Rants, Musings & Pictures

First angle, more light

2012-01-30T07:15:00.000-08:00

Shedding a little light on yesterday's subject

2012-01-29T08:00:00.000-08:00

About time

2012-01-28T07:15:00.000-08:00

Different angle

2012-01-27T07:15:00.000-08:00

Downtown sight

2012-01-26T07:45:00.000-08:00

This is a rerun. I have been out to take any photographs since Saturday.

This is the way winter should look

2012-01-25T07:45:00.000-08:00

(photo by Tim Garman at redding.com)

It was scenes such as this, with the snow in the hills where it belongs, that were observed on the drive back north on Saturday

The World's smallest mountain range

2012-01-24T07:15:00.000-08:00

Saturday I finally took the opportunity to stop long enough to take a picture of the Sutter Buttes.
What most amazing about this photo is there are so few clouds. Because, while Saturday was mostly dry, it was far from cloudless after 48 hours of steady rain.

Now you can see it

2012-01-23T06:29:00.000-08:00

That's Treasure Island, originally created for the Golden Gate International Exposition (World's Fair in 1939 and 1940). Then it was going to be the S.F. airport, but the Navy leased it instead. Now the city has it back. That's where the two photos on Friday and Saturday were shot

A different day, different view

2012-01-22T07:15:00.000-08:00

That Alcatraz to the right of center. Immediately beyond is Treasure Island, which is virtually invisible because of its low profile, from where the two previous post's photos were shot.

Something's familiar about this II

2012-01-21T05:30:00.000-08:00

This image and yesterday's were shot on Christmas Eve. I received them in an email and haven't a clue as to who took the photograph's.
On the other hand I have stood at the spot from where they were taken, but not since 1962. A lot of the S.F. skyline has change since then.

Something's familiar about this

2012-01-20T10:00:00.000-08:00

New Sample

2012-01-19T07:15:00.000-08:00

From the quilting ladies at the Frontier Senior Center

Leftovers

2012-01-18T07:15:00.000-08:00

I don't know enough about growing artichokes to know if these are before or after photos

What's this about

2012-01-17T06:55:00.000-08:00

Here's what the pictures from the last few days have been leading into

Just a little closer

2012-01-16T08:12:00.000-08:00

...or a better photo of an artichoke plant.
Can you tell this is leading somewhere?

He, who shall remain nameless

2012-01-15T07:15:00.000-08:00

If anyone's seen the posts over here over the past week or so they'll have seen the mention of a certain creature that's been meandering around Northeastern California for the past couple of weeks. Yesterday the local fishwrap post a link with a map of this creature's peregrinations.
The latest word is it is somewhere in Northwestern Nevada now. What I found most interesting is that it came as close as less than 50 miles from here.

I ran out of pictures

2012-01-14T11:20:00.000-08:00

I went back through posts on this blog almost to day one looking for something to re-post. I didn't find ~~anything~~ any pictures but something reminded me of artichokes, but for the life of me I can't remember what it is.

I did find something I thought worthwhile...

How many kids do you have?

2012-01-13T07:15:00.000-08:00

Six, why?

A re-post

2012-01-12T07:31:00.000-08:00

(from here)

Mt Shasta from Shingletown

2012-01-11T07:15:00.001-08:00

(M. Killingbeck, redding.com)

I'm guessing he shot this early Sunday

Please... look at the camera

2012-01-10T09:33:00.000-08:00

Look at the camera II

2012-01-09T10:11:00.000-08:00

Meanwhile

2012-01-08T08:15:00.000-08:00

Someone (not me) got up early enough to go to Redding's Sundial Bridge at sunrise.

(redding.com)

Look at the camera!

2012-01-07T07:50:00.000-08:00

There were other, more suitable, things upon which to sit...

...compared to a 9100 lb cannon, that is

Grass Valley IV

2012-01-06T08:28:00.000-08:00

After lunch we went to a park...

...where there was a big cannon that was originally used to protect the Golden Gate.

If you click on the image, maybe you can read the plaque.

Now the cannon is a climbing apparatus.

Grass Valley III

2012-01-05T07:15:00.000-08:00

Another street in G.V.

Many of the buildings here, such as the one below, are of historical significance.

Grass Valley II

2012-01-04T07:15:00.000-08:00

This shop actually had some really interesting minerals on display, but they didn't hold a candle to the big chicken standing behind Hugh

Grass Valley

2012-01-03T07:15:00.000-08:00

It seems like every shop on either side of this street has something interesting to see... particularly when one is walking along with an almost three-year-old.

New!

2012-01-02T07:15:00.000-08:00

One of the quilts at the Senior Center has been replaced with this one

Christmas cookies

2012-01-01T07:15:00.000-08:00

They don't last long

Dinner is served

2011-12-31T05:15:00.000-08:00

There is plenty for seconds... and leftovers

There's a smoke ring, too

2011-12-30T07:15:00.000-08:00

...except under the layer of fat

It has a nice bark

2011-12-29T07:00:00.000-08:00

...and a decent bite, too... because of the dry rub

The coals are banked

2011-12-28T07:15:00.000-08:00

The brisket is cooked indirectly over mesquite charcoal for about four hours.

