Spring Valley Nevada – If you drive east of Pioche Nevada you will find a very interesting place with a history that one might not think about these days.

This area is still considered desert, but here in spring valley the water flows continuously from natural springs. It is said to have at least 150 springs through out the valley.

But the interesting thing about this area is how folks made a living here. They tried growing crops like wheat, barley and oats. But the freezing temperatures, grasshoppers and animals would ruin their harvest. But a few people realized a new crop could be had in the form of ICE.

This valley would flood every summer during the monsoon rains and then freeze. So the settlers made special tools to cut the ice into blocks. They built ice houses under ground and sold the ice blocks the next summer to the town folks and kept a lot for themselves to keep their food cold all summer.

People have always found a way to survive and provide for their families. Good hard working folks learning to live off of the land that is provided to them.

Spring Valley Nevada

Sandra J

The Journey Continues – As you may know from my blog post, we travelled the SW last winter. We spent 4 months of that winter in the south from Texas to Arizona and headed north from there. But during those 4 months it was all desert. Dry dry desert and not green anywhere.

By April we had finally reached Nevada where our first sight of green grass and dandelions was a very special treat for me. Some people don’t care for dandelions, but after 4 months of seeing only dirt, the beautiful color of yellow amongst the green grass was a sight for sore eyes.

We stopped at a little town called Pioche NV, a quaint little town nestled at the base of the Highland Peak Mountains. A mining town from back in the day that has a wonderful community of folks who are very nice and a small RV park right in town that was free to park at.

We stayed here for a week and enjoyed visiting their museum and driving up into the mountain.

Highland peak sits at an elevation of 9,337 feet. To say the least it was a narrow dirt road all the way to the top, but the view was worth the journey.

The Journey Continues

Sandra J

Miles and Miles – This is the time of year I like to get a new calendar and add items from this year to the new year coming up. For example I came across the month and year we bought this jeep and it made me think of all the places we have been with it.

We got it 8 years ago, there are no fancy bells or whistles on it, it has crank down windows, not electric. I do like the older vehicles, where one can still fix things them self without having to take it to a shop if needed.

Miles and Miles

Sandra J

Light of the Morning Sun

Have a wonderful weekend.

Light of the Morning Sun

Sandra J

What I See – A look inside of my imagination. Photography is a way to express ones imagination, it isn’t always about just taking a regular photo of landscapes or wildlife to me.

When I look at one of my photos, I can picture something more, I picture a world with more color, a giant moon, things that dreams are made of and I create it with photoshop from combining 2 or 3 of my own photos into one.

My camera is my paint brush and the world is my canvas. Have a wonderful day.

What I See

Sandra J

Cathedral Gorge Maze – This area is full of walkways though the clay spires that you can walk in just like a maze. You can see towards the back of this photo there are little green trees on the valley floor. These are actually juniper trees, they are the only kind that will grow in this area.

A lot of the trails going into this area are short trails or they just keep getting so small you can’t go any farther.

This photo below is me walking through the narrow passageway with a camera up over my head. Some areas you have to turn sideways and suck in your gut if possible. 😉

Cathedral Gorge Maze

Sandra J

Utah’s Red Rock Country – Of all the common colorful minerals found in Earth’s crust, few are as abundant, dynamic, and multi-colored as iron. Depending on how it combines with other elements, iron can form a veritable rainbow of colors. When iron combines with oxygen it becomes iron oxide, and its degree of oxidation largely determines its color. 

Hence the multi colors found at Zion National Park, we only drove the scenic route at Zion, but if we ever get back there one must take the hiking route into the canyon where you will find pools of emerald colored water and lush garden plants. Amazing the world we live on.

Utah’s Red Rock Country

Sandra J

Zion Canyon Red Cliffs – It started out as Mukuntuweap National Monument in 1909, but was granted national park status by the U.S. Congress in 1919.

The highlight of Zion National Park is an expansive canyon. Averaging 2,000 feet deep, 

As we were leaving Arizona last April we crossed into Utah for a week as we were making our way to Nevada. Not realizing we were so close to Zion national park until we found a campground just south of this national treasure and looked at the map and noticed it was just a short drive to get there.

So we headed out early one morning and entered the park at the east end. Traffic was minimal and the scenery is just gorgeous.

We stopped at a few places along the drive through the park where you can get out and do some hiking and see some of the beautiful rock formations and caves.

