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.

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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.

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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.