Mojave Light Musing

Energy. There is a lot of it in these photographs. Last September, we had a series of powerful thunderstorms come through the area over the course of several days. The photos people all over our desert basin captured were absolutely stunning. My daughter and I lay in our cul de sac, on our bellies, trying to time our photos just right to capture the action. Can't tell you how many times the shutter would click (long exposures of about 20-30 seconds) and then  there would be this fabulous display of  a lightning frenzy.... Ah well. At least I managed to capture a few interesting ones. What's on 'film' is far more than my eyes could see when all the action was going on. I didn't realize, until after reviewing these shots a few times, that there is more than one energy source illuminated in the frames. Can you figure out how many there are? At first, I only saw two different ones until a friend pointed out five or so more. Capturing the energy.... (©Diana Shay Diehl...

Home. For somebody. It always amazes me how desert dwellers manage to eek out shelter and where one finds it. Is that snow or sand, you think? No, this is part of the salt flats just before the community of Amboy as one heads northeast of 29 Palms.... The structure was, most probably, a shelter for workers harvesting the salt. If one is headed to Las Vegas 'the back way' from my end of the desert, this is a common site / sight. It is also part of the history and lore of Route 66. My daughter and I stopped to explore on our return trip from Zion. The quiet hurt my ears. Not one car passed us on that hot, hot June day. Hard to imagine living there on such a day so very long ago..... I love my solitude but I don't think that scene is for me. Imagine this next time you use your table salt..... (©Diana Shay Diehl - Amboy salt flats)

We've had some phenomenal winter weather of late....low to mid 60's, sunny with spots of warmth. Even the 50ish days are quite pleasant to be out in so there have been many hiking activities several times a week. The plants are confused. On my hike today, I saw many buds ready to erupt into tiny blossoms. The desert is always ready to leap into life when conditions are prime. We actually seem to have several 'blooming periods' centered around warmth and moisture. We've had the warmth, just no moisture other than high forming clouds now and again. Still, I'm not ready for spring. Roughly this time last year, we had snow right about now - more like President's Day weekend, mid February. I haven't had enough snuggle in, settle down, and nurture my creative muse time yet. The desert is truly magical under a fresh blanket of snow. Not to mention, my snowshoes need a work out this winter yet. Longing for cold, wintry days snuggled in by the fire.... ©Dia...

I've been in kind of a black and white mood of late.  Without all the distractions of color, one can see shapes and form a little more clearly.  At least to me, that is true... Another view of my magical landscape.

Not just another rock pile. The winds, water, and temp extremes create some amazing sculptures in 'my neck of the woods' - well, okay, desert. This stand of granite boulders edges a wide, ambling wash. It's Friday and I am looking forward to ambling among the boulders myself. There is something very grounding about doing so.... (©Diana Shay Diehl  JTNP)

As my mind begins to wander towards taking to the open road (or skies) very soon, I am reminded of a wonderful trip to Alaska with my middle son. Overcast, cool, and drizzly 99% of our 2 weeks there. Amazing place if you are a lover of the wild, open spaces. This was about as opposite of where I live as you could get sans tropical rainforest. Other than cooler climes, Alaska holds its own with outrageous foliage. Has to be as the growing season is so short. Of course, daylight for 20+ hours a day helps.... I want to go back. These blossoms were waist high in early August. (Copyright Diana Shay Diehl. Seward, AK)

Keeping it simple today. I love how the desert surprises you with something unexpected.... (Copyright Diana Shay Diehl JTNP)

Today, we took learning outside of the classroom. My students, along with our entire grade level, headed off our quiet high desert hilltop to the low desert valley floor to be immersed in culture. Ballet Folklorico De Antioquia, an international company from Colombia. lo pasamos maravillosamente! The costumes were rich and the beat was fast and perky....tough to keep little tushies in their seats. Fortunately, the dancers encouraged participation - within reason. The theatre was full of festive energy.... On the way home was yet another learning experience for me. You see, we pass through a massive valley practically filled with turbine wind generators. Over the years I've lived up here, more and more spring up. You get used to it after a while. It's a signal you are almost home when you are coming in from the freeway, heading east or west. (Copyright 2012 Diana Shay Diehl. Shot with an iPhone.) It's supposed to be a good thing, right? Harnessing the power of wind, whi...

