Fall leaves in December, Watery Wednesday, Dec 31, 2008

We were all amazed to still see beautiful fall leaves on the trees in Northern California. Many of the trees still had their yellow, orange, and red leaves on them! Aren't the colors pretty even though they were in the water on the street? For other beautiful pics, please visit Watery Wednesday at http://waterywednesday.blogspot.com/. If you wish to read more about our trip, please visit my other blog: http://deserthorses.blogspot.com/

Autumn colors in San Anselmo

After we crossed over the Golden Gate Bridge, we stopped in San Anselmo, CA. Hubby wanted to find a wine store there that carried his favorite sparking Alsatian wine. We found it and I let them wander around the store while I wandered around town. Aren't the colors pretty?

Scenic Sunday December 28, 2008

Every trip to Napa and Sonoma is a different experience for us. Sometimes we drive up in the autumn, but winter was upon us this trip. It rained steadily the day I took this photo. The vines need the rain, but I was freezing! I liked the lone oak tree beside the vineyard. For more Scenic Sunday pics, please visit: http://scenicsunday.blogspot.com/

Thursday Challenge: Path December 25, 2008

We crossed this road after a very long, narrow bridge near Sonoma, CA when we visited family during the Christmas break. It was very foggy that day. The fog hung along the tops of the mountains, sometimes disappearing, then reappearing in the valleys of Sonoma. I liked this view looking back on the road we had just traveled.

SNOW!

As we drove up into our local mountains to check out our horses yesterday, we were amazed to see all the snow that accumulated during Wednesday's storm. It was down to about 2,000 feet, which is very low, especially three days after the storm! There were a few cars that had stopped along the roadside, but, unfortunately, most of the turnouts weren't cleared of the snow, so cars had to pull off on the few roads that had been cleared. It was a beautiful, clear, crisp day...the calm before the next storm!

Thursday Challenge: Light December 18,2008

I drove out to the Indian canyons in Palm Springs, CA one November day. The desert was cloudy and the clouds were moving quickly. Shadows were changing and the sunlight was poking through at various times and angles. I snapped a few photos like this one out by the entrance to the Indian canyons. There was a very light mist that afternoon. Hubby and I actually hiked down Palm Canyon the next afternoon, Thanksgiving Day. For more Thursday Challenge photos, please visit:

http://www.spunwithtears.com/thursday.html

Salton Sea, CA

Once in a while, on a really crisp, clear day, one can see all the way to the Salton Sea. Do you see it sticking out on the right hand side of the picture? From this point, it is about 50 miles away. My previous school used to be about 25 miles away from it. You can only get a glimpse of it from this highway, but I always look out to see it. The Coachella Valley is pockmarked by various green belts of agricultural land. I wish there were more vantage points from this highway, but there aren't. If you drive up Interstate 10 to Blythe, you get a good view of the valley looking back, so I'll have to drive out there someday and take some photos. I like the late afternoon shadows in this photo.

Camera Critters: giraffes at the Living Desert, CA

I love how their necks seem to make a big X! Aren't they beautiful? The Living Desert Reserve is located in Palm Desert, CA.

Scenic Sunday December 7, 2008

A glimpse into the past? Or is it the present? Andreas Canyon outside of Palm Springs, CA.

Skywatch Friday, December 5, 2008

I took this photo in Palm Canyon, Palm Springs, on the day before Thanksgiving last week. I was in Palm Springs, helping our daughter prepare for the feast, and I really wanted to drive out to the Indian canyons as the clouds were moving across the mountains and were so pretty! If you click on the photo, you can see the shaft of light poking through the clouds. I know it's dark, but that's how it was that day. Now we've had several clear days, but clouds are forecast again for the weekend. For other Skywatch photos, please visit: http://skyley.blogspot.com/

That's My World for Tuesday, December 2, 2008

We don't get storms very often here in the lower desert of Southern California, so when we do, it is always interesting to look at the clouds and landscape. We did have a day of rain a couple of weeks ago, before the Thanksgiving Day storms, and I went outside with my camera. The streets were wet, the sand was wet, the plants were wet, and everything smelled so fresh and good! I liked the way the clouds hovered around our desert mountains. Next time it rains, I'll be sure to also venture outside with my camera!

For other amazing photos, please visit: That's My World.

Camera Critters: African cattle, Living Desert Reserve 113008

We went up to the Living Desert Reserve yesterday afternoon, when the afternoon shadows were long. Our last part of the visit was to their African village. It was feeding time and the African cattle were demanding their hay! They were VERY demanding! And, with those horns, when they want their dinner, they GET their dinner! Just look at them! For more critters, please visit: http://camera-critters.blogspot.com/