I have an admiration for people who are good at their work. Well, really, good at anything that they do, be it work or avocation. I find it fascinating to observe and I think they make excellent photographic subjects.
I wrote about this artist a few days ago. I posted a couple of images from the set so far. Here is another of her leaning into her work, oblivious to my presence until I announcement myself a few minutes later.
It was a good day. Life is good.
We are still hiking up near Spooner Summit, on an old fire road cut by the Forest Service whenever the last fire happened on the site. (It must be several years ago, based on what I see.) We walk past this old stump nearly every day.
That will end soon enough as Fall moves into Winter. Once I am convinced the Nope Ropes have gone dormant for the season, The Girl and I will transition to hiking Silver Saddle Ranch a good part of the time. The snows will making hiking the old fire road much more difficult and the trail access is often block by a snow bank from the plows.
I have been thinking that I would like to hike Dead Truck Canyon this Winter, maybe several times. The climb will do me good and The Girl will enjoy new places to explore. I think the likelihood of a coyote encounter will be reduced (but not eliminated) because of bulk of prey is in the valley and not on the hills. At least, those are my current thoughts.
There is definitely less cover as we climb, so I should be better able to scout ahead.
An additional benefit is that the elevation provides some nice views of the surrounding valleys. Plus the Carson Range will be in plain view as well.
I am thinking that Fall/Winter hiking will be good this season. I am grateful and life is good.
Well, this might not be The Tardis, but it is a close-enough facsimile thereof for me. I happened to pass through the entryway at the right time with decent light. So, I decided to make the capture.
It was a good evening with a good friend. The food was good as was the fellowship.
Life is good.
This shoot was a lot of fun. It did not take me very long to make the captures, but I sure enjoyed working the scene. The interaction with the Basque artists was icing on the cake.
It was a good day. Life is good.
A few days ago I had a very busy morning. It had rained a bit and the house was cool. I thought that meant it was cool outdoors as well. So, I decided to take The Girl to Silver Saddle Ranch, thinking it was cool enough she would not overheat (and maybe the critters would be bunkered in).
Boy howdy, I was mistaken. The clouds cleared and the Son shone brightly. So, while it was not HOT, it was quite warm. We hiked the trail, nonetheless. The irrigation water is shut off from the Mexican Ditch, so we crossed the now-dry ditch and headed for the river. There is still water in the Carson River, although it is showing the late season growth of vegetation.
Again, nonetheless, The Girl jumped right in, swam a bit, got a drink, and cooled off. I took the opportunity to empty my bladder (getting old sucks in some ways).
Having turned the corner on our path, we headed back toward the ranch compound and the rig a bit farther on. I had the X-T5 bouncing on my belly and had an eye out for a possible shot. I noticed the interaction of clouds and sky over the river and paused. I set the camera to do an in-camera conversion to a favorite Tri-X film simulation and also set it to emulate a red filter to accentuate the contrast of the sky.
The capture made, we continued our hike back to the rig… and then proceeded home. It was a good day.
Life is good.
A few evenings ago I drove up to Juan’s Mexican Diner for a taco and a beer. On my way home I remembered I wanted some ranch beans, so I stopped by the Smith’s grocery store on my way home. As I pulled in to the lot, I noticed two artists working on a mural.
My quick shopping stop done, I mounted the Fujinon 70-300mm zoom on my X-T5 and walked over to work the scene. I came away with a few nice captures and will share a few.
I also had a nice visit with this young Basque woman and offered to send a couple of captures.
It was a good day, a good outing, and I am grateful. Life is good.
I am really enjoying our Fall hikes up near Spooner Summit. The weather has turned a bit cooler, especially when we are out hiking. The Sun is taking on its Fall look, less harsh than the Summer rays, as the Earth’s tilt changes the angle of incidence during the Fall days.
A few days ago we passed this fallen sign, just as we have dozens of times before. There are a few of the USFS property markers along the way, some of them erect; others tipped over. I wonder if it was the weight of winter snow, maybe a slippage, or if some miscreant vandalized them. I suppose I will never know.
In any event, on this particular day I paused, noticing the play of sunlight over the bright yellow of the marker. While The Girl sniffed about, I made a few captures. I like this one.
I enjoyed the rest of the hike and came away with decent capture. I am grateful for another day with The Girl and in the outdoors. Life is good.
I had supper with an old friend last night at Betsy’s Big Kitchen. The diner is in the Slotworld Casino here in Carson City. It is owned by the same person/outfit as Bodine’s, but the feel/food is different. In some ways, I like the diner feel better than the more restaurant feel of Bodine’s. I also think the food is a little better.
So, we will see if the change sticks. In any event, I came away with a nice street capture and an evening with a friend.
Life is good.
