Anderson Family Photo Album Book D141 - Part 07Photo Book #141 - Part 7 - As part of a trip to south Florida to photograph some migrating winter birds, I stopped at the "Loxahatchee Cypress Swamp" and "Jacksonville Botanical Gardens". This is a short photostory of Nature, as reflected in textures, patterns, light and shadows.
Click on the photo link below to access Photo Album 141 - Part 7. Thanks for watching!

I love finding and photographing murals in all the small towns I travel through on my road trips.  When I was down in Florida in Jan. 2024 to photograph some migrating winter birds, I discovered that Lake Placid FL was described as the "Town of Murals", so this was someplace I was going to have to stop and check out!

Click on the photo link below to access Photo Album 141 - Part 6.  Thanks for watching!

Anderson Family Photo Album Book D141 - Part 06Photo Book #141 - Part 6 highlights the City of Lake Placid, FL. (Town Of Murals)
I love finding and photographing murals in all the small towns I travel through on my road trips. When I was down in Florida in Jan. 2024 to photograph some migrating winter birds, I discovered that Lake Placid FL was described as the "Town of Murals", so this was someplace I was going to have to stop and check out!
Click on the photo link below to access Photo Album 141 - Part 6. Thanks for watching!

I had a couple hours extra time after a Tampa overnight stopover on my way to south Florida to photograph some migrating birds and discovered I was very close to the botanical gardens and was able to take advantage of about a 2 hour walk-around there before I had to head down the road.

Click on the photo link below to access Photo Album 141 - Part 5.  Thanks for watching!

Anderson Family Photo Album Book D141 - Part 05Photo Book #141 - Part 5 highlights the Florida Botanical Garden in the St. Petersburg - Clearwater area of Florida.
I had a couple hours extra time after a Tampa overnight stopover on my way to south Florida to photograph some migrating birds and discovered I was very close to the botanical gardens and was able to take advantage of about a 2 hour walk-around there before I had to head down the road.
Click on the photo link below to access Photo Album 141 - Part 5. Thanks for watching!

Part 04 features - Merritt Island NWR

Click on the photo link below to access Photo Album 141 - Part 4.  Thanks for watching!

Anderson Family Photo Album Book D141 - Part 04At the end of January 2024, I took a few days to drive down to Florida, which I have done every three or four years to photograph some of the migrating winter birds. This time I went to five different locations and have put them together here in a four part series.
Part 04 features - Merritt Island NWR
Click on the photo link below to access Photo Album 141 - Part 4. Thanks for watching!

Part 03 features - Green Cay Wetlands

Click on the photo link below to access Photo Album 141 - Part 3.  Thanks for watching!

Anderson Family Photo Album Book D141 - Part 03At the end of January 2024, I took a few days to drive down to Florida, which I have done every three or four years to photograph some of the migrating winter birds. This time I went to five different locations and have put them together here in a four part series.
Part 03 features - Green Cay Wetlands
Click on the photo link below to access Photo Album 141 - Part 3. Thanks for watching!

Part 02 features - Loxahatchee NWR and Wakodahatchee Wetlands

Click on the photo link below to access Photo Album 141 - Part 2.  Thanks for watching!

Anderson Family Photo Album Book D141 - Part 02At the end of January 2024, I took a few days to drive down to Florida, which I have done every three or four years to photograph some of the migrating winter birds. This time I went to five different locations and have put them together here in a four part series.
Part 02 features - Loxahatchee NWR and Wakodahatchee Wetlands
Click on the photo link below to access Photo Album 141 - Part 2. Thanks for watching!

Part 01 starts with Lake Apopka Wild Life drive.

Click on the photo link below to access Photo Album 141 - Part 1.  Thanks for watching!

Anderson Family Photo Album Book D141 - Part 01At the end of January 2024, I took a few days to drive down to Florida, which I have done every three or four years to photograph some of the migrating winter birds. This time I went to five different locations and have put them together here in a four part series.
Part 01 starts with Lake Apopka Wild Life drive.
Click on the photo link below to access Photo Album 141 - Part 1. Thanks for watching!

Part 2 includes sights from:

• Grapevine Texas (Christmas Capital Of Texas) Sights
• Odds & Ends

Click on the photo link below to access Photo Album 140 - Part 2.  Thanks for watching!

Anderson Family Photo Album Book D140 - Part 02Photo Book #140, Parts 1 & 2 cover the time period of Nov, 2023 to Feb, 2024. The photos viewed here are all around the local Fort Worth Area. Just a mix of different locations and venues.
Part 2 includes sights from:

• Grapevine Texas (Christmas Capital Of Texas) Sights
• Odds & Ends

Part 1 includes sights from:

• A couple new hotels in Fort Worth
• Parts of Fort Worth Stockyards
• A few scenes from Christmas time in downtown Fort Worth
• Photos from the 7th Street Duck Pond in Fort Worth
• Bird Photos from the Colleyville Nature Center

Click on the photo link below to access Photo Album 140 - Part 1.  Thanks for watching!

Anderson Family Photo Album Book D140 - Part 01Photo Book #140, Parts 1 & 2 cover the time period of Nov, 2023 to Feb, 2024. The photos viewed here are all around the local Fort Worth Area. Just a mix of different locations and venues.
Part 1 includes sights from:

• A couple new hotels in Fort Worth
• Parts of Fort Worth Stockyards
• A few scenes from Christmas time in downtown Fort Worth
• Photos from the 7th Street Duck Pond in Fort Worth
• Bird Photos from the Colleyville Nature Center

Part 2 includes sights from:

• Gooseberry Falls, MN
• Michigan  Upper Peninsula Area
• Charlevoix, MI
• Leelanau Peninsula (Traverse City), MI Area
• Frankfort (Point Bessie Lighthouse), MI Area
• Ludington, MI
• Hart, MI

Click on the photo link below to access Photo Album 139 - Part 2.  Thanks for watching!

Anderson Family Photo Album Book D139 - Part 02We took a trip to see Cheryl's sisters in Illinois and Indiana and stopped to see our daughter Kelly and the grandkids (Flynn & Lanie) in Missouri on the way. Since it was early fall we decided after leaving Frank & Ruth's house on the Mississippi, in Hamilton IL, that we would drive north, up over Lake Michigan, through the Upper Peninsula and then come back down through Michigan to the South Bend IN area where her other sister Julie and her husband Fred live. There were no specific destinations (as usual in our trips), other than stopping at her sister's homes, so we just enjoyed slowly working our way along country roads and seeing some of IA, WI and MN on the way.
Part 2 includes sights from:

• Gooseberry Falls, MN
• Michigan Upper Peninsula Area
• Charlevoix, MI
• Leelanau Peninsula (Traverse City), MI Area
• Frankfort (Point Bessie Lighthouse), MI Area
• Ludington, MI
• Hart, MI

Part 1 includes sights from:

• Cuba, Mo
• Muscatine, IA
• Galena, IL
• Winona, MN
• Cuyuna Lakes, MN
• Bemidji MN
• Beaver Bay & Two Harbors, MN Area

Click on the photo link below to access Photo Album 139 - Part 1.  Thanks for watching!

Anderson Family Photo Album Book D139 - Part 01We took a trip to see Cheryl's sisters in Illinois and Indiana and stopped to see our daughter Kelly and the grandkids (Flynn & Lanie) in Missouri on the way. Since it was early fall we decided after leaving Frank & Ruth's house on the Mississippi, in Hamilton IL, that we would drive north, up over Lake Michigan, through the Upper Peninsula and then come back down through Michigan to the South Bend IN area where her other sister Julie and her husband Fred live. There were no specific destinations (as usual in our trips), other than stopping at her sister's homes, so we just enjoyed slowly working our way along country roads and seeing some of IA, WI and MN on the way.
Part 1 includes sights from:

• Cuba, Mo
• Muscatine, IA
• Galena, IL
• Winona, MN
• Cuyuna Lakes, MN
• Bemidji MN
• Beaver Bay & Two Harbors, MN Area

• Bosque Del Apache Refuge, NM
• Carrizozo, NM
• Elida, TX
• Littlefield, TX

Click on the photo link below to access Photo Album 138 - Part 5.  Thanks for watching!

Anderson Family Photo Album Book D138 - Part 05After 44 days over 100 degrees by mid-August and 8-9 of those recent ones between 105 and 110 degrees, it was time to get out of Texas for a few days of cooler temps. So with the high plains of Taos NM at 9,000 feet elevation, and only about 600 miles away, that seemed to be the prescription for at least some cooler mornings and afternoons to be experienced. I revisited a few areas I always enjoy and explored a few new places. I took some different back roads through West Texas to check out more small town rural life, as I usually do. This will be a 5 part series, with part 5 including:

• Bosque Del Apache Refuge, NM
• Carrizozo, NM
• Elida, TX
• Littlefield, TX

• Old Town Albuquerque

Click on the photo link below to access Photo Album 138 - Part 4.  Thanks for watching!

Anderson Family Photo Album Book D138 - Part 04After 44 days over 100 degrees by mid-August and 8-9 of those recent ones between 105 and 110 degrees, it was time to get out of Texas for a few days of cooler temps. So with the high plains of Taos NM at 9,000 feet elevation, and only about 600 miles away, that seemed to be the prescription for at least some cooler mornings and afternoons to be experienced. I revisited a few areas I always enjoy and explored a few new places. I took some different back roads through West Texas to check out more small town rural life, as I usually do. This will be a 5 part series, with part 4 including:

• Old Town Albuquerque

• Taos Ski Valley
• Taos & Espanola Regional area

Click on the photo link below to access Photo Album 138 - Part 3.  Thanks for watching!

Anderson Family Photo Album Book D138 - Part 03After 44 days over 100 degrees by mid-August and 8-9 of those recent ones between 105 and 110 degrees, it was time to get out of Texas for a few days of cooler temps. So with the high plains of Taos NM at 9,000 feet elevation, and only about 600 miles away, that seemed to be the prescription for at least some cooler mornings and afternoons to be experienced. I revisited a few areas I always enjoy and explored a few new places. I took some different back roads through West Texas to check out more small town rural life, as I usually do. This will be a 5 part series, with part 3 including:

• Taos Ski Valley
• Taos & Espanola Regional area

• Abiquiu and Ghost Ranch, NM

Click on the photo link below to access Photo Album 138 - Part 2.  Thanks for watching!

Anderson Family Photo Album Book D138 - Part 02After 44 days over 100 degrees by mid-August and 8-9 of those recent ones between 105 and 110 degrees, it was time to get out of Texas for a few days of cooler temps. So with the high plains of Taos NM at 9,000 feet elevation, and only about 600 miles away, that seemed to be the prescription for at least some cooler mornings and afternoons to be experienced. I revisited a few areas I always enjoy and explored a few new places. I took some different back roads through West Texas to check out more small town rural life, as I usually do. This will be a 5 part series, with part 2 including:

• Abiquiu and Ghost Ranch, NM

• Munday, Knox, Roaring Springs, Foydada, Lockney & Plainview
• then onto Villanueva and Mora, NM.

Click on the photo link below to access Photo Album 138 - Part 1.  Thanks for watching!

Anderson Family Photo Album Book D138 - Part 01After 44 days over 100 degrees by mid-August and 8-9 of those recent ones between 105 and 110 degrees, it was time to get out of Texas for a few days of cooler temps. So with the high plains of Taos NM at 9,000 feet elevation, and only about 600 miles away, that seemed to be the prescription for at least some cooler mornings and afternoons to be experienced. I revisited a few areas I always enjoy and explored a few new places. I took some different back roads through West Texas to check out more small town rural life, as I usually do. This will be a 5 part series, with part 1 starting with the drive west through the small Texas towns of:

• Munday, Knox, Roaring Springs, Foydada, Lockney & Plainview
• then onto Villanueva and Mora, NM.

Click on the photo link below to access Photo Album 137.  Thanks for watching!

Anderson Family Photo Album Book D137My Photo Buddy, Dean, and I went out to do some nature shooting. Once in July and once in September at some ponds a little ways from his house and then in September, on the same day, we also went to explore a new nature area on the southeast side of Dallas looking for some Wood Storks. Didn't find any of those but got a few other photos while we were out there. This Photostory also includes some nature shots from outside my kitchen window to round it out. :-)

I took a "photo tour" in early June 2023, just wanting to get out of the house and go explore some photo opportunities.  So I headed up toward the northeast and made stops in WV, PA, MD, VA.  I had planned going out to the NJ shore amongst some other stops, but just happened to arrive in the northeast U.S area in the middle of all that smoke and bad air quality from the forest fires in Canada, if you remember that.  So I cut my trip short about halfway through. but was still able to take in several interesting places which will be highlighted in Book 136 as we make our way forward.

The twelfth & final segment for Book 136 highlights:

• Natural Tunnel Of Virginia
   

Click on the photo icon below to begin the show.  Thanks for Watching!

Book 136 - Natural Tunnel Of VirginiaAnderson Family Photo Album Book D136 will be in several segments (Photo-stories).
I took a "photo tour" in early June 2023, just wanting to get out of the house and go explore some photo opportunities. So I headed up toward the northeast and made stops in WV, PA, MD, VA. I had planned going out to the NJ shore amongst some other stops, but just happened to arrive in the northeast U.S area in the middle of all that smoke and bad air quality from the forest fires in Canada, if you remember that. So I cut my trip short about halfway through. but was still able to take in several interesting places which will be highlighted in Book 136 as we make our way forward.
The twelfth & final segment for Book 136 highlights:

• Natural Tunnel Of Virginia

I took a "photo tour" in early June 2023, just wanting to get out of the house and go explore some photo opportunities.  So I headed up toward the northeast and made stops in WV, PA, MD, VA.  I had planned going out to the NJ shore amongst some other stops, but just happened to arrive in the northeast U.S area in the middle of all that smoke and bad air quality from the forest fires in Canada, if you remember that.  So I cut my trip short about halfway through. but was still able to take in several interesting places which will be highlighted in Book 136 as we make our way forward.

The eleventh segment highlights:

• The Greenbrier Hotel & Resort - WV
   

Click on the photo icon below to begin the show.  Thanks for Watching!

Book 136 - The Greenbrier - WVAnderson Family Photo Album Book D136 will be in several segments (Photo-stories).
I took a "photo tour" in early June 2023, just wanting to get out of the house and go explore some photo opportunities. So I headed up toward the northeast and made stops in WV, PA, MD, VA. I had planned going out to the NJ shore amongst some other stops, but just happened to arrive in the northeast U.S area in the middle of all that smoke and bad air quality from the forest fires in Canada, if you remember that. So I cut my trip short about halfway through. but was still able to take in several interesting places which will be highlighted in Book 136 as we make our way forward.
The eleventh segment highlights:

• The Greenbrier Hotel & Resort - WV

I took a "photo tour" in early June 2023, just wanting to get out of the house and go explore some photo opportunities.  So I headed up toward the northeast and made stops in WV, PA, MD, VA.  I had planned going out to the NJ shore amongst some other stops, but just happened to arrive in the northeast U.S area in the middle of all that smoke and bad air quality from the forest fires in Canada, if you remember that.  So I cut my trip short about halfway through. but was still able to take in several interesting places which will be highlighted in Book 136 as we make our way forward.

The tenth segment highlights:

• Natural Bridge Of Virginia
   

Click on the photo icon below to begin the show.  Thanks for Watching!

Book 136 - Natural Bridge Of VirginiaAnderson Family Photo Album Book D136 will be in several segments (Photo-stories).
I took a "photo tour" in early June 2023, just wanting to get out of the house and go explore some photo opportunities. So I headed up toward the northeast and made stops in WV, PA, MD, VA. I had planned going out to the NJ shore amongst some other stops, but just happened to arrive in the northeast U.S area in the middle of all that smoke and bad air quality from the forest fires in Canada, if you remember that. So I cut my trip short about halfway through. but was still able to take in several interesting places which will be highlighted in Book 136 as we make our way forward.
The tenth segment highlights:

• Natural Bridge Of Virginia

I took a "photo tour" in early June 2023, just wanting to get out of the house and go explore some photo opportunities.  So I headed up toward the northeast and made stops in WV, PA, MD, VA.  I had planned going out to the NJ shore amongst some other stops, but just happened to arrive in the northeast U.S area in the middle of all that smoke and bad air quality from the forest fires in Canada, if you remember that.  So I cut my trip short about halfway through. but was still able to take in several interesting places which will be highlighted in Book 136 as we make our way forward.

The ninth segment highlights:

• Clarke Bedford's Vanadu Art House
   

Click on the photo icon below to begin the show.  Thanks for Watching!

Book 136 - Clarke Bedford's Vanadu Art HouseAnderson Family Photo Album Book D136 will be in several segments (Photo-stories).
I took a "photo tour" in early June 2023, just wanting to get out of the house and go explore some photo opportunities. So I headed up toward the northeast and made stops in WV, PA, MD, VA. I had planned going out to the NJ shore amongst some other stops, but just happened to arrive in the northeast U.S area in the middle of all that smoke and bad air quality from the forest fires in Canada, if you remember that. So I cut my trip short about halfway through. but was still able to take in several interesting places which will be highlighted in Book 136 as we make our way forward.
The ninth segment highlights:

• Book 136 - Clarke Bedford's Vanadu Art House

I took a "photo tour" in early June 2023, just wanting to get out of the house and go explore some photo opportunities.  So I headed up toward the northeast and made stops in WV, PA, MD, VA.  I had planned going out to the NJ shore amongst some other stops, but just happened to arrive in the northeast U.S area in the middle of all that smoke and bad air quality from the forest fires in Canada, if you remember that.  So I cut my trip short about halfway through. but was still able to take in several interesting places which will be highlighted in Book 136 as we make our way forward.

The eighth segment highlights:

• Harpers Ferry National Historical Park
• McKee-Beshers Wildlife Management Area
• Great Falls Park, VA

Click on the photo icon below to begin the show.  Thanks for Watching!

Book 136 - Harpers Ferry-McKee Beshers-Great FallsAnderson Family Photo Album Book D136 will be in several segments (Photo-stories).
I took a "photo tour" in early June 2023, just wanting to get out of the house and go explore some photo opportunities. So I headed up toward the northeast and made stops in WV, PA, MD, VA. I had planned going out to the NJ shore amongst some other stops, but just happened to arrive in the northeast U.S area in the middle of all that smoke and bad air quality from the forest fires in Canada, if you remember that. So I cut my trip short about halfway through. but was still able to take in several interesting places which will be highlighted in Book 136 as we make our way forward.
The eighth segment highlights:

• Harpers Ferry National Historical Park
• McKee-Beshers Wildlife Management Area
• Great Falls Park, VA

I took a "photo tour" in early June 2023, just wanting to get out of the house and go explore some photo opportunities.  So I headed up toward the northeast and made stops in WV, PA, MD, VA.  I had planned going out to the NJ shore amongst some other stops, but just happened to arrive in the northeast U.S area in the middle of all that smoke and bad air quality from the forest fires in Canada, if you remember that.  So I cut my trip short about halfway through. but was still able to take in several interesting places which will be highlighted in Book 136 as we make our way forward.

The seventh segment highlights:

• Swallow Falls State Park
• Paw Paw Tunnel, MD

Click on the photo icon below to begin the show.  Thanks for Watching!

Book 136 - Swallow Falls SP & Paw Paw Tunnel - MDAnderson Family Photo Album Book D136 will be in several segments (Photo-stories).
I took a "photo tour" in early June 2023, just wanting to get out of the house and go explore some photo opportunities. So I headed up toward the northeast and made stops in WV, PA, MD, VA. I had planned going out to the NJ shore amongst some other stops, but just happened to arrive in the northeast U.S area in the middle of all that smoke and bad air quality from the forest fires in Canada, if you remember that. So I cut my trip short about halfway through. but was still able to take in several interesting places which will be highlighted in Book 136 as we make our way forward.
The seventh segment highlights:

• Swallow Falls State Park
• Paw Paw Tunnel - MD

I took a "photo tour" in early June 2023, just wanting to get out of the house and go explore some photo opportunities.  So I headed up toward the northeast and made stops in WV, PA, MD, VA.  I had planned going out to the NJ shore amongst some other stops, but just happened to arrive in the northeast U.S area in the middle of all that smoke and bad air quality from the forest fires in Canada, if you remember that.  So I cut my trip short about halfway through. but was still able to take in several interesting places which will be highlighted in Book 136 as we make our way forward.

The sixth segment highlights:

• Coopers Rock State Park, WV

Click on the photo icon below to begin the show.  Thanks for Watching!

Book 136 - Cooper Rock State Park WVAnderson Family Photo Album Book D136 will be in several segments (Photo-stories).
I took a "photo tour" in early June 2023, just wanting to get out of the house and go explore some photo opportunities. So I headed up toward the northeast and made stops in WV, PA, MD, VA. I had planned going out to the NJ shore amongst some other stops, but just happened to arrive in the northeast U.S area in the middle of all that smoke and bad air quality from the forest fires in Canada, if you remember that. So I cut my trip short about halfway through. but was still able to take in several interesting places which will be highlighted in Book 136 as we make our way forward.
The sixth segment highlights:

• Coopers Rock State Park WV

I took a "photo tour" in early June 2023, just wanting to get out of the house and go explore some photo opportunities.  So I headed up toward the northeast and made stops in WV, PA, MD, VA.  I had planned going out to the NJ shore amongst some other stops, but just happened to arrive in the northeast U.S area in the middle of all that smoke and bad air quality from the forest fires in Canada, if you remember that.  So I cut my trip short about halfway through. but was still able to take in several interesting places which will be highlighted in Book 136 as we make our way forward.

The fifth segment highlights:

• Frank Lloyd Wright - 'Fallingwater' & West Virginia Botanical Garden

Click on the photo icon below to begin the show.  Thanks for Watching!

Book 136 - FL Wright -Fallingwaters - WVBGAnderson Family Photo Album Book D136 will be in several segments (Photo-stories).
I took a "photo tour" in early June 2023, just wanting to get out of the house and go explore some photo opportunities. So I headed up toward the northeast and made stops in WV, PA, MD, VA. I had planned going out to the NJ shore amongst some other stops, but just happened to arrive in the northeast U.S area in the middle of all that smoke and bad air quality from the forest fires in Canada, if you remember that. So I cut my trip short about halfway through. but was still able to take in several interesting places which will be highlighted in Book 136 as we make our way forward.
The fifth segment highlights:

• Frank Lloyd Wright - 'Fallingwater' & West Virginia Botanical Garden

I took a "photo tour" in early June 2023, just wanting to get out of the house and go explore some photo opportunities.  So I headed up toward the northeast and made stops in WV, PA, MD, VA.  I had planned going out to the NJ shore amongst some other stops, but just happened to arrive in the northeast U.S area in the middle of all that smoke and bad air quality from the forest fires in Canada, if you remember that.  So I cut my trip short about halfway through. but was still able to take in several interesting places which will be highlighted in Book 136 as we make our way forward.

The third and fourth segments highlight:

• Phipps Conservatory - Pittsburgh, PA - Part 2

Click on the photo icon below to begin the show.  Thanks for Watching!

Book 136 - Phipps Conservatory - Pittsburgh PA - Part 2Anderson Family Photo Album Book D136 will be in several segments (Photo-stories).
I took a "photo tour" in early June 2023, just wanting to get out of the house and go explore some photo opportunities. So I headed up toward the northeast and made stops in WV, PA, MD, VA. I had planned going out to the NJ shore amongst some other stops, but just happened to arrive in the northeast U.S area in the middle of all that smoke and bad air quality from the forest fires in Canada, if you remember that. So I cut my trip short about halfway through. but was still able to take in several interesting places which will be highlighted in Book 136 as we make our way forward.
The second segment highlights:

• Phipps Conservatory - Pittsburgh PA - Part 2

I took a "photo tour" in early June 2023, just wanting to get out of the house and go explore some photo opportunities.  So I headed up toward the northeast and made stops in WV, PA, MD, VA.  I had planned going out to the NJ shore amongst some other stops, but just happened to arrive in the northeast U.S area in the middle of all that smoke and bad air quality from the forest fires in Canada, if you remember that.  So I cut my trip short about halfway through. but was still able to take in several interesting places which will be highlighted in Book 136 as we make our way forward.

The third and fourth segments highlight:

• Phipps Conservatory - Pittsburgh, PA - Part 1

Click on the photo icon below to begin the show.  Thanks for Watching!

Book 136 - Phipps Conservatory - Pittsburgh PA - Part 1Anderson Family Photo Album Book D136 will be in several segments (Photo-stories).
I took a "photo tour" in early June 2023, just wanting to get out of the house and go explore some photo opportunities. So I headed up toward the northeast and made stops in WV, PA, MD, VA. I had planned going out to the NJ shore amongst some other stops, but just happened to arrive in the northeast U.S area in the middle of all that smoke and bad air quality from the forest fires in Canada, if you remember that. So I cut my trip short about halfway through. but was still able to take in several interesting places which will be highlighted in Book 136 as we make our way forward.
The second segment highlights:

• Phipps Conservatory - Pittsburgh PA - Part 1

I took a "photo tour" in early June 2023, just wanting to get out of the house and go explore some photo opportunities.  So I headed up toward the northeast and made stops in WV, PA, MD, VA.  I had planned going out to the NJ shore amongst some other stops, but just happened to arrive in the northeast U.S area in the middle of all that smoke and bad air quality from the forest fires in Canada, if you remember that.  So I cut my trip short about halfway through. but was still able to take in several interesting places which will be highlighted in Book 136 as we make our way forward.

The second segment highlights:

• Randyland - Pittsburgh, PA

Click on the photo icon below to begin the show.  Thanks for Watching!

