'Cause canyons will echo my voice .....

Another couple of images  from Little Colorado River Overlook, on the road to the Grand Canyon.  While not as stunning as the Grand Canyon, this was a really cool spot.

 

 

The post tile is lyrics from Chris August's song Canyons (Beautiful Noise).

Old Beech Tree

I've been participating at a blog called The World In Black And White.  I've posted less than 1/2 dozen photos over the past 2 months, but it's been a fun addtion to my activities.  Primarily because I've been able to enjoy the photos posted by others...

This one is particularly fetching...  In fact all of Mr. Becker's work is humbling.

Be sure and click through for the "real" version.  It's worth the look.

Tiny's!

During our recent trip to Arizona our friends took us by a funky little place for lunch:  Tiny's Family Restaurant.  Also known as Tiny's Saloon.  It was too crowded for any good photos, but was perfect for some good food.  Nothing fancy, burgers and fries.  But done right!

A few more photos:

We ate really well on this trip.  Tuscosn, Flagstaff....  all good!

The title of this book was in binary.

Geek humor:

Yeah, I laughed.   Binary, get it???                             Nevermind.
I found this over on the talkbass.com forums.

Little Colorado River Overlook

Something about the desert jsut screams out "PANORAMA!"....  At least to me.  Here's another one, just a few miles NW of the last one.  Again, check out the larger version at Panoramio.  If you click on that version, you can pull up the full size.  At 120 px/in, this would print over 60" wide!

Nothing Is Impossible.....

"Nothing Is Impossible With God"  Luke 1:37

 

 

My son at the Little Colorado Scenic Overlook.   A very cool little spot on the road from Flagstaff to the Grand Canyon.  We spent about an hour here, checking out the Little Colorado River Gorge and the Native American wares.

Through The Desert... Panorama

On the road to the Grand Canyon...  Bigger version here.

First Amendment Plaza

Outside the Communications Building at Northern Arizona University...

"Congress shall make no law repecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievancews."

 

 

Good stuff.

Arizona Mountains

The mountains above Slide Rock State Park, along the road between Flagstaff and Sedona, Arizona.

Desert Sunset

near Bapchule, AZ, between Phoenix and Tuscon.  This was actually taken from a moving car, by my son (I was driving)...

Here's a version taken about 5 minutes later, during the last rays of the sun.  Pretty awesome.

Larger version, etc, HERE.

There's A Moon In The Sky....

Another "rough mix" from our recent trip to the Grand Canyon....

Oak Creek Canyon

Along the road from Flagstaff to Sedona, AZ.  Another "rough mix".  But I rather like this one...

A Rare Portrait

Regular readers know that I take very few "people pictures".  If you do see people in a photo, they'll probably be facing away from me.  But to every rule, there's an exception...

I took this photo of my son today at Oak Creek Canyon in Arizona.  And I quite like it. 

Grand Canyon #6530

Quick Edit.  I'll be giving this one some more attention later.....

Grand Canyon #6562

Good stuff!

Grand Canyon Sunset

From Yavapai Point, on the South Rim.

Point

 

This little Church has been in old-town Glen Carbon for many years.  The steeple on this on always reminds me of the Harry Nilsson story "The Point"..

.

It's been under several different banners during the 20+ years we've lived out here.  Right now the sign says First Baptist Church, SBC.  But I can't find anything on-line indicating that it's active.  And Yelp says it is not.  The Glen Carbon web site says it is "The Point", but that may be out of date, their myspace page hasn't been logged into for almost 5 years.....  Anybody know the scoop?

 

 

 

Cactus Star

Not to  be confused with a star cactus....  Taken at Arizona-Sonora Desert Musuem, Tucson, AZ

Glen Carbon, off the beaten path.

Last Friday, walking along the Nickle Plate Trail.  Just before crossing the Glen Crossing Connector, I wandered off trailto the stream.  This is only 25 yds of so from the trail, and the road.  Also on Panaramio.

A Crowd Of Cacti!

On the outskirts of Tucson, near Tucson Mountain Park.  

DSOTM Musings.....

As in Dark Side Of The Moon.  The iconic 1973 ablum from Pink Floyd:

So....  we're out shopping for some clothes the other day and my Middle-Schooler son decides that the simply MUST have the tee-shirt with the DSOTM inspired design.  Which got me thinking that I was his age when that album came out!  Naturally, when we got home, I had to dial it up on the sound system.  During the course of the nexxt 40 minutes, I made a comment pointing out that DSOTM was, in fact, an IMPORTANT album.  To which my wife resonded "why".  This of course led to much sputtering and stammering and struggling to explain from me.  I struggled to find words about the sonic landscape, the lyrical insights, and such.  But failing to come up with a remotely concise explanation.  I'd say "you just had to be there", but she was, in fact "there".  But not nearly as obsessed with music.  I idid (subsequently) find a web-site explaing how to listen to Dark Side Of The Moon....  That might've helped.


This album was on the Billboard charts for 741 weeks!  (That's over 14 years).  I remember a music teacher (in my middle school years) using the song "Money" in class, as an example of integrating day-to-day sounds into music compositions.  And doing really poorly on the subsequent homework. 

I remember thinking that the lyrics to "Time" were really cool when I was 15, and having a whole new insight on them at 30.  Not to mention 50....

