Bull Run Bridge & Tunnel Authority

Monache Meadow

2011-10-18T09:15:00.000-07:00

More photos of the high country, from our first 4WD adventure. Click on the photo then click slideshow.

Manter Meadow Hike

2011-07-23T09:35:00.000-07:00

The Year in Pictures

2010-12-26T22:52:00.000-08:00

Loss,love, fire and flood.
Friends, music and the Mojave.
2010 has been an indelible year.

Here, in semi-seasonal order are some of the images.

2010 in Pictures.

Click the thumbnail, then full screen slideshow button for best effect.

Five weeks after the Bull Fire

2010-08-28T15:23:00.000-07:00

Almost five weeks ago, a fire started up Bull Run Creek and devastated our lovely "back yard". We're going to have to learn to appreciate the beauty of what remains, and it's encouraging to see the greenery already pushing up at the roots of the burnt trees. In some ways parts feel like a northern forest in the middle of winter, with ash taking the place of snow. It's going to be interesting to find what remnants of the past have been revealed by the removal of all that (highly flammable) undergrowth.

Bull Run Five Weeks Later

A Busy Day on the Kern River

2010-06-05T22:53:00.000-07:00

It was an fascinating day in Kernville. We awoke to discover the river had gone up some 2500 feet from the previous day. Impressive, to say the least. We spent some time admiring the volume of water, then went to the Farmers Market. On the way back we stopped at Riverside Park to watch all the activity.

Scene Along the Kern, non emergency edition...

A while after we got home, a sheriff's car with flashing lights came zipping down the driveway. We met him outside the house, and he told us he needed to get to the river. Out we went with him, to witness the rescue of a raft full of first-timers who'd gotten a little too intimate with some trees that normally are on dry land.

Swift Water Rescue. (Edited)

The Old Edison Trail

2010-06-03T23:10:00.000-07:00

This trail was once the way to work for those building the adits and tunnels of the Edison power plant, KR3. It's been rediscovered and tended, and now offers stunning views of the river and valley below.

The hand terraced trail stretches from the intake near Fairview to the power plant, just below Riverkern, though some of it is still difficult to find. The original project was completed in 1921.

I've hiked a five mile section of the trail twice in the last week or so, and here are a couple of slide shows.

Grant Hike

A Stroll with the Blister Sisters

Wildflowers, Round 2

2010-05-09T07:12:00.000-07:00

SFO International Terminal

2010-05-06T15:05:00.000-07:00

Wildflower Mania

2010-04-13T20:59:00.000-07:00

The other side of the road from Stine Cove. Pictures cannot do it justice, but open this one full sized, and see just how the bands of color work their way up the hills. Those tiny black dots are cattle.

Spring. Fabulous. Slideshows.

2010-04-05T20:11:00.000-07:00

The Kern Canyon, March 23, 2010. Exquisite.

Bambi Visit

Easter 2010.

Home Improvements

2010-03-05T11:30:00.001-08:00

Now

Then

Spring Storms

2010-03-05T11:03:00.000-08:00

Bring fascinating clouds.

Bull Run Creek after a good big rain.

2010-02-24T19:56:00.000-08:00

9 am

5 pm

The bridge is underwater

The creek smells rich and muddy.

Valentine's Day Jam

2010-02-15T20:53:00.000-08:00

With guests of honor Bill and Peggy Sue.

Here's a slide show:

Valentine's day Jam with Bill and Pegy Sue

And!

a bit of harmony.

Howdy from Whiskey Flat

2010-02-14T23:21:00.000-08:00

Whiskey Flat 2010

We started the day at April and Gary's, click for the slide show!

Whiskey Flat Dogs
There were also many fine dogs in attendance.

Still Waters

2010-01-09T08:54:00.000-08:00

Last Sunset of 2009

2009-12-31T17:18:00.000-08:00

Ice. On the Kern

2009-12-09T09:46:00.000-08:00

Snow Day!

2009-12-07T12:38:00.000-08:00

Snow 2009

Lovely snowy morning in Kernville

2009-12-07T10:30:00.000-08:00

Wanderings

2009-12-07T09:12:00.000-08:00

Wanderings

A slideshow from around the Valley.

