Bench Adrift (t) (B/W)

Ben: "What do you think, Jerry?"
Jerry: "Well, Ben, those damn nails sure hurt!"
Ben: "It could have been worse, Jerry!"
Jerry: "Yes. We wouldn't be having this conversation if they'd tossed us into that fire at the party last night!"

Cambria, California 2006
#Bench_Adrift #Hogwash_Book_One #bench #Cambria #California #San_Luis_Obispo_County #Hogwash #Hog_Wash #photography
https://flic.kr/p/23eiVaB

Did You Drop This? (t)

There is nothing like late afternoon light for photography. A natural golden hue. Although, I have to admit that sometimes I have a hard time differentiating objects as the light wanes. I don't know how many shots I took of this object before I realized it wasn't an asbestos rock.

Bakersfield, California 2005
#Did_You_Drop_This #Hogwash_Book_One #poop #Bakersfield #California #Kern_County #Hogwash #Hog_Wash #photography
https://flic.kr/p/DzuoWP

I Don't Bite, I Chew!

There was a cornfield. There were no children in sight, but, you could hear the muffled screams.

Bakersfield, California 2003
#I_Dont_Bite_I_Chew #Hogwash_Book_One #cornfield #Halloween #Bakersfield #California #Kern_County #Hogwash #Hog_Wash #photography
https://flic.kr/p/Dzu2XK

Planning (t)

I get the impression that science fiction writers might spend a little time roaming around this area to heighten their descriptions of extraterrestrial lands. Sniffing sulfur probably adds to the experience also.

Lassen Volcanic National Park, California 2010
#Planning #Hogwash_Book_One #mountain #Lassen_Volcanic_National_Park #California #Shasta_County #Hogwash #Hog_Wash #photography
https://flic.kr/p/23ekZ2a

Spotter (t)

I thought I had seen everything, but, I hadn't. This is the first time I've seen vultures working with ducks. Evidently, the vultures spot golf balls in the lakes around the golf course and the ducks retrieve them. Sometimes, the ducks don't survive and that's when the vultures take lunch.

Avila Beach Golf Resort, Avila Beach, California 2010
#Spotter #Hogwash_Book_One #vulture #Avila_Beach_Golf_Resort #Avila_Beach #California #photography
https://flic.kr/p/F6Chrb

Dragon Fly (t)

This is how Smaug, Lord of the Rings fame, got his start, tethered to a string on the beach. He put up with this for one year and then decided he'd rather see the world at which point, he broke the string bond and fried the string holder. He thought, "Wow, this is great fun!" and flapped off to seek his fortune.

Carpinteria State Beach, Carpinteria, California 2010
#Dragon_Fly #Hogwash_Book_One #kite #Carpinteria_State_Beach #Carpinteria #photography
https://flic.kr/p/23ekJHR

Dirt Is Just Fine (t)

Woody the cat is not picky about where he lies down, which, at times, causes problems. Like the time he laid in a hill of red ants. He kind of gave me that look of what the heck and spent the next hour dancing and scratching.

Bakersfield, California 2010
#Dirt_Is_Just_Fine #Hogwash_Book_One #cat #Woody_the_Cat #Bakersfield #California #Kern_County #Hogwash #Hog_Wash #photography
https://flic.kr/p/23bGfq5

Regular Visitor (t)

This guy has visited for the past five years. He always lands in the same aptos blue tree, poops in the same spot and then says, "Well, did you miss me? Got any 70s music for me?" To which I always reply, "Quit crapping on my tree!"

Bakersfield, California 2010
#Regular_Visitor #Hogwash_Book_One #Robin #Bakersfield #California #Kern_County #Hogwash #Hog_Wash #photography
https://flic.kr/p/23ekpMK

Odd Man Out (t)

You have to look quick to catch Cedar Waxwings around our place. They zoom into the area in droves and then disappear leaving Robins behind.

Bakersfield, California 2010
#Odd_Man_Out #Hogwash_Book_One #bird #Cedar_Waxwing #Bakersfield #California #Kern_County #Hogwash #Hog_Wash #photography
https://flic.kr/p/23bFYzC

Packing Junc

This guy was really confused. He took one look at all the pines in the backyard and thought it was time to breed. The only other moving animal around at the time was Woody the Cat. The Junco watched for a bit and then decided he didn't want anything to do with Woody.

Bakersfield, California 2010
#Packing_Junc #Hogwash_Book_One #bird #Dark_Eyed_Junco #Bakersfield #California #Kern_County #Hogwash #Hog_Wash #photography
https://flic.kr/p/23bFTvj

Alert (t)

Mockingbirds seem to be aware of everything that goes on around them. I think it is a learned skill; maybe a survival instinct. I mean, you really have to be alert to keep from getting shot because you are singing at 3 AM in the morning!

