John & Anne Wiley

2013/01/28

Crossing

Filed under: Flying,Happiness,Has Photos,Nature,Random,SB Region — John @ 23:49

I was wrong. Not just when I said no more 3D pix. In fact, this new batch is because I was wrong about how to do them. I liked the ones I did, but just last night discovered I’d been doing them wrong. Because our eyes cross in order to create the 3D effect from two photos taken at different angles, the photos need to be “crossed” too. They really pop now, so if you’d like to compare here’s two versions of the barn.

2560 Crossed

2560 Crossed – this Pops!

2560 Barn-O-Rama

2560 Barn-O-Rama – scattered

In case you’ve forgotten (or never learned) how to see them in 3D: Look at the white line in the center, slowly cross your eyes until you see three images, then gradually cross or uncross your eyes until the two barns in the middle image converge. You’ll still see three images, but the center one will magically become 3D. The older version on the bottom had some 3D effect, but the trees were all blurry. Trees on the top one are much sharper and the whole thing has much more depth. I’m putting larger versions on my Photo Page, if like us you enjoy the effect and want to see more detail. Meanwhile here’s another small version that’s easier to see in 3D.

2665-3D Cliff Cave

2665-3D Cliff Cave

This cave is on a textured cliff high on the slopes of the Santa Ynez Mountains facing the Channel Islands, and I like how the sunset colors make it surreal. The 3D depth of the cave and rock texture is accented by the soft touches of scrub growing out of crevices.

After you look at the center line and cross your eyes to get three images, it may help to tilt your head slightly to one side or the other so that the two caves in the middle image line up horizontally. I love how the human brain “locks” the image into 3D. Hope you can “see” the effect, and that if you don’t it’s at least fun to look at half of the pic. 🙂

2013/01/25

Dreaming Up

Filed under: Flying,Happiness,Has Photos,Inner World,Nature,People,Random,SB Region — John @ 22:42

Our dreams last night were more interesting and vivid than usual, probably related to the surgery. It got me thinking about daydreams, in the sense that when we haven’t flown for a while we sort of daydream about it. For example, on a clear day we look at the mountains or get a view of the ocean, hear the distant siren song of a passing plane, or just notice the sky. In a heartbeat we’re remembering moments from a previous flight or dreaming of a new one. Today I daydreamed about this one.

2518 Elegant Hood

2518 Elegant Hood

I remembered enjoying this elegant neighborhood in the hills as we climbed out of the airport. So many beautiful homes and mansions around here, each one a long story of how those people got all the money involved and chose how to spend it. Looking back toward the airport I snapped this tiny slice of the much better view I was paying far less to enjoy a lot more.

2526 Better View

2526 Better View

We both used to be Ocean View devotees, but the great mountain view from our modest home has switched us. When driving across the Stevens (San Roque) Bridge and voting on the best view, it’s rare for the ocean to win. So I liked the view in the opposite direction, from up here also better than those manse owners get and of course far beyond what we see from our place.

2530 Mountain View

2530 Mountain View

Of course, at the same time we’re enjoying the ocean and mountain views, we’re also looking East and West along the coast and down at interesting and beautiful attractions along our path. Can you tell that flying appeals to us? Do these words & pix convey some dim impression of how easily I can get dreamy about it? Have you guessed that we’re eager for Anne’s foot to heal so we can get up again? 🙂

2013/01/24

Aliveness

Filed under: Flying,Happiness,Has Photos,Inner World,People,Random,Relationships — John @ 23:56

Sometimes in life things happen that help us remember how delicious Life is. Today we enjoyed a special freshness in the air between light showers. Everything is green and particularly Alive. Beyond the weather, we’re especially enjoying our experience of Aliveness because Anne just had elective surgery on her feet. Before she went in, even though there was basically zero risk involved we of course deeply felt our mortality and cherished our time together.

28_895 Anne & Sandie

28_895 Anne & Sandie

When I finally got to see her again four hours later, needless to say we were even happier and more aware of joyful Aliveness. Her nurse Sandie was hovering gently and efficiently, so before long we were out getting medicines and supplies. During the drive we talked about our time apart. Anne’s report was quite brief, since she was unconscious nearly the entire time. Then I talked about having met the “Two Grannies” who were waiting for Virginia’s husband. We talked about their retirement sailing adventure around the world and our Big Adventures in Tripp, and when she mentioned her blog I of course told her about this one. Before long Anne and I were back home, and now she’s cozy in her throne with me waiting on her hand and (especially) foot.

3775 Beckoning Her Footman

3775 Beckoning Her Footman

Thanks for all the kind wishes from friends and family. The warmth of your caring and support is so nourishing for mind, body and soul. We look forward to seeing you soon, and Anne particularly anticipates going for walks. 🙂

2013/01/22

Coming Home

Filed under: Flying,Happiness,Has Photos,Inner World,Nature,People,Random,Relationships,SB Region — John @ 18:42

When we go for a short flight, the newness stands out. The moment of liftoff is a splash of cool water on a hot day. A sudden fresh blush of breeze, and the first note of a great symphony.

2742 Far Point

2742 Far Point

Occasionally I’m instantly looking back from one of those far points I gaze at from home. The beginning was certainly breathtaking and new, but somehow a part of me begins again from that distant place. I am a hawk turning lazy circles in the sun, surveying the wild stone and scrub. For the rest of the flight, I’m coming home. Edging into the first touches of our unnatural lines, though they still follow natural contours at the edge where some life is still wild.

2739 Wild Edge

2739 Wild Edge

Descending further we enter a world where only a few untamed things remain, and life is increasingly shaped by human hand and eye. Most life has a purpose, harnessed to a symmetry of human gain.

2781 Green Order

2781 Green Order

People near this edge of nature feed the rest of us and maintain our roots into the forgotten past when all life was a random dance. Now as we near the touch down at the end of an enchanted brief adventure in time and space, home is changed.

2732 Tiny Worlds

2732 Tiny Worlds

Each angular bubble of manicured order can insulate a household from the ancient wild places so near. When we have ventured into the nature of our origins, coming home is enchanted. We can remember the wild places within and between us.

2013/01/20

Sunset Fabric

Filed under: Flying,Happiness,Has Photos,Inner World,Nature,Random,SB Region — John @ 06:12

Sunsets are often magical in this region, and watching them from the air is often transcendent. Up here the light lingers much longer, and many times when we land it’s startling how dark it already is on the ground. The fabric of sunset is woven among all the things that stand tall, as shadows silently fall into darkness.

2595 Valley Glory

2595 Valley Glory

So it was as we looked back along the highway winding among the hills from Gaviota toward the valley we’d just left. Each furrow in the terrain was stretching inexorably up the slopes until it claimed their colors for the night. As we passed the peaks their rocks, hills and mountains were bathed in beauty saluting the Pacific sunset in a gathering haze from distant agricultural fires.

2603 Evening Salute

2603 Evening Salute

The last light of day reveals texture, and the mysterious weave of this ancient stone face stood out to accent the sunset fabric.

2670 Woven Rock

2670 Woven Rock

Each hour of every season offers delight and joyful nourishment to the aviator who takes the time to descend from the clouds to move at a respectful distance among the wonders of earth.

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