Cemetery Rd Congress Arizona

Joann & Gaelyn campers Saguaro mts clouds Ghost Town Rd Congress ArizonaPulled into camp Congress by 3pm where Joann had parked by the huge familiar Saguaro bird condo.  She made us salad, spaghetti and bread for dinner.

brush wash mts clouds Cemetery Rd Congress ArizonaAhhhh……  a sigh of relief.  No more packing.  I am embraced by the desert apricity.  It even smells different here.  We spent a good part of the day chatting, sitting outside in the sun and shade, sitting inside one camper or the other.  We took walks, separately and together.

stock tank Cemetery Rd Congress Arizona

scum & dead moths stock tank Cemetery Rd Congress Arizona

Sparrow bird stock tank Cemetery Rd Congress ArizonaI walked to the stock tank and a bit beyond under clear skies and 70°.  Perfect, except for all the military flyover.  Their noise disturbs my harmonics.

campfire Cemetery Rd Congress ArizonaJoann likes campfires and gathered enough wood for about an hour pre-sunset burn.

mt sunset clouds moon Venus Cemetery Rd Congress Arizona

crescent moon Venus Cemetery Rd Congress ArizonaThen time for the moon in alignment with Venus.

Saguaro mt sunrise clouds Cemetery Rd Congress Arizona

desert Vulture Pk sunrise clouds Cemetery Rd Congress Arizona

desert mts clouds Cemetery Rd Congress ArizonaSunrise blazed and a soft orange glow hung over the horizon all day under chilly gray skies.  Amazingly the solar panels kept charging enough for my minimal usage and even charged Joann’s phone a couple times.

battery & cooler in minivan Cemetery Rd Congress Arizona

portable solar panels on minivan Cemetery Rd Congress ArizonaShe has portable solar panels and a solar charged battery plus a 12volt cooler/freezer combination.  It held its own that day but never got to 100% charge.

Saguaro desert mts clouds Cemetery Rd Congress Arizona

desert Vulture Pk sunset clouds Cemetery Rd Congress ArizonaI stayed inside most of the day doing my usual labeling photos and occasionally jumped outside for a photo.

desert mts stormy clouds Cemetery Rd Congress ArizonaThe next morning’s heavy cloud cover limited color then danced all day like stormy seas.  Another good day to mostly stay inside.

Gila Woodpecker bird Saguaro Cemetery Rd Congress ArizonaLater the sun came out and tried to break up the clouds so I went for a very quick walk as it’s cool at 63° with a breeze.  Even the Gila Woodpeckers were sticking close to home.

tree sunset clouds Cemetery Rd Congress Arizona

campfire coals Cemetery Rd Congress ArizonaSunset again spectacular as our evening campfire burned to a bed of coals.

window view rain desert clouds Cemetery Rd Congress ArizonaBecause Thursday was predicted to rain we had decided to make it our town day.  Morning was gray but opened up briefly giving Joann’s solar panels a little burst.  Then the sky turned gray and we went to Wickenburg about thirty minutes away.  That Goodwill hasn’t raised prices so we shopped and I got a few books.  While we did laundry Joann’s battery was plugged in and charged.  What a pit place with 90% of dryers out of order.  Picked up a few groceries and it rained a bit on the way home.  Unpacked just before it started to rain with meaning which kept up most of the night.  There were puddles.  A special gift in the desert.  So glad it wasn’t the snow falling in northern Arizona.

Joann decorating tree Congress Arizona

Christmas tree RV window Saguaro Congress Arizona

Ornaments Christmas tree Congress ArizonaPuddles were gone shortly after sunrise on another chilly gray day.  The stay home after a town day became craft day in my camper.  Joann already had a flat tree made from garland and a string of tiny battery operated lights.  She’d bought a bag of miscellaneous small wooden ornaments at the thrift store.  Plugged her glue gun in and decorated the 18 inch tree.

Christmas tree Congress ArizonaIt’s decorating my window for a few days and her camper next.  I haven’t decorated any kind of Christmas tree in many years.  Lots of laughs and fun.

moist dry wash Cemetery Rd Congress ArizonaMoist dry-wash

Mornings are a little chilly in the low 40s but once the sun gets high enough to charge my solar, if there’s no wind, the afternoon is nice to be outside in high 50s/low 60s.

