Happy New Year

Wednesday, December 31, 2008

There was a myriad of channel lights as we left the Panama Canal last month so I decided to experiment with my camera to see what I could achieve. This is the result. My version of fireworks. Happy New Year.





"Happy New Year" © Kathy Dunham 2008

It's Not Spring Yet

Tuesday, December 30, 2008

Today, as I was hosing off the patio, I heard this honking noise. I recognized it as coming from Canadian Geese but it seems awfully early for them to be flying north through our valley. But there they were. In the usual "V" formation. Three groups went by and I never saw any others the rest of the day. But I can tell you this, they'll stop here for a while and enjoy our 70 degree weather before heading out.


"It's Not Spring Yet" © Kathy Dunham 2008

White Poppies

Monday, December 29, 2008

Spring isn't here yet, but when I found these white poppies in France this year I was amazed. I've never seen white California Poppies. Let alone in France. They were stunning when mixed in with the brilliant orange flowers.


"White Poppies" © Kathy Dunham 2008

Flaming Reds

Sunday, December 28, 2008

Red flowers have, at times, presented photographic challenges. So I was happy when these red dahlias turned out with great contrasts.


"Flaming Reds" © Kathy Dunham 2008

The Colors of Christmas

Saturday, December 27, 2008

Christmas is past but these succulents don't know the seasons and are always red and green.


"The Colors of Christmas" © Kathy Dunham 2008

Rising Moon

Friday, December 26, 2008

Every so often we get a spectacular moon rise. And this was no exception. Night time digital photography can be challenging so I took my chances when I spotted this shot.


"Rising Moon" © Kathy Dunham 2008

Christmas Morning


I awoke this morning and was treated to this beautiful sunrise. A perfect greeting to Christmas.


"Christmas Morning" © Kathy Dunham 2008

Happy Holidays

Wednesday, December 24, 2008

Today I visited Cabot's Pueblo Museum, a historical treasure in the Coachella Valley. The Hopi inspired, hand made home of Cabot Yerxa is filled with unique artifacts and photographs of the early 20th century. It has recently undergone some renovations and touring it is like stepping back in time. This is the wreath on the entry door with it's welcoming sign. Check it out at www.cabotsmuseum.org


"Happy Holidays" © Kathy Dunham 2008

Snake Charmer

Tuesday, December 23, 2008

Last night it was the camel driver so tonight I had to share the snake charmer. He loved being photographed and always posed for the camera.


"Snake Charmer" © Kathy Dunham 2008

Camel Driver

Monday, December 22, 2008

In the spirit of the season, I thought a camel driver to be very appropriate. This one was saying good bye to us as we left a rather interesting show of Moroccan Horsemen along with dancers and a snake charmer (but that's for another day).


"Camel Driver" © Kathy Dunham 2008

Have Some Garlic

Sunday, December 21, 2008

A fellow artist and dear friend, who also has a blog, posted some garlic last night on his site. But I thought, "wait until he sees the picture I took in Agadir last year at the Souk Souk (big bazaar)". So here it is. And this was only a portion of the garlic the vendor had for sale.


"Have Some Garlic" © Kathy Dunham 2008

Mist on the Course

Saturday, December 20, 2008

The other morning, after the rains, I was treated to this lovely view of frost and a slight mist rising from the golf course. It almost looks like snow, but that's a heavy dusting of frost. I'm sure the golfers were not happy as they delay play until the frost is gone. Walking on the grass while it has frost on it breaks the blades and ruins the greens.


"Mist on the Course" © Kathy Dunham 2008

White Poinsettia

Friday, December 19, 2008

Christmas is almost here and I love the flowers that remind us of the season. I found these white poinsettias in the Canary Islands last year.


"White Poinsettias" © Kathy Dunham 2008

Snow in the Desert

Thursday, December 18, 2008

Remember, I promised you more snow? It rained all day yesterday and it was cold. That meant we should have snow. And I wasn't disappointed. This morning I awoke to a sunny day and snow on all the mountains surrounding the Coachella Valley. This is a view from my driveway. Looking southwest. I felt I could reach out and touch the hills it was so clear. By this afternoon a lot of the snow had melted but what a sight we had this morning.


