Friday Night Photos. Lost in Wonderland

The Red Wings are a constant companion on my river runs. They're comedians and critics all wrapped into one.
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My favorite stopping point on this section. 6-7' of water with a mostly gravel and sand bottom. When it's hot this is the swimming hole.
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A very nice Water Lillie. Still haven't figured out what species it is so if someone has a clue please let me know.
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My afternoon was topped off by a curious Red Tail Hawk.
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As janis has so beautifully remarked, time takes on a different dimension when your truly immersed in nature.
Happy clicking shutterbugs.

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snoopydawg's picture

The photo of the river looks so peaceful. Love the shot of the bird. What kind is it? Yes Janis has a way with words.

I would drive by this farm and house since I was a kid on my way to various outdoor activities . Drove by yesterday and it's gone and replaced by huge condominiums for rich people to live on the lake. Bummmeerr!

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Old fence and gate.

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Pricknick's picture

snoop @snoopydawg
Where I'm at they're tearing out the tree rows between fields to make more room for corn. A house down the road was built on a hillside and couldn't be seen from the road due to large oak and walnut trees. So they cut them all down.

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Regardless of the path in life I chose, I realize it's always forward, never straight.

janis b's picture

@snoopydawg

That last gate photo is so disorienting in the contrast of its materials and style, neither of look inviting to pass through. What's just beyond it looks very inviting. I wish you a wonderful evening.

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magiamma's picture

@snoopydawg
Wow! Cyclone fence meets mid-evil gate. Where does it lead I wonder? And your other photo with the gate is lovely. Both make me think they open to somewhere magical.

So sad about the condos. It's happening everywhere and people cannot afford to live in them. They are living in the streets here while the engineers etc. from the silicon valley come and rent the condos.

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snoopydawg's picture

Janis

There used to be a hospital in this area and so that's where doctors built their huge homes. I got a kick out of the gate the first time I saw it, but I'm glad they didn't just throw it away. I bet there is a story behind it.

magiamamma

The second photo is just left over fencing that someone just left up for some reason. It's in the area of where I took the photos of the mustard seeds and posted a few weeks ago. This area is very diverse with lots of different terrains in the same area.

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janis b's picture

@snoopydawg

that we'll never know. Adds to the intrigue in a way.

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janis b's picture

Sometimes I wish that dimension included time-travel. It would be nice to be there, even for only a short time, just long enough to feel the sunlight and fresh air on your skin, and fill yourself with its sublime beauty. These moments and impressions are so powerful and long lasting. Your photos are the next best place. I love how you reveal the perfect sun symbol in the centre of the lily. Thank you.

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Pricknick's picture

@janis b
Just getting ready to start the bonfire so I'll be permanently hiatus for the rest of the evening.
Peace.

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Regardless of the path in life I chose, I realize it's always forward, never straight.

janis b's picture

@Pricknick

I'll be around for the next two hours. Enjoy the warmth and sparkling of the bonfire. Looks like a clear, still day and night. Maybe you'll tell us a campfire story next week ; ).

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detroitmechworks's picture

In my home town of Carmel Valley, there's an old abandoned airport that they occasionally pay people to mow. When they don't bother for a few months, the Blackbirds take over the area and sing constantly. Which of course causes the wealthy homeowners to complain, and so the grass is again mowed...

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I do not pretend I know what I do not know.

janis b's picture

@detroitmechworks

with self imposed sightlessness.

[video:https://youtu.be/Q9tZedXvJ44]

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janis b's picture

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magiamma's picture

@janis b
Those lichens are having a good go of it there in your rain forest. Beautiful photos. And the water body is? Milford Sound? Probably not. Just guessing the only big water body I know.

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janis b's picture

@magiamma

my little corner of the universe.

The Milford Sound is at the bottom of the South island of NZ, and is a fiord and the wettest place in NZ.

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janis b's picture

@janis b

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dystopian's picture

@janis b

love your scenics Janis...

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We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them.
Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better.
both - Albert Einstein

janis b's picture

@dystopian

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snoopydawg's picture

@janis b

Nice composition of the cloud in the middle. Is that the lake that starts with a W where all the rich people are moving to?

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janis b's picture

@snoopydawg

I think the 'W' lake you're thinking of is Lake Wanaka in the Southern Alps, a long way from here.

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snoopydawg's picture

@janis b

For some reason I thought you lived by it. Hmm

Did you see the story of the raccoon that climbed up a building? I tried finding it, but no luck.

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janis b's picture

@snoopydawg

on the Tasman Sea. One side of NZ is the Pacific and one side the Tasman.

The amazing racoon was news here as well. Glad he made it back down safely.

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@janis b Looks like a pretty area by your photos.

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janis b's picture

@QMS

and free of devils, Tasmanian ones anyway.

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@janis b @janis b living among beauty explains your character, outstanding array of magic.

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janis b's picture

@QMS

Living among beauty has definitely carved a deep imprint on my character, which has always sought it. Everyday there is something to remind me of the vitality and everlasting beauty of nature, despite all that has been tragically altered. I guess I need that.

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magiamma's picture

I love the shot of the waterlily.

This week I combined nature and art at the Serra Azul Nursery Sculpture Garden.

