“Don’t know why there’s no sun up in the sky….
STORMY WEATHER”

However, my MAN and I are very together… 32 years.

We both love thunder and lightning storms.  In SB, there are almost none so when we are in Mariposa we just love anything but sunshine.  Great childhood memories for both of us east coasters. 

There is great comfort lying in bed listening to the rain on the roof and drifting off to sleep.  It’s actually fun to be awakened in the middle of the night by a huge clap of thunder plus the lightning strikes that light up the darkest of rooms.

During the day, it’s fun to be inside cooking up something like homemade chicken soup.
The rain splats on the windows and they get steamed up from the cooking.  Someone is always ‘on guard’ near a window to announce the seconds between lightning and the thunder that will follow. All the warnings from your parents come back: 

“Do Not Iron.  Turn off the TV and pull out the plug.  Don’t stand under a tree if you are outside.”

Today, it is “Turn off the computer.  Don’t go near the microwave.  Don’t use your telephone or your cell phone.”

October 29, 2007 we were on our last day of 5 photographing in Yosemite and the weather was a glorious FALL the entire time.  (Thanks to the wonderful seasonal weather like snow, rain and sunshine.) Only when we began packing to go home did the great storm begin.  Gleeful storm troopers, we were not concerned as we knew it would be brief, loud, satisfying and then the sun would return.  Then we could pack the car.

Chuck went out with his camera and was able to capture the two snaps here.  They made a big hit on our email circuit so I thought I’d better share with our visitors here as well.

And now……..back in SB, we hear the natives chanting…
“Rain, Rain, go away..  Come again some other day.” 

Then they wonder why there is a drought!!

Jackson Hole, WY

There is nothing so pleasant as to awaken in a small town on a Fall morning when the foliage has turned colors.  It is extremely exciting when the colors “peak!”

My husband watched the weather patterns and carefully planned the timing down to the minute to arrive in Jackson Hole, Wyoming by driving from Santa Barbara, CA.  I could not have been more surprised and happy to see that his persistence paid off.  Every single tree and blade of grass was in the process of turning Jackson Hole into brilliant reds, oranges, yellows, pinks and combinations of same as well.

Opening day of 4 for a small group of photographers wishing to learn some fine art printing from Ed Riddell, the “Ansel of the Tetons,” resulted in the most unique group of photos as each of us had his/her own idea of how to portray an individual “Fall” show.

This was my first photo seminar which I found to be extremely pleasant as well as helpful in that I learned how to ‘get the picture quickly’ and then move on to the next scene.   We had to take advantage of the ‘light’ so we raced from location to location and by the end of day, we had some really good captures.  It was fun as well as interesting to see how a group of 10 people could each produce a different photo taken at the same location. 

Two glorious weeks in Jackson Hole with a lot of color, a little snow on the Tetons, and so much wildlife was exhilarating as well as peaceful.  If not for the 4 months of harsh winter and no longer being a skier, I would be happy to pack up and move.  I made serious inquiry of the residents about their winters and they were very forthcoming about what each of them does by the month of January.  

The entire vacation was thoroughly rewarding and I plan to ‘take under advisement’ what I learned about a possible vacation home in JH.  Yes, it is THAT nice!

You must visit the Photo Gallery to view the Teton photos and see a glimpse of what we experienced!