"Snow in the Desert" © Kathy Dunham 2008

The Flower Vendor

Wednesday, December 17, 2008

Christmas in Cadiz, Spain. This vendor sat stolidly watching as tourists picked through her flowers and took lots of pictures. All without buying a thing. She sort of reminded me of Whistler's Mother the way she was dressed and sat so solemnly in her chair.


"The Flower Vendor" © Kathy Dunham 2008

Tiger's Claws

Tuesday, December 16, 2008

I found this spectacular flower in Costa Rica last month and it took me a while to track down it's botanical name, but thanks to my gardening friends I now know it's called a Gloriosa superba "Rothschildiana". That's a mighty big name for this stunning member of the lily family. Native to Africa and Asia, this tropical flower resembles a burning flame. It's also known as Tiger's Claws; why, I'm not sure.


"Tiger's Claws" © Kathy Dunham 2008

Agadir Tent

Monday, December 15, 2008

It was the holiday season when we were in Agadir last year and I thought this tent was appropriately decked out in Christmas colors. As we watched the horsemen perform their charge and the snake charmer do his thing, I was reminded how wonderful it was being able to visit the different cultures of the world.


"Agadir Tent" © Kathy Dunham 2008

Bermuda Flowers

Sunday, December 14, 2008


With the holiday season and colder weather upon us, I remembered the warm days of Bermuda and this lovely flowering shrub I found on a walk around Hamilton, the capitol.




"Bermuda Flowers" © Kathy Dunham 2008

Snowy Morning

Saturday, December 13, 2008

A couple of years ago we had a cold front move through the desert and it deposited snow at very low levels on the local mountains. This was the view from my back yard. We've got another front coming through this weekend but I don't think we'll get a show like this.


"Snowy Morning" © Kathy Dunham 2008

Chinese Influences

Friday, December 12, 2008

While visiting the old fort in Acapulco I came upon this beautiful display of Chinese artifacts. The display was meant to show the influence of the Chinese trade in the early days of shipping in and out of Acapulco. The stunning colors of the silk embroidery floss along with the other items made a striking statement.


"Chinese Influences" © Kathy Dunham 2008

Masks

Wednesday, December 10, 2008

While in Acapulco, we found a little known mask museum, not too far from the old Fort. It contains about 500 masks from around the world but a majority of them are from local areas within Mexico. It's not an elaborate museum, as museums go, but fascinating none-the-less.


"Masks" © Kathy Dunham 2008

Sign of Christmas

Tuesday, December 9, 2008

I bought a poinsettia today and it reminded me of the wonderful ones we saw last year while in Spain at the holiday time. They were absolutely magnificent. I have never seen such fantastic public displays of gorgeous poinsettias. So naturally, I spent lots of time taking pictures of this holiday favorite.


"Sign of Christmas" © Kathy Dunham 2008

Las Ramblas at Night

Monday, December 8, 2008

This time last year I was in Barcelona getting ready to do a trans Atlantic cruise. The holiday season is big in Spain and the colors and decorations are spectacular. This is one of the flower vendors on Las Ramblas, the favorite strolling avenue that runs from the sea to the central area of the city.



"Las Ramblas at Night" © Kathy Dunham 2008

Candy for Sale

Saturday, December 6, 2008

Everywhere we went in Old Cartagena we saw these very colorful ladies carrying large pans on their heads with food and candy for sale. Their costumes were definitely eye catching.


"Candy for Sale" © Kathy Dunham 2008

Not for Youngsters

Thursday, December 4, 2008

Every time we departed the elevator on our deck we were greeted with this bank of wheel chairs. I’m sure they were well used as we saw quite a few octogenarians on this cruise. In fact, the most we’ve ever encountered. But we had a great time, lots of fun, super entertainment and classes full of neat students.