And you run and you run to catch up to the sun but it's sinking

And racing around to come up behind you again

The sun is the rame in a relitive way  but you're older

Shorter of breath and one day closer to death

Every year is getting shorter never seem to find the time.......

Well, I've exceeded the "terse" require,emt of blogging, and still made little sense.  Publish anyway!



Tucson Valley at Sunrise

taken with my super-humble blackberry camera, from our friends' home....  Wish we had a vista like this in Glen Carbon!

Hands Free

A lone bicyclist on the Nickel Plate Trail, midday last Friday.  I think the yellow vest was intended to make him stand out, but it's practically camouflage here.  Also at Panoramio.

Burning Sky:

The view from my office window is an occasional subject here....  And time for another installment!!
This was taken Wednesday (11/14), just before 9am. 

Midday Meanderings At Miner Park....

I took a vacation day today, and found myself at Miner Park around noon (after a stop at the Library).  Nice opportuntiy for a wander.  Although this looks like deep woods, it's not.  To the left are the picnic areas, the play structure and the tennis courts.  To the right are ball fields and the "Bark Park".  275 yards ahead is the Glen Carbon Library.  Check it out at Panaramio.

Painted Bricks

Slice Of Life #0160

The east wall of the Scout offices in Belleville, IL....

Journey to the Centre of the Earth - Revisited

I saw a report today that Rick Wakeman is reworking his 1975 album "Journey To The Center Of The Earth".  Complete with about 20 minutes of additional score (which was previously dropped due to the time constriants on vinyl records).  I remember seeing this performed live on one of the late night rock television shows that were popular in the mid 70's.  Probably "In Concert" but possibly "The Midnight Special".  Or maybe something else.  Apparently not "Don Kirshner's Rock Concert". Regardless, I did see it on TV.

While some call it one of progressive rock's crowning achievements, others counter with overblown, pompus and pretentious.  And I think that both sides probably have their point.  But, as a 14/15 year old kid, I was blown away, in a good way.  For me, the high points outweight the "not so high points" by a wide margin.  And while it probably hasn't aged as well as some other music of the time, it still has a place in my collection.

I'll be looking forward to the new version...

Fallen

Tree reflections, Everett Moody Park at Longacre.  With some "painterly" effects.  Taken at the same time as this one, which has a rather different feel.

Redbud = Deadbud

Yep.  Our redbud tree gave up the ghost.  It had been looking pretty bad since the extreme drought this summer, but appears to have been worse than I thought.  We had wind and rain last night, and a toppled tree today.

Time to break out the chainsaw!!

Branching Out

One of those subjects to which I tend to be drawn.  Tree branches in lakes.  Go figure.
 From Everett Moody Park, last week.  Not my best example of the theme, but we have to work with what we have......

Evertt Moody Park at Longacre

This could be a calendar shot.  Of course, some folks would say that's a backhanded compliment.  A step above snapshot, at least.  From the south end of the park, looking north.

Spotted Colors

Another one from Moody Park, last Thursday. This is the southernmost part of the park, the water in the background is the border with a neighborhood.  About here.

Cry Me A River

Beautiful day yesterday.  I spent soem time wandering around Moody Park.  You can see the tree down the trail in this photo.  It can be challenging to find good subjects on bright mid-days.  But I kind of like this one, as something different.

Untitled #6197

I'm rarely at a loss for words.  But I got nothin".  Suggestions?

Dreary...

It was a dark grey day today, dark but dry.  I took this one at St. Ellen Mine Park.  Taken across the pond from this one.  100 yards and 10 weeks, and it's a whole different feel.

Deadfall

Deadfall, as in "A mass of fallen timber and tangled brush".    Not "A trap for large animals in which a heavy weight is arranged to fall on and kill or disable the prey".

As far as a musical reference, the song "Bound To Fall" pops to mind (from Stephen Still & Manassas)...  Or maybe "Downfall", by Poco.

Untitled #6199

Leaves....   Rocks..... Moss....  Ferns.....   Oh yeah!

Pleasant Ridge Panorama

A grey misty day today..  temperature on the low side of 50...  A great day for a walk in the woods.  Larger size here.  This is 4 individual images stitched together.

Autumn Leaves #2890

Post title is from the 1957 Duke Ellington song.  Of course, it would fit better if this was leaves instead of a single leaf.  But C'est La Vie, huh?

This Little Light Of Mine

My son's playing in our Church's youth praise-band.  I missed their first time playing due to a business trip, but I was there today.  The band did a great job, more photos here.

Leaf Detail #6067

I pressed this leaf for a couple of days, to get it nice and flat.  Then taped it to a window for backlight. 

Leaves

Reeds, Clouds

Just a random shot from St. Ellen Park...  Tall grasses growing along one of the ponds, framing thin clouds...

Cache, Cache #6042

Last Thursday, I did a little geocaching at lunch.  Regular readers know that St. Ellen Park is a regular lunchtime destination.  Well, there's a geocache there, and I had been wanting to search it out.  My first attempt, I was beatten back by the mid-summer thorns and thistles.  Now that fall is here, I decided to try again.  This was a little challenge to find, well back in the undergrowth, and not on a trail...  But I did find it.  In fact it is in this photo.  (it's at the top left "power point").

Specifically: