Bad Water

                                                               
                                                               Bad Water, Death Valley
                                                                                vs
                                                       Low Water, Iowa (Walking on Water)

Double Trouble

 
Watching Jen and Ben's puppy for a few days.  I am trying to remember that the Galaxy III has a decent lens and is often in my pocket....Droid phone photography!

Merry Christmas

 

Let There Be Peace On Earth

Finally, snow!

 After a few hours skiing in the woods (which protected me from strong winds) I was glad to come home to warm soup and dry clothes. Looks like we're going to have a white Christmas after all.

Flat Tire

'A bad attitude is like a flat tire.  If you don't change it you won't go anywhere.'  However, this old truck is pretty cool right where it is in Darwin, California. 

Carp Diem

"You must live in the present, launch yourself on every wave, find your eternity in each moment." ~ 

Henry David Thoreau

Morning At Ledges State Park

River's First Snowfall

"Ohhh, What IS that white stuff?!"

California Coyote

       When all the trees have been cut down, when all the animals have been hunted, when all the waters are polluted, when all the air is unsafe to breathe, only then will you discover that you cannot eat money. ~ Cree Prophecy
 

Fog and Ice

 

Saturday was the Skunk River Paddlers Annual Waffle Breakfast and Paddle.  We had to break ice in several places, but still had plenty of water to paddle.   

 

      Paddling Sunday afternoon was extra special due to heavy fog...and the fact that we still have open water in December!

Sweet November

Last week I was on the water staging some sunset shots.  The orange light and tree reflections weren't part of my primary project, but it held my attention until the golden glow was gone.

 
Andy was part of John Pearson's support team earlier this month as John completed his final requirements for his ACA Level 3 Instruction Certification ~ which demanded, among other skills, rolling his kayak in Level 3 Conditions, but it also happened to be quite cold!  See John's Blog for more details:  http://outaboutiowa.blogspot.com/

Finally, a 'Turkey Day' photo.  We all participated in the annual Thanksgiving Morning 'Turkey Trot' run in Des Moines.  Hopefully, I'll get some more photos up eventually, but I wanted to include this one with Sierra for now.

Colors of Morning

 

Colors, swirls, shapes, and movement ~ Colorful and Fascinating Marine Ecosystems.

Florida vs Iowa Shorelines

                                                                  Southwest Florida Shoreline

                                                            North Central Shoreline Lake Red Rock

                                   Cordova (Lake Red Rock) ~All that's missing is the salt...and the sun...

                                                      Of course, you don't need the sea to sea kayak.  
 

Sands of Time

     Wanderlust is defined as 'an innate desire to rove or travel'.  I'd prefer to think of it as a need to explore; a need to know what is beyond the next river bend.  It is a passion for experiencing new places and meeting new people.  No matter your age or place in life - time is running out; Today, it is time to explore.
     The beauty and wonder I've experienced in the past three weeks in the mountains of Virginia, the deserts, mountains and dunes of Death Valley, and the life of the Florida seas makes me more realize my smallness and insignificance.  I've met interesting, talented and artistic people and renewed friendships with equally intriquing and cherished people.  I've experienced magnificent sunrises and sultry sunsets, yet I look forward to my next foray and the wonders it will bring. 

Ghost Town!

                                                                          
                                There were some pretty quirky ghostlys in this Death Valley ghost town!

                                           Rhyolite, Nevada ~  Where the 'tricks' outnumber the 'treats'....

Death Valley ~ Land of Extremes

                                                            Mesquite Sand Dunes October 2012

Photo Impressionism

                                                                              Peaceful Forest

 I've revived my interest in photo impressionism (for art purists, post-impressionism).  This effect is done in the camera, not in Photoshop.  With the right light the effect can be accomplished with multiple exposures or with motion and a slow shutter speed.  In this case I used a slow shutter speed with a wide open aperture and an ISO of 125.

Virginia Sunset

                                                                    Sunset House Mountain

Story County Conservation Fall Festival

 

 

 

Star Light

                                                                           
          With the cooler weather comes more opportunities to marvel at the evening stars; maybe even catch a glimpse of the Aurora Borealis.  Think of all you would miss if you didn't take the time to look...

                                                         'The sky is full of stars, invisible by day.' ~  Henry Wadsworth Longfellow