One Fine Afternoon in the Water Canyon

Ate Sol, one of the Pinays here, called me yesterday to go walking with co-Filipinos Lloyd and Nikki. I was excited. After hybernating for 5 months in the winter time, I thought it's about time to sweat it out. It was not an ordinary walking we did. And I did not expect it. Ate Sol was so brave to hike or climb up the hill. That challenged me anyhow, hehehe!

After 2 hours of walking, hiking and climbing, I feel like I've been beaten up by 10 people. Oh my goodness, that was so dead tiring. But it was all worth it.

Sharing the photos I took while I was catching my breath :)

we parked our car in this area from across the campers

they walk too fast!

people having picnic

rest room-there were 3 of them along the way

the water in the creek is very cold

the towering trees

Lloyd and Nikki

image of vandalism

oops.. hubby Rich might have been here before, lol!

view from the top

Lloyd and Nikki at the top of the rocks

we are exhausted, hehehe!

feeling triumphant :)

a nice pose with Ate Sol :)

the hard part- going down from the hill

I wanna come back to this place again

We are planning to come back in 2 weeks for a camping activity. I hope it's going to happen. I am already excited, hehehe!

Thanks for visiting!

It's Snowtime!

backyard scene

the view of the trees at the back of my neighbor's home is priceless

my neighbor's apple tree

our poor bikes and grill

nice!

frontyard scene

my favorite among the rest :)

My eyes were having a feast while taking these beautiful photos. Aren't they pretty? While I'm posting them, it is still snowing like crazy outside. Brrr!

Thanks for visiting my blog! I hope you'd come visit back again :)

Have a wonderful day!

Brisk Walking with Friends Today

My neighbor's kiddos

Crab Apple Tree

Gorgeous!

I don't know what kind of plant is this

Another apple tree with Yuny

Red Apples

Another Red apple tree with Yuny

Green Apple Tree

More apple trees! (green and red)

Small but fruitful :)

My friends Emy, Yuny and Pinky

Pretty!

Yep, it's obvious that we went out for walking not for picture taking, hehehe! Well, the beauty of the surroundings is such irresistible. Can't stop clicking the camera on my cellphone :)

Seriously, it's nice to go walking at this time of the season because the weather is cool. And I get to see different fruit bearing trees especially apple trees along the way. I remember when we passed by at a big house with apple orchard, I smelled something very pleasing... a scent of an apple. Yummy smell. Mm-mm.

Looking forward to walking again tomorrow.

Have a good one!

Views of Apple Trees

My neighbor's apple tree, hehehe! 

We have one apple tree at the back but the fruits are almost gone unnoticed. They almost all fell in the ground.

Back to the neighbor's apple, shh... I can pick one or two or more anytime because they don't care anyway. They have two apple trees. One time, I talked to the kids and I ask them why they did not harvest the fruits, they said they are not good though. They were so damned wrong because the apples are really sweet and kind of crunchy! Brat kids, hehehe!

Actually, my Pinay friend Ann and I have just picked a bagful of apples from that tree for her. If I have company tomorrow, I would pick some for us,shh!

I wish I could send them to the Philippines for my family via Balikbayan box :) 

Just my wishful thinking.

Have a good one!

Fall/Autumn is my Favorite Season

Leaves up there and in the ground :)

What a pretty tree!

My Pinay friends pose under the tree

Woow...!

I went brisk walking today and I can't help but take photos of these beautiful trees along the way.

Then I remembered the song that goes, "Winter, Spring, Summer or Fall..."

I so love Fall or Autumn among them four seasons. And I was like (to myself), "why?" I had some really deep thoughts about it.

And I came up with only one reason: because the color of the leaves in the trees and in the ground is priceless. The whole surrounding is incredibly beautiful for me. I supposed to say, "Amazing"!

Some people might like Summer because they enjoy the heat of the sun, the barbecue and picnics outdoor, etc. Others might like Spring because of the rain and the flowers that start to bloom. And I think, mostly kids, like Winter because of the snow that covers everything outside. Just my two cents :)

But yeah, I love Fall because I love the color that it brings. God is really Amazing for creating such a beautiful season.

