Sunrise, Sunset, and Water Motion

Sunrises and sunsets, they happen everyday. Of course, there are times you can't actually see the sun, but it's still there. The first night of the photography workshop I attended we drove to the top of Hickory Nut Mountain to photograph the sunset. The drive itself was an adventure; four miles on a gravel road, six or seven cars, mine next to last, and dust so thick you couldn't see very far in front of you. We finally made it to the vista at the top and found a spectacular view of Lake Ouachita and the Ouachita Mountains.

There were clouds that night which obscured the actual sunset. These pictures were taken a little more to the north. The sun rays broke through the clouds in brilliant colors. I love the way a bit of the colors are reflected in the water.

On our last morning, we went back up to Hickory Mountain Vista to capture the sunrise. Once again there were clouds and we saw little of the actual sunrise, but the gorgeous colors were there breaking through the clouds. In the picture below, see all that fluffy white right above the tree line? That is the lake, totally covered by a low hanging cloud. The cloud was fascinating as it moved. It make me think I was looking at ocean waves. 

Even though there were clouds, the morning was gorgeous as the sun rose higher and began to shine on the trees.

Notice my title, Sunrise, Sunset, and Water Motion. You've seen the sunrise and the sunset, that just leaves the water motion. I saved these pictures for last because they were my worst. We set up our cameras near a stream with the goal of creating silky water flow. I got the silky water, but I also got blurry everything else. Yes, I used a tripod. No, I didn't use a remote shutter release. Yes, the wind was blowing a little. I deleted most of my blurry, water pictures, but I kept a few just to remember the fun of trying.

We did a lot of other photography at the workshop, but these three challenges were my favorite even though I didn't succeed at water motion. Mistakes are all right as long as we learn from them and I certainly learned that a remote makes a difference. 

I'd like to post one more time about the photography workshop, mostly just snapshots of where we were and a little of the small things that caught my eye.

Until then, if you ever get a chance to photography a sunrise or sunset, go for it. It's a magical time of the day!

Sunrise, sunset

Sunrise, sunset

One season following another,

Lainden with happiness and tears.

~ Sheldon Harnick

(Fiddler On The Roof)

Something New

I have some exciting news.

I'm starting a new adventure.

For four years I've been following a very special blog, Focusing On Life. It's a group of eight women that collaborate together "to create a caring community for people who are passionate about photography and life." They want their blog to "be a place that will inspire, teach, nurture, support and accept one another." I'm quoting from their blog, because they say it perfectly. They are passionate, They are inspiring. They teach. They nurture and support.

Now, here's my news. I've been asked to join this wonderful group of women. I am beyond thrilled. I hope you'll hop over to their blog today where I'm posting for the first time. It's exciting and a little scary. My intent is to share my thoughts and photography just like I do here.

Go check it our right here and let me know what you think!

The Rest Of The Story

When I say I'm going to do something, I try very hard to do it. Only sometimes it takes me a while! Last month I posted about our family trip at Thanksgiving. At the end I said, "There's just so much I want to share about our week. I'll be back with a few more nature details as soon as I'm able."  Well, it seems it took me a long time to be able! I was honestly going to post a couple of days later, but it's been over 40 days! I'll just blame that on Christmas!

Each morning I would head out on the deck. taking in the beauty of the mountains and valleys. The sunrises were gorgeous, but so was the foggy, rainy morning. The weather didn't stop us, we headed out no matter what.

We had planned several hikes for the week. I was excited because a couple of the trails had waterfalls. There are several waterfalls in Arkansas, but many of them are difficult to reach or on private land. In this area of the Ozark Mountains there are a few that the inexperienced hiker can reach. The first waterfall we saw was "The Glory Hole." This waterfall is one of most famous waterfalls in Arkansas. Dismal Creek runs through the area and over time the water has worn a hole right through the top of a huge cave cascading to the cave floor.

You can walk into the cave behind the waterfall, sit on the rocks, and enjoy the beauty and sounds of nature.

The second waterfall we hiked to was on the Lost Valley Trail. The trail leads to Eden Falls, a 53-foot tall waterfall. Pictures don't do it justice. It's a long way down to the pool below.

The Buffalo River which runs through the area is a favorite spot for canoeing. It's a breathtaking area with massive towering bluffs that are so colorful.

The upper river valley is home to the Arkansas elk herd. The Arkansas Game & Fish Commission made an agreement with the Colorado Department of Natural Resources in 1980 to trade Arkansas large mouth bass for Rocky Mountain Elk. Now there is an estimated 650+ elk in this area.

