While the minds at Oxford and Merriam Webster have already chosen selfie and science respectively as the 2013 words of the year, the word that stuck in my head this year was graupel. Just when I thought my local news stations were done replacing the simplistic descriptions of weather phenomena with more worldly terms, they pulled out this gem in February 2013. Continue reading
This week’s Weekly Photo Challenge at The Daily Post is Let There Be Light. The point of the challenge is to feature a light source. For my entry, I’ve gone a more abstract direction. The photo below was created using very traditional light sources in a nondescript location at night. I wasn’t quite sure what to do with this photo and have just been hanging on to it, but when I saw the topic of this post, I knew this photo was meant for this challenge.
Photo taken at a bus stop in downtown Phoenix. I had no idea ghosts had the energy or ability to affix bumper stickers to things?
Hello there! Yes I know it has been nearly two months since my last post. I had not logged into WordPress in weeks, so I was a bit surprised to see that some of my posts from last year were still driving visitors to the blog. So I figured I should post something new.
I’m not sure if I’ve mentioned this on the blog before, but one of my newer hobbies is bird watching. I gradually added a few feeding stations around my backyard and have been graced by the presence of several types of birds, many of which I never really noticed before.
One species that has made itself known in my backyard is the rosy faced lovebird (sometimes referred to as the peach faced lovebird). Typically see flying together in flocks of at least 5-6, I’ve had as many as 20 hanging around my backyard at the same time.
These birds are actually native to southwest Africa. However, a local aviary let go a flock of these birds approximately 13-14 years ago. The desert climate apparently agreed with these birds as they have thrived in the Phoenix metropolitan area.
From my observations, they love to hang on things and splash around in water.
For more information about the Phoenix peach faced lovebirds, feel free to check out the articles below.
http://www.azfo.org/pfLoveBird/pfloMain.html
http://www.birdchannel.com/bird-magazines/bird-talk/2009-february/peach-faced-lovebirds.aspx
http://www.azcentral.com/travel/articles/20130206lovebirds-stir-passion-phoenix.html
I sure am getting my mileage out of this scene of the light rail car in front of Chase Field. After posting yesterday’s article, I noticed a warning sign in this photo:
I cropped this photo so you can clearly read the warning for motorists.
Do Not Drive on the Tracks.
You would think this would be a no-brainer, yet there has been at least one incident where a man did drive down the light rail tracks. Not sure if this means the signs along the route are working as there as only been one incident, or if it’s a failure because it did happen despite the warning sign. Food for thought.
http://raillife.com/blog/2010/03/13/tempe-light-rail-dui-idiot/
Got a photo of an interesting sign? Post it to enter this week’s Weekly Photo Challenge over at The Daily Post.
Thanks to bloggers ideflex, Ingrid and A Regular Cup of Joe for playing along. To recap, I posted the picture below and asked for guesses as to what the main object in the photo was. I know these aren’t the best photos I could have taken of the area, but I was breaking in my digital camera I received as a Christmas gift and am still learning how to use the thing.
It didn’t take long for these astute bloggers to figure out this was a light rail car. Below is the picture, oriented the way one would see the object normally.
I snapped this light rail train passing in front of Chase Field in downtown Phoenix. Admittedly, I probably went too heavy on the zoom feature. However, I never really took notice of the bike symbol on the side of the light rail car until I reviewed some of these photos.
Below is a close up of the entrance to Chase Field seconds before the light rail car passed by.
Here is the start of the light rail train.
I finally got around to uploading some recent photos I took around the downtown area. When I came across this shot, I started to adjust it. Before I could edit the photo, I took another look at it and really liked observing the scene from another perspective.
I know what this is, but without me describing the photo any further, can you guess what the main object in the photo? I’ll reveal in a few days, but I’d love to receive some guesses in the meantime.
Who knew signs on light poles could be so bossy?
No problem light pole, you can stay grey and uncluttered (minus the sign the city posted making it illegal to post signs).
I thought I’d borrow a trick from the networks and re-run a Photo Friday post from April. Even though this one is a recycled post, I’m sure it will seem new to most of you who frequent the blog.
ENJOY!
Taken while standing atop bridge connecting City Scape plaza over 1st Street facing Washington.
After walking by the TV station, I can now see that the giant plastic candy bar costumed characters roaming up and down the street are indeed handing out samples. I would like to receive a sample but for some reason do not say anything aloud to my co-worker, who is walking alongside me. Continue reading
Hello and Happy Friday! October has flown by and I haven’t had the opportunity to upload some of the newer pictures I’ve taken. I’m out of town this weekend, so this seemed like a good time to direct some attention back to an older Photo Friday post on the Rosson House.
Rosson House: Present Day
Located in Phoenix’s Heritage Park, the Rosson House was a custom built in the 1890s for approximately $8,000. The Victorian style architecture of the home was unique for the area, which mostly consisted of adobe structures. The original owner, Dr. Rosson owned the home for two years. The home had several owners over the years and by the 1950′s, it became a boarding house that basically deteriorated into a flophouse.
In 1974, the city of Phoenix purchased the home. Six years and $750,000 later, the home was restored to the way it looked in 1895. The tour guide informed us that the wallpaper was the original 1895 design and cost $40,000 to restore because it had to be custom made by a company back east.
If you’d like to read my adventurous tour of the Rosson House, check out my post from last spring:
https://nmnphx.wordpress.com/2012/05/04/photo-friday-rosson-house/
Before WordPress adds a new Photo Challenge, I wanted to post for this challenge. This will serve in lieu of my normal Photo Friday post.
I shot this while heading towards Chase Field near the light rail tracks on a cloudy spring morning. Despite the urban setting, it is a bit strange that there are no people in the vicinity. In many ways, this signifies a failed attempt at creating an “urban” atmosphere. Phoenix has always struggled with its identity. It has fought heavily to be in the major leagues of big cities, yet it never quite seems to deliver. Depending on what you think of big cities, this could be a pro or a con.
NMNPHX 