Book 136 - Randyland - Pittsburgh PAAnderson Family Photo Album Book D136 will be in several segments (Photo-stories).
I took a "photo tour" in early June 2023, just wanting to get out of the house and go explore some photo opportunities. So I headed up toward the northeast and made stops in WV, PA, MD, VA. I had planned going out to the NJ shore amongst some other stops, but just happened to arrive in the northeast U.S area in the middle of all that smoke and bad air quality from the forest fires in Canada, if you remember that. So I cut my trip short about halfway through. but was still able to take in several interesting places which will be highlighted in Book 136 as we make our way forward.
The second segment highlights:

• Randyland - Pittsburgh PA

I took a "photo tour" in early June 2023, just wanting to get out of the house and go explore some photo opportunities.  So I headed up toward the northeast and made stops in WV, PA, MD, VA.  I had planned going out to the NJ shore amongst some other stops, but just happened to arrive in the northeast U.S area in the middle of all that smoke and bad air quality from the forest fires in Canada, if you remember that.  So I cut my trip short about halfway through. but was still able to take in several interesting places which will be highlighted in Book 136 as we make our way forward.

We will start out first with a stop at:

• Ken Sinsel's Metal Sculptures in New Cumberland, WV

Click on the photo icon below to begin the show.  Thanks for Watching!

Book 136 - Ken Sinsel's Metal SculpturesAnderson Family Photo Album Book D136 will be in several segments (Photo-stories).
I took a "photo tour" in early June 2023, just wanting to get out of the house and go explore some photo opportunities. So I headed up toward the northeast and made stops in WV, PA, MD, VA. I had planned going out to the NJ shore amongst some other stops, but just happened to arrive in the northeast U.S area in the middle of all that smoke and bad air quality from the forest fires in Canada, if you remember that. So I cut my trip short about halfway through. but was still able to take in several interesting places which will be highlighted in Book 136 as we make our way forward.
We will start out first with a stop at:

• Ken Sinsel's Metal Sculptures in New Cumberland, WV

• Wichita's Old Cowtown Museum
• Botanica - The Wichita Gardens
• The Keeper of the Plains

Click on the photo icon below to begin the show.  Thanks for Watching!

Kansas Road Trip - April 2023 - Part 4

• Kansas State Capitol Building
• Great Overland Station
• Passing Through Emporia, KS
• Strataca - Kansas Underground Salt Museum
• Smith's Market & Candy Store in Hutchinson, KS

Click on the photo icon below to begin the show.  Thanks for Watching!

Kansas Road Trip - April 2023 - Part 3

• Ted Ensley Gardens
• Old Prairie Town at the Ward-Meade Historical Site
• The Belshe Fire Hydrant Garden

Click on the photo icon below to begin the show.  Thanks for Watching!

Kansas Road Trip - April 2023 - Part 2

Flint Hills National Scenic Drive, which begins about 50 miles northeast of Wichita, KS on I-35 at Cassoday, KS and then runs north along Kansas route 177 for about 45 miles to Council Bluffs, KS.

Click on the photo icon below to begin the show.  Thanks for Watching!

Kansas Road Trip - April 2023 - Part 1

Click on the photo link below to access Photo Album 135.  Thanks for watching!

Anderson Family Photo Album Book D135My Photo Buddy, Dean, and I went to downtown Fort Worth during the Christmas holidays 2022 to take a few photos of the Christmas Tree in Sundance Square and do a short walk-around downtown to see what other sites there were.
 

I took a trip in early October, over a long weekend to run up to Colorado and see if I could catch some of the Aspen Trees changing to their brilliant yellow and gold hues.

Part two includes:

• Sights along the southern Colorado and northern New Mexico border
• Chama, New Mexico
• Manassa, Colorado
• Sun Luis, Colorado

Anderson Family Photo Album Book D134bPhoto Album #134 includes the time period of October, 2022.
I took a trip in early October, over a long weekend to run up to Colorado and see if I could catch some of the Aspen Trees changing to their brilliant yellow and gold hues.
Part two includes:

• Sights along the southern Colorado and northern New Mexico border
• Chama, New Mexico
• Manassa, Colorado
• Sun Luis, Colorado

I took a trip in early October, over a long weekend to run up to Colorado and see if I could catch some of the Aspen Trees changing to their brilliant yellow and gold hues.

Part one includes:

• Some sights along the way with a longer stop in Nocona, Texas and then up through the Colorado ski areas and heading back down south toward Pagosa Springs.

Click on the photo link below to access Photo Album 134, Part 1.  Thanks for watching!

Anderson Family Photo Album Book D134aPhoto Album #134 includes the time period of October, 2022.
I took a trip in early October, over a long weekend to run up to Colorado and see if I could catch some of the Aspen Trees changing to their brilliant yellow and gold hues.
Part one includes:

• Some sights along the way with a longer stop in Nocona, Texas and then up through the Colorado ski areas and heading back down south toward Pagosa Springs.

• The first event was our first sighting of Bluebirds at our house in Texas, along with a few of the other birds that frequent our bird bath outside the kitchen window.

• The second part of this photo story shows scenes from several bike rides I took in Michigan in July with an extended discussion of the Whitehall-Hesperia ride that took me from the small town of Whitehall where I grew up to the even smaller village of Hesperia, where my grandmother lived, and some of the sights and changes in that area.

Click on the photo link below to access Photo Album 133.  Thanks for watching!

Anderson Family Photo Album Book D133Photo Album #133 includes the time period of July, 2022. This album includes 2 events.

• The first event was our first sighting of Bluebirds at our house in Texas, along with a few of the other birds that frequent our bird bath outside the kitchen window.

• The second part of this photo story shows scenes from several bike rides I took in Michigan in July with an extended discussion of the Whitehall-Hesperia ride that took me from the small town of Whitehall where I grew up to the even smaller village of Hesperia, where my grandmother lived, and some of the sights and changes in that area.

Click on the photo link below to access Photo Album 132. Thanks for watching!

Anderson Family Photo Album Book D132Photo Album #132 includes the time period of August, 2021 to July 2022. During this time of Covid shutdown we weren't out and about as much and consequently didn't have as many photographic opportunities as usual. We took a road trip in April 2022 up to the Idaho, Oregon, Washington state area which has it's own series of photo stories right before this one, So this photo album includes just a few odds & ends during this almost year long period, but also includes a trip taken to Springfield, MO. to visit Kelly and the kids.
Click on the photo link below to access Photo Album 132. Thanks for watching!

For this trip we headed up through Texas, New Mexico, Utah, Nevada, Idaho, Oregon and Washington.  Like many of our trips, it wasn't so much about a set destination for a prolonged stay but rather more just putzing around and enjoying the journey.  However, at the distant end of our trip we were wanting to visit an area called the Palouse which is about a 125 square mile area located along the borders of Idaho, Oregon and Washington states.

The Palouse is an area that, at the right times of the year, can be somewhat reminiscent of the Tuscany area of Italy.  In the mid to late spring, the rolling hills of the Palouse are full of color from the different agricultural plantings of different crops contrasted against each other and already harvested or dormant fields in this highly productive farming area of the Northwest.  Unfortunately we were about maybe 3-4 weeks early to view the multiple colors but we did enjoy the rolling hills and the few colors (mostly green and yellow) that we did see.  I'll try to remember to add a photo from Wikipedia or somewhere that shows what it would normally look like when we get closer to that area in this multiple part Photo Story.

One more note about my Title above.  The reason I added the "Miles of Murals" tagline was because for those of you who know how much I / we enjoying scouting out all these towns and cities along the way (on any of our trips) for local art in the form of murals painted on buildings - this trip turned out to be a treasure chest of many, many murals that we enjoyed and documented.

Part 14 of this multiple blog trip finds us at ...

• The VW Bug Ranch in Conroy, TX
• Shamrock, TX

Click on the photo icon below to begin the show.  Thanks for Watching!

April 2022 Road Trip - Part 14Well, I see it's been about 8 months since I've added any blogs here. With the whole Covid pandemic thing, we haven't been out and about as much taking photos, as we usually do, so it was finally time to get saddled back up and on the horse for some new adventures and activity.
For this trip we headed up through Texas, New Mexico, Utah, Nevada, Idaho, Oregon and Washington. Like many of our trips, it wasn't so much about a set destination for a prolonged stay but rather more just putzing around and enjoying the journey. However, at the distant end of our trip we were wanting to visit an area called the Palouse which is about a 125 square mile area located along the borders of Idaho, Oregon and Washington states.
The Palouse is an area that, at the right times of the year, can be somewhat reminiscent of the Tuscany area of Italy. In the mid to late spring, the rolling hills of the Palouse are full of color from the different agricultural plantings of different crops contrasted against each other and already harvested or dormant fields in this highly productive farming area of the Northwest. Unfortunately we were about maybe 3-4 weeks early to view the multiple colors but we did enjoy the rolling hills and the few colors (mostly green and yellow) that we did see. I'll try to remember to add a photo from Wikipedia or somewhere that shows what it would normally look like when we get closer to that area in this multiple part Photo Story.
One more note about my Title above. The reason I added the "Miles of Murals" tagline was because for those of you who know how much I / we enjoying scouting out all these towns and cities along the way (on any of our trips) for local art in the form of murals painted on buildings - this trip turned out to be a treasure chest of many, many murals that we enjoyed and documented.
Part 14 of this multiple blog trip finds us at ...

• The VW Bug Ranch in Conroy, TX
• Shamrock, TX

For this trip we headed up through Texas, New Mexico, Utah, Nevada, Idaho, Oregon and Washington.  Like many of our trips, it wasn't so much about a set destination for a prolonged stay but rather more just putzing around and enjoying the journey.  However, at the distant end of our trip we were wanting to visit an area called the Palouse which is about a 125 square mile area located along the borders of Idaho, Oregon and Washington states.

The Palouse is an area that, at the right times of the year, can be somewhat reminiscent of the Tuscany area of Italy.  In the mid to late spring, the rolling hills of the Palouse are full of color from the different agricultural plantings of different crops contrasted against each other and already harvested or dormant fields in this highly productive farming area of the Northwest.  Unfortunately we were about maybe 3-4 weeks early to view the multiple colors but we did enjoy the rolling hills and the few colors (mostly green and yellow) that we did see.  I'll try to remember to add a photo from Wikipedia or somewhere that shows what it would normally look like when we get closer to that area in this multiple part Photo Story.

One more note about my Title above.  The reason I added the "Miles of Murals" tagline was because for those of you who know how much I / we enjoying scouting out all these towns and cities along the way (on any of our trips) for local art in the form of murals painted on buildings - this trip turned out to be a treasure chest of many, many murals that we enjoyed and documented.

Part 13 of this multiple blog trip finds us in ...

• Santa Fe, New Mexico

Click on the photo icon below to begin the show.  Thanks for Watching!

April 2022 Road Trip - Part 13Well, I see it's been about 8 months since I've added any blogs here. With the whole Covid pandemic thing, we haven't been out and about as much taking photos, as we usually do, so it was finally time to get saddled back up and on the horse for some new adventures and activity.
For this trip we headed up through Texas, New Mexico, Utah, Nevada, Idaho, Oregon and Washington. Like many of our trips, it wasn't so much about a set destination for a prolonged stay but rather more just putzing around and enjoying the journey. However, at the distant end of our trip we were wanting to visit an area called the Palouse which is about a 125 square mile area located along the borders of Idaho, Oregon and Washington states.
The Palouse is an area that, at the right times of the year, can be somewhat reminiscent of the Tuscany area of Italy. In the mid to late spring, the rolling hills of the Palouse are full of color from the different agricultural plantings of different crops contrasted against each other and already harvested or dormant fields in this highly productive farming area of the Northwest. Unfortunately we were about maybe 3-4 weeks early to view the multiple colors but we did enjoy the rolling hills and the few colors (mostly green and yellow) that we did see. I'll try to remember to add a photo from Wikipedia or somewhere that shows what it would normally look like when we get closer to that area in this multiple part Photo Story.
One more note about my Title above. The reason I added the "Miles of Murals" tagline was because for those of you who know how much I / we enjoying scouting out all these towns and cities along the way (on any of our trips) for local art in the form of murals painted on buildings - this trip turned out to be a treasure chest of many, many murals that we enjoyed and documented.
Part 13 of this multiple blog trip finds us in ...

• Santa Fe, New Mexico

For this trip we headed up through Texas, New Mexico, Utah, Nevada, Idaho, Oregon and Washington.  Like many of our trips, it wasn't so much about a set destination for a prolonged stay but rather more just putzing around and enjoying the journey.  However, at the distant end of our trip we were wanting to visit an area called the Palouse which is about a 125 square mile area located along the borders of Idaho, Oregon and Washington states.

The Palouse is an area that, at the right times of the year, can be somewhat reminiscent of the Tuscany area of Italy.  In the mid to late spring, the rolling hills of the Palouse are full of color from the different agricultural plantings of different crops contrasted against each other and already harvested or dormant fields in this highly productive farming area of the Northwest.  Unfortunately we were about maybe 3-4 weeks early to view the multiple colors but we did enjoy the rolling hills and the few colors (mostly green and yellow) that we did see.  I'll try to remember to add a photo from Wikipedia or somewhere that shows what it would normally look like when we get closer to that area in this multiple part Photo Story.

One more note about my Title above.  The reason I added the "Miles of Murals" tagline was because for those of you who know how much I / we enjoying scouting out all these towns and cities along the way (on any of our trips) for local art in the form of murals painted on buildings - this trip turned out to be a treasure chest of many, many murals that we enjoyed and documented.

Part 12 of this multiple blog trip finds us at ...

• Delta, Colorado
• Driving from Delta, CO to Santa Fe, NM via Monarch Pass

Click on the photo icon below to begin the show.  Thanks for Watching!

April 2022 Road Trip - Part 12Well, I see it's been about 8 months since I've added any blogs here. With the whole Covid pandemic thing, we haven't been out and about as much taking photos, as we usually do, so it was finally time to get saddled back up and on the horse for some new adventures and activity.
For this trip we headed up through Texas, New Mexico, Utah, Nevada, Idaho, Oregon and Washington. Like many of our trips, it wasn't so much about a set destination for a prolonged stay but rather more just putzing around and enjoying the journey. However, at the distant end of our trip we were wanting to visit an area called the Palouse which is about a 125 square mile area located along the borders of Idaho, Oregon and Washington states.
The Palouse is an area that, at the right times of the year, can be somewhat reminiscent of the Tuscany area of Italy. In the mid to late spring, the rolling hills of the Palouse are full of color from the different agricultural plantings of different crops contrasted against each other and already harvested or dormant fields in this highly productive farming area of the Northwest. Unfortunately we were about maybe 3-4 weeks early to view the multiple colors but we did enjoy the rolling hills and the few colors (mostly green and yellow) that we did see. I'll try to remember to add a photo from Wikipedia or somewhere that shows what it would normally look like when we get closer to that area in this multiple part Photo Story.
One more note about my Title above. The reason I added the "Miles of Murals" tagline was because for those of you who know how much I / we enjoying scouting out all these towns and cities along the way (on any of our trips) for local art in the form of murals painted on buildings - this trip turned out to be a treasure chest of many, many murals that we enjoyed and documented.
Part 12 of this multiple blog trip finds us at ...

• Delta, Colorado
• Driving from Delta, CO to Santa Fe, NM via Monarch Pass

For this trip we headed up through Texas, New Mexico, Utah, Nevada, Idaho, Oregon and Washington.  Like many of our trips, it wasn't so much about a set destination for a prolonged stay but rather more just putzing around and enjoying the journey.  However, at the distant end of our trip we were wanting to visit an area called the Palouse which is about a 125 square mile area located along the borders of Idaho, Oregon and Washington states.

The Palouse is an area that, at the right times of the year, can be somewhat reminiscent of the Tuscany area of Italy.  In the mid to late spring, the rolling hills of the Palouse are full of color from the different agricultural plantings of different crops contrasted against each other and already harvested or dormant fields in this highly productive farming area of the Northwest.  Unfortunately we were about maybe 3-4 weeks early to view the multiple colors but we did enjoy the rolling hills and the few colors (mostly green and yellow) that we did see.  I'll try to remember to add a photo from Wikipedia or somewhere that shows what it would normally look like when we get closer to that area in this multiple part Photo Story.

One more note about my Title above.  The reason I added the "Miles of Murals" tagline was because for those of you who know how much I / we enjoying scouting out all these towns and cities along the way (on any of our trips) for local art in the form of murals painted on buildings - this trip turned out to be a treasure chest of many, many murals that we enjoyed and documented.

Part 11 of this multiple blog trip finds us at ...

• Grand Junction, Colorado

Click on the photo icon below to begin the show.  Thanks for Watching!

April 2022 Road Trip - Part 11Well, I see it's been about 8 months since I've added any blogs here. With the whole Covid pandemic thing, we haven't been out and about as much taking photos, as we usually do, so it was finally time to get saddled back up and on the horse for some new adventures and activity.
For this trip we headed up through Texas, New Mexico, Utah, Nevada, Idaho, Oregon and Washington. Like many of our trips, it wasn't so much about a set destination for a prolonged stay but rather more just putzing around and enjoying the journey. However, at the distant end of our trip we were wanting to visit an area called the Palouse which is about a 125 square mile area located along the borders of Idaho, Oregon and Washington states.
The Palouse is an area that, at the right times of the year, can be somewhat reminiscent of the Tuscany area of Italy. In the mid to late spring, the rolling hills of the Palouse are full of color from the different agricultural plantings of different crops contrasted against each other and already harvested or dormant fields in this highly productive farming area of the Northwest. Unfortunately we were about maybe 3-4 weeks early to view the multiple colors but we did enjoy the rolling hills and the few colors (mostly green and yellow) that we did see. I'll try to remember to add a photo from Wikipedia or somewhere that shows what it would normally look like when we get closer to that area in this multiple part Photo Story.
One more note about my Title above. The reason I added the "Miles of Murals" tagline was because for those of you who know how much I / we enjoying scouting out all these towns and cities along the way (on any of our trips) for local art in the form of murals painted on buildings - this trip turned out to be a treasure chest of many, many murals that we enjoyed and documented.
Part 11 of this multiple blog trip finds us at ...

• Grand Junction, Colorado

For this trip we headed up through Texas, New Mexico, Utah, Nevada, Idaho, Oregon and Washington.  Like many of our trips, it wasn't so much about a set destination for a prolonged stay but rather more just putzing around and enjoying the journey.  However, at the distant end of our trip we were wanting to visit an area called the Palouse which is about a 125 square mile area located along the borders of Idaho, Oregon and Washington states.

The Palouse is an area that, at the right times of the year, can be somewhat reminiscent of the Tuscany area of Italy.  In the mid to late spring, the rolling hills of the Palouse are full of color from the different agricultural plantings of different crops contrasted against each other and already harvested or dormant fields in this highly productive farming area of the Northwest.  Unfortunately we were about maybe 3-4 weeks early to view the multiple colors but we did enjoy the rolling hills and the few colors (mostly green and yellow) that we did see.  I'll try to remember to add a photo from Wikipedia or somewhere that shows what it would normally look like when we get closer to that area in this multiple part Photo Story.

One more note about my Title above.  The reason I added the "Miles of Murals" tagline was because for those of you who know how much I / we enjoying scouting out all these towns and cities along the way (on any of our trips) for local art in the form of murals painted on buildings - this trip turned out to be a treasure chest of many, many murals that we enjoyed and documented.

Part 10 of this multiple blog trip finds us at ...

• Colorado National Monument, CO

Click on the photo icon below to begin the show.  Thanks for Watching!

April 2022 Road Trip - Part 10Well, I see it's been about 8 months since I've added any blogs here. With the whole Covid pandemic thing, we haven't been out and about as much taking photos, as we usually do, so it was finally time to get saddled back up and on the horse for some new adventures and activity.
For this trip we headed up through Texas, New Mexico, Utah, Nevada, Idaho, Oregon and Washington. Like many of our trips, it wasn't so much about a set destination for a prolonged stay but rather more just putzing around and enjoying the journey. However, at the distant end of our trip we were wanting to visit an area called the Palouse which is about a 125 square mile area located along the borders of Idaho, Oregon and Washington states.
The Palouse is an area that, at the right times of the year, can be somewhat reminiscent of the Tuscany area of Italy. In the mid to late spring, the rolling hills of the Palouse are full of color from the different agricultural plantings of different crops contrasted against each other and already harvested or dormant fields in this highly productive farming area of the Northwest. Unfortunately we were about maybe 3-4 weeks early to view the multiple colors but we did enjoy the rolling hills and the few colors (mostly green and yellow) that we did see. I'll try to remember to add a photo from Wikipedia or somewhere that shows what it would normally look like when we get closer to that area in this multiple part Photo Story.
One more note about my Title above. The reason I added the "Miles of Murals" tagline was because for those of you who know how much I / we enjoying scouting out all these towns and cities along the way (on any of our trips) for local art in the form of murals painted on buildings - this trip turned out to be a treasure chest of many, many murals that we enjoyed and documented.
Part 10 of this multiple blog trip finds us at ...

• Colorado National Monument, CO

For this trip we headed up through Texas, New Mexico, Utah, Nevada, Idaho, Oregon and Washington.  Like many of our trips, it wasn't so much about a set destination for a prolonged stay but rather more just putzing around and enjoying the journey.  However, at the distant end of our trip we were wanting to visit an area called the Palouse which is about a 125 square mile area located along the borders of Idaho, Oregon and Washington states.

The Palouse is an area that, at the right times of the year, can be somewhat reminiscent of the Tuscany area of Italy.  In the mid to late spring, the rolling hills of the Palouse are full of color from the different agricultural plantings of different crops contrasted against each other and already harvested or dormant fields in this highly productive farming area of the Northwest.  Unfortunately we were about maybe 3-4 weeks early to view the multiple colors but we did enjoy the rolling hills and the few colors (mostly green and yellow) that we did see.  I'll try to remember to add a photo from Wikipedia or somewhere that shows what it would normally look like when we get closer to that area in this multiple part Photo Story.

One more note about my Title above.  The reason I added the "Miles of Murals" tagline was because for those of you who know how much I / we enjoying scouting out all these towns and cities along the way (on any of our trips) for local art in the form of murals painted on buildings - this trip turned out to be a treasure chest of many, many murals that we enjoyed and documented.

Part 9 of this multiple blog trip finds us at ...

• Goblin Valley State Park, Utah

Click on the photo icon below to begin the show.  Thanks for Watching!

April 2022 Road Trip - Part 9Well, I see it's been about 8 months since I've added any blogs here. With the whole Covid pandemic thing, we haven't been out and about as much taking photos, as we usually do, so it was finally time to get saddled back up and on the horse for some new adventures and activity.
For this trip we headed up through Texas, New Mexico, Utah, Nevada, Idaho, Oregon and Washington. Like many of our trips, it wasn't so much about a set destination for a prolonged stay but rather more just putzing around and enjoying the journey. However, at the distant end of our trip we were wanting to visit an area called the Palouse which is about a 125 square mile area located along the borders of Idaho, Oregon and Washington states.
The Palouse is an area that, at the right times of the year, can be somewhat reminiscent of the Tuscany area of Italy. In the mid to late spring, the rolling hills of the Palouse are full of color from the different agricultural plantings of different crops contrasted against each other and already harvested or dormant fields in this highly productive farming area of the Northwest. Unfortunately we were about maybe 3-4 weeks early to view the multiple colors but we did enjoy the rolling hills and the few colors (mostly green and yellow) that we did see. I'll try to remember to add a photo from Wikipedia or somewhere that shows what it would normally look like when we get closer to that area in this multiple part Photo Story.
One more note about my Title above. The reason I added the "Miles of Murals" tagline was because for those of you who know how much I / we enjoying scouting out all these towns and cities along the way (on any of our trips) for local art in the form of murals painted on buildings - this trip turned out to be a treasure chest of many, many murals that we enjoyed and documented.
Part 9 of this multiple blog trip finds us at ...

• Goblin Valley State Park, Utah

For this trip we headed up through Texas, New Mexico, Utah, Nevada, Idaho, Oregon and Washington.  Like many of our trips, it wasn't so much about a set destination for a prolonged stay but rather more just putzing around and enjoying the journey.  However, at the distant end of our trip we were wanting to visit an area called the Palouse which is about a 125 square mile area located along the borders of Idaho, Oregon and Washington states.

The Palouse is an area that, at the right times of the year, can be somewhat reminiscent of the Tuscany area of Italy.  In the mid to late spring, the rolling hills of the Palouse are full of color from the different agricultural plantings of different crops contrasted against each other and already harvested or dormant fields in this highly productive farming area of the Northwest.  Unfortunately we were about maybe 3-4 weeks early to view the multiple colors but we did enjoy the rolling hills and the few colors (mostly green and yellow) that we did see.  I'll try to remember to add a photo from Wikipedia or somewhere that shows what it would normally look like when we get closer to that area in this multiple part Photo Story.

One more note about my Title above.  The reason I added the "Miles of Murals" tagline was because for those of you who know how much I / we enjoying scouting out all these towns and cities along the way (on any of our trips) for local art in the form of murals painted on buildings - this trip turned out to be a treasure chest of many, many murals that we enjoyed and documented.

Part 8 of this multiple blog trip finds us in ...

• Idaho Falls, ID
• Capitol Reef Natl. Park, Utah

Click on the photo icon below to begin the show.  Thanks for Watching!

April 2022 Road Trip - Part 8Well, I see it's been about 8 months since I've added any blogs here. With the whole Covid pandemic thing, we haven't been out and about as much taking photos, as we usually do, so it was finally time to get saddled back up and on the horse for some new adventures and activity.
For this trip we headed up through Texas, New Mexico, Utah, Nevada, Idaho, Oregon and Washington. Like many of our trips, it wasn't so much about a set destination for a prolonged stay but rather more just putzing around and enjoying the journey. However, at the distant end of our trip we were wanting to visit an area called the Palouse which is about a 125 square mile area located along the borders of Idaho, Oregon and Washington states.
The Palouse is an area that, at the right times of the year, can be somewhat reminiscent of the Tuscany area of Italy. In the mid to late spring, the rolling hills of the Palouse are full of color from the different agricultural plantings of different crops contrasted against each other and already harvested or dormant fields in this highly productive farming area of the Northwest. Unfortunately we were about maybe 3-4 weeks early to view the multiple colors but we did enjoy the rolling hills and the few colors (mostly green and yellow) that we did see. I'll try to remember to add a photo from Wikipedia or somewhere that shows what it would normally look like when we get closer to that area in this multiple part Photo Story.
One more note about my Title above. The reason I added the "Miles of Murals" tagline was because for those of you who know how much I / we enjoying scouting out all these towns and cities along the way (on any of our trips) for local art in the form of murals painted on buildings - this trip turned out to be a treasure chest of many, many murals that we enjoyed and documented.
Part 8 of this multiple blog trip finds us in ...