“Not for Youngsters” © Kathy Dunham

Cartagena Flowers

Wednesday, December 3, 2008

Old Cartagena is a city alive with color. The buildings, the flowers and even the people. Bordering on the Caribbean, the influence of the neighboring countries brings this city alive. It’s a regular melting pot of cultures.


“Cartagena Flowers” © Kathy Dunham

Cathedral de Cartagena

Tuesday, December 2, 2008

Today’s “deluxe” city tour was a delight to an artist’s eye. The old town of Cartagena was everything I expected. Old buildings, wild colors, bougainvillea of all colors hanging over balcony railings and more street vendors than you normally see in Mexico. With 15% unemployment, those out of work are becoming street vendors. And talk about pushy…even if you say no 10 times, they still won’t leave you alone.


“Cathedral de Categana” © Kathy Dunham

Nightmare before christmas wallpaper

The nightmare before christmas is well know all over the world, its just like the Halloween night party fun of scare and horrable things with lots of surprises. So here on the demand of people who love the scary things on christmas holiday season, we bring unique quality and unusual nightmare before christmas wallpapers and picture for you. Just use them on you computer screen to give a natural and black ghostly look to PC and surprise your family and friends with it.

Free all of the scary wallpapers from the horror movie, you can select These Nightmare Before Christmas wallpapers, to download in the sizes of 800x600, 1024x768, 1280x960 and 1600x1200. This is the online gallery for fans of Nightmare Before Christmas to view, save, set on desktop, download, share, and discuss their favorite photos, icons, images, pictures and wallpapers. Also try 3D Screen saver of the nightmare party.

The attractive The
Nightmare Before Christmas backgrounds and wallpapers are to use as a copyright free material on any site which showcase characters and important scenes from the Christmas movie. Download these Background free as set of files in ZIP or one by one. You are free to own this wallpapers for whatever you want.

Nightmare before christmas wallpapers


Nightmare before christmas wallpaper


Nightmare before christmas movie wallpaper
Nightmare before christmas wallpaper and picture
Nightmare before christmas background

Computer Christmas Wallpaper

Are you searching for the good quality and high resolution Computer Christmas Wallpaper in size 1024X800 or in 800 X 600 to decorate you PC desktop screen. So don't be shy, just get free Xmas wallpapers and background from the online wallpaper gallery on our site. Select from the right hand side category and make them you own personalized wallpaper by saving it. You can also customize these 2008 Computer wallpaper by adding a sweet holiday quote or working over it...

Go get it right now Free!!!


Computer Christmas Wallpaper
Computer Christmas Wallpaper and background
Computer Christmas Wallpaper - 2


Computer Christmas backgrounds

Funny Christmas Wallpapers - Fun X-mas Wallpaper, Hilarious Christmas backgrounds

Here we bring some different range of never before Funny Christmas Wallpapers for 2008 holiday season with some awesome Xmas background and picture to adore the look of the screen of your computer. Feel free to surf all the below categories and enjoy with you family and friends. The online free graphic website is full of 1000's flash and funny pictures of kids, pets, Santa, elves, frosty and birds singing christmas carols and songs. So own these fun christmas background by setting as a picture on PC screen.

Also find Christmas Clip arts, Coloring Pages, Backgrounds and other printable on our X-mas resource website.

Funny Christmas Wallpapers
Funny Christmas Wallpaper - fun Xmas background
Funny Christmas Wallpaper and background
Fun Christmas Wallpaper
hilarious Christmas Wallpapers

Gregorio the Weaver

Monday, December 1, 2008

During our stop in Huatalco, Mexico, we met this delightful weaver plying his trade. He was smart, setting up his loom right outside his shop for all to see. He was gracious as he explained the history of the designs that originated with his tribe further inland. The wool is from the sheep they raise; hand carded, combed, dyed and spun, mostly by his mother.


