My Life in The Foothills h Passed Away

It is with the a sad heart and mind that I let all of the readers of Life In The Foothills know that Barbara who began this a few years back has succumbed to her illnesses and passed away last Sunday.  Writing this blog as she dealt with her health issues gave her tremendous pleasure and as she told me many times a purpose to continue and fight the cancer that finally took her.

I shall miss her tremendously as she was my wife, my best friend, and my life’s love. Those that did correspond with her please know you helped her with her fight and added to the pleasure she received as she writing her stories.

To all of you thank you.

I myself do not have the same strength as Barb did at this time.  I am in that emotional spot at this time that wants me to run from reality yet it wants me to confront it as well. I know many of you have experienced this as well.

As this will be the final post I ask that no-one reply to this as I will not be monitoring any reply to have it posted.  So rather than reply please simply send out a thought or prayer on Barb’s behalf and that will serve a better purpose than a typed message.

God Bless her and keep her safe.

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(Extra) Ordinary – A WordPress Photo Challenge

Cheri Lucas Rowland over at WordPress Photo Challenge said the following:  “I expect wildly different and very personal takes on this theme, (Extra)ordinary, because our own ideas and experiences will shape our interpretations. What’s mundane yet meaningful to you? What’s a beautiful everyday thing? Or, maybe you can capture an ordinary setting or common scene that has somehow transformed — with festive decor or a new coat of paint.” Having been gone for a while and starting to feel better, I am ready to dive in. Let’s see what I can come up with, shall we?

A beam of sunlight shines down on the water of this inlet making this transformed.

Sunlight on the water

What do you think?

A few years back, after weathering a snow storm, the sun came out bathing the landscape in bright light.

Weathering the snow

Did you know that a double rainbow reverses colors? Click on the next photo so that you can see for yourself that this is indeed true.

Water gives us rainbows

Three will do it for today. I hope that you enjoyed the photos I chose for today. Thank you Cheri for the challenge, and to you dear reader/viewer for stopping by today. Remember to be well! ^..^

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The Rig – Sunday Photo Fiction

Rig – Photo by Alastair Forbes

Upon looking at the big rig, the front part of a semi-truck, which is to be the subject of this week’s Sunday Photo Fiction challenge, thoughts brewed through Barb’s mind. “How does this photo inspire me?” A series of questions came to mind.

Why do they call them semi-trucks?

What do they deliver in semi-trucks? Occasional furniture.

What do they call occasional furniture the rest of the time?

Why do we call it a hamburger when it is made of beef?

Can you imagine getting sick at the airport and having the terminal Dr. treat you?

If cannibals ate clowns, would they taste funny?

Aren’t all babies new?

Why do Dr.’s practice medicine?

Looking again at the rig, I realize that for today, this is as good as it gets.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Thank you Al for the photo and for hosting Sunday Photo Fiction. And to you dear reader, I thank you for stopping by today. Be well…. ^..^

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Stumpy Meadows – Then and Now

Last weekend my husband and I got into the car for a leisurely drive and one area that we wanted to see was a nearby lake called Stumpy Meadows. This is one of the areas that was hit hard by last year’s King Fire. Having downloaded the photos, I wanted to share with you photos that I took last July 2014, which was two months before the fire hit. The enormity of the devastation can be seen when you compare the two sets of photos. What is most sad, is that this fire was started by a fellow who had too much to drink and his campfire got out of hand.

The first photo is from July 2014, and the one that immediately follows is from last weekend.

Looking east

Looking east 2015

Across the lake

Across the lake 2015

Stumps

Stumps 2015

Looking south

Looking south 2015

The Point

The Point 2015

What a difference eh? And, it is so sad to see the devastation.

Thanks for stopping by today. I hope that you have a great weekend. Be well… ^..^

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Connected – A WordPress Photo Challenge

Checking out today’s WordPress Photo Challenge topic is “connected.” Ben Huberman asks that we “go literal or figurative, abstract or explicit.” Here are my connections…

A father and son…

Spending time together

A fungus found on a tree…

One side of the river meets the other because of a bridge…

Crossing a bridge

The north and the south merge…

A mirage on the road

Sand and beach…

PV from the waters edge

Pollen + bees = honey…

In flight

Cheating at cards…

Winning more card games against the neighbors

Did you see the connections? I hope so! Thanks for stopping by today. Have an amazing weekend! And, be well… ^..^

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Looking Forward to Fall

I certainly am. This has been one strange summer weather-wise here in the Sierra Foothills. We have had more cloudy days then ever, rain and even cooler temperatures. This coming week the temps are slated to be only in the 80’s.

