An Unexpected Daring Exhibition

You Never Know What You'll See When You Take a Walk

Tonight I went out to Larry Moore Park to chase the sunset. It appeared the sky would be beautiful. I left as the sun was just beginning to set. There was just enough left to wink at me from the sky behind the clouds.

As I walked, the sky grew more magnificent by the minute. As I stood at the entrance to the Charolais Corridor Trail across from the park, I saw an eye of blue in the middle of the gray and I wanted to chase it. But as I started toward it, I saw this. Of course, I stopped to watch.

I haven't seen anything like this since I was a kid and we used to walk from yard to yard on the tops of block fences. But this young man is walking only on the tops of supports that have nothing in between them. We didn't do that as kids. Did you? Let's watch this in video, which the young man gave me permission to record and publish.




By the  time my camera started to record he was almost across, but you get the idea. Here's a larger view of the balancing act. It's the perfect size to share on Pinerest if you would like others to see this.

When is the last time you did anything like this?

As for the patch of blue I'd been chasing before I stopped to watch this daring feat, here it is. 

Enjoy your day. May it bring you pleasant surprises. 


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Sky Photos from Charolais Corridor Trail at Dusk

Back on the Charolais Corridor Trail for a Photo Walk

Life has prevented me from doing much walking in these past few months, but tonight I couldn't stand being confined and so I walked. I drove to the trailhead of the Charolais Corridor Trail across from Larry Moore Park in Paso Robles, camera in hand, as the sun was beginning to set. The weather was just right for a walk. 

Sundown from Charolais Corridor Trail, © B. Radisavljevic

Photos of The Sky from the Trail

I will show these sky photos in the order in which I took them so you can imagine you are walking with me. All photos, watermarked or not, are my intellectual property and may not be used without my written permission.

As I started my walk along the trail, a solid band of clouds was just in front of me above the treetops. As you will see later, the color deepened as the sun got lower and disappeared.

A Band of Clouds across The Sky Over the Trail, © B. RadisavljevicAs you 

As you look at these photos you will notice I love tree silhouettes against the sky, as in the photo below.

Golden Stripe of Sunset behind Tree Silhouette, © B. Radisavljevic

I also like unusual cloud formations like this one. I saw it from many different angles as I walked. It was always in front of me or off to the right of the trail. Here it appears to be disappearing into the oaks below it.

V-Shaped Cloud Formation on South Side of Trail, © B. Radisavljevic

The trail runs between two housing areas: Riverbank on the north side and the rural properties, many of them small farms, that face onto Oak Lane on the south side. The palm is in one of the yards in the Riverbank tract.

Palm in Yard Across the Fence Along Trail with Clouds Behind, © B. Radisavljevic

I was not alone on the trail tonight. Two families passed me with their dogs. I thought the boy was going to have to carry the little black dog. It was stubbornly refusing to keep walking. Finally, it decided to follow, but only after much urging.

Company on the Trail, © B. Radisavljevic

These large trees are on the side where the small farms are. I love their silhouettes as the sky darkens.

Whisps of Clouds behind Tree Silhouettes, © B. Radisavljevic

This is the same band of clouds I showed you earlier, but now some time has passed. Both its color and shape have changed a bit.

Band of Clouds Across Trail Is Turning Pink, © B. Radisavljevic

There are many more pictures I could have shown you -- over a hundred -- but this is enough to give you an idea of what you missed. This last photo was taken after I returned to the entrance. The trees are on the end of Riverbank Lane, near where I parked. If you live in Paso Robles and haven't walked this trail yet, it's very manageable -- even for those with disabilities. It's mostly level, and you can see it is paved with concrete. Walkers do need to watch out for cyclists, though. I often encounter them here.

Back to Where I Started as It Begins to Get Dark, © B. Radisavljevic

If you enjoyed these photos, why not share them on Pinterest?

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I Do Love Trees -- Especially These Trees

These Trees Frame Most of My Sunset Photos

The oak lives right across the street from me. The palms live across the intersecting street from the oak. From my yard, I can frame the sunset between them. My only frustration when photographing the sunset in this frame of trees is the streetlight in front of the oak. 

