Seedy Characters

I have to admit, while camping at Eastman, that I was truly intrigued by these seedy characters. They glide with grace and their grotesque appearance gave way to feelings of compassion. After all God made them and they can't help how they look. It's all in the plan of survival...their scavenger ways; created to pick up the pieces (so to speak).

AYE Carumba!!! (remember to roll your "R's")

Aye, carrrrrrrrrrrrrumba! I have just finished our taxes and my head is spinning, and it's time for a blog update...something a lot more fun than taxes. So, let me tell you a little bit about our weekend camp trip to Eastman Lake. Just before we got to the campground I spotted a coyote (too bad I didn't have my camera ready...). Once we set up camp, the wildlife pretty much came to us. On a walk around the campground these wild turkey crossed our path.

Just below our campsite about 50 feet, was a rock where these California Quail climbed upon. Clifford missed the whole show as he was napping. Better luck next time, Cliff!

I was pleasantly surprised to see a Sparrow Hawk light on my favorite gnarly dead oak tree.

There was an ample supply of Woodpeckers all through the campground. Fun to watch!

"THE WAR OF THE WORLDS"

Lacee preformed in the Merced College play "The War of the Worlds". Some of you may recall that this was first a book (by H. G. Wells), and then a radio program for Halloween aired in 1938 where many people were terrified in this country thinking it was actually happening. To learn more about it log onto: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_War_of_the_Worlds_(radio)

Lacee played Lacee as a singer...sang Dream A Little Dream.

Singer, Lacee

Lacee also played the part of Commentator...

...and, Reporter!

Yeng...a Hmong student, who played the Farmer fabulously with a heavy Southern Accent! It was hilarious!!

Hannah, with her smooth Mercury Announcer broadcasting voice

Michelle and Austin Singers, singing 3 Little Fishes

Austin and Dob (one of my favorite photos), General Montgomery Smith and Sound FX Engineer respectfully

"The War of the Worlds" cast

Cliff and I totally enjoyed the entire play. Lacee has been working behind the scenes for 2 years and it was a total pleasure to see her perform and sing again!!

She Called Him Cowboy...He Called Her Slim

It all started 34 years ago...after a Rodeo in Turlock, California. Cliff walked over to me, smiled and asked me to dance. The rest is history and from that moment I called him Cowboy, he called me Slim. I fell in love with a CCA/RCA rodeo cowboy...his specialty, bull riding.

This photo was taken in 1976 (Tahoe, CA). I didn't go to all of Cliff's rodeos, but I did go to this one. The arena was nestled in a high meadow between two towering ridges covered with redwoods and ponderosa pine. We camped over night near the arena, and in the morning when the air was thick, you could hear the echoing moos and whinnies of the rodeo stock. Later that day, the air was filled with cowboy whistles, hoots and hollers, cheering crowds and moments like this...a total adrenalin rush! For me a cringing 8 seconds and complete cleansing of any oxygen left in my lungs replaced with a breath of fresh air followed by a sigh of relief. Rodeos, although not an every day event for me growing up, grew on me. And if I'm completely honest, I can say that I do miss the smells, the sounds and the excitement of it all, not being a part of it for, oh, about 30 years! But the first sound of a snort on a horses muzzle, sucks me back into fond rodeo memories.

Here is an amazing thing. After examining his photo, Cliff said, "There is something real familiar about the hat I was wearing." I looked at him and said, "Oh my goodness...can it be? No, it can't be! yes it is...yes, it's the very one stashed in your closet!!!" Here it is folks. Cliff's rodeo hat worn in the photo above. A little more dust on it than from the hair raising, bull riding days, but it's the very one.

Oh...and looky there! A bow! A bow?? Don't tell Cliff he was wearing a bow all this time!

Yes, a little more worn, tattered, and oh my heavens, a crease where there shouldn't be. Cliff will never wear this hat again, but somehow it's one of those things he just can't throw away. Bull riding is Cliff's history, worth noting...worth feeling the brittle straw and the disintegrating binding...worth remembering. Yep, I called him Cowboy and he called me Slim.

DON'T LOOK, if squeamish!

First...it's okay to look at the first 3 photos. On my way home from the county recorder's office today, I traveled the country route...and was I glad. We live in the heart of agriculture and although the almond orchards have pretty much all bloomed and now leafed out, the peach orchards are displaying their banner of color. I love peach orchards!!

Now here is where you might like to think twice before scrolling down...if you are a tiny bit squeamishness, it's probably best you don't look. Okay, I know most of you will because it's human nature to look when told not to look. It's entirely up to you. Go ahead! You have been warned. Don't tell me you haven't been warned!

