winter 2010 - mosaic monday

This is my entry for "Mosaic Monday" - go by Mary's place and check out all the other fun mosaics.

JOURNAL NOTES: coming soon!

stary, stary night

Bob came in from the hot tub tonight and said, "You've got to go out and look at the trees and sky!" So, I did and this is what I saw!

beautiful day in paradise

We were visiting Katrina and family the other day and had a little reunion at a local pizza place - might I say, it was d-lish! Twelve family members traveled to see our 'long-lost-attorney' who came all the way from California to visit during the holidays. It was fun and delicious (and I want to go back for more) and so fun to visit our extended family. After, we went to hang out at Schuyler and Whitney's place (located in the middle of 'heaven') ate pistachios and visited. On our way home, we stopped for a picture of the mighty Tetons right before sunset - the day was clear and amazing and most beautiful - then, we were on our way home.

have a great sunday

Hope you have a wonderful sunday in whatever you're doing OR where ever you live on this planet . . .
(note: all of the following photos were taken the same evening)



This photo was looking east as the sun was setting . . .





This photo was taken only moments after the first photo - this one is looking west - interesting, ha! . . .

God's kiss

He hasn't forgotten us . . .

if you . . .

(Grand Teton)

it's over, gone, done

Fall, that is - last of the color has now dropped to the forest floor - until our next glorious splash of color arrives.



These lovely colors were home-grown here in Idaho along the Snake River and in the amazing Swan Valley. These photos were edited very little - the colors were so intense there was no need for saturation (believe it or not)!

This is my contribution for "mosiac monday" at Mary Carroll's place. Drop by her little corner of the world, you'll LOVE what you see!

teton surprise

You know, it's been awhile since we've been able to see the Tetons - either clouds, smoke (forest fires) or overcast has covered them up. Sunday was a pleasant surprise!

grunge day

Took this photo on our way home from Sun Valley. It's entitled, "Tree of LIfe"!


Shhhhhhhh, listen! Silence - only the hummm of the old-clunker computer in the background. It's been busy around here today - noisy, kids running and wrestling, dogs barking with lots of company on this cold (almost winter) day. It was one of those days when you don't bother brushing your hair or putting on makeup - GRUNGE DAY, least that's the way I looked (and still do). There's something refreshing about being a SLOB-FOR-A-DAY - I must make a memo 'to self' to do this more often.

I pulled out the crock pot and rice cooker and cooked in bulk today and put things in the freezer for quick n' easy meals for this week! I did that several weeks ago and when it got busy around here well, it was a life-saver. I'm trying really hard to ban sugar (the slimy-sweet-stuff) from my life. In the past, I've tried to come to terms with the #*%* stuff but slowly it creeps back into my mouth and onto my butt, stomach and thunder thighs - not to mention my triple chin and bulbous nose (yes, you heard it - my nose is growing)! When I'm doing this, all I think can think about is Jonna's blogspot with all of her ridiculously delicious treats - I believe they call this with-drawls! I do believe sugar addiction is worse than cocaine, alcohol, meth - sugar is everywhere, in everything - you can't get away from it.

I'm pretty excited as there will be another little soul joining our family in a week from Tuesday - that would be Cortney and Ashley's little guy - I know his name but not sure I've been given permission to divulge it? I'll check - if it's okay I'll come back here __________ and fill it in for you. Let me tell you, it's darn cute! We're going down to help for three days - can't wait. This will be #13 grandkid (who me?) - I'm way too young (haha) - that excuse is no longer legit, Berta-babe!

Well, since my chin is dragging on the computer key board, think I'll hit the hay for now - if I think of something I missed, I'll fill in the blanks tomorrow. Chow and sweet dreams, fellow/sister bloggers in blog land. Sweet dreams.

sun valley - the artsy side

Bald Mountain is the main ski hill in Sun Valley. This is a view of it coming down the canyon - love the fall colors.


Bald Mountain again, further up the canyon, as a snow cloud passes through and softens the scene.


Driving up the canyon I found an area that had been blackened by fire - it had an artistic touch to it - so I stopped and enjoyed the fall colors underneath the chard remains of the trees.


There was so many colors and textures - healthy pine trees, dying pine trees and chard pine trees all in a row - ah, the circle of life!


The hillsides in Sun Valley have the coolest golden color. A storm cloud passed overhead and sent horizontal snow sailing past the camera! I thought, for sure, the picture was ruined!


When looking at the remains of a forest fire, you always think, 'all is lost' - but there is always good that comes from disaster and nature adapts and flourishes. Kind-of-like US!

the lower road

This is the "lower mesa falls" in our area. The last time we were here, we ran out of sunlight so, we had to come back and capture this 'lovely'!

lower mesa falls - 'roar'


lower mesa falls - 'guardians'


lower mesa falls - 'cascade'

Updated note: Sunday, this pic was awarded the "American West Photo of the Month" award and is hanging their Hall of Fame gallery - on Flickr! This is major huge honor!

The wind was lightly blowing through the trees, temperature warm and balmy. Had the leaves not been turning crimson, you would not have known it was autumn. Soon this area will be closed off as the snow will keep travelers far and wide from viewing it's splendor until next spring - PITY!

mesa falls spendor

"a special place"


"mesa falls spendor"


"fall" - mesa falls


mesa falls - "wisdom"
This rock reminds me of the face of a wise-old-person who has knowledge and wisdom from living so long - this rock has seen many sunrises and sunsets. If you look close, you can see a face in the rock - sweet!


mesa falls - "wipeout"


mesa falls - "whimsey" -messing with shutter-speed


mesa falls - "final resting place"
I just decided you can bury me on the banks of the Mesa - see, right down there on the shoreline - just over there on the left! With Cortney and Brian's kayaking skills I think this might be possible!



mesa falls - "downstream"


mesa falls - "perspective"
To give some 'perspective' to the falls, I shot this to show the scale of the falls to the people on the observation deck (right hand side/middle). For someone who has never been here before, it gives you an idea of how massive this place is.


Note: All praise and glory go to my assistant, Bobby B! He's the 'pwo-fessional'!

light on a hill

old dude

Yesterday, Bob and I went driving. We found 'old dude'! Well, we didn't actually find 'him' - I found him when I was going to the triathlon a month ago. I tried avoiding all the traffic and congestion of the race so I went all the way around the lake and on my way found this wonderful old barn - just sitting there looking at me! I took a mental note to go back and capture this 'lovely'! So we did!

Journal Notes:

Coming, they're coming!

this year's obsession

Last year my obsession was potato fields - this year wheat fields in the "burg" . . .

"deep lush carpet"



"whispers of harvest"



"high noon"



"amber waves"

this-and-that photos

lazy days of summer

LOCAL-YOKLES: Where was this picture taken? If this picture doesn't FIT on your computer screen, click the picture!
Have a wonderful day!

home sweet home

Not only is this literally our 'home sweet home' (aka- 'the Burg') - this is our new 'home sweet blog'. Just moved in - I have a lot of work to do before it's 'me' - but it's feeling good. Took these shots on a nice warm Sunday summer evening . . .

I love this shot because it shows so much of the valley and a lot of the detail of the area . . .

crops are looking amazing . . .

'waves' of Idaho potatoes . . .

our amazing sunset tonight - ablaze with color . . .