It's a bit darker in this photo. As often happens, in order to get the sunset shot I want, part of the oak gets cut out. 

Sometimes the oak solos in the photos.

Sometimes the palms stand alone. 

I Think God Made Trees to Complement Sunsets

Of course, there are many other reasons I love trees. They provide shade in summer, turn carbon dioxide into oxygen, provide tasty fruits to eat, and turn lovely colors in the fall. In winter blooming trees provide beautiful reminders that spring is coming soon. They provide places for birds to nest and perch. What's not to love about trees? 

Okay, I do know they drop unwanted seeds in the fall (but the squirrels and birds love them.) Sometimes they drop messy fruits. Raking those lovely colored leaves in autumn is a tradition I like much better than those horrible noisy blowers too many people use now, but I understand that some people consider raking or blowing leaves a chore. I personally think the pros of growing trees far outweighs the cons. Our lives would be much poorer without them. 

 

What do you love most about trees? Which trees do you like best? Do you have a favorite tree that means something special to you? Please share your thoughts in the comments. 

Also see Palms in a Golden Sunset, Trees Are Leafing Out Again, Deciduous Oaks in Winter

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Sky Journal of Day with Sporadic Showers

Morning Sky

The weather forecast gave the impression I'd stay dry if I finished my shopping by mid-afternoon. I got in my car, and although the sky was cloudy, it wasn't raining. That was at 10:55 AM.

Sky View 2-18-17, Paso Robles, 10:55 AM, ©  B. Radisavljevic 

I drove to Atascadero, parked on Traffic Way and took a few photos. This is one that shows how green the hills are now. As you can see, the sky was blue looking northeast. 

Sky View from Traffic Way in Atascadero about 11:30 AM, ©  B. Radisavljevic

I walked around and took more pictures in the almost deserted Sunken Gardens.  It was windy, and you can see how the wind and earlier rain had combined to make the fountain spill over onto the surrounding area. 

Fountain at Sunken Gardens in  Atascadero about 11-45 AM, ©  B. Radisavljevic

After leaving the park I made my way to Smart and Final to shop. I was there by noon. By 1 PM I was back in my car, and there was still no rain. I headed to Trader Joe's in Templeton. I had planned to stop at Von's but it had started to rain hard by the time I drove the short distance there and the parking lot was full. I only needed one thing there and opted to skip it and go straight to Trader Joe's. It rained on and off all the way to Templeton. Fortunately when I got to Trader Joe's the rain had stopped and the sky was blue again. I left my hat in the car. 

Afternoon

That turned out to be a mistake. As I left Trader Joe's I could see the rain coming down as I reached the exit. My hat was in the car, so I tried to keep my glasses dry. As luck would have it, the rain became just a drizzle as I walked to my car. When I got home the rain had pretty much died down. I was able to unload the car without getting wet. At 4:30 I went to my front yard to take a picture, and this is how the sky looked then. 

Sky View 2-18-17, Paso Robles, 4:30  PM, ©  B. Radisavljevic 

As the Sun Went Down

These photos were taken at 5:25 PM

Sky View 2-18-17, Paso Robles, 5:25  PM, ©  B. Radisavljevic 

Sunset

These photos were taken from different angles at sunset. I show them in order. 

Sky View 2-18-17, Paso Robles, 5:48  PM, ©  B. Radisavljevic 

Sky View 2-18-17, Paso Robles, 5:48  PM, ©  B. Radisavljevic 

Sky View 2-18-17, Paso Robles, 5:48  PM, ©  B. Radisavljevic 

It was eerie to drive in and out of showers as I passed under storm clouds on my way home.  I'm grateful we've gotten more rain, but not enough to do much damage. Our friends in Northern and Southern California have had much more damage. 

I"m seriously thinking of getting one of these rain barrels to collect and save some of this water for the summer. 