Joann by boulder Date Creek Mts Congress Arizona

Joann Cemetery Rd Congress ArizonaJoann took a walk at least half a mile to the foot of the Date Creek Mountains to our east.  Not quite a quarter way up a humongous granite boulder stripped with thick veins of white quartz was calling her name.  When she texted me “I touched it.”  I zoomed in for a photo.

cow pies in campfire Cemetery Rd Congress ArizonaMy walk was closer to camp looking for down and dead branches for our evening campfire.  We even tried burning flat dried cow pies that worked quit well with no smell.  It’s actually just as available as wood in this rather picked over camping area.

inside Joann's TT Cemetery Rd Congress Arizona

kitchen Joann's TT Cemetery Rd Congress ArizonaJoann left her trailer and returned to Prescott to take care of some business so I’ll be on my own for a few days.  I can handle that.  The sun is shinning with only a few wispy clouds.  I’m done packing and in the desert.  Sure feels good.

bumper rocks Cemetery Rd Congress Arizona

Arizona, Congress, Places I've been, RV life, Skull Valley, Sonoran desert, United States , , , , , 29 Comments

Foto Friday Fun 445: every picture tells a story

This week’s Foto Friday Fun features images chosen by nine readers including diversity at Grand Canyon, a wedding couple, and boats.

Zebra suckling from underground birdhide Addo Elephant National Park South AfricaCathy chose #7490.  The campsite at Addo Elephant National Park, South Africa, is a short walk to an underground bird-hide and fence where many animals came in to the water-hole including these Zebra.

Flowers at campsite Cedar Breaks National Monument UtahGypsy chose #1203.  A very different campsite view than above, flowers in a forest at Cedar Breaks National Monument, Utah.

Rock Squirrel in White Fir tree Bright Angel Point Trail North Rim Grand Canyon National Park ArizonaAlan and random dot org chose #638.  Chubby Rock Squirrel perhaps not so randomly choosing a White Fir to snack in along the Bright Angel Point Trail North Rim Grand Canyon National Park.

Ribbon Falls Grand Canyon National Park ArizonaDiane and Nigel chose #312.  Ribbon Falls as seen towards the bottom of Grand Canyon not far off the North Kaibab trail as seen on my third rim-to-rim hike across the canyon.

Ray & June Olmsted married 1-3-1947Sherry chose #5.  My parents, Ray and June on their wedding day 1-3-1947.

Ron & Zowie sailing the Tanzer on Lake Union Seattle Washington cropped May 1988Sue chose #1988, “the first year I saw cryptobiotic crust in the wild in Utah.”  (You had to be there, or read last week’s Foto Friday Fun.)  This shot is from May 1988, husband and step-son sailing our new boat, 22’ Tanzer, on Lake Union in Seattle, Washington.  (More of this story at the end.)

Clouds around Freya's Castle Cape Royal North Rim Grand Canyon National Park ArizonaJo chose #2911.  Clouds lifting from Grand Canyon can be like the clouds we carry in our hearts.  When they rise, so do we.

Devils corkscrew Bright Angel trail Grand Canyon National Park ArizonaSallie and Bill chose #208.  Crooked trails, like the Devils corkscrew along the Bright Angel trail, can lead us up and eventually out of Grand Canyon.  Though when I took this panorama photo on 5-5-08, my first rim-to-rim, I wasn’t so sure I’d make it.

Crane Lake Hwy 67 Kaibab National Forest ArizonaJeff chose #2112, “for the number of ounces in the 6 kilos of shrimp we returned with.”  Nice haul from Mexico.  You wouldn’t catch shrimp in Crane Lake on the North Kaibab National Forest seen along the Hwy67 drive to the North Rim Grand Canyon.

stained glass sailboat gift Seattle WA 1988

Tugboat race Gift Seattle WA 1988My choices this week also from 1988 and feeding off Sue’s photo of the sailboat.  Some of the last of my stained glass work were gifts.  The first shot to the person we bought our sailboat from and they gave us free berth on Lake Union for a summer and we lived onboard.  And the other to the owner of the 1940s tug boat (on left) leading in the tug boat races at Harbor Days in Olympia WA.  He turned his tugboat into a Bunk and Breakfast on Lake Union.

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 26 Comments

Lijit

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