Winter is Here!

It seems like in one day winter arrived. We were in the woods riding motorcycles, having a fire, hanging out when all of a sudden we noticed it was COLD! Since it was the end of the year it is time to expect a little snow but every year it seems to sneak up on us.

This year we have decided to feed the birds throughout the winter. I am not sure if it is good or bad for the birds, the argument rages, but the truth is I could care less. The birds seem happy and I like it, so we are good to go. If you have any complaints send them to my Yahoo account please, it's the one I give to contacts I never intend to read.

My favorite backyard birds are these hummingbirds,  these little guys are the rat terriers of the bird world. Fearless and tiny, they think they are really something. Anyone who gets too close to the feeder is due for a fly-by. If they weighed 100 #'s they would rule the sky.

This purple headed male has claimed the yard as his own. I have decided to name him Daniel, he doesn't eat meat and would fly into fire to claim what is his.

I am not sure if Danny is a bit of a camera hound or if hovering takes a lot out of a guy because he is very willing to pose for snapshots between flights. I hope he hangs around for awhile.

This young lady seems to be a rare beauty, at least in Danny's eyes, because he allows her to enter the yard with a minimum of fuss. Now the female label is a guess based on the king of the yard's behavior, but I am going to go with it and name her Sarah. She was known as a woman of uncommon beauty.

Altough with my luck Sarah may turn out to be another Adam Lambert... oops sorry, that just slipped out.

Lessons in Luck

I went to a funeral today.

I had learned a very valuable lesson from this man years before and wanted to say thanks and pay my respects. Back when I was younger and more aggressive I read quite a few books on self-improvement and charting your destiny. I had begun to believe that we make our own luck, that we controlled our circumstances by attracting into our lives people and events according to our attitudes and habits.

Then my friend Walt lost his daughter. She was the light of his life, young and beautiful with everything to live for. She was killed by a drunk driver while parked at a stoplight. A short while after that the company he worked for laid off their entire workforce. All of this happening to one of the most honest and friendly folks I ever met. A dedicated family man, a veteran who served his country, worked hard and never had a bad word to say about anyone.

It was a great lesson for me, I threw away the motivational books I had been reading and witnessed a real person work their way back from some of life’s toughest blows. The thought that this man had made his own luck was an absurdity. He took a job that I had just left and we spoke often for a few years afterwards. I watched him work his way back from despair slowly over time. Eventually he found other reasons to be happy and lived well for another couple of decades.

I will always think about him anytime I hear about someone making their own luck, I just don’t buy it. He made the best of his life, but luck did not have much to do with it.

Doing the Right Thing... Hopefully

It’s taken me a long time to write this article, mostly because I was just not sure where to start or even what to write. It has to do with doing, or rather not doing the right thing. I was at lunch with a friend last week, minding my own business when a very disturbed young lady sat down in the booth next to me. At first she just sat by herself and mumbled, but over time her mumbles grew into sobbing out loud and then laughing hysterically.

As I ate and tried to hold a conversation with my friend I grew more and more uncomfortable. Sometimes I was fearful thinking to myself; “What is wrong with this person?” Other times I was angry, wondering why this person had to act like an idiot while I was trying to enjoy some well-deserved rest and relaxation.

But mostly I was in turmoil, what should I do…should I help or should I run? In the end I left the restaurant upset at myself for leaving and disturbed that I didn’t do something, but believing I was probably correct. Although not totally sure I did the right thing, because here I am a week later, still writing about it.

The picture above is of a veteran who hangs out at a local shopping center and asks for money on a regular basis. He is another source of inner turmoil. I am certain that he truly is homeless, really is a veteran and definitely has issues which prevent him from having a regular job.

On the other hand he is there virtually every day, refuses to go into a shelter and won’t change the life he leads regardless of how much money I give him. I sometimes feel compelled to give, but don’t because it does no good.

There is no better feeling than helping someone and knowing that you have made a difference, but sometimes that feeling is missing. Which means then I have to decide based upon a set of guidelines I have established for myself over the years. We should try to do what is right, not what feels good. The problem is deciding between right and wrong. Sometimes it’s easy and I want to roll down the window and shout, “get a job.” Sometimes I am humbled and wish I had more to give, knowing that you are truly doing the right and noble thing. But most of the time it’s a struggle between giving up something you have to someone you’re not sure about.

