Joshua Tree: Flora, Fauna, Fantastic Fotos

 We saw these interesting lizards in the park, including the horny toad on the bottom right.

We also saw lots of blooming cacti and other wildflowers.

These cholla cacti were also blooming. We made a trip within the park to these guys.

Violet brought her good Canon to take night photos. Joshua Tree is supposed to have amazing stargazing.

The first night, we were at our tent, and the lights from the town were polluting the sky a bit. So the second night, we went back into the park after dinner, and it was cloudy. The clouds cleared enough for some photos, though not as stunning as we might have hoped. 

Anyway, here are a few of those photos.

On our final day, leaving the hike near the mining equipment, we took a dirt road back to the paved road, and happened upon this beautiful scene. Yes, that's snow on the top of the mountain.

Tidbits

Violet and Stace went up to Castaic Lake at dusk to take photos. Stace got a nice photo here...

This week, it was Winston's turn to go to the vet. I'd mentioned to the vet when I was in with Seb, that Winston has a wheezy whistle when he breathes, and he also had a cough earlier this summer. She said it would be good for him to have a checkup.

He screamed the whole way in the car (see below), but once we got into the exam room, he jumped out the carrier and went exploring everywhere. Funny, since Seb and Spencer never did that. 

Here's a great clip to set as an alarm sound on your phone!

Despite the traumatic car ride, Winston loves the cat carrier when it's at home on the floor. We had no trouble getting him in it. 

And, after a few tests, we know he's healthy.

Evie helped Cora with her coloring.

So cute. His arm is around her neck.

Who knew he'd like watermelon? 

Winston has calmed down with his food mania, though he still LOVES my oatmeal cake. If I have a piece and he's around, he demands I share. 

Violet was playing hide and seek with Evie in the bathroom shower curtain. She looks pretty with her big eyes.

Cora was filming an audition, with a box on top of a chair to get the cell phone to the right height. Evie needed to be inside, and the box (and phone) came crashing down. She promptly climbed inside for a rest.

Graduation Photo Shoot

We'd been talking to Melanie about taking new headshots of Cora, and when we got her graduation gown, I asked if we could combine a graduation photo shoot in with the headshots.

It worked out for Mel to come up on Friday, the day of graduation, so Cora could kill two birds with one stone - get dolled up for a photo shoot, and for graduation.

She even got her hair done in the early afternoon!

We took the graduation shots in a pretty natural area in the neighborhood behind our house, where thankfully it was shady, since it was unfortunately HOT.

And beforehand, we went to the newer shopping center in Old Newhall, where there was a surprising variety of colored walls, perfect for headshots.

I wanted a few shots of Cora in a tree, since she's always loved climbing them. 

Graduates are invited to decorate the tops of their caps, and Violet took on the job for Cora. This is a funny phrase from the Simpsons, and Vi dreamed up red theater curtains and a dark stage backdrop.

Later, we realized the colors don't go with Cora's school colors, but rather the school colors from the high school she left two years ago. Oops!

So pretty!

Woodsy Walk

 We took a lovely after-church walk on Sunday, and Violet brought her camera. Such beauty every direction

These giant garden spiders are everywhere, too.

We had such a great trip! Thanks to Aunt Patty and Uncle Bill for a lovely respite from the grind.

Meteors at Riley's Farm

 Violet enjoys nature, including star-gazing, and Stace and I love Riley's Farm in Oak Glen. We've now been twice as a family over the last few years, once for Colonial Christmas and once for the Sleepy Hollow dinner theater. 

So when I saw Riley's note that they would be opening up late on Saturday night for the Perseid Meteor Shower, I thought, maybe we should make the (long) drive out and spend the night!

Plus, Vi has had a rather boring summer, and getting her out of the house seemed like a good idea. 

She didn't agree, to be honest, but in the end I think she'd say she had an OK time. And Cora stayed behind.

We got in around 5, in time for delicious dinner of chicken pot pie and beef/mashed potato pie. We then walked a bit of the grounds, through apple orchards and berry vines, past the goats and pigs. 

Stace got himself caught up in the stocks...again.

Cidery cheers!

Apple pie for dessert!

Then, we settled onto our blanket and waited for darkness.

We borrowed one of my dad's good cameras and figured out how to do a long exposure, for decent nighttime photos.

What glorious skies, our God has created!

Violet said this was the Milky Way in view here.

We were able to see a handful of meteors, too, which was very special. I've seen a few shooting stars in my life, but never a half-dozen in one night! 

Someone was able to catch a meteor on film! Well, digitally. Whatever. Riley's posted it on their Instagram - so cool! (Check above the tree on the right.)

We then headed to our hotel for  the night, and enjoyed the rest of our mini getaway.