I went down to the coast today, and the poppies are just amazing. The way I’ve witnessed Spring here is that the wildflowers often start going off at the lower locations and make their way up. Today was “Poppy Day on the Coast” Here are a few I shot.
Pacific Valley Center, you are looking so good!
I have a special place in my heart for Pacific Valley Center. It is where I landed in April of 1989, when I desperately needed a soft and safe place to fall. This was mine.
I am a Spring baby – born in May. This is my time. My spirits soar and my heart sings. I listen to the bullfrogs in my itty bitty pond at night, just outside my cottage door.
A friend came up today, who hadn’t been here in a very long time, and looked around in awe, and said, “This really is The Eagle’s Nest.” Ah, yes. it is.
The wonder of the smallest flower, creeping across the ground in back of my deck, it is not my garden, but Mother Nature’s Garden. I creep with it, so I can get a closer look!
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There is some talk on the NWS discussions of a series of storms slated to begin next week. I’ll be keeping an eye on this development in the next few days. The very late night Tuesday forecast stated: “BUT RAIN IS POSSIBLE AS FAR SOUTH AS MAYBE THE MONTEREY BAY BY THURSDAY MORNING.”
Life is full of joy, wonder, and serendipitous moments. This is the story of one of those moments. During the course of this amazing discourse called blogging, I have met a number of other incredible artists. One of these is an artist in Indiana, named Leslie White. Today, I tell that story and showcase a project we “worked” on together. (She did ALL of the work!)
Last year, I used a painting by Dave Allen for my header. It was “Lavender Sunset.” You may remember it.
One day, an artist from Indiana did a google search. I can’t remember if it was for watercolors, or lavender watercolors, or exactly what she searched for, but she found my site due to Dave’s painting.
After following my blog for a while, she became intrigued with my header for last summer. You may also remember this one:
And decided to paint it. She painted it in six different ways. I have her final attempt, hanging on my wall. One of the many things I like about Leslie’s painting, is that is completely different close-up then when viewed from across the room.
This is a closer view. It is almost abstract, but the vision is clear.
Here is what it looks like from across the room.
And here it is from a different angle.
Both Leslie and I were tickled that my rosy colored beige wall set this off so well. It was if I chose that color wall to set off her painting, but I did not. Her painting chose its spot on my wall.
Leslie, the artist, is the consummate teacher – both in the classroom and on the internet. She did 6 different versions of this photograph over the course of 6-8 weeks, explaining her process along the way. She has posted them all to her blog, and has received an incredible number of responses. She considers this a “joint” process, and maybe it is. If you are at all interested in the creative process, its explanations, others views of the process, then see all six versions of the paintings she did from one photograph Sea and Sky here.
While you are there, take a look at some of her other work. You will learn about the creative process from a true wonder. Leslie and I may never meet in person, but we have met, and continue to meet in our art. You are a gem, Leslie White.
The results are in. These were the top three photographs in our reader’s choice poll:
First, and our new header is of Spruce Creek, taken by Jessica Westermeyer, staff at Tree Bones Resort, on Willow Creek Rd. Congratulations, Jessica!
You can see more of Jessica’s photography here: Jessica’s smugmug
Our second place winner is by Martha Diehl of Rainbow at Rocky Creek Bridge. Congratulations, Martha!
Martha doesn’t have a link to online photographs, or if she does, I don’t know about it!
And in third place is Avis Latone with Aloe at Lucia Lodge:
You can see more of her photographs at her blog: bigsurwoman
Thank you to all of you who were willing to be a part of this grand experiment and to put your photographs up for others to look at and enjoy. They were all fantastic! This wee contest was so successful, I plan to host another for the summer header photograph. A new photo contest for the summer header will be announced sometime in June. So, think ahead. I got 4 inquiries/photos after the photo contest closed, for this one. While you are thinking — think landscapes shots that will most likely fit into the format I am stuck with.
Note, some votes continue to be posted, but they do not count after 3/19 at midnight. I cannot “close” the voting without deleting the post, and I do not want to do that. In any event, the results will not change.