Good Ideas RW50-KHA Rain Wizard Rain Barrel 50-Gallon, KhakiGood Ideas RWURN-LIG Rain Wizard Rain Barrel Urn 65-Gallon, Light Granite

How has your weather been this week? How has it affected you personally or those you know?

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Down by the Station and Welcome Sunshine

Down by the Paso Robles Train Station

This afternoon I was just leaving an appointment around 5 PM on Seventh and Pine when I heard the Amtrak train coming into the station. I managed to get my camera out before the train was completely out of sight. 

Amtrak Train Pulling into Paso Robles Station around 5 PM

I walked as fast as I could hoping to get to the depot for some other closer shots. I was in luck. One of the boarding passengers didn't have all her luggage aboard yet. As she was rushing toward the open door, I noticed she had dropped a scarf. I ran to pick it up for her, but she was so flustered about her luggage she almost didn't notice me trying to hand it to her. I wanted to give it to her so I could finish getting my photos before the train pulled away again. 

A Peek throught the Amtrak Train's Open Door

The lady and her escort finally took the scarf and I turned north again to take this photo of the train while it was stopped. Notice the sign for the Paso Robles Depot. 

Amtrak Train Parked at Paso Robles Depot about 5 PM -- Please Pin Me

Zazzle Products Featuring the Paso Robles Train Station

Paso Robles Train Station in Autumn Playing Cards










These products all come from photos I have taken at the Paso Robles Transportation Center (Amtrak train station) in the past.

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Postcard: Paso Robles Train Station in Winter PostcardPaso Robles Train Station in Autumn Luggage TagPoster: Train Leaving Paso Robles Station in Winte Poster

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Sky Journal February 4, 2017

I welcomed the sunshine today after yesterday's rain. This is how my usual photo spot across the street looked at about 11:30 AM.

Late Morning Sky at 11:30 AM

By 2 PM the scene had changed. You can see the contrail high in the photo. 

2 PM, Fluffy Clouds with Contrail

At 4:20 when I left for my appointment,  the sky looked like this. The bright sun was behind the tree trunk of the oak. 

Sunburst behind Oak, 4:15 PM

When I came home about 5:15 PM, the sun was ready to say goodbye. 

Sun Almost  Down, 5:15 PM

Kind of a mellow sunset, don't you think?

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A Brief Tour of the Paso Robles Library in Photos

The Photo Tour of the Paso Robles Library Begins at the Entrance

The September theme for City Daily Photo Bloggers is Library, so I decided to take you on a photo tour of our city library. To get to the Paso Robles Library entrance, one must pass under this massive oak tree. ( Unless one uses the street entrance on the other side of the building.) Most library visitors park in the lot, though, and enter by the oak tree entrance.

Oak Tree Near Entrance to Paso Robles  Library, © B. Radisavljevic

Once through the doors, you find yourself in in a foyer that leads into the library, the city hall, the restrooms, the conference rooms, and one of the library bookstores. You can also see across to the other entrance. It looks out to the park where you can walk across to Farmers Market on Saturdays mornings and Tuesday afternoons. Most people don't use that as a library entrance because parking is harder to find there.

Paso Robles Library Foyer, © B. Radisavljevic

Behind these glass doors are the library and the staircase leading to City Hall. The table is used for sharing literature pertaining to city events.

Doors to  Library and City Hall Access, © B. Radisavljevic 

Inside the Library: The Children's Area

As you enter the Paso Robles Library and walk past the service desk, the first thing you really notice ahead is the display wall of the children's area of the library. Here is an overview. 

Children's Area of the Paso Robles Library, © B. Radisavljevic 

The row of reading tables runs through the center of the children's area. Here's another view. The children's periodicals are on display here. To the right of the display shelf is the picture book area. We will get a better view of it in the next photo.

Children's Area of the Paso Robles Library, © B. Radisavljevic 

Picture Book Area of the Paso Robles Library, © B. Radisavljevic

You can see the Highlights magazine we used to read when even I was a child is still around.

The aquarium below acts as a wall divider between the hallway and the children's area.

Aquarium which Divides the Hallway from the Children's Area,  © B. Radisavljevic

You can look through the water to see inside the picture book area.

