BLOWN GLASS EXHIBIT

Last May, there was an exhibit at the Desert Botanical  Museum of Dale Chihuly hand blown glass.  Dale Chihuly is responsible for the glass ceiling at the Bellagio in Las Vegas, among other things.  He makes exceptionally high end chandeliers for multi-million dollar clients.    Here's an example of his work.

Dale Chihuly Chandelier

Riders of the Sky

We often see cowboys and cowgirls riding through the desert.  There are trails all through the mountains.  Arizona is a "Free Range" state, which means that the cattle has a right to be there, more so than we do.  So we often see cattle foraging through the desert.  Not herds of them,  just a few at a time.  There's acreage owned by the Federal government that adjoins our community that is used for grazing.  One day there was a cow that wondered into our neighborhood.  You're not allowed to do anything to them.  You have to call the rancher and he sends a couple of cowboys out to round them up.  I wasn't there when it happened.  It must be a real hoot to look outside your window and find a cow in your yard. I'd have been all over that one with my camera.  Anyway, here are some cowboys for you.

RIDING THE OPEN RANGE

PARIS BRIDGE

Can't remember the name of this bridge in Paris, but it has great bones.  Photoshopping again.  The picture was an old grainy one, but by using Photoshop, I can at least use the basic picture to make a new one.

PARIS

ALMOST WANNA SEE IT!

I found this sign hanging on the Mammoth Saloon one evening.  I wish I was still in Arizona when they appeared there.  I would have love to have seen this show.  

Look!  It's Almost Willie and Waylon!!

Superstition Mountain

The great Superstition Mountain.  MY mountain!  It takes my breath away.  Our house is on the other side of this mountain, which looks entirely different.  Someday I'll post our view picture.  


So we were moseying (is that a word?) along one afternoon on the Apache Trail.  We decided to stop at the Mammoth Saloon in Goldfield Ghost Town for a couple adult beverages.  As we were sitting out on the back deck enjoying our drinks, some cowboys rode up and dismounted, tied their horses and came up on the deck for lunch.  I thought it made a great picture and have gone back there many times to get more captures.  It's a great place for lunch.  The food is mediocre, at best, the service is non-existent but my God, the views make up for it.  Just have lots of time and relax and enjoy the view if you go there.

Horses "Parked" on Superstition Mountain

Whenever we go there, I get to be Dale Evans and Dick gets to be Roy.

More Photoshopping...

This is for yesterday, because I was too busy learning Photoshop (another challenge) to post.  So, today you get two!


While in Sedona, I found these beautiful Cholla cactus blossoms and I thought I'd mess with them in Photoshop and see what happened.  I like it.  I really like it!! Cacti have some of THE most beautiful blooms around.

Cholla Cactus Blooms

A Little Photoshopping

I'm trying to learn what all the functions in Photoshop Elements are, so I've been playing around with some pictures.  I've found that I can take a grainy old photo from years ago taken with a not so good camera and make it passable.  Here is one of my new old pictures, taken in 1983 with my good old Nikon F.  Those were the days.  

NOLA Courtyard

This was the courtyard of the bed and breakfast where we stayed.  It was owned by Mrs. Junius Underwood, a real Southern Belle.  

If you could have seen the original... dark, grainy, lots of shade...I had just gotten the Nikon and really didn't know what I was doing with it yet.  It's amazing what I was able to do with this picture.  It feel very artsy to me.   I love this effect.

The Swiss Guard

The Swiss Guard has been around since the 15th Century.  They are single males with Swiss citizenship who are loyal to the Pope.  They were mostly ceremonial,  But in recent years, with that assault on the Popes, they are taking more training in unarmed combat and weapons.  You see them all around at the Vatican.  And believe me, they will not let you into Vatican City without having a reason to be there.

The Swiss Guard - Love those outfits!

TrompeL'oeil Vatican Ceiling

The ceilings of the Vatican deserve a book of their own.  I would love to know the history behind all of them.  Everywhere you go, the ceilings are spectacular.  This particular one is done in Trompe L'oeil.  It covers a hallway that is probably 25 feet wide by 80 or so feet long.  I just captured a portion of it.  You look up and see these wonderful carvings all over the ceiling then suddenly realize that they are not carvings at all.  The ceiling is perfectly FLAT!!

My Favorite Vatican Ceiling

INSIDE THE VATICAN DOME

I actually climbed to the top of the Vatican dome.  Six hundred steps to the top.  Well, actually, I didn't climb 600 steps.  I took an elevator up the first 300, then my friend, Cindy, pushed me up the last 300.  I was very grateful to have that opportunity and couldn't have made it without Cindy.  What a view.  Just magnificent.  Got some great shots, too.  But the first one I'll show you is the inside of the dome.  Brightly painted and gold leafed.  If you ever get the chance, you have to make the climb.  I will never be able to describe what I saw.

