We were messing around the AirBnB early one morning and I noticed the light falling on my sleeping Girl. She was tired enough after our hike to want a nap. She gave me a wonderful candid portrait.
Life is good (and so is my dog).
Beautiful Girl
Author: ruminator
Monuments
Somewhere on the way back to Missouri from Pennsylvania, DiL wanted to stop and walk and old cemetery. She found several and then picked one. It was good to be out of the rig for awhile and the places always provide some interesting images. I came away with a few.
It was a good stop. Life is good.
Happy Birthday, Wife
She would be 73-years old today. She is long gone, but never forgotten. She is also missed, it seems these days more often than not.
Miss you old girl. You are irreplaceable.
Row Houses
While in Philly for the wedding, I walked The Girl around the block a few times. The row houses are a fascinating architectural thing that I do not routinely see. Therefore, I needed an image for the memory. So, I made one.
While I do not want to live there, the visit was worth the effort. Life is good.
Towers Beach
I went to my grandson’s wedding in Philadelphia. I had all of my children and some of their spouses with me. It was a good time and I am very grateful.
Daughter suggested we go to a Delaware beach. So, we did.
I came away with a good memory and a few good frames. Life is good.
This Old Rock
We have hiked past this pipe and perched stone countless times. Sometimes, when the light is right, I stop and make an image.
This is one of those images.
Slide Mountain
On a Sunday morning a few days ago, I took The Girl up to Washoe Lake for our daily outing. I did not want to go to our usual spots, it being the weekend.
When we arrived, there was an ultralight aircraft preparing to launch. There were a few other folks also enjoying the bright morning. But there were not too many.
I found a place to park the rig away from everyone else and got The Girl out. We walked about the western shoreline of the lake, her running from spot to spot, sniffing and marking. She dashed back to me a few times, threatening to shoulder my legs as dogs often do in play. We laughed and played a little grabass, enjoying the outdoors together.
I made a few images, the one above of Slide Mountain with a wide angle lens and an in-camera film simulation.
Then we finished our outing and loaded back into the rig. I had things that needed doing.
It was a good day. I think every day is a good day. Life is good.
Carson Cottonwoods
I missed an opportunity last night. I walked The Girl late, about 1630h, and did not take a camera with me. We walked one of our favorite paths at Silver Saddle Ranch.
The weather turned dark yesterday afternoon and we had a little rain. When we arrived at the ranch there was no one else. I parked the rig and let her out off lead for a change. I monitored her carefully to intercept her tendency to increase her wanders as time passes without a demand from me to stay close in. She will push the boundary until I offer correction.
When I see her raise her nose to scent the air, I know that she has caught scent of a bobcat or a coyote. This results in an immediate demand to return and she goes on-lead. She has gotten into trouble before and I have no doubt she will again.
She went into scent-the-air mode late into our hike. So, she went back on-lead.
The overcast light sure made for some lovely colors along the Carson River. Then the late light really looked lovely on the valley floor and the homes on the high area. I kinda wished I had a camera.
When we returned to the rig my camera bag was in the back. I should have carried it.
Despite working hard all day, it was a good day. Life is good.
Kestral
Last week The Girl and I were on daily walkies out at Silver Saddle Ranch when I saw a flutter in the sagebrush maybe 10 meters from us. That caught my attention so I watched as we advanced along the upper trail that we walk a lot.
A few more meters down the trail, I noticed a bird perched atop a sagebrush. It was an American Kestral! I know that at least one inhabits the area we often walk, but it does not show itself frequently.
Anxiously, I removed the normal lens from my X-T5 and affixed the 70-300mm zoom. I raised the camera to my face to frame the shot and the small raptor flitted away.
Disappointed, The Girl and I (she was not disappointed, I was) moved forward. However, I kept my own sharp eye open for a reappearance of the tiny raptor.
Again, a few more meters down the trail, I spotted it perched on another sagebrush. I kept another bush between us to break up my outline, found a bare spot that framed the bird, and made a few captures. I could have used the longer 100-400mm zoom in my inventory, but it is very heavy and does not get carried without intent. The 70-300mm is much lighter and more compact, so it is easier to slog around with as a maybe lens.
In any event, it will do. I got a capture of the bird.
The Girl and I continued along our hike, she sniffing and marking, looking for the odd lizard to chase. I kept her on-lead, partly for practice and partly for safety. Snakes are still active, but probably not for much longer. The days are cooling and nights are cooler. They will hibernate before long.
That will give The Girl a little more freedom, but I will remain watchful and keep her close. I will make some exception to strictly on-leash once the risk of rattlesnakes abates for the winter. But, she still has a propensity to chase coyotes. I do not need any more of that and neither does she.
Despite a few sand burrs (she is a sand burr magnet), we had a good hike. It was a good day. Life is good.
Piñon Hills and Carson River Valley
For the last week or so, The Girl and I hiked the Silver Saddle Ranch open space. While not completely out of snake season, it is safe enough with her on-lead. Her lead work needs work anyway. (She is doing much better on-lead.)
Some of the rabbitbrush has waned, but my allergies are still in full force. That is making some things a bit difficult because my eyes are subject to the allergies and watery eyes make for poorer vision.
I am working through my first mug as I write this and will want another shortly. It is much cooler here in western Nevada this morning — in the low 30ºs F. That will make The Girl frisky when we hike today. I worked all morning yesterday, so it was afternoon before we hiked. Today I think I would like to get out a bit earlier, although there is still work to do.
I had supper with my buddy Jimmy yesterday evening. It was a good visit and the food at Betsy’s Big Kitchen is decent. All in all, it was a good day.
I am grateful. Life is good.