Snow in Joshua Tree!

While many of my blogger friends are probably tired of snow, it's something that is rare and celebrated when it happens in the S. CA deserts. In the years we've been coming out to the Joshua Tree area, I've never had the chance to hike in the park after a snow, so this afternoon was a real treat!

It wasn't a big snow... just a couple inches. Temps were in the '20s and windy, so very cold, with some additional snow flurries during my hike. According to the weather report, tonight was the coldest night of the year in S. CA!!

I came across this snow cave with big icicles hanging down during my hike.

The photo above was taken by moonlight (10 second exposure).  I like the deep blue night sky!

I thought you might enjoy a comparison shot:  The old truck in my header photo (taken during the summer) and the same truck taken today after the snow.

Wishing you a healthy, happy and prosperous 2015!

Ho Ho Ho!!!

Merry Christmas!!  Wishing you a wonderful Holiday Season and a New Year full of Peace and Happiness!!!

Reflected Sky

We get so little rain here in S. CA, it feels like a treat to have these standing puddles after our recent storm! Not to mention we've been treated to some great skies! This is my granddaughter standing near a flooded baseball diamond at our local park.

According to the Orange County Register, we need 11 trillion gallons of water to get out of our current drought!!  I'm not holding my breath.

Linking with Skywatch Friday. Click on the link to check out great skies from around the world!

Night and Day

A little music to enjoy as you check out my pics:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qn_cfbK9M14

Night...

and Day:

That's my granddaughter climbing up to the clouds!

Linking with Skywatch Friday and Good Fences. Click on the link to check out some great posts!

Unidentified Contrail

I took this photo two weeks ago in Twentynine Palms, CA (near Joshua Tree and also very close to the Twentynine Palms Marine Corp Air Ground Combat Center). It was just about sunrise and I was surprised to be greeted with this view!

What's making this contrail? I have no idea, but it was moving fast!

Linking with Skywatch Friday. Click on the link to check out great skies from around the world!

Rain Is On The Way!

Finally... looks like Southern CA is going to get some rain! It's been over 9 months since we've had any significant rain. Not to mention we are in a severe, multi-year drought. The biggest part of the storm is supposed to hit tomorrow. I could see the storm clouds moving in late yesterday afternoon. The sky was putting on quite a show!

16mm wide angle shot

You could see the big, heavy clouds moving in quickly.

400mm telephoto lens

You can see some of the Knotts Berry Farm rides (center left) in the photo above. I think that big thing that looks like a tower is called "Supreme Scream".

This photo (above) is one of my favorites. You can clearly see heavy rain coming down on the left. Very dramatic! Fortunately, it stayed to the east of me.

I was even treated to a rainbow (or at least part of a rainbow), although it didn't last long.

Above is the view west... a nice sunset shot.

The view southwest (above). Like I said, the sky was putting on a show in all directions! I did my good deed and took a few photos of the family (walking back home on the trail) under some very dramatic skies. They said it was going to be their 2014 Christmas card.

My last shot of the night, and back to my 400mm telephoto lens.  If you look closely, you can see the big overhead cranes of the Long Beach Shipyard, and the Pacific Ocean beyond. I packed up my gear and hiked back to my car just in time to avoid a brief downpour!

Linking with Our World Tuesday. Thanks for stopping by!