And so I have decided to share this with all of you. Normally I wouldn’t because no one likes to read an article without an ending, or even a decent conclusion, which I don’t have in this case. But that is the point. Sometimes you just have to muddle through. And I am certain that many of you have experienced the same thing but no one likes to talk about it. So let me encourage you, if all you did this day, or week, or month is muddle through, you are not alone.

I once sat on a beach many thousands of miles from here, speaking to a man who had never seen a big city or even a large town for that matter. They had electricity for a couple hours a day and lived on a pittance of what would be normal in America. We had no problem talking, he cared about the exact same things I did. His wife, his kids, his home, family, church and making it through the winter to the next spring when work would start up again. The longer I live the more I am convinced that there are no original thoughts, we just forget things and then think of them again.

Sure, sometimes we have flashes of brilliance -- and they are wonderful, inspirational even. But most of the time I think our job is to just keep moving forward. So muddle on my friends, keep moving forward between your flashes of brilliance, and enjoy them when they come. They are a like the feeling of new clean sheets on a night when you are bone tired, they are a moment to be savored.

Don't Argue, Testify....

A couple of years ago I had lunch with a friend who is a part time preacher; he is a great guy and has very firm beliefs -- as one would expect of a leader. He loved to argue scripture and could quote chapter and verse at death defying speed. This man is still preaching today and leading a church in our area, he devotes his free time to service and for him what he is doing is a great, but it is not and never will be for me.

Faith is a deeply personal thing and true faith is not something anyone can be talked into. If someone can be talked into believing in a deity by clever arguments then a better orator can talk that same person out of that belief. That is not faith, that is logic, or at least a poor attempt at logic, and faith is not logical. Faith is a deeply held certainty that something is true regardless of any visible, logical or provable factors.

As humans we love to argue, to hear our own voices and to “prove” to ourselves and anyone who will listen that we are right. I am doing that right now, but I try to hide it by cleverly denying that I like to argue. Arguing that I don’t argue, so to speak.

Anyway my point is, if you want to talk to someone about your faith don’t argue with them over who is right and who is wrong. Just tell them how you feel and what your faith has done for you.

Testify.

There used to be a guy on TV selling an herbal diet drink that understood this concept better than anyone else I have ever heard. When people would ask him an overly technical question he would answer something like, “ I’m not sure about that, but let me tell you how it affected me.” And from there he would tell them truthfully of his experience. People can and will argue over minute and meaningless details, but how can they argue over your experiences? They may be asking for an argument but you will answer them with a living example from your own life.

The next time someone asks you an argumentative question like "How can a loving god allow war?" don’t fight with them or defend your beliefs. Don’t try and prove to them or yourself that your are right, or smart, or clever. Instead be sincere, be honest, be vulnerable, and tell them how your faith has helped you in this life.

Testify.

The Search for Fall Colors

On the second day of our trip we came across this church, which has been going continously since 1890, looking at the old cross leaning on the tree under the incredible colors of fall was one of the nicest things I have ever seen. Faith is a very personal thing and I try not to preach, there are enough good preachers in this world that no one should ever have to listen to me try, but if seeing God's creation at this time of year doesn't stir something in your soul then you need to go out and take a second look.

God doesn't live in a church, or a temple made by the hand of man, he is everywhere. He certainly is here, as witnessed this by month of Ocotber 2009. What a sight to behold.

We desperately wanted to camp this trip after the great time we had on the last adventure, but all the campgrounds in the area are closed due to the threat of an early freeze. Since deer hunting season opened this weekend I didn't want to just dry camp in the middle of the forest. Not that I fear or think poorly of hunters, I do not in any way, it's just the dust that will be kicked up by all the traffic on opening weekend. When it's dry like this the dust gets so thick you can taste it. So, we roughed it at the Best Western. It is awfully nice to have a warm bed between trips out to see the fall colors. We were treated to a pretty spectacular set of golds as soon as we hit the mountains. This shot is from a spot near Mill Creek, CA named Childs Meadow.

Right before dinner on the first night I looked out the window and the sunset was going crazy, I jumped up and started throwing gear into a bag trying to get to the lake before it went totally dark. My poor wife was trying to help and I asked her to set up the tripod. She was so excited she extended all 4 legs out to seven feet tall and locked them down with Godzilla like strength. If I were tall enough to reach up there and attach my camera I could never have seen through the viewfinder. Anyone who knows me can testify that I am not seven feet tall, and my vertical leap is around 4 inches. I briefly considered getting a step stool since the legs were locked down so tight I could not budge them. After our comedy of errors we managed to get this shot setup with a series exposures ranging from about 4 to 30 seconds before it went black. It was well worth the effort, this was one of the most beautiful sunsets I have ever seen, and to spend it with my best friend while producing art made it that much better.

Thanks for coming along and if you got this far, thanks for reading!

JP

Nobody Beats the Weather

It's been a wonderful six days but it is time to pull the chocks and go, there is a big storm coming in for the next couple of days and my kids are going to be home this weekend, hopefully both of them.

No camping trip on earth is better than a dinner at home with my family. It is so rare that we get together anymore. Everyone has their own lives and issues to deal with and scheduling conflicts make together time a special thing.

So it's goodbye seafood and hello ranch country.

I am going to miss the clam chowder, it just doesn't taste the same when you are 200 miles from the  ocean. The journey home is a long one, but expectations grow with every mile. There is nothing as good as going home after an abscence, even a slight one.

Goodbye Brookings, we will see you again in June!

Whaleshead State Beach

whaleshead 72_1080_web, originally uploaded by plattj1.

So far it's another incredibly sunny day... We braved the dirt road to Whaleshead Beach State Park, what a great little spot. We have been here before with my kids about 18 years ago. It looks exactly the same. No graffiti, everything in working order and a nice people enjoying the Pacific Ocean.

Why is it that Oregon can maintain their state parks and beaches and California cannot? Virtually everywhere we stop the facilities are clean and in working condition. There are park employees out working and the infrastructure is not crumbling and destroyed. I know it is not due to lack of use, you have to make reservations at some of these campgrounds up to 9 months in advance, they are full every night.

It is embarrassing to compare the way California treats the parks and public spaces they are responsible for, our stewardship is horrible. All of the people I know who camp, hunt or fish feel the same way I do, we pay our taxes and the demanded fees to use the parks but find they are falling apart around us. I just want to know where the money is going. Obviously it is possible to have a great park system, the drive from Patrick’s Point State Park in Trinidad, CA to Harris Beach State Park in Brookings, OR only takes 2 hours. They are both geographically spectacular, however only one is cared for properly.

Stewardship says a lot about the inner life of the steward in charge, in this case  what is being looked after is not the public spaces for future generations. By all appearances those we have entrusted with our facilities are choosing to devour the park funds for some other area. Our California parks and public spaces need a new steward, one who cares for them first.

A Day at The Beach

Sunny and warm with a breeze out of the north.

After a nice shower (free hot water - Yay!) in the campground we ran down to the beach to see what the day was like.

It was perfect.

The Pelicans were pounding the shore and practicing their close formation flying manuvers to the delight of the crowds. They fly inches apart and dive from 100' like a precision flying team. What a show.

Since it was time for lunch we headed to the harbor where the Pelicans go to rest and relax, that seemed like a good idea so we had lunch and hung around for a couple of hours. After a nice meal it was back to the campground for a quick Photoshop session and some afternoon reading.

Thanks for looking, I hope you like Pelicans.

Random Acts of Kindness

Well we made it to Harris State Beach in Oregon, what a great campground. The mornings are foggy but the evenings are clear and wonderful. We had a first today; we went out to start the truck and it died instantly -- which was a HUGE suprise, our truck has been a faithful beast for the past 5 years.

