Tuesday, December 30, 2008
As we close out 2008 it is now a good time to reflect on all the good that has happend in the last year and look forward to 2009.
6 down 7 to go
Monday, December 22, 2008
We have now completed 6 of our 13 Christmas eve services at Bayside Church in Granite Bay Ca. It is an amazing time of reflecting on the true meaning of Christmas. This year we will have between 25,000 to 30,000 people attend one of thirteen services. The impact of these services on peoples lives is amazing.
Merry Christmas everyone!
Not so itsy bitsy spider
Friday, December 5, 2008
When we were driving through the Valley of Fire State Park in Nevada last weekend we can across this huge Tarantula spider crossing the road. It is hard to tell in the picture but it was the size of the palm of my hand. Big enough to see as we were driving down the road.
Butterflies gone wild
Monday, November 17, 2008
Its butterfly season in N. California and they seem to be landing everywhere in our backyard including my daughters nose!
Reflecting
Friday, November 7, 2008
The moon as reflected in the back yard pool.
And the moon a little latter in the evening. Don't forget to enlarge the second pic and see the detail in the moon.
Happy Birthday
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
On Saturday we celebrated my daughters 14th birthday by bringing her and some of her closest friends on a day trip to San Francisco. We started out the day by catching the cable car to Fishermans warf.
From the end of the Cable Car line we walked to Pier 39 and had lunch at North Beach Pizza.
After Lunch we walked back through Fishermans Warf and of course ever 14 year old girl wants to stop in every shop along the way. We made it to Ghiradelli Square and had her birthday Ice Cream sunday's at the world famous Ghiradelli Ice Cream shop.
Then back on the Cable Car for the return trip downtown. We still had a little bit of daylight left so we drove across the city to the beach to watch the sunset. The end of a great day.
First snow of the season
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
Here we are on Tioga Pass entering Yosemite National Park. We were there the first weekend of October and experienced the first snowfall for the season.
The pass is subject to winter closure, due to high snowfall, normally from around the end of October until the end of May the following year, though these dates are subject to considerable variation. In heavy snow years, the road usually closes in early-October and could open as late as mid-July. In light snow years, the road could be closed in December and open as soon as April. The pass is at 9943 feet above sea level.
Bodie
Thursday, October 16, 2008
Bodie State Historic Park is a genuine California gold-mining ghost town. Visitors can walk down the deserted streets of a town that once had a population of 10,000 people. The town was founded by Waterman S. Body (William Bodey), who had discovered small amounts of gold in hills north of Mono Lake. In 1877, the Standard Company struck pay dirt and a gold rush transformed Bodie from a town of 20 people to a boomtown.
Only a small part of the town survives, preserved in a state of "arrested decay." Interiors remain as they were left and stocked with goods. Designated as a National Historic Site and a State Historic Park in 1962, the remains of Bodie are being preserved in a state of "arrested decay". Today this once thriving mining camp is visited by tourists, howling winds and an occasional ghost.
Only a small part of the town survives, preserved in a state of "arrested decay." Interiors remain as they were left and stocked with goods. Designated as a National Historic Site and a State Historic Park in 1962, the remains of Bodie are being preserved in a state of "arrested decay". Today this once thriving mining camp is visited by tourists, howling winds and an occasional ghost.
UP UP AND AWAY!!!!!
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
This past weekend I woke the family at the unpopular time of 2:30 am to make sure we arrived on time for the start of the annual Great Reno Balloon Race. Our arrival was timed perfect for the start of the "Glow Show". As you can see from the pic some of the balloons fired up to give a great Glowing show. These balloons took off into the dark night (early, very early morning) sky. A spectacular sight. When dawn broke the remaining balloons took off in mass Ascension and over 100 balloons filled the sky.
The old and the new
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
The Bridgeport Covered Bridge is reputed to be the longest single-span wooden covered bridge in the world. Built in 1862 by David Isaac John Wood with lumber from his mill in Sierra County, this bridge was part of the Virginia Turnpike Company toll road which served the northern mines and the busy Nevada Comstock Lode. Utilizing a combination truss and arch construction, it is one of the oldest housed spans in the west and the longest single-span wood-covered bridge in the United States.
As you can see behind the covered bridge there is a new modern day span crossing the Yuba River.
Stones of History
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
Some may think I am a little weird, but one of my favorite places to take pictures is old cemeteries. I often find myself thinking about the people that were laid to rest and what life must have been like back in their day. Take a look at the date on the stone. He died in 1886 and was born 58 years earlier in 1828. Life was much different in 1828.
Whoo...Whoo..
Monday, August 11, 2008
On a trip up to Foresthill Ca. this weekend we spotted this great owl up in the tree. Check out those claws!
Hey wait a second!
Monday, July 21, 2008
Go ahead and enlarge this pic. Anyone see anything unusual about this group of construction workers?
Perfect balance
Wednesday, July 9, 2008
Here is a shot of one of my hidden talents. Balancing rocks! Anytime I see a large rock sitting on the ground I love to see if i can balance it in a unique position.
A California Treasure
Friday, May 2, 2008
This week I was working up along the North Coast of California in the town of Eureka. I took a few minutes out of my busy schedule to shoot a few photos. This one is of the Carson Mansion in old town Eureka. The mansion is now used as a Private club.
The Carson Mansion is a large Victorian house located in Old town Eureka California. Considered one of the highest executions of Queen Anne Style architecture ,the home is the most recognizable landmark on the California North Coast. It is one of the most written about, and photographed Victorian houses in California, and perhaps in the United States.
for more info check out http://www.ingomar.org/
Baby bird
Friday, April 11, 2008
Found this baby bird posing for me on the front porch of my house. He just sat there letting me take his picture.
Looking up
Monday, March 31, 2008
The underside of an orchid in my yard as I am looking up toward the sky. As always, enlarge for a better view.
ABC Wednesday letter "J"
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
"J" is for Jet. all taken at the Capitol airshow in Sacramento 2 weeks ago. As always enlarge photo for a better view.
ABC Wednesday Letter "I"
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
The letter "I" stands for incredible and inspirational. Both words capture my last two days. I just got back from a two day whirlwind trip to Mexico to visit with our high school and college group from our church. Every year our church sends our high school and college group to the Mexicali region of Mexico and this year we sent over 800 students. The students are impacting lives of the people in this region in amazing ways. This week the students will build 15 homes, 2 chapel churches, rehab 15 more homes and hold 23 vacation bible school camps through out the region.
A small group of us (4) from the church flew down on Monday morning as part of an encouragement team for the students. I really think they encouraged us more than we encouraged them. We visited many of the home building sites and camps sites during our short two days. All I can say is it was both incredible and inspirational.
Monday Morning Blue(S)
Monday, March 17, 2008
Blue Angels that is. We went to the Capitol air show in Sacramento this weekend and saw the Fantastic US Navy Blue Angels. What a show.
ABC Wednesday Letter "H"
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
"H" is for hummingbirds. I love taking pictures of these fast moving creatures in my yard.
Down by the Bay
Thursday, March 6, 2008
Shot taken on the former Military base Treasure Island in San Francisco.