Halloween~Sunday stills Challenge 103110

I haven't had a chance to take many Halloween pics around here, as my school didn't allow ANY kind of Halloween festivities this year, since we area low performing school. That means that every second of the day, we HAVE to be cramming information down the kids' throats! I'm not sure that punishing the kidlets solves anything, but...oh, well! I'm not in charge! But, one teacher did have these cute little Halloween pumpkins in her hair and I asked her if I could take a photo and she said, "Yes!" Sunday Stills for October 31, 2010. THANKS, KELLY!

Sunrise~SkyWatch Friday 102910

I always take my little Nikon Coolpix with me. I keep it in my purse because I leave for work every morning (at least until Daylight Savings Time ends) right as the sun is coming up. This was the view this past week. Isn't it gorgeous? We've had some beautiful sunrises the last couple of weeks, due to the clouds in the valley. SkyWatch Friday for October 29, 2010.

Whoo, whoo, whoo~ABC Wednesday 102710

I took these photos at the Living Desert Reserve back in August. I always love to stop and see the owls there! And, last night, high up in our cottonwood tree, I heard the "whoo, whoo, whoo" of an owl. I heard it for about an hour, since we had our bedroom window open. It was such a soothing sound! I appreciate the owls who come and clean out the varmits from our yard! We've had owls come visit our cottonwood for many years now. I always assumed it was a barn owl, but whOOOOOOooo knows? ABC Wednesday for October 27, 2010.
"O" is for owl.

Fall Foliage, Sierras ~~Sunday Stills Challenge, Scenic Sunday 102410

Last weekend hubby and I stopped by a lake before the turnoff to North Lake, up behind Bishop, CA. I don't know the name of this lake, but it was a fishing area. There were quite a few fishermen out there when we stopped. We admired these aspen and stayed for about an hour, just walking around and enjoying the beauty of this area. Sunday Stills Challenge and Scenic Sunday for October 24, 2010.

Cars~Sunday Stills Challenge for 101710

When hubby and I were returning from our extended weekend getaway to June Lake last weekend, we stopped (OF COURSE!) in Bishop, at Schatz' Bakery. Right next door were these two classic cars, so I had to run over and take these pics for the weekly challenge! Look at that Caddy! They don't make cars like that anymore, eh? I think I'd RUN if I saw that coming at me! Sunday Stills Challenge for 101710

On the road to South Lake~Weekend Reflections 102310

Last weekend hubby and I stopped by this lake, which was on the road to South Lake, behind Bishop, CA. I don't remember the name of this lake, but we spent quite a bit of time there. And, you can see why! The aspen were gorgeous, the lake was quiet...ahhh...what a place to get away from our jobs for the weekend! Weekend Reflections for October 23, 2010. For other participants, please visit: http://newtowndailyphoto.blogspot.com/

Alabama Hills and clouds~SkyWatch Friday 102210

When we drove home from the Sierras last weekend, we stopped in Lone Pine and drove out to the Alabama Hills. The Sierras were nearly totally hidden by clouds and they looked so mysterious, especially with the rocks of the Alabama Hills in the foreground. SkyWatch Friday for October 22, 2010.

Look what I found! Nature Notes 102210

I found a horse trail up behind the resort, so one afternoon I took it. Then I realized that while I was being so quiet on the trail, I might run into a bear! This is bear country in California and there were signs at the resort warning people to put their trash out early every evening so that the bears wouldn't dig through it at night! ACK! So, I decided to make more noise while I was walking on the trail and I DID scare something out of the brush~a herd of 4 deer! These two stopped to check me out while the other two blended back into the brush. They scared me as much as I scared them! Phew! But, the hike on the trail was worth it as it wandered up over Silver Lake and I got a few photos of the lake from above.
It was drizzling the next morning and, while I wanted to take hubby with me on the trail, it was just too slippery. Nature Notes for October 22, 2010.

Ranch Cafe~Window Views and Doors, Too 102110

This is the Ranch House Cafe, located near Olancha, CA, on Highway 375. Hubby and I stopped there for breakfast on our way to June Lake last weekend. It was decorated for Halloween and it was very relaxing! Unfortunately, it may not be around next year as CALTRANS is considering moving Highway 395 away from the cafe! So, if you drive up Highway 395 and want a great place to eat and friendly service, please stop here and enjoy it while you can! Window Views and Doors, Too for October 21, 2010.

"N"~~ABC Wednesday 102010

"N" is for NEVER. Never, never take a photo facing into the sun! But, I just couldn't resist the sunlight hitting these aspen, so I did just that. Sometimes it works, like on these photos, but sometimes it doesn't. Don't you think it was worth trying? ABC Wednesday for October 20, 2010.

Aspen~That's My World 101910

Hubby and I took the weekend off to drive up to June Lake, nestled in the Sierras. Actually, we took these near North Lake, above Bishop, on Saturday. The clouds were moving in and by Sunday afternoon, the Sierras were totally hidden by them. We left Monday morning and it rained the entire way home, to Palm Springs! But, we are pleased to have been able to view these beautiful fall aspen. While this isn't our world, we are happy to have been a part of it, even for a few days! That's My World for October 19, 2010.