No problem, out with the AAA card and minutes later there was a tow truck en-route, as an afterthought I asked the operator to call the dealership and make sure there was a diesel mechanic on duty. The service writer asked me if I had lost prime. Doing my best imitation of someone who had the slightest idea of what he was talking about I said; "Maybe, let me check, how do I do that again?" After being directed to the priming button and pumping it, the truck started right up and ran great for the rest of the day.

That was the second act of kindness bestowed upon me in the past two days. Yesterday after pulling 14,000 pounds up the side of a mountain I noticed that my rear tires were underinflated. Off to the nearest mini-mart I went with 35 feet of 5th wheel in tow. None of the .25 cent air machines would put any air in my tires, they do not fill past about 40 pounds and I was trying for 80 plus. Pulling back onto the highway I rolled into Trinity Tire Center in Weaverville, CA where the service writer was trying to enjoy a quiet lunch. After hearing my tale he jumped up and said let's get you back on the road safely. With no small effort he untangled a LONG air hose and filled the tires on my truck, all the while his lunch was waiting and he refused any fee.

Anyone with doubts that California is still full of wonderful folks should get out more, there are still plenty of people willing to lend a hand to a traveler in need.

There is more to share, like the way my dog thinks that seagulls were created for his entertainment, or how much fun it was to see a little boy about 3 years old yell "Hi" at every boat in the Chetco river because his mom told him daddy was on one of those boats fishing.

More tomorrow....

Harvest Moon

I spent an hour watching the moon go by last night, what an enjoyable time that was. It is so infrequent that we take time to gaze at the night sky anymore. It really is awe inspiring. For you tech weenies, this is 3 exposures blended in Photomatix, I started with raw files of -4 ev, -2 ev and 0 or a correct exposure. The dark edge was burned a little and the saturation was barely turned up. The WB was auto, I believe the warmth is because of fires in the area. It was resized, sharpened in CS4 and posted.

Take the time to look at the sky soon, it is quite inspiring.

If anyone out there needs a reason to slow down and think about what matters most in life I would like to introduce you to my friend Pepper Benz, his story needs no embellishment from me, it speaks for itself.

http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/pepperbenz

Enjoy every day as the gift that it is....

Railroad Days

The wife and I are looking for a place to introduce the in-laws to camping. We had heard about a nice little park in Dunsmuir which features a railroad museum, so off we went with our Subway sandwiches and our faithful sidekick Rocky (our mini-Schnauzer) for a quick look. We found a very nice little park and some cool railroad cars. We may end up spending a weekend there soon.

Many of the cars are fully restored, but my favorites were the older cars which showed their age. It's a great place to stop for a meal if you are on I-5 in the Dunsmuir area.

I doubt that the cars were this bright and pretty when they were hauling freight around the Northwest, but they sure look nice now.

Enjoy!

Fathers are forever

Last year my dad passed away and even though I am in my 50’s it was still tough to take, for the first time in my life I can’t call him for advice. Our relationship was not as close as I would have liked it to be, he kept everyone at a distance, that was just his personality. Still, your father is a special person and they hold a place in your heart like no other, regardless of their human flaws.

I loved him dearly.

One thing about being a father is that you can’t get there without being a son first, so I determined that I would not repeat the same mistakes, I would make all new ones. Now that my kids are old enough to be out on their own I have learned something else. It’s the ongoing relationship that matters most. I know I have made mistakes, some of them I can remember and many I am not even aware of. In this case ignorance really is bliss. I never mentioned any of my fathers mistakes to him, why would I? They were past and I could not have loved him any more, even if he were perfect.

What I needed, and what I got from him, was a relationship. An ongoing, long lasting mentor I could speak with honestly. Someone who had no motive other than love to guide him in our conversations.

I have come to realize that your children never stop needing you, their needs just change. I also find that I am still learning from my own father even after he is gone.

I love you dad.

Balloon Festival in Montague

This week I went camping in Jefferson at the yearly Montague Balloon Festival and Parade... It was an amazingly great time.

Every morning they lifted off at dawn and floated around for a few hours and on Saturday night they held a "glodeo".

The new rig (5th wheel) was great and the people were fantastic.

Instead of writing a lot in this case I am just going to post a few pictures.

If you can make it to Montague it is worth the drive, they are there to have a good time and it is truly a wonderful festival.

