California Fresh

California is cooler than South Dakota today but I'm afraid it still has a few things going for it that my state doesn't. For example, here in California I can drive 2 minutes from my aunt's house and find a strawberry patch with luscious, ripe strawberries. I can't do that in Watertown this time of year. These tasted great on vanilla ice cream, incidentally.In our planning for my aunt Betty's memorial at the end of next month, I told Deb that we needed to serve strawberries and Dairy Queen ice cream. Betty stood five feet tall and weighed less than 100 pounds but she could eat strawberries and ice cream like there was no tomorrow.

Aunt Betty

Early this morning we learned that my dear aunt Betty, my mother's sister and the sole survivor of the generation that precedes me, passed away. She was 91 and died in her California home - exactly where she wanted to be.I took this photo in 2007 at one of Betty's favorite restaurants - Las Brisas in Laguna Beach, California. She is happy in this photo and that's exactly how my wife described her after a conversation she had with her this past Tuesday.Her passing is painful to Deb and me on many levels but it is, as I have said before, part of the circle of life. We have yet to plan her funeral, but when she is laid to rest, she will be next to her husband Cliff and within shouting distance of John Wayne. And I have to smile about that. . . .Two Sisters: Bernice (Mom) and Betty (Beverly)John

Must I Repeat Myself?

This isn't the first time I have posed a group at this window in the Minneapolis Institute of Arts. And it's probably not the last. Sometimes photographers find good places and they photograph them over and over.

Depth of Field

Finial

03-24-12 He's Watching Us

I've returned to the Minneapolis Institute of Art. And I've taken another photo of Frank, by Chuck Close.

Vigilance

Little Fuzzy Balls

I'm on a "fuzzy" kick and, for two days, a "fuzzy ball" kick. From a distance these cacti are cute. But seen close up we learn that looks are deceiving.

Big Fuzzy Balls

Fuzzy Leaf

Leopard Leaves

Towering

Three tall palms trees enjoying the southern California breeze. My only thought is that sometimes you have to go a long ways from the palm tree's trunk to sit in the palm tree's shade.