Today's Library's Are Multi-Media

The library gives a wall for the display of local art. The exhibits change frequently.  If you continue down this hallway, you will find CD's and DVD's to borrow. You can see one of the cases at the left corner of the photo.

Art on Display at the Paso Robles Library, © B. Radisavljevic

A library would be nothing without real books. The Paso Robles has lots of them, though they now also let you check out digital books for your reading devices. I haven't tried it yet. The picture below shows the heart of the adult section. First you see the reference desk in the center where you can ask questions and get directions to what you need.

The Heart of the Library for Adults, © B. Radisavljevic

Beyond the reference desk are the stacks. On the left side you will find fiction. On the right you will see the first cases of the nonfiction stacks. You can also see the computers near the middle. Along the wall by the window are study tables and some cubicles. The windows look out on City Park  across the street. This next photo focuses on that area by the window a bit more.

In the photo above you can also see the row of upholstered chairs where people often sit to read periodicals or books. The homeless often catch a nap here. I often sit here and read on Smart Days when I want to stay cool outside the house.

Fiction, Graphics, and Reading / Study Areas for Adults, © B. Radisavljevic

The Paso Robles Library Has a Section for Graphic Novels

The label on the prominent case in the photo above reads Graphics. When I was a child, the books in this section did not exist. The closest thing we had to today's graphic novels were comic books. Libraries did not have comic books.

This form of literature has become important in the past few years. It became a book category in bookstores in 2001. Although these are called graphic novels, they are not all fiction. Many nonfiction graphic novels can be found in classrooms today. I used to sell them when I was selling educational books. They appealed to young people whose reading skills could not handle normal books at their grade level.

The first graphic novels I carried were the classic collections of Tin Tin books by Herge. Both my husband and son loved them. They were some of the few graphic novels you might find in a library in the 1980's. If your library doesn't have them, you can find them at Amazon.

 The Adventures of Tintin, Vol. 1 (Tintin in America / Cigars of the Pharaoh / The Blue Lotus) The Adventures of Tintin, Vol. 2: The Broken Ear / The Black Island / King Ottokar's Sceptre (3 Volumes in 1) The Adventures of Tintin, Vol. 3: The Crab with the Golden Claws / The Shooting Star / The Secret of the Unicorn (3 Volumes in 1) The Adventures of Tintin, Vol. 4: Red Rackham's Treasure / The Seven Crystal Balls / Prisoners of the Sun (3 Volumes in 1) The Adventures of Tintin, Vol. 5: Land of Black Gold / Destination Moon / Explorers on the Moon (3 Volumes in 1) The Adventures of Tintin, Vol. 6: The Calculus Affair / The Red Sea Sharks / Tintin in Tibet (3 Volumes in 1)

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Here are some of the nonfiction graphic novels you can find at the Paso Robles Library.

Nonfiction Graphic Novels at Paso Robles Library, © B. Radisavljevic

The Library Helps Bring the Community Together. 

As you come through the library doors, the first thing you see on your right  is this table and bulletin board.  They explain volunteer opportunities in Paso Robles. Just past it are two other information displays -- one announcing community events, and another with hand-outs about community resources.

Volunteer Opportunity Announcements, © B. Radisavljevic

You will often see volunteer tutors with their students in the library, but I'm not supposed to take pictures of them. I didn't see any today anyway, but I often do  see them.

People  who don't have computers use those in the library.

Those who want to find cheap books to keep can find them in the library bookstores run by the Friends of the Library.

The City Council and other  groups hold meetings in the library conference room.

The library also has special programs for children to keep them interested in reading. These are often seasonal.

The Paso Robles Library is a vital service that helps every segment of our community.

How does your city's library compare? Does it offer much the same kinds of services? Does it have services we may not have?  What do you like best about your library?

If you'd like to see what other City Daily Photo bloggers around the world have shared about their libraries, check out the theme photo gallery.

To see my other posts about our library,  click one of the icons below. You will see details that I haven't included here.

 Paso Robles Library During the Holidays L is for Library

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