• Idaho Falls, ID
• Capitol Reef Natl. Park, Utah

For this trip we headed up through Texas, New Mexico, Utah, Nevada, Idaho, Oregon and Washington.  Like many of our trips, it wasn't so much about a set destination for a prolonged stay but rather more just putzing around and enjoying the journey.  However, at the distant end of our trip we were wanting to visit an area called the Palouse which is about a 125 square mile area located along the borders of Idaho, Oregon and Washington states.

The Palouse is an area that, at the right times of the year, can be somewhat reminiscent of the Tuscany area of Italy.  In the mid to late spring, the rolling hills of the Palouse are full of color from the different agricultural plantings of different crops contrasted against each other and already harvested or dormant fields in this highly productive farming area of the Northwest.  Unfortunately we were about maybe 3-4 weeks early to view the multiple colors but we did enjoy the rolling hills and the few colors (mostly green and yellow) that we did see.  I'll try to remember to add a photo from Wikipedia or somewhere that shows what it would normally look like when we get closer to that area in this multiple part Photo Story.

One more note about my Title above.  The reason I added the "Miles of Murals" tagline was because for those of you who know how much I / we enjoying scouting out all these towns and cities along the way (on any of our trips) for local art in the form of murals painted on buildings - this trip turned out to be a treasure chest of many, many murals that we enjoyed and documented.

Part 7 of this multiple blog trip finds us in ...

• Twin Falls, ID
• Craters of the Moon, Natl. Monument, Idaho

Click on the photo icon below to begin the show.  Thanks for Watching!

April 2022 Road Trip - Part 7Well, I see it's been about 8 months since I've added any blogs here. With the whole Covid pandemic thing, we haven't been out and about as much taking photos, as we usually do, so it was finally time to get saddled back up and on the horse for some new adventures and activity.
For this trip we headed up through Texas, New Mexico, Utah, Nevada, Idaho, Oregon and Washington. Like many of our trips, it wasn't so much about a set destination for a prolonged stay but rather more just putzing around and enjoying the journey. However, at the distant end of our trip we were wanting to visit an area called the Palouse which is about a 125 square mile area located along the borders of Idaho, Oregon and Washington states.
The Palouse is an area that, at the right times of the year, can be somewhat reminiscent of the Tuscany area of Italy. In the mid to late spring, the rolling hills of the Palouse are full of color from the different agricultural plantings of different crops contrasted against each other and already harvested or dormant fields in this highly productive farming area of the Northwest. Unfortunately we were about maybe 3-4 weeks early to view the multiple colors but we did enjoy the rolling hills and the few colors (mostly green and yellow) that we did see. I'll try to remember to add a photo from Wikipedia or somewhere that shows what it would normally look like when we get closer to that area in this multiple part Photo Story.
One more note about my Title above. The reason I added the "Miles of Murals" tagline was because for those of you who know how much I / we enjoying scouting out all these towns and cities along the way (on any of our trips) for local art in the form of murals painted on buildings - this trip turned out to be a treasure chest of many, many murals that we enjoyed and documented.
Part 7 of this multiple blog trip finds us in ...

• Twin Falls, ID
• Craters of the Moon, Natl. Monument, Idaho

For this trip we headed up through Texas, New Mexico, Utah, Nevada, Idaho, Oregon and Washington.  Like many of our trips, it wasn't so much about a set destination for a prolonged stay but rather more just putzing around and enjoying the journey.  However, at the distant end of our trip we were wanting to visit an area called the Palouse which is about a 125 square mile area located along the borders of Idaho, Oregon and Washington states.

The Palouse is an area that, at the right times of the year, can be somewhat reminiscent of the Tuscany area of Italy.  In the mid to late spring, the rolling hills of the Palouse are full of color from the different agricultural plantings of different crops contrasted against each other and already harvested or dormant fields in this highly productive farming area of the Northwest.  Unfortunately we were about maybe 3-4 weeks early to view the multiple colors but we did enjoy the rolling hills and the few colors (mostly green and yellow) that we did see.  I'll try to remember to add a photo from Wikipedia or somewhere that shows what it would normally look like when we get closer to that area in this multiple part Photo Story.

One more note about my Title above.  The reason I added the "Miles of Murals" tagline was because for those of you who know how much I / we enjoying scouting out all these towns and cities along the way (on any of our trips) for local art in the form of murals painted on buildings - this trip turned out to be a treasure chest of many, many murals that we enjoyed and documented.

Part 6 of this multiple blog trip finds us in ...

• The Pullman, Washington area, where we take a couple of days to do some exploring in a 50 mile circle from our base, with stops in 
• The small town of Cofax, the Lower Granite Dam of the Snake River and the adjoining countryside.

Click on the photo icon below to begin the show.  Thanks for Watching!

April 2022 Road Trip - Part 6Well, I see it's been about 8 months since I've added any blogs here. With the whole Covid pandemic thing, we haven't been out and about as much taking photos, as we usually do, so it was finally time to get saddled back up and on the horse for some new adventures and activity.
For this trip we headed up through Texas, New Mexico, Utah, Nevada, Idaho, Oregon and Washington. Like many of our trips, it wasn't so much about a set destination for a prolonged stay but rather more just putzing around and enjoying the journey. However, at the distant end of our trip we were wanting to visit an area called the Palouse which is about a 125 square mile area located along the borders of Idaho, Oregon and Washington states.
The Palouse is an area that, at the right times of the year, can be somewhat reminiscent of the Tuscany area of Italy. In the mid to late spring, the rolling hills of the Palouse are full of color from the different agricultural plantings of different crops contrasted against each other and already harvested or dormant fields in this highly productive farming area of the Northwest. Unfortunately we were about maybe 3-4 weeks early to view the multiple colors but we did enjoy the rolling hills and the few colors (mostly green and yellow) that we did see. I'll try to remember to add a photo from Wikipedia or somewhere that shows what it would normally look like when we get closer to that area in this multiple part Photo Story.
One more note about my Title above. The reason I added the "Miles of Murals" tagline was because for those of you who know how much I / we enjoying scouting out all these towns and cities along the way (on any of our trips) for local art in the form of murals painted on buildings - this trip turned out to be a treasure chest of many, many murals that we enjoyed and documented.
Part 6 of this multiple blog trip finds us in ...

• The Pullman, Washington area, where we take a couple of days to do some exploring in a 50 mile circle from our base, with stops in
• The small town of Cofax, the Lower Granite Dam of the Snake River and the adjoining countryside.

For this trip we headed up through Texas, New Mexico, Utah, Nevada, Idaho, Oregon and Washington.  Like many of our trips, it wasn't so much about a set destination for a prolonged stay but rather more just putzing around and enjoying the journey.  However, at the distant end of our trip we were wanting to visit an area called the Palouse which is about a 125 square mile area located along the borders of Idaho, Oregon and Washington states.

The Palouse is an area that, at the right times of the year, can be somewhat reminiscent of the Tuscany area of Italy.  In the mid to late spring, the rolling hills of the Palouse are full of color from the different agricultural plantings of different crops contrasted against each other and already harvested or dormant fields in this highly productive farming area of the Northwest.  Unfortunately we were about maybe 3-4 weeks early to view the multiple colors but we did enjoy the rolling hills and the few colors (mostly green and yellow) that we did see.  I'll try to remember to add a photo from Wikipedia or somewhere that shows what it would normally look like when we get closer to that area in this multiple part Photo Story.

One more note about my Title above.  The reason I added the "Miles of Murals" tagline was because for those of you who know how much I / we enjoying scouting out all these towns and cities along the way (on any of our trips) for local art in the form of murals painted on buildings - this trip turned out to be a treasure chest of many, many murals that we enjoyed and documented.

Part 5 of this multiple blog trip finds us in ...

• The Pullman, Washington area, where we take a couple of days to do some exploring in a 50 mile circle from our base, with stops in 
• The small towns of Palouse, Oaksdale, Rosalia and the adjoining countryside.

Click on the photo icon below to begin the show.  Thanks for Watching!

April 2022 Road Trip - Part 5Well, I see it's been about 8 months since I've added any blogs here. With the whole Covid pandemic thing, we haven't been out and about as much taking photos, as we usually do, so it was finally time to get saddled back up and on the horse for some new adventures and activity.
For this trip we headed up through Texas, New Mexico, Utah, Nevada, Idaho, Oregon and Washington. Like many of our trips, it wasn't so much about a set destination for a prolonged stay but rather more just putzing around and enjoying the journey. However, at the distant end of our trip we were wanting to visit an area called the Palouse which is about a 125 square mile area located along the borders of Idaho, Oregon and Washington states.
The Palouse is an area that, at the right times of the year, can be somewhat reminiscent of the Tuscany area of Italy. In the mid to late spring, the rolling hills of the Palouse are full of color from the different agricultural plantings of different crops contrasted against each other and already harvested or dormant fields in this highly productive farming area of the Northwest. Unfortunately we were about maybe 3-4 weeks early to view the multiple colors but we did enjoy the rolling hills and the few colors (mostly green and yellow) that we did see. I'll try to remember to add a photo from Wikipedia or somewhere that shows what it would normally look like when we get closer to that area in this multiple part Photo Story.
One more note about my Title above. The reason I added the "Miles of Murals" tagline was because for those of you who know how much I / we enjoying scouting out all these towns and cities along the way (on any of our trips) for local art in the form of murals painted on buildings - this trip turned out to be a treasure chest of many, many murals that we enjoyed and documented.
Part 5 of this multiple blog trip finds us in ...

• The Pullman, Washington area, where we take a couple of days to do some exploring in a 50 mile circle from our base, with stops in
• The small towns of Palouse, Oaksdale, Rosalia and the adjoining countryside.

For this trip we headed up through Texas, New Mexico, Utah, Nevada, Idaho, Oregon and Washington.  Like many of our trips, it wasn't so much about a set destination for a prolonged stay but rather more just putzing around and enjoying the journey.  However, at the distant end of our trip we were wanting to visit an area called the Palouse which is about a 125 square mile area located along the borders of Idaho, Oregon and Washington states.

The Palouse is an area that, at the right times of the year, can be somewhat reminiscent of the Tuscany area of Italy.  In the mid to late spring, the rolling hills of the Palouse are full of color from the different agricultural plantings of different crops contrasted against each other and already harvested or dormant fields in this highly productive farming area of the Northwest.  Unfortunately we were about maybe 3-4 weeks early to view the multiple colors but we did enjoy the rolling hills and the few colors (mostly green and yellow) that we did see.  I'll try to remember to add a photo from Wikipedia or somewhere that shows what it would normally look like when we get closer to that area in this multiple part Photo Story.

One more note about my Title above.  The reason I added the "Miles of Murals" tagline was because for those of you who know how much I / we enjoying scouting out all these towns and cities along the way (on any of our trips) for local art in the form of murals painted on buildings - this trip turned out to be a treasure chest of many, many murals that we enjoyed and documented.

Part 4 of this multiple blog trip finds us in ...

• Rural Oregon and Washington
• Palouse Falls State Park
• The Dahmen Wheel Barn

Click on the photo icon below to begin the show.  Thanks for Watching!

April 2022 Road Trip - Part 4Well, I see it's been about 8 months since I've added any blogs here. With the whole Covid pandemic thing, we haven't been out and about as much taking photos, as we usually do, so it was finally time to get saddled back up and on the horse for some new adventures and activity.
For this trip we headed up through Texas, New Mexico, Utah, Nevada, Idaho, Oregon and Washington. Like many of our trips, it wasn't so much about a set destination for a prolonged stay but rather more just putzing around and enjoying the journey. However, at the distant end of our trip we were wanting to visit an area called the Palouse which is about a 125 square mile area located along the borders of Idaho, Oregon and Washington states.
The Palouse is an area that, at the right times of the year, can be somewhat reminiscent of the Tuscany area of Italy. In the mid to late spring, the rolling hills of the Palouse are full of color from the different agricultural plantings of different crops contrasted against each other and already harvested or dormant fields in this highly productive farming area of the Northwest. Unfortunately we were about maybe 3-4 weeks early to view the multiple colors but we did enjoy the rolling hills and the few colors (mostly green and yellow) that we did see. I'll try to remember to add a photo from Wikipedia or somewhere that shows what it would normally look like when we get closer to that area in this multiple part Photo Story.
One more note about my Title above. The reason I added the "Miles of Murals" tagline was because for those of you who know how much I / we enjoying scouting out all these towns and cities along the way (on any of our trips) for local art in the form of murals painted on buildings - this trip turned out to be a treasure chest of many, many murals that we enjoyed and documented.
Part 4 of this multiple blog trip finds us in ...

• Rural Oregon and Washington
• Palouse Falls State Park
• The Dahmen Wheel Barn

For this trip we headed up through Texas, New Mexico, Utah, Nevada, Idaho, Oregon and Washington.  Like many of our trips, it wasn't so much about a set destination for a prolonged stay but rather more just putzing around and enjoying the journey.  However, at the distant end of our trip we were wanting to visit an area called the Palouse which is about a 125 square mile area located along the borders of Idaho, Oregon and Washington states.

The Palouse is an area that, at the right times of the year, can be somewhat reminiscent of the Tuscany area of Italy.  In the mid to late spring, the rolling hills of the Palouse are full of color from the different agricultural plantings of different crops contrasted against each other and already harvested or dormant fields in this highly productive farming area of the Northwest.  Unfortunately we were about maybe 3-4 weeks early to view the multiple colors but we did enjoy the rolling hills and the few colors (mostly green and yellow) that we did see.  I'll try to remember to add a photo from Wikipedia or somewhere that shows what it would normally look like when we get closer to that area in this multiple part Photo Story.

One more note about my Title above.  The reason I added the "Miles of Murals" tagline was because for those of you who know how much I / we enjoying scouting out all these towns and cities along the way (on any of our trips) for local art in the form of murals painted on buildings - this trip turned out to be a treasure chest of many, many murals that we enjoyed and documented.

Part 3 of this multiple blog trip finds us in ...

• Boise, ID for a short stop for French Fries
• The Oregon Trail Interpretive Center
• Baker City, OR

Click on the photo icon below to begin the show.  Thanks for Watching!

April 2022 Road Trip - Part 3Well, I see it's been about 8 months since I've added any blogs here. With the whole Covid pandemic thing, we haven't been out and about as much taking photos, as we usually do, so it was finally time to get saddled back up and on the horse for some new adventures and activity.
For this trip we headed up through Texas, New Mexico, Utah, Nevada, Idaho, Oregon and Washington. Like many of our trips, it wasn't so much about a set destination for a prolonged stay but rather more just putzing around and enjoying the journey. However, at the distant end of our trip we were wanting to visit an area called the Palouse which is about a 125 square mile area located along the borders of Idaho, Oregon and Washington states.
The Palouse is an area that, at the right times of the year, can be somewhat reminiscent of the Tuscany area of Italy. In the mid to late spring, the rolling hills of the Palouse are full of color from the different agricultural plantings of different crops contrasted against each other and already harvested or dormant fields in this highly productive farming area of the Northwest. Unfortunately we were about maybe 3-4 weeks early to view the multiple colors but we did enjoy the rolling hills and the few colors (mostly green and yellow) that we did see. I'll try to remember to add a photo from Wikipedia or somewhere that shows what it would normally look like when we get closer to that area in this multiple part Photo Story.
One more note about my Title above. The reason I added the "Miles of Murals" tagline was because for those of you who know how much I / we enjoying scouting out all these towns and cities along the way (on any of our trips) for local art in the form of murals painted on buildings - this trip turned out to be a treasure chest of many, many murals that we enjoyed and documented.
Part 3 of this multiple blog trip finds us in ...

• Boise, ID for a short stop for French Fries
• The Oregon Trail Interpretive Center
• Baker City, OR

For this trip we headed up through Texas, New Mexico, Utah, Nevada, Idaho, Oregon and Washington.  Like many of our trips, it wasn't so much about a set destination for a prolonged stay but rather more just putzing around and enjoying the journey.  However, at the distant end of our trip we were wanting to visit an area called the Palouse which is about a 125 square mile area located along the borders of Idaho, Oregon and Washington states.

The Palouse is an area that, at the right times of the year, can be somewhat reminiscent of the Tuscany area of Italy.  In the mid to late spring, the rolling hills of the Palouse are full of color from the different agricultural plantings of different crops contrasted against each other and already harvested or dormant fields in this highly productive farming area of the Northwest.  Unfortunately we were about maybe 3-4 weeks early to view the multiple colors but we did enjoy the rolling hills and the few colors (mostly green and yellow) that we did see.  I'll try to remember to add a photo from Wikipedia or somewhere that shows what it would normally look like when we get closer to that area in this multiple part Photo Story.

One more note about my Title above.  The reason I added the "Miles of Murals" tagline was because for those of you who know how much I / we enjoying scouting out all these towns and cities along the way (on any of our trips) for local art in the form of murals painted on buildings - this trip turned out to be a treasure chest of many, many murals that we enjoyed and documented.

Part 2 of this multiple blog trip finds us in ...

• Great Salt Lake area, Utah
• Elko, Nevada
• Mountain Home, Idaho

Click on the photo icon below to begin the show.  Thanks for Watching!

April 2022 Road Trip - Part 2Well, I see it's been about 8 months since I've added any blogs here. With the whole Covid pandemic thing, we haven't been out and about as much taking photos, as we usually do, so it was finally time to get saddled back up and on the horse for some new adventures and activity.
For this trip we headed up through Texas, New Mexico, Utah, Nevada, Idaho, Oregon and Washington. Like many of our trips, it wasn't so much about a set destination for a prolonged stay but rather more just putzing around and enjoying the journey. However, at the distant end of our trip we were wanting to visit an area called the Palouse which is about a 125 square mile area located along the borders of Idaho, Oregon and Washington states.
The Palouse is an area that, at the right times of the year, can be somewhat reminiscent of the Tuscany area of Italy. In the mid to late spring, the rolling hills of the Palouse are full of color from the different agricultural plantings of different crops contrasted against each other and already harvested or dormant fields in this highly productive farming area of the Northwest. Unfortunately we were about maybe 3-4 weeks early to view the multiple colors but we did enjoy the rolling hills and the few colors (mostly green and yellow) that we did see. I'll try to remember to add a photo from Wikipedia or somewhere that shows what it would normally look like when we get closer to that area in this multiple part Photo Story.
One more note about my Title above. The reason I added the "Miles of Murals" tagline was because for those of you who know how much I / we enjoying scouting out all these towns and cities along the way (on any of our trips) for local art in the form of murals painted on buildings - this trip turned out to be a treasure chest of many, many murals that we enjoyed and documented.
Part 2 of this multiple blog trip finds us in ...

• Great Salt Lake area, Utah
• Elko, Nevada
• Mountain Home, Idaho

For this trip we headed up through Texas, New Mexico, Utah, Nevada, Idaho, Oregon and Washington.  Like many of our trips, it wasn't so much about a set destination for a prolonged stay but rather more just putzing around and enjoying the journey.  However, at the distant end of our trip we were wanting to visit an area called the Palouse which is about a 125 square mile area located along the borders of Idaho, Oregon and Washington states.

The Palouse is an area that, at the right times of the year, can be somewhat reminiscent of the Tuscany area of Italy.  In the mid to late spring, the rolling hills of the Palouse are full of color from the different agricultural plantings of different crops contrasted against each other and already harvested or dormant fields in this highly productive farming area of the Northwest.  Unfortunately we were about maybe 3-4 weeks early to view the multiple colors but we did enjoy the rolling hills and the few colors (mostly green and yellow) that we did see.  I'll try to remember to add a photo from Wikipedia or somewhere that shows what it would normally look like when we get closer to that area in this multiple part Photo Story.

One more note about my Title above.  The reason I added the "Miles of Murals" tagline was because for those of you who know how much I / we enjoying scouting out all these towns and cities along the way (on any of our trips) for local art in the form of murals painted on buildings - this trip turned out to be a treasure chest of many, many murals that we enjoyed and documented.

There will be multiple blog entries for this trip and the first part finds us in ...

• Amarillo, TX
• Albuquerque, NM area
• Moab, UT (Arches Natl. Park & Dead Horse Point State Park)

Click on the photo icon below to begin the show.  Thanks for watching!

April 2022 Road Trip - Part 1Well, I see it's been about 8 months since I've added any blogs here. With the whole Covid pandemic thing, we haven't been out and about as much taking photos, as we usually do, so it was finally time to get saddled back up and on the horse for some new adventures and activity.
For this trip we headed up through Texas, New Mexico, Utah, Nevada, Idaho, Oregon and Washington. Like many of our trips, it wasn't so much about a set destination for a prolonged stay but rather more just putzing around and enjoying the journey. However, at the distant end of our trip we were wanting to visit an area called the Palouse which is about a 125 square mile area located along the borders of Idaho, Oregon and Washington states.
The Palouse is an area that, at the right times of the year, can be somewhat reminiscent of the Tuscany area of Italy. In the mid to late spring, the rolling hills of the Palouse are full of color from the different agricultural plantings of different crops contrasted against each other and already harvested or dormant fields in this highly productive farming area of the Northwest. Unfortunately we were about maybe 3-4 weeks early to view the multiple colors but we did enjoy the rolling hills and the few colors (mostly green and yellow) that we did see. I'll try to remember to add a photo from Wikipedia or somewhere that shows what it would normally look like when we get closer to that area in this multiple part Photo Story.
One more note about my Title above. The reason I added the "Miles of Murals" tagline was because for those of you who know how much I / we enjoying scouting out all these towns and cities along the way (on any of our trips) for local art in the form of murals painted on buildings - this trip turned out to be a treasure chest of many, many murals that we enjoyed and documented.
There will be multiple blog entries for this trip and the first part finds us in ...

• Amarillo, TX
• Albuquerque, NM area
• Moab, UT (Arches Natl. Park & Dead Horse Point State Park)

The second part of this show highlights a day at the Springfield, MO Botanical Gardens with Kelly, Flynn and Lanie.

We then close out with a few Odds & Ends

One note on the musical selection for the Botanical Gardens. The music is a 7 minute selection with various moods throughout, but has a short section that is more of a foreboding mood in the middle, which didn't quite match the cheerfulness of the day.  However, since I really liked the rest of the selection I included it anyway.  :-)

Click on the photo link below to access Photo Album 131. Thanks for watching!

Anderson Family Photo Album Book D131Photo Album #131 includes the time period of July to August, 2021. This album includes photos taken at a hotel we stayed at on one of our road trips that had once been a 124 year old Mill, that was recently converted to a unique hotel.
The second part of this show highlights a day at the Springfield, MO Botanical Gardens with Kelly, Flynn and Lanie.
We then close out with a few Odds & Ends
One note on the musical selection for the Botanical Gardens. The music is a 7 minute selection with various moods throughout, but has a short section that is more of a foreboding mood in the middle, which didn't quite match the cheerfulness of the day. However, since I really liked the rest of the selection I included it anyway. :-)

• Pea Ridge National Military Park in NW Arkansas.

• Garden of the Gods in Southern Illinois.

• The towns of Ferdinand and Jasper in Southern Indiana.

• La Grange, KY.

• Branson, MO.

• Odds & Ends

Click on the photo link below to access Photo Album 130.  Thanks for watching!

Anderson Family Photo Album Book D130Photo Album #130 includes the time period of May to July, 2021. This album includes photos from six different locations that we visited while on a road trip through Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri, Illinois, Indiana and Kentucky.

• Pea Ridge National Military Park in NW Arkansas.

• Garden of the Gods in Southern Illinois.
• 
  The towns of Ferdinand and Jasper in Southern Indiana.
• 
  La Grange, KY.
• 
  Branson, MO.
• 
  Odds & Ends

Click on the photo link below to begin. Thanks for watching!

The Beatles Visit Walnut Ridge ArkansasWhat if someone told you that back in 1964 at the height of Beatlemania, that the Beatles actually came to their small town of 3500 people, which was out in the middle of nowhere in Northeast Arkansas? Well, this is the story of when the Beatles came to Walnut Ridge, Arkansas!

Click on the photo link below to begin. Thanks for watching!

Chimney Rock and Lake Lure North Carolina AreaWe've driven through Lake Lure, North Carolina and by the Chimney Rock attraction several times on different trips. This time we decided to make short stops to have a closer look at both of them.

Click on the photo link below to begin. Thanks for watching!

South Carolina Botanical Gardens at Clemson UniversityOn our way to North Carolina we made an overnight stop in Clemson, South Carolina, and before heading out the next day we made a short visit to the South Carolina Botanical Gardens which is hosted at Clemson University.

• Fort Worth Stockyards - Night Photos.

• Family Visit.

• Bosque Del Apache Wildlife Refuge.

• Roadside scenes on our trip to Georgia and North Carolina.

• Bluebonnet Outing in Ennis, Texas

Click on the photo link below to access Photo Album 129. Thanks for watching!

Anderson Family Photo Album Book D129Photo Album #129 includes the time period of February to May, 2021. This album includes photos from four different outings both around here locally and as part of a quick trip we took to Georgia and North Carolina in early April.

• Fort Worth Stockyards - Night Photos.

• Family Visit.
• 
  Bosque Del Apache Wildlife Refuge.
• 
  Roadside scenes on our trip to Georgia and North Carolina.
• 
  Bluebonnet Outing in Ennis, Texas

• Boulder Dam and a few photos from the Las Vegas Strip.

• Grand Canyon portraits.

• Bosque Del Apache Wildlife Refuge.

• Shamrock Texas Murals.

