Tepee SkyWatch and Reflection

We met the kids at Tamastlikt Cultural Institute to visit the museum. The outdoor exhibit featured examples of dwelling construction over many centuries. This one was a below ground  living area. The Tepee frame would be covered with tightly woven willows.

From the other side it was reflected in the museum windows.

Different types of dwellings met the needs of the people at different times and in different circumstances.

This reminds me of the summer lodge of the Yakamas. The Tamastlikt Museum is operated by the Confederated Tribes of the Cayuse, Umatilla, and Walla Walla. The boys noted common images and themes from the tribes they study in Arizona, and we saw patterns similar to those we saw in Alaska and British Columbia. It is good to recognize those connections among all people.

A group of young people were doing beadwork in the outdoor area. One of the boys expressed interest in trying some beadwork, so I will be looking for some simple patterns and instructions, as well as some more beads and supplies for our camping trip with all the kids next week.

SkyWatch sights will be found at the dedicated SkyWatch site, and Weekend Reflections at James's Newtown Daily Photo.

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.

Odd Shots on Monday

Click the Odd Shots Camera Logo in my sidebar for all the details of what Odd Shots is about. Tell us here in a comment if you have an Odd Shot posted, so that we can find it and see what is odd in your neighborhood.

This is my odd shadow on our hike yesterday.

Testing close-up settings

Okay, I have been green with envy over all the folks playing with their Macro lenses. But I decided to do a test of the close-up settings on both my cameras, and I think I need to go read my owner's manuals to see what I can do that I haven't found by playing with them.

No bees around this evening to check for pollen grains--I doubt I could have captured them anyway. Just how close do you have to be to get those insect pictures? With these I had the advantage of the subjects not leaving the premises mid-snap. The detail of the hair caught on the pincushion is pretty close and sharp.

Now where did I last see that book?

Shadows