John & Anne Wiley

2010/11/25

Fremont Flight

Filed under: Flying,Happiness,Has Photos,Nature,Random — John @ 02:59

We took a local historian up for a brief sunset flight, so he could scout out terrain for Fremont’s attack (looking forward to reading the history when it’s published on Edhat next month). The sandstone ridge running diagonally in the foreground is a likely route.

3482 Grooved Ridge

3482 Grooved Ridge

Click to see the large version (or view the larger one on my Photo Page), and imagine soldiers wrestling canon and other battle gear down that grooved ridge (bottom left) in torrential rain. Story is that it had the groove from earlier use as a logging chute, and the rain made it into a water slide that scattered the army until survivors could reassemble under a giant oak at the bottom. Today the dead first growth from the recent fires added to the orange sunset glow, making the flight even more magical and fun. If weather permits, we’ll fly tomorrow and hopefully get some better pix.

2010/11/24

Flock

Filed under: Flying,Happiness,Has Photos,Inner World,Nature,People,Random,Relationships,SB Region — John @ 09:58

When I was a kid, on one or two years we had a “flocked” Christmas tree. In case you don’t know, it’s basically a cut tree that’s been sprayed with asbestos or something to give the appearance of being covered with snow. Well looking at cropped versions of my zoom pix from Monday’s flight in the mountains, I found this one where you might be able to see “flocked” trees at the top. Click to see the largest version, or better yet visit my Photo Page by clicking the link in the right column ->

3471 Snowy Trees

3471 Snowy Trees

This year we’ve been contemplating and talking about what this season means to us. Maybe that’s why the flocked trees stood out to me. Fun to remember the good times I’ve enjoyed walking in terrain like this, looking up at the trees, and hearing the song of a small plane humming in the distance. The more places we’ve been, the greater number of perspectives we can embrace where we are.

2010/11/23

Ten Too Long

Filed under: Aviation,Flying,Happiness,Has Photos,Nature,Random,SB Region — John @ 03:09

We realized leaving the airport this afternoon that it has been ten days since we flew. Too long! Winds were uncharacteristically from the North, so we enjoyed a slow climb out past Lake Los Carneros.

3468 Los Carneros

3468 Los Carneros

Beyond the Santa Ynez valley, peaks were dusted with snow and at that height we bundled up against the 35 degree wind when I opened the window to snap this.

3475 Snowy Peaks

3475 Snowy Peaks

Back at the airport a few minutes later, beyond the huddled jumble of planes sunset colors were lighting the clouds over our smaller mountains as if to advertise their warmer heights.

3480 Sunset Mountains

3480 Sunset Mountains

I wonder if the planes grumble quietly amongst themselves about being tied to the ground like that when it’s so beautiful aloft.

2010/11/17

Colors

Filed under: by Anne,Has Photos,Nature,SB Region — Anne @ 10:06

John’s appointment today took us to Montecito, always a treat.  I took a walk and got waylaid at a pricey shop nearby where I considered buying a colorful scarf, then walked to the Biltmore without it.

Oceanside, on this fuzzy gray day, a crow and I stood and listened with deep delight to the soothing waves rolling ashore.

0801 Butterfly Beach - black&white day

0801 Butterfly Beach - black&white day

Turning 180′ the opposite direction from the view above, these seven uniformed gardeners are not noticing the gray day behind them, focusing instead on industriously adding pots of color to the elegant Biltmore.

0806 Seven Gardners

0806 Seven Gardeners plant color

On my way back to meet John I bought us hot chocolate with whipped cream, yummy and very unusual for me to do – and yes, I also stopped by the shop and bought the colorful scarf!

~by Anne

2010/11/16

Up Hill

Filed under: Happiness,Has Photos,Inner World,Nature,Random,SB Region — John @ 10:06

Sometimes it’s flat for miles. Other days you’re coasting on a gentle grade. Lately it’s been small hills, and it was a great sunset walk in the neighborhood. Colors and shapes, a bit of exercise, and pausing to chat with acquaintances and neighbors. Another warm evening that fully began at the top of the hill admiring a serene pepper tree bathed in sundown.

3434 Warm Pepper

3434 Warm Pepper

Nearby an old woodpile far from any home, structure or fireplace waits for something.

3439 Wood, Colors, Shadows

3439 Wood, Colors, Shadows

Turning toward the light, we see another tree offering hints of the dusky shapes it will show against the starry sky once the nearest star’s fire has faded beyond the horizon. Perhaps an owl will sit on top waiting for residents of the woodpile to emerge for breakfast.

3441 Transparency

3441 Transparency

« Previous Page — Next Page »

Blog at WordPress.com.