Month: July 2016

Year of Yosemite (YOY) – Day 28 (Alumroot-Heuchera micrantha)

Jeff

Alumroot-Heuchera micrantha

This wildflower is a relative of one of the shade gardener’s favorites, Coral Bells. It is Alumroot,Heuchera micrantha

As we hiked the trails of Yosemite, one of my favorite subjects was wildflowers. Along the rock faces of the mountains were a wide variety of plants which had taken root in the crevices. During the late afternoon as we were hiking the Four Mile Trail from Glacier Point to the valley, the sun was coming through the canopy and highlighted this particular Alumroot, Heuchera micrantha which was striking.

It apparently is a relative of the more familiar Coral Bells which many gardeners covet as a plant that does well in the shade or dappled light.

 
Do you have a question about our visit to Yosemite? Ask it in the comment section.

 

JBRish.com originally published this post
*All photographs Copyright by Jeffrey B. Ross with all rights reserved.

 
See previous Year of Yosemite (YOY) posts HERE. If you want to read the introduction to the YOY series, CLICK HERE.

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Meta Data – Day 28 YOY – Year of Yosemite

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Capture time: 5:28:34 PM
Capture date: June 6, 2016
Exposure: 1/125 sec @ f/5.6
Focal Length: 40mm
ISO 100
Nikon D3300

STATUS QUOtes — 20160720

Jeff

“To try to be better is to be better.” — Charlotte Cushman

“It is the crime not the scaffold which is the disgrace.” — Pierre Corneille

“Life is so largely controlled by chance that its conduct can be but a perpetual improvisation.” — W. Somerset Maugham

“It took me seventeen years to get 3,000 hits in baseball. I did it in one afternoon on the golf course.” — Hank Aaron

 

JBRish.com originally published this post

See previous STATUS QUOtes HERE

Year of Yosemite (YOY) – Day 27 (Mirror Lake Reflection)

Jeff

Mirror Lake Reflecting North Dome

North Dome reflected clearly in Mirror Lake.

On one of our attempts to hike the Valley Loop Trail, the signs misled us (that’s another story) to Mirror Lake. This was serendipitous as it was a beautiful day to catch the reflection of North Dome in the calm waters. The loop around Mirror Lake is fairly long and a number of times we were stopped to assist others in locating or re-locating the actual trail.

One piece of advice I can offer is to purchase the detailed map of the Yosemite Valley trails. It is worth the $4 US that we paid at the time and would be an excellent resource for those planning to hike the valley trails.

 
Do you have a question about our visit to Yosemite? Ask it in the comment section.

 

JBRish.com originally published this post
*All photographs Copyright by Jeffrey B. Ross with all rights reserved.

 
See previous Year of Yosemite (YOY) posts HERE. If you want to read the introduction to the YOY series, CLICK HERE.

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Meta Data – Day 27 YOY – Year of Yosemite

File Name: 0136.NEF
Capture time: 10:59:49 AM
Capture date: June 5, 2016
Exposure: 1/60 sec @ f/13
Focal Length: 26mm
ISO 100
Nikon D3300

STATUS QUOtes — 20160719

Jeff

“Everything I did in my life that was worthwhile I caught hell for it.” — Earl Warren

“Each has his past shut in him like the leaves of a book known to him by heart and his friends can only read the title.” — Virginia Woolf

“After silence that which comes nearest to expressing the inexpressible is music.” — Aldous Huxley

“A hug is a great gift. One size fits all, and it’s easy to exchange.” — Unknown

 

JBRish.com originally published this post

See previous STATUS QUOtes HERE

Pickleball Video – Paddle Up and in Front of You

Jeff

Watch a few games of pickleball and you will notice that a significant number of players do not keep their paddle in the up and front position. Each and every top player/coach I have watched encourages players to keep the paddle up and in front of them. Prem Carnot (The Pickleball Guru), Coach Mo, Deb Harrison and Sarah Ansboury are all proponents of this fundamental stance.

Sarah Ansboury is one of the best pickleball players in the world, winning many medals in the tournaments she has entered. In the video below she describes an interesting technique for trying to assure that you keep your paddle up and in front of you for the best chance to return the ball with a good stroke.

Watch the video below and see if this works for you!

In Summary:

  • Keep your paddle out in front of you
  • Point the paddle toward each and every ball while it is in the up position
  • This technique will keep a player alert and engaged

 

To See Pickleball Videos Covering Many Aspects of the Game Click Here (primarily for beginners and less experienced players)

Check out Additional Pickleball Info and Videos! (for all players including average to more experienced players)

Year of Yosemite (YOY) – Day 26 (Olmsted Point – Lone Tree)

Jeff

Lone Tree at Olmsted Point

Olmsted Point has a view of Half Dome. This lone tree is trying to grab center stage.

Omsted Point is easy to pass on the way to other locations, but it certainly is worth a stop. We were on the way to Lembert Dome when we stopped to take a few photographs.

What I liked about this particular photo is the tree near the center. Although it would normally be a supporting cast member with Half Dome straight ahead (peaking out just above the curve of the hill in the center), it steals the scene in its own right. Naturally, there are nice pictures of Half Dome to be captured from this view as well.

 
Do you have a question about our visit to Yosemite? Ask it in the comment section.

 

JBRish.com originally published this post
*All photographs Copyright by Jeffrey B. Ross with all rights reserved.

 
See previous Year of Yosemite (YOY) posts HERE. If you want to read the introduction to the YOY series, CLICK HERE.

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Meta Data – Day 26 YOY – Year of Yosemite

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Capture time: 9:56:26 AM
Capture date: June 7, 2016
Exposure: 1/125 sec @ f/14
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Nikon D3300

STATUS QUOtes — 20160718

Jeff

“Historians are gossips who tease the dead.” — Voltaire

“A man will fight harder for his interests than for his rights.” — Napoleon Bonaparte

“I think it would be a disaster. The extraterrestrials would probably be far in advance of us. The history of advanced races meeting more primitive people on this planet is not very happy, and they were the same species. I think we should keep our heads low.” — Stephen Hawking

“Alright, who’s the wise guy who turned the light out at the end of my tunnel?” — Tom Zegan

 

JBRish.com originally published this post

See previous STATUS QUOtes HERE

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Year of Yosemite (YOY) – Day 25 (Warning Signs)

Jeff

Warning: Stay on the Trail

Don’t forget that National Parks are not zoos or arboretums and can be dangerous.

Every national park has warning signs to denote that although there are trails which are maintained and some amenities may be available, these areas are wild. They have animals, large rocks, crevices, etc. It is up to each individual to keep alert. The best advice I can give is “Don’t take chances.” If something doesn’t feel right, don’t do it! This photo was taken near the beginning of the Four Mile Trail from Glacier Point.

NOTE – The sign indicates that there had been only four rescues up to this time in the year, but bear in mind that the picture was taken at the very beginning of their “busy season.”

 
Do you have a question about our visit to Yosemite? Ask it in the comment section.

 

JBRish.com originally published this post
*All photographs Copyright by Jeffrey B. Ross with all rights reserved.

 
See previous Year of Yosemite (YOY) posts HERE. If you want to read the introduction to the YOY series, CLICK HERE.

***********************************

Meta Data – Day 25 YOY – Year of Yosemite

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Capture time: 3:56:02 PM
Capture date: June 6, 2016
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