Why we need smoke

2011-12-27T07:15:00.000-08:00

Barbecue... that's why.

Major ingredient

2011-12-26T05:30:00.000-08:00

If you're going to have real barbecue, you need some smoke

2011-12-25T09:01:00.000-08:00

Last minute stuff

2011-12-24T07:18:00.000-08:00

I knew if I scrounged around enough I could find something

Sorry

2011-12-23T11:04:00.000-08:00

Had I managed to grab the camera at an opportune moment yesterday, there would be a picture of the neighborhood squirrel here today.
Maybe next time?

Sometimes the pictures need a story

2011-12-22T07:15:00.000-08:00

If I was a little quicker with the camera this sequence of photographs would be entirely self-explanatory. However, I didn't get my hands on the camera until after the cousins stopped knocking the leaves from the tree with the rake.
Since, for the most part, I am entirely in favor of candid shots, we didn't re-stage the missed opportunity.

Oh, and I'm happy somebody else has to pick up the leaves. Fall foliage is great when it falls in another person's yard.

Last one

2011-12-21T06:29:00.000-08:00

May be the last photo for awhile, too... unless I get out with the camera [or I find something to steal].

We're still out back

2011-12-20T08:47:00.000-08:00

The blooms in the back are amazing.

So now we're back in the yard again

2011-12-19T07:15:00.000-08:00

When the opportunity presents, I will get out to shoot something different

Local scene

2011-12-18T06:04:00.000-08:00

(photo by mkrause62 in the Redding Record Searchlight)

Sample 3

2011-12-17T07:15:00.000-08:00

This quilt is on display in the main dining room.

Now that you've seen the three quilts that are on display, I will explain that the drawings are for only one quilt at a time.

Sample 2

2011-12-16T07:15:00.000-08:00

This is another quilt the ladies created. It is on display in another part of the center

A sample

2011-12-15T07:15:00.000-08:00

This quilt was created by one of the groups that participates in the activities in the Frontier Senior Center. A drawing will be held and the funds raised will be used to help run the center.

Same place as yesterday

2011-12-14T07:15:00.000-08:00

This tree greets the visitor as they enter the Frontier Senior Center. There's another in the dining room.

Let's go indoors

2011-12-13T08:00:00.000-08:00

This is the Sharing Tree at the Frontier Senior Center. Each of the leaves represents (and names) someone who has made a cash contribution to the center. The operators of the center are proud that it is entirely funded by private donations and entirely self-supporting.

A brief interruption

2011-12-12T08:16:00.000-08:00

GS has decorated the tree

There are still some flowers in the yard to show

This one was hiding

2011-12-11T07:15:00.000-08:00

Click to enlarge
I had to move another plant to get this shot of a single volunteer

Worth a closer look

2011-12-10T07:15:00.000-08:00

Click on the image to enlarge

A look at the Mighty Mo

2011-12-09T07:15:00.000-08:00

A follower commented the other day about the USS Missouri's presence at the Pearl Harbor Memorial.

Closer

2011-12-08T08:43:00.000-08:00

Still some color

2011-12-07T05:50:00.000-08:00

The mums out front are really hardy and seem to thrive in the colder part of fall

The neighbors have a cat

2011-12-06T08:57:00.000-08:00

This young cat crosses the street every morning as soon as it (someday I may determine the gender) is let outside

There is some fascination with the concrete in the front of our house

Maybe it's because the concrete was relatively warm

I'm almost sorry I didn't do this scene with the video

I think this is the last one

2011-12-05T07:15:00.000-08:00

...leaf from Clovis, that it.

More fall color

2011-12-04T07:15:00.000-08:00

Almost forgotten

2011-12-03T07:15:00.000-08:00

The turkey.
There were a couple of rack of ribs, too, but I missed them.

Also on the kitchen counter

2011-12-02T07:15:00.000-08:00

Now I'm sorry I didn't get a picture of the centerpiece on the dinner table last week.

In Clovis

2011-12-01T07:15:00.000-08:00

Non-traditional fare

2011-11-30T07:15:00.000-08:00

Thanksgiving dinner had a couple of things we'd not served before

A nice change of pace

Roadside photo op II

2011-11-29T07:15:00.000-08:00

As mentioned before, it was a dreary morning...

...except, that is, for those who came equipped for alternatives to driving.

Roadside photo op

2011-11-28T07:50:00.000-08:00

Thanksgiving morning presented itself as a rather wet and dreary day

The "rest areas" along the freeway sometimes present some interesting subjects

Most interesting

2011-11-27T07:15:00.000-08:00

The question is which photo do I like better

Then I looked in the neighbor's yard

2011-11-26T07:15:00.000-08:00

A closer look II

2011-11-25T07:15:00.000-08:00

Some of the leaves from the apricot tree are more colorful than others

2011-11-24T07:15:00.000-08:00

They're running a little late this year

2011-11-23T07:15:00.000-08:00

Usually the leaves are off the trees well before Thanksgiving.

