Open to Our Sunday Hike

Even though I was wheezing a bit, we went for a hike.  I'm glad we did because now I feel like I've got my usual cold thing coming on.  Blech.  And just in time for some "Weather" and a week with two after work meetings.  We may get some rain this week, so I best prepare!!  Please read the sarcasm into that last comment.

Anyway, we went for a short two hour exploration in the same general area as last week.  Just on the other side of the mountain.

The area is called Elsmere Canyon, you can read about it here.  

There are lots of trails to choose from.

If you look at the map, you will understand how amazing it was to find the same rock twice...in the 1200 acres (even if it was in the same general area)!!!

*click on photos to enlarge*

I've left them some of them smaller so the post will hopefully load quicker for ya'll.

On the left, August 2013 & On the right, January 2015

I am in love with this story!  I am telling anyone who will listen the Rock Story.

When I picked it up last week, I felt like I was greeting an old friend.

I left it right there on the log.  Maybe we will meet again.

Anyway, today we thought we'd set the goal of hiking to the "knob".

Heading up the dirt trail

This part of the trail was an easy walk.  Along an old paved road, under the freeway and then up the dirt trail we went.

We continued up...up..up.

Looking back down on the trail in

A scattering of wildflowers

Amazing views

He disappears down this opening for a few minutes, but that story will come later!

Well Hello!

King of the hill!

OPEN!

We climb a small hill...greet more views and discover remains of those that lived here in years gone by.  I reflect that I am so darn happy I was open to hiking today.

Broken tile cairn 

This is the point where we have surveyed the land, looking for the best, easiest, quickest route up to the knob.

The thing is, there isn't one.

We decide, another day, with earlier start would be a good idea!

So, we head back down the hill.

J. tells me that the little nook he explored had some odd signs of mankind.

What I see is a house roof.

A typewriter

Got ironing?

Writing in rust

Found button

We find another treasure while walking the rest of the way out!

Stay tuned for our next installment of Sunday Hike!

Photos by NAE @pomegranatetrail ©2015

First the Pot, then a Feather

First he brought in the pot (see last post)

...then he brought in this gift of a unique feather, 

which was found in the same hills.

feather

He knows me so well!

We are unsure what bird left this behind.

One might think crow or raven at first.

But, it feels thinner and has the iridescent green aspect 

that causes some pondering.

I went 'walk-about' in the 'back 40' to try and capture its essence.

Ended up having some fun with light and shadow!

Enjoy!

IN THE LIGHT

feather in the sky

feather in the sunflower house

feather & the sun

feather holds green

SHADOW-PLAY

taller than a feather

feather power

in my heart

see-through-layers

REMEMBERING

Last Tuesday was my mama's birthday.

She would have been 85 years old.

I've been missing her a lot.

This is the picture I posted over at FB on Tuesday.

It's from many years ago (early 2000's) at the Sierra Madre Wisteria Festival.

You can learn more about that  here or here or google-around for more.

It was a wonderful day.

That happiness shows.

Photos by NAE @pomegranatetrail ©2013

Photo Stream

Last Sunday we were able to go for a hike in the near by mountains.  Only minutes from home and off a busy road and freeway intersection.  It is always a big treat to go and explore out in nature.

It's part of my 'finding the beauty' mindset of the past many months.  Even on my daily commute through asphalt streets, I'm looking at sky and trees and flowers.  It's what keeps me going.  It holds the focus on the positive and feelings of gratitude.

It is a conscience effort that has become an easy practice, a habit for me now.  Not an entirely new practice, but one with renewed intent.

This is a photo stream of one week in my life, with the above attitude in mind.

When I write and take photographs, I decide what the 'angle' will be.  Zooming in on the little things reinds me of what really matters.  Taking a wider shot reminds me to look at the whole picture.  The whole beautiful picture.

I hope you enjoy my 'neck of the woods'!

Views, holding trees, California scrub brush and mountain tops ~ 

framed by a brilliant blue sky

Tree: dead or not?

Down in a canyon, looking up

One-armed tree

Rocks

Egg-like

Reminiscent of Easter Island

Tree parts

The arm of the one-armed bare tree

Fallen across the path

Fallen across the path and alive with the sounds of insects inside

Remains of a burnt tree

Fossils

Mostly mollusks from the Pliocene epoch 

(this information from the guy, I'm clueless!)

Last photo (below) he wasn't so sure about.

Looks embryotic to me.

Or like a lamb chop!

Remains of man

Latch on an old, in-ground storage container

Spider Life

Hillside spider condos!

Clouds

Heading back out of the canyon

Feathers

Found feathers & heading home

Back Home

This gal can no longer hold her head up!

Feather found on work walk

I see design & pattern here.

One is a design, many is a pattern

Each one holding a unique design.

Found Pot

A few days later, he goes exploring again and stumbles on to this amazing find!

A cast iron pot!

Thanks for traveling along with me.

It makes me happy to share these views with ya'll!

Photos by NAE @pomegranatetrail ©2013

Before and After #6

BEFORE

AFTER

I walked into work empty-handed.

On a shelf near the classroom door, I spotted this brilliant red button.

Since I had been Spirit Cloth and general blog reading and catching up over the weekend,

I viewed this find as quite serendipitous!

My co-worker said to throw it away (choking hazard for the babies)...

but I instead dropped it into my pocket.

I think I'll send off a little button care package to Michelle.

Photos by NAE @pomegranatetrail ©2013