“Gregorio the Weaver” © Kathy Dunham 2008

Centennial Bridge

Sunday, November 30, 2008

This beautiful bridge crosses the Guillard Cut through the Isthmus of Panama. This nine mile cut through volcanic rock was an extreme challenge during the building of the Panama Canal. Thousands of lives were lost to malaria and yellow fever before they realized that it was the little mosquito that was responsible for transmitting both diseases. A transit through the canal should be on your "must do" list. It's an engineering phenomenon.



"Centennial Bridge" © Kathy Dunham 2008

Three Little Mules All in a Row


These electric "mules" are what keep our ship evenly spaced once in the Panama Canal locks. There was only 24" of clearance on either side so it's important that the tension on the cables between the ship and the three mules on each side of our ship are perfect. Otherwise, we'd be leaving paint on the side of the locks. There are three locks on each end of the 50 mile canal. Three steps up and three down. Lake Gatun, in the middle, is man made and took four years to fill. It was a brilliant idea to eliminate a lot of earth removal had a cut been necessary through the entire width of Panama.





"Three Little Mules All in a Row" © Kathy Dunham 2008

Sunset - Punta Arenas

Saturday, November 29, 2008

We were headed back to the ship from our day's outing in the hills of Costa Rica when we noticed the sky sporting beautiful colors. Our guide said "looks like it's going to be a beautiful sunset". And under my breath I said "only if we get to the dock on time". I took this shot as we were driving onto the dock headed for our ship. It was beautiful but I wish we had been there sooner. Sunsets like this are so fleeting.



"Sunset - Punta Arenas" © Kathy Dunham 2008

One Big Ox Cart

Friday, November 28, 2008

Today we toured an ox cart factory in Sarchi, Costa Rica. This one sitting in the town square is the biggest ox cart in the world. I wonder if it fits "Babe", Paul Bunyan's big blue ox. He would certainly be a colorful addition to this beautifully decorated cart. Ox carts came into use at the beginning of the coffee trade in Costa Rica before the railroads and current day 18 wheelers. Lovingly hand painted, these colorful carts are now decorator items. And yes, I did buy a small one.


"One Big Ox Cart" © Kathy Dunham 2008

Mexican Spur

Thursday, November 27, 2008

The museum at the fort in Acapulco held many treasures. Among them this beautifully crafted spur. There was only one, don't know where the other one was. Would that make it difficult to ride a horse with only one spur on??? Inquiring minds want to know.


"Mexican Spur" © Kathy Dunham 2008

The Colors of Huatulco

Wednesday, November 26, 2008

Huatulco is a verrrrry small cruise ship port on the southern coast of Mexico. Noted for it's eight beautiful bays, this area is great for snorkeling. Or shopping if you don't want to get wet. The buildings are painted wonderful, bright colors. Lots of fun with vendors always trying to get you to buy.


"The Colors of Huatulco" © Kathy Dunham 2008

Fuerte de San Diego

Tuesday, November 25, 2008

Acapulco in the sun. But instead of beaches and cliff divers we decided to visit the old fort. Thank goodness it was just across the street from where our ship docked. Originally built in 1776, it was hit by a major earthquake in the 1800s and rebuilt. Not an exciting fort, as forts go, but filled with wonderful historical "stuff". I'm sure it gets missed by a lot of visitors.


"Fuerte de San Diego" © Kathy Dunham 2008

Dia de los Muertos

Monday, November 24, 2008

While strolling through Cabo San Lucas we came upon a very upscale "bar". It wasn't the drinks that caught our attention but these intricate ceramic statues of Dia de los Muertos figures. They were exquisitely done in wonderful colors and with a sense humor. This celebration in recognition of the deceased is held on November 2nd, but you can find figures similar to these all over Mexico any time of the year.


"Dia de los Muertos" © Kathy Dunham 2008

Lucy with "Mexican Barbies"

Sunday, November 23, 2008

Four dollar... four dollar.... and I could have my own Mexican Barbie. Lucy was cute and for only two dollars, she posed for me on our walk in Cabo San Lucas. Then she offered to sell me a clay whistle for $3. I graciously declined.


Lucy with "Mexican Barbies" © Kathy Dunham 2008