OK, y’all keep saying that you enjoy this, but I’m beginning to wonder…

Here are this week’s items. If anyone wants to come up with any future lists or host the hunt, let me know!

Round
Square
Triangle
Sticky
Procrastination
Faith

Michael had a conference in Phoenix, and as usual, I went along to take a mini vacation while he did work-like things.

I was less thrilled about things when I discovered temperatures were going to be 96-106 during the time we were there.

The conference was (as most of his conference have been) in a resort. The resorts tend to be nice enough, however, with the exception of San Antonio, they’re usually self-contained and NOT within walking distance of anything. The Pointe Hilton Tapatio Cliffs Resort wasn’t out in the middle of nowhere, but with temperatures in the upper 90s every day, I wasn’t going to be walking anywhere.

However, it was set in a Mountain preserve. So I got up at 5am local time every morning, and walked around the preserve as the sun came up, which was really quite lovely. Being me, I didn’t walk far by myself, but did manage to force Michael up early one morning so I could feel safer hiking further than I did by myself. (Michael: I’m not going to carry you out of here if you break something. Michelle: You don’t have to carry me, just keep me company.)

I’m glad I was able to do so, because the area was so very different from any other place I’ve gone before. The hills were quite alien looking, when compared to my rolling green Appalachians.

Sunrise:

Find the Gambel’s Quail (Callipepla gambelii)

So, I got everything this week, although some of them are–shall we way–pushing it to fit.

Stones. Lots and lots and lots of stones. Though to be honest, I think these are more rocks than stones. Stones–to me–should be more round. Rocks are sharp. This is something completely arbitrary my brain decided.

Grey Transportation. This delighted me when I saw it.

Something else grey. My guess is that this is some kind of solar array. Michael things the tubes are full of water.

Weather. In case it wasn’t obvious, we’re not home, but in Phoenix Arizona where Michael is at a conference. No, the house isn’t empty. My mother-in-law is there.

Frivolity. Hard to get more frivolous than a train driving around a shopping mall I think.

Identity (yeah, this one is pushing it, but I was highly amused by the numbered post in the middle of nowhere.)

I’m still pushing for that nice fall weather. You know, the kind where the air is crisp and the leaves crunch under your feet as you walk.

Stones
Gray transportation
Something else gray
The Weather
Frivolity
Identity

So Jules wasn’t the only one who had fun at the park Saturday.

Did I instigate any of this silliness?

Maybe. But not all of it. Some happened all on its own.

To escape the insanity of the WVU-LSU game, we went to Parkersburg to visit my brother and family.

I, of course, took a ridiculous number of pictures of Jules. I also learned a lesson, which is make sure you haven’t accidentally bumped your camera and changed a setting. What I thought were going to be some of my favorite pictures didn’t turn out.

But I can’t complain, because I did get some pictures I like very much.

Why YES, I did get a new toy for my camera! How did you guess?!

The above shows Kat’s true personality.

Seriously.
(more…)

And I did really well for this set. Of course, it seems like most of ’em were multi-category in some way or another.

Shadow (This was my favorite picture)

(more…)

It’s (almost) the start of fall! (Close enough I tell you!) Huzzah! Oh, what’s that? You hate winter? Fine! That’s more for me! (If only it worked that way. I would be so willing to donate hot days to someone who wants them.)

Brown plant matter
Brown vehicle
Something else brown
Shadow
Sign
Season

I have actually been trying at least to take daily pictures. Just haven’t been posting.

Here are some how some recent mornings have looked.

(more…)

On Route 50 in Rowlesburg, WV is Cool Spring Park. It’s an everything store with crates of fresh apples and a diner in the middle of the store. We got an iced tea and two milkshakes and our bill was under $5. It also has a park, which is… well… Let me just show you.

(more…)

Saturday, we also went to Cathedral State Park. I don’t remember ever having been there. Michael hadn’t been there since boy scouts.

Cathedral State Park is a virgin forest–sometimes it feels like it’s one of the few. Unlike much of the rest of the state, the area was never strip mined or logged, so it’s a truly old growth forest.

(more…)

with Jules!

(more…)

I took a LOT of pictures this weekend. Here’s our first stop, Decker’s Creek along Route 7.

For years, Decker’s Creek was a lifeless waste, due to acid mine drainage. The creek was orange, and there was little life. It most certainly was not anything you’d want to splash around in.

Today–after years of fighting to force mine owners to take responsibility for the damage they caused, it’s quite beautiful.

(more…)