Remember how I have talked about Spring and it's color...it's new life????? Well, here is a bit of new life for ya. I want to hear the Awwwwwwwwwwws now!








To my surprise there was not only one baby Angus calf just born, but two!! Now that was an "awwwww" moment for me!

Spring...and loving it!

I would have to say that Spring is probably my favorite season and Fall a close second. It just gives you a whole "new" perspective. The freshness of color and new life. We have blue birds, or commonly known as scrub jays, that visit our home. They are not well liked as they can be ruthless to other birds and their eggs...a scavenger. They always catch my eye when they come and visit, though. This one perched right outside our kitchen window seemed to almost pose for me.

Then the newness of leaves popping out everywhere...this is our little Japanese Maple that was given to us from a friend at work...a sapling from her tree. We adore it!

Yes, Spring is popping everywhere here in the Central Valley!

"...before I die."

I know you probably recognize this little guy...it's Maycin, my 6 year old man grandson (Maycin announced he was a 6 year old man after he turned 6). He's my bud and I truly miss him. He and his family moved to Arizona a month and 3 days ago. Yes, I'm counting...yes, I know it's a little extreme...yes, deal with it. Anyway, I was just about to get off the phone with my daughter when my son-in-law asked to talk with me and he said, "Maycin and I were talking the other day and he said that he missed Nana." That would be me folks! How it warmed my heart. Then he said Maycin said, "I need to see Nana and Papa before I die!" Oh, my did that make me laugh and cry and laugh and cry some more. "Hey, I miss you too, Bug-a-boo!!"

The War of the Worlds

The production of H. G. Wells' The War of the Worlds is playing at the Merced College. Lacee is a theater major and has a part as one of the singers (solo), singing Dream a Little Dream, and also a part as a commentator. Cliff and I enjoyed seeing Lacee sing and perform on stage. In fact, Cliff was beaming for his baby as he leaned over to his audience partner on the left announcing, "there she is!" After the play and meeting with the cast in the lobby, an older couple very well dressed, in their 70s or could have been 80s approached Lacee. The gentleman said, "There's that classy lady! We enjoyed your performance. Thank you!" The couple then continued to tell us how they lived through the the original airing of "War of the Worlds" and how it left so many people in panic. She added, "My father was so angry when he found out it wasn't true...how could they have frightened our country like that?!" After they left, my eyes followed them through the rest of the cast. The cast was very purposefully honoring this cute older couple by giving them their full attention as they repeated their story and again thanked everyone for their performance. It touched my heart.

For those that don't follow theater protocol, house rules prohibit videotaping or photographing the performance. Do you know and understand how hard that is being a photographer?? Okay, I mean, an extremely fanatic picture taker?? Anyway, I'll be returning to Lacee's last performance next Sunday where after the play they will have the entire cast ready for photographs. In the mean time, the photo below is pretty close to what she wears other than a hat (not pictured).

Look Familar?

Does this photo look familiar? It should! It was posted with the blurb just before this post. This photo was taken by Cliff and a viewer pointed out...well, let me tell you about the viewer...the viewer is an old high school chum of mine. The viewer is a very intelligent and hilarious guy! The viewer is yes, a man! And, even though I truly admire and most times trust his judgement, I need to ponder...because, this intelligent, hilarious, high school chum of mine said to me, "I have to stand up for Cliff though. His pic of Just a Tree, if you look, you will see that his photo genius and natural eye for art, captured a very nice 'Heart' in the main branch's of the tree." Okay, high school chum of mine. I do see the heart and I happen to think that you have the natural eye for art, because admittedly I didn't see it before your comment. And I'm positive that Cliff didn't see it or he would have pointed out to me with his ever so humble attitude! So, I will stand corrected that someone has an eye for art!!

Cliff...Eastman

Yesterday, Cliff needed to help his mother with something and she lives near a reservoir we like to camp at, Eastman Lake. So after Cliff had finished, and was heading home, he decided to drive up to the lake and see if it was full. I gave him my little Nikon camera to take photos. I love seeing what he comes back with! All photos posted were taken by Cliff...click on them to enlarge.

Gayle: Uh, Cliff, were you trying to take pictures while driving?

Cliff: Uh, no!

Gayle: It kind of looks like you were trying to take pictures while driving...

Gayle: Are you sure you weren't trying to take pictures while driving? (noticing that he was still in the vehicle in this photo as you can see a tip of the pickup hood in the lower right corner. I'm a real good detective!)

Cliff: I told you, I was not driving while taking pictures!!

Gayle: The lake looks like it's getting fuller with our last few rains.

Cliff: Yeah, but we still need a lot more!