• Bentonville and Rogers Arkansas sights and murals

Click on the photo link below to access Photo Album 128. Thanks for watching!

Anderson Family Photo Album Book D128Photo Album #128 includes the time period of January, 2021. This album includes some odds & ends photos from our road trip to Nevada to visit our daughter and grandkids. These were just a few photos from here and there that didn't fit in any of the previous photo stories from that trip so they are presented here.:

• Boulder Dam and a few photos from the Las Vegas Strip.

• Grand Canyon portraits.
• 
  Bosque Del Apache Wildlife Refuge.
• 
  Shamrock Texas Murals.
• 
  Bentonville and Rogers Arkansas sights and murals

Click on the photo link below to begin. Thanks for watching!

Arizona and New Mexico Highways - Jan 2021One thing about road trips is getting to see all the stuff along the route on the side of the roads and in the small towns and rural areas. Many of these sights would never be seen or heard about unless you happened to drive by them and take a photo and enjoy them for a while. This photo story includes a few of those places off the beaten track that we passed by on our way back from Nevada to Texas

Click on the photo link below to begin. Thanks for watching!
Grand Canyon - South Rim - Jan 2021A couple of hours in the afternoon and the next morning at the south rim of the Grand Canyon on our way back home from Nevada. First time to visit the canyon in the winter. Had hoped for more snow, but the day time temps were pretty warm, although the mornings were in the low teens. Just a few patches of snow here and there, but regardless, the Grand Canyon was beautiful, amazing and impressive as always!

I have been here before a couple times in the heat of summer and so I really enjoyed this chance to spend some time hiking around in much cooler temps and getting to rediscover this great gem of a State Park.  If you like the beauty of unique colorful rock formations, this is the place to see them.

Click on the photo link below to begin. Thanks for watching!
Valley of Fire State Park - NevadaIn January, during a visit to Nevada I had an opportunity to take a side trip to the "Valley of Fire State Park"
I have been here before a couple times in the heat of summer and so I really enjoyed this chance to spend some time hiking around in much cooler temps and getting to rediscover this great gem of a State Park. If you like the beauty of unique colorful rock formations, this is the place to see them.
 

Hard to find something interesting to photograph.

But then a rare occurrence.  Snow and cold come to the Fort Worth area and a flock of Robins flies in searching for food.

This was the motivation to go out and photograph some of these Robins and other winter birds we might find.  So just a short afternoon outing, resulting in a short photo story of some of our winter birds and waterfowl friends.

Click on the photo link below to begin. Thanks for watching!
Winter Birds In Our Local AreaWinter time - Hmm ...
Hard to find something interesting to photograph.
But then a rare occurrence. Snow and cold come to the Fort Worth area and a flock of Robins flies in searching for food.
This was the motivation to go out and photograph some of these Robins and other winter birds we might find. So just a short afternoon outing, resulting in a short photo story of some of our winter birds and waterfowl friends.

"Twice the size of Rhode Island plus 250,000 football fields, the largest national wildlife refuge in the contiguous U.S. is found in Nevada, just north of Las Vegas. Established in 1936, southern Nevada’s Desert National Wildlife Refuge was created to protect a variety of species—a handful of which thrive here, and are found nowhere else on earth—but specifically to establish a protected habitat for desert bighorn sheep, the Nevada state mammal."
 

Click on the photo icon below to begin ...
Corn Creek - Desert National Wildlife Refuge - NevadaTravelNevada.com says ...
"Twice the size of Rhode Island plus 250,000 football fields, the largest national wildlife refuge in the contiguous U.S. is found in Nevada, just north of Las Vegas. Established in 1936, southern Nevada’s Desert National Wildlife Refuge was created to protect a variety of species—a handful of which thrive here, and are found nowhere else on earth—but specifically to establish a protected habitat for desert bighorn sheep, the Nevada state mammal."

But we'll talk about all that in the slideshow ahead, so just click on the photo icon below to begin ...

Ray & Carol's Home, Ranch and AirBnBOn our way to Nevada in January to visit our daughter and grandkids we stopped for a short visit with an old college friend and her husband. They live in the Tucson area and a few years ago bought a new home/ranch and have set up an AirBnB. We really enjoyed seeing them again after a long time and enjoyed the time we spent relaxing around their home and their desert environment.
But we'll talk about all that in the slideshow ahead, so just click on the photo icon below to begin ...

• Some Georgia and North Carolina roadside scenes taken when we went to visit for Thanksgiving.

• A walk-around on Main street in Hendersonville, NC the evening after Thanksgiving.

• Walking Around The Tarrant County Junior College Campus In Downtown Fort Worth.

• A couple Odds & Ends.

Click on the photo link below to access Photo Album 127. Thanks for watching!

Anderson Family Photo Album Book D127Photo Album #127 includes the time period of November - December, 2020. This album includes:

• Some Georgia and North Carolina roadside scenes taken when we went to visit for Thanksgiving

• A walk-around on Main street in Hendersonville, NC the evening after Thanksgiving


• Walking Around The Tarrant County Junior College Campus In Downtown Fort Worth


• A couple Odds & Ends

It was two days before Thanksgiving so weather wise I wasn't too sure if there would be much in bloom or much to see.  However, it turned out to be quite a nice and relaxing couple of hours walking around and enjoying the gardens and flowers that were still in bloom, along with visiting the Conservatory.

The trees were about a week or two past fall colors but there was still a nice sense of Fall in the environment.

Come along and have a look and enjoy a bit of late fall before the winter cold and snow sets in.  :-)

Click on the photo icon below to begin ...

University Of Georgia ArboretumWhile visiting a friend in Georgia I had some spare time one afternoon to drive down to Athens, GA and came across the University of Georgia Arboretum.
It was two days before Thanksgiving so weather wise I wasn't too sure if there would be much in bloom or much to see. However, it turned out to be quite a nice and relaxing couple of hours walking around and enjoying the gardens and flowers that were still in bloom, along with visiting the Conservatory.
The trees were about a week or two past fall colors but there was still a nice sense of Fall in the environment.
Come along and have a look and enjoy a bit of late fall before the winter cold and snow sets in. :-)

• A Visit With Friends In NW Arkansas.
• A Fort Worth Afternoon/Evening Walk-Around Photo Shoot.
• A Visit to Georgia & North Carolina For Thanksgiving.
• A couple Odds & Ends.
   

Click on the photo link below to access Photo Album 126. Thanks for watching!

Anderson Family Photo Album Book D126Photo Album #126 includes the time period of October- December, 2020. This album includes:

• A Visit With Friends In NW Arkansas
• A Fort Worth Afternoon/Evening Walk-Around Photo Shoot
• A Visit to Georgia & North Carolina For Thanksgiving
• A couple Odds & Ends

• Some reworked photos from the past.
• Mike and Dean's photo outing to Las Colinas, TX.
• Several bike rides and photos from Mike and Dean outings.
• A few other odds & ends.

Click on the photo link below to access Photo Album 125. Thanks for watching!

Anderson Family Photo Album Book D125Photo Album #125 includes the time period of January - September, 2020. This album includes:

• Some reworked photos from the past
• Mike and Dean's photo outing to Las Colinas, TX
• Several bike rides and photos from Mike and Dean outings
• A few other odds & ends

Part 2 has a look at rides in:

• Frankfort. MI
• Indian River, MI

Thanks for watching!
 

Click on the photo icon below to begin ...

Mikes Michigan Bike Ride Trip - Aug-Sep 2020 - Part 2I drove up to Michigan the last week of August, first of September to do some bike rides in a couple places I had previously visited and a few new places. Michigan at that time of the year is very pleasant, weather wise and offerd a nice break from the hot Texas summer. Four of my rides were in Michigan and I also stopped in the Fayetteville, AR area on the way up to ride some trails there also.
Part 2 has a look at rides in:

• Frankfort. MI
• Indian River, MI

Part 1 has a look at rides in:

• Fayetteville, AR
• South Haven, MI
• Holland, MI

Thanks for watching!
 

Click on the photo icon below to begin ...

Mikes Michigan Bike Ride Trip - Aug-Sep 2020 - Part 1I drove up to Michigan the last week of August, first of September to do some bike rides in a couple places I had previously visited and a few new places. Michigan at that time of the year is very pleasant, weather wise and offerd a nice break from the hot Texas summer. Four of my rides were in Michigan and I also stopped in the Fayetteville, AR area on the way up to ride some trails there also.
Part 1 has a look at rides in:

• Fayetteville, AR
• South Haven, MI
• Holland, MI

Anyway I tried to see if I could ride up it on my bike. 

Got a start by the speed limit sign so I could be moving when I hit the base.  I gave it all I had, stood up at the end, pushed until I hurt and barely made it to that third driveway on the right (the highest driveway, but not quite halfway up). 

By the time I got there I was almost standing still as I stood up on my bike pedaling, but had lost all forward movement and I just barely made it to the edge of the bottom of the driveway to steer my bike in before I fell over on the street from no forward movement. 

This is one of the steepest hills I have seen in many years.  Out by Aledo, TX.

Maybe if I was half my age and not riding a 29 pound steel touring bike loaded with other gadgets ... and maybe if I wasn't 66 years old at the time in 2017.  :-)

Aledo TX Killer Hill
 

It was August in Texas and day after day in the high 90's - 100's.  So I decided to jump in the van and run over to northern New Mexico and southern Colorado to try and find some cooler temps.

This was just a quick trip of four and a half days to get out of the house and enjoy some lower temperatures, which by the way I got rewarded with a 43 degree morning in Gunnison, Colorado.

Part One & Part Two include some photos I took on my loop through NM & CO.

Part Two highlights include:

• Santa Rosa Area, NM
• Las Vegas Area, NM
• Taos, NM
• Antonito, CO
• Sights on the way back home

Click on the photo icon below to begin ...

Quick Trip Away From The Hot Weather - Part 2Cheryl was in San Diego with her sister Julie for a "Sisters Weekend", which ended up being the whole week.
It was August in Texas and day after day in the high 90's - 100's. So I decided to jump in the van and run over to northern New Mexico and southern Colorado to try and find some cooler temps.
This was just a quick trip of four and a half days to get out of the house and enjoy some lower temperatures, which by the way I got rewarded with a 43 degree morning in Gunnison, Colorado.
Part One & Part Two include some photos I took on my loop through NM & CO.
Part Two highlights include:

• Santa Rosa Area, NM
• Las Vegas Area, NM
• Taos, NM
• Antonito, CO
• Sights on the way back home

It was August in Texas and day after day in the high 90's - 100's.  So I decided to jump in the van and run over to northern New Mexico and southern Colorado to try and find some cooler temps.

This was just a quick trip of four and a half days to get out of the house and enjoy some lower temperatures, which by the way I got rewarded with a 43 degree morning in Gunnison, Colorado.

Part One & Part Two include some photos I took on my loop through NM & CO.

Part One highlights include:

• Vega, TX
• Tucumcari, NM

Click on the photo icon below to begin ...

Quick Trip Away From The Hot Weather - Part 1Cheryl was in San Diego with her sister Julie for a "Sisters Weekend", which ended up being the whole week.
It was August in Texas and day after day in the high 90's - 100's. So I decided to jump in the van and run over to northern New Mexico and southern Colorado to try and find some cooler temps.
This was just a quick trip of four and a half days to get out of the house and enjoy some lower temperatures, which by the way I got rewarded with a 43 degree morning in Gunnison, Colorado.
Part One & Part Two include some photos I took on my loop through NM & CO.
Part One highlights include:

• Vega, TX
• Tucumcari, NM

Highlights Include:

• 40 Mile Point Lighthouse
• Alpena Michigan Area
• Sturgeon Point Lighthouse
• Tawas Point Lighthouse
• Miscellaneous sights on the way back to Texas including...
• ... a short stop in Vandalia, IL

Click on the photo icon below to begin ...

Canada 2019 Series 08 - Along Lake Huron and Heading HomeThis slideshow is part eight of our Canada 2019 Series.
Highlights Include:

• 40 Mile Point Lighthouse
• Alpena Michigan Area
• Sturgeon Point Lighthouse
• Tawas Point Lighthouse
• Miscellaneous sights on the way back to Texas including...
• ... a short stop in Vandalia, IL

Highlights Include:

• Mackinac Island - Grand Hotel

Click on the photo icon below to begin ...

Canada 2019 Series 07 - Mackinac Island - Part 2This slideshow is part seven of our Canada 2019 Series.
Highlights Include:

• Mackinac Island - Grand Hotel

Highlights Include:

• Mackinac Island Walk-Around

Click on the photo icon below to begin ...

Canada 2019 Series 06 - Mackinac Island - Part 1This slideshow is part six of our Canada 2019 Series.
Highlights Include:

• Mackinac Island Walk-Around

Highlights Include:

• Sault Ste. Marie

Click on the photo icon below to begin ...

Canada 2019 Series 05 - Sault Ste. Marie - Canada & U.SThis slideshow is part five of our Canada 2019 Series.
Highlights Include:

• Sault Ste. Marie

Highlights Include:

• Kenora Ontario CAN
• Rural western Ontario
• Thunder Bay, Ontario CAN

Click on the photo icon below to begin ...

Canada 2019 Series 04 - Winnipeg to Sault Ste. MarieThis slideshow is part four of our Canada 2019 Series.
Highlights Include:

• Kenora Ontario CAN
• Rural western Ontario
• Thunder Bay, Ontario CAN

Highlights Include:

• DalNavert Museum
• Mennonite Heritage Village

Click on the photo icon below to begin ...

Canada 2019 Series 03 -North Dakota and Winnipeg CA AreaThis slideshow is part three of our Canada 2019 Series.
Highlights Include:

• DalNavert Museum
• Mennonite Heritage Village

Highlights Include:

• Badlands National Park
• Mount Rushmore
• Needles Highway
• Custer State Park
• Deadwood, SD

Click on the photo icon below to begin ...

Canada 2019 Series 02 -South DakotaThis slideshow is part two of our Canada 2019 Series.
Highlights Include:

• Badlands National Park
• Mount Rushmore
• Needles Highway
• Custer State Park
• Deadwood, SD

However, there was one remaining section from Winnipeg to Sault Ste. Marie, via Thunder bay that we had not completed.  So on this trip we headed up through Texas, Kansas, Nebraska, South & North Dakota and back into Canada at Winnipeg.  From there we drove an eight hundred mile section that would close the gap and give us the last piece to having finally made it across Canada, at least on one route!

There will be multiple blog entries for this trip and the first Photo Story finds us at the beginning of our northern trek with stops along the way in:

• Shamrock, Texas
• Oakley, Kansas
• North Platte, Nebraska

Click on the photo icon below to begin the show.  Thanks for Watching!

Canada 2019 Series 01 -Texas - Kansas - NebraskaWell, it's taken me a little longer than usual to work on last years Canada road trip and get the photos ready for the blog. We headed off to Canada again in late June and July to complete the last leg or segment of our gradual trip across Canada. We've been going up to Canada many times in the last 20-30 years and through those several trips we have found ourselves traveling by car from the far west side (Victoria, Canada) to the far east side (Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island). While we haven't made it out to Newfoundland yet, that is still on our radar.
However, there was one remaining section from Winnipeg to Sault Ste. Marie, via Thunder bay that we had not completed. So on this trip we headed up through Texas, Kansas, Nebraska, South & North Dakota and back into Canada at Winnipeg. From there we drove an eight hundred mile section that would close the gap and give us the last piece to having finally made it across Canada, at least on one route!
There will be multiple blog entries for this trip and the first Photo Story finds us at the beginning of our northern trek with stops along the way in:

• Shamrock, Texas
• Oakley, Kansas
• North Platte, Nebraska

One of my photos got selected for Picture of the Day on BetterPhoto.com

Struttin' His Stuff - POTD

• South Bend Indiana Farmers Market
• Photo Outing at Fort Worth Stockyards
• Las Colinas Architecture

Click on the photo link below to access Photo Album 123. Thanks for watching!

Anderson Family Photo Album Book D123Photo Album #123 includes the time period of May - June, 2019. This album includes:

• South Bend Indiana Farmers Market
• Photo Outing at Fort Worth Stockyards
• Las Colinas Architecture

• Some Still-Life images taken during the winter months
• Fort Worth city-scapes - night outing
• Grapevine Botanical Gardens
• Fort Worth Main Street Days Festival
• Some older re-worked photos

Click on the photo link below to access Photo Album 122. Thanks for watching!

Anderson Family Photo Album Book D122Photo Album #122 includes the time period of Jan - Apr, 2019. This album includes:

• Some Still-Life images taken during the winter months
• Fort Worth city-scapes - night outing
• Grapevine Botanical Gardens
• Fort Worth Main Street Days Festival
• Some older re-worked photos

• Mike's Pancake Creations
• Assorted photos from various Lake Michigan locations taken while driving from location to location for my fall Michigan bike ride, which is covered in an earlier photo story of its own.
• Assorted photos from my drive back from Michigan to Texas
• Cheryl's sister Julie's visit in December
• Odds & Ends - Miscellaneous photos from May through December

Click on the photo link below to access Photo Album 121. Thanks for watching!

Anderson Family Photo Album Book D121Photo Album #121 includes the time period of May - Dec, 2018. This album includes:

• Mike's Pancake Creations
• Assorted photos from various Lake Michigan locations taken while driving from location to location for my fall Michigan bike ride, which is covered in an earlier photo story of its own.
• Assorted photos from my drive back from Michigan to Texas
• Cheryl's sister Julie's visit in December
• Odds & Ends - Miscellaneous photos from May through December

Ten miles later we were back in Texas and close to finishing up our month's excursion that began with a family reunion in Illinois along the Mississippi and then led to driving across Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta, Canada.  That leaves us with only a short section of about 600 miles from Winnipeg to Michigan's upper peninsula to complete our multi-year exploration of Canada from Victoria Island on the west coast to the quaint villages of Nova Scotia, with lots of exciting destinations in-between.

Click on the photo icon to begin ...

Canada 2018 Series - Homeward BoundAfter a quick trip through Yellowstone, since we had been there several times before and wanting to get back home, we continued our southern journey to visit friends in Colorado Springs, CO. Our drive today took us through Yellowstone this morning and then down through Dubois and Rawlins, WY, before reaching Fort Collins, CO. We stayed in Colorado a few days and then headed back home with a short stop in Clayton, NM for a quick break and a few more photos.
Ten miles later we were back in Texas and close to finishing up our month's excursion that began with a family reunion in Illinois along the Mississippi and then led to driving across Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta, Canada. That leaves us with only a short section of about 600 miles from Winnipeg to Michigan's upper peninsula to complete our multi-year exploration of Canada from Victoria Island on the west coast to the quaint villages of Nova Scotia, with lots of exciting destinations in-between.

Click the photo icon below to begin ...

Canada 2018 Series - Stopover In Livingston MontanaWe left Kalispell, MT after visiting Glacier NP and headed southeast to Livingston, MT in order to get close to the north entrance to Yellowstone NP. This was mostly a long drive day with sights along the road and nice views of natural scenery. We arrived in Livingston just after dinner time and in a heavy rainstorm. Cheryl relaxed at the hotel, but when the rain let up I decided to do a walk-around the downtown Livingston area, as it seemed to be an interesting city with 'street scene' photo possibilities.

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Canada 2018 Series - Quick Trip Through Glacier National ParkWe are back in the U.S., and on the other side of the U.S. / Canadian border lies Glacier National Park, the southern extension of Canada's Waterton National Park. Just a quick trip through here today, as we have been here a few times already and after 3+ weeks from the beginning of our trip, we are ready to head back home. Still, there is some beautiful scenery to see and we will stop and take time to "smell the roses". :-)

Click on the photo icon to begin ...

Canada 2018 Series - Heading Back To The USToday we drive south to Leftbridge, Alberta enjoying some of our last time spent in the beautiful countryside and cities of Canada. After an overnight in Leftbridge and a short stop at Waterton National Park, we head back over the border into Montana for our long drive home.

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Canada 2018 Series - Calgary CanadaWe arrived in Calgary in the evening from our 2 day visit to the National Parks. After a good night's sleep we got up early, had a nice breakfast and then drove to downtown Calgary to walk around and see some of the city sights before continuing our trip south back to the U.S. border.

Click on the photo icon below to begin Part 2 ...

Canada 2018 Series - Jasper and Banff National Parks - Part 2A drive, north to south, down from Jasper National Park to Banff National Park, viewing this beautiful section of the Canadian Rockies. The first day started out wet and overcast with snow storms in the higher elevations through most of the day. The second day we returned north again from the Banff area, travelling as far as the Columbia Ice fields to up the possibilities of getting some better photos on a clearer, sunnier day.

Click on the photo icon below to begin Part 1 ...

Canada 2018 Series 10 - Jasper and Banff National Parks - Part 1A drive, north to south, down from Jasper National Park to Banff National Park, viewing this beautiful section of the Canadian Rockies. The first day started out wet and overcast with snow storms in the higher elevations through most of the day. The second day we returned north again from the Banff area, travelling as far as the Columbia Ice fields to up the possibilities of getting some better photos on a clearer, sunnier day.

Highlights Include:

• West Edmonton Mall
• Some City Sights
• The High Elevation Streetcar
• The Murals of Stony Plain (Edmonton Suburb)

Click on the photo icon below to begin ...

Canada 2018 Series - Edmonton Canada - Part 2This slideshow is part two of our two day stay in Edmonton.
Highlights Include:

• West Edmonton Mall
• Some City Sights
• The High Elevation Streetcar
• The Murals of Stony Plain (Edmonton Suburb)

Click on the photo icon below to begin ...

Canada 2018 Series - Edmonton Canada - Part 1This slideshow is the first of two parts for our two day stay in Edmonton. This slideshow highlights our visit to Fort Edmonton Park.

Click on the Photo icon below to begin ...

Canada 2018 Series - Ukrainian Cultural Heritage VillageOn our way to Edmonton, about 30 miles east of the city, we saw a sign on a side road that read "Ukrainian Cultural Heritage Village". We had seen a few Ukrainian churches here and there along the route, coming across the provinces of Saskatchewan and Alberta, and also a few signs talking about the history of the Ukrainian people in Canada. We decided to turn in and have a look. What a good choice! It turned out to be one of our favorite stops on our trip.

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Canada 2018 Series - Afternoon in SaskatoonWe arrived in Saskatoon for an overnight stay on our way to Edmonton. It was July 1st and Canada Day, with a three day weekend for these folks and they were out and about, enjoying a beautiful summer's afternoon. We joined them at a downtown city music festival and a walk in the park, down by the river. Saskatoon is another beautiful city that deserves more time spent there!

It was beautiful scenery with many lakes and fields of Canola and pleasant villages dotting the highway here and there along the way.

Click on the photo icon below to begin ...

Canada 2018 Series - Rural Manitoba and SaskatchewanLeaving Winnipeg we headed northwest through the plains of Manitoba and crossed into Saskatchewan. Between Winnipeg and Saskatoon there are not many cities along the highway. Once you get a little west past Winnipeg, you have the choice of taking either the southern route, Trans-Canadian Hwy 1, which would take you through some larger cities including Regina, or the northern route Hwy, 16, which we did, which heads more directly to Saskatoon. The only city of any size (19,000) is about two thirds the way along that route before arriving in Saskatoon.
It was beautiful scenery with many lakes and fields of Canola and pleasant villages dotting the highway here and there along the way.

From here we will work our way west toward Edmonton, Alberta and then south down through Jasper and Banff National parks.

Click on the photo icon below to begin the photo-story ...

Canada 2018 Series - Winnipeg CanadaWe arrived in Winnipeg for the beginning of our road trip through the mid-section of Canada. It was perfect weather in June of 2018 and we finally got to have a look at this gem of the Canadian Plains.
From here we will work our way west toward Edmonton, Alberta and then south down through Jasper and Banff National parks.

What is now a city museum and community center started out as one local school teacher's dream to create an authentic Norwegian Viking ship and sail it across the Atlantic ocean to recreate the Viking's original first discoveries of America.

So after a quick drive by of some space alien's local settlement in the Fargo-Moorhead area, were off to learn about ship building, crossing oceans in small vessels and authentic recreations that add validity to history.

Click on the photo icon below to begin ...

Canada 2018 Series - Minnesota, North Dakota & The Hjemkomst CenterWe're almost to the Canadian border and our trip west across the heartland of Canada. But before we cross the border this photo story finds us in the twin cities of Fargo, ND & Moorhead, MN. This destination was the end of our days drive across southwestern Minnesota. We stopped for the night after visiting the somewhat locally famous Fargo-Moorhead visitors center. The next morning allowed us enough time to visit another very interesting location in Moorhead; The Hjemkomst Center.
What is now a city museum and community center started out as one local school teacher's dream to create an authentic Norwegian Viking ship and sail it across the Atlantic ocean to recreate the Viking's original first discoveries of America.
So after a quick drive by of some space alien's local settlement in the Fargo-Moorhead area, were off to learn about ship building, crossing oceans in small vessels and authentic recreations that add validity to history.

We stopped here on our way north to our first Canadian destination; Winnipeg.  Join us for a short 5 minute tour of this interesting site.

Click the photo icon below to continue ...

Canada 2018 Series - Grotto Of The RedemptionIn the small village of West Bend, Iowa, you will find what some have referred to as the "8th Wonder of the World". The Grotto of the Redemption. What started in 1912, would end up becoming the building of the worlds largest grotto. It continues on to this date.
We stopped here on our way north to our first Canadian destination; Winnipeg. Join us for a short 5 minute tour of this interesting site.

Click on the photo icon below to view the photo story ...

Canada 2018 Series - Exploring Some Illinois-Iowa CitiesSince we were at our family reunion for a whole week this time, I took a couple days off and made some short trips in about an hour and a half circle around Hamilton, IL, where we were staying. I visited Fort Madison, Iowa, Nauvoo, IL, Quincy, IL area and Hannibal, MO. Later, after the reunion was over and we were headed toward Canada, we made a few other stops along the way. We were headed toward what some folks call the "8th Wonder of the World" in Northwest Iowa, which we will highlight in the next photo story, but we did have a chance to stop and walk around Cedar Rapids after we had lunch there enroute.