Inside The Vatican Dome

Reflections through the Window - Roma

While strolling through the Vatican one day, I happened upon an open window.  Though it was a cloudy day, and I was very short, I managed to get this capture of the landscape outside the window along with the reflection in the glass.  If only I was taller!!!  Would have been a nicer picture.  But, alas, I'm not, so we're stuck with what we got!  But I'm pleased with it.

Reflections through the Window - Roma

ASSISI STAIRWAY

I have been fortunate enough to have gone to Rome three times (it is true that if you throw a coin in the Trevi Fountain, you will return to Rome!)  When we go to Italy we have always gone to Assisi.  Working at a Catholic University in the Franciscan Tradition, it is a very special place for me.  There is so much to see and do in Italy; sight seeing at the Vatican (which I could go to see every year and never get tired of it) Florence, Pisa, Venice, Milano, and a special place that I love, Finale Liguria on the Liguarian Sea, the Italian Riviera.  And don't forget the food...the best on the planet.  I could talk all night about Italy, but for now, I give you a little piece of Assisi.

Stairway in Assisi

LICHEN

While walking through the yard looking for something to shoot, I found this Lichen on our cherry tree.  I thought it had an interesting texture.  

Texture, Texture. Texture!

PURPLE SAGE

This is a purple sage bush from our yard in Arizona.  They are so beautiful when they are fully in bloom.

Think Spring!

SHINY PEBBLES

Another rainy day, I'm posting another Heard Museum shot.  Water splashing into a pool of pebbles.  Been on the computer all day,  Now heading for the kitchen to make a yummy dinner.  Monday comes too too soon.

Rainy Day Pebble Picture

Mission Doors - Tucson

While it was a lovely day to go shooting, I'm afraid I spent my time indoors cleaning and entertaining visitors.  So off I go to my ever present Arizona files. 


 These are the doors to the "White Dove of the Desert", the San Xavier del Bac Mission, outside Tucson.  I played around with them in photoshop a little to accentuate the beautiful plaster work.
The mission is on the Papago (now called the Tohono O'odham) Indian reservation in the Sonoran Desert.  It was built in 1783 with a 7,000 pesos loan and is a Catholic church founded by a Jesuit priest, Father Eusebio Francisco Kino.  It has recently been renovated and is definitely worth the drive off the main road to visit it.  

I love shooting architectural scenes, so you'll see lots of doors, window and other little  architectural details on this page.  

Friday's Photo...MORE FOR THE BIRDS

Spent a lovely day in NY recently.  This grumpy looking seagull perched on the log for me.  He wasn't too pleased that I was there, but oh, well!

Hopefully, next week at work will be better and I won't have to post any birds.

Thursday's Photo... FOR THE BIRDS

Maybe this will turn into an every other day blog.  Seems to be going that way.


I had a week that was FOR THE BIRDS so here are the birds!

This flicker and his mate have made two holes in my saguaro.  I don't think it harms the tree.  I believe scar tissue grows over the hole on the inside.  The two of them squawked all day long. 

Men in Trees

OK, so maybe you have to squint to see it, but we cut a limb off of our Palo Verde tree and there was a man inside!  Do you see him?

Couldn't pass this one up.

New York, New York - The city so nice, they named it twice!

Skyscraper Reflections

You can't  walk down a street in New York City without seeing reflections in the buildings.  Everywhere you go, you see buildings within buildings.  I love NY.  I'd like to go back in the Spring and go to Rockefeller Center. It's such a great area.  I have to find a traveling buddy.

So this catches me up once more.  Posting a picture a day is harder than I thought.  And I didn't even put the pressure on myself to make it a picture I took that day.  Maybe next year.  

Scottsdale

In Scottsdale, there's a wonderful restaurant called Olive and Ivy.  They have the very best pizza in town.  And their Sangria isn't bad either.  It's a scenic spot on the canal and they have a wonderful outdoor dining room.  A perfect spot for lunch.

View from Olive & Ivy

And now for Sunday's Photo...

Another Sedona picture.  This of a tree on the way to Cathedral Rock.  I messed with it in Photoshop and put it into monotones for this photo.

I love the simplicity of this shot.  Reminds me of Roy and Dale.   (God, I loved that horse!)

Happy Trails!

Reflections of Sedona

It's Sunday night and I haven't posted for Saturday, so here is a reflections picture to ponder.  I am standing outside the back of the  Chapel of the Holy Cross in Sedona, looking into the windows.  Through the windows I see the front window (lighter color).  The red rock wall is actually behind me reflected in the back window.  A little complicated, but worth the shot.

Snow Storm

I promised you a snow storm picture today, but Mother Nature didn't cooperate.  The snow is almost all gone.  So I went into my archives and pulled out a picture from last year's storm.


I promise to try harder next time it snows - NOT!

The Pumpkin Martini Parade

So I was fooling around in Paint Shop Pro and trying new things.  I came across a picture of our pumpkin martini parade and this is what I ended up with.  Incidentally, I don't think I've ever had a more awful tasting concoction.  Our guests were real sports about it and drank the whole pitcher full.  I would imagine after the first one,  you couldn't taste much anyway.  But I give them full credit for finishing.  