Gayle: Wow, Cliff, you actually got some Lupine in this photo (secretly thinking, too bad you don't know how to use the Macro on the camera yet).

Cliff: I know! (secretly thinking, I know I'm becoming quite the budding photographer!)

Gayle: Oh, I wish I had gone with you. It's so beautiful up there right now with all the grass so green and wildflowers blooming.

Cliff: It was pretty. (secretly thinking, nanner, nanner, naaaaaner!!)

Gayle: Oh the Fiddleneck is really a deep gorgeous yellow. Good capture, Cliff!

Cliff: (grinning from ear to ear and thinking, If only you knew my dear. I do know something about photography regardless of what you might think!)

Gayle: Oh...uh, a tree. Was there something in it?

Cliff: No! (thinking, don't you know art when you see it? Sheesh!!)

Gayle: Those are beautiful little blue wildflowers. (secretly thinking, he actually is becoming a better photographer with the whole composition thing. I'm impressed, but if I tell him, he might get a big head and then there would be no living with him!)

Cliff: Aren't they, though?! (secretly thinking, this woman thinks she knows everything. I know a thing or two about "pretty"!)

Gayle: Uh, Clifford! Uh...were you trying to drive while taking pictures again? Because that looks like a steering wheel in the foreground.

Cliff: Oh, that! No! That was an accident!

Gayle: Well, because, it really looks like you are trying to drive and photograph at the same time and I'm certain there are no driving and photographing laws on the books. And, if there aren't there should be, because this looks very dangerous and...

Cliff: Now just hold your horses! I was not driving in any of the photos posted. No siree, I would never try to drive and photograph at the same time. That would be, well, stupid! I know stupid, and I stay as far away from stupid as I can, because stupid can be dangerous, just like you said. What you are seeing, dear, is that I was stopped in the middle of the road. That is why it looks like I'm trying to drive and photograph at the same time. (Cliff wipes the sweat from his brow and then thinks, I wonder if she bought it?!")

Gayle: (secretly thinking, I love this man, so I think I better tag along from here on out when I lend him my Nikon)

Lacee Lou...

I don't know why I must point this out one more time...that Lacee Lou (by the way, Lou is not her middle name, but we do like calling her by it) is completely and unequivocally very comfortable in her own skin. I never know what she will show up in the next morning, but I'm always very entertained.

So, sometimes it's really hard to believe that this person below is the very person pictured above. I'm so confused...I'm getting a head ache!

But, no one loves this girl like her father and I do, no matter what is on the outside, cuz we see her beautiful inside...Oh yes, God sees! Jesus sees too! And, let's not forget the Holy Spirit!!

AUSTRAILIA the movie

Cliff, Lacee and I watched this DVD last night..."a cinematic experience that brings together comedy, romance, drama, adventure and spectacle." It's a 3 hour movie, but you will want to watch every second of it. The history...bombing of Darwin, Australia in 1942 and the Australian Aboriginal Children, "The Stolen Generation" will leave you thinking...feeling... The Aboriginal child actor, Brandon Walters, was remarkable. The cinematography was outstanding. If you haven't already seen this movie, I strongly recommend it!! To take a look, click on the trailer link below.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0455824/trailers

Blossoms and...

Now this is what I'm talking about. All this color...all this delicate, beautiful, popping creation! I don't care that sometimes the sickening aroma of the blossoming flowering pear almost gags me (like the one planted in my neighbor's front yard...not pictured). I don't care that the minute pollen particle's not only tickle my nose but also wreak havoc with my sinus cavities and give me the pure joy of a runny, stuffy nose and scratchy throat. Because, this is what I wait for all those cold and foggy winter days here in the valley. This is the prize we get for being patient. This is pure joy to see!!

There is also other things that happen in the spring here. Unexpected things that well up a loud "hallelujah!" And, you are turning around asking "did that come out of me?" Things that when one moment you are just minding your own business and WHAM! It hits you right between the eyes...

This unexpected thing that I'm talking about is that I just happened to stop at our local library that has a used book store in a room across the foyer. A used book store that is totally managed by little ol' (and may I also add, darling) ladies that are just as happy as a clam, to see you walk through their door way, and into their little oasis of words! They were especially happy today and here is why...

It's March Madness month for their little used book store and you can fill a shopping bag full of "paperbacks" for a buck! Yeah, that's what I said. A shopping bag full of paperbacks for one dollar!! Well, I misunderstood them and I thought all books were included and as you can see I got hardbound books as well. But, here's the beauty about a used books store that isn't there to make money, but rather make happy. I filled the bag full with whatever suit my fancy, and only paid $3.50!

I'm doing the happy dance right now...oh...darn! I just ran into something. I didn't say I was coordinated!!