One More Christmas Lights

OK, here is just one more. This is the house next door to where I took the picture posted yesterday. I could not believe the plywood cutouts. As you can see, Abdominal is taller then the house !

LIGHTS

I know Christmas is over, but I was late at getting out and seeing the lights. This house a few block from my sister's house was incredible. It was featured on Good Morning America. It is a court in Rohnert Park and not only is this one house decorated but the guy who owns the house provides decorations for his neighbors houses too. Click here to see a youtube video of the display.

MERRY CHRISTMAS

Christmas in the City

We went to the City (San Francisco) as we do every Christmas. It was rainy and the stores were virtually empty until late afternoon. The funnest part was cracking up while trying some outrageous, purple, knee high, white trash boots at Macy's.

The Birdhouse House

This house is a couple of blocks from where I now live. I 1st noticed the bird houses on the side of the house. When I stopped today to get some photos I noticed they had added Christmas decorations. It is very over the top, but fun.

Spring

It has been cold and yucky. The rainy season is finally here. Makes me wish for spring. Here is a photo I took last spring in Yountville, the town just north of Napa.

Last October

It rained all weekend and I did not get any pictures. So here is a flash back to the past, a sunny afternoon last October.

Kitty's Window

Kitty likes our new house. His favorite thing is to sit in the window on his scratcher.
We are on the 2nd floor and he is very interested in what is going on below. I have not let him outside yet so it is all very new and exciting to him.

Skywatch Clouds

Here is a shot for skywatch Friday. Took this a couple of weeks ago at the Napa River.

TO SEE OTHER BEAUTIFUL SKYWATCH FRIDAY PHOTOS CLICK
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Little House

I need to get out and get some more pics. In the mean time, here is a picture of a cute little house next to Fuller Park.

A New View

I have not posted in a few days because I have been very busy moving into a new house. Well, new to me. I still do not have a good unobstructed view of sunsets which disappoints. Here is a quick photo from the best vantage point, the front door. Guess I can't complain too much.

COPIA CLOSED

The Center for Wine Food and Arts known as COPIA abruptly closed its doors on Monday. They are seeking chapter 11 and owe millions to vendors all over the U.S. To read more about what COPIA was click here.

At the River

SKYWATCH FRIDAY

Took this last weekend down at the Napa River.

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333 Randolph St

I do not know the history behind this beautiful Victorian at 333 Randolph St, but I really like it.

Vintage Builders

Took this shot on Seminary St in the residential area of downtown. I did not think this house was that special, but it does have a sweet front porch. And what you cannot see is the window on the left side of the house is a large stained glass window that looks like it was once in a church. The 1st couple of times I saw houses being moved in downtown I was amazed, but it is not that unusual here. Many of the old historic houses were at some point moved to where they now sit. And some are moved away from the Napa River which floods every few years.
For some fantastic photos of our most recent flood of January 06 click here. You will have to put your mouse above the word small at the bottom left, then click the right arrow.

DECEMBER THEME DAY -- CIRCLES

I have always loved old cars. I took this one at the Napa Car Show back in September. This is the tire of an old Chevrolet Woody. To see the rest of the car click here.

CLICK HERE TO SEE OTHER CIRCLE THEME DAY PHOTOS

Marigolds

It was a beautiful way with sunny skies. I took a this photo of a field of planted marigolds by the side of the road.

A Gray Black Friday

It was a gray and gloomy Black Friday. Hope you all had a great turkey day.

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Rainy and gloomy day in Napa

CRIMSON LEAVES

There is a row of 5 maple trees outside my office complex. They have been slowly turning for about 2 months now. All the leaves are now a deep crimson red.

Beringer

It was overcast and dreary today and I never got out to get any photos. So here is a shot I took a couple of weekends ago at Beringer Winery.

BOOM OR BUST?

Napa is undergoing a building boom unlike any it has ever seen. Of course all these project were started before the downturn in the economy. Shown here is The Riverfront, a $50 million multi use complex on the River. The complex will have 50 condominiums (priced at "the high $600,000's to $1.675 million"). The ground floor will be restaurants and commercial / office space with a parking garage below. When the 1st phase of condos went on sale several months ago, 10 units were sold in one night. When the 2nd phase went up for sale a few weeks ago... none were sold.

SHEEPIES

OK, so I took this photo last spring. But these guys are just too cute. Had to show them to you.

SUNSET

HAPPY SKYWATCH FRIDAY

I took this shot a couple of days ago while coming over the hill from Sonoma County.

TO SEE OTHER BEAUTIFUL SKYWATCH FRIDAY PHOTOS CLICK
HERE AND SCROLL TO THE LINKS AT THE BOTTOM

1801 First

Many of the old Victorians in downtown Napa are now beautiful Bed and Breakfast hotels. This is my favorite 1801 First. This Queen Ann style home built in 1903 is now one of the top rated B&Bs in the valley

A Walk in the Forest

This is the "forest" that I went for a walk in on Sunday. It is not really a forest, more a grove, of redwood trees, California's state tree.