We are clearly entering our Fall weather season. The mid-90F temperatures left a week ago (although they might return) and we are having a few more clouds. On our Spooner hike a couple of days ago, I looked over my left shoulder and noticed the Sun and clouds. On the way back from the turn-around, I paused because I liked the scene even more than I did on the way out. I made this capture, using the in-camera Acros/R film simulation.
I also will spend a little time today reflecting on that day in 2001 when we were attacked by enemies who despise our way of life. They want us to be afraid. I am not.
I am also reflecting on a heinous act perpetrated, most likely, by either an agent of the far left or by a maniac inspired by same. I am unconvinced that it does not matter if it is the latter because the horrendous tone taken by the far left is responsible for this evil.
I never saw Mr. Kirk be disrespectful or mean-spirited to anyone he engaged. It was part of his approach that I genuinely admired. What happened to him was evil and the perpetrator and his/her motivators are responsible for that evil.
It is a sad day for our nation, when we have come to the point that intelligent voices are silenced by violence.
This is not good; it is evil. Nonetheless, life is good.
This morning I slept in a bit (especially for me) and did not rise until about 0730h. Heh… As I made coffee, I let The Girl out. With my coffee ready, I sat at my desk and she ran back in and to her mat under my desk. As I finished my first mug and started preparing the second, she asked to go back out. So, I reopened the doors and finished putting me coffee on to steep. (I use an Aeropress.)
I stepped back outside to find her sunning. The light was lovely, so I ran back into the house, grabbed the Nikon D750 from the kitchen table, checked the battery, and ran back out. I squatted at about the right distance and made a few captures. I think I like this one the best.
We finished our morning routine and then loaded up to head out for a hike. The left front signal lamp burned out yesterday afternoon, so I stopped at AutoZone thinking I could buy a replacement, but with a LED lamp. There was no joy, so we crossed the street to O’Reilly and I picked up a two-pack of 1156A halogen bulbs and an air filter for the 4Runner. Then we headed up the hill.
We had a great hike, with me chatting with a ham buddy partway. The weather was spectacular and I am loving the fall feeling that we have at the moment. On the way back to the rig, I thought “I should see if I can make the change with the tools I have on hand.”
So I retrieved my tool roll from its crate, grabbed the knee pad, and turned the front wheels to the right, full stop. I then began the process of removing the inner fender liner and found I needed a pry bar to separate the line from the fender. So I returned to the back of the rig and fetched the large tool roll (mostly cheap Harbor Freight tools, yuck). There I extracted a flat-point stubby and used it to separate the liner from the fender. I then reached into the well and unfastened the lamp socket. It was easy to replace the bulb and only a little fiddly to replace the socket into the housing. Reinstalling the fender liner was a little fiddly, but eventually all the screws were back into place.
I did remember to function check before buttoning everything up. I’ve been there (before), done that, and did not collect a T-shirt.
I was hungry on the way back to the house and decided that a BLT would be good. (I need a grocery run.) I pulled in to the Red Hut, got Sera’s vest out (“In Training”), and prepped her to go in with me. Red Hut traffic was light and she needs the reps. We were seated quickly at my choice of booths and she went under the table with just a little encouragement. (She likes the back corner better than the front corner, it seems.)
The BLT was good (actually, it was a BLTC — with cheese) and I boxed up some of the bacon and the remaining fries for her treat, once she was out of vest. We returned to the rig and I gave her her treat.
As I was about to leave, a young man with cross-clipped red hair and a well-trimmed red beard approached.
“Would you be happening to be going by The Nugget?”
I shook my head “no” and shrugged. He trotted off.
I have a thing about unknown contacts. Any time a stranger approaches the element of risk increases. One can never know another’s intention and I am more distrustful of people now than I have ever been. It is not paranoia; it is a sign of our troubled times.
As I watched him hurry across Clearview Avenue, I heard that small voice in the back of my head say “You could give him a ride. It is not far out of your way.”
I have heard that voice before. I think it is the Holy Spirit telling me that there is something I should do to help another and that it is OK.
So I started the rig, crossed Clearview, and crossed the parking lot. I intercepted him and offered him a ride to The Nugget. Sera hopped into the back seat and he climbed in. I asked “Are you late for work?”
“No, I have an interview at 2:30 and I don’t think I can make it in time. I’d also be sweaty and that’s not how to show up for an interview.”
“Gotcha.”
“Thanks man, I really appreciate this.”
“No worries.”
Sera clambered up on the console between us. She gave no indication of anything awry and I had a peace about giving a man a ride. We chatted a little on the way, he asking about my equipment on the dash.
A few minutes later I pulled around on the north side of The Nugget (off Carson Street, the main drag) and stopped at the curb.
“Thanks man!” he said as he started out. I offered my hand and he took it. “Break a leg and good luck with the interview. Get the job!”
He grinned and took off. I hope he gets the job.
Sometimes I hear that voice that tells me I should do something. It always feels right.
It is a good day. Life is good.