Apple trees~That's My World 092909

There is an apple farm right next to the horse ranch and I have watched the apples ripen. The rancher was out this weekend with his boxes, busily picking them. I stopped to chat with him. He doesn't use any chemicals and sells to organic markets in Julian and Indio. I'll have to get down to Indio and check out his apples! He told me they are $20 a box and I'd like to buy one for the kiddos at school and let them have a healthy snack! That's My World for September 29, 2009.

Yellow leaves~Mellow Yellow for 092809

I struggled to find signs of fall yesterday for my Sunday Stills Challenge and instead, I had to dig through my archives. I mean, here in Southern California, fall really hasn't begun yet and here in the desert, it was 109 degrees yesterday and will be 106 today! But, up in our local mountains, I did see some aspen and birch trees and cottonwoods that had a few leaves turning yellow. Then, at the end of the day, I came upon this tree. I have no idea what kind of tree it is, but the sun was hitting its yellow leaves and they sparkled in the afternoon light. Mellow Yellow for Monday, September 28, 2009.

Signs of Fall~Sunday Stills Challenge 092709

There are few visible signs of fall here in the desert, although the days are getting shorter. Last night was cooler, but yesterday it was 109 degrees here. UGH! We are ALL tired of summer! By this next week, however, we should be down to double digit temperatures and nighttime temps in the 60's, not the 80's or high 70's. HOWEVER, last fall we did make it up to Oak Glen in time for the opening of apple season, so I went to my archives to find photos from that weekend and here they are. Aren't the apples gorgeous? Sunday Stills challenge for 092709

"J" is for juicy...ABC Wednesday 092309

At the swap meet/farmer's market this weekend, there were plenty of sweet, juicy fruits and vegetables for sale. I could hardly resist! Look at the juicy strawberries! Oh, my! Yum, yum! ABC Wednesday, 092309.

Back to the Sierras~That's My World 092209

Hubby and I visited the Sierras in June and August this year and now we are planning to return one weekend in October to view the fall colors of the aspen. It will be nice to leave the desert's warm temperatures and return to the cool mornings and evenings of the Sierra. These photos were all taken near Mt. Whitney when we were there in June. That's My World for 092209, the first day of autumn. I found a couple of websites that document the fall colors and I check them once a week. So far, only the aspen in the higher elevations have turned.

Wood fence, Lake Tahoe, Scenic Sunday 092009

I'm always looking for wooden fences and we spotted this one on the drive around Lake Tahoe when we were up there in June. Aren't wooden fences interesting? Scenic Sunday for September 20, 2009.

Purple~Sunday Stills Challenge for 091909

This beautiful wisteria is at a winery in Paso Robles, CA. I don't remember which winery it was, however! My bad. I have planted a wisteria along one of the porch posts in our front yard and it made it through the summer, so by next spring, we should have some blossoms on it. Thankfully I was home most of the summer to water it, and, when we were gone, our son DID water it this summer (he killed the one we had there last summer by not watering it!) My neighbor, behind us, has a HUGE wisteria in her yard and it blooms vigorously every spring! Sunday Stills Challenge for September 19, 2009. So, maybe next spring, I'll have pics of ours?

Clouds and giants~SkyWatch Friday 091809

On our last day in the Sierras, we visited Yosemite once again. It started as a dreary, overcast day and by mid-day, it was raining. However, at one point in the morning, I stopped to take these photos of the pine trees and the dappled sky. SkyWatch Friday for September 18, 2009.

Twin Lakes, Mammoth~Watery Wednesday 091609

Hubby and I woke up very early one morning during our trip to June Lake and we drove to the Twin Lakes at Mammoth. Ahhhh....the smell of breakfast cooking! And, we enjoyed the quiet morning at one of the lakes. Watery Wednesday for September 16, 2009.

Autumn in Julian~That's My World 091409

Autumn is tourist season in Julian, CA. Julian is a small town that has many apple orchards nearby and tourists come from all over to enjoy apple cider, apples, and fresh apple pie. Yum, yum! We drove up there last fall and enjoyed a delicious lunch. We also met some new friends! That's My World for Tuesday, September 14, 2009.

Mechanical transportation~Sunday Stills Challenge for 091309

Last Labor Day we drove up to Oak Glen for the opening of the apple season. We didn't go this year as I had a horse colic (Quad) and I needed to stay close to him. But, I did take these pics last year. Yes, that's our daughter walking right in front of me (twice)...(sigh...) But, we all had a wonderful day! Fresh corn, apples, and gorgeous California sunshine...what more could we ask? Sunday Stills for September 13, 2009.

Clouds~SkyWatch Friday, September 11, 2009

We had a beautiful sunset a couple of weeks ago and I ran out with my camera to snap some pics before the colors faded. SkyWatch Friday, September 11, 2009. We will have a moment of silence at school this morning to remember those lost on 9/11/01.

"h" is for...ABC Wednesday 090909

horses, of course! We find horses even on vacation. These two were in a field near Bishop, CA. Those are the Sierra Nevada mountains behind them. ABC Wednesday for September 9, 2009.

Thirds~Sunday Stills Challenge September 6, 2009

This is a VERY difficult challenge for me. I have always put my subject in the middle of my photos until hubby told me to STOP doing that and put it off to one side and either above or below the mid line. Hmmmm....thirds. Then he sat me down and made me look at my photos versus his. His were much more interesting and, believe it or not, balanced. Thirds really works! He is a much better photographer than I am (and I only post MY photos on my blogs, unless I give him credit for a photo)...so over the last 37 years, I've TRIED to learn how to shoot photos in thirds. Not easy. As a visual learner, I'm visual, like he is, but my second strength is kinesthetic (being a pianist)...while he is spatial...being a graphics artist. So, we do have different "views" of things even while standing 3 feet away from each other, like the two photos here. Here are 2 samples, one from hubby, and one from me. Mine is the bottom photo, his is on top. While I may not always get my photos in thirds (and I still don't), I'm the one who got the photo of Half Dome, with the afternoon sunlight hitting it, nearly surrounded by clouds that HE DIDN'T! (He's still envious of THAT one!) Guess that one was pure luck. It is a photo that he is STILL trying to get (...snicker...) Sunday Stills Challenge for September 6, 2009.

Pastel clouds~SkyWatch Friday 090409

One morning last week I stopped to take some photos of the clouds in the morning. The sun had just come up and there were pretty colors in them, including this cloud. SkyWatch Friday for September 4, 2009.