Gas Spill and Just Thinking

This morning was spent running errands to Ukiah in the rain. I had to stop and buy gas. When I hopped out of the car the first thing I noticed was all the rainbow colors from some spilled gas on the pavement.That looks pretty cool I thought and grabbed my camera. While my car was filling I created a few images of some redwood needles lying amidst the spill. When I was finished and returning the handle to the pump I spilled some gas!

While driving away I thought of a variety of thoughts. The first was that it was interesting that a small piece of a Redwood Tree ended up on the pavement next to the gas pump.I live in Redwood country so it's pretty easy for it to get there from being on a car or truck.Perhaps from its tires or the rain washed it off from the top of the vehicle. Then my mind went to the gas. Nationwide there are thousands of gas stations with little gas spills just like the one I just witnessed. Would I want to drink water that had gasoline in it? How much would I be willing to put up with? I pictured a lake and a hand dropping in gasoline from a container. Not the same thing but then end result is the same. Gas and other chemicals do end up in our water supplies.It's an added expense to put filtered drains around gas stations but that's what's required now.Where do we draw the line on how far we need to go to protect ourselves and the environment? How much are we willing to pay at the pump? How far do we go to legislate the control and protection of ourselves and our environment? Lot's of questions sprang to mind that I had no answers for. Just thinking...

God's love and blessings to all,

chris

Once Again It's Turkey Time

If you follow my photoblog and you guessed the image was a turkey foot you were right on! Yesterday once the Wild Turkeys arrived nothing else would come into the feeders. I watched one Douglas Tree Squirrel jump up onto the platform feeder. When he was confronted with a turkey beak coming at him he quickly scrambled away into the woods and up the nearest tree. I was set up for attempting to photograph Mountain Quail with my telephoto lens so close ups were the name of the game with the turkeys. It wasn't until they started leaving that I was able to get more of a full body type of image. I had a great time watching them bickering and squabbling while they were here.

God's precious love to all,

chris

What is It?

It was a nice session in the photoblind this afternoon. It was just me and the squirrels and the Jays. I was patiently waiting for some Mountain Quail to arrive when suddenly it got very quiet and everything disappeared from the feeders. I heard some noise off to my left and then something walked by in front of me.It paused for a second by my blind allowing me to focus on it's foot. I took one click of the shutter and it moved on taking over the feeders for itself.

God's love and blessings to all,

chris
I'll let you know what it is tomorrow. Some of you already know from the picture.

Puddle

The wind is howling and the rain is coming down in sheets here on the ridge top this morning.It's a dark and cloudy day. I created one image of the rain coming down in a puddle as I left the gym after my workout. I'm going to stay inside and work on my book today and later out to lunch with Lenore.

God's light and love to all,

chris

Bottle on the Side of the Road or The Droplet

This morning on my way home after my workout I spotted this beer bottle on the side of the road. I thought to myself, "Hmmnn... that bottle could be used to make a nice picture." I threw together some lighting and a back drop and the droplet is the end result.

God's love and blessings to everyone,

chris

Badger's Landing or The King on His Throne

Today got off to a rough start. I was up late last night and I overslept and missed church this morning.Today has been a pretty domestic. Lenore has been cleaning up the laundry room an I have been working on the kitchen. Badger the wonder dog has been overseeing it all from his landing on the stairs. Here are a few pictures of him ruling his domain.

God's love and blessings to everyone,

chris

One Fine Spring Day

Awoke this morning to a couple of inches of snow. We always seem to get snow in March. This is the first real snow we have had all winter. I went out to the photoblind to get some photography in before it all melts. Though there is more snow off and on in the forecast through Monday.

God's blessings to all,

chris

Tiny Bubbles

This morning the wind is howling on the ridge top. It doesn't make for very good bird photography which is what I had planned for today along with a bunch of paperwork that I need to get done. I went to the kitchen and played with bubbles. Here are a few of my favorites along with one water and oil.Now back to the paperwork.

God's precious love and genereous blessings to us all,

chris

Sunrise Silhouette

The sun climbed into the sky this morning through loose banks of fog and clouds. By the time I got downtown to drop off Annika to school most of cover had burned away leaving me with fairly bald skies. When I passed by the church on Main street I looked up to see that the sun would make a pretty decent silhouette out of the church bell tower. I stopped and created a few images before moving onto my morning workout. When I got home I played around with a couple of versions. One is more of a graphic than a photograph. Here are the two images.

God's light and love to all,

chris

On the Inside Looking Out

I'm still working on images from my long weekend in Sacramento. The state competition for the Academic Decathalon was held in the Sacramento Memorial Auditorium. The Auditorium is an imposing reddish brick structure that covers a full city block. The first time I was in it was for an amateur boxing match way back in 1978. My roommate partook in a three round bout and got his clock cleaned by his opponent.The building was built in 1926 to commemorate those that died fighting for the United States. It is one of the most recognizable and famous buildings in Sacramento. It is listed on the National Historic Register. For over eighty years the Auditorium has drawn audiences to a wide variety of events,from Big Bands and violin virtuosos to the Beach Boys and the Harlem Globetrotters. It was closed for a brief time from 1986 - 1996 since that time the auditorium stage has welcomed artists such as Josh Groban, Michael Buble, Melissa Etheridge, comedians George Lopez, Mike Epps and Ron White and bands from The Doobie Brothers, The Moody Blues, and Duran Duran to Death Cab for Cutie and The Killers.
During the decathalon I had plenty of time to wander the venerable old halls and enjoy the building. I'm glad it was the stage for such a wonderful academic venue.
God's precious light and love to all,

chris