We're getting some snow tomorrow.  Hope I can get some good snow pics.  See you ltr.

Reflections

AND BECAUSE WEDNESDAY WILL BE A TRAVEL DAY...

Did you know that Scottsdale has a swan?  I've been going there for 5 years and never knew. We found a new park today and it had a pond with a white duck and tons of mallards.  Then from out of no where comes this beautiful white swan.  

Tuesday, January 5, 2010




Ok, so while I'm here, and since we'll be busy packing tomorrow and running last minute errands,I may as well post Tuesday's picture.

So here for your enjoyment...

This is a reflection of our cactus in our dining room window.  God, how I will miss this place.

FOR MORE HEARD MUSEUM PICS

CLICK ON OLDER POSTS BELOW.

More Heard Museum...

I know, I know, I'm late again.  It's 12:52 a.m. here so I missed the deadline by just an hour.  I'm just having too much fun on this vacation.  We will be going home soon and we're trying to fit too much into our days.  

Going back to the HEARD MUSEUM pictures.  Here are a few more that I thought blog worthy. 

There is a beautiful courtyard that leads to other buildings, a restaurant and the sculpture garden.

The courtyard was lined with palm trees on one side.  

As you enter the building, there is a statue of an Indian that has been in the entrance since i started going there in 1980.  I don't know the name of it, but I love this statue.

This lovely fountain is like a round trough that leads the water into a pebble filled pond.  There are two of them opposite each other and it gives a peaceful feeling to the space.

Here's a close-up of the Indian statue.  No matter how the museum has changed through the years, it's like being greeted by an old friend.  He's still sitting there drumming on his drum and singing the same song.

Here are some of the treasures that are inside.  It was difficult to take pictures because they are not allowed with flash and it was much too dark to do without a flash in most areas.  I missed the room filled with kachina dolls (most of which are from the Barry Goldwater collection), for instance, and lots of other good shots.  But it was still an enjoyable day.

Basketry

Navajo Rug Flag

Harry Fonseca Painting

Sculpture of clay and hand blown glass

They have hundreds more interesting things in the museum.  I wish I had had more time to explore there.  It's a must see if you are in Phoenix.

This roadrunner was ready for his close-up!

OK, so here's a bonus pic for Sunday.  We were driving around the neighborhood and spotted a roadrunner eating bugs in the grass.  We pulled up along side him and he didn't seem to mind, so I started snapping.  I got 14 pictures of him.  He just kept smiling.  Finally, I got tired.  I thought that a bird who wanted to be seen as badly as he did deserved to be posted.

The Heard Museum

Good Morning, Everyone. 


 It's going to be 72 degrees here today.  I am loving this.  Yesterday we went to the Heard Museum in Phoenix.  The Heard Museum, quoting from their website, "is an institution that successfully combines the stories of American Indian people from a personal perspective with the beauty of art."  I have been going there since 1980 and have seen wonderful things there.  I can't believe how the museum has grown since my last visit.  So many new buildings and beautiful architecture.  


It was difficult to choose just one picture to portray my visit, but I held it down to one today.  You will be seeing other Heard pictures in the future, however.  Because there were just too many neat ones.  This picture is of the courtyard which fronts on Central Avenue in downtown Phoenix.  The grounds are gorgeous.  Enjoy.


Enjoying architectural detail as I do, here is my pic of the day.

HAPPY NEW YEAR, EVERYONE!

  

And for January 2, 2009 (caught up at last!)  From my cactus studies.  We are fortunate in having a saguaro cactus in our yard.  They are protected and are very valuable.  The symbol of the American West, I love my saguaro.  It only has 3 little bitty arms but it is over 100 years old before it starts to get arms.  They weigh thousands of pounds because they are filled with water. So, here is a cactus pic for you.  The other plants, from the bottom up are:  yucca, bougainvillea and Ironwood tree.     

BLUE MOON - December 31, 2009

And for Friday, January 1, 2010.

What a way to see the old year out!  On December 31, 2009, there was a Blue Moon (the second full moon of the month).  After taking a ridiculously huge number of photos, I ended up with just a few that were ok.  Here is one.  I need to really work on my night shots.

SEDONA ESTATE

OK, so I promised to post everyday for 365.  Here it is the third posting and I've screwed up already.  I'm just having to much fun on vacation to think about the computer.  So, I'll do some make-up pics.  Here's one for Thursday. December 31, 2009.

This is a mansion that we've watched being built over the past 3 years in Sedona.  It sits on a small plateau up from the street, but as you can see, it has the most beautiful view in the world.  It is decorated for Christmas in a rather unorganized manner, with snowmen, reindeer, angels and candles in one display area, but I would love to get inside and see what's going on in there. Just to wake to that view alone without any furnishings, would make me a very happy camper.  A little ostentatious, and way, way bigger than necessary, but could be a real showplace with the right amount of $$$$$$$.