Blue and Red Hills of the Painted Desert

If I were going to choose one photo that most characterized what I think of when I think of "home," this would be a likely candidate. Although I am very happy to be living next to a mountain, I still retain an affinity with the nearly flat, wide open, Colorado Plateau. This part of the Plateau is commonly called the Painted Desert. When I was young, we lived near some of these bentonite hills and we called them the "Blue Hills" because they really were blue. This section has more red than blue. I would not hesitate at all to walk out into this countryside and carefully study the ground for pieces of petrified wood and other treasures. Of course, this photo was taken inside what is now the Petrified Forest National Park and I wouldn't be picking up any such treasures. But, the Park in only a small part of the huge Plateau and I can still find areas to search.

Qauil Pair

This male and female Gambel's Quail are watching from the top of a rock. Usually, one or more of a covey of quail will take lookout duty and sit and watch while the rest eat or do whatever quail do for a living.

The First School House Built in Iowa

The plaque on the rock states that this is the site of the first schoolhouse built in the state of Iowa in 1830. The building is obviously a replica and not the original. I was interested in the split log technique used by those who built the replica. This particular replica is located south of Montrose in Lee County along the Mississippi River. Records show that the actual, first building on this site was, just as the replica shows, a 10 foot by 12 foot building made of split logs. This building dates from 1940.

White Water Lily

The water lily leaves look a little worse for wear, but the flower is beautiful. I think that we should remember that old age can produce beautiful things. Not all of us are perfect and young but we can still do a lot of really good work.

Last of the Flowers

Well, not really the last of the flowers, but the leaves on the tree outside my window finally turned yellow. It is still over 80 degrees during the day, and I am beginning to believe in Global Warming, but I guess the trees are starting to turn out of habit rather than Fall weather. I usually look at the weather reports ten days in advance but I don't see a dramatic change coming for a while. I just might get in a few more flower photos before the snow flies.

Wading in the Evening

If you always expect bright colors and clear skies, you need to learn to live in the real world. This was an evening shot and the colors have all merged into dark pastels. But you would miss the form and the reflection.

San Xavier del Bac, Tucson, Arizona

Just outside of Tucson, Arizona is the old Spanish Mission of San Xavier del Bac. The building in this photo was built between 1783 and 1797. It is widely considered to be the finest example of Spanish Colonial architecture in the United States. I have visited this site quite a few times and it is always impressive. It is a functioning mission of the Catholic Church dating back to Father Eusebio Francisco Kino in 1692. It is open to the public except when being used for church services.