Water? In the desert? Of course!  We desert dwellers get totally psyched whenever clouds form. And, when it finally rains - in torrents, drizzles, or softly falling for a few minutes or hours at a time - we are out in it. Many of us, exploring for waterfalls, unexpected pools that may give birth to desert pupfish, rocks that weep, and creeks that may run for days - sometimes weeks if the rains are long and hard enough.  I love hiking in the washes after it settles down to see what changes have taken place. New boulder barricades. Cultural relics unearthed. Mysteries under the sand are revealed. The next cool thing that happens is how things spring to life - immediately.  In fact, when the air is heavy with moisture, threatening to open the heavens and flood the washes with a deluge, you can almost see the cacti and succulents stand a bit taller - swelling upwards in anticipation of a much needed drink. It could have been months and months and months since their last sip...

Today was about friendship - old and new - shared along a spectacular 8ish mile loop trail. These are just some snapshots of my day, nothing fancy. Perfect January weather. Wonderful people. Breath-taking views from fire charred landscape to 'lush' canyons full of Parry Nolinas. We were also treated to some remnants of the mining culture that flourished here in the late 1800's/early 1900's.  Nothing beats a Sunday afternoon, trekking along a dusty trail with kindred spirits.... This is kind of like "Where's Waldo?" but with hikers. Can you see them? The trail continues to the far right. Gives perspective to the grandness of scale, no?  (Copyright 2012 Diana Shay Diehl) Lost Horse Mine Loop - the fire charred portion is rather moonscape-like, even after over 10 years since the fires. (Copyright 2012 Diana Shay Diehl) (Copyright 2012 Diana Shay Diehl)

Today's post is a fond memory. During the summer of 2006, I accompanied my daughter and a handful of her high school compadres along with a few adults to the other side of our world. Many great memories of our weeks down under but my favorite were of our trip to Fraser Island, near the Barrier Reef in the northeastern part of Australia. They bost it being the world's largest sand island. The place we stayed, an eco resort - Kingfisher Bay Resort, was to die for. The shower was 3 sides glass looking out into the rain forest with a wood floor. The rooms were Zen spacious with strategically placed windows to draw in all the rich green from outside. However, the property was fenced in as to keep the dingos out. We were warned not to wander around at night and definitely not alone. Some of us did anyway. I think we made too much of a racket heading home from the one and only pub on that side of the island, anything wild would stay out of our way. What impressed me the most was how p...

A simple photograph today.....my kitchen island counter, mug of hot green tea, and my favorite local hiking guide book backed up with a little online research. Now that I'm on the better side of this icky cold, time to make plans to get out on the trails. I haven't really kept count of how many miles or trails I've covered in my 28 years of living out here. If I were a numbers person, that might be an interesting undertaking this chilly January evening. But, I'm not. Instead, I'll pick a few must do's for the remainder of this winter/spring season before the heat sets in and desert hiking is no longer enjoyable (or safe).  I'll let you know what I come up with. Until then, enjoy your Friday evening. It's been 'a week'. This chica's over and out - for now... (Copyright Diana Shay Diehl. "On Foot in Joshua Tree National Park" by Patty A. Furbush can be purchased from any visitor center of JTNP.)

Every once in awhile, it pays to look up. Today, while pushing the grocery cart across the darkening parking lot with my head deep into what I needed to still get done today, I just happened to look up and to the west. What drew my attention that way, I'm not quite sure but what I saw made me stop dead in my tracks. This picture does the scene no justice as the cloud formation was HUGE and....even odder (is that a word?), it was the only cloud in the entire sky that I could see. There was barely a breeze on the ground yet the cloud's shape gave away the powerful swirling winds in the atmosphere. Glowing deep orange from the fading sunset, flanked by a sliver of the moon and the evening's first 'star', it was a mesmerizing presence. I heard a little boy ask his dad "What's that?" pointing upwards. The dad just answered, "A cloud." as he hurried his son into the store. Missed opportunity for an inspiring discussion, I am thinking...and then won...

