Tiny Planet (Part 2)

I've written about this app before, but I had kind of forgotten about it till today. How could that be? This is such a cool way to play with your pictures.

Just look at this cypress tree, 

shot down by the ocean in Santa Cruz.

(Click to enlarge if you like).

Cranes at sunrise,

flying over Bosque del Apache.

This was shot 

from one of the Storybookland Canal Boats 

in Disneyland.

This is the exact same shot as above.

Through the miracle of Tiny Planet,

you can set the image 

to swirl from the inside out 

or the outside in.

This is a huge version of Maleficent.

It's made completely of Legos!

It hovers above the Lego Store in Downtown Disney.

I think this shot looks better than the original!

And here's the Sleeping Beauty Castle.

Doesn't it look like it belongs in the film Up?

These last two were taken from the same image.

It was dusk, 

and we were driving through an aspen grove 

in New Mexico.

Isn't the light beautiful?

Isn't this a lovely app?  

It's available in the iTunes Store for just $.99

California State Parks

.
Like many long time Californians, I'm pretty depressed about the current camping fees. Where we used to go to local parks at the drop of a hat, now, not so much.

Even the day passes are $10, just to go in and hang for a couple of hours, outrageous!

So you can imagine how happy I was to discover the Limited Use Golden Bear Pass. For $10 a year (January to January), folks 62 or older can purchase this pass which entitles them day entrance into most state parks for about nine months out of the year (it excludes from the Friday before Memorial Day through Labor Day). It's good for the cardholder and their spouse or partner, as well as anyone in the car with them (up to 9 people).

Is that cool or what? It's certainly brought us back to the state parks. Not necessarily for camping, which is still very expensive and reserved for special occasions, but at least we can go and visit for a couple of hours at a time.

I wanted to share this with all of you who might benefit from these passes.

On to other things, I cannot believe that I am sick again! Last time it was flu, but this time it's a head cold. I have to say, I think head colds are the most miserable ailments. sore throat, runny nose, achy body.

BLECCHHHH, it sucks.

The worst part is that MacWorld has been the last three days. I managed to score free tickets (usually $45 per person), but just couldn't muster the energy to drive to San Francisco and then walk all over Moscone Center. It's the one trade show I usually look forward to, but I guess it just wasn't meant to be.

Since I've been sick,
I thought I'd include
a picture from my archives.

What I've Learned

.
It's been really interesting
going through my old pictures.

Lots of memories.

And wow, I think I really have
gotten better as a photographer.

Well, maybe not better,
but certainly more aware of what I'm doing.

And I clearly understand the computer better,

So here's a few more oldies.

Artist's Point in Death Valley.
We had been in the rig for less than six months
when I took this shot.

From around the same time period,
we were down by Hearst's Castle,
inside a glassed in arboretum.
I love this shot of the seagull
walking on the "roof".
This might be my first (of many)
seagull photos.

And once again,
Bosque del Apache.
I miss the cranes.

That's it for today

Spring, Bunnies and Bugs

.
We had a soft and gentle rain last night. When I woke up, it was still a bit overcast, but quickly turned into a beautiful day.

We spend a good amount of time
looking out our windows,
and this morning
this is what we saw.

Not a great picture I know,
but I was pretty excited
to actually get a shot of bunnies
while they were frolicking.

Here's another shot,
again, not great
but remember
I was shooting through a
less than sparking windshield.

With a bit of spring fever,
I took a walk.
The clouds were so pretty,
I decided to share a photo
of our spot here at the Bosque.

Buds are bursting everywhere.

A closer shot,
I'm still playing with the camera.

Even though these appear dead
they speak to me of Spring.

As do these.

One more sky shot
(can you tell I love the clouds?)

And I loved this shot of this bug.
Click on it to enlarge
and you'll see some incredible detail.
I am really pleased
with the drops
on the bottom of his wings.

And that's what I saw on my walk!

No Pelicans Today . . .

.
Having heard that the pelicans have come back to the Bosque, we went searching today, but to no avail.

That said,
the Bosque,
as always,
enchants.

I so love seeing the egrets.
For years, I've loved the paintings
from the 1930s
of these majestic birds.
These memories
always make me want
to play with their pictures.

I like the "western" look.

The clouds today were outstanding
white and shining
making for wonderful reflections
in the clear ponds of the Bosque.

And look at the way the sky
merges from pearly white
to the this gorgeous blue.
(click to enlarge and see all the detail)

Perhaps the pelicans
will show themselves tomorrow.

Bananas, Mosquitoes and More Pictures (of Course!)

