Lima, as in Lima Beans ...

While driving from Grand Junction to Spokane I decided rather belatedly to take the time to drive through the little places where I stopped for gas. I was seeing a lot of landscape as I flew along the freeways, but little in the way of "local color." (Private joke, eh, Terry DP?)

Gas stop in Lima, Montana in Beaverton County, with a population of 231, as of 2009 was one of my gas stops. Lima turned out to be a treasure trove of photo ops.

Gol darn it! I wish I had that brainstorm earlier. I was so intent upon getting from Point A to Point B, that the interesting inbetweens got overlooked. So unlike me not to meander around hitherto unknown places.

There was sign on a ramshackle old building that read, "Lima Historical Society" and my thought was that it was tongue-in-cheek, as there was no way anyone would be safe in that derelict! But it certainly presented all manner of photographic potential.

I'm including a few of them here. I put a B&W filter on them, to set them apart from simply photographs of an old building. I like how it highlights the structure, composition, rather than the colors. Although the wood was so weathered as to be drained of color to begin with. Wait! I'll upload both and you can see which you like better.

I'll be featuring more Lima, as in lima beans, photographs in the next few days.

July 12, 2011

And now ... from Spokane, WA ...

Oh my! I've been rather mobile in the last couple of months! I've thoroughly enjoyed driving hither and yon, seeing new places, new lifestyles, new people. I haven't taken nearly as many photographs as I thought I would. But, I think that was the nature of this particular spate of travel. It was prompted more by need than leisure and enjoyment. However, a whole bunch of a lot of leisure and enjoyment seeped into the experience.

And I did manage to snap a shot or three.

It does still seem a little strange to go from over a thousand miles of openness ... open deserts ... open mountain ranges ... open agricultural spaces ... wide open skies ... to the city of Spokane with streets and streets of close set houses and commercial businesses. I'm feeling a little closed in, claustrophobic. But I'll eventually acclimate.

Today's photograph was taken right in my sister Mel's backyard. She has a little Garden of Eden going on in back of their home. There's one plant that captured my attention. The flowers are clustered in tight umbrels, with a whorl of spiny basal bracts. It's called an Eryngium or Sea Holly. The blue color is quite striking and bees seem to be very attracted to it.

July 11, 2011

Finale ...

I leave for Washington tomorrow morning, so this is the grand finale for the grand endeavor Trash Collection Series in Grand Junction, Colorado!

First, I have to mention another series that I play around with, Bondo. There is a white truck just a couple of houses down that has some incredible marks and distressing. I finally found the owner at home to ask if I could take a gadzillion photos of his truck. He humored me and agreed. I walked over, turned on the camera. Wait! The camera didn't turn on! Oh woe! My battery ran out of juice!!! I felt a wee bit foolish after the wonderful build up I gave the truck owner.  I'll go back before I head out tomorrow.

July 5, 2011


Western Colorado Landscape (Colorized Watercolor Filter)




Clifton, CO Sunset, 2011




Trash Collection Series, XIV (Watercolor Filter)




Trash Collection Series, Burnt Out, Finale (Watercolor Filter)



Fourth of July 2011 ... Independence!!!!



4th of July, Colorado Style



Project 365 for today ...

July 4, 2011

 



A Fence Is





Trash Collection Series VII
Do Not Pass Go Do Not Collect $200



Out in the wild, wild west ...

Today Owen, Meggan, Joshua and I took a little road trip up to Vega Reservoir State Park, up around 8,000 feet. It was a so much more pleasant temperature than down in Grand Junction. The reservoir was a popular spot today, but I was blown away by the variety of wildflowers! I'm only showing three of them here, but there were scores of different types. Gorgeous!

Today's Trash Collection Series selection is a trio of shots on the same image. The trash that troubles me the most is the broken glass. I keep thinking of kids tumbling in the grass at the park, and landing on sharp glass shards.

July 3, 2011



Trash Collection Series XIII, Glass Shards 1




Trash Collection Series XIII, Glass Shards 2




Trash Collection XIII, Glass Shards 3



Project 365 and kids will be kids ...

Quickly rolling around to Independence Day. The kids are already starting the celebration after dark in the park.  I have a couple of Trash Collection Series, and I can't remember what photograph I decided to use for Day 183.

Without further ado ... let us see, shall we?

July 2, 2011



Dandelion in B&W, iPhoto




Such a Lovely Weed, iPhoto




Concentric Shadows, iPhoto




I Rather Have Butter w/My Crab, If You Please



July 1, 2011 ... Day 182

I love driving through Palisade. I can't quite put my finger on "why," but it is wild and less civilized. Perhaps less developed is a better term. There's room to breathe. Everyone who has even a little acreage has wine grapevines somewhere on their property.

Since I only have about 6 days before I leave to go back to WA, I drove around again this afternoon.

I met a young woman who just started working at the off-the-beaten-path shop for Aloha Organic Fruit. I bought a jar of Peach jam. Contents: organic peaches, organic evaporated cane juice and pectin. The young woman wore a lei, and I caught the Hawaiian shirt clad owner outside unloading the truck. Yup! In Colorado. As I left the shop, I almost wished I had been able to say, "See ya later!" Aloha!

(Steve and Pat Sherer at alohaorganicfruit.com )

While out in Palisade moseying about, I came across a decrepit old barn; made my day!!!!

Here are today's photographs:

July 1, 2011



Aloha Organic Fruit, Palisade CO




Hmmm ... chardonnay? riesling?




Trespassers BEWARE!




Trash Collection IX - Green Composition Shingles




Grand Canal in Palisade, CO