Cold Blue Spring

It's officially spring, but it's been very cold this past few days.

The hub and I used to walk together after work, but we stopped the routine during the winter--we couldn't handle the cold. Yesterday, we decided to start walking again.

It was so sunny and bright so we thought light sweaters were enough to make us comfortable. After walking only less than a block, we realized it was too cold yet we were still determined to walk. So we headed back to the house, grabbed thicker jackets and hats and off we went again. But after walking nearly three blocks, we decided to quit. It was way too cold for us--we were in the low 50's and it was driving us nuts!

While I was driving to work this morning, the temperature registered at 38 degrees F. Right now we're at 54 degrees, so still no walking for me.

I am excited for real spring, when there's cold breeze but not overly chilly, when the sun doesn't set until past seven, when going out means getting greeted with green trees and colorful flowers, when brisk-walking feels more like a leisurely stroll than a painful exercise.  I am excited and so I'll wait.

Bird Watch

“Birds” have been my favorite subject lately. For no particular reason, I’ve been taking plenty of bird photos. They just fascinate me!

Last weekend, the hub and I went to the city to check out the local farmers’ market and have lunch. We were headed to the waterfront—an area inhabited by lots of birds. I started taking photos of the birds around, while the hub patiently waited. He too, took a few photos himself.

On the way home after lunch, I wanted to stop by the Marina to check out a park that we haven’t visited before. The park, called Crissy Field, is home to some of San Francisco’s historical landmarks, like an old military airfield and Fort Point—a fort built in the 1850’s used to defend the Bay during the American Civil war.

While the hub checked out the exhibits at the fort, I was out taking photos of birds—again. The hub later said, “you probably have over 50 photos of birds in there”. I said, “no way!” So he took the camera, started scrolling through the photos, and pointed out, “that’s one…that’s two…that’s three…” and so on. Ok then—I did take lots of bird photos, but I took a few shots of the fort relics too!

Just thought I’d share some of my bird photos here.

If I can see it, then I can do it...

Sometimes silence can seem so loud...

There are miracles in life I must achieve...

But first I know it starts inside of me...

Just spread my wings and fly away...

Paradise

This image never ceases to inspire. 

It reminds me of how lucky we are to have lived in this world--in such paradise where beauty abounds, where life is all about wonders, all about love and all about living our dreams.

Paradise--I never want to leave! But when I do, I wish I'll be somewhere as beautiful as you!

Wolf Moon

Yesterday's (Jan 10th) moon was said to be the biggest and brightest moon of 2009!

According to NASA, the moon appeared about 14 percent bigger in the sky and was supposed to be 30 percent brighter than other full moons during 2009.

Yesterday's brightest moon was also called "Wolf Moon".  According to Space.com, full moon names date back to the Native Americans. Those tribes of a few hundred years ago kept track of the seasons by giving distinctive names to each recurring full moon.  Their names were applied to the entire month in which they occurred.  The January moon was named after a wolf because amid the extreme cold and deep snows of midwinter, the wolf packs howled hungrily outside Indian villages.

Charles and I walked outside and into one of the trails going up the hill behind our house, hoping to catch a good view of the brightest moon.  And there it was--big, bright and perfectly round to the naked eye.  This is the best I can capture--I had to crop this photo to make it look a little bigger because the longest zoom I have is only 200mm.

I also wished I was in a good spot to take a photo of the moon right after the sunset when it appeared much closer to the earth like this, and we can still see the horizon with it.  But I'm still happy with this photo.

Brrrr...

There is no more denying that winter is finally here! Last night, we reached below 30°F (-1°C)--the lowest so far for this winter. I guess it stayed that way overnight because we woke up this morning seeing the lawn covered with thin ice, the maple leaves on the ground wilted and frozen, and neighbors spraying their ice-covered vehicles with water.

It doesn't snow in our area--or at least it hasn't for the past several years. So this is probably the worst that we can possibly experience--who knows? I don't really dislike winter--there are some things about it that I like. But it still is my least favorite season.

The Place...continued

The Mallard ducks are some of the residents of the Palace of Fine Arts. They create a spectacular sight while bobbing along the surface of the pond. They are such a joy to see!

The Place

I used to rent an apartment only three short blocks away from the Palace of Fine Arts, and since then this place has become one of my favorites in San Francisco.

This is the place to go when--
--you want to find serenity or just relax
--you want to think hard and deep
--you want to dream big or dream about owning a million-dollar home (this place is surrounded by them)
--you want to have a date with nature
--you want to meet somebody special (this is where my husband and i had our first photo as a couple)
--you want to see great architecture
--you are in the mood for a nice "walk in the park"
--you feel like having a picnic with friends or family
--you are simply entertaining guests (especially those not from San Francisco)

Rendezvous

All across the sky

The mysteries of faith

Fossils of desire all assume their rightful place

Is there any danger in their fire

Is there any solace in their wake

Could it really make a world of difference for goodness' sake

To the rendezvous

Fortunes to be told

To the rendezvous

Wonders to behold

Onto a place where we can find

Maybe a trace of peace of mind

To the rendezvous all in good time

-Christopher Cross

Monster Tree

I left work early today so I took a walk in a nearby trail. We have several in the neighborhood and Charles and I used to frequent these trails in the last summer. I brought along my camera hoping that I would get a nice sunset view from up the hill. Instead, I came across this wooded area filled with monstrous trees that looked like Ents (talking trees) from the Lord of the Rings.

Maybe I'm just imagining too much, but have a close look at the second tree from the right--there's something in it that looks a little creepy to me.

The Season of Colors

This is why autumn is my second favorite season--you see colors everywhere, it gets moderately cold and you start feeling the spirit of the holiday in the air.

These photos reminded me of my last trip to Minnesota. The day before I left was a dark, foggy day and at least three of my co-workers said the same thing to me--"I hope the sun comes out tomorrow so you can see the colors". I didn't get it at first. The following day the sun indeed came out. My plane took off and I looked down and saw how beautiful the colors were! Greens, yellows, oranges, browns and reds--it's not something I haven't seen before in my own neighborhood. I just didn't bother to stop, look around and appreciate what's out there.

So here I am, trying to capture the colors I see just outside our home and enjoying them while they last.

When the rain stops...

It finally rained today! While we were out in the yard, Charles carefully examining if his rain sensor worked, I came to notice how the colors of the grass, the leaves and everything I saw got so much richer!

I remembered a photography article I read in the past saying that one of the best times to shoot is right after the rain stops, not only because mist creates drama but because you can easily get that diffused natural light when it's cloudy and the sky is overcast. I guess that's true. I didn't let the opportunity pass and took a shot at our drenched lime tree, and it didn't look bad at all!