The Results Are In....

bird_2, originally uploaded by plattj1.

I entered my first competition, the Tehama County Fair, and the results are in. This picture of a finch took second place in the wildlife category. Two of my other entries also were awarded honorable mentions.

I had no idea how many good photographers there were out there, the truth is I was lucky to get anything. There were some amazing images hanging from all over the Northstate. What was really enjoyable was to see the different views of the same places through the lens of so many photographers. No two looked the same.

If you have a county or state fair nearby I encourage you to attend, it is an inexpensive way to enjoy the day.

Backyard Fun

GarlicFlower, originally uploaded by plattj1.

My wife loves to garden, which is great for me because I always have something in bloom to photograph. This is an HDR image of a Garlic flower. The only thing signifigant about it is that it is the first HDR I have ever done.

What a fun process, it's like having a darkroom without all the smells and the mess. If you haven't tried digital photography let me encourage you to start, it is a whole new way of making images and preserving moments in time.

Everyday Heroes

One of the reasons that dogs are so endearing is that they all think their masters are fabulous. Sometimes I think they understand things that we don’t, like who their heroes really are.

I have a friend who was laid off due to the economy. He is in his fifties, a computer programmer and so far unable to find another position. With three children and a wife looking to him for support, he has been struggling with the stress that only someone who has felt the burden of responsibility can understand. Everyday he gets up and tries again, faces the world and does his best. And while popular culture glorifies athletes and celebrities as heroes because they can throw a ball or look good on television, in my mind that just makes them lucky, not great. A great man is someone like my friend; a guy who delays his boyhood dreams and faces uncertainty with courage and fortitude. Sometimes being a grown up means having to accept that there is no right answer, no solution, you just have to live with the circumstances and bear the weight.

Which brings me back to my dog, people love pets because of the unselfish friendship they provide, something we can all learn. Instead of wasting my efforts on false heroes, untouchable icons who don’t need, care or even know of our labors, I have decided to try and encourage those around me. The world is full of everyday heroes who ask for nothing but deserve the best we can give.

Abandoned Farmhouse

I frequent a website named DPREVIEW.COM because of my love for photography. They run challenges every week and I wanted to enter this image into an event requiring pictures of old farmhouses. Unfortunately it was disqualified because of a timing issue.

Still, it got me thinking about land and ownership. We were in the area where Chief Joseph started his famous run from the US Calvary after having his land taken back by the government, and that made me start to wonder what we can really own. To own something means that it is 100% yours and that it can't be taken away, you can do with it what you will. If I don't pay my taxes the county will come take my house, even though I own it. If I get caught driving recklessly the police can impound my car and not give it back until I pay the fine, even though I own it.

After some thought I came to believe that the only thing that is truly yours, to do with what you will, is your soul. You can believe in the God and/or Deity you choose regardless of your circumstances. There may be a heavy penalty to pay, but it cannot be taken from you regardless of what the world throws at you. I find great comfort in that.

Tomato Eater

tomat_eater, originally uploaded by plattj1.

This guy was hanging around the garden this week, it actually took me a couple of days to find him. Once he made himself known I captured him on digital and decided to let him grow. The tomato's are coming in just fine and he is very colorful. Next month's photo club competition is "eyes" and if I could find them on this guy I will try and get an entry for the constest.

I wonder just how many eyes he has?

Rule of Thirds Finch

rule of thirds finch, originally uploaded by plattj1.

This finch was perched in the yard yesterday waiting for a turn at the feeder. At the same time over on DPREVIEW there was a challenge open entitled "The Rule of Thirds". After waiting for Atticus to get in the right spot I took the image, processed, resized and jumped over to find the challenge had filled up.

So I have decided to share it with the world of BLOGGERS instead.

Shot through the open office window while moving between the computer and the camera.

Fun stuff.

Welcome to NorCal/Southern Oregon

Six weeks ago I switched from film to digital photography, I know I am a little late to the party, but what a fun party it is... I plan to travel around the area re-shooting all of my favorite shots from the past 20 or 30 years and share them with anyone who cares to join me.