Holiday Season!

2009-12-06T13:03:00.001-08:00

Night on the town.

Slideshow!

Satsuma Season at our house.

2009-12-02T18:22:00.000-08:00

With commentary by Eddie Izzard

Sun lighted trees in the canyon.

2009-12-02T17:50:00.000-08:00

Thanksgiving in Kernville

2009-11-26T20:40:00.000-08:00

Fritzi last spring

2009-11-25T22:00:00.000-08:00

Just wanted to put this lovely shot up from last March.

Sunday Views

2009-11-22T21:47:00.000-08:00

We dined with the Harris's and Twombly's this weekend. Good food, good friends, great scenery.

Weekend Fun

Slideshow

Blog Inturruped.

2009-11-18T20:19:00.000-08:00

We blame the immediate gratification of Facebook. So easy to post there, but it's so ephemeral too. And photos look so much better here. So, here we are again...with a pile of backlogged slideshows. Click and enjoy!

Autumn Leaves

2009-11-18T17:40:00.000-08:00

Autumn leaves.

Watercolors

2009-11-18T17:35:00.000-08:00

Watercolors

More watercolors

Heron at sunset

2009-10-30T18:51:00.000-07:00

Finches at war

2009-10-26T11:19:00.001-07:00

View of the Kern Canyon from Oak Flat lookout road

2009-07-16T15:13:00.000-07:00

\
An old ranch along Rancheria Road

Fourth of July on the Kern

2009-07-16T15:11:00.000-07:00

Summer Still Life

2009-07-16T15:09:00.000-07:00

Uninvited Breakfast Guest

2009-07-16T15:07:00.000-07:00

At least he was kind enough to announce his presence with a loud buzzzzzzzzzz.

Lovely view of Yellowjacket.

2009-07-04T11:56:00.000-07:00

with dog!

Farmer's Market Las Vegas style

2009-06-25T15:58:00.000-07:00

Every Thursday, in a warehouse, in an industrial part of town

Some local growers, some things from California

Chef's from kitchens all over town

Berry Goodness

2009-06-25T15:44:00.000-07:00

Wet streets

2009-06-25T15:33:00.000-07:00

Surprise! Rain in June in LV.

Seen in Pahrump

2009-06-25T15:30:00.000-07:00

McNalley's

2009-06-25T15:20:00.000-07:00

Back at it...

2009-06-07T22:59:00.000-07:00

June Rain Light

2009-06-06T14:49:00.000-07:00

So crisp. Everything looks special in this light.

June Rain
Slideshow

June Rain Sky

2009-06-06T08:43:00.000-07:00

June Rain on Desert Flowering Willow

2009-06-05T10:56:00.000-07:00

Desert Art

2009-06-02T21:21:00.000-07:00

As we drove down 395 from Olancha, this marvelous Joshua tree caught my eye. We circled back for a closer look...

Desert Art Slideshow

Sonata for Piano, Uke and Calico

2009-06-02T20:59:00.000-07:00

A musical selection before we hit the road.

Click for giant version of Dinky aria.

Not all of our visitors are skeery.

2009-05-31T08:48:00.001-07:00

Garage sale things.

2009-05-26T20:21:00.000-07:00

We found these at a Siretta Street sale. Any ideas what they might be? As usual, click photo for more detail.

Memorial Day on the Kern

2009-05-26T20:08:00.000-07:00

Click for the giant photo to see all the rafts and total cuteness of the Harris granddaughters.

Manzanita bug

2009-05-26T20:04:00.000-07:00

Another case of "what the heck is this?" We saw these larva-looking creatures attached to and eating manzanita leaves near the river.

Spiderwork

2009-05-26T19:59:00.000-07:00

Busy spiders on the Bull Run trail.

One more wild critter

2009-05-16T11:12:00.001-07:00

A you-know-what in the grass

2009-05-14T22:05:00.000-07:00

I wandered to the garden in the ravine this morning. The penstamon are blooming, and it's beginning to look quite lush. I bent down to pull a few weeds and came face to face with this guy...

Click this photo to get the full effect.

We made a few phone calls, and found there is a reptile rescue person in the Valley. His name is Buzz. Watch the slideshow to see him in action.