These two photos below are taken with the drone from above this beautiful area showing you the top of Zion National Park. Drones are not allowed in the park, but we were on the outside of the park when we took this photo.

It is like a glimpse of the past, can you imagine being the first people to come across this land, what a sight it is.

Zion Canyon Red Cliffs

Sandra J

Glen Canyon Bridge – Just east of the Grand Canyon. It is like a miniature version of the grand canyon as the Colorado river flows through the red rocks of Northern Arizona.

The bridge’s central arch is 680 feet over the Colorado River, and at the time of its construction it was the tallest bridge in the world. 

We went over this bridge back in April as we were heading out of Arizona. We stayed at a campground in Utah for one week and then headed to Nevada.

Glen Canyon Bridge

Sandra J

Fall Harvest – Well, fall harvest of photos. My tomato plants are full of green tomatoes that have been turning red very slowly. But I have been taking photos of the beautiful blooms drenched in the morning dew, like dressed in diamonds in the morning light.

So this fall I may harvest more photos than actual food. Either way I do enjoy gardening.

Fall Harvest

Sandra J

Desert Flowers – When we were in Arizona a few months ago, some of the cactus finally started to bloom. I don’t know what these are but the Gila woodpecker sure enjoyed them.

We have a bit of color starting to show up in my neck of the woods this week, I do love the month of September, for me it is usually the start of fall colors and this year it has begun. Hope everyone gets out and enjoys nature’s color wheel called Autumn.

Desert Flowers

Sandra J

Photography is about using your imagination, it’s about creating ideas that speak to people and create interest from a viewer’s standpoint.

What do these photos say to you, what do you see?

Photography has helped me to see things differently, it has opened my imagination to another level. When I see movement, light and colors as I am out looking at the world around me. I think about how to capture these moments within a photo. What angle to shoot at, how to stop motion, how to create art out of what I see and bring my imagination to life.

For example these photos, I was sitting outside enjoying a beautiful warm day looking at my bird bath that has a water fountain in it. The water looked as if it is dancing, almost like it has come to life in movement.

So I took a few photos and video to help your imagination see something completely different then what you might expect to see today. Video below or click on this link; Dancing Waters.

Using You Imagination In Photography

Sandra J

Just Look Up – Sometimes we can get to focused on only what is right in front of us and miss the big picture of what surrounds us.

The never ending, what seems to be bad news, pushed on us from all angles can be overwhelming at times. But for me, there is always one constant, one source of Light that shines every minute of every day that is breathtaking, encouraging and beyond anything our minds and hearts can comprehend at times.

Just look up and see the beauty of creation, see how small we really are and how important life is. Day or night the Light is there, within the stars, the clouds. It is always there.

Just Look Up

Have a Great Weekend.

Just Look Up

Sandra J

Her Favorite Time of Year – Her eyes almost match the background. Our little cat is 7 years old this year. We were not looking to have a cat as a part of our family. This one was a stray and found as a kitten in the middle of winter years ago.

I could not say no to her and she has grown into a wonderful cat who gets along with dogs very well and loves to travel with us. But her favorite thing to do is go outside and sit on the porch railing and watch the birds and enjoy the sunshine on these cooler fall mornings.

I forgot to put the video on yesterday of the Blue Jays until later in the morning. So here is the link to it again, which includes footage of the White Squirrel as well. Blue Jay and White Squirrel

Her Favorite Time of Year

Sandra J

Frogs – Two frogs in my area that I know of and see regularly. The first being the Tree Frog. Such unusual eyes they have and very sticky feet. They can cling to anything, I only see these in the fall and usually hiding under something.

This frog below is called a Peeper, it is most visible in the spring as they emerge from their winter hibernation. I love the sound these frogs make in the spring, music to my ears as it means the snow is gone.

Frogs

Sandra J

Shooting Stars Milky Way – August has been a good month for getting outside in the middle of the night. They say the northern lights are making a show in the north but they could be seen down as far as Iowa this week.

So I have been going outside every night, when ever I wake up and taking a few photos if the clouds are not to thick. I have not seen the northern lights yet, but there are a lot of shooting stars.

My camera settings for photographing the Milky Way are; 17mm lens, 6400 ISO, f 2.8 and shutter speed any where from 10 to 30 sec.

It is so fun to look at your photos later, because I don’t see any of these shooting stars with my eyes. Only the camera picks them up.

This photo below is a shooting star and I believe the star link satellites. Star link used to have 20 some satellites but every photo just about picks up only 6 in a row now.

