Odd Run Shots

The reason they call the race on Thanksgiving morning the Turkey Trot is:

...because everyone tries torun faster than the turkey.

But I don't know where the banana comes in.

Odd Shots are here every Monday. Leave a comment if you have one, too. Check the comments to see what else is odd around the world today.

Sunday's Psalm--First Sunday of Advent

To you, O Lord, I lift my soul.

Your ways, O LORD, make known to me;

teach me your paths,

Guide me in your truth and teach me,

for you are God my savior,

and for you I wait all the day.

 To you, O Lord, I lift my soul.

Good and upright is the LORD;

thus he shows sinners the way.

He guides the humble to justice,

and teaches the humble his way.

To you, O Lord, I lift my soul.

All the paths of the LORD are kindness and constancy

toward those who keep his covenant and his decrees.

The friendship of the LORD is with those who fear him,

and his covenant, for their instruction.

To you, O Lord, I lift my soul.

 

Psalm 25: 4-5, 8-9, 10, 14

Photos are from Yakima Arboretum, taken in October 2008

Badwater Reflection--with shadows

The lowest point in the USA--282 feet below sea level.

Weekend Reflections' homebase is Newtown Area Photo.

More Desert Sky

Looking up in Death Valley's Mosaic Canyon.

Skywatch is here.

Thanksgiving Turkey Trot

The faster participants in the two mile fun run (walk) were already on the return link as we were still headed outbound toward the turnaround point. We were pushing Kate in the stroller so that mom and dad could do the 10K. This is, I think, the eighth Mesa AZ Turkey Trot event we have participated in. We generally walk the two mile.

Winners in various age levels in the 10K win a turkey. They'll have to save them for Christmas dinner as they are frozen now. We got a turkey one year for most family members participating.

These runners in the 10K were just passing the starting line when the first of the finishers were coming in. There were a lot of runners this year!











The first across the finish line was one of nine wheelchair athletes. They had a slightly earlier starting time than the runners. The first runner was not far behind him. There were still alot of runners coming in when we left the park to come home and put the turkey in the oven.

Whether one mile, two miles or 10K--run, wheel, or walk--it helps make up for the extra calories feasting later in the day.

ABC Wednesday--S is for...

S is for spiral staircase at Scotty's Castle.

Last week we visited Death Valley National Park and took a tour of Scotty's Castle.

Although it has long been known as Scotty's Castle, the magnificent home in the desert actually belonged to his good friend Al Johnson, a Chicago banker, who built it as a vacation home for his wife. It started out as just a "box," but Mrs. Johnson told him that if they were going to spend weeks at a time there, that that was not enough.

Our very knowledgable guide for the tour was attired in period dress as she explained the relationship between the Johnsons and the legendary Death Valley Scotty. Scotty's stories were so fanciful and entertaining that the staid and consevative Johnson let him live in the castle and claim it in his tales.

The home is filled with all the original antiques that were gathered from Europe. The Johnsons themselves never went to Europe, however. I did notice the fire extiguisher in the corner when I took this picture, but not the block of wood--is that holding the old desk level? I'm not sure.

   S would also be for Scotty's unique security system. Scotty had the notion that if bandits came to plunder his gold mine,  the entrance of which he claimed to be under his bed, one would go to the door to the right and another to the left to come in the window. For that reason, he devised this contraption covering a hole in the wall of the room. If he heard the bandits, he would poke his shotgun throught the hole and the device would divide the shot between the two invaders. He never used the device. It wouldn't have worked if he had.                                 

And besides, he never had a gold mine anyway--under his bed or anywhere. It was another of his stories.

You know I couldn't have passed up taking a shot of the old hand crank sewing machine.

                                                                                     You will find other ABC participants at the meme's own blog. And you can visit the originator, Denise Nesbitt, at her blog Mrs. Nesbitt's Space.

My World extends far beyond my small town

When we dropped into Death Valley, we dropped out of communication with anything outside. Oops! Can't return that call after all.

Oh! could have saved these for Skywatch!

The many colors of the soil show what a storehouse of various minerals were found here.

This is called Artist's Palette.

Where water has washed through the area, there is plant life--scanty--thin--and scraggly.

...and where water hasn't been, the badlands.