They are massive animals, standing up to five feet high at the shoulder and weighing from 600 to 1000 pounds. We were fortunate to hear the bugle calls from a couple of big bucks. It's such a lonely, haunting sound. The bugle starts low and throaty, rising to a high whistle, then dropping to a grunt. It's not an easy sound to imitate. My grandsons and I tried. We weren't very good and our bugling was interrupted with giggles! If you'd like to hear an elk Yellowstone has a website where you can listen to their calls. It will really surprise you what they sound like! 

I'll move on quickly because this is getting rather long. There were some very old homesteads in the area that we were able to wander around. This homestead had a cabin, a root cellar,  a barn, and even an outhouse.

There's a sign by the outhouse which reads

Uncle Sam's Gift

The Depression-era Works Progress Administration (WPA) came out to the Ozarks to improved daily living. Farmers asked for a new federally designed, pre-cast-concrete-floored privy." The advertisement read "Your home is not complete without a sanitary unit. Recommended by the State Department of Public Health."

I don't know how many of you have ever used an outhouse. I'm telling my age, but I have and I don't care if they have wood floors or concrete floors there's nothing sanitary about them!

We had such a great time wandering through the Ozarks and along the Buffalo River. I was reminded again just how beautiful Arkansas is.

Again forgive the delay in posting the rest of the story. I'll try to either not promise or be more prompt next time!

Sunday Sundries - Edition 65

"Joy comes in the morning"

Psalm 30:5

30 Days of Gratitude - Day 3

Grateful for each morning.

"The eye when it opens, is like the dawn breaking in the night.

When it opens, a new world is there."

~ John O'Donohue

Summertime on an Island Paradise

 

I've only been home about fourteen hours and I already miss the ocean. For the first time we took a vacation with our children, their spouses, and their children. It was absolutely wonderful. Many happy and fun memories were made. It's been 37 years since I've seen the ocean, so of course there were many hundreds of pictures taken.  Just let me say right now, this post is heavy on the pictures...light on words! I think when  you see the pictures below, you'll understand why I miss being there.

 

I miss the sound of the waves crashing right outside our bedroom window.

 

 

I miss the amazing colors.

 

 

I miss the birds.

 

 

 

I miss the morning walks I took along the beach.

 

 

 

 

I miss the sunrises.

 

 

 

 

I miss the sunsets.

 

 

I even miss the seaweed in the golden light of sunset.

 

 

I miss the details.

 

 

But, most of all, I miss seeing these guys each morning and hugging them goodnight.

 

 

 

I can think of only one thing I won't be missing...sand in my bed!

I'm sure you're going to see more pictures from our family vacation at Dauphin Island, Alabama.

"Don't cry because it's over.

Smile because it happened."

Dr. Seuss

Weekend Getaway

This weekend we made our annual trip to Robber's Cave State Park in Oklahoma. We take "Old Red" to the street rod show during their Fall Festival.  You may be wondering what that little gray thing on the running board is. If you step on the running boards you scratch the paint. The little kiddos always want to hop up on the running board and look inside. I had towels embroidered with the words "not a step." Just a kind way of keeping little ones off. I usually take them off when I take pictures of the truck, but I forgot this time!!

 

We arrive at the park before sunrise. It's the funniest thing, people start leaving the motel at 4:30 in the morning to find the perfect spot to park their cars!!  We didn't leave until 6:00, but we still arrived in the dark!  There's only one good outcome getting there in the dark, I get to watch the sunrise over the lake! As the sun rises you can see the mist floating up in spirals from the water. The leaves have just begunto turn. In a few more days they should be spectacular.

 

 

 

The sunlight also begins to shine on the rock formations across the lake.

I'm always off by myself walking around exploring the park. I like going by myself, I can spend as much time as I want taking photographs or just sitting on the rocks watching the sunrise. Sitting beside the lake left me nothing to think about, I just soaked in the quiet and the beauty of God's creation. Speaking of creation I'm always amazed at the details in creation like this rock with it's bumps and crevices.  Rocks could have all been created smooth with similar shapes and colors, but no, they weren't. God took pleasure in his creation and we are blessed to be able to enjoy the beauty.  As I loaded these images this morning, I noticed the heart-shaped indention.  I love finding little love notes from nature!!

It was a beautiful day with beautiful sunshine; perfect for beautiful reflections!

 

 

I think it would be lovely to paddle around the lake in a canoe! 

 

 

In my exploration I went around the back of one of the buildings. I'm assuming it may have been a boat house when the lake was higher. Under the house there were three stalls with boardwalks around them and even old roll-up garage doors. The  sacked rocks are one of many foundation piers under the building.

On Sunday we get up early once again and head home as the sunrises. I'm not sure why we do this, it's only about a four hour trip, but tradition is hard to break!!

The festival is always enjoyable. There's a quilt show, craft show, amusement park rides, plenty of old cars and trucks to look at, and great food vendors!!