We have been in all the provinces except Newfoundland and have been as far east as Nova Scotia and far west as Victoria Island off Vancouver.  We've driven from the west coast to Calgary and from the east coast to Michigan, but have not driven the middle section yet.  So we decided to drive up to Winnipeg and head west through Saskatchewan and Alberta and up to Edmonton, before heading back down through Jasper and Banff National Parks to the U.S. again.  With that completed we will only need the Upper Peninsula of Michigan west to Winnipeg again to complete our trans-continental crossing of Canada, and enjoying all she has to offer.

On the way north to Winnipeg we made a detour to Hamilton, IL for a weeks reunion on Cheryl's side of the family.  They live on a hill right over the Mississippi river and while being there and enjoying seeing the family at the reunion, we also enjoyed seeing and visiting some of the small towns along the river, both north and south of our location.  This first slideshow sees us on our way to Hamilton with a few sights around the area and then in the next slideshow we will explore some more of the outlying areas before continuing north toward Canada.

Click on the photo icon to begin ...

Anderson Family Photo Album Book D120 (Part of Canada 2018 series)We headed up to Canada again in June/July this last summer; one of our favorite vacation destinations.
We have been in all the provinces except Newfoundland and have been as far east as Nova Scotia and far west as Victoria Island off Vancouver. We've driven from the west coast to Calgary and from the east coast to Michigan, but have not driven the middle section yet. So we decided to drive up to Winnipeg and head west through Saskatchewan and Alberta and up to Edmonton, before heading back down through Jasper and Banff National Parks to the U.S. again. With that completed we will only need the Upper Peninsula of Michigan west to Winnipeg again to complete our trans-continental crossing of Canada, and enjoying all she has to offer.
On the way north to Winnipeg we made a detour to Hamilton, IL for a weeks reunion on Cheryl's side of the family. They live on a hill right over the Mississippi river and while being there and enjoying seeing the family at the reunion, we also enjoyed seeing and visiting some of the small towns along the river, both north and south of our location. This first slideshow sees us on our way to Hamilton with a few sights around the area and then in the next slideshow we will explore some more of the outlying areas before continuing north toward Canada.

I've been back to both places a few times over the years and each time there, had wished I brought my bike with me so I could just putz around town and the countryside, taking my time and slowly winding my way through my growing up years.

There will be six or seven parts to this slide show which will cover one ride in the Park Forest, IL area, two rides in the Whitehall, MI area and then I continued up north in the state for another two rides in the Traverse City, MI area and one last short ride on Mackinaw Island, MI.

I have to apologize and give a disclaimer about the wholly inadequate photography and videos taken on these rides. The ride itself was the primary reason for the trip, so I only took a few videos and photos to document the trip in a general way and these were done with an iPhone.  I was riding the bike with one hand, holding the phone out with the other hand taking video and photographs as I rode. The final presentation surely shows a jerky, hard to watch result.  Maybe next time I will take my GoPro camera and give a little more thought and time to the documentation part, but as I mentioned, it was really about the ride itself and any photo and video documentation was not given much time or effort for beautiful or pleasing results.  :-)

This first part begins in Park Forest on "The Old Plank Road Trail" which is a 'Rails to Trails’ bikeway where they remove the old rails and reconfigure it into a bike and walking trail.  The whole length of the trail will take you east to west, from Park Forest to Joliet, IL, which is a distance of about 30 miles one way.  I rode out from Park Forest, passing through Matteson, Frankfort and Mokena before making my roundtrip back to Park Forest.  When I finished that leg, there was still enough time and light that afternoon to take a short ride around Park Forest and past the high school I graduated from and through what once used to be the Park Forest Mall back when I lived there.  But now they have put roads through the mall, right where people used to walk, through the different main arteries and arms of the mall.  It is now a much different looking place and unfortunately retains very little of the original idea or sense of a mall that was once there.

This series may only be meaningful to family members who have a history and associated environmental familiarity with the areas shown, but I offer it here for any who wish to view it.  The total mileage on this leg of the bike trip was 35 miles.

Click on the photo icon below to join me on Part One of my six part bike ride.

Mikes Illinois and Michigan Bike Ride Trip - Part 1In September 2018 I packed my bike into the van and drove up to Illinois and Michigan to ride around a few places where I had previously lived. I grew up in Whitehall, MI, a small town of about 2,500 folks on Lake Michigan, about half way up the state. In 1965 we left there when I finished 8th grade and then moved to Park Forest, IL, a southern suburb of Chicago.
I've been back to both places a few times over the years and each time there, had wished I brought my bike with me so I could just putz around town and the countryside, taking my time and slowly winding my way through my growing up years.
There will be six or seven parts to this slide show which will cover one ride in the Park Forest, IL area, two rides in the Whitehall, MI area and then I continued up north in the state for another two rides in the Traverse City, MI area and one last short ride on Mackinaw Island, MI.
I have to apologize and give a disclaimer about the wholly inadequate photography and videos taken on these rides. The ride itself was the primary reason for the trip, so I only took a few videos and photos to document the trip in a general way and these were done with an iPhone. I was riding the bike with one hand, holding the phone out with the other hand taking video and photographs as I rode. The final presentation surely shows a jerky, hard to watch result. Maybe next time I will take my GoPro camera and give a little more thought and time to the documentation part, but as I mentioned, it was really about the ride itself and any photo and video documentation was not given much time or effort for beautiful or pleasing results. :-)
This first part begins in Park Forest on "The Old Plank Road Trail" which is a 'Rails to Trails’ bikeway where they remove the old rails and reconfigure it into a bike and walking trail. The whole length of the trail will take you east to west, from Park Forest to Joliet, IL, which is a distance of about 30 miles one way. I rode out from Park Forest, passing through Matteson, Frankfort and Mokena before making my roundtrip back to Park Forest. When I finished that leg, there was still enough time and light that afternoon to take a short ride around Park Forest and past the high school I graduated from and through what once used to be the Park Forest Mall back when I lived there. But now they have put roads through the mall, right where people used to walk, through the different main arteries and arms of the mall. It is now a much different looking place and unfortunately retains very little of the original idea or sense of a mall that was once there.
This series may only be meaningful to family members who have a history and associated environmental familiarity with the areas shown, but I offer it here for any who wish to view it. The total mileage on this leg of the bike trip was 35 miles.
Click on the photo icon below to join me on Part One of my six part bike ride.

Part Two highlights an afternoon ride from Whitehall, south towards Muskegon. A few views around Whitelake and a ride past our old house and some of the houses of our friends back then, who are all now long gone.  The ride finishes up with a ride by our old Elementary, Junior High, and High Schools and a look at where the new High School is now located.  The total mileage on this leg of the bike trip was 26 miles.  (More bumpy and jerky video unfortunately)  :-(

Mikes Illinois and Michigan Bike Ride Trip - Part 2Part Two highlights an afternoon ride from Whitehall, south towards Muskegon. A few views around Whitelake and a ride past our old house and some of the houses of our friends back then, who are all now long gone. The ride finishes up with a ride by our old Elementary, Junior High, and High Schools and a look at where the new High School is now located. The total mileage on this leg of the bike trip was 26 miles. (More bumpy and jerky video unfortunately) :-(

Part Three  - Are you still game to watch these jerky, low resolution videos?  If so, part three is an all day ride from Whitehall; this time going north through several small towns to the final destination of Hart, Michigan where I turn-around, stop for a nice ice cream treat along the way and then return to the Whitehall / Montague area for some continued riding around the two towns in more depth.  The total mileage on this leg of the bike trip was 63 miles.

Mikes Illinois and Michigan Bike Ride Trip - Part 3Part Three - Are you still game to watch these jerky, low resolution videos? If so, part three is an all day ride from Whitehall; this time going north through several small towns to the final destination of Hart, Michigan where I turn-around, stop for a nice ice cream treat along the way and then return to the Whitehall / Montague area for some continued riding around the two towns in more depth. The total mileage on this leg of the bike trip was 63 miles.

Part Four- I drove to upper state Michigan and the Traverse City area.  This part of Michigan is really beautiful with the Grand Traverse bay and the peninsulas.  I rode two rides on the one day I was here.  Part Four highlights the first ride which was the Leelanau Trail, on the Leelanau peninsula.  The trail runs about 35 miles round trip between Traverse City to the south and Suttons Bay on the Leelanau peninsula.  This was a 'rails to trails' bike path so it cut right through the country and some interesting rural scenes.  The total mileage on this leg of the bike trip was 40 miles.

Mikes Illinois and Michigan Bike Ride Trip - Part 4Part Four- I drove to upper state Michigan and the Traverse City area. This part of Michigan is really beautiful with the Grand Traverse bay and the peninsulas. I rode two rides on the one day I was here. Part Four highlights the first ride which was the Leelanau Trail, on the Leelanau peninsula. The trail runs about 35 miles round trip between Traverse City to the south and Suttons Bay on the Leelanau peninsula. This was a 'rails to trails' bike path so it cut right through the country and some interesting rural scenes. The total mileage on this leg of the bike trip was 40 miles.

Part 5 was a short ride through a section of the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Recreation Area.  This location was only about 30 miles from where I finished my morning ride in the Traverse City area.  So I headed over there, had a quick lunch and then rode a ways down south of Glen Arbor on the Sleeping Bear Heritage Trail.  The total mileage on this leg of the bike trip was 15 miles.

Mikes Illinois and Michigan Bike Ride Trip - Part 5Part 5 was a short ride through a section of the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Recreation Area. This location was only about 30 miles from where I finished my morning ride in the Traverse City area. So I headed over there, had a quick lunch and then rode a ways down south of Glen Arbor on the Sleeping Bear Heritage Trail. The total mileage on this leg of the bike trip was 15 miles.
 

Part 6 - I finished off my week of rides by jumping on a ferry from Makinaw City and heading out to Mackinac Island for a few hours of pedaling around this very popular tourist location.  The weather had started to mist and was in the low 60's when I left Traverse City, but the sun had come out with a temp of 62 degrees by the time I set foot on the island.  This was a very relaxing and enjoyable ride.  For those that may not know, no motorized vehicles are allowed on the island, so all travel is by horse, horse and carriage and bicycles.  The total mileage on this leg of the bike trip was 40 miles.

If you watched all these series of bike rides you deserve a gold star for sticking with it through all the low quality and jerky videos.  The trip was primarily for the bike ride and the photos and videos purely for personal documentary purposes.  Surely, not good results, but at least a few memories captured after the rides.  Thanks for joining me!

Mikes Illinois and Michigan Bike Ride Trip - Part 6Part 6 - I finished off my week of rides by jumping on a ferry from Makinaw City and heading out to Mackinac Island for a few hours of pedaling around this very popular tourist location. The weather had started to mist and was in the low 60's when I left Traverse City, but the sun had come out with a temp of 62 degrees by the time I set foot on the island. This was a very relaxing and enjoyable ride. For those that may not know, no motorized vehicles are allowed on the island, so all travel is by horse, horse and carriage and bicycles. The total mileage on this leg of the bike trip was 40 miles.
If you watched all these series of bike rides you deserve a gold star for sticking with it through all the low quality and jerky videos. The trip was primarily for the bike ride and the photos and videos purely for personal documentary purposes. Surely, not good results, but at least a few memories captured after the rides. Thanks for joining me!

• A short road trip to West Texas and Eastern New Mexico in March to photograph some small towns.
• The places I drove through include ...
• Part 1
  • Hico, TX
  • Fredericksburg, TX
  • Ingram, TX
  • Del Rio, TX
  • Sanderson, TX
  • Alpine, TX
  • Marfa, TX
• Part 2
  • Gradalupe Mountains Area, TX
  • Bosque Del Apache Wildlife Refuge, NM
  • Mountainair, NM
  • Fort Sumner, NM
  • Matador, TX
  • Paducah, TX
  • Crowell, TX
  • Seymour, TX
  • Olney, TX
• Odds & Ends

Click on the photo link below to access Photo Album 119 (Parts 1 & 2).  Thanks for watching!

Part 1

Anderson Family Photo Album Book D119aPhoto Album #119 a/b includes the time period of Jan - Apr, 2018. This two part album includes: A short road trip to West Texas and Eastern New Mexico in March to photograph some small towns. The places I drove through include ... Part 1 Hico, TX, Fredericksburg, TX, Ingram, TX, Del Rio, TX, Sanderson, TX, Alpine, TX, Marfa, TX,

Part 2

Anderson Family Photo Album Book D119bPhoto Album #119 a/b includes the time period of Jan - Apr, 2018. This two part album includes: A short road trip to West Texas and Eastern New Mexico in March to photograph some small towns. The places I drove through include ... Part 2, Gradalupe Mountains Area, TX, Bosque Del Apache Wildlife Refuge, NM, Mountainair, NM, Fort Sumner, NM, Matador, TX, Paducah, TX, Crowell, TX, Seymour, TX, Olney, TX, Odds & Ends

I've now gone back and added some older slideshows before that time.  These would cover a time frame from approximately 2003 to 2012.  Many of these slideshows were made for a smaller format and presentation window, so when viewed full screen they will be 125-150% or more larger than they were created to be and will subsequently suffer from some loss of sharpness due to the forced higher resolution of the bigger monitors now. But they are still good memories and documentaries of those earlier years.

Click here to view these older slideshows.

• Travel Photos from Georgia, Tennessee, Arkansas, and Texas
• Grapevine Texas - Walk Around Downtown At Christmas Time

Click on the photo link below to access Photo Album 118.  Thanks for watching!

Anderson Family Photo Album Book D118Oct-Dec 2017 - Travel Photos from Georgia, Tennessee, Arkansas, and Texas, Grapevine Texas - Walk Around Downtown At Christmas Time - Photos with Dean and Dan

• Assorted, Miscellaneous Photos From Cheryl's Summer 2017 Trip
• Mike's Three Day, Hurst - Granbury - Weatherford - Hurst Loop, Bike Ride

Click on the photo link below to access Photo Album 117.  Thanks for watching!

Anderson Family Photo Album Book D117Aug-Sep 2017 - Assorted, Miscellaneous Photos From Cheryl's Summer 2017 Trip, Mike's Three Day, Hurst - Granbury - Weatherford - Hurst Loop, Bike Ride

•  Coca Cola Museum - Vicksburg, MS - (The last official stop on Cheryl's Summer 2017 Trip)

Click on the photo link below to access "Cheryl's Summer 2017 Trip Part 17".  Thanks for watching!

Cheryl's Summer 2017 Trip - Part 17Part 17 includes:
Coca Cola Museum - Vicksburg, MS - (The last official stop on Cheryl's Summer 2017 Trip)

• Cave Hill Cemetery - Louisville, KY
• Lodge Factory Store - South Pittsburg, TN
• Grand Ole Opry - Nashville, TN

Click on the photo link below to access "Cheryl's Summer 2017 Trip Part 16".  Thanks for watching!

Cheryl's Summer 2017 Trip - Part 16Part 16 includes:
Cave Hill Cemetery - Louisville, KY
Lodge Factory Store - South Pittsburg, TN
Grand Ole Opry - Nashville, TN

• Ark Encounter - Willamstown, KY

Click on the photo link below to access "Cheryl's Summer 2017 Trip Part 15".  Thanks for watching!

Cheryl's Summer 2017 Trip - Part 15Part 15 includes:
Ark Encounter - Willamstown, KY

• Taylor Made Nursery/Farm - Nicholasville, KY

Click on the photo link below to access "Cheryl's Summer 2017 Trip Part 14".  Thanks for watching!

Cheryl's Summer 2017 Trip - Part 14Part 14 includes:
Taylor Made Nursery/Farm - Nicholasville, KY

• Cass Railroad, Cass WV

Click on the photo link below to access "Cheryl's Summer 2017 Trip Part 13".  Thanks for watching!

Cheryl's Summer 2017 Trip - Part 13Part 13 includes:
Cass Railroad, Cass WV

• Shenandoah National Park
• Staunton, VA

Click on the photo link below to access "Cheryl's Summer 2017 Trip Part 12".  Thanks for watching!

Cheryl's Summer 2017 Trip - Part 12Part 12 includes:

• Shenandoah National Park
• Staunton, VA

• George Washington's, Mount Vernon Home - Virginia
• Arlington National Cemetery - Washington DC

Click on the photo link below to access "Cheryl's Summer 2017 Trip Part 11".  Thanks for watching!

Cheryl's Summer 2017 Trip - Part 11Part 11 includes:

• George Washington's, Mount Vernon Home - Virginia
• Arlington National Cemetery - Washington DC

• Colonial Williamsburg - Virginia

Click on the photo link below to access "Cheryl's Summer 2017 Trip Part 10".  Thanks for watching!

Cheryl's Summer 2017 Trip - Part 10Part 10 includes:
Colonial Williamsburg - Virginia

• Longwood Gardens - Kennett Square, PA

Click on the photo link below to access "Cheryl's Summer 2017 Trip Part 9".  Thanks for watching!

Cheryl's Summer 2017 Trip - Part 9Part 9 includes:
Longwood Gardens - Kennett Square, PA

• Lancaster (Amish), PA

Click on the photo link below to access "Cheryl's Summer 2017 Trip Part 8".  Thanks for watching!

Cheryl's Summer 2017 Trip - Part 8Part 8 includes:
Lancaster (Amish), PA

• Gettysburg National Military Park, PA

Click on the photo link below to access "Cheryl's Summer 2017 Trip Part 7".  Thanks for watching!

Cheryl's Summer 2017 Trip - Part 7Part 7 includes:
Gettysburg National Military Park, PA

• Flight 93 National Memorial, PA
• GAP (Great Allegheny Passage) Bike Path

Click on the photo link below to access "Cheryl's Summer 2017 Trip Part 6".  Thanks for watching!

Cheryl's Summer 2017 Trip - Part 6Part 6 includes:
Flight 93 National Memorial, PA
GAP (Great Allegheny Passage) Bike Path

• National Bird Aviary, Pittsburgh, PA

Click on the photo link below to access "Cheryl's Summer 2017 Trip Part 5".  Thanks for watching!

Cheryl's Summer 2017 Trip - Part 5Part 5 includes:
National Bird Aviary, Pittsburgh, PA

• Bicycle Heaven, Akron, OH

Click on the photo link below to access "Cheryl's Summer 2017 Trip Part 4".  Thanks for watching!

Cheryl's Summer 2017 Trip - Part 4Part 4 includes:
Bicycle Heaven, Akron, OH

• Stan Hywet Hall & Gardens, Akron, OH

Click on the photo link below to access "Cheryl's Summer 2017 Trip Part 3".  Thanks for watching!

Cheryl's Summer 2017 Trip - Part 3Part 3 includes:
Stan Hywet Hall & Gardens, Akron, OH

• Grand Rapids, OH
• West End Market, Cleveland, OH
• Lakeview Cemetery, Cleveland, OH

Click on the photo link below to access "Cheryl's Summer 2017 Trip Part 2".  Thanks for watching!

Cheryl's Summer 2017 Trip - Part 2Part 2 includes:
Grand Rapids, OH
West End Market, Cleveland, OH
Lakeview Cemetery, Cleveland, OH

Having said that, this time we decided to do something different.  I asked Cheryl to make up an itinerary of some things she would like to see and do and pick out everyone of them, with just her in mind, so that everything we did wouldn't just be her finding some things to do on "my" trip, but rather would be only those things she was interested in and not to worry about me - I would just enjoy letting her take the lead and would tag along and I'm sure I would find lots of interesting things and places along her planned route.

So that is what we did and the trip ended up being 24 days long, involving 4700 miles and 17 states, plus the District of Columbia.  Now we didn't do things in every one of those states.  Some were just on the route to get to and back from where we went.  Plus there was an unexpected detour at one point, but we did makes stops in about 10 of those states.

There will be several parts in this series which we will call - "Cheryl's Summer 2017 Trip"

Part 1 includes:

• Barker Mansion, Michigan City, IN
• Notre Dame University, South Bend, IN
• RV/MH Hall of Fame and Museum, Elkhart, IN

Click on the photo link below to access "Cheryl's Summer 2017 Trip Part 1".  Thanks for watching!

Cheryl's Summer 2017 Trip - Part 1Aug-Sep 2017 - We took a road trip this summer. Usually Cheryl likes me to do all the planning and figuring out where we are going to go and then she says she will just be happy to follow. Such a deal, huh? :-) But before we go I always show her a general itinerary and tell her to have a look and if there is anything 100 miles or so off the route at any time, or for that matter, on the route, that she would like to see, just let me know and we will add it to the trip. She does pick things she wants to see and places she wants to go, but she likes me to do all the beginning research and planning for what it's going to look like.
Having said that, this time we decided to do something different. I asked Cheryl to make up an itinerary of some things she would like to see and do and pick out everyone of them, with just her in mind, so that everything we did wouldn't just be her finding some things to do on "my" trip, but rather would be only those things she was interested in and not to worry about me - I would just enjoy letting her take the lead and would tag along and I'm sure I would find lots of interesting things and places along her planned route. So that is what we did and the trip ended up being 24 days long, involving 4700 miles and 17 states, plus the District of Columbia. Now we didn't do things in every one of those states. Some were just on the route to get to and back from where we went. Plus there was an unexpected detour at one point, but we did makes stops in about 10 of those states.
There will be several parts in this series which we will call - "Cheryl's Summer 2017 Trip"
Part 1 includes:
Barker Mansion, Michigan City, IN
Notre Dame University, South Bend, IN
RV/MH Hall of Fame and Museum, Elkhart, IN

• A few assorted (non people) photos from Cheryl's family reunion in Branson, MO.
• St Louis Arch

Click on the photo link below to access Photo Album 116.  Thanks for watching!

Anderson Family Photo Album Book D116Jun-Aug 2017 - A few assorted (non people) photos from Cheryl's family reunion in Branson, MO., St Louis Arch

• A Drive in the Country
• Fort Scott, Kansas
• Fort Worth Drying Beds
• Odds & Ends

Click on the photo link below to access Photo Album 115.  Thanks for watching!

Anderson Family Photo Album Book D115Jan-Jun 2017 - A Drive in the Country, Fort Scott, Kansas, Fort Worth Drying Beds, Odds & Ends

Click on the photo link below to access "Shiloh National Military Park - Feb 2017".  Thanks for watching!

Shiloh National Military Park - Feb 2017Feb 2017 - About 120 miles east of Memphis, just a few miles south of Pittsburg landing, TN, is the Shiloh National Military Park. I had visited here a couple times before, just stopping quickly to visit a few of the close in sites of this expansive park. While coming back from the Asheville, NC area in Feb, Cheryl and I made another stop, her first, and spent several hours driving through the whole park. It was winter, of course, but actually rather warm for the season, however many of the trees had lost their leaves. It had a stark, quiet, isolated look and feel to it and that seemed to emphasize even more the tragedy and loss of life that this place documented.

Click on the photo link below to access "North Carolina & Tennessee Travel Photos 2017".  Thanks for watching!

North Carolina & Tennessee Travel Photos 2017Feb 2017 - On our way home from our winter Florida trip we detoured to Georgia to visit our friends Craig and Judy Samples and then up to the Asheville NC area to visit my sister Cyndee and her husband Jim. This 6 1/2 minute show offers some travel photos from NC and TN as we headed home.

I had my iPhone with me, so I took some pictures and recorded some video from day to day along the trail.  

This was only my second attempt at taking and using photos or videos with an iPhone, so this isn't by any means a great multi-media presentation, but it is a good and accurate documentation of my six day trip.  Now if I could just make that iPhone not jiggle so much when I'm riding my bike ...  :-)

Click on the photo link below for the "Katy Trail Bike Ride - 2017". Thanks for watching!

Day 1

Katy Trail Bike Ride 2017 - Part 1May 2017 - From May 22-27, 2017, I rode the Katy Trail 'Rails to Trails' bike path across southern Missouri.
I had my iPhone with me, so I took some pictures and recorded some video from day to day along the trail.
This was only my second attempt at taking and using photos or videos with an iPhone, so this isn't by any means a great multi-media presentation, but it is a good and accurate documentation of my six day trip. Now if I could just make that iPhone not jiggle so much when I'm riding my bike ... :-)

Day 2

Katy Trail Bike Ride 2017 - Part 2

Day 3a

Katy Trail Bike Ride 2017 - Part 3

Day 3b

Katy Trail Bike Ride 2017 - Part 3a

Day 4a

Katy Trail Bike Ride 2017 - Part 4

Day 4b

Katy Trail Bike Ride 2017 - Part 4a

Day 5

Katy Trail Bike Ride 2017 - Part 5

Day 6

Katy Trail Bike Ride 2017 - Part 6

Click on the photo link below to access "Florida Birds & Wildlife 2017".  Thanks for watching!

Florida Birds & Wildlife 2017Jan 2017 - We visited the Ritch Grissom and Merritt Island Wetlands and National Wildlife Refuge locations in Florida. These are great places to see and enjoy many of the Florida native bird species

Click on the photo link below to access "Everglades Natl Park Florida - Jan 2017".  Thanks for watching!

Everglades Natl Park FloridaJan 2017 - We headed out for two different access points to the Everglades National Park in Florida. (Shark Valley on the north side and the Anhinga Trail on the south side). At Shark Valley we took an hour tram ride in additional to doing some hiking on our own. At the Anhinga Trail we spent several hours until closing, walking all the boardwalks and taking advantage of this beautiful location. We were rewarded with plenty of great wildlife to view and beautiful sunny, blue sky days to see it.

This Photo Story includes stops in:

• Chiefland FL Area
• Cedar Key, FL
• Tarpon Springs FL
• Naples FL
• Key Largo/Key West FL

Click on the photo link below to access "Florida Stops 2017".  Thanks for watching!

