Testing my new pillow...

Summer's morning dew

Life is good

Wyoming Chipmuck

Transfiguration Church

Contemplating

Piggy back

All in a day's work

The gorillas were having fun playing with straw. They were carrying piles of straw around, throwing it, and dressing themselves with it.

Taste of spring

Zebra Longwing

Orange-barred Sulpher

Hitching a ride

K was totally unaware that a butterfly decided to land on her stroller

Polyphemus Moth

20 plus winks

Moose on the loose

We went off the main road and walked through a meadow and came across this moose. (2005)

Steamboat Geyser

Steamboat Geyser, in Yellowstone National Park's Norris Geyser Basin, is the world's tallest currently-active geyser. During major eruptions, water may be thrown more than 300 feet into the air.

Steamboat's major eruptions last from 3 to 40 minutes in length, and are followed by powerful jets of steam. Steamboat does not erupt on a predictable schedule with recorded intervals between major eruptions ranging from four days to fifty years.

(photo taken 2005)

Waterfall inYellowstone

Early Morning

I was lucky enought to get a spot on the Safari Photo excursion. I was the only amateur on the trip. We met at Old Faithful Inn before 5:00 AM and spent a few hours touring through the park looking for interesting sights. I took this in the area of the park that was burned in the Fire of 1988.

The summer of 1988 was the driest in the Park's recorded history. More than 793,000 acres (36% of the park) were affected by fire. The 1988 fires created a mosaic of burns, partial burns, and unburned areas that provided new habitats for plants and animals and new realms for research.

(2005)

Grand Elk

Mammoth Hot Springs section of Yellowstone National Park (2005)

We were walking along a wooden pathway when we came across this beautiful, large elk just relaxing and taking in the scenery. We were shocked and thrilled to see the elk.

Catching a few rays

Here he is enjoying a summer day. Not a care in the world.

Just catching some sun flat out on his back.

Girl Talk

Girlfriends just taking a break from the crowds of kids.

G is dressed as Super Dog and S is dressed as Motorcycle Mama.

Grand Canyon of Yellowstone River

The Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone River, formed by water and scoured by glaciers, is 20 miles long, up to 1,200 feet deep and 1,500-4,000 feet wide. But it's not the canyon's statistics that impress, it's the sight of it. Two waterfalls, one above the other, cascade into the golden-walled Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, their clear water forming an aquamarine ribbon winding far below. 2005

Splash of color

These pretty flower clusters grow along the trail up to Inspiration Point. The trail is one of the most popular hikes in Grand Teton. The trail can be reached on foot or by shuttle boat which departs from the marina located near Jenny Lake Visitor Center. The trail to Inspiration Point climbs 420 feet over one mile. On the way to Inspiration Point you can also visit Hidden Falls, a beautiful 80-foot high waterfall. along the trail to Inspiration Point. 2005

Teton Barn

I took this photograph not knowing that it's reputation is well known. It just looked like a great photo opportunity to me.

Jackson Hole, Wyoming 2005

Yosemite Falls: Upper and Lower 2004

Yosemite Falls provides one of the most spectacular views in Yosemite National Park. Together, the Upper and Lower Falls plunge 2425 feet to the Valley floor, the tallest waterfall in North America. Yosemite Falls is at its most magnificent in spring when the winter snow melt is at its height.

Canal Life

Which way did the manatee go?

The Blue Heron landed for a bit on the neighbor's dock. The bird wasn't in any hurry and hung out for a while. I was able to photograph it without it being frightened.

Besides Blue Herons, there are dolphins, pelicans, and other birds that frequent the canal. Even a manatee stopped by and played in the water with my cousin and her friend. Maybe she will let me post that picture!

Hudson, FL

Oct 2007

Hey, did someone forget me?

Summer 2007

In flight

Summer 2006

Underbelly

Summer 2006

Checking out the tourist

17 Mile Drive, CA 2004

View from above

Alaska 2002
Photo taken from The White Pass train while going over a tressel (Yukon to Skagway)

Trusted Handshake

Assignment 1: Sierra was very patient as long as she was receiving treats (Feb 24 08)

Gifts from the sand

Photo assignment 1:

It was freezing on the beach (Feb 16, 2008)

Keep em coming

California: 17 mile Drive

The Lone Cypress

Pebble, Beach, California―17 Mile Drive is comprised of approx. 20 landmarks. The Lone Cypress Tree you'll see along the drive is around 250 years old and represents the Pebble Beach Company, owner of Pebble Beach golf courses and many properties in this wealthy region of the Monterey Bay.

Upper Falls

Yellowstone River 2005

Yellowstone National Park

Yellowstone National Park was established in 1872, it is America's first national park. Located in Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho, it is home to a large variety of wildlife including grizzly bears, wolves, bison, and elk. Preserved within Yellowstone National Park are Old Faithful and a collection of the world's most extraordinary geysers and hot springs, and the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone.

Angel Fall

Yosemite National Park

The geology of the Yosemite area is characterized by granitic rocks and remnants of older rock. About 10 million years ago, the Sierra Nevada was uplifted and then tilted to form its relatively gentle western slopes and the more dramatic eastern slopes. The uplift increased the steepness of stream and river beds, resulting in formation of deep, narrow canyons. About 1 million years ago, snow and ice accumulated, forming glaciers at the higher alpine meadows that moved down the river valleys. Ice thickness in Yosemite Valley may have reached 4,000 feet (1200 m) during the early glacial episode. The downslope movement of the ice masses cut and sculpted the U-shaped valley.

Spec of beauty

Mendenhall Glacier

Alaksa, 2002

Photo by BD

Glacier Blue

A glacier is a large, slow moving river of ice, formed from compacted layers of snow, that slowly deforms and flows in response to gravity. Glacier ice is the largest reservoir of fresh water on Earth, and second only to oceans as the largest reservoir of total water. Glaciers cover vast areas of polar regions but are restricted to the highest mountains in the tropics. Elsewhere in the solar system, the vast polar ice caps of Mars rival those of the Earth.

photo by BD, 2002

Blending in

Bird Rock along 17 Mile Drive, CA

Restless Sea

Waves

A Wave
I sat on the beach and a beautiful wave

Came tumbling right up to me.

It threw some pink shells on the sand at my feet,

Then hurried straight back out to sea.

It ran away swiftly and leaped up in foam;

It bumped other waves in its glee.

I think it was hurrying to gather more shells,

To bring as a present for me.

Gussie Osborne

Five little birds in a row...

Howard Beach

2007

Sea Lions Here to Stay

Pier 39's Celebrities
The sea lions of Pier 39 are famous throughout the world, and locals and tourists alike look forward to their arrival every winter. At Pier 39's K-Dock, you can see hundreds of sea lions haul out, sleep, sing, and feast on herring.

Tranquility

Barnegat Light with New Paint

Sunset at 17 Mile Drive

Sunrise, Sunset

Sitting out here

Over looking the ocean

Watching the waves

As they crash upon the shore.

Wishing I could hear

that beautiful sound more.

The sunset provides

All the beautiful colors

Shining down

On the deep blue sea.

They combined so peacefully

As the bright colors fade away.

And dawn turns to dusk

Stars slowly emerge from the sky

And shine brightly

Upon you and I.

The moon provides

It's radiant light

Glowing beautifully

In the night.

Soon the darkest

Is overcome

By the sun once again.

And the deep dark sky develops into day

As the stars and moon diminish

As you start to see the sunray.

Laura

Contentment