The SoFoBoMo Challenge

A couple of weeks ago, obviously in the dark of night, someone impersonating me went to one of my favorite blogs, Paul Butzi’s site (http://photomusings.wordpress.com/) and signed me up for a gigantic challenge. I know it was an imposter who did this dirty deed because I have better sense than to sign myself up for the SoFoBoMo challenge. I would have known better because the prospect of shooting and processing thirty-five images, laying out those images in the form of a photo book, transferring everything to a PDF file, and posting the entire thing on the web all in the space of thirty days is something only a really savvy or really foolish person would attempt, even in the best of circumstances. To begin with, I don’t fancy myself in either of those categories. But, more importantly, I am too shrewd to take on that sort of challenge while adjusting to retirement from my life’s work, packing and cleaning a household where stuff has accumulated over a period of twenty years, getting said house on the market, then unpacking and moving into a strange house about which I know little. I mean I have done some silly things in my life, but this is over the top. Still, here I am. My name is on that fool list—right there on the Internet for all the world to see. To make things worse, another favorite Photoblogger, Doug Stockdale (http://singularimages.wordpress.com/) has also signed up and knows my name is on that list. I suppose I will have to give it a go.

Sunsets and Surprises

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For several days, we had planned a work-trip to Bear Valley for some errands. We needed to deliver a few boxes we simply had no place to stash (the storage unit is bulging and forget the garage), plus we had to buy The Husband’s tractor. It was looking like a pretty routine trip, except for the snow we knew we would find, and knowing that there’s a reason they call the hill between the house and the main gate “Domino Hill”. (Picture toppling dominoes, then substitute cars on a slippery road. Got it?). So, we scheduled the trip, canceled it due to closed highways (snow), and kept working. I was looking forward to seeing the house for the first time without someone else’s things in it. In a moment of giddy anticipation, I teased The Husband that when on the momentous occasion of finally entering our house—meaning it finally would no longer be just the house, but our house—he should carry me over the threshold. Sure enough, he narrowed his eyes and shot me one of those sideways looks that said, “Don’t hold your breath.” I went on with my endless sorting and packing and pondered whether I might see any of the critters we had heard about on our last trip. We had heard tales of raccoons, Betty, the Hawk (who perches on our roof scouting for taste treats in the meadow grass), mountain lions, brazen coyotes, king snakes, deer, and I-don’t-what-I-may-have-left-out roaming our little piece of heaven. The prospect of getting a picture of any of the above was delicious, so I stole time over the two days before the trip to format a couple of CF cards and charge batteries. Two days after the cancellation, we had a sunny day and took off. Ever the optimist—I stashed some camera gear in between boxes. I was hoping for a few minutes to do a little shooting before the light was lost and maybe a nice sunset, or even to spot a critter. There were a few surprises in store for our humdrum work trip.

After the long, but uneventful drive, we got past the desert and climbed to the snow. It was surprisingly deeper than the last time we were up there. Still, we zipped through the tiny town near our valley, and moments later we were at the entrance to Bear Valley. The moment we passed through the main gate, I began trying to remember how far it was to the infamous Domino Hill. But, before I had time to get anxious, we were there. The snowplow had done its job, and we continued to breeze along enjoying the winter scene around us.

Finally, Our House. Right there in our own Big Sky country. Then, as we made the turn off the road to our drive, we jolted to a stop. The small berm just off the road that had been left by the snowplow was a little high and six inches of snow covering our drive had not been cleared. Fortunately, it turned out to be a brief hesitation. The tires of the SUV (I had been thinking ahead when I picked that car) grabbed some traction, and over we went, then on to the back of the house where we planned to enter.