Florida Stops - 2017Jan 2017 - This winter we spent about a week and a half in Florida. Mike rode his bike in three different locations while Cheryl did some local sightseeing. Then we visited some other areas we hadn't been to before or for some period of time. This Photo Story highlights the cities and places we visited and will be followed up with a couple additional Photo Stories with photography from the Everglades National Park, the Ritch Grissom Memorial Wetlands, and the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. This Photo Story includes stops in:
Chiefland FL Area
Cedar Key, FL
Tarpon Springs FL
Naples FL
Key Largo/Key West FL

Click on the photo link below to access "Wakulla Springs".  Thanks for watching!

Wakulla Springs FloridaJan 2017 - While on our way to Florida and travelling through the Florida Panhandle, close to Tallahassee, we noticed several signs along the road encouraging us to visit Wakulla Springs and take the nature boat ride. So we took the detour and made an unscheduled stop that turned out to be a good choice. Join us for a short visit to a beautiful place, and the location of the movie "Creature from the Black Lagoon".

The rides were in the following areas:

Cheifland - Cross City - Trenton, Florida

Tarpon Springs Florida

ST. Petersburg, Florida.

Click on the photo link below to access "Florida 2017 Bike Rides".  Thanks for watching!

Florida 2017 Bike RidesJan 2017 - While in Florida at the end of January 2017, I had taken my bike with me and was able to include three different rides at a few different locations in Florida. We had beautiful weather and it sure was nice to have an opportunity to get some riding and exercise in during the winter months. The rides were in the following areas:
Cheifland - Cross City - Trenton, Florida
Tarpon Springs Florida
ST. Petersburg, Florida.

I've got several Photo-Stories that include Tucumcari from other trips.  This most recent time I stopped on my way back from Colorado, and as is almost always the case, I found more interesting sights to photograph.  If you ever get a chance to spend some time here, be sure to include it in your itinerary!   :-)

Click on the photo link below to access "Tucumcari, New Mexico".  Thanks for watching!

Tucumcari New MexicoSep 2016 - Tucumcari, New Mexico is on old Route 66 and I always stop here when driving I-40\Route 66 through New Mexico. There are a lot of towns, villages and cities along the old Route 66, but Tucumcari is my favorite for experiencing a slice of life from the old Route 66 era. I've got several Photo-Stories that include Tucumcari from other trips. This most recent time I stopped on my way back from Colorado, and as is almost always the case, I found more interesting sights to photograph. If you ever get a chance to spend some time here, be sure to include it in your itinerary! :-)

• Rancho de Taos - Saint Francis Plaza
• Santuario de Chimayo

Click on the photo link below to access "New Mexico - Religious Heritage".  Thanks for watching!

New Mexico - Religious HeritageSep 2016 - On the way back from photographing some of the fall color in Colorado, I returned through New Mexico and stopped at two church sites ...
Rancho de Taos - Saint Francis Plaza
Santuario de Chimayo

They offer all day and half day rides on the old narrow gauge beauties crossing over the mountains between northwest New Mexico and southern Colorado.  But even if you don't have time for a ride, or maybe have already experienced that thrill, you will none-the-less want to visit the Chama train yard and poke around a bit, enjoying all the great sights and history there is to be a part of there.

Click on the photo link below to access Chama, New Mexico Train Yard.  Thanks for watching!

Chama New Mexico Train YardSep 2016 - Ahh ... Old Trains ... gotta love em'. And if you happen to be a person who appreciates the sights, sounds and memories of the old steam engines and trains in general, then you would want to be sure to visit Chama, New Mexico someday, if you had the opportunity. They offer all day and half day rides on the old narrow gauge beauties crossing over the mountains between northwest New Mexico and southern Colorado. But even if you don't have time for a ride, or maybe have already experienced that thrill, you will none-the-less want to visit the Chama train yard and poke around a bit, enjoying all the great sights and history there is to be a part of there.

• Ouray, CO area
• Silverton, CO area
• Durango, CO area

Click on the photo link below to access Colorful Colorado Part 2.  Thanks for watching!

Colorful Colorado - Fall 2016 Part 2I went on a photo outing in September 2016 to Colorado in hopes of catching the Aspen trees changing to their beautiful fall colors. The vibrant Aspen gold and yellows were beautiful against the snowy backgrounds. This is a 2 part series. The second slideshow (approx. 9.5 minutes) includes:
Ouray, CO area
Silverton, CO area
Durango, CO area

• Independence Pass area
• Ashcroft, CO
• Some general roadside views

Click on the photo link below to access Colorful Colorado Part 1.  Thanks for watching!

Colorful Colorado - Fall 2016 Part 1I went on a photo outing in September 2016 to Colorado in hopes of catching the Aspen trees changing to their beautiful fall colors. This is a 2 part series. The first slideshow (approx. 10 minutes) includes:

• Independence Pass area
• Ashcroft, CO
• Some general roadside views

• Texas State Fair - with Kelly, Flynn & Lanie
• Odds & Ends of a few outings over the summer

Click on the photo link below to access Photo Album 114.  Thanks for watching!

Anderson Family Photo Album Book D114Jul-Nov 2016 - Texas State Fair - with Kelly, Flynn & Lanie
Odds & Ends of a few outings over the summer

We had a great time on this trip visiting some new places and a few others we visited in the past years.  There were of course many other places to see along the same route or close to it, but we have visited those at other times and wanted to do some of the lesser known, or more off the main route sights.

Cheryl says she really enjoyed the trip but was ready to be back home and I said when are we heading out again ...  :-)  We are fortunate to have been able to take this trip and it was something that was made possible by being retired and having the extra time.  If you were able to enjoy some or all of the different segments, we thank you for watching and until later, we will see you down the road!

Click on the photo link below to access Photo Album #113 (Part 29) of the May 2016 Western Trip. Thanks for watching!

Anderson Family Photo Album Book D113May 2016 - Photo Book #113 is a wrap-up of assorted photos from the May 2016 Western Trip. It is the last segment or part 29, if you will. These are photos that were not associated with any particular destination so I saved them up till the end to combine them all together for a short view of other sights seen along the road as we traveled. They are grouped alphabetically by state.

Gila Cliff Dwellings are much more open and they let you go anywhere you want.  Some of the reason for this is probably because they don't have nearly as many visitors, being so far away from anything and isolated. Even though it was about 4-5 days after breaking my ankle, and it included an uphill hike to view the dwellings, I enjoyed my time there.

After one more driving day and night in west Texas, I then headed back home completing a wonderful 28 day road trip. Cheryl and I had a great and enjoyable time through the first two thirds of it before she headed home from Las Vegas as planned, while I had the opportunity to visit a few more sites on my extended drive home.

Click on the photo link below to access Part 28 of the May 2016 Western Trip.  Thanks for watching!

May 2016 Western Trip - Part 28The last stop on our 2016 Western Trip is Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument about 35 miles north of Silver City, New Mexico. I've visited several cliff dwellings over the years and even a few on this trip. But I wanted to make sure to include the Gila Cliff Dwellings because they are some of the most accessible ones offered in the National Parks system. Many cliff dwelling sites keep the visitors back away from the ruins a bit to make sure they don't damage or destroy anything. Years ago, Mesa Verde, probably one of the best known and largest cliff dwelling sites, allowed you to get closer and wander around the ruins. But with the hundreds of thousands of visitors they have each year, they have been slowly pulling in the reins on that a bit. However, they do still allow you to climb around a little and climb down the ladders into the Kivas.
Gila Cliff Dwellings are much more open and they let you go anywhere you want. Some of the reason for this is probably because they don't have nearly as many visitors, being so far away from anything and isolated. Even though it was about 4-5 days after breaking my ankle, and it included an uphill hike to view the dwellings, I enjoyed my time there.
After one more driving day and night in west Texas, I then headed back home completing a wonderful 28 day road trip. Cheryl and I had a great and enjoyable time through the first two thirds of it before she headed home from Las Vegas as planned, while I had the opportunity to visit a few more sites on my extended drive home.

Within the boundaries of the Painted Desert is the Petrified Forest National Park. While the area looks like any other desert scene these days, thousands of years ago there were great forests here and through the process of time, many of the fallen trees and logs are still scattered around on the desert floor.  But now they have all become petrified and regardless of how much some of them may still look like wood logs when you walk up to them, they are in fact hard as rocks.  Because they are rocks now. There are many pieces of these petrified trees scattered around over the 20 mile drive through the park and I hope I've collected a variety of samples to view.

Click on the photo link below to access Part 27 of the May 2016 Western Trip.  Thanks for watching!

May 2016 Western Trip - Part 27The Painted Desert in eastern Arizona is a geologically interesting area where we see the features of the desert painted in the various shades of colors and pastels that we find independently in other isolated areas of the American desert. Made up mostly of the various shades of red, orange and pink, there are also assorted pastel shades of blue, purple and maroon, all set within a framework of the brown, yellow and white natural textures we observe in deserts. Within the boundaries of the Painted Desert is the Petrified Forest National Park. While the area looks like any other desert scene these days, thousands of years ago there were great forests here and through the process of time, many of the fallen trees and logs are still scattered around on the desert floor. But now they have all become petrified and regardless of how much some of them may still look like wood logs when you walk up to them, they are in fact hard as rocks. Because they are rocks now. There are many pieces of these petrified trees scattered around over the 20 mile drive through the park and I hope I've collected a variety of samples to view.

One of my favorite southwest locations is Canyon De Chelly National Monument in northeastern Arizona.  It's a huge canyon that is entirely situated inside of the Navajo Nation and is the home of about 40 Navajo families that live inside the canyon.  There is a working agreement between the National Parks System and the Navajo Nation to allow visitors to enjoy an approximately 35-40 mile north and south rim drive around the canyon, where there are several pull-offs to view the beautiful geological formations that make up the canyon walls and other rock features.  My favorite, as I'm sure is many others, is the free standing "Spider Rock" formation lifting 750 feet off the canyon floor and looking like a modern day skyscraper.

Click on the photo link below to access Part 26 of the May 2016 Western Trip.  Thanks for watching!

May 2016 Western Trip - Part 26One of my favorite southwest locations is Canyon De Chelly National Monument in northeastern Arizona. It's a huge canyon that is entirely situated inside of the Navajo Nation and is the home of about 40 Navajo families that live inside the canyon. There is a working agreement between the National Parks System and the Navajo Nation to allow visitors to enjoy an approximately 35-40 mile north and south rim drive around the canyon, where there are several pull-offs to view the beautiful geological formations that make up the canyon walls and other rock features. My favorite, as I'm sure is many others, is the free standing "Spider Rock" formation lifting 750 feet off the canyon floor and looking like a modern day skyscraper.

(From Wikipedia) ...

(Navajo: Tsé Bitʼaʼí, "rock with wings" or "winged rock) is a monadnock rising nearly 1,583 feet (482.5 m) above the high-desert plain of the Navajo Nation in San Juan County, New Mexico, United States. Its peak elevation is 7,177 feet (2,187.5 m) above sea level. It lies about 10.75 miles (17.30 km) southwest of the town of Shiprock, which is named for the peak.

Governed by the Navajo Nation, the formation is in the Four Corners region and plays a significant role in Navajo religion, myth, and tradition. It is located in the center of the area occupied by the Ancient Pueblo People, a prehistoric Native American culture of the Southwest United States often referred to as the Anasazi. Shiprock is a point of interest for rock climbers and photographers and has been featured in several film productions and novels. It is the most prominent landmark in northwestern New Mexico.

The Navajo name for the peak, Tsé Bitʼaʼí, refers to the legend of the great bird that brought the Navajo from the north to their present lands. The name "Shiprock" or Shiprock Peak or Ship Rock derives from the peak's resemblance to an enormous 19th-century clipper ship. Americans first called the peak "The Needle", a name given to the topmost pinnacle by Captain J. F. McComb in 1860. United States Geological Survey maps indicate that the name "Ship Rock" dates from the 1870s

Click on the photo link below to access Part 25 of the May 2016 Western Trip.  Thanks for watching!

May 2016 Western Trip - Part 25Shiprock Mountain (From Wikipedia) ...
(Navajo: Tsé Bitʼaʼí, "rock with wings" or "winged rock) is a monadnock rising nearly 1,583 feet (482.5 m) above the high-desert plain of the Navajo Nation in San Juan County, New Mexico, United States. Its peak elevation is 7,177 feet (2,187.5 m) above sea level. It lies about 10.75 miles (17.30 km) southwest of the town of Shiprock, which is named for the peak.
Governed by the Navajo Nation, the formation is in the Four Corners region and plays a significant role in Navajo religion, myth, and tradition. It is located in the center of the area occupied by the Ancient Pueblo People, a prehistoric Native American culture of the Southwest United States often referred to as the Anasazi. Shiprock is a point of interest for rock climbers and photographers and has been featured in several film productions and novels. It is the most prominent landmark in northwestern New Mexico.
The Navajo name for the peak, Tsé Bitʼaʼí, refers to the legend of the great bird that brought the Navajo from the north to their present lands. The name "Shiprock" or Shiprock Peak or Ship Rock derives from the peak's resemblance to an enormous 19th-century clipper ship. Americans first called the peak "The Needle", a name given to the topmost pinnacle by Captain J. F. McComb in 1860. United States Geological Survey maps indicate that the name "Ship Rock" dates from the 1870s

Hovenweep is really six different sites in a 20 mile area, with most of them being off-road and requiring hiking to. There is a nice visitor center at the Square Tower and Hovenweep Castle site.

Click on the photo link below to access Part 24 of the May 2016 Western Trip.  Thanks for watching!

May 2016 Western Trip - Part 24Hovenweep National Monument is a bit out of the way but one of the places I had on my list to see someday. After getting down the road a bit and getting off the beaten track, you'll arrive at the site that is just 25 miles straight north of the four corners (as the crow flies), where CO, UT, AZ and NM meet, but it takes a good map and some understood directions to get there.
Hovenweep is really six different sites in a 20 mile area, with most of them being off-road and requiring hiking to. There is a nice visitor center at the Square Tower and Hovenweep Castle site.

Click on the photo link below to access Part 23 of the May 2016 Western Trip.  Thanks for watching!

May 2016 Western Trip - Part 23I got up early this morning to make a 100+ mile drive to Monument Valley, Utah. A beautiful and majestic landscape!

Click on the photo link below to access Part 22 of the May 2016 Western Trip.  Thanks for watching!

May 2016 Western Trip - Part 22On my way from Bryce Canyon Natl. Park to Monument Valley I made three stops along the way. Just south of Bryce Canyon and not too far northeast from Zion Canyon is the Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park in Utah. Then about a hundred and some miles down the road is the Vermilion Cliffs National Monument area. Adding just a few more miles after that takes you to Lee's Ferry and the Navajo Indian Reservation. A short stop at each of these places made for an enjoyable day on my longer ride to Monument Valley, which I would be arriving at the next morning. Join me for a closer look at these three interesting geological areas.

What I did get to see and experience was beautiful and majestic scenery on a day that had been raining and was still raining a bit when I got there.  I will return again to finally get to those spots I missed the first two times.  If at first you don't suceed, try, try again  :-)

Click on the photo link below to access Part 21 of the May 2016 Western Trip.  Thanks for watching!

May 2016 Western Trip - Part 21Beautiful Bryce Canyon National Park. I was here years ago and didn't have that much time to explore so I have always wanted to come back. Well, this time I had the extra time to see everything I wanted but I still didn't get to....? What I did get to see and experience was beautiful and majestic scenery on a day that had been raining and was still raining a bit when I got there. I will return again to finally get to those spots I missed the first two times. If at first you don't suceed, try, try again :-)

Las Vegas is a great place if you want to do some candid people photography.  There are some real characters there, but unfortunately there are also a lot of lost people in Las Vegas. Many trying to find their way in this world and many looking in all the wrong places.  While Las Vegas is an interesting place to experience, even if you don't gamble, (which we don't, but hey we spent two days in Napa Valley, California and we don't drink either), it is nonetheless wearing on the soul and spirit and we are always ready to move on fairly quickly.

I've flown into Las Vegas several times as a jumping off point to renting a car and getting out into what's known as the "Golden Circle of National Parks".  There are so many great places to visit and experience in a 200-300 mile circle around Las Vegas and that's what I had on my mind as I dropped Cheryl off at the airport and headed out for some unique sights!

Click on the photo link below to access Part 20 of the May 2016 Western Trip.  Thanks for watching!

May 2016 Western Trip - Part 20Las Vegas Departure - Cheryl is heading back to Texas, while I continue on with another week of vacation working my way slowly through some new and revisited locations I wanted to photograph. We arrived in Las Vegas for an evening and the next day before Cheryl's flight home. While there we washed some clothes, rearranged who needed what going forward and enjoyed a walk-around that evening and a little of the next day to see and photograph some of the Las Vegas sites. Las Vegas is a great place if you want to do some candid people photography. There are some real characters there, but unfortunately there are also a lot of lost people in Las Vegas. Many trying to find their way in this world and many looking in all the wrong places. While Las Vegas is an interesting place to experience, even if you don't gamble, (which we don't, but hey we spent two days in Napa Valley, California and we don't drink either), it is nonetheless wearing on the soul and spirit and we are always ready to move on fairly quickly. I've flown into Las Vegas several times as a jumping off point to renting a car and getting out into what's known as the "Golden Circle of National Parks". There are so many great places to visit and experience in a 200-300 mile circle around Las Vegas and that's what I had on my mind as I dropped Cheryl off at the airport and headed out for some unique sights!

I was glad too see that it had not changed too much and even happier to note it had not been vandalized or otherwise damaged by careless and non-thinking individuals who do not understand the significance of leaving our history intact for future generations to enjoy. Because it was late May, it wasn't completely oppressive heat yet, so we stopped for a short walk-around, and lunch out of the van's cooler and snack options.

Click on the photo link below to access Part 19 of the May 2016 Western Trip.  Thanks for watching!

May 2016 Western Trip - Part 19We drove through parts of Death Valley National Park on our way to Las Vegas. We have been to Death Valley several times before, but there are different highways that pass through it and different seasons of the year always present interesting sights and scenes to view. One special surprise was being able to take a short side trip to the ghost town of Rhyolite, Nevada, which is situated in the Natl. Park and where we had first visited 35 years ago in 1981.
I was glad too see that it had not changed too much and even happier to note it had not been vandalized or otherwise damaged by careless and non-thinking individuals who do not understand the significance of leaving our history intact for future generations to enjoy. Because it was late May, it wasn't completely oppressive heat yet, so we stopped for a short walk-around, and lunch out of the van's cooler and snack options.

Click on the photo link below to access Part 18 of the May 2016 Western Trip.  Thanks for watching!

May 2016 Western Trip - Part 18The World War II Manzanar Japanese Refugee Camp is a place I had wanted to visit for sometime. Manzanar is one of several refugee camps built during World War II to house Japanese Americans, who were then thought to be a possible threat to the U.S. You can read about this time period in any history book, but a visit to one of the actual sites like Manzanar, which is just a few miles north of Lone Pine, California, and a National Historic Site, is well worth the time and visit to experience first hand the environment and historical, social and cultural aspects and significance of this event in our history. Our hosts, Sab & Ann Sasaki provided an interesting discussion and an especially significant perspective, as Sab was one of the occupants of the camp during World War II when he was seven years old.

Click on the photo link below to access Part 17 of the May 2016 Western Trip.  Thanks for watching!

May 2016 Western Trip - Part 17The Mono Basin, including Mono Lake, just east of the Sierra Nevada mountains in California is quite a unique ecosystem and interesting place to discover and explorer. Join us as we spend some time viewing the interesting formations and other geological features of this mysterious area.

• Walmart's Crystal Bridges Art Museum in Bentonville, Arkansas
• Fort Worth Trinity Duck Pond
• ​Visit to Fort Worth Stockyards with Graeme & Ros from New Zealand
• Assorted Odds & Ends

Click on the photo link below to access Photo Album 112.  Thanks for watching!

Anderson Family Photo Album Book D112Apr-Sep 2016 - Walmart's Crystal Bridges Art Museum in Bentonville, Arkansas, Fort Worth Trinity Duck Pond, ​Visit to Fort Worth Stockyards with Graeme & Ros from New Zealand, Assorted Odds & Ends

I have seen many photos of this place over the years with wonderful morning and evening sunlight, highlighting the beautiful old rustic buildings that make up this old ghost town.  This was one of my highlights I was looking forward to on our trip for some interesting photographic possibilities.  We got locked out of Yosemite National Park because of the weather earlier in our trip and now we found ourselves at 8500 ft, about 34 degrees and light snow occurring. Even though we were wearing shorts a couple days ago, we were now up in the high plains and it was still only the end of May, so you have to take it as it is given to you ... :-)

We still enjoyed our time here and with this visit we present you with overcast, chilly Bodie, but with hopes of another visit in the future to experience this ghost town in its photographic excellence.

Click on the photo link below to access Part 16 of the May 2016 Western Trip.  Thanks for watching!

May 2016 Western Trip - Part 16Bodie, California is the quintessential western ghost town. This famous site is a California state park located on the east side of the Sierra Nevada mountains. A kind of out-of-the-way place that is not really close to anything but well worth the trip to see it.
I have seen many photos of this place over the years with wonderful morning and evening sunlight, highlighting the beautiful old rustic buildings that make up this old ghost town. This was one of my highlights I was looking forward to on our trip for some interesting photographic possibilities. We got locked out of Yosemite National Park because of the weather earlier in our trip and now we found ourselves at 8500 ft, about 34 degrees and light snow occurring. Even though we were wearing shorts a couple days ago, we were now up in the high plains and it was still only the end of May, so you have to take it as it is given to you ... :-)
We still enjoyed our time here and with this visit we present you with overcast, chilly Bodie, but with hopes of another visit in the future to experience this ghost town in its photographic excellence.

Virginia City? - Hey isn't that Bonanza country!

Click on the photo link below to access Part 15 of the May 2016 Western Trip.  Thanks for watching!

May 2016 Western Trip - Part 15Well, we are at the far northern tip of this trip as we visit the Lake Tahoe and Virginia City, Nevada areas.
Virginia City? - Hey isn't that Bonanza country!

Of course for many that will include some wine tasting tours, but even if you are not wine drinkers like ourselves, there is still so  much to see.  The vineyards and wineries offer up spectacular scenery, architecture, beautiful landscaping, interesting museums and even art galleries to name but a few of the things to see as you make your way through the center of Napa Valley and pull off here and there to sample a taste of all there is to discover.  In fact there was so much to see, we only explored a small percentage of all the different vineyards in our 8 hour day.  We've created a Napa Valley Part One as part 13 of our trip and a Napa Valley Part Two as part 14 to share some of what we experienced!

Click on the photo link below to access Part 14 of the May 2016 Western Trip.  Thanks for watching!

May 2016 Western Trip - Part 14Even if you're not a wine drinker you'll want to spend some time in the Napa Valley of California visiting some of the over one hundred large and small vineyards and wineries.We began our exploration by driving into the city of Napa to check out the wonderful visitor center there. These friendly folks will answer all your questions and tell you everything you need to know about what to see and what to do.
Of course for many that will include some wine tasting tours, but even if you are not wine drinkers like ourselves, there is still so much to see. The vineyards and wineries offer up spectacular scenery, architecture, beautiful landscaping, interesting museums and even art galleries to name but a few of the things to see as you make your way through the center of Napa Valley and pull off here and there to sample a taste of all there is to discover. In fact there was so much to see, we only explored a small percentage of all the different vineyards in our 8 hour day. We've created a Napa Valley Part One as part 13 of our trip and a Napa Valley Part Two as part 14 to share some of what we experienced!

Of course for many that will include some wine tasting tours, but even if you are not wine drinkers like ourselves, there is still so  much to see.  The vineyards and wineries offer up spectacular scenery, architecture, beautiful landscaping, interesting museums and even art galleries to name but a few of the things to see as you make your way through the center of Napa Valley and pull off here and there to sample a taste of all there is to discover.  In fact there was so much to see, we only explored a small percentage of all the different vineyards in our 8 hour day.  We've created a Napa Valley Part One as part 13 of our trip and a Napa Valley Part Two as part 14 to share some of what we experienced!

Click on the photo link below to access Part 13 of the May 2016 Western Trip.  Thanks for watching!

May 2016 Western Trip - Part 13Even if you're not a wine drinker you'll want to spend some time in the Napa Valley of California visiting some of the over one hundred large and small vineyards and wineries.We began our exploration by driving into the city of Napa to check out the wonderful visitor center there. These friendly folks will answer all your questions and tell you everything you need to know about what to see and what to do. Of course for many that will include some wine tasting tours, but even if you are not wine drinkers like ourselves, there is still so much to see. The vineyards and wineries offer up spectacular scenery, architecture, beautiful landscaping, interesting museums and even art galleries to name but a few of the things to see as you make your way through the center of Napa Valley and pull off here and there to sample a taste of all there is to discover. In fact there was so much to see, we only explored a small percentage of all the different vineyards in our 8 hour day. We've created a Napa Valley Part One as part 13 of our trip and a Napa Valley Part Two as part 14 to share some of what we experienced!

People do not just visit Muir Woods. They come from around the globe to pay homage to nature in this cathedral of redwoods. The trees' ages range from 400 to 800 years, their height up to 250 feet. Flat easy trails loop through the groves. Muir Woods National Monument was established on January 9, 1908 when President Roosevelt signed legislation to protect an old-growth coast redwood forest from destruction. 

In the light gaps beneath the redwood trees are red alders, California big leaf maples, tanoaks, and Douglas fir. The forest floor is covered in redwood sorrel, ferns, fungi, duff, and debris. Several bridges cross Redwood Creek, which flows through the park year-round. Wildlife residents include the endangered coho salmon fingerlings, Pacific wren, woodpeckers, owls, deer, chipmunks, skunks, river otters, and squirrels to name a few.

Click on the photo link below to access Part 12 of the May 2016 Western Trip.  Thanks for watching!

