Bridelveil Falls~Watery Wednesday 072810

When we visited Yosemite in June, after school was out, all the waterfalls in the park were full of water, including Bridelveil Falls. The park was also full of small waterfalls that normally aren't there during years of less rainfall and snowfall. Watery Wednesday for July 28, 2010.

Mt. Lassen and flag~SkyWatch Friday 072310

As we pulled into the museum lot at Mt. Lassen National Park, I noticed our flag waving in the wind. There weren't any clouds that day, but I stopped to take a photo of it. I've also included a photo of Mt. Lassen, which I took as we were leaving the park. It was quiet there and there weren't many people. So, if you want a nice, quite spot to visit, I would suggest Mt. Lassen! SkyWatch Friday for July 23, 2010.

Window at Simi Winery~Window Views and Doors, Too 072210

As hubby and I pulled into the old Simi winery a couple of weeks ago, I glanced up and saw this window in the winery. They have a separate visitor's center where you can sample wines and buy various items. The winery is one of the largest I've seen and I was intrigued by this window. What was behind it? Hmmmm.....Window Views and Doors, Too for July 22, 2010. For other participants, please visit: http://windowviews2.blogspot.com/

Sausal Winery, Weekend Reflections 071710

As you know, Sausal Winery is one of our favorite places to visit and their wines are some of our favorites! They have a beautiful tasting room and the people there are very friendly. Not pretentious at all! They have old vine zinfandels (their vines are over 100 years old) and you can find them at Bev Mo. If you haven't tried California zinfandel, I would suggest you try theirs! While hubby was wine tasting (I don't drink, since I am the "designated driver"), I wandered around the wine tasting area and took these photos. Here is a link to their website: http://www.sausalwinery.com/ Weekend Reflections for July 17, 2010. For other weekend participants, please visit: http://newtowndailyphoto.blogspot.com/?

"Z" is for zinfandel~ABC Wednesday 071410

Hubby and I spent a couple of days up near Sonoma, visiting old vine ZINFANDEL wineries. We LOVE Sausal's wines and spent some time there. That is their tasting room on the bottom and those are pics of their vines out in the vineyards. They are very friendly there and whenever we visit northern California, we stop and sample their wines. ABC Wednesday for July 14, 2010.

Grapes~Macro Monday 071110

I don't remember which winery in northern California had these grapes, but aren't they beautiful? There's something very calming about seeing row after row of vineyards growing. The tendrils stretch toward the sky, the grapes grow quietly, and sometimes roses are planted at the end of the rows. How peaceful is that? Macro Monday for July 11, 2010.

Shadows in the Redwoods~Sunday Stills Challenge 071010

Hubby and I just visited the California redwoods in northern California and they seem to be the perfect topic for this week's Sunday Stills Challenge. I mean, just look at the shadows there! They are everywhere! In fact, sometimes it is difficult to take photos inside all the shadowy areas among them. Here are a few photos that I took of them. Sunday Stills Challenge for July 10, 2010.

Wine country sky~~SkyWatch Friday 070910

This was yesterday morning's sky above Ridge Vineyards, in the Alexander Valley. Hubby had to stop and sample their wines, so I wandered out among the vines. I looked up and saw these clouds. SkyWatch Friday for July 9, 2010. To visit other skywatchers, please visit: http://skyley.blogspot.com/

Framing a photo~Jamestown Railroad Museum~Sunday Stills Challenge 070410

Hubby and I stopped at the Jamestown Railroad Museum a couple of days ago to admire the old steam engines there, including one that is being unveiled and used over this weekend, No. 3. While we were there, I saw this flag waving in the breeze, one of many which were carefully put in place for the holiday weekend. Sunday Stills Challenge for July 4, 2010.

Lone oak tree~SkyWatch Friday 070110

We passed by this lone oak tree this morning leaving Merced for northern California. I liked how it stood alone in a field of golden grasses. We've had a high pressure system over California now for several days without any clouds and none are forecast for some time. Maybe during our monsoon months of July and August they will return, although one August, when we came through this same area, lightning from the storms caused several wildfires! SkyWatch Friday for July 1, 2010.