Bakersfield, California 2010
#Alert #Hogwash_Book_One #mockingbird #Bakersfield #California #Kern_County #Hogwash #Hog_Wash #photography
https://flic.kr/p/F6BnZY

Metamorphosis (t)

Ben the caterpillar has been chomping on passion vine leaves for a while now. His jaws are sore. He's full. He's big. He is going through the last stages of becoming a chrysalis and takes one last look skyward before being completely encased.

San Ardo, Monterey County, California 2010
#Metamorphosis #Hogwash_Book_One #cloud #caterpillar #San_Ardo #Monterey_County #California #Hogwash #Hog_Wash #photography
https://flic.kr/p/F6Bnf1

You Are Next (t)

I am always suspicious of vultures since they tend to congregate. However, this osprey was overly interested in my movement. He followed me for about twenty minutes. Turns out, he just wanted to borrow my cell phone for a quick call.

Kernville, California 2009
#You_Are_Next #Hogwash_Book_One #osprey #Kernville #California #Kern_County #Hogwash #Hog_Wash #photography
https://flic.kr/p/229EHh7

Quadcopter Predecessor (t)

Early versions of the quadcopter worked pretty good, but, were not able to sustain camera weight. They had a tendency to crash with the added weight. One advantage, however, was the ability to fly without a battery pack. On the downside, they were very difficult to control and required large amounts of a water/sugar fuel.

Bakersfield, California 2009
#Quadcopter_Predecessor #Hogwash_Book_One #hummingbird #Bakersfield #photography
https://flic.kr/p/DzvCHV

Juvenile

I want to say this is a juvenile black-crowned night heron. But, I don't know that for sure. What I do know is they are noisy, slow-witted and drop bones and fish everywhere. This one was walking the fence at the house. Every year, they nest in trees around our neighborhood. They are really good at unintentionally antagonizing dogs and cats. Sometimes, the dogs and cats win.

Bakersfield, California 2009
#Juvenile #Hogwash_Book_One #heron #photography
https://flic.kr/p/DzvC3B

Oops! (t)

Heron: "Oh, my goodness! I dropped another fish bone in the grass! That's not going to go well with all those people walking around in bare feet! I'm just so clumsy and maybe a tad bit messy. I apologize! No, I don't! I better go find another fish!"

Morro Bay, California 2009
#Oops #Hogwash_Book_One #bird #heron #Morro_Bay #California #San_Luis_Obispo_County #Hogwash #Hog_Wash #photography
https://flic.kr/p/DzvArF

On Guard (d)

This feline is charged with overseeing the tranquility of the Sculpterra Winery. Unfortunately, the wine master likes to ply his trade on the cat and the cat generally is napping by 11AM. So much for controlling any unruly tasters.

Paso Robles, California 2009
#On_Guard #Hogwash_Book_One #cat #sculpture #Paso_Robles #California #San_Luis_Obispo_County #Hogwash #Hog_Wash #Sculpterra_Winery #photography
https://flic.kr/p/F6BaXm

White Hole Sun (t)

This is one of those, "I wonder what I'd get shooting the Sun through fog" shots. And then other stuff happened later.

Bakersfield, California 2012
#White_Hole_Sun #Hogwash_Book_One #Sun #Bakersfield #California #Hogwash #Hog_Wash #photography
https://flic.kr/p/Dzyzk6

Da Plane, Da Plane (t)

This particular morning, I had two drones flying to capture shots of the Blue Moon. I used one to shoot the Moon and the other drone. You ever try to fly two drones simultaneously? It's a lot of work!

Truthfully, this is a composite. My shots of the Moon were so boring, I had to do something. Besides, I liked the drone story.

Bakersfield, California 2015
#Da_Plane_Da_Plane #Hogwash_Book_One #Moon #airplane #contrail #photography
https://flic.kr/p/F6AZKN

The Walking Dude (t)

Every time I see a crow or raven, I think of Randall Flagg, The Walking Dude, in Stephen King's, The Stand. The bird was Flagg's eyes or maybe Flagg himself! The Walking Dude is one really evil dude who won't go away; he keeps showing up in other King books in one form or another.

Ventura, California 2009
#The_Walking_Dude #Hogwash_Book_One #crow #Ventura #California #Ventura_County #Hogwash #Hog_Wash #photography
https://flic.kr/p/JhFE1P