Shooting Stars Milky Way

Sandra J

O Sole Mio, translated as – my own sunshine. Some of you may have never heard O sole mio, it is a song from a long time ago. But when I saw these photos, it looks like these Saguaro Cactus are singing.

This photo is not photoshopped. It is exactly how they look when I took the photo. The holes are in just the right places to look like a face.

Most holes are caused by Gila woodpeckers and gilded flickers. They make their nests in the trunks of saguaros by hollowing out a space in which they will raise their young. In response to the birds’ activity, the wound created will dry out and harden off, forming a callus.

Now I did add to dark spots on the photo below to make it look like it has eyes.

O Sole Mio

Sandra J

Flower Art, the weather this past weekend was just perfect. Cool mornings, fire in the house stove in the mornings. I just love this time of year.

I was doing some flower arrangements as well. You may not know this, but I was actually a florist at one time, many years ago. I arranged these wildflowers with some of the sea shells and rocks I found during our trip. Plus some drift wood I had from Lake Superior as well.

I have done a few different jobs over the course of my life, from driving a Semi truck across country for a couple of years. Working in a flower shop and back then I made $100 dollars a week. After a couple of years my boss gave me a $50.00 a week raise. I felt as if I was rich at the time.

I have always lived a very simple life, I have never been much of a shopper or collecting things. Being out in nature was always more important and enjoyable for me. I would rather be outside then be anywhere in a building.

I accomplished everything on my bucket list from raising Draft Horses to riding a motorcycle, driving a Semi truck and climbing the highest mountain I dare climb this past year.

When the world seems so crazy around us, I just stop and remember that time is precious. What we do now, today is so important. I choose to enjoy each and every moment I have, not worrying about tomorrow. For we know not if it will even come.

There isn’t anything on this earth that we will take with us when our time here ends. Why try to build up so much more than what each individual needs. Why is it the rich seem to never have enough. Power and money changes people, they forget what is truly important in life.

I have had such a full life, yes I had many ups and downs. But through out it all, my constant has been, for me, my faith in our Father who will hold out His hand one day and say; ” child take my hand and come with me”. So that I may go home. For this place here is not home, I am just passing through.

Thank you to all that visit me here. I so appreciate the time that you take to look at my photos and to leave such wonderful comments. I am feeling grateful today and just wanted to say thank you. 🙂

Flower Art

Sandra J

Little Things that make the world seem normal. From fall flowers in bloom to the little critters of the world. Why is it that nature is so simple, is it that it lives by the laws of nature?

Have a wonderful weekend

Little Things

Sandra J

Trees in the Chiricahua Mountains, the rock formations in these mountains are amazing to see, but the trees are what caught my eye as well, as we made our way to Echo Canyon hiking trail.

Here is a link to Pancho Villa State park in Columbus New Mexico, with a bit of a time lapse. I am always a little ahead on these post compared to the video’s I put of these areas on my You Tube channel.

Pancho Villa State Park NM

I have always been fascinated with trees and all the different kinds across the country. These here in the mountains of Arizona are quite unique as they grow out from the rocks in many forms. Twisted and curved, they are an artistic display of nature.

Trees in the Chiricahua Mountains

Sandra J

Sulphur Canyon Road Tank in Arizona, what is a Tank you might be asking? A tank is a man-made reservoir and this one was built in 1950 as a holding tank to flood the surrounding cotton fields back in the day.

There came a time when the fields around the tank no longer were planted and the area became a pasture for cattle. The owner of this tank decided to keep this oasis going as he discovered how important this water is to the wild life that would stop here to quench their thirst in this dry desert environment.

They installed solar panels back in 2016 to keep the pumps running adding water to this tank. The owner fenced off the area from the cattle and built bird blinds around the water so folks can stop here and see the wildlife up close and not disturb them.

It is now home to a variety of birds who stop here during their migration. This tank provides an oasis in this dry and dusty land and the most reliable source of water on the east side of the Chiricahua Mountains.

Someone at the campground told us about this place and to take the drive across the mountain where you will end up at Chiricahua National Monument. A must see place if you are ever in eastern Arizona.

By far the most noticeable natural features in the park are the rhyolite rock pinnacles for which the monument was created to protect. Rising sometimes hundreds of feet into the air, many of these pinnacles are balancing on a small base, seemingly ready to topple over at any time. 

Sulphur Canyon Road Tank

Sandra J