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Nature makes her own sculpture
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Multi dimensional flowers
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Reaching to the sky
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@magiamma

Your artwork and photos of nature's artwork are fascinating. It's sometimes difficult to distinguish between vegetable and animal. How the light enhances the figures in the last photo is beautiful. Thank you.

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magiamma's picture

@janis b
The garden next to the nursery has a show each year of new work plus the permanent work that they have bought from the exhibitions. It's always such a treat to go just because it's summer and so many wonder plants are on display.

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@magiamma

that had a quality that reminded me of your work. I think because of it's construction.

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snoopydawg's picture

@magiamma

Do you know the name of the plant?

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magiamma's picture

@snoopydawg
But I can send a picture to the nursery and find out I bet. It is just such a little piece of sculpture on its own.

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Socialprogressive's picture

I haven't been able to get out with the camera much the last few weeks so here's some shots from the archives.

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When I offer to wash your back in the shower, all you have to say is yes or no.
Not all this "who are you, and how did you get in here?" nonsense.

magiamma's picture

@Socialprogressive
Thanks for the phabulous photos. Smile I like them all. But the dragon fly is my favorite. We have those here in Norther Cal up in the wine country.

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dystopian's picture

@magiamma

Just as an aside, off the top of my head methinks there are a little over 400 species of dragonflies in North America, which means U.S. mainland and Canada. Odes, short for Odonata, is the group consisting of dragonflies, and their smaller cousins, damselflies. California has a little over 100 species of odes in the state. There are a few counties in Texas with 100 species! SP's above is a Flame Skimmer (Libellula saturata)

Here is a late green one for Janis... a just-emerged Eastern Pondhawk.
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We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them.
Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better.
both - Albert Einstein

janis b's picture

@dystopian

I don't recall ever seeing a green one before. The colour and markings are wonderful. I think they must have been the inspiration for the helicopter.

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Socialprogressive's picture

@magiamma
I think the dragonflies here are camera shy. They never like to come close enough for a picture when I'm out with the camera.

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When I offer to wash your back in the shower, all you have to say is yes or no.
Not all this "who are you, and how did you get in here?" nonsense.

janis b's picture

@Socialprogressive

Your wildlife photos are a treasure.

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Socialprogressive's picture

@janis b

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When I offer to wash your back in the shower, all you have to say is yes or no.
Not all this "who are you, and how did you get in here?" nonsense.

Daenerys's picture

Should've been in bed an hour and a half ago but alas it's hay baling time here, so no rest for the wicked.
Here's a bobolink that hubby and I saw on our walk yesterday:

They are quite pretty, and make sounds like R2D2. They are also in the blackbird family.

Cheers!

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This shit is bananas.

My fondest memory as a boy growing up on the Platte River in Nebr was laying on the banks of the 4 Mile Creek with a line in water listening to the shrill of redwing blackbirds and the cooing of turtle doves.God I miss the Green of the Great Plains,summers in Las Vegas are long and depressing,your photos are beautiful!

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DW

janis b's picture

@LEFTYFRIZZLE

They're priceless.

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dystopian's picture

Hey P, love your Red-winged Blackbird and Red-tailed Hawk pix. The river looks like great birding and swimming.

D, yer Bobolink is great... a half-black blackbird... their genus means "rice eater". Their song is wonderful, "bobolink, bobolink spink spank spink" all bubbly gurgling, awesome.

One last late shot, a pink and plum dragon, Roseate Skimmer, male
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We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them.
Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better.
both - Albert Einstein

janis b's picture

@dystopian

[video:https://youtu.be/-F46yl5gqzA]

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dystopian's picture

@janis b

Could you tell I was a Stones guy, or was it woman's intuition? Wink

John Paul Jones of Led Zeppelin fame did the string arrangement on this song, and Nicky Hopkins played the piano. Charlie's drums are great too. They might have been on something?

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We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them.
Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better.
both - Albert Einstein

janis b's picture

@dystopian

but now that I know ...

[video:https://youtu.be/ngAoB5Ja2yc]

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Had a bird feeder, and when they came over, basically shoving out all the food looking for a particular seed. This had the effect of making it easier for more sparrows to get the food on the ground. The Blackbird would join the sparrows on the ground picking at the seeds. When the quicker sparrows snatched a seed the Blackbird had targeted, he would pull the sparrows tail feathers.

And pity any hawks and crows around them. The Blackbirds meant business. They would fly above hawks and then dive bomb them. And they did not do a fly by but hit the hawks mid-air. One hawk I saw lost all control and dropped easily 20 feet before he could regain control. The Blackbirds go after crows and saw one get hit and fall to the ground. But crow seemed to survive.

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janis b's picture

@MrWebster

I would pity the blackbirds if the predators of their young were to suffer their intent.

I can also understand your dissatisfaction in witnessing what is possibly their 'greed' at times.

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mhagle's picture

Brings me hope

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Marilyn

"Make dirt, not war." eyo

janis b's picture

@mhagle

I am aware of how much you contribute to inspiring that feeling and possibility in a daily way. Thank you.

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Thanks for your kind words,Thanks for sharing the beauty of your world

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DW

janis b's picture

@LEFTYFRIZZLE

THANK YOU FRIZZLE.

[video:https://youtu.be/1rGlqV79xFA]

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