Have a good one!

Winnemucca, NV: Shooting the West XXIII

Featuring Christopher Burkett, photographer and Ilfochrome printer extraordinaire and ...

• CJ Hadley: Zimbabwe from a Dung Hut
• Richard Menzies: Postcards from the Big Empty
• Doug Keister: Black and White in Black and White
• Dick Callen: Latest Trends in Digital Printing and Epson Printers
• Richard Elloyan Concert: Cowboy Singer/Songwriter
• Harvey Reid Concert: The Master Minstrel

Shooting the West is a photography symposium with distinguished presenters in many different photographic fields. Throw in workshops, participant shows, juried contests, vendors like Canon and Epson, portfolio reviews, great Basque food and lots of Winnemucca style fun… and you have a pretty good idea what it’s all about.

source: http://www.winnemucca.nv.us/
	For complete schedule please visit this site

http://www.shootingthewest.org/

Have a good one!

My First Train (AMTRAK) Ride Experience

I had a wonderful first train ride experience. It was nice and smooth. It was somewhat educational. And most of all, it was complimentary!

My daughter Jen and I resorted to ride a train going to Reno for an important appointment since hubby had to work that day.

I called the 1-800 numbers of AMTRAK for seats reservation but it was a hassle since it's only a machine that answers the call. Anyway, after many attempts, I was able to make reservations for two and decided to pay it on the train.

The Winnemucca station is very small. There were only five or six people waiting inside a shed. The wind was  blowing cold air, burr!  As soon as I hopped on the train, I remember riding an air conditioned bus back home. I was excited. A black lady came to orient us where to find the restrooms, lounge, dining place, etc. It was cool!

The train  left Winnemucca around 6:05am instead of its regular departure time at 5:30am. I was expecting that the ride must be bumpy and loud but I was wrong! It was very smooth and quiet.

I was sleepy but I did not sleep because I waited for the conductor to issue tickets and to get the fare. I saw the conductor who greeted me and my daughter in the station issuing ticket to the other passengers then he came to our seat, greeted us again then post  a ticket in the iron bar up in our head. We smiled back and thought he'd come back. He did not. I started to wonder.

The Chief Conductor, Ms. Janis Mader came instead. I have met her months ago when she came to the hotel one morning. AMTRAK Conductors have been staying in the sister hotel  like forever and I get to talk to the incoming conductor every morning to transfer the call to Ms. Mader's room or to whoever is the in-charge of the AMTRAK going to California. The sister hotel has nobody in graveyard shift so calls go to the hotel where I work. And our shuttle driver takes them to the AMTRAK station every morning.

Ms. Mader greeted us. She asked if everything was okay. She offered to tour us inside the train. At first we were kinda ashamed but we took her offer anyway. So she took us to every part of the train. I didn't know that every "compartment" of the train is called "car", haha! I like the lounge car because it is where you can enjoy the view, read a book or chitchat with other passengers. She took us to the dining car, to the sleepers,  and down to the lower part of the train where a nice man offered us something to drink which I declined but Jen got hot chocolate for free.

While we were walking, I attempted to ask Ms. Mader about the tickets but she just ignored me totally. She was too focused in telling us about the train.  

poses after sipping Jen's hot chocolate =)

sleeper for two

paused to pose

a souvenir pose inside a De luxe room (with bathroom)

what a narrow walk way!

an empty table  in the lounge

a door going to other car

a walk way going to fancy sleepers

a stair leading to the restroom

i

Jen- she didn't like the idea of taking her picture with people behind her =)

a souvenir photo of Jen's  hot chocolate cup

Ms. Mader is camera shy so my daughter did not take photo of us together. The tour stopped at the lounge. We stayed there for awhile after Ms. Mader left. I was hoping to see her again before we get to Reno to express my heartfelt thanks but I never get to see her again until we hopped off.

I bought a thank you card for her the following day and sent it through the shuttle driver.

This has been my first train experience here in US. It was nice and smooth. It was kind of educational  and it was amazing that we didn't pay a dime on this wonderful experience. Wasn't it cool?

Have a good one!