This was my world for a couple of days last week. Not posted then because we were totally out of

touch. See other worlds here.

Death Valley Days

We had an interesting trip to Death Valley National Park. More later.

Okay, this Odd Shot is a Whatsit?

Nobody said it was a difficult Whatsit?

Odd Shots always here on Mondays. You may find others in the comments.

Sunday's Psalm--Solemnity of Christ the King

The LORD is king; he is robed in majesty.

The LORD is king, in splendor robed;

robed is the LORD and girt about with strength.





The LORD is king; he is robed in majesty.



And he has made the world firm,


not to be moved.


Your throne stands firm from of old;

from everlasting you are, O LORD.














The LORD is king; he is robed in majesty.

Your decrees are worthy of trust indeed;
holiness befits your house,
O LORD, for length of days.

The LORD is king; he is robed in majesty.


Psalm 93: 1, 1-2, 5

mosaic in a St. Peterdburg Church
Zion National Park, Utah
Biggs Bridge and Mt. Hood, Columbia River from Maryhill State Park, Washington

Some Arboretum Reflections

These are from a visit to the Yakima Arboretum in October of 2008.
They were taken in the Japanese Garden--a good place to look for reflections.

It's definitely not where I am right now. I scheduled this post ahead because we are in Death Valley. I doubt if I will find any such reflections there.

                              James at Newtown Daily Photo sposnsors Weekend Reflections. Visit him to see who else has participated.  I may or may not get a chance to sign the McLinky once again.                                                                          

ABC Wednesday--R is for

R is for Rain.

I am posting this a week and a half ahead.

Today we are visiting Death Valley, California.

The one thing that I can predict, a week and a half in advance is:

We are not seeing any rain.

Visit other ABCers here.

My grandson drew a name...

...from among all those on the list who supported my fundraising efforts for the Breast Cancer 3-Day and the name he drew is a blogger.

The winner of the Cancer is a Word not a Sentence quilt is James and Vickie of Newtown Daily Photo Blog.

I'm headed over there to give him  the word.

An Odd Shot--Thirsty Bird

When you are thirsty, just pretend you are people.

From the summer's archives. I am away from my computer, so this is prepared ahead for your enjoyment. I post Odd Shots each Monday and offer my comments for others to link their Odd Shots as well. I couldn't go away and leave you without a place to find the Odd Shots, could I--lol

Sunday's Psalm--33rd Sunday of Ordinary Time

 You are my inheritance, O Lord!
O LORD, my allotted portion and my cup,
you it is who hold fast my lot.

I set the LORD ever before me;
with him at my right hand I shall not be disturbed.

 You are my inheritance, O Lord!

Therefore my heart is glad and my soul rejoices,
my body, too, abides in confidence;

because you will not abandon my soul to the netherworld,
nor will you suffer your faithful one to undergo corruption.


You are my inheritance, O Lord!

You will show me the path to life,

fullness of joys in your presence,
the delights at your right hand forever.

You are my inheritance, O Lord!

Ps 16:5, 8, 9-10, 11

icon in the monastery at Sergiev Posad, Russia
sculpture, Maryhill Museum sculpture garden, Maryhill WA
path around Dewey Lake, near Skagway AK

These are some reflections I saw last year...

...while I was walking in the Breast Cancer 3-Day in the Seattle area.

This weekend I am walking again. This year I am walking in Arizona. The views will be different during this walk.

We walk three days, about 20 miles a day, to bring awareness and raise funds for research, education, and patient care. The location doesn't matter. The cause is universal.

I expect to be one among two or three thousand walkers.

Keep us in mind as I walk with others who are as passionate about the cause as I am.

If you can offer a few dollars in support, click my shoes in the sidebar to reach my donation page. I appreciate it, and so do others.

Weekend Reflections is hosted by James. I probably won't get a chance to sign the McLinky there this weekend, though.

A Recent SkyWatch at Home

Which is not where I am, so this is preposted. I won't get to the Mr. Linky and I won't get around to visit, but you can see other skies around the world by visiting the SkyWatch site.

Gatherings

We made a brief side trip to Bryce canyon National Park yesterday afternoon. We were ready for a break.

We saw a couple of gatherings while we were there.

When these monks got to the look-out, they would blend with the color of the terrain.