Reflections and a Sliver of Sunshine

A Rare Bit of Sunshine

The sun has been a rare sight during these days of rain. It was gloomy most of the day but in the late afternoon I looked in the back yard and saw this bit of sunshine among the shadows. 

In the front yard, I could see the sun hidden in the clouds behind my neighbor's oak tree. 

The Reflections

On my side of the street, the tree was reflected in a small puddle next to the curb. 

The palm tree across the street in the other direction was reflected in the same puddle when I faced it in the other direction. 

Here's a closer look at the palm reflection in the puddle.

In the back yard, a very shallow puddle in the former lawn reflected part of the blue sky and a tall tree at the back of the yard. 

Gift Items Featuring Lovely Reflection Photos

 Poster: Reflection of Trees in Puddles Poster nature photography winter tree reflection iPhone 7 case Yellowstone Grand Teton Reflections Jigsaw Puzzle Winter Reflection at Yosemite Postcard Seattle skyline at night with reflection jigsaw puzzle

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Shale Oak Winery at Dusk

Shale Oak Winery is right across the street from Red Soles Winery, and I explored both Red Soles and Shale Oak wineries at dusk. I enjoy the solitude and the view of the sunset I get when I make my vineyard visits as the sun is about to go  down. I usually don't stay as late as I did on this evening, January 14, 2014.  I was just in time to see the oak,  for which I assume the winery was named, reflected in the tasting room window. It made me wonder if the window was placed there just to catch that reflection.

Here is the oak that's doing the reflecting. If you look across the street, you will see Red Soles Winery and vineyard. You can also see my white Volvo wagon parked on the street. The parking lots were, of course, closed when I arrived.

Oak in front of Shale Oak Winery, © B. Radisavljevic

Here's another view of the tasting room. From this angle, the reflection is much different. It extends into the water below, which is part of the winery's advanced water circulation system. You can read more about Shale Oak's use of water on their website. 

Another Reflection in Shale Oak's Window, © B. Radisavljevic

If you walk all the way around the building, as I did, you will not only see most of the water system and the oaks on the hill behind the tasting room, but you will also pass a number of patios where customers can sit and enjoy their wine. One of them is pictured below.

 Patio outside Shale Oak Tasting Room, © B. Radisavljevic

Here is an entirely different view, taken from the back of the patio from the hill above. From this vantage point, you can look straight out at the oak in front.

 Patio at Shale Oak from behind Patio Wall, © B. Radisavljevic

All patios are not the same. Here's one that's a bit cozier.

A Cozy Patio Corner at Shale Oak, © B. Radisavljevic

All adventures and explorations must end sometime. I took the rising moon as my cue to leave and get a quick look at Red Soles Winery across the street before dark.

Rising Moon as Seen from Shale Oak Winery Grounds, © B. Radisavljevic

If you enjoyed this post, please share it. The sharing buttons are just above the comment box at the end of this post. The photo below is especially designed for pinning.

This is my nineteenth post for the 2016 AtoZchallenge, a Blogging Challenge for the month of April, 2016. My theme is Things You Can See or Experience in North San Luis Obispo County. Here are links to the other posts if you missed them.

A is for Acorn
B is for Barney Schwartz Park
C is for Cattle in Wine Country
D is for Dark Star Cellars
E is for Electric Wires
F is for Family Farms
G is for Graveyard Vineyards
H is for Horses
Insects in My Neighborhood in April
J's Burgers in Paso Robles: A Review
Kosta is God's Gift to Me from Across the Ocean
Laguna Lake is Full Again
Mission San Miguel Photos
Niner Estates Decorated Heart Hill with Vineyards
Ocean Photos from the California Central Coast
Paso Robles Police Vehicles
Quiet Places Near Paso Robles

Red Soles Winery at Dusk

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Big Change on Pine Street by the Amtrak Depot in Paso Robles

New Parking Lot on Pine Street in Paso Robles, © B. Radisavljevic

As I was driving downtown to return some books at the Paso Robles Library yesterday, I accidently turned on 6th Street instead of 10th, and I took it to Pine so I could skip the stop signs on Park. When I got to Pine I almost thought I was in the wrong city. There was a "Do not enter" sign facing me before I turned left, and I saw that while I'd been sticking to Spring Street these past few weeks, someone built a new parking area along Pine between 6th and 7th Streets. That was quite a big change by the Amtrak Depot in Paso Robles. After I left the library, I returned to take some pictures.

