Old Snag, Almo Idaho

Last summer, Laura and I camped at the top of the mountain just north of the City of Rocks area in southern Idaho.  Even though there was a lot of haze from California's wildfires, we were above most of it, and the skies were beautiful.  I have to wonder how old this fella was when he dropped his last needle.  Thousands, I bet.  By the way, that stripe is a satellite, not an airplane.  Satellites don't blink.

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Descent

This unfurling leaf just seems to be flowing down into itself.  Of course, if you're more of an optimist, maybe it's flowing up out of itself.

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Edgar says "Happy Halloween!"

... and just think, it's Halloween all month long!

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Our little backwater corner of the universe

I've been slowly trying to figure out how to take better images of the night sky, and let me tell you, it's a very humbling experience.  Our little corner of the universe (this is the Milky Way, if you don't go out much) is truly huge in the Douglas Adams sense of the word.  In 30-second time exposures like this one, I usually get at least one shooting star.  Looking at the images later, in full resolution on my big monitor, I realize there's a star in every single pixel.  And many of the stars are actually galaxies.  Yikes!   To loosely quote Calvin, "I need to go inside and turn on all my appliances".

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Un-Impressed

Now, How is she going to get that big dang Salsify seed out of her web?  No dinner tonight.

Taken in my back yard.  There's a good reason I don't mow anymore.

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Splendiferous

 

The so-called "Resplendent Quetzal" of the Costa Rican cloud forest.  I figure that's an awfully fancy name for a pigeon in a clown costume.  And that what it has to be:  that's really what he looks like just flying around.  What self-respecting bird...

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Soggy Bird

A bedraggled and somewhat grumpy looking Great Kiskadee.

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Heliconia 1

There are apparently hundreds of types of Heliconia, and I've got pictures of tens of them, at least.  I like this one because, believe it or not, its the most subdued and understated of the lot.

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Sprout

I know, I know.  Botany is serious stuff.  But this new shoot of (whatever the heck it is) just makes me laugh.  Drop me a line if you know what it is!  (Hint:  it's from central Costa Rica)

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Flame Colored Tanager

I'm not really a Bird/Wildlife photographer, but this little guy forced me to shoot him. Just so darned brilliant.

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Golden Orb Spider 2

Golden Orb Spider

A golden orb spider in Tortuguero, Costa Rica.  She was gorgeous.  and big.

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Cliff Dwellers

Winter life in Swan Valley, Idaho.

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Stickulent

"Stickulent", as in succulent, but stickery.  Aliens should have fingernails like these.  These are prickly pear flowers all closed up and turning into... whatever they turn into.  Any guesses?

Looks like we're doing a one warm, one cold theme here.  Guess I'll have to go find snow for the next post.

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Frosty

I always waffle on the role this blog should have.  Is it a gallery of only my favorite pieces, or a scrapbook of whatever I happen to be doing at the time?  Maybe it doesn't matter, since my opinion of various shots changes over time with the weather.  Guess I'll see if I still think this one is worthwhile in a couple of weeks. 

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Storm Over Canyon Country

A black storm sweeping up the Colorado River in southern Utah.  It hit us just a few minutes later and soaked everything!  Remember, deserts are dry, deserts are dry...

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Cactus Flower

II haven't been posting for a while.  Sorry about that.  Here's a little something to remind us of warmer days.

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