Orange rain~SkyWatch Friday 101510

As I was driving to school this morning, I noticed that the sky here in our valley had clouds scattered around it. That was a good sign, so I stopped at one point to watch the sunrise. And, what a sunrise it was! There were patches of rain coming down, never hitting the ground, but evaporating along the way. And, for several minutes as the sun was rising, the sunlight struck the clouds and they turned orange! What a view! SkyWatch Friday for October 15, 2010.

Morning light through windshield

I don't usually do this, but it was raining right where I was, in my car, a couple of weekends ago. Honestly, I was just too lazy to get out and take this photo, so I took it through my windshield! Hubby does it all the time and most of the time his photos come out just fine, so I opted to give it a try! I don't like the street light, but who could pass up this sky?

"M"~ABC Wednesday 101310

"M" is for morning and mountains! I drove out to Thousand Palms Canyon last weekend. I was following the rainbow in the one photo and didn't even see the very faint one above the road sign in the other one! ABC Wednesday 101310

Clouds and palm trees~That's My World 101210

Last weekend was cloudy here in the desert and after I followed the rainbow out to the sand dunes, I took a drive out through Thousand Palms Canyon. The sky was opening up and some blue sky was visible. Everything smelled fresh and clean and I took a short walk through the Coachella Valley Preserve. That's My World for October 12, 2010.

Yellow grasses and rainbow~Mellow Yellow Monday 101110

I spotted this faint rainbow amid the yellow grasses out by the freeway last weekend and drove out to take a closer look. If you click on the photo to enlarge it, you can see the rainbow. Mellow Yellow Monday for October 11, 2010.

Billboards Sunday Stills Challenge 101010

I found this old, graffiti-covered billboard up near Sky Valley, which is east of Desert Hot Springs, CA. I hope the trailer park is in better condition than their sign! Sunday Stills Challenge, "Billboards", for October 10, 2010.

Desert Sunrise~SkyWatch Friday 100810

I was out driving last weekend and the clouds were haning around the valley. I went out by the sand dunes and took this photo. SkyWatch Friday for October 8, 2010.

"L" is for leaves~ABC Wednesday 100610

I took these photos of the maple trees up at the horse ranch where I board my horses. I'm watching their leaves turn various fall colors. It's been interesting to document this yearly occurrance because in the desert, we don't really see the seasons change like other places. Our local mountains do indeed take part in this seasonal rite of passage and last weekend I saw several ranches with their fall decorations already out for people to enjoy! ABC Wednesday for October 6, 2010. Are the leaves changing colors where you live?

Little hummers~Ruby Tuesday 100410

These little fellas showed up at the hunningbird feeders over the weekend. There are 3 feeders at the horse ranch and there were about 6 of them at one of the feeders on Sunday! Whirl, whirl, whirl went their little wings. Ruby Tuesday for October 4, 2010.

Saturday morning

I awoke Saturday morning to more monsoon clouds. My class didn't start until 8:30 a.m., so I had time to drive around and take some photos with my camera. I followed this rain (actually two) out to the sand dunes. Can you see the ripples in the sand? We have had downpours on and off all weekend. July and August and even September are our usual monsoon months, so it is unusual to have one in October, but we do welcome the rain!

SOOC Sunday 100310

I woke up early yesterday morning. I had an all-day class to attend, and the sunrise was beautiful and I wanted to head out with my camera. It was raining on and off, sometimes gently and sometimes hard, so taking photos was difficult. I found a spot to take some sunrise photos, then I drove out Washington Avenue toward Thousand Palms Canyon. I stopped here to take this photo. There is a turnout where you can park and walk a ways and that is one of my favorite spots. The sun was just barely poking through all the clouds, so it is still fairly dark. This is "SOOC", straight out of the camera, no tweeking! SOOC for October 3, 2010.

Bighorn sheep~Sunday Sills Challenge~ October 3, 2010

This week's challenge was to find something that had both red and green in it. So, yesterday, while I was taking an all-day class at the Desert Sands Unified School District offices, another teacher and I wandered around the building during one of our breaks. I came upon this bighorn sheep statue, which apparenlty is covered with flags from around the world. Personally, I think it looks hideous, but who am I to judge a work of art? What do you think? (...shuddering...) It DOES have red and green on it!!! So, here it is~my contribution to this week's challenge. SSC for October 3, 2010.

Thursday morning rainbow

As I set out for school early Thursday morning, I stopped to look back at the mountains and saw this rainbow. By the time I got to school, there was a huge double rainbow! Friday morning I also grabbed my camera and when I stopped to take a photo of the clouds and morning sunlight on the mountains, to my horror, I discovered that I forgot my camera's memory card!!! ACK! So I didn't get any photos for Friday. I'm glad I stopped off the road to take this one, however! I have an all-day class today, but I'll have a couple of hours before then to head out with my camera! With this monsoon weather, we've had some gorgeous sunrises.