There is a very old Redwood Tree on Plaskett Ridge Road, maybe the oldest here, that has developed in an unusual way, due to losing its top.
From a distance, it looks like two trees, growing closely together.
but a closer look reveals it is a branch, from which a vertical branch has grown.
An even closer look reveals the junction.
A different perspective.
For some reason, I have always thought of these ancient redwoods as “the grandfathers.” The Quercus lobatas (Valley Oaks) I think of as “the grandmothers.” They teach me whatever I am willing to learn, and are very patient with me.
(All photos courtesy of Rock Knocker)
Here are the photos for the new Spring header, March photo contest. You get to choose what you see for the next 3 months. Each photo has a number, you choose which one you like best by voting the number on the poll at the end of these photographs. These are numbered in the order received. After voting is complete, and the winner announced, I will post the names of all the photographers and the place taken or depicted of all photographs.
#1
#2
#3
#4
#5
#6
#7
#8
Now, vote for your favorite. Only one vote per reader, please, (I think the poll is actually set up to only allow one vote per computer) and the votes are completely anonymous, even to me!
REMINDER: VOTING END MARCH 19TH AT MIDNIGHT!
Tomorrow the photo contest for the new banner for spring will end, so if you haven’t sent in your entry, better get it in today!
Rain seems to be over for a while. Lots of wildflowers out, and the sun is shining, so today would be a good day to go take that spring photo, if you don’t have one from last year!
Click here for details.
Rain total for last night, .75 inches, bringing the season total to 57.75 inches
It is unbelievably beautiful up here this afternoon, and so, I am going to sit on my sunny, warm, back deck. Maybe take photos, and enjoy this wonderous place where I live. Perhaps, some photos after sunset … but maybe I will be too busy living it to record it.
After sunset. I lived it, and I recorded it, and as soon as I find my A/B cord, I will download then upload some shots of the beauty of where I am blessed to call home.
This is my deck. It is only 8 ft. wide, so I plan on expanding it.
It’s is not much of a deck, yet, but it makes up for it in views.
This is what I see all day, every evening, and every sunset. Am I blessed or what?
And the sunsets can’t be beat! That is a Big Leaf Maple, getting ready to bud out. Spring is almost here!
I’ve always loved taking photographs in the fog. There is a mystery, the ghostliness, and the challenge of getting color amid the gray — sometimes, just the hint of color. Today, I took the opportunity to try photographing a different face of this place we call home.
Trees were barely visible on Plaskett Ridge Road … they appeared in the mist of gray that enveloped them …
almost ghosts … until I looked closely, and saw that the leaves were forming their buds, in preparation for Spring.
Photographing in fog brings out the layers of some objects, when the color is removed … particularly with the trees. Study the subtleties and shapes in the tree above, and note the layers the fog creates.
Our sentinels of quiet … a peaceful time to seek the silence of serenity.
… and even our brightly adorned landmarks, are subdued and resting, anticipating the time when the land is full with visitors, some experiencing the awe for the first time.
But for another month, the place we call home is quiet, and being reborn, again, for the first time. Just as we all are, as Spring approaches — getting ready to shed the chrysalis that has held us safely all winter long.
And don’t forget March’s Photography Contest. The link is posted above in the notice sticky note. Click on that for all the details.
I am putting out a call for the best spring photo of Big Sur — winner’s photo to be featured as my header on March 21st, the spring equinox, for the spring. It will be replaced on June 21st. Credit will be given to the photographer during the spring feature. Only one submission per person, please. I would publish the 10 finalists The deadline for submissions would be March 14th. As soon as the judges have chosen the top 10, I would then post them on my blog, and give the readers the final vote to March 20th, and announce the winner on March 21st. This would be an anonymous panel of judges, and judges would also be able to submit a photograph. I am hoping to get a few more volunteer judges. Contact me immediately if you would like to volunteer to be a judge. If you want to enter the contest, also contact me with your entry by March 14th. ONLY ONE ENTRY PER PERSON PLEASE! Because of the timing, I expect most of these photographs to be from last year. Contact me at kwnovoa@mac.com to either volunteer to judge the entries, and/or to submit a photograph. Thanks for your participation!
