Yosemite in August

Last week we had the pleasure of visiting Yosemite National Park with some of my favorite people. We only had one afternoon to visit and we enjoyed every minute. Most of the photos I took were taken from the moving car so they aren't the best but it is hard to mess up a shot of anything in Yosemite, it is just too beautiful. We enter the park from the East side and Tenaya Lake is a treasure to behold. Gorgeous mountain water.

Rugby didn't enjoy the long drive this time.

It seemed like everyone thought it would be a good day to visit the Park, lots and lots of Happy Campers.

Entering the Park...yipeee!

Uh Oh! looks like a wildfire is burning down there.

Yep...looks to be a big one.

As we winded down the mountains into the valley we started to worry that the air wouldn't be very good down there.

There she is...Yosemite Valley. It is just so majestic, always takes my breathe away.

The air actually didn't seem too bad once we got down to the valley floor.

Lush, so lush this year.

I will never understand this...I mean why pose on the dangerous rocks? There is a reason so many tourists die in our National Parks every year...stupidity.

I mean look at this shot below!

This is Bridalveil Falls...all these folks are at the base of it...here is a shot of the top.

She is a beauty isn't she?

Hope you all get a chance to visit one of our fabulous National Parks this summer.

Portland Mish Mash

Today's post is just a mish mash of photos I took while we were on our trip to Portland, Oregon last July. Sorry I couldn't get more creative than that. Today I have to work at my job that pays instead of the job I love.

This photo below, I took while at a stop light in... I can't remember where... well anyway, we were just sitting there and this motorcycle pulled up beside us and ...bingo I saw this shot! I love it, although I wish I could erase the SUV and the "Park Here" sign, but I can't have it my way gotta just let it happen.


I really can't explain this one. We saw this elfin stone house on our way to Columbia, CA. Just behind it the hillside slopes down to a gorgeous grassy valley hidden by dense trees. I peeked just a bit, but the "no trespassing/private property" signs kept me away. Oh but it looked so inviting down there. I imagined the tiny abode was really a doorway to subterranean stairs... maybe a gold mine? Who knows, it could be an outhouse... no, it seems way too romantic to be a toilet.

Now this odd building below I have pondered many times. It is in a tiny little corner park in Lee Vining, CA... the entrance to Tioga pass and Yosemite National Park. I do not know the story behind it... weird huh?

A look back at Mount Shasta... again I wish I could erase the car and street lamps.

Interesting wall except for the A/C unit and the street sign...Ugh!

I love bridges, all kinds...

and water towers. I think it's a side effect of my obsession with movies filmed in the New York City area.

The photo below is all that is left of the flat of Oregon berries we bought at a small farm just outside of Portland. Oh, they were so yummy.

This tombstone is not in the front yard of this house! Doesn't it look like it is? There is actually a street in between.

The weather was so lovely the entire trip, but I wanted it to rain! I mean I was in the Pacific Northwest right? Lucky for me it did rain a bit on our way out of Portland. Here is proof... from the car window. :O)

I leave you with this shot. So lush, the greenest place I've ever been.
Have a lovely day.

Look both ways, deer!

Kevin and I were on our way to a chimney sweeping job when I saw a beautiful deer. I love deer, they are just so sweet and innocent, I will always think of Bambi when I see one. I am a Disney girl. I never get tired of seeing them, who would? Although I AM tired of seeing them on peoples walls as decoration...

I digress...

The many yellow deer crossing signs warned me in advance to have my camera out. When I spotted her I yelled out something like"Look a Deer"
and Kevin pulled over, that's my man.

Then something happened I had never witnessed before. This gorgeous creature looked both ways!

Really!

She looked left

and then right

and then she crossed the road, completely calm and methodical. She went so cautiously that I was able to capture the whole thing. Amazing.

That reminds me of a couple other deer moments we had while visiting Yosemite National Park last August, which is so close we should go much more often than we do.

Under a bush right next to a outdoor restaurant patio bustling with tourists lay this beautiful Buck. Impressive huh?

His antlers were covered in a mossy velvet. So Lovely. I could have watched him all afternoon.

Then in the parking lot we came across this little family. They are actually called Mule Deer, due to those lovely large ears.

Aren't they pretty? I was so close to them and I had this crazy desire to reach out and pet that furry head or slide my hand over that velvety antler, but then I saw myself in the news as one of those people who messes with the wildlife and ends up getting gored.

Oh Boy!...Never touch the wildlife. and remember...

Slow Down and always Look Both Ways!