.
Today's post will be mostly ramblings and some pictures.

So what else is new???

Bananas, I've been meaning to write about bananas. How do you buy your bananas? Do you just grab a bunch off the shelf in the grocery store? That's what I've always done till just a month or so ago. Then I stood in the vegetable section of the local Smith's and it struck me, what a fool I'd been! So I found two very ripe bananas and pulled them off their stalk and put them in a bag. Then they were joined by two half ripe bananas, then two very green bananas. And now, our bananas don't get ripe all at once, leading to those brown mushy things that are so disgusting!

A small thing perhaps, but I thought I'd pass it on.

In going through some of my pictures from the last couple of months I found some I wanted to post here.

This shot was taken through our tinted windows, one afternoon when the sky turned the most amazing color. Our windows do affect color, but otherwise, this was pretty much what we saw. We both think it had something to do with dust storms that had been kicking up for days.

Whatever the reason,
it was a pretty amazing sight.

The following shots
were all taken in the Bosque.
I never seem to tire of the views.

I admit to manipulating the color here,
but the scenery is all genuine
New Mexico.

And yes,
the water is this blue,
as is the sky.
What’s not to love?

Finally, shots from this lovely evening.
It was so colorful outside,
I had to take a few pictures.
The light changes by the second,
but what light it is . . .

Then I decided to try this panorama.
This is our view every day.
We often comment
and call each other out to see
the amazing turquoise blue sky.

Remember,
you can always click to enlarge
any photo.

And the mosquitoes?
They were outside
waiting for me
when I went out to take
these last two pictures.

They got me about a half dozen times
in just a few minutes.

Still . . .

Shine On

.
Last night we were walking over to our friends Dave and Rose's rig to play a game of Mexican Train when I saw the most beautiful Harvest Moon. Sitting right on the horizon, with just a wisp of clouds across its face, what a sight to behold.

Of course I didn't have my camera with me.

I ran in the rig as quick as I could, but when I came out, it had changed.

Still lovely, but not quite as dramatic.

Thinking along the lines of dramatic,
I started plating with it in Photoshop.

I love the "posterize" effect,
it's an art style I always appreciate.

Then I started playing with
the invert command.
I'm never sure what I'll get,
but that's part of the fun.

Then I started playing
with the colors and saturation
and got this.

Silly time wasting fun, but I sure enjoy it.

Wow . . .

.

In looking at the past couple of posts, I realize we're really into sort of vegging around. We know that we'll be going to the ranch in early May, and will probably spend a week or so in Albuquerque/Santa Fe between when we leave here and head north.

But for right now, we seem to be doing a whole lot of nothing.

Sometimes this makes me feel guilty. Like I'm squandering my free time that I dreamed about for so many years when I was getting up every morning and getting to the Post Office around 5 am. Having to get up at that ungodly hour affected my whole outlook on life. Having two days off never seemed enough. I would usually do chores or play on the first day off, then spend most of the second day worrying that I had to go to work the next day.

I dreamed of everything I'd do when I retired.

And now I so often find myself doing nothing. Am I wasting all this precious time?

It's hard to tell. I know I love reading books, especially those about early life in this amazing country. And I certainly enjoy movies, maybe more than I should. Then there's the computer, which I can lose myself in for hours at a time.

And of course there's photography, and the computer time that inevitably follows.

All this, and any time I want I can look up and see the sweet face I love so much across from me.

Hmmmm, maybe I'm doing something, just not what I thought I'd be doing.

And you know what's funny? I sometimes find myself getting up at 5:00am, just like I used to.

But now, it's my choice. And I don't have to hurry and run out the door, I'm free to watch the sun rise.

Or not.

No matter what I'm doing, I love my life.

Oh, and the quails are what I was doing this morning.

I wanted to make sure and include a picture of the female, since we ALWAYS see pictures of the males. Just like in real life, I think they are at least as beautiful as their mates.

Enjoy your day.

the Light . . .

.
Over and over again, I realize that photography is all about the light.

And everyone says that there is nothing
like the light of New Mexico.

I have to agree

It makes the most mundane subject shine

And the reflections,
what can I say?

It brings out the most amazing hues
in the water.

The mountains shine with glorious tints.
I now understand the phrase
"Purple Mountains Majesty".

The sunsets defy description.

I just finished reading "Land of Enchantment" (which I really can recommend) and a phrase struck so close to home, I copied it so I wouldn't forget it.

"There is something in the air of New Mexico that makes the blood red, the heart beat high and the eyes look upward. Folks don't come here to die, they come to live and they get what they came for"

I couldn't agree more.