Relax and Reflect

It has been a while since I have had a good shot for Weekend Reflections, but a couple of days at the lake with the kids, a low sun, and a bright float were perfect.

James sponsors Weekend Reflections.

ABC Revisiting E

View of historic Edinburgh and Edinburgh Castle from Calton Hill.

From our visit last year, here is a revisit of the city of Edinburgh, Scotland. How I would love to revisit it in fact rather than just virtually and spend more time. For more views of Edinburgh see these posts from last year and these on my photoblog.

To see what others found for the letter E, look here at the ABC Wednesday site.

Odd Shot after the Parade

I didn't expect to see a gathering of couboys ordering tacos outside this Mexican restaurant the other day as I headed home after the annual local parade was over.

The light had faded too much for a later shot where I passed a number of other cowboys riding home with their cell phones to their ears.

I guess the no hand held phones while driving law does not apply to horseback riders.

Sunday's Psalm--Twentieth Sunday of Ordinary Time

O God, let all the nations praise you!

May God have pity on us and bless us;

may he let his face shine upon us.
So may your way be known upon earth;
among all nations, your salvation.

O God, let all the nations praise you!

May the nations be glad and exult
because you rule the peoples in equity;
the nations on the earth you guide.

 O God, let all the nations praise you!

May the peoples praise you, O God;
may all the peoples praise you!
May God bless us,
and may all the ends of the earth fear him!

O God, let all the nations praise you!

from Psalm 67

Skywatch

I haven't done a Skywatch in a while. This was take Sunday on my way home from the coast.

Find Skywatch here.

ABC Revisiting D

How old are you?


If you aren't old enough, you missed the heyday of the TV show Death Valley Days, hosted at one time by none other than Ronald Reagan.


You may still be watching the syndicated reruns of this TV classic which  aired from 1952-1975.


The lead in to the show featured the Twenty Mule Team wagons of the sponsor, which in earlier days carried the mineral frowhich was mined in  Death Valley. This is one of those wagons.


And D is for Death Valley, which we visited in November of 2009.

The lowest place in the US and overall the hottest, temperatures top 120º F. many days of the summer. That makes November a good time to visit...

...whne you may even find a bit of water for a reflection shot.

It was difficult gong through the Death Valley photos to find just a few. Death Valley is a place that is both difficult and extremely exciting for photography. In the bright of the day ,colors can be washed out and a picture would be very flat.

But when the sun is low on the horizon and the shadows come out, the colors come to life.

Some earlier posts featuring Death Valley scenes are  here and here and here.

D is for Death Valley

Other ABC-Ds can be found here.

I had to laugh

When I came back in to help pack up library books the other day the staff had asked the city crews if they had some yellow caution tape they could use to close off the area where the packed boxes were stacked.

This is what they gave them.




I didn't think I would be able to post till later with the slow slow connection where I am at the moment. I am not going to try to get the linky code, so if you have an Odd Shot this week, please let us know in the comments.

Sunday's Psalm--Nineteenth Sunday of Ordinary Time.

Lord, let us see your kindness, and grant us your salvation.

I will hear what God proclaims;
the LORD — for he proclaims peace.
Near indeed is his salvation to those who fear him,
glory dwelling in our land.


Lord, let us see your kindness, and grant us your salvation.

Kindness and truth shall meet;
justice and peace shall kiss.
Truth shall spring out of the earth,
and justice shall look down from heaven.


Lord, let us see your kindness, and grant us your salvation.

The LORD himself will give his benefits;
our land shall yield its increase.
Justice shall walk before him,
and prepare the way of his steps.

Lord, let us see your kindness, and grant us your salvation.

from Psalm 85

slow

Excruciatingly slow WiFi connection at this conference center. Some can't even get online at all. Sunday's Psalm and Monday's Odd Shot will be late--after I have returned home Sunday evening.

Revisiting C

I am revisiting various places we have traveled during this round of ABC Wednesday. We have reached C, and C is for Caves.

On one of our annual Thanksgiving trips we visited Great Basin National Park and Lehman Caves.

We felt like real spelunkers as we were led through the dark passages.

Stalagmites hang down.




Stalactities build up.




looking up

 Find others playing in the ninth round of ABC Wednesday here.