Driving home Sunday

Took this shot Sunday eve while driving home from Sonoma County. It was about 500p as I
stopped at a call box on the windy road that is on the left of the photo, Hwy 121 (also called Sonoma Hwy).

Forest floor

I went for a walk today through redwood forest. There were small trees on the forest floor with bright orange leaves that I liked.

Boxcar Blues

When I was down at the river the other day by Kennedy park I noticed the graffiti
on these boxcars. I am not much for graffiti, but I liked this...artwork. The trees reminded me of something like a Dr. Seuss cartoon.

Bird on a Wire

I caught this guy having a late lunch the other day. I was out at the Napa river and almost did not notice him up on the wire. I have never seen a bird like this before and have no idea what kind he is. Can anyone help me with identifying him?

A Quick One

The sunsets have been spectacular lately. But now that daylight savings is over, I do not leave work in time to be able to catch them. About 515p I walk to the other side of the the 6ft row of cubicles in my office and stare out the glass window that go all the way across the back of the room and curse that I am not on the river or up the valley wall in time to get a good shot. As I was leaving the office tonight I leaned out the narrow back balcony and grabbed this quick one. The colors had already faded at that point. This shot has not been photoshopped, altered or enhanced in any way.

Down by the Lazy River

You would never know it by my previous posts, but there is a river the runs right through downtown Napa. At the north side of town the river is narrow and in the summer time is not much more then a creek. At the south end of town where this shot was taken, it widens and turns into a sweeping estuary with acres of wetlands and empties into San Pablo Bay which is the northern part of the San Francisco bay. A great place to see sunset and many bird species. Herons and Egrets are a common site. To read more about the Napa River click here.

Here is an aerial photo of the river. This photo is taken in the spring looking due north. The shot from today was taken looking north as I stood on the east side of the river, a few hundred yards north of the overpass that is in the foreground. Image courtesy of U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Digital Visual Library, taken May 2007.

Gold rush

After looking at my favorite city daily photo blogs, I am trying to look at things a little differently, trying macros, trying different angles, etc. Below is my 1st attempt. The 1st photo below is my more abstract view. The second photo is what I would have usually put in my view finder. These were taken in downtown Napa next to Fuller Park

A WALK IN THE PARK

I usually do not include people in my photos, but as this couple walked by with their dogs I thought they were quite cute, holding hands as they walked. Kind of reminded me of a Kay Jeweler commercial. So I left them in. Took this at my neighborhood park, Fuller Park.

Red Vines

Guess what? Another picture of grapevines! I am going to be hard up for images once the fall leaves have dropped and the winter rains come. Until then I am enjoying the wonderful autumn weather. It was sunny and 70 degrees here today. Everyday I feel like I have to drink up the sunshine and colors while they are still here. Took this shot on Dunweal Lane in Calistoga in the late afternoon sun.

Fountian at Artesa Winery

Here is a photo of the lovely fountain at the Artesa Winery in Napa. This picture was taken on a nice sunny day last spring.

The Obama Bus !

At work this morning at about 9:30a my coworker came breathless and excited
into the building saying "Come see the Obama Bus!" So I walked to the street behind our building to the smog station where the Obama bus was being smoged. It was fantastic. very bright and psychedelic. Notice the red ring on the top. It is a giant peace sign that stands up. The top of the bus is actually two Volkswagen vans that were gutted and placed into the top. We all marveled at it and of course I was the only one with a camera. Some of my older coworkers were trippin'. I think they were having flashbacks to their younger days in the 60's. Their summer of love, Height Ashbery and wearing flowers in their hair. It was groovy. Peace man!


The side had pictures of burning man, Jimmy Hendricks, Forest Nymphs and planets.


The front looked like some sort of Mutant Ninja Turtle.

Happy Election Day

I do not care who you vote for. (Well I do, but I won't get into that here) Just get out and VOTE

Another Fall Photo

It has rained for the last 3 days, but since you know what rain puddles look like
I thought I would post one last fall foliage photo. Took this last weekend off Eldhers
Rd in St. Helena.

November theme day : BOOKS

Spidey's favorite book. This shot is compliments of my sister who is a librarian at the local State University
Click here to view thumbnails for all participants

Another Victorian Mansion

Front of the Mansion


View of the side of the Mansion
This is the George E. Goodman Jr. house on the corner of Randolph and Oak in downtown Napa. Built from 1875 to 1899. The scale is so grand it is hard to capture in one photo. So here are two.

The Holden House

This is the Holden Mansion on the corner of Franklin and Pine in downtown Napa. It was built in 1888. I need to read the wooden sign out front to get the history. The front yard is done up for Halloween.