May 2016 Western Trip - Part 12(From http://www.parksconservancy.org/ website) ...
People do not just visit Muir Woods. They come from around the globe to pay homage to nature in this cathedral of redwoods. The trees' ages range from 400 to 800 years, their height up to 250 feet. Flat easy trails loop through the groves. Muir Woods National Monument was established on January 9, 1908 when President Roosevelt signed legislation to protect an old-growth coast redwood forest from destruction.
In the light gaps beneath the redwood trees are red alders, California big leaf maples, tanoaks, and Douglas fir. The forest floor is covered in redwood sorrel, ferns, fungi, duff, and debris. Several bridges cross Redwood Creek, which flows through the park year-round. Wildlife residents include the endangered coho salmon fingerlings, Pacific wren, woodpeckers, owls, deer, chipmunks, skunks, river otters, and squirrels to name a few.

Click on the photo link below to access Part 11 of the May 2016 Western Trip.  Thanks for watching!

May 2016 Western Trip - Part 11A short stop in San Francisco for 3-4 hours since we have been there before. We wanted to see a few sights along Fisherman's wharf and do a boat tour under the Golden Gate bridge and around Alcatraz..

Click on the photo link below to access Part 10 of the May 2016 Western Trip.  Thanks for watching!

May 2016 Western Trip - Part 10After our enjoyable hike at Point Lobos State Reserve earlier in the morning we continued our day with a stop at the Carmel Mission Basilica church just south of Monterey and then on to the famous 17 Mile Drive and Pebble Beach before leaving the area and heading toward San Francisco.

Click on the photo link below to access Part 9 of the May 2016 Western Trip.  Thanks for watching!

May 2016 Western Trip - Part 09After leaving Sequoia National Park we headed to Monterey to enjoy the ocean scenes and cooler weather. While there we visited some of the Monterey city sites, enjoyed spectacular sunsets, hiked the Point Lobos State Reserve, along with visiting another of the California mission churches and the famous 17 Mile Drive which we will cover in part 10.

We visited Sequoia National Park in California.  Haven't been here since Kelly was born about 30 years ago.  While we look a bit older, the trees don't look like they have aged a day. We took a lot of photos of trees, but after looking at most of them we realize it's hard to get any idea of scale without someone standing close by.  It's all relative when you look at them from a distance because they are all so big that it's not until you stand next to them that you realize how really big they are!  So we tried to include many photos that had people or something else normal size next to the trees to portray their majesty.

Sequoia National Park is a quiet serene place to go take reflective walks and get a sense of ourselves and the world around us.  Hope you enjoy our attempt to capture these giants and for sure if you haven't been here before, be sure to put it on your bucket list.

Click on the photo link below to access Part 8 of the May 2016 Western Trip.  Thanks for watching!

May 2016 Western Trip - Part 08We couldn't see the forest for the trees because the trees were too big :-) We visited Sequoia National Park in California. Haven't been here since Kelly was born about 30 years ago. While we look a bit older, the trees don't look like they have aged a day. We took a lot of photos of trees, but after looking at most of them we realize it's hard to get any idea of scale without someone standing close by. It's all relative when you look at them from a distance because they are all so big that it's not until you stand next to them that you realize how really big they are! So we tried to include many photos that had people or something else normal size next to the trees to portray their majesty.
Sequoia National Park is a quiet serene place to go take reflective walks and get a sense of ourselves and the world around us. Hope you enjoy our attempt to capture these giants and for sure if you haven't been here before, be sure to put it on your bucket list

Click on the photo link below to access Part 7 of the May 2016 Western Trip.  Thanks for watching!

May 2016 Western Trip - Part 07Hearst Castle was built by millionaire William Randolph Hearst who was the grandfather of Patty Hearst, if you remember all that drama from the 70s/80s. We had visited the castle years ago, but with being so close to it again we decided to take another one of the many different tours available. The castle sits way up high on a beautiful expanse of high coastal hills overlooking the Pacific Ocean on a more remote part of coastal highway 101 near San Simeon, California. If you're ever in the area and like to tour these types of historical and famous places, it should be a must see. Come and join us as we take a short tour through some of the architectural highlights of the castle

Click on the photo link below to access Part 6 of the May 2016 Western Trip.  Thanks for watching!

May 2016 Western Trip - Part 06Well, as Cheryl says ... "Have we had enough of the desert now?" :-) So, we headed over to the coast for awhile to see some more blue and green. We stopped at the San Luis Obispo de Tolosa 1772 Mission for a short walk-around and a few pictures before heading up the coastal highway to Morro Bay for the evening. Arriving late afternoon and with a bit of fog, we nonetheless enjoyed a walk around the area and a good dinner overlooking the dock and bay area. The next morning we departed Morro Bay and headed up a little farther north to the San Simeon area to take a tour through the Hearst Castle, which will be highlighted in Part 7

One of the reasons we wanted to include this area in our trip was because we wanted to see a Joshua tree, not having remembered seeing one before.  Well, I was actually thinking the tree looked like something different than what we discovered.  In fact I wonder if this is really a tree or just a large ________?

Click on the photo link below to access Part 5 of the May 2016 Western Trip.  Thanks for watching!

May 2016 Western Trip - Part 05We are at Joshua Tree National Park for Part 5 of our Western Trip. Joshua Tree NP is on I-10 about 20 miles east of Indio, CA.
One of the reasons we wanted to include this area in our trip was because we wanted to see a Joshua tree, not having remembered seeing one before. Well, I was actually thinking the tree looked like something different than what we discovered. In fact I wonder if this is really a tree or just a large ________?

After we left Tucson we made a short stop at the north end of the Imperial Sand Dunes by Glamis, California.  From there, another short stop at The Salton Sea before heading into Indio, California in preparation for the next day's visit to Joshua Tree National Park.

Click on the photo link below to access Part 4 of the May 2016 Western Trip.  Thanks for watching!

May 2016 Western Trip - Part 04In Part 4 of our Western Trip we are leaving the Tucson area but not before enjoying a day trip to Mt. Lemmon with our good friend Carol from our college days, who we stayed with in the area.
After we left Tucson we made a short stop at the north end of the Imperial Sand Dunes by Glamis, California. From there, another short stop at The Salton Sea before heading into Indio, California in preparation for the next day's visit to Joshua Tree National Park

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When you arrive at the site there are two tours.  One is of the larger area where there are approximately 4000 aircraft of different types, mostly military, but also some commercial and other.  This is the tour I originally wanted to take, just to be able to be out there in the middle of all these aircraft and hopefully get some cool photos.  I think in the past, several years ago, the restrictions were more lax and they would let you go out there and do more or less what you wanted as you walked around and viewed the aircraft.  But now with ever tightening security and other regulations and national concerns, you have to go as part of a tour.  The nice thing is that you get to ride on a large air conditioned tour bus, but the bad thing is that they never let you get off the bus to walk around, and all the windows are tinted so it would be awful for trying to take photos, although the tour itself just to view the aircraft would still be a great thing to do.

So instead we opted to tour the Pima Air & Space Museum which is at the same site and is a large facility with about 7 huge building full of aircraft and then an outdoor area with about another 350-400 aircraft of all types.  We spent about 4-5 hours altogether, walking through the buildings and then taking an hour tour on a tram through the outside exhibits.  The real plus of visiting the museum is that after you take the tram tour you are allowed to go back on foot and walk around and view and take photos of whatever you want.  I had a great time there and I think Cheryl really enjoyed it too.  I took a load of photos which I've tried to scale down for this slideshow.  It was kind of hard photographing most aircraft just by themselves because they were so close together in many areas.  But I enjoyed taking the photos that I could and I'm looking forward to going back again to spend more time and also to take the other tour.  Hope you enjoy the show!

Click on the photo link below to access Part 3 of the May 2016 Western Trip.  Thanks for watching!

May 2016 Western Trip - Part 03While in Tucson we visited the Pima Air & Space Museum which is located at the Tucson Aircraft Boneyard. For those who may not be familiar with the boneyard, this is where all the old aircraft go to die. You may have seen aerial photos of the thousands and thousands of old aircraft parked out in the desert for the rest of their lives or be used for replacement parts as possible. I have always wanted to visit here and so we did on this trip.

Click on the photo link below to access Part 2 of the May 2016 Western Trip.  Thanks for watching!

May 2016 Western Trip - Part 02Part 2 finds us visiting the Saguaro National Park which is in two locations on the east and west side of Tuscon, AZ

Since this was a longer trip, there will be more slideshows to break it up a bit.  I'll try to keep these between 7-12 minutes each and they will appear here on the blog, going forward over the next few weeks/months.

We had a great time and saw lots of interesting sights.  Other than the Yosemite situation, we had really good weather, but we did hit the extremes with 102 degrees at Saguaro National Park in the Tucson area and 38 degrees and snow while visiting the Bodie Ghost Town on the east side of the Sierra Nevada mountain range.

Below is an overview map of our travels.

2016 Western Trip Master Map

Click on the photo link below to access Part 1 of the slideshows where we will be visiting the historical village of La Mesilla and the Chiricahua National Monument.  Thanks for watching!

May 2016 Western Trip - Part 01We took a three week road trip that began in May and took us through a little bit of June. We wanted to visit some sights out west; some where we had been years ago and other new ones that were a little more off the beaten path and previous routes. The main destination was supposed to be Yosemite National Park in California, but due to some weather issues, that goal was not achieved. More about that in the narration of the slide show for that specific part of the trip.
Since this was a longer trip, there will be more slideshows to break it up a bit. I'll try to keep these between 7-12 minutes each and they will appear here on the blog, going forward over the next few weeks/months.
We had a great time and saw lots of interesting sights. Other than the Yosemite situation, we had really good weather, but we did hit the extremes with 102 degrees at Saguaro National Park in the Tucson area and 38 degrees and snow while visiting the Bodie Ghost Town on the east side of the Sierra Nevada mountain range.

• Photos from along the road
• Photos from Fredricksburg, Texas area
• Photos from the Texas Hill Country
• Photos from the Grapevine Botanical Gardens

Click on the photo below to access the slideshow.  Thanks for watching!

Anderson Family Photo Album Book D111March 2016 - Photo Album #111 includes the time period of March 2016. This album includes additional photos from the Big Bend National Park Trip. Photos from along the road; Photos from Fredricksburg, Texas area; Photos from the Texas Hill Country; Photos from the Grapevine Botanical Gardens

Click on the photo below to access the slideshow.  Thanks for watching!

Big Bend Natl ParkMay 2016 - We drove down to Big Bend in march of 2016 for an early spring view of the area. I had hoped to catch the cactus in full bloom before it got to hot but we were a couple weeks early for the beginning of the blooms. Nevertheless we had an enjoyable time viewing the Big Bend area and taking the Santa Elena Canyon trail walk. This photo story also includes photos of our stops and visits to the Fort Stockton and Fort Davis, Texas areas. We also visited the McDonald Observatory while in the Fort Davis area.

• Photos from Louisiana (Baton Rouge and New Orleans areas)
• Photos from various parts of Florida
• Grapevine, Texas area
• Some B/W versions of previous photos I have posted

Click on the photo below to access the slideshow.  Thanks for watching!

Anderson Family Photo Album Book D110February 2016 - Photo Album #110 includes; Photos from Louisiana (Baton Rouge and New Orleans areas); Photos from various parts of Florida; Grapevine, Texas area; Some B/W versions of previous photos I have posted

Click on the photo below to access the slideshow.  Thanks for watching!

St Augustine FloridaFebruary 2016 - We took a quick trip to Florida in February 2016 to enjoy some warmer weather. While there, one of the interesting places we visited was the St Augustine area.

Click on the photo below to access the slideshow.  Thanks for watching!

LSU Rural Life MuseumFebruary 2016 - In a recent trip to Louisiana we stopped in Baton Rouge to visit the LSU - Rural Life Museum.

Blood Moon September 2015_000

• Photos from the local Fort Worth area
• Saint Olaf Church in Cranfills Gap, Texas
• Clifton, Texas area

Click on the photo below to access the slideshow.  Thanks for watching!

Anderson Family Photo Album Book D109January 2016 - Photo Album #109 includes: Photos from the local Fort Worth area; Saint Olaf Church in Cranfills Gap, Texas; Clifton, Texas area

Click on the photo below to access the slideshow.  Thanks for watching!

Fort Worth Stockyards Christmas 2015December 2016 - A few days before Christmas in December 2015, we joined our friends the Campbells and Dooleys for an afternoon at the Fort Worth Stockyards.

• Dallas Zoo
• Fort Worth Greek Festival
• Arlington Camera's DFW Photo Expo

Click on the photo below to access the slideshow.  Thanks for watching!

Anderson Family Photo Album Book D108Oct-Dec 2015 - Photo Album #108 includes: Dallas Zoo; Fort Worth Greek Festival; Arlington Camera's DFW Photo Expo

I've divided the trip up into seven sections which are available as Multi-Media slideshows by clicking on the appropriate photo link below.

Thanks for watching!

• Part 1 - Montreal
• Montreal Canada 2015September 2015 - Part 1 of 2015 Canada Trip - Montreal
• Part 2 - Quebec 
• Quebec Canada 2015October 2015 - Part 2 of 2015 Canada Trip - Quebec Canada
• Part 3 - Basilica of Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupre
• Basilica of Sainte-Anne-de-BeaupreOctober 2015 - Part 3 of 2015 Canada Trip - Basilica of Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupre
• Part 4 - New England
• New England - 2015October 2015 - Part 4 of 2015 Canada Trip - New England
• Part 5 - Niagara Falls and Niagara on the Lake
• Niagara Falls and Niagara on the LakeOctober 2015 - Part 5 of 2015 Canada Trip - Niagara Falls and Niagara on the Lake
• Part 6 - Michigan State Capital (Lansing)
• Michigan State Capital (Lansing)October 2015 - Part 6 of 2015 Canada Trip - Michigan State Capital (Lansing)
• Part 7 - Anderson Family Photo Album Book #107 - (Various photos from along the other parts of the Canada 2015 trip)
• Anderson Family Photo Album Book D107Sep-Oct 2015 - Part 7 of 2015 Canada Trip - Various photos from along the other parts of the Canada 2015 trip

The name of the refuge means "Forest of the Apache" in Spanish, referring to a time when Apaches frequently camped in the riverside forest there.*

The heart of the refuge comprises approximately 3,800 acres of Rio Grande floodplain and 9,100 acres of irrigated farms and wetlands. In addition to this, the refuge contains 44,300 acres of arid grasslands and foothills of the Chupadera and San Pascual Mountains.  About 30,000 acres of this is designated as wilderness. A twelve-mile-long loop road divided by a cutoff into a "Farm Loop" and "Marsh Loop" allows automobile drivers excellent views of wetland wildlife and raptors, and there are several short (1.5 to 10 miles) walking trails. The road affords good views of the fields where crops are grown for the benefit of the birds under cooperative agreements with farmers. Adjacent to the Visitor's Center, a desert plant garden is maintained.*

Some 377 species of birds have been observed on the refuge since 1940. The wetlands attract the huge flocks of wintering cranes and geese that are the refuge's most interesting feature. Many other species—notably waterfowl, shorebirds  and birds of prey—also winter in the refuge. Striking vagrants such as a groove billed Ani have been found there. In the Chihuahuan desert terrain outside of the Rio Grande riparian zone, the refuge also hosts three federally designated Wilderness areas (Chupadera, Little San Pascual, and Indian Well).*

Click on the photo below to access the slideshow.  Thanks for watching!

Bosque Del Apache Natl Wildlife RefugeThis was my third trip to Bosque Del Apache which is located about 15 miles south of Socorro, New Mexico. I have been there in the spring and late summer but had never made it to see the great migration of Sandhill Cranes and Canadian Snow Geese. Between these two groups of birds there can be as many as twenty to thirty thousand Sandhill Cranes and forty to sixty thousand Snow Geese in different years. This is not counting the huge amounts of other bird types that also migrate to, or make their home in the Bosque Del Apache.

*Portions of the above description taken from Wikipedia

Part 1 covers Butchart Gardens in Victoria Canada and part 2 covers the Olympic National Park in Washington state.

Click on the photo below to access the slideshow.  Thanks for watching!

Anderson Family Photo Album Book D106September 2015 - Photo Album #106 is Part 3 of the Seattle area trip we took in September, 2015. This album includes photos of "Victoria Canada" & Seattle's "Pike Place Market" wharf area.

Part 1 covers Butchart Gardens in Victoria Canada and part 3 will focus on "Victoria Canada" & Seattle's "Pike Place Market" wharf area.

Click on the photo below to access the slideshow.  Thanks for watching!

Olympic National ParkSeptember 2016 - Part 2 of our Seattle area trip - Olympic National Park

Part 2 will cover Olympic National Park and part 3 will focus on "Victoria Canada" & Seattle's "Pike Place Market" wharf area.

Click on the photo below to access the slideshow.  Thanks for watching!

Butchart Gardens - Victoria CanadaSeptember 2016 - Part 1 of our Seattle area trip - Butchart Gardens - Victoria Canada

It was a great show with 50 vendors, about 45+ seminars, of which I attended 5 and lots of opportunity to learn new things and play with new stuff  :-)

Canon & Sigma had some shooting booths set up with models so that people could bring their cameras and try some of their lens and have something to shoot.  It was a fun experience.  Here are some shots I took from "behind the scenes" and also a few that I shot myself.  I'm already looking forward to going next year again.  The quality of seminars and presenters was great!

Click the image below to view some event photos:

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Book 105 covers the May-Oct 2015 time frame.

This Photo Story is just a collection of about 3-6 photos for several different outings over the late spring/summer/early fall period and includes the following:

• Birds in the Bath
• Cheryl's sister Julie visits
• A few Ft Worth Botanical scenes
• Three Fireworks photos
• A visit to Georgia to see longtime friends Craig and Judy
• Quick stop at my sister and husband's house in Asheville, NC
• Returning home via Smokey Mtns. Natl. Park and the Natchez Trail (see other photo stories for more expanded coverage of the Smoky Mtns & the Natchez Trail)
• A short walk-around downtown Ft Worth
• Some biking outings with friend Dean

Click on the photo below to access the slideshow.  Thanks for watching!

Anderson Family Photo Album Book D105May-Oct 2015 - A collection of odds & ends from spring through fall.

However when we walked out to the cars and put Lanie in her car seat, she was asleep before we got Flynn strapped in :-).  These are all people shots either I or Cheryl took and I have some other animal photos that I will work in with some other stuff on a later album when I get caught up.

Click here to go to Flynn & Lanie's gallery  ...

Dallas Zoo - Oct 21 2015 - 01

Granbury Opera House - July 2014 -03https://www.betterphoto.fun/gallery/dynoGallDetail.php?photoID=14958707&cn=&catID=0&rowNumber=1&sortBye=New&contestCatID=0&camID=0&mem4gall=0&FavMemID=0&Favpt=

Fort Worth Camera Club - 2015 Digital Contest Image - Honorable Mention- October Honorable Mention            Silver Back Gorilla - Fort Worth ZooFort Worth Camera Club - Winner, Second Place

We decided to go out and have a look anyway since it was just about 10 minutes away.  We arrived about an hour late and the museum and other activities were closed, but we walked around where we could on the outside and looked at Elvis' boyhood home, church and other outside areas of interest.  There were many plaques on the outsides of buildings that had short stories from others that knew or grew up with Elvis in the area and they were interesting to read.

Because of the time of day and direction of the sun and many signs with plastic cover protectors on them, causing reflections and glares, the photographs I took were not of the best quality.  Looking at them later there were so many color casts and shadows and highlight blow-outs, I decided to do something different with this slideshow and create a Black and White version of the time spent there.

Many of the plaques and stories are too long to display the slide for the time required to read it, so I added them all in for a quick glance, but then you can press the spacebar to pause the show on those plaques you want to read all the way through.  You can also press the "Page Up" & "Page Down" keys to move forward and backward through the show while watching.  (You must be in Full Screen mode to use those keys).

Click on the Photo below to access the video.

Elvis Birth Place - Tupelo, MississippiSeptember 2015 - Elvis Birth Place - Tupelo Mississippi - For Dean Campbell

This photo was taken at San Luis, Colorado, which is the oldest city in Colorado.  This is the church at the Stations of the Cross Shrine.

Stations of the Cross Shrine - San Luis CO - August 2014 - 16

2015 Digital Contest Image Winners - August    FWCC - 1st Place - July 2015 Arboretum Sept 2009 -03Fort Worth Camera Club - Winner, First Place

Please click the photo below to access the video

Anderson Family Photo Album Book D104cMay 2015 - New Mexico Spring Trip - Part Three, Historical La Mesilla NM, City of Rocks State Park NM

Please click the photo below to access the slideshow.

Anderson Family Photo Album Book D104bThis slideshow is part 2 of the spring trip to New Mexico in May 2015. Part 2 highlights Bosque Del Apache Wildlife Refuge, some photos along the road, and the town of Hillsboro, New Mexico

Please click the photo below to access the slideshow.

  Anderson Family Photo Album Book D104aMay 2015 - New Mexico Spring Trip - Part One, Organ Mountains Natl. Monument, Elephant Butte Dam NM, Richard Branson's New Mexico Space Port, Town of Carrizozo NM

Please click the photo below to access the slideshow.

  Anderson Family Photo Album Book D103April 2015 - The Needles Highway - Black Hills South Dakota, Custer State Park SD - Wildlife Loop Drive, Wind Cave Natl. Park SD, Drive Home from South Dakota - Various Sights

Please click the photo below to access the slideshow.

Mount Rushmore and Crazy Horse MonumentsApril 2015 - This slideshow is part 3 of my quick trip up to South Dakota to see the Badlands National Park in early spring 2015. This show highlights Mount Rushmore & Crazy Horse Monuments

Please click the photo below to access the slideshow.

Devils Tower and Deadwood South DakotaApril 2015 - Devils Tower and Deadwood South Dakota

Please click the photo below to access slideshow.

Badlands National ParkA quick trip up to South Dakota to see the Badlands National Park in early spring. I also went to Mount Rushmore, Crazy Horse Monument and Devils Towers, along with a few other sights included. I had enough photos of the Badlands to make a stand-alone show, and I will put some of the other sights together for a show of their own.

Book 102 covers the Jan-Apr 2015 time frame.

This Photo Story includes the following:

• The Fox Returns
• Dallas Arboretum with Dean & Charlotte
• An Afternoon / Evening of Music (Fort Worth Main Street Days)
• Odds & Ends

Click on the photo below to access the slideshow.  Thanks for watching!

Anderson Family Photo Album Book D102Jan 2014 - Apr 2015 - The Fox Returns, Dallas Arboretum with Campbells, An Afternoon/Evening of Music - Fort Worth Main Street Days, Odds & Ends

The first two photos aren't that technically great but I included them to tell the story.

We first saw the fox walk by on the other side of the house while in our office study.  He went around the back of the house and we ran to the other window to see him go back behind the shed.  I grabbed my camera and hoped that he would come out again along the fence in the front of the shed which he did!



Now it got interesting because there was a cat sunning herself on the shed step.  They watched each other pretty intently, but both held their ground and let the other be.  Check out the hair standing up on the fox's back.



Then the fox found a nice sunny spot in the yard and proceeded to take a short break and sun himself.









After getting some photos here, we tapped on the window quietly to arouse his attention and he was ready for whatever the situation might be ...

Hilton Anatole DallasDecember 2014 - While out photographing around Christmas time I decided to visit the Hilton Anatole Hotel in Dallas. I had passed by it many times on my way to Dallas but had never been inside. I spent about an hour walking around and enjoying the sights of this hotel.

So, I'm going to add several links to this blog for some of the stuff that I did get accomplished since May or June of last year.  I just uploaded about 150 new photos from various outings and I also had two more finalists in June on my photos.  I've additionally created 5 more Anderson Photo Books and I will add links for those here too.

June Finalists Links:

Home ... Home on the Rangehttps://www.betterphoto.fun/gallery/dynoGallDetail.php?photoID=14518116&cn=&catID=0&rowNumber=1&sortBye=New&contestCatID=0&camID=0&mem4gall=0&FavMemID=0&Favpt= NM Trip - April 2013 - Fort Union - 12https://www.betterphoto.fun/gallery/dynoGallDetail.php?photoID=14521499&cn=&catID=0&rowNumber=1&sortBye=New&contestCatID=0&camID=0&mem4gall=0&FavMemID=0&Favpt=

New Anderson Photo Book Links:

Anderson Photo Book #98

Including photos from the Petrified Wood - Texaco Gas Station In Decatur, Texas; A Short Morning at Dallas Arboretum; A Drive to Ennis Texas for Bluebonnets, Indian Paintbrush and The Polka Festival; An Afternoon Walk around Grapevine Texas; An Afternoon Walk around Fort Worth Texas; Odds & Ends & A Few Re-Do's

Anderson Family Photo Album Book D098May-Jun 2014- Petrified Wood Gas Station in Decatur TX, A Short Morning at Dallas Arboretum, A Drive to Ennis Texas for Bluebonnets, Indian Paintbrush and the Polka Festival, An Afternoon Walk around Grapevine TX, An Afternoon Walk Around Fort Worth, Odds & Ends and a few Re-dos

Anderson Photo Book #99

Including Photos from Chalmette Battlefield and National Cemetery - New Orleans; Illinois Central Railroad Museum, McComb, Mississippi; Natchez National Cemetery & Natchez City Cemetery; Natchez, Mississippi Area; Southern Heritage Air Foundation - Vicksburg, MS area

Anderson Family Photo Album Book D099June 2014 - Chalmette Battlefield and National Cemetery - New Orleans, Illinois Central Railroad Museum - McComb Mississippi, Natchez MS National Cemetery and Natchez City Cemetery, Natchez MS Area, Southern Heritage Air Foundation - Tallulah, Louisiana

A Day in New Orleans

24 Hours in the Big Easy

A Day in New OrleansA Day in New Orleans (June 2014)

Anderson Photo Book #100 

Including photos from Granbury, Texas; Santa Rosa, New Mexico; Telluride, Colorado; Black Canyon of the Gunnison Natl. Park; Crested Butte, Colorado; San Luis, Colorado.