I happened to arrive just after a northbound train had pulled in and was picking up  passengers. Notice the conductor taking tickets as people board. You can also see the trees reflected in the windows of the train. If you click on the photos they will enlarge so you can see them better.

Passengers Boarding Amtrak at Paso Robles Depot,  © B. Radisavljevic

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A Celebration of the Rain

Sun Reflected on Sidewalk after Rain. © B. Radisavljevic

It seems the sun likes to come out on dreary days most often just before it goes down. Such was the case today. It was overcast and rainy almost all day, and then, just at that point when it was low and bright on the horizon, the sun came out. It was so bright, my camera could barely handle the reflection on the sidewalk.


Naturally, I thought this might be my only chance for a while to practice photographing the raindrops on the plants. These are some I was happy with. There weren't many roses left in the yard after so many weeks without rain, but I was able to find one near the top of the bush. Click photos to enlarge them for a better view of details.

Rose after Rain. © B. Radisavljevic

Rue after Rain. © B. Radisavljevic

This is probably my favorite. It's amazing this hollyhock is even here, but its cup filled with rain.

Hollyhock after Rain. © B. Radisavljevic

The rain was even kind enough to wash my car and the sun painted temporary photos on my windows with the reflections of the sky and trees.

Rain-washed Car with Picture Windows © B. Radisavljevic

We will continue our series on art at Studios on the Park during the rest of this week,  but I wanted to celebrate the rain while I was still feeling the joy it brought me as it touched my garden.

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In Search of the Super Blood Moon

Like many others on the West Coast, our search for the Super Blood Moon was a wild goose chase. The moon hid behind a cloud cover until about 9 PM. Those of us heading east to the rural areas when it was due only found each other out looking. I saw many other cars on rural roads surrounded by open space parked facing east. We saw no moon at all. What we did see was this gorgeous sunset as we looked back west.

Earlier, before I left home to chase the moon, I snapped this shot as the sun was setting. I often shoot a sunset through the branches of this oak across the street. I didn't realize at the time the sunset show would only get better.

While I was parked hoping for a moon to appear, the sun almost disappeared. You can see it sneaking under the horizon here.

I decided to change the setting on my camera for night photography just to see what effect it would have. Since I had no tripod with me,  I decided to rest the camera on the top of my car. I was delighted with the surprise reflection that showed up in this photo.

Like most people who were chasing the super moon and the eclipse, I gave up and went home. About 9 I went outside to see if the clouds had moved. I was finally able to see the moon. My point and shoot camera couldn't capture the dark circle that made the moon look like a white bulls-eye in a target,  but it was there, much larger than the moon itself. It may have been the shadow of the sun. I don't know whether part of the moon is missing here because of the eclipse or whether it is just blocked by a cloud. Wish I'd had a better camera and a tripod.

Please click any photo you want to enlarge.

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• Rural Sunsets on Oak Lane and South River Road
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• The August 2015 Perseid Meteor Shower and Milky Way - Astrophotography Over Rural San Luis Obispo County, California

My Camera-Shy Selfie

My Camera-Shy Selfie © B. Radisavljevic

On the first day of every month, the City Daily Photo Blog site has a theme day, and all associated  bloggers join in. The theme this month is to post a camera-shy selfie. This is the one I have chosen. I had many shadow photos I could have posted, but I believe hiding behind my camera is sufficient disguise. Besides, I've always liked this picture, even though it is the result of an accident.

This photo was taken long ago as I left a medical building. Another patient had left her dogs in the car, and I wanted a picture of that black lab you see in the window. As you can see, I got the picture. So intent was I on the dog, that I didn't see until I got home that I had also inadvertently gotten into the picture myself.

Have you ever taken an accidental selfie?