Mojave Light Musing

Can you remember those pivotal times in your life when your parents did something with you that changed your perspective on life? I can but enjoying nature wasn't one of them. It wasn't that my parents didn't appreciate the great outdoors. I just don't think they appreciated it the way I have learned to. And, as a parent myself, I try to instill that appreciation and necessary respect for it with my own children. So far, I think I've succeeded. The other day, my youngest son and I took a tram nearly 2 1/2 miles straight up San Jacinto Mountain ....about 8,000 ft. above sea level. From there, we hiked one way, just over 8 miles to a state park near the town of  Idllywild . I've done this hike 2 times before, the first time with my daughter - we discovered the 'shorter, easier' route quite by accident. It is also, to me, the most scenic route. I would do this one quite regularly if it weren't for the tiny problem of finding someone to pick you up a...

Hello dear readers, As you can see, I've changed my blog design yet again. 'Why did she choose a coastal background scene, an Atlantic coastal scene no less, when she lives in the desert!?!?' you may wonder. Well, the reason is simple, to me anyway. My two loves, the ocean and the desert are reflected here....both offering expanding vistas not just for the eyes but for the heart and soul as well. Aaahhh.....breathing space. I had a wonderful 8+ mile hike across the San Jacinto Wilderness yesterday with my youngest son. More on that, sprinkled with a few photos, later on.... Thanks for following and engaging me with your own thoughts and contemplations. Namaste, Diana

The other day, wanting to take advantage of still coolish temps, I took myself on a quiet little solo hike on the Ryan Mountain trail in Joshua Tree National Park.  I arrived at the parking lot around 6:30pm - not sure I'd have enough time to make it to the top and back before dark - I thought I'd give it an honest go and the weather was absolutely perfect - slight breeze, high 70's at the trailhead, skies that went on forever.... I was the only one there, well, human-wise anyway.  I used to hike alone all the time. Then, getting tired of conversations on the trail with only me, I started a hiking group back in 2009 - looking for kindred spirits to share the adventure with and perhaps going a little deeper into territories yet unexplored. Not a good idea to hike alone when you are 10+ miles into the desert wilderness on unfamiliar paths. Things can happen. So, nearly 3 successful and fun years of hiking with many new acquaintances covering many new miles of trails, I find...

Happy Summer Solstice! (Well, yesterday....got a little waylaid on the post timing...) I wish I had something quintessential summer to share with you but, alas, I was in a 4+ hour board meeting yesterday late afternoon until just after 8pm. My summer solstice celebration was spent watching the last rays of the solstice sun fade under the horizon as I was driving home, due west.  Ah well.............  A beautiful sunset is never lost. And now for some creative rambling......... A friend posted these inspiring words by the late British photographer,  Sam Haskins , via Facebook which got me to thinking:                                                                                                        ...

Still feeling nostalgic for my east coast summer sojourns. I know, somewhere in my archives, that I have a very similar shot from maybe 35 or so years ago. The view is pretty much the same. The polaroid patina no different than a slight treatment in post processing on a digital shot taken barely a month ago. This is a quintessential Atlantic beach scene....except this happens to also be the western facing shore of the Gulf of Mexico - Gulf Islands National Seashore to be exact. Still east coast in my book. I love how the powdery sand drifts against the fencing with seagrass delicately growing along the ridges and slopes. This scene was there back then and remains for now. It speaks of lingering by the seashore, wandering aimlessly in body and mind while the spirit renews. Summer.  2012 ©Diana Shay Diehl / Gulf Islands National Seashore

©Diana Shay Diehl

A different kind of horizon.  Way up over our heads, this is a snippet of what's going on up there. Pretty incredible when you think about it - humans "flying" from Point A to Point B. In the time it takes me to drive to Santa Barbara, California from my house, I can be clear across the United States.... on a completely different coast next to a completely different ocean. Thousands of miles covered in mere hours. What's not to be in awe of over that? Lofty views.... somewhere over Texas. What do you suppose is going on in the shot below? Another view from over 30,000 feet..........  2012 © Diana Shay Diehl

Sand and sky....  2012 © Diana Shay Diehl / Gulf Islands National Seashore, Florida

"C'mon o'er here! Look here! C'mon in! Beer's cold n da music is loud!" An interesting experience of walking the French Quarter in New Orleans is having people from the various bars that line the streets try to entice you in to their particular bar. And they are not rude or obnoxious about it at all. In fact, there is a genuine, friendly and jovial air that isn't necessarily stemming from the libations poured inside. New Orleanians are just plain nice people. This guy didn't mind me taking his picture, even though I didn't want to come in. What you don't see is another guy who kept ducking inside the doorway just to the right of this shot. He, too, was trying to get people's attention for his friend but went to great lengths to dodge the click of my shutter. Wonder why...? I'd love to hear the stories of those who brave this life in the flood, tornado, and hurricane ravaged city along the waters of the Mississippi and the Gulf..... ...

City living....downtown New Orleans style at dusk.  I believe this particular area bordered on the Warehouse and French Quarter districts.... 2012 ©Diana Shay Diehl

This is definitely an east coast site that I have missed in my 25+ years now living on the west coast..... I don't know of any places along the California coast, in particular, with fencing like this. We definitely don't have this fine powdered, pure white sand. Did you know that much of the sands of the Florida beaches come from weathering of the quartz in the Appalachian Mountains? They are washed into the rivers that flow into the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico. Fragments of shells, limestone, coral, and organic matter will give beaches different colors and textures but it's the pure white powdery stuff - like fine sugar - that is nearly pure quartz crystals. I chose to 'antique' this particular shot. The actual version is pure white with a slight blue tinge due to the reflection of sky and turquoise waters.  Either way, this is nostalgia for me... 2012 © Diana Shay Diehl / Naval Air Station Beach, Pensacola, FLA

AWOL. That means, in military speak, absence without leave..... Yes. That has been me from this site of late. So here is one of many photos as to why.  I've had a glorious few weeks - part of which was spent with my daughter in Florida - celebrating yet another milestone towards her Navy career.  I think this particular shot might be from her hand - with my camera (but I can't be sure as both of us were snapping away, sharing one lens....pretty sure this is her...) - as I was meandering down that path towards the Gulf of Mexico on the grounds of the Naval Air Station in Pensacola, Florida...... 2012 ©Diana or Aubrey Shay Diehl / NAS. Pensacola, FLA