Reflections From the Fence: February 2015

Wednesday, February 25, 2015

The Last Sunset at Needles California (For Now) :: Winter Sojourn 2014/15

Tomorrow we move north a bit, not far, just to Kingman Arizona, about 40 miles as the crow flies I think, further as the Jolly and Tana will drive.

It has been a great month here in Needles. In the last week I took hundreds of sunset photos. Really. As I said earlier, I am really going to miss the sunsets here.

Needles is a funny, kinda funky place. I-40 splits the town in a strange way, at about a 45% angle. Their history is deeply tied to Route 66. Our campground is actually ON Route 66. Yes, I think that is pretty cool. It is quiet here, sometimes we can hear the trucks running on 40, and now and then, a train that runs parallel but, south(ish) of 40. Neither bother us in the least. We are in the back of the campground where there are only a few campsites and some camping cabins. Yes, we enjoyed the quiet.

Tonight, I made a point of capturing the last sunset we will spend here, at least for a while. You never know, our wheels may roll here again, but, I had to capture the last sunset. I took about 90 photos tonight. Even I was aghast. Here are 13, presented as they were taken, as I spun around and caught about 270 degrees of the 360 I can see from the desert floor.

Good bye to Needles, it has been great.

Looking west.

Immediately spinning and looking north.

The next few look alike, but, if you look closely, they are not. The color is different, the clouds are a bit different, the zoom varies. I know, but, I could not stop myself!

And, the darkness claims Needles and our stay here is all but over. One more sleep as they say. And, we roll.

Tuesday, February 24, 2015

Pacific Dogwood, Just Had to Share One More Time

The file cleaning continues, and sometimes I just cannot stand to delete a photo, so, I share instead.

Cause it needs to be shared again.

And, now, I will go back to deleting and moving and cleaning and organizing.

Sharing, by the way, is a lot more fun than all that work.

Monday, February 23, 2015

Darden/Eley Advertisement, Suffolk, Virginia, 1878

The Library of Virginia has some digitized newspapers. Now and then, I wander over and surf around.

A few years ago, I discovered that they have 4 issues of the publication, "The Casket", published in Suffolk, Virginia (1878) online.

I found this interesting advertisement. I have yet to discover who the partners may be. I descend from both clans, the Dardens and the Eleys. Most of my research has been in Isle of Wight, Suffolk (was Nansemond), Southampton, and Norfolk Counties.

This particular ad was published in January of 1878. I see some more snooping going on in my future. What Darden? What Eley?

Sunday, February 22, 2015

World Thinking Day 2015, More of My Girl Scout Career

Heather Wilkinson Rojo, of Nutfield Genealogy, has offered up a challenge for Thinking Day again this year. Last years challenge read in part:

"Let's have everyone who was ever a Girl Scout, Boy Scout, Girl Guide or involved anyway in scouting post your memories on Facebook, and post links to your blog stories about scouting! I'll do a roll up of all the blog contributions ...."

Last year I participated. Since then, I have new photos of some of my Girl Scouting days. I believe this photo is of a "bridging ceremony". You can read a bit about the bridging ceremony here.

I recognize a few faces. That said, I honestly am not sure which girl I am. Thinking my face is covered, do not think my back is to the camera. I may be, MAYBE, the girl facing the camera, far to the right on this photo.

Isn't that definitive?? LOL

You can see, that there were girls of different ages and sizes. Brownies and Girl Scouts.

I have a faint recollection of this, obviously, it was a big deal, we were in a larger auditorium, most likely at a school. I have to wonder if it was at Crary Junior High, Waterford Township, Oakland County, Michigan?

The event was well attended, lots of proud parents and families.

Did you note the perforated edges on the photo, a Polaroid! Black and white. Fairly well preserved thanks to my mother. (Thanks Mom!)

Were you a scout?? Tell us all about it.

Saturday, February 21, 2015

Man's Office :: Winter Sojourn 2014/15

One little issue with where we are currently parked. Our phones keep turning on and off, by themselves. Holding a call is about impossible. Man has been walking out to the desert to make calls. Here is his office:

He tells me he has a flat spot to use for writing and he can sit down.

What more can you need??

Whose House Is This Anyway??

Time for confession.

I believe I found or received this photo in 2002. Maybe. Or, maybe before 2012. Maybe.

I have NO idea WHERE I found this photo.

I named it, "Obadiah Bowen house maybe".

I have NO idea. None.

If you know, or think you know, please help me.

This Obadiah, and yes, this Find A Grave memorial is fairly accurate, or, otherwise stated, I agree with most of the facts presented on this memorial.

There ya have it, confession. Sometimes I don't record information perfectly.

Or, more accurately, sometimes I don't record it at all.

SIGH.

Needles California, Sunsets, Sunsets, Sunsets :: Winter Sojourn 2014/15

I cannot stop. You have my permission to skip Reflection's posts until we move on and I try to control this addiction.

And, up there in the pink to the top and far left:

A little more Sony Too zoom. Jupiter, I believe, along with a sliver of moon:

And, then, I retreated to Tana before it got so dark that I could not find my way back from the desert floor. I keep forgetting my flashlight.

* No photos have been edited, except for storage size. This is what Sony Too captured. No tweaks.

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Friday, February 20, 2015

Southwest Sunsets, Never Enough, Takes My Breath Away, Everytime! Winter Sojourn 2014/15

From two nights ago here at Needles California. Looks like it is going to be a great sunset, we have CLOUDS!

I have run out of words - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - or not.

Remember, we get 360 degree sunsets here, I spin, I shoot, I spin some more, I shoot more. This night, I shot over 30 sunset photos. I am only sharing 10. Six are taken with panoramic. Yes, I am in love/awe standing out there on the desert floor.

We don't have a lot of time left here in Needles. I know I am going to miss the sunsets here. Do not doubt it.

*All photos are hand held. Sometimes there is a blip or two in the panoramics. No photos were edited for this post, except for storage size, no color enhancements, no contrast, brightness or sharpness editing.
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Monday, February 16, 2015

The Art of Fireworks, Per Sony Too :: Winter Sojourn 2014/15

The main show of the week was on Saturday night, Sony Too acted up, ok, I screwed up. But, finally I got it fixed and did manage to capture some fireworks art.