Squaw

For our first trip to Lake Tahoe this winter, we went to Squaw Valley. This is a view of the main mountain and the village at the base. We stayed at the very tony Squaw Creek Resort which had excellent views. The morning was overcast and sort of blue-ish with fog. Christmas decorations were still up and cheery.

Tasha

Tasha is 17 human years old. I remember very well the day we adopted her from the pound. We "reserved" her the week before and she was a pudgy fluffy thing. We went on vacation and came back to pick her up. The director at the pound was angry at us because we weren't supposed to "reserve" any dogs (even though they let us do it!) and then she handed us Tasha. My brother and I looked at each other - this wasn't the same dog! But because we were given such a hard time about the adoption, we didn't say anything. We got into the car and started laughing. Tasha has been with us ever since. Poor old girl. I don't think she'll live past this winter but she has been a trooper.

A View of San Francisco

sf_view, originally uploaded by LynetteM.

My brother and his fiance live in the southern part of San Francisco and wake up each morning to this view of the city.

50 Cents

sanddollar, originally uploaded by LynetteM.

We found a few whole sand dollars at Ocean Beach in San Francisco, but they were dingy and grey. This one had been sitting on the beach for a while and was bleached by the sun.

Bloomin' Orchid

contest_orchid, originally uploaded by LynetteM.

The second of two photos in the company contest. I have wonderful luck with Phal. orchids but I must be doing something right because they bloom for me every year.

Innovation

contest_wheel, originally uploaded by LynetteM.

This is one of two photos that Karl and I submitted to our company photo contest. It was taken at the Larnach Castle on the Otago peninsula near Dunedin on the South Island of New Zealand. The castle has gorgeous gardens and fantastic views.

Indian Arch

indian_arch01, originally uploaded by LynetteM.

Indian Arch is a quick detour from the North Dome trail that everyone immediately fell in love with. The short climb was steep and a little dangerous with loose gravel and rocks. Everyone forgot about that, though, once we reached this amazing natural formation. The distant view of Half Dome framed within the arch was picture-perfect.

Mist Trail

vernal_falls02, originally uploaded by LynetteM.

The path snaking along the side of the mountain is the Mist Trail, so named because the spray from Vernal Falls drenches hikers in the spring and early summer. The Mist Trail is the first of two trails to Half Dome with intimidating, steep, stone steps.

Vernal Falls in Autumn

vernal_falls03, originally uploaded by LynetteM.

Your first stunning view on your way to Half Dome are the mighty Vernal Falls. In the spring Vernal is torrential; the spray covers you as you traverse up the Mist Trail (hence the name) to the top of the falls. In the autumn, most of the falls in Yosemite dry up but Vernal still has flow.

Vernal Falls - The Top

vernal_falls01, originally uploaded by LynetteM.

Just a view of the canyon, you know, ho hum, just a bunch of rocks and trees.

Ft. Bragg Bluffs

We stayed in a house overlooking these bluffs in Ft. Bragg. In the mornings the abalone divers would park on the edge and bring up their treasures from the sea.

Little Kitty

My mischievous, maddening, devilish Little Kitty. She drives me crazy one minute and then cuddles the next. LK loves to have her picture taken.

Man Amongst Sequoias

During Karl's sabbatical we hiked in Sequoia/Kings Canyon National Park. I had bought a 19mm-24mm lens for the sole purpose of being able to take pictures of these gigantic trees. Karl is the tiny man.

Neighborhood Sunset

Most of my photos are from my travels but sometimes the best images are found close to home. This is my neighbor's house across the street. A blazing sunset was just behind it.

Low Tide

In the Abel Tasman National Park, on the South Island of New Zealand, we took a water taxi up to Torrent Bay and hiked down the Coastal Track from there. We hopped into the taxi, which was then towed into the water by a tractor. At the end of the day we finally reached our destination which was where we picked up the taxi that morning. The tide had receded by almost a mile. It didn't even look like the same cove.

Between the Ice

On our New Zealand trip, Karl and I hiked the Franz Josef Glacier. Some of the crevices were so narrow that people had to remove their backpacks and slide sideways. The glacier changes every day. The guides must rise early in the morning to survey the paths they can safely take the hikers. They create steps up the glacier by chipping away with an ice axe.

In the Pool

On my third night at the Wild Horse Pass resort in Arizona, I finally took a dip in the pool. There were 4 pools in all and at 7pm the water was as comfortable as a warm bath. I swam lazy laps. When I stood up I was puzzled by ripples in the water that soon turned into small waves. The hint of a breeze just 5 minutes earlier had whipped into a mini tropical storm. The chaise chairs were blown into the pools and the umbrellas toppled to the ground. I ran after my clothes flying off one of the chairs and raced towards the hotel with the rest of the poolgoers.

Image of a Storm

Under the safer cover of the hotel patio, I tried to take an "action" shot of the storm as it began to blow through. I was still in my bathing suit with the towel slipping a bit down my hips. While I was taking pictures, a guy with an umbrella cocktail started talking to me. "Do you always swim at this time of the evening? Because if you do, I'd swim with you."

Storm Aftermath

The pool area did not look as relaxing and inviting as the night before the storm.

Chimenea

My favorite photo from Arizona. This chimney fire pit was hidden behind a tall wall and I came upon it by accident. The color and shape contrasted so beautifully with the angles of the building and cactus. I wish this was in my backyard.

Mirrored Trees

The morning after the storm was clear and the sun piercing. I was lucky enough to spot these trees and their calm reflection in the river just before the sun rose too high in the sky.

A Family of Cactus

Many cacti on the resort grounds were lone, single plants. These made me think they were a little family on vacation at the beach.

Between the Walls

A slice of the golf course and the mountains in the distance. Each time I walked down the hotel corridor to my room, I would glimpse a spectacular view of the landscape through narrow windows.

View From a Schloss

We were not allowed to take any photos inside the castles. However, it was OK to take pictures from the inside looking out. This is the view from Schloss Neuschwanstein overlooking King Ludwig II's childhood schloss, Hohenschwangau.

Rothenburg Square

Rothenburg is a tourist town depicting medieval architecture. The square was full of people, none of them German. The only place that wasn't crowded was the sky.

Holding Hands

John and Helene graciously travelled with us to Prague even though they were supposed to be on their honeymoon. After a full day of sightseeing, shopping and eating we headed back to the hotel via the Old Village.

Stained Glass

In the cathedral behind Prague Castle. Gargoyles guarded the outer door. The stained glass windows blazed within.

Wedding Favors

Helene and John decorated the tables in the reception hall themselves. They love chocolates.

Biscuit Baby

Ariel's eyes were striking. She was just about to smile wide and show a new tooth.

Concentration Camp

Dachau was the first concentration camp to be established in World War II. The grounds are plain, the buildings stark. There is no furniture. The barracks are long hallways with square cement rooms and heavy wood doors. The atmosphere is stark and sterile. Yet this iron gate preventing tourist entry still shocked me. It made me wonder what horrors lay beyond which could not be cleaned up.