Buzz to the rescue

(Not for the snake squeemish, and you know who you are)

While we were away...

2009-05-14T21:57:00.001-07:00

Our Desert Adventure

2009-05-14T20:44:00.000-07:00

Behind us is Sandy Valley, ahead, the Kingston Wash and wilderness, the Excelsior Mine, and some great sights...
Click for the slide show!

We took the dirt roads home

Marty and Tim at Sandy Valley Ranch

2009-05-14T20:41:00.000-07:00

The Hummingbirds at our door

2009-05-06T11:41:00.000-07:00

One of three nests we can see out various doors. Momma hummer is in.

Phyllis McGuire

2009-05-06T09:17:00.000-07:00

At the World Market event, I had a moment to visit with one of the most interesting women in Las Vegas.

The wikipedia article barely scratches the surface, but mentions Sugartime the HBO biopic. Click on this link for a bit more of the story , or also this review as a synopsis

The art of the building.

2009-05-06T09:13:00.000-07:00

I love how the WMC building looks at dusk. Click for the full sized version.

Cars look especially lovely. Handsom Jag, eh?

A different angle

2009-05-06T09:04:00.000-07:00

A view of the strip from the top of the World Market Center.

Meanwhile, in Las Vegas

2009-05-06T08:53:00.000-07:00

We went to the Nevada Heart Ball

With our friends John and Teri Daly

Garden Frenzy Time

2009-05-06T08:45:00.000-07:00

We put the tomato in what we hope is a critter-proof spot.

New color

Tomatillo. Never grew one before...

We went to see John Prine in Bakersfield

2009-04-21T08:28:00.000-07:00

First, dinner at the excellent Mama Roomba's

Just one door down from the best neon anywhere

And the neon of the Fox Theater compliments a lovely sunset.

John Prine played for two-plus glorious hours to a wildly appreciative audience. He is a sly artist with words. His songs are like paintings.

The Holidays

2009-04-19T21:28:00.000-07:00

For Passover, Josh led a sedar for six of our friends who had never participated in one before.

I set the table with Norma's linens and plates, and made the charoset, along with lamb.

Then Easter Sunday, Mitzi put together a Southern feast, jam session, and a beach party. Click for the slideshow.

Easter at Mitzi and Terry's

The Wedding!

2009-04-13T09:31:00.000-07:00

April and Gary's wedding snaps-
Before and after:

April and Gary's wedding rehersal

The wedding day, before the ceremony

The Reception

Click on each thumbnail, then slideshow!

Yellow

2009-03-21T16:48:00.000-07:00

was the color of the day as we walked up the Whiskey Flat Trail.

Yellow and then some...

The green was pretty good too.
Click for slideshow!

April's April Wedding

2009-03-21T10:48:00.000-07:00

April and Gary are getting married April 5th at our house.

The ceremony will be in the front of the house, the reception on the back by the river.

Much sprucing going on.

Poppies in the canyon

2009-03-21T10:37:00.000-07:00

The first glimpse

then more...

Oh! My!

(photos, by no means, do this justice...but click for the larger view to get the whole orange-atude)_

Wildflowers!

2009-03-17T10:45:00.000-07:00

Wildflowers

In the middle of Death Valley

2009-03-11T22:56:00.000-07:00

We met up with Pat & Mike and Terry & Mitzi for lunch at the Furnace Creek Inn, that deco delight of the desert.

Oasis Rendezvous

We were hoping for wildflowers, but the less ephemeral colors of of the rocks had to do.

Artist Drive

Enjoy this pair of slide shows!

Mike Jones

2009-03-11T21:05:00.000-07:00

opens the show for Penn & Teller but as far as we're concerned, it was a fabulous jazz concert with a nice magic show afterward.

Cocktail Magic

2009-03-11T20:14:00.000-07:00

Before the Penn and Teller show at the Rio, we stopped for cocktails at Buzios.

Melon vodka, green tea liquor, sake and a splash of sweet and sour. We made them disappear. Yum.

Still Lifes in Las Vegas

2009-03-11T18:36:00.000-07:00

Still Lifes at home in LV

Fritzi rides in the convertible

2009-03-11T18:35:00.000-07:00

Late winter view

2009-03-11T18:31:00.000-07:00

The willows are red, which means they're just about to leaf out.

