We Are Doubling Our Production

This week we headed out with the Shasta Photo Club to the Mt. Shasta Lavender Farms to see the mountain and learn as a group. Now when I say we -- I mean myself and the newest member of the family to take on the title "Photographer", my wife Kim. After watching me play with my camera for 12 months and seeing some of the other club members work she purchased her own camera and lenses.

So, as those who know both of us will assure you, it is only a matter of time before people saying "have you seen that work by the Platt's?" will mean her. It will be like teaching my youngest to play guitar, after a couple years I just gave him mine, he had become a Jedi Master.

Meanwhile, back to the Mt. Shasta trip, it was 100+ degrees outside, there were no clouds in the sky, the blooms were a couple of weeks away and nearby fires cast a smoky haze over the valley. It was not perfect. Oh well, no one said it was gonna be easy. We concentrated on enjoying being outside, the good company and close up subjects.

The owners are also starting a new vineyard, as new business owners they are doing almost everything on their own, including the gardening. They have only a couple of helpers, this fella was willing to pose in front of the mountain for me, which I thought was nice.

That's it for now, next weekend is 4th of July, hopefully there will be some fun color shots to share from our nation's birthday.

Here Comes the Sun...

It may not seem like a big deal to you guys, but we were THRILLED to see the sun after days and days of rain, it is so nice to dry out and get a little warmth on your bones. We ran (ok, we walked) to the beach and enjoyed the day, with plans to go back for the sunset. Even the dog has more pep in this step. Everyone was out this afternoon, even seagulls were slope soaring just to have a look around. It is beautiful.

Thank the Lord that sunshine always follows the rain!

More Rain, Still Beautiful…

After five days of rain we are starting to wish for sunshine, but it is the water that keeps the area so incredibly green. It truly is an oasis in the middle of a sea of brown every summer. Even when the rain isn’t falling the air carries moisture to the plants, it’s overpowering, there is just no way to get fully dry. There was a moment of sun on  this Rhodie... It was inspiring.

Nearby there is a Native American museum where they describe the migratory patterns of the early people in this area, they moved with the seasons, even then they had summer and winter homes. Life was good. When it got too hot they went to the beach to get cool, and when the weather got too cold they moved inland to get warmer. It’s the same today; just watch the “snowbirds” flock to the Southwest every summer. This tree would a make a treehouse to remember, it is at least 15 feet across the base of the lowest branches.

In the meantime I am left to photograph what I can see, and with a maximum visibility of around 100 yards that means more close up work. That means more flowers.

And a never ending supply of fungus.

If you are reading this and feel hot or muggy and want to cool off, drop everything and run to the Oregon Coast, chances are you will find cool weather and all the relief you could ask for.

Lunch With Mary...

I had lunch with Mary today. Mary D Hume is a steamer built in 1881 to run the coast between San Francisco, California and Gold Beach, Oregon. She ran well for a long time, becoming the oldest working freighter for a short period around 1970. Nowadays she waits for tourists to come take her photo and serves as the place you can walk your dog after driving Highway 101 and seeing the Pacific Ocean.

The rain this year has been unrelenting on the coast, but we went camping anyway. Due to the moisture the Pacific is brown and not very photogenic, but the wildflowers are off the hook! So instead of sunsets and birds and such, here are some flowers for you to enjoy.

 If you are in my own family and read this you are required to sing the Banana Slug Song as you view the pictures. If you don’t know the song then you weren’t there for the good times. It’s a closed club, you are either in or your not. Sorry.

Banana Slug….Banana-nana-nana.