Our lunch spot.

Joan 

Downstairs on Cashio Street

Delicate Arch on a Blustery Day

AB and I hiked to Delicate Arch this morning. The wind was coooold and there was just enough rain to make me think about adding my rain pants.

So nice to be outside, outside Los Angeles and outside California.

Joan 

Downstairs on Cashio Street

Big Horn Sheep in Nine Mile Canyon

Today's was a drizzly adventure walking about in Nine Mile Canyon, northwest of Moab, but it was fabulous!

We met a real live Big Horn ewe near Daddy Canyon and later we spotted this elegant Big Horn petroglyph near the end of the giant buffalo panel. There was so much in between, too.

This is a helpful guide to this "world's longest art gallery"

Joan 

Downstairs on Cashio Street

Phone-post

Matilaja Poppies - Local to Me!

So happy to see Matilaja Poppies in Kenneth Hahn State Recreation Area last week. 

Also so happy to figure out how to post from my phone. This could revive my sad little blog 

Joan

Downstairs on Cashio Street

phone-post

Test post

This is a test post. The first time I’ve tried posting to Downstairs on Cashio Street via email.

Next, I’ll try it from my phone.

Maybe this will kickstart my lonely blog again.

Happy Accident on the Carrizo Plain

When I told a friend that I was heading to Carrizo Plain with a birder, she asked if I made bird photographs. Not me, I said. I am not equipped with the gear or patience to make a practice of capturing birds in pixels.

But every so often, life hands you an opportunity that works. So here is my best bird photo ever (and that probably applies to future endeavors, too).

When we first encountered this red tail hawk (Nan identified it), it was perched on a fence post smack in front of us. It was patient and posed while I grabbed my camera and adjusted the exposure settings.

Oh yeah, shooting through the windshield in autofocus does not work.

Manual focus worked but don't look too close as focus is not my strong suit. Besides the hawk had given up posing for me and returned to the business of scanning the landscape for dinner.

Shortly after that, something spooked the hawk and it took off then settled down just left of the car. Just outside my window! I quickly snapped off a few frames (checking the focus as I went) and magically caught some good ones. Please - click the panel for a better view.

What a happy send-off from the Carrizo Plain.

From The Basin Through The Valleys To The Plain

Up San Marcos Pass to the overlook and this sharp-eyed California grizzly among poppies.

Pause at Bradbury Dam to examine Lake Cachuma. The water level is troubling - so low.

But, on this autumn morning, green promise in the oak landscape.

Down into Los Alamos Valley, we hurried to lunch then sped off across the Santa Ynez Valley.

We drove Tepusquet Road both ways before turning toward Santa Maria Valley.

Does Tepusquet come from the Spanish "tepuzque" (in English "tease").

Tomorrow, Carrizo Plain.