Tree Time with the Twomblys

2009-03-11T18:18:00.000-07:00

Terry and Mitzi brought us a lovely Desert Flowering Willow,

complete with hole and expert installation.

Can't wait to see it to bloom!

Bull run in the rain

2009-03-01T18:30:00.000-08:00

Last week, after the rain and just before the trees started turning green, we hiked up the creek for this late winter view.

Bull Run in the rain

The Goldfinchs

2009-03-01T18:12:00.000-08:00

Walking

2009-02-21T12:54:00.000-08:00

Sunday Jam

2009-02-17T13:44:00.000-08:00

Sunday Jam
Slideshow

Whiskey Flats Parade

2009-02-16T15:12:00.000-08:00

Shriner face of the year

Slideshow!

Parade

Early Thursday morning

2009-02-16T13:48:00.000-08:00

Everything is beautiful in the snow.

Wild Burros by the side of the road.

2009-02-16T13:45:00.000-08:00

The pool at Furnace Creek Inn

2009-02-16T13:39:00.000-08:00

The El Cortez

2009-01-29T22:29:00.000-08:00

Original signage 1941

We dined at the Flame

It was stone crab nite

The staircase

Girls

And the slideshow:

El Cortez Sights

Obedience Class

2009-01-29T22:11:00.000-08:00

The first day...a slideshow:

Smarty Paws

Lucky and Buddy

2009-01-29T22:07:00.000-08:00

They hang out at the dance studio.

The LV backyard.

2009-01-29T21:40:00.000-08:00

Abstract with Pool Vac.

Wallscape with nandia

Agave

As always, click for the giant view.

On to the Bellagio

2009-01-11T20:08:00.000-08:00

for the Canon 4 Kids Event. Every year in connection with CES, Canon has a big shindig and celebrity benefit golf tournament. Our friend John Daly is the emcee, and the party is always a hoot.

My two favorite attendees are Alice Cooper and Davy Jones. They always hang out together, though I didn't get a snap of them this year, I did get a few others...

Canon Event

A few details from the Encore

2009-01-11T19:16:00.000-08:00

from Encore at Wynn.

The new casino opened a week or so ago, and we took a quick look before playing poker. There is a lot of natural light, a ton of texture, and RED in abundance.

Here's a slideshow:

Encore at Wynn

The Aileen, Bambi and I went for an afternoon. Here are more details:

Encore Encore

New Year's Eve at the Orleans

2009-01-01T13:32:00.001-08:00

We went to a pirate themed, early New Year's party. Dinner at five, by seven, a toast and then plenty of time to play a little poker and still be home by 9.

NYE 2008 Las Vegas

as always, click for slideshow.

The Ornaments are all gone from the tree.

2009-01-01T13:23:00.000-08:00

And ready to be wrapped for another year. Click for the giant image. It's fun!

A Mystery

2008-12-28T10:18:00.000-08:00

Recently, I put a couple of frozen chicken breasts out to thaw in the kitchen. Much to my surprise, I discovered one by the front door.

How could this have happened, I wondered....

Could one of these three be the culprit?

Who looks guilty?

White Christmas in Kernville

2008-12-28T10:04:00.000-08:00

This lovely photo was shot early Christmas morning by the talented Dan Ocampo.

Christmas in Las Vegas

2008-12-26T14:02:00.000-08:00

was especially festive this year, the snow really set
the holiday tone...

We had our tree decorating party on the snowiest day, when even the Strip was covered in white, and the schools were closed.

(photo from the RJ)

Christmas in Las Vegas

(click for slide show)

But the glittery-est holiday party of all was Marty and Tim's
annual gathering. Wonderful fun!

Marty's Party 2008

More fun in the snow

2008-12-15T22:16:00.000-08:00

and slideshow:

Snow in Las Vegas December 2008

Fritzi catches a snowball

2008-12-15T22:14:00.000-08:00

The toss

the catch!

(click for giant version!)

My favorite shot of the day

2008-12-15T22:09:00.000-08:00

with a nod to Ansel Adams.