Happy New Year

This is the famous Mobius Arch in the Alabama Hills, just outside of Lone Pine in the Eastern Sierras. This is perhaps the third time I've photographed it at sunrise. It is always a very moving experience, watching the first light on Mt. Whitney and then, with patience, waiting for the sun to light up the arch itself. It never gets old for me.

Happy New Year. May your year be filled with magical moments, just like this one was for me.

Zabriskie Point

We're back from our annual desert sojourn. We've never gone to Death Valley at this time of the year, so with the boys in Canada and Japan, we decided it might be a good time to develop some new holiday traditions.

We camped for two days at Hole in the Wall, a beautiful spot in the Funeral Mountains just a few miles from Zabriskie Point. It allowed us to be there for sunrise on the morning of the 26th. Rather than photograph it from the viewing area, we climbed a ridge leading toward Manley Beacon and from that vantage point I was able to photograph with both Manley and Telescope Peak in the frame.

But the photos I'm publishing with this post were taken by Bruce with his cell phone. I especially love the first where he captured the first light behind us and somehow managed to get both me and himself into the shot. I don't know how he did it, I was petrified of our perch up there on the foot wide trail at the very crest of the ridge which fell away on each side. When we found the "wide spot" on the trail I relaxed enough for him to shoot this second one.

Yup, that's me....December 26th, with my back to the spectacular view of Manley Beacon in Death Valley.

Feed 100 - the little white bag full of love

I just bought myself an expensive new bag. No, not a designer handbag….a shopping bag. But I didn’t mind spending the money. Whole Foods have joined a campaign to feed hungry children in developing countries. My donation of $25.00 will feed 100 children a school lunch, making it possible for them to concentrate on their studies and it may even be the only food they get to eat that day.

We’re pretty fortunate in this country to have neighbors who can help, through programs and just reaching out through our community institutions, to feed the hungry here. I’m not naïve enough to think we’re doing everything that we can right here, right now. But every little bit counts.

This nifty little burlap pouch opens up to convert to a 100% cotton reusable shopping bag, which I’ll be using regularly on my future shopping trips to Whole Foods.

I love the staff there. I even scored some free chocolate this time because they didn’t have my favorite brand in stock, even after a second visit. Their kindness inspired me to return the favor by buying the bag which is way more than just a little shopping bag. To me it represents the helping hands needed to make this world a little more united.