The rose's neighbor

2011-11-22T07:38:00.000-08:00

Another mum

The bright yellow seems almost incongruous in the chilly air

A few seconds

2011-11-21T07:15:00.000-08:00

I may have been outside taking photos for all of five minutes.

It's a jungle out there

2011-11-20T07:45:00.000-08:00

Out back

2011-11-19T07:15:00.000-08:00

There is a rose, albeit a small one

'Nother sunset

2011-11-18T07:32:00.000-08:00

Mike Killingbeck - Record Searchlight(2011)

The chrysanthemum is a pretty hardy plant

2011-11-17T07:15:00.000-08:00

At the moment there is only a single bloom

It gives us a number of looks

This one's even better

2011-11-16T07:15:00.000-08:00

A week ago everything was still green

Finally

2011-11-15T07:15:00.000-08:00

I shot some new photos

The leaves are turning... some of them, anyway.

Grapevine

2011-11-14T07:15:00.000-08:00

photo by Grandma Skip (2008)

This isn't everyone's favorite spot on Interstate 5

It's nearby

2011-11-13T09:15:00.000-08:00

Redding Record Searchlight

Another day

2011-11-12T07:15:00.000-08:00

Mike Killingbeck - Redding Record Searchlight

Sonoma Coast

2011-11-11T07:15:00.000-08:00

November 2005

More from 2006

2011-11-10T07:15:00.000-08:00

It was September... and no, I don't know the name of the ship.

from the past

2011-11-09T08:15:00.000-08:00

Five years ago... has it really been that long?

Mt Shasta this morning

2011-11-08T06:36:00.000-08:00

Also on Thursday

2011-11-07T08:00:00.000-08:00

This was the sight that attracted me enough to even step outside with the camera.
This is the opposite direction from yesterday's photo.

Thursday morning

2011-11-06T04:42:00.000-08:00

This time it only took a week

2011-11-05T06:55:00.000-07:00

Really, it took a little longer to get through the pictures taken at Shasta Dam last weekend, but a couple of hours isn't worth quibbling over. There were a lot more photos taken during the events of the weekend, but they're posted elsewhere

Then there was this

2011-11-04T07:15:00.000-07:00

Before Shasta Dam was built, the Southern Pacific Railroad (now Union Pacific) had its roadbed along the banks of the Sacramento River. This tunnel was built to temporarily reroute the railroad during dam construction until such time as a new permanent route could be created. After all but the center portion of the dam was complete, and the new railroad route had had been finished, the tunnel was then used to reroute the water from the river while the dam was being completed. When this tunnel was built it was started at each end and they met up in the middle. It was pointed out to us by the tour guide that the entire project was done without the benefit of today's technology. The engineers had to use things like slide rules.

Inside the power house

2011-11-03T07:15:00.000-07:00

There are 5 generators they are humongous

How big?

2011-11-02T08:00:00.000-07:00

We were told these pipes, called penstocks, are big enough to drive a schoolbus through...

if someone wanted to.

Yet another view

2011-11-01T11:00:00.000-07:00

It's the second largest dam in the U.S. (guess the largest), and 43 stories high. I'm much more comfortable looking up the spillway than looking down. This was my first ever tour of the dam, even though I have lived here 38 years.
Before 9/11 it was a simple task to tour the dam. Now, it's almost easier to fly somewhere.

Click here for more information about Shasta Dam.

How we even got here

2011-10-31T07:25:00.000-07:00

On the other blog there's a mention of a state Lions meeting. At these meetings an effort is made to find interesting diversions for those not otherwise occupied. Friday afternoon there was a tour of Shasta Dam.

One step back

2011-10-30T07:55:00.000-07:00

Shasta Dam, the place from where yesterday's photo was taken.

Yesterday

2011-10-29T07:15:00.000-07:00

This next series of photos is gonna run a few days

This is just a teaser photo of Mt Shasta. I'll explain more later.

Yep!

2011-10-28T07:15:00.000-07:00

I really should go outside more often, even if it's only to look at the clouds

I wasn't entirely disappointed

2011-10-27T07:15:00.000-07:00

While yesterday's cloud was man-made, these weren't

Last week

2011-10-26T08:15:00.000-07:00

I looked out the window and saw what I thought to be a classic cirrus, or mare's tail cloud. I thought it would be a great idea to step outside and get a better look and maybe even take a picture.

I was surprised to find it was actually the remnant of a contrail from an aircraft.

One last look

2011-10-25T07:15:00.000-07:00

So I was looking out the window of the hospitality room on the last night.
Somebody challenged me to try to take this picture.

No, we didn't turn the lights off.

Back down, past, and around

2011-10-24T07:15:00.000-07:00

So we motored back down the river past our starting point and under Tower Bridge.

See, the paint makes it look almost like gold

You can also see the cable and pulleys that are used to raise the bridge when necessary

About those structures

2011-10-23T07:15:00.000-07:00

They are water treatment inlet structures for the water supply in the city.

The smaller is no longer in use. Those boat are finishing for winter run Chinook Salmon.

The larger one is currently in use. The shapes on the structure have some artistic significance