As we crunched through the snow toward our back door, The Husband suddenly stopped in his tracks, turned to me, and said, “Wait.” I stopped, not knowing what to expect as he approached me. Then, lo and behold, he swooped me up in his arms, and carried me inside! You should have heard the music swell! What can I say? The man is full of surprises—and many of them are deliciously pleasant. I wandered around for a few minutes in a daze, simply glowing. I was stunned by the princess-treatment, but mostly reeling from the realization that The Husband had actually heard something I said—and remembered it! As I regained my equilibrium, I watched the Prince, himself, begin to glow. Naturally, he wasn’t beaming with the satisfaction of having carried his princess over the threshold of his castle—thank goodness there are no stairs. Oh, no, nothing of the kind. He had easily forgotten about princely gestures. While I had basked in my princess-hood, The Husband had handed over the check to the previous owner of our house and was, as of that defining moment, the proud owner of a like-new New Holland TC29DA tractor—with a whole bundle of accessories. (Do they call those things accessories?)

It was a wonderful day—sunset and all. I think we are going back for Valentine’s Day.

Town Center Campground

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I found another image from the Town Center Campground that I wanted to share. If you ever make it to Bear Valley, you may very well find me there. We were supposed to make a trip up there today for some errands, but some highway closures resulted in a change of plans.

Okay, back to cleaning, repairing and packing. I would so much rather make pictures!

An Original

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If Jim and I have our facts straight, this barn is the only surviving structure from the ranch that covered the valley we will be living in. The property was purchased and developed in the early 1970's. I am eager to find time for research on the area.

Close to Home

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I can't resist "drive-by photography". Besides, sometimes it's the only way I can photograph a particular scene, and I lack the self-discipline to pass it by. This is just outside the town that is closest to our community. At this point, we were only ten-twenty minutes from our house.

January in Bear Valley

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Posting here has been sporadic, at best; but, I expect to do better within a few weeks. I am looking forward to having more time to spend on my websites and on photography, in general.

Yesterday,we spent the day in Bear Valley—signing papers and making it official. Early next week, we get the keys to our house and we will officially own two mortgages—we hope that doesn't last very long. It was lovely to spend some time there and remember why we are doing all this work.

The shot above was taken in one of the community campgrounds. I have a feeling I will be spending some time up there with the oak trees. The snow had fallen the night before—more snow fell during the day—and turned the entire valley into a wonderfully picturesque scene. I didn't want to be cooped in offices and busy with the final "walk-through". On the other hand, I wasn't eager to go for a long hike, since the warmest it got all day was about 34 degrees. Not the ideal weather for a southern californian and former central Texas gal. I was by far happiest when we had time for a drive around the valley and a little bit of shooting from outside the car window. It looks as though, I will have to get over being such a wimp about the weather.

Distractions

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I really should deal with a couple more piles of stuff and finish some boxes I am working on. Instead, I took a break to revisit a shot from last fall.

This weekend is a sort-of deadline for wrapping up and getting some pictures for the realtor. What can I say? I offered, she accepted. At least this way, we can cheat just a little. Meaning, we can shove something aside for a shot; then, if we need to, we can put it back for a couple of days before anyone actually comes to look. Not exactly the type of photography I am longing for, but at least I will have a camera in my hands, and I won't be facing a cardboard box.

A Bird in the Bush

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Yesterday afternoon, I took a short break from packing to enjoy the clouds and grabbed the G7, on the way. As I headed back inside, the movement of this bird caught my eye and I snapped. I didn't get a second try. A cyan filter seemed appropriate for this one.

Going Downhill

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Going downhill describes my energy level, now; but, my level of anticipation has begun to build. I am spending more time thinking about living "out in the country"—something I have never done.

Meanwhile, we lurch through these cycles during which our current house is less cluttered and quite encouraging, then a horrific mess. One day I finish clearing an area, but before I have time to fully enjoy it, I pull stuff out of a closet or from behind a piece of furniture, to resume the sorting and packing. Oops, no longer inviting , no longer encouraging. This weekend, we are in the "horrific mess" stage. Jim litters outside. He is in the process of building and painting, as he completes repairs on the deck and fence. I wreak havoc indoors.

The photo, above, was taken near South Fork, Colorado.

Reflections

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I suppose I could find ways to take interesting photos of the packing process, but I can't get motivated to do that. Instead, I take an occasional break from this life-changing-thing to go back to the shots from the Arizona trip.

That trip seems so long ago now. So many things have happened since then, and so many decisions have been made. I am caught by that trick time plays where an event seems to have occurred yesterday, yet a lifetime ago.