Anderson Family Photo Album Book D100August 2014 - Granbury Texas Sights, Santa Rosa NM Sights, Santa Fe NM Sights, Telluride Colorado Sights, Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park, Crested Butte - Colorado Sights, Stations of the Cross Shrine - San Luis CO

Anderson Photo Book #101

Including photos from Fort Worth Japanese Gardens; A Late Fall Day in Fort Worth; Dublin Texas, Dr Pepper Country; Ballinger Texas, Catholic Shrine; Two Hours in San Antonio; Fort Worth, Downtown Christmas Time

Anderson Family Photo Album Book D101Oct-Dec 2014 - FW Japanese Gardens, A Late Fall Day in Fort Worth with Dean Campbell, Dublin TX (Dr Pepper Country), Ballinger TX - Catholic Shrine, Two Hours in San Antonio, Fort Worth Downtown Christmas Time with Campbells/Dooleys

Come along and join the fun at the Dallas Arboretum:

Mother's Day Weekend At The Dallas ArboretumMay 2014

Book 97 includes the November 2013 to May 2014 time frame.

This Photo Story includes mostly Odds & Ends and a few older photos that I reworked either for better presentation or to create a variation with effects.

Click on the photo below to access the slideshow.  Thanks for watching!

Anderson Family Photo Album Book D097Nov 2013 - May 2014 - Odds & Ends and a few Re-dos

BetterPhoto Second Place Winner

Sailing Ship - Salem Massachusetts

 1/60 @ f/11 - 18mm - ISO 200

This sailing ship is called the "Friendship of Salem".  It was taken in color and converted to Black & White.

There is another view of it here in color.

Book 96 includes Christmas 2013 with James, Kelly, Flynn & Lanie.

Click on the photo below to access the slideshow.  Thanks for watching!

Anderson Family Photo Album Book D096Christmas 2013 with James & Kelly and the Grandkids

Book 95 includes an October 2013 trip to North Carolina

This Photo Story includes the following:

• Mount Airy "Mayberry", North Carolina
• Stone Mountain State Park & Boone, North Carolina
• Along The Blue Ridge Parkway
• The North Carolina Arboretum
• Cherokee, North Carolina
• Great Smokey Mountains Railway
• Visiting Jim & Cyndee and the Hendersonville, NC Area

Click on the photo below to access the slideshow.  Thanks for watching! 

Anderson Family Photo Album Book D095October 2013 - Mount Airy (Mayberry) North Carolina, Stone Mountain State Park - Boone NC, Along the Blue Ridge Parkway, North Carolina Arboretum - Asheville, Cherokee NC, Great Smokey Mountains Railway and Sights Along the Way, Visiting Jim and Cyndee in Mills River NC

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

1/31/2014 Photographer Mike F. Anderson of Hurst, TX, has won First Place for December in the prestigious photography contest sponsored by BetterPhoto.com, the site's founder, Jim Miotke, announced Friday.

More than 5500 entries were submitted to the online photography contest, which attracted contestants from around the world and featured 10 separate categories.

Anderson's stunning image, "Sittin' on top of the world", garnered top honors after being submitted in the People category.

The contest is conducted each month. Categories include Nature and Landscapes, Animals, People, Elements of Design, Digital Darkroom, Travel and Place, Flowers, Details and Macro, Catch-All, and Monthly Theme. Judging is performed by a panel of professional photographers.

Besides its free, popular photo contest, BetterPhoto.com also offers a variety of services: digital camera reviews, online photo courses, free newsletters, a discussion forum, Web sites for photographers, question-and-answer section, how-to articles, photo galleries, and more.

Photographers can enter this month's contest and learn more about photography at: www.BetterPhoto.com 

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December 2013 First Place Winner

Photo Book #093 - June 2013  - (Narrated) 

• West Virginia
• The Inn at Mountain Quest - (very interesting place)
• Paducah Kentucky - Market Street Area; 
• Land between the lakes - Classic Buick Car Show
• (Click on Photo Icon below to be transferred to the Slide Show)

Anderson Family Photo Album Book D093June 2013 - West Virginia Re-Visit, Beckley West Virginia, The "New River" Bridge, Babcock State Park, Rural West Virginia, Cass Scenic Railroad, The Inn at Mountain Quest, Blackwater Falls State Park, Shaker Village - Pleasant Hill, KY Re-Visit, Paducah KY Market Street Area, Buick Car Show at Kentucky Dam Marina, Odds and Ends

Photo Book #094 - August September 2013 - (Musical Soundtrack)

• Subiaco Abbey Revisit
• Rural Arkansas
• Little Rock River Walk
• Arkansas Capitol
• Caddo Lake State Park
• Assorted Odds and Ends
• (Click on Photo Icon below to be transferred to the Slide Show)

Anderson Family Photo Album Book D094Aug-Sep 2013 - Subiaco Abbey - Arkansas Re-Visit, Rural Arkansas, Little Rock Riverwalk, Arkansas Capital - Little Rock, Caddo Lake State Park, TX, Odds & Ends

UT Southwestern Bird Rookery - July 2013 - 13

    Staff favorite - September 2013

It talks about how different color processes were invented and used including print, Polaroid, slides and digital.  The main exhibition is upstairs which is worth a visit.  Then downstairs in one of the main halls they have this time-line of photos taken from the 1940s that shows how color was used over the decades and the effect of time on color photos, such as color shifts and fading, etc. 

People were allowed to submit a photo print or digital image to be included in the display. I submitted a digital photo for the 2000-2010 decade, which are shown in small digital frames. 

I didn't get as nice of an exposure as I would have liked because of the lighting, contrast and then the photos in the digital frames were very bright and it was hard to get an even or balanced exposure for the whole thing, and then folks would be standing there looking at the timeline also, so I just grabbed a couple quick shots.

Now I get to say I had one of my photos displayed at the Amon Carter Art Museum ... :-)

This first photo shows about 1/5th of the length of the wall display and the end of it, which is present day. 

One of my photos displayed at the Amon Carter Museum - Fort Worth - November - 2013 - 01

A closer view.

One of my photos displayed at the Amon Carter Museum - Fort Worth - November - 2013 - 02

This is the original.  

The Gate 04a

Click on the photo icon below to view:

Paducah Kentucky Wall WalkJune 2013 - Having viewed portions of the Paducah floodwall murals several times in the past, I had never taken the full walk from one end to the other to enjoy all the different murals. During a trip to Paducah in the summer of 2013, I spent some time viewing and photographing all the panels. This short 8 minute slideshow provides a close-up view of many of the notable and historic events and scenes of Paducah's past and provides an example of the excellent art work of those who created and maintain these murals.

Book 92 includes the April - August 2013 time frame.

This Photo Story offers the following:

• Trinity River Campus
• Fort Worth Stockyard Murals
• Clark Gardens, Mineral Wells Texas, with Dean and Dan
• UT Southwestern Bird Rookery
• A Few Fireworks
• A Few Hours in Dallas
• Some Spring and Summer Flowers
• ... and a few Odds & Ends

Click on the photo below to access the slideshow.  Thanks for watching!

Anderson Family Photo Album Book D092Apr-Aug 2013 - Trinity River Campus - Fort Worth, FW Stockyards Area, Clark Gardens - Mineral Wells with Dean/Dan, UT Southwest Bird Rookery - Dallas TX, A Few Fireworks, A Few Hours Walk around Dallas, Some Spring & Summer Flowers, Odds and Ends

Book 91 includes the April 2013 time frame.

This Photo Story covers a spring trip to New Mexico to visit some of the National Monuments and other sites I have not seen before.

Topics covered are:

1. Tucumcari
2. Fort Union National Monument
3. Pecos National Historical Park
4. Bandelier National Monument
5. Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge
6. National Radio Astronomy Observatory
7. El Morro National Monument
8. ... and a few New Mexico Odds & Ends

Click on the photo below to access the slideshow.  Thanks for watching!

Anderson Family Photo Album Book D091Oct 2012 - Mar 2013 - FW Botanical Gardens Conservatory Revisited, Rock City - Chattanooga TN, Denver Sights, Denver Zoo Birds, Odds & Ends

June 2013 Finalist

There were hundreds of exquisite works of art of the highest caliber.  I found a side street to park on and because it was nearing 6 pm on a beautiful mid-April evening, I knew I had a little over an hour to grab my camera and have a walk around, enjoy all this art and take a few photos.

The result was "Seventy Five Minutes - Seventy Five Photos"

Click on the link below to open a new window in my slideshow gallery.

Canyon Road - Santa Fe, NM2013
While on a recent trip to New Mexico I was passing through Santa Fe, where I had visited many times before. I got a little off the main route I usually take and was heading down to Old Town (Historical Santa Fe) on some different streets than I had previously taken. At one point while I was stopped at a traffic light, I happened to gaze over to my right and take in this wonderful scene that consisted of what I was to learn was "Canyon Drive", a residential street in Santa Fe that consisted of over 100 different artist galleries and a majority of these galleries, in what were formerly residential homes from the past, were displaying their sculptures and creations in their courtyards, front lawns, sides of the houses and just about everywhere you looked.
There were hundreds of exquisite works of art of the highest caliber. I found a side street to park on and because it was nearing 6 pm on a beautiful mid-April evening, I knew I had a little over an hour to grab my camera and have a walk around, enjoy all this art and take a few photos.
The result was "Seventy Five Minutes - Seventy Five Photos"

May 2013 Better Photo Finalist - 'Show Off'

Hoover Dam - Aug 2012 - 06

Hoover Dam - Nevada-Arizona - Colorado River

Description: 1/320 @ f8 - 11mm - ISO 200

This was taken off the new bridge that crosses the Colorado now. It took me 45 minutes and over 30 shots to find a place where I could get from the bottom of the road to the top of the mountains with a little sky above and not also get some of the bridge structure in it.

What's really interesting is that while there may be a little stretching of the road due to the 11mm lens, the road is actually enlarged on that corner. I'm not sure why, maybe to allow large construction trucks in there or pull offs or whatever but it looked pretty close to what you see. As you can tell there are actual lanes on the road but the outside one is much larger. I actually was driving up the road and when there was a lull in traffic, did a u-turn with plenty of room for an easy turn-around in the outside lane and I opened the door real quick, jumped out of the van with one leg in and one out and took a quick backward shot.

Horseshoe Bend - Page AZ Aug 2012 - 01

Book 90 includes the time frame from October 2012 through March 2013.

Some of the topics covered are:

1. Fort Worth Conservatory Revisited
2. Rock City (Tennessee)
3. Denver Sights
4. Denver Zoo Birds
5. ... and the usual Odds & Ends

They were both taken on the same Southwest Photo Trip.

The first one was at Horseshoe Bend Arizona which is about 5 miles south of Page AZ.  This is a site I had gone to about 20 years ago and always wanted to go back.  This photo was taken in the late afternoon when the sun wasn't the best for shooting the actual bend of the river, which is the main reason for going here.  There are some other photos of the Horseshoe Bend in my Landscapes folder, off the main menu.  But what was nice that afternoon was the way the sun was shining off the top of the canyon walls.  I had taken several shots from close by this same location when I saw this guy walk out to the edge.  I grabbed this opportunity to take a photo with someone in it to add to the perspective and was pleased at the final result.

Horseshoe Bend - Page AZ Aug 2012 - 01

The second one was taken during my walk through Lower Antelope Canyon, also just south of Page AZ (about 3 miles outside the city center).  I took many photos during that walk and had enough that I did a special multi-media slide show for just that outing which is available here.  Photographing the canyons was difficult because of the extreme ranges of highlight and shadows.  I took all the photos with either 5, 7 or 9 frames and blended them together with HDR to be able to include the darks to lights.  This particular shot, when I took it, was so dark from my vantage point that I did not know right away that two people were standing in the canyon opening (otherwise I wouldn't have chopped their feet off in this photo ... :-)  But again, sometimes it's the little surprises that we receive the most pleasure from and this photo has turned out to be one of my personal favorites from that trip.

Lower Antelope Canyon AZ - Aug 2012 - 33a

These included:

• Zion National Park
• Glen Canyon Natl. Rec. Area
• Horseshoe Bend, AZ
• North Rim, Grand Canyon
• Valley of Fire State Park, Nevada
• Las Vegas Sights (Daytime)
• Hoover Dam
• Boulder City, NV Street Scenes
• Las Vegas Sights (Night Time)

Click the picture link below to navigate to my Photodex Multi-Media slideshow site.

I hope you enjoy the photos as much I enjoyed experiencing them.

Thanks for watching! 

Anderson Family Photo Album Book D088Aug 2012 - Zion Natl. Park, Glen Canyon Natl. Recreation Area, Horseshoe Bend, North Rim Grand Canyon, Valley of Fire State Park Nevada, Las Vegas Sights (Daytime), Hoover Dam, Boulder City Nevada Street Scenes, Las Vegas Sights (Night Time)

Kelly takes about 100 pictures a day (seems like) on her cell phone.  Actually one time I think she did take almost 200 photos in less than an hour, so with photo technology and the easy access of cell phones, both Flynn and Lanie have their lives well documented.

I shot a few photos while I was there and have put together just a short slideshow of our two grandkids with their theme song ... :-)

Click the photo below to open the Slideshow. 

Flynn 13 Months Lanie 2 WeeksSeptember 2013

There are two canyons, Upper and Lower.  The Upper is much more well known and visited.  One of the reasons for that is the many photographs that have been taken there and people have seen them and wanted to visit it themselves.  Most people have probably seen the iconic photo of the shaft of light coming down from the top of the canyon like a spotlight cutting through the open space and shining on the floor of the canyon.

It's hard for a photographer to get much time to setup and take their shots in the canyon because there is a steady stream of visitors coming through non-stop who will always be in the middle of some scene the photographer wants to take.  

On the other hand, there is the Lower Canyon, which is only about 1 mile or so from the Upper canyon. This site, while it certainly also has its share of visitors, has a much smaller percentage of them. Additionally, and maybe most importantly for photographers, the Lower Canyon allows you to purchase a "Photographers Pass" which gives you 2 hours of un-escorted time to spend taking all the photos you like, while the escorted groups come through about every 20 minutes.  So you have time after the groups go by to setup and take some shots with no one there.  The only stipulation is that you must have a tripod to be able to purchase the Photographers Pass.  This requirement is strictly enforced.

I have created a slide show of my walk through the Lower canyon which is available by clicking on this photo.

Walk Through Lower Antelope CanyonI had a chance to visit Antelope Canyon, just outside Page, Arizona in August 2012. This is a place that I have wanted to photograph for a long time. I've been through Page a few times over the last 20 years but never had a chance to stop and take this tour. Twenty years or more ago this was a much less known and visited site. But like many places, it got "discovered" and has become one of the Southwest's most visited tourist destinations. Literally thousands of people go through the canyons now on any given summer day.

There are two canyons, Upper and Lower. The Upper is much more well known and visited. One of the reasons for that is the many photographs that have been taken there and people have seen them and wanted to visit it themselves. Most people have probably seen the iconic photo of the shaft of light coming down from the top of the canyon like a spotlight cutting through the open space and shining on the floor of the canyon.

It's hard for a photographer to get much time to setup and take their shots in the canyon because there is a steady stream of visitors coming through non-stop who will always be in the middle of some scene the photographer wants to take.

On the other hand, there is the Lower Canyon, which is only about 1 mile or so from the Upper canyon. This site, while it certainly also has its share of visitors, has a much smaller percentage of them. Additionally, and maybe most importantly for photographers, the Lower Canyon allows you to purchase a "Photographers Pass" which gives you 2 hours of un-escorted time to spend taking all the photos you like, while the escorted groups come through about every 20 minutes. So you have time after the groups go by to setup and take some shots with no one there. The only stipulation is that you must have a tripod to be able to purchase the Photographers Pass. This requirement is strictly enforced.

As mentioned, this occurs often in a street scene where you might be shooting a building or some event or even a person or group of people. Then when you zoom into the image you start seeing different situations that are occurring. These could be still life details that you weren't shooting for, but none-the-less they are there and they turn out sometimes to be as interesting as the original intent of the photo. Probably more often though, it's the people element that offers the most surprises. We've all seen this in photos we've taken. We might be shooting some kind of street performer or event where there are many people standing around watching. Then when we zoom in on the original image we start to see the "side stories" that are going on. Maybe these are the expressions on people's faces in regard to what they are observing. Maybe they are completely different stories in themselves, with interactions between people, or some other situation occurring in the middle of the environment where the original photo was taken.

While we see these type of (PIPs) most often having to do with people, there are often other types of surprises we encounter in a (PIP). Sometimes these may not be so much an example of real-life happening in front of us, as they are symbolic moments. One such situation like this occurred when I visited a small church just off the Natchez Parkway on a trip from Mississippi to Tennessee. This was an old historical church that had been built along the original Natchez Trace. It was a ways off the road and there was a small path leading up an easy incline to the top of a hill where the church was situated. There was no one else there, so I had time to walk around a bit, rest from my long drive and grab a few shots. The building was mostly dark inside, only being lit by a window directly behind the pulpit and some softer light coming from a small window on the side of the building.

Church Window Standing at the back of the church, I liked the way the old wooden pews were worn and aged from use. What caught my eye was the center divider going right down through the middle of the pews. The design was interesting because the center divider had begun to bend and bow some with age, starting to curve like a snake from the back of the room up to the front pews. This added an additional element that made me want to take the photo even more.

Because the window was directly in front of me, this was going to cause a severe backlit situation. The pulpit was white so fortunately that would be distinguishable as the lighting would brighten it. However, everything from the front row of pews to the back where I stood would be much darker. I adjusted the exposure to be able to distinguish the view out the window behind the pulpit, to see the large tree there and also not have a large blown out window as the centerpiece of the photo. I noticed a slight highlight shining on top of the vertical divider going down the middle of the pews and that helped give some definition to the dark area. So I decided to take the shot, expose for the window and later in my post processing I would try to lighten up the forefront of the image, to be able to see the pews farther back in the church.

Later, when I worked on this image and began to selectively brighten areas that were dark, it was only then that I saw the (PIP). It was a symbolic one this time. Here in this small, out of the way church, up in the hills, where all was quiet, peaceful and welcoming, was this reminder that God is with us wherever we are.

What had become more readily apparant in this scene, after I later lightened darker areas of the church, was the second shaft of light highlighting the top of one of the pews on a horizontal angle, thus intersecting with the vertical highlight from the main window behind the pulpit, and forming a lighted cross from the highlights on the top of the pews and center divider.

A symbolic (PIP) - "And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age" Jesus - Matt 28:20

All too soon, it descended the last few inches, and then with one last twist and turn, touched down with the curled tip of one edge. Sliding across a cushion of pine needles it came to rest with others who marked the same destination from an earlier arrival.   The wind was low and only whispering.   The forest stood guard, protecting and absorbing the quiet like the covering of a blanket snugly tucked in all four corners.  Because of this silence, I heard the last rustle and death rattle of the unknowing leaf.  Unsuspecting, the leaf could not detect any change, other than the light snap as it was detached and whisked away by the gentle fall wind, from the only location it had known since birth.  It still felt young and exuberant.  It was, remember, in full color, strong and fresh, and anticipating new adventures in this most recent change of events.  But life had already begun draining from the fibers of its body, even before being snatched away and sent aloft to land here.  Yes, it was only a matter of time before its "coat of many colors" would begin to fade and a brown drabness would set in, moving and contorting its body to an involuntary position.  Soon it would begin to roll up, turning into itself, preparing from instinct to die and return to the ground. 

But, unknown to the leaf, for it had no way of foreseeing the transitions of nature; it would offer itself in a last bequest, as nutrients for the tree that it once called home.  Other leaves, yet unborn until spring arises in mighty triumph once again, would draw from this life, as new buds passing through the metamorphic process to carry on the legacy and beauty of an ancestor unknown.

Mike Anderson

Oct./2001

We flew into Dublin, rented a car and enjoyed a wonderful nine days touring around the bottom half of the country.  What a great trip it was and we would go back in a minute, not only to see other parts of the country, but to spend even more time in places already visited and more time to enjoy the people of Ireland!

I created a slideshow that Cheryl and I narrated.  It's in two parts.  The first is approximately 25 minutes and the second 17 minutes.  We had so many photos, but tried to choose a sampling of the different areas that we visited.  For example, since we visited many castles, we show different parts of different castles along the route rather than showing  many photos of just one castle at one time.

Photo Book #89a 

Anderson Family Photo Album Book D089a (shorter version)September 2012 - Ireland Part 1

  Photo Book #89b

Anderson Family Photo Album Book D089bSeptember 2012 - Ireland Part 2

Thanks for joining us on our adventure in Ireland and we hope you enjoy the photos!

Your flight is ready for departure

I took this photo at the Village Creek Drying Beds in Arlington, TX. I had driven out to the drying beds late in the afternoon not expecting to see much activity for two reasons. First, it had been so dry and there wasn't much water where the migratory or local birds would be feeding and secondly, the time of day would mean very little or no activity since most of that occurs early in the morning or later in the day.

It was as I expected when I got there. No sightings, no activity. I just drove around for a bit to see if I might stumble on anything. Toward the back of the Drying Beds, as I was slowly and quietly driving down a dirt track at about 5 mph, I suddenly surprised a very large group of finches and Red Wing Blackbirds that were feeding about 75-100 yards to my left. They all swooshed up at once, hundreds of them. I stopped and waited. Eventually they all settled back down again in the same area. I had my long telephoto lens on and hoping to get the same result as before, I set a fast shutter speed and low aperture and prepared for the event. I started rolling slowly again and sure enough the sound and nearness of the van set them off again. In a split second hundreds of them took to the air and I was able to get off several shots through the open window in the van.

The photo that I submitted is actually a small, approximately 1/8th section of the total exposure. They were in such a large area that I wanted to crop in on a group of them that were close together to achieve the effect I wanted. So you can imagine how many total birds there were! I was pleased that I was able to capture this event and create a photo that I would submit in the Elements of Design category. It turned out to be a profitable trip to the Drying Beds because the exposures of this event were the only shots I came back with.

James parents have several children and grandchildren and now they join Cheryl and me, in welcoming this much awaited new addition.  Kelly was an only child, so it has been wonderful expanding our family with her husband James, their son Flynn and now Lanie (Lay-nee). Flynn was one year old on December 28, 2012 and now with Lanie joining us just less than two weeks after that event, we now have two Christmas babies and what a gift that has been!

Cheryl is visiting and she took this photo with her iPhone on Lanie's second day (less than 24 hours since her birth) The cool thing about photography is that we can record great moments like these and have the results out to family and friends almost instantly. There will be many more photos in Flynn and Lanie's life for sure. In fact Kelly usually uploads around 100 new ones, including some short videos each week for Cheryl and me to keep up with Flynn's (and now Lanie's) continuing changes. Photography offers so much more than just pretty pictures and the such. It's also a way of communicating without words.  What's the old saying? "A picture is worth a thousand words!"

Welcome home Lanie! We look forward to many more photos of you and your brother Flynn over the years

Las Colinas is an area/neighborhood in Irving, TX that has kind of a theme to the buildings and landscaping.  It has canals that empty out into a small lake and you can take gondola rides. The name Las Colinas would seem to say the theme is mostly Spanish, and while it certainly has much of that feel, I think it also has a Mediterranean feel too. Probably because of the gondolas, canals and other structures. It's a nice area to take some interesting photographs.   Table for Four - Omni Mandalay Hotel

Many times when I am out and about I like to go into some of the larger hotels and see what they have in their lobbies. Often there are interesting things to shoot, or just the interiors in general are usually stylish and have nice design elements that make good photographs.

The Omni Mandalay Hotel is along the main street, so I stopped in there and walked around a bit. It was before the dinner hour, and I noticed the restaurant was open with no people.  I popped inside for a moment, saw this table set-up, liked the lighting, and grabbed a quick shot.

I've entered it into a Better Photo contest for January which has a monthly theme of "All Indoors", so we'll see if this is anything that the judges like... :-)

I stopped and talked to this man during our Ireland trip when we were driving the "Ring of Kerry".  He had a bunch of his stuff, including another accordian and assorted other odds and ends over to his left in the photo. 

We taked a bit about how long dogs live and that the once thought idea of a dog year being 7 human years had just recently been adjusted to a closer estimate of 10 human years.  He had a soft plate type toy similar to a frisbee that he tossed a couple times for his dog to catch in the air.

He played a short tune for us and we added to his tip jar, but overall, more than the tune and dog tricks, it was just nice taking a little time out of our trip to stop and talk with a genuinely friendly man.

I never expected this to be a winning photo or a finalist, but rather just a recording of our encounter.  I know for sure that spending some time with the people we photograph will always result in a more memorable result than just sneaking off a quick candid shot. 

But the real take-away is the chance to meet someone new and depart as friends!

I need to make a more concerted effort to look for "people" shots and then break out of my shell a bit to find ways to approach people in interesting settings and ask for permission to take their photo.

Vietnamese Family at Japanese Gardens

I met this family at the Japanese Gardens in Fort Worth and commented to the mother about how much I liked their clothes. She told me that they were formerly from Vietnam and this was their traditional dress. 

She was kind enough to allow me to take a photo of her mother, child and herself, while her husband, father and another child were farther up the walk.

http://www.betterphoto.com/gallery/gallery.asp?memberID=143894

Better Photo is a great site for sharing your photos and having conversations with other photographers.  They also have a contest each month with ten categories, so it's nice to have a competition to encourage you to go out and create some nice compositions.  Additionally, I have many multi-media slideshows I have created, stored and displayed on Photodex.com at:

http://www.photodex.com/share/mikea3

The main reason I decided to go with the Zenfolio site is they do not compress the photos, so they display with better resolution and look much closer to what I see on my monitors at home. There are many photo hosting sites to choose from, but after doing a little research I decided to go with Zenfolio due to their presentation quality and other features.

On another note, my wife gave me a Nikon D800 for Christmas this year.  It's a full frame camera and I'm really looking forward to learning to use it and continuing to improve my photography.  This will replace my D300 which has been a wonderful camera and will be kept as a backup.

So anyway, it's the beginning of a new year with a new camera and a new photo site, and I'm hoping many opportunities for new creative challenges!