Because of spring starting so early, trees and shrubs are already changing making it appear to be an early fall. It is not early at all considering their time line. They do not use our calendar, so for them, they are right on time. Here are some photos of the fall I am looking forward to.

Golden hazel nut leaves

A red star

Greens and yellows in a Redbud

The lovely colors on the smoke bush

The color of the nectarine leaf looks like the color inside the fruit!

The season will be changing in about 3 weeks. Being housebound has been hard but I hear there are rumors of a road trip and I will be bringing the camera along. Have a great weekend, and I hope that you enjoyed today’s photos.

Be well… ^..^

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Angles – A WordPress Photo Challenge

What? Another post? Guess I am starting to feel a bit better! Today, Shane Francescut, has been chosen to come up with a topic for the weekly WordPress Photo Challenge. His topic is angles. Please do check out the weekly post to see suggestions for how to take photos for this challenge.

I realized that I had two sets of photos that would meet this challenge. One is of a test plane taking off from the airport where I live. The other is of the youngest in our household. I hope that you enjoy these photos. Let’s start with the test plane…

Facing East

Facing North

Facing West

Now for the youngest…

Facing Forward

Facing Back

Should have named him “Fang?”

Upside down

What do you think?

There you have it! Angles. Thanks for stopping by today and may you forever be well…. ^..^

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Tease No More – Friday Fictioneers

Today’s story is a bit of a grim one for me, but this is what came to mind looking at the lockers in the photo featured for the Friday Fictioneers challenge. Thanks go out to Rochelle for hosting and to Claire Fuller for the photo.

Locker Room – Photo by Claire Fuller

In the locker room, hanging behind the door of locker #6273, was the assault rifle. It was the only one that Johnny Dingo left behind. It was there just in case he needed it.

Wrapped up in loose fitting sweats, he made his way through the crowd at the track meet. Heading towards where the announcer stood, calling the runners for the next race, Johnny slowed as he approached.

Did he really want to do this? Yes. They needed a lesson. No more bullying. Those kids who teased him incessantly for the last 10 years would tease no more.

* * * * * * * * * * * *

You too can join in on this challenge. To link up your story, just click HERE for more information!

Have a great day! Be well… ^..^

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Today Was a Good Day – WP Photo Challenge

Hello my dear readers. I have been absent for far too long and have missed posting to this blog. Illness crept around the corner, grabbed my by the lungs, squeezed me, and landed me in the hospital, where I still am today. I managed to contract an odd variety of pneumonia. Never had this before and do not ever want to have this again either. Today, I am actually feeling a lot better and felt like creating a post.

The challenge for today’s WordPress Photo Challenge, Cheri has chosen the topic “Today was a good day.” Because I am stuck indoors, with a tiny window allowing me to see the tops of pine trees, I decided that I would share some favorite photos with you of what I would much rather be seeing. This will make my day a good day.

Seeing my dog Astro.

Astro

My cats….

Madison.

Missing Ms. Madison

Toby.

Toby

Scrappy and Toby.

Is it OK if we play with this box?

I would include my husband in these photos but I do get to see him every day when he visits.

I have missed you all! I am not sure how I will be feeling tomorrow, and if I can do it I will post again tomorrow. You take care and be well. Thank you for stopping by! ^..^

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Beneath My Feet

This week, Cheri Lucas Rowlands over at WordPress, has chosen the topic “beneath my feet” for the photo challenge. So, let’s take a look at some photos of where my feet have taken me.

What is beneath my feet is:

The deck of a cruise ship.

Split image

The dry earth of the desert.

It is dry as the desert here!

Winter snow.

My house in December

A meadow.

The herd returns – see the ranger?

Hoover Dam.

The overlook bridge

A beach.

A beach view in Puerto Vallarta

A trail in Big Trees State Park.

One of the smaller trees

I hope that you enjoyed my photos for this challenge. Have a splendid weekend, and be well… ^..^

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