Watery Wednesday #85

I went up to Bonelli Park tonight...well, by the time you see this it will be last night, just before sunset. I wasn't sure which of these to post on the main blog so I posted the rest of them here. There is just something very calm and relaxing which is why I love doing Watery Wednesday.




The one below isn't a water shot but I had to post it. I looked up and the graceful bird went soaring overhead.



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Weekend Reflections

No weekend reflections post on the main meme but I'll post one anyway. I like this shot. I love the reflections in the water, especially the clouds. Who would think the water would reflect even the clouds in the water?

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Sky Watch Friday

This was taken at Bonelli Park. Anyone who has visited my blog knows this park is right up the street from me so I have a lot of photos of this lake.

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Watery Wednesday #42

I've been really busy trying to prep for my new job. I needed new clothes and couldn't buy them so I've been sewing my tushy off. I take little breaks and respond to comments as time permits. I hope everyone is enjoying their Watery Wednesday. If you don't know what I'm talking about I think you should click on the link at the bottom of this post and take a cyber dive in Watery Wednesday! You won't regret the cyber swim.

A few weeks ago my sister brought her grand children out and they spend the day with me on my birthday. We spend some time up and the lake by me and the kids, my great niece and nephew, had a wonderful time at the lake feeding the ducks and throwing rocks into the water. I tried to make sure they didn't do it in the water near where people were fishing and scaring the fish away.




At one point we saw a couple of men leisurely canoeing on the lake and I had to take a couple of shots when we notice they each had a dog with them (identical dogs), and the dogs seemed to be enjoying that leisure ride as much as they were.

We thought they were such beautiful dogs we talked to them later to ask what they were and found out they got them at puppies at the pound. They rescued these beautiful dogs and to me it made both them and the owners very special.


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Sky Watch Friday

As usual, I couldn't decide on which shot to post so there are more than one here. I haven't plastered this all over my blog but I've been unemployed since March of last year after getting laid off. It's been a struggle and I will testify that I give honor to God for keeping my head above water all of this time. Every bill was met and my refrigerator was always full.


Through this period it has been my photography that allowed me to get off the sofa, get away from the endless resume submissions and interviews that lead nowhere and escape "reality" and just enjoy God's green earth and all of the natural wonders in this world.


It was getting out taking pictures like this that gave me time to find inner peace, dwell on my knowledge of his love and give me some joy.


Standing on my faith was not always easy as the world around me was so negative. I had only my faith to stand on and though the wind of life blew and caused me to waiver, I never fell from the rock on which I stand. I got a call yesterday and heard the words I've been waiting to hear... "are you ready to come work for me?" My eyes still well with tears of joy, tears of knowing my God exists and that he is ALWAYS right on time.


How can anyone look at skies like this and not believe there is a God filled with love? To anyone facing any struggles, not sure what tomorrow will bring... God is there for you if you just reach out and believe. I'm off of my podium now but I just had to share this.

All of these shots were taken within minutes of each other and the rising moon stood over my shoulder as I took them. I took the shot of the moon as I stood ready to get back in my car to go home.

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Black Crowned Night Heron

I went up to the lake the other day and just after I got out of the car, I walked under a tree and a bird moved loudly in the tree above me. It was no small bird. It took me a moment to find it but I did. I was surprised it was a Black Crowned Heron.

It was well hidden among the branches but I did manage to find a clearing through the branches to get a shot. I know they fly but I didn't know they did the tree thing.

I was surprised and treated by how many of them there were flying around and walking around the edge of the lake. Of course, they didn't let me get too close before they took off.

My World Tuesday - Bonelli Park

I'm always talking about Bonelli Park or the lake that is up the street from me. I made a video clip a couple of months ago but don't remember if I ever posted it so I thought it was a perfect post to share it in - My World. It's large enough that it's sectioned off into three areas - beach, boats and picnics. There are also little alcoves that can't be seen in the video like over to the right of the reservoir wall.



The actual park is so large that it has hiking trails, riding trails and parts of the park where you don't even see the lake and wouldn't know it was there if you didn't actually venture down some of the turn-outs that lead to it.


During the summer season they rent rowboats, paddle board and those little cart/bicycle things that you can ride along the paths around the lake.


And then, of course, there is always the fishing that goes on all over the late from the small piers that stretch over the water to standing on the shoreline.




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Sky Watch #34

I took these shots within minutes of each other. The first is one side of the lake. In order to get to the spot in the 3rd photo I have to drive to it even though it's on the same side of the lake but back in an alcove. The 2nd in in transition to another side of the lake. I took the long way around and captured this sunset. The lake is behind me in that photo. .


There were a ton of seagulls flying about. The lifeguard boat made a final lap around the lake and stirred them into flight.


You can see downtown Los Angeles on the left, those buildings that stick out like The Emerald City in Oz


I LOVE the colors in this. It was cold and peaceful and the geese were squawking in the distance.

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Sky Watch #33

I was at a toss up of which one to post so I figured I would just post them both. Hope you like them and have a wonderful cyber sky watching Friday! :-)




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Yellow Rumped Warbler

My Skywatch post is below this one but if you don't feel like skipping you can use this one was SkyWatch since this is skywatching too. The bird just got in the shot.
:-)

I think this is a yellow rumped warbler. I almost couldn't identify it then at the last minute I saw a photo of one that looked this this. At first I thought it was another goldfinch but the goldfinch has a solid yellow breast and this one just had patches of yellow. Please correct me if I still have it wrong.

Sky Watch #32 - Sunset at Bonelli

Sunset at Bonelli Park.




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Sky Watch #31

I hope you're not sick of seeing shots from the lake by me at Bonelli Park. It's the closest place to go where I can park and get a clear shot of the sky. This was taken today just before the sun began to set. I would have stayed for the sunset but at this time of the year the park closes before sunset. What a bust.



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Watery Wednesday #22

These were taken up at the lake by me, Bonelli Park. With all the rain we've finally received the water level is way up. In fact, any of the picnic tables near the edge are completely submerged and the water is up over the small piers people use to fish from.


The ducks seemed to like sitting on the tops of the tables.





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