Russian Sage

This macro shot of a Russian Sage (Perovskia atriplicifolia Benth.) plant was taken in my front yard. Russian Sage is a favorite for Flagstaff landscapers, although I've heard that in other areas of the country they consider it a weed. Either way I find the brilliant purple of the blooms contrasted against the light sage green of the stems and leaves a beautiful sight to see. :-)

Strange

Yesterday morning, there was the strangest cloud formation hovering over the top of the San Francisco Peaks. I'm sure there is some perfectly good meteorological-type explanation for this phenomenon, but for a second I was convinced that aliens were landing on top of the mountain. :-) Here's another view of the cloud formation.

Addendum: I have to give my wife, Becky, credit for this photo. I had already left for work when I saw this photo op, so I called her and asked her to take a photo of the mountain and she was gracious enough to go out (in her bathrobe, mind you) and take a photo for me to post on FDP.

Caught in the Storm

While hiking on Humphreys Trail a couple days ago, my wife and I were caught in a mini hail storm. It only lasted a few minutes but it was long enough to cover the ground with a thin layer of tiny iceballs. The flash fired on this shot and, on the left, caught a hailstone in mid-fall.

From SnowBowl

My wife and I went for a hike on Humphreys Trail today and I got this panoramic shot at the top of Snowbowl Road northwest of Flagstaff. The weather wasn't all that great, however; we got hailed on and then rained on most of the hike. Oh well.

Most of the peaks you see in the distance are extinct mini-volcanoes called cinder cones. This view is even more spectacular at sunset when the sun is low in the sky and to the right. I plan to head up there again soon to capture the view at that time of day.

Cotton Candy in the Sky

A late summer sunset in Flagstaff, Arizona. I took this photo from the front of my house.

Vino

Who doesn't like a good bottle of wine from time to time?

Sheeps

Ceramic sheep on the window sill in our new kitchen.

At Work

A bee busy at work collecting pollen on one of the many, many, MANY wild sunflowers that have sprouted up in our backyard during the summer monsoons.

Kitchen Life

My wife's much loved and much used mixer. Fall is baking season and I am very much looking forward to it.