A Slice of Heaven

A Slice of Heaven

I’m trying to reclaim my life in some ways – the hours I’ve worked have been awful, and since changed for a bit more humane schedule.  So, to reclaim my life, it means I cannot let the whiney, lazy me take over and say, wah, not enough time!  This morning, up at 6, coffee, pulled on my stinky clothes from yesterday, and went out, film cameras and phone in hand.  What a delightful thing to do!  No one around . . . the birds were singing their mating songs (especially lovely were the mockingbirds) and flitting about.  Everywhere, the pungent scent of the chaparral’s resinous plants.  The sun was still low in the sky.  As I walked, I looked, and saw . . . a wild rose in bloom . . . quails running for cover . . . mourning doves within a few feet of me.  A slice of heaven!

A View to the East

The View to the East ii

Sunday morning we went out for a hike in the local open space.  The coastal ranges are beautiful right now because of the rains, so long missing from our climate, and returning because of El Nino.  Yesterday’s photo was facing west; this is what lay behind me.  A green and misty land, with a deep gorge to the right, a ridge to the left which, should I climb it, will bring me down into another valley.  Spring!

BTW, this is another panorama, taken with 17 images and merged in LR 6.5.  Gotta love the digital darkroom!