My favorite place to breakfast while I'm in Cambria, California is at Lily's ...a sweet little cafe in the heart of town. Every Saturday morning, during the summer, Virginia's granddaughter makes crepes for us. A cappucino, made from scratch crepe - that day, I chose mine to be drizzled with fine dark chocolate - and summer scents wafting in from the Garden Shed next door make for a morning worth lingering over.  This is usually where I go after a long walk along the coastal bluffs - watching for sea otters snoozing in the kelp beds or sea lions warming their bodies on the rocks. If it's foggy and cool, even better knowing the desert heat that awaits me when I get back home... I'll occupy my mind with memories like these as I continue to get over this bloody cold....... (Copyright Diana Shay Diehl. Lily's Coffee in Cambria, CA)

Today's post shows where I am headed after I click "send".....layers of bedclothes and a warm cup of Theraflu with hopes I won't wake until the time I need to be up the next morning. My head is foggy. My chest hurts. My body is achy with shivers running up my spine....and it ain't love.... First upper respiratory thing I've had in many, many years.... A sure sign I need to rest.  Good night Moon....

Today was a dreary winter's day....clouds, lots of wind, spatters of rain... I actually love these kinds of days. The stormy skies give a different kind of life to the mountainous terrain as the light tries to filter through. However, I decided to not post a stormy sky picture. Instead, I just felt like I needed some rich winter color - jewel tones from the handmade papers an artist friend of mine makes - Bonnie Brady. In this batch, I can't remember if she made these, some of these, or the papers are collected from other sources. But, I'm inclined to say she made these as that is her signature brand of art....handmade papers and altered art books, among other things....  In another post, I'll share a bit more about Bonnie and her beautiful, organic works of art. They don't just sit pretty on a table. They are meant to inspire and be used - like these rich, jewel colored papers. This kind of stuff is more of a mood elevator for me than chocolate or a glass of wine...

Not much to say today as my brain is tired from 2 full days of participating in a strategic planning workshop with key JTNP staff and our Association board. Very inspiring and productive weekend albeit a long one when one works Monday through Friday as well. Once we finalize our product and are ready to share with the public, you bet you'll be included.... Why? Because YOU are an integral part of the big picture <insert smiley face>... Here is a tidbit from an afternoon of shooting at Key's Ranch, aka 'Desert Queen Ranch'.  If you ever get a chance, book a tour there. Totally worth it....   (Copyright Diana Shay Diehl. JTNP / Desert Queen Ranch)

The winds have been howling here for nearly 24 hours. I'm not talking just windy. I'm talking the kind of wind that knocks down wood fences (that was last month's howling winds....). The kind that flings yard furniture to one end of the yard then changes directions and flings it back to the other side. The kind that can move a propane bbq grill down a brick walk then flip it over on its side. I was praying none of those items would be flung through my picture glass window. Not a lot of rest to be had when the winds batter us around like it has since very early this morning. Today's post is one of my favorite desert flowers - desert bluebells or  Phacelia campanularia .  A reminder that spring isn't too far away... (Copyright Diana Shay Diehl. JTNP / Lost Palms Oasis trail)

Around this time of year, I long for the open road..... A simply packed car: hiking gear, assorted lenses for the camera body, a map, snacks, a few items of clothing to handle whatever weather may crop up (here, out west, it changes its mind often...), a fair amount of unencumbered time, a travel buddy - or not, with no particular place to head to. My favorite kind of trip is pointed in some direction with a vague idea of what I'd like to do, but ending up discovering something altogether different. I have many friends whose entire vacations are "ruined" with bad moods for weeks on end if their well laid out itinerary has a hiccup. Me. I love the surprises along the way (well, maybe not the flat tire-no-cell-service-fender-bender-wait-for-hours-for-AAA-way-too-long kind of surprises.....) From late August to mid June, my days are planned to the minute, complete with a bell to tell me what to do next. So, the less planned the trip, the better. While the road winds this way...

Just a photo today - another one (red spined barrel - again....) that demonstrates the power of living things to find sustainable circumstances for thriving.... I love these red spined barrel cactus....especially in contrast with growing out of such a massive boulder, don't you? They are such a bright surprise among the typical muted colors of the desert. (Copyright Diana Shay Diehl)