Photography: Abstract shots on weekend visit to Ocean beach......

Paid yet another visit to our favorite beach...Ocean  beach..
It was little windy today..even the gulls were ruffled.........

Big heaps of seaweeds had been washed to the shore...notice the backdrop...

including these bull kelps..this split float looked like a half coconut...

 and these knots of seaweeds mimicked noodles...

Sunset was spectacular....

By the time we walked back to the parking lot, dark clouds had taken over the sky...

Saw people enjoying bonfire...pleasant smoky aroma had filled the air......

High tides starts subtly..

Long rays of winter sun dazzle the sandy beach...

A mat of seaweeds..

My spouse's footprint on the sand...

A float of the seaweed..

Like a delta viewed from above..

Place: Sequoia and surroundings: Animals and birds in autumn......

So glad that autumn is upon us...talking of fall, these shots from last year, captured at Sequoia National Park grabbed my attention and brought a tiding of happy memories...

The hawk on a stunning sweetgum at Three rivers...

A mule deer came vis-a-vis on our way to the park...

A scrub jay munching on mistletoe berries..........

An acorn woodpecker sits pretty  on a colorful oak for a shot...

We met this happy guy in a orange orchard in San Joaquin...

Joy: Visit to bountiful orchards.......

Who does not love an orchard full of ripe fruits!!
Been fortunate to savor the bounty of harvest time..thanks to to the farmers who shared the joy with us...
Pumpkin patch at Tanaka's...

Peach at Tanaka's.....

Orange, persimmon and prickly pear at Fullerton arboretum........

Apple at Vulcan valley farm, Julian...

Citrus at San Joaquin valley...

Vineyard in San Joaquin as well...

Place: My National Park diary........

I agree with the million others that the National parks and monuments area the true jewels of the USA..visiting these wonderfully resourceful places is always a matter of excitement to me...each of them are so uniquely beautiful and enriching...

So, I have all of them in my bucket list..though its not quite feasible monetarily or time-wise, I will be glad if I could get a taste of a fraction of them...

It's my secret desire to visit as many US National parks as possible...so far its a humble 8 only, but definitely, the most significant ones...just going through the pictures clicked there infuse joy in me...let's take a look, for they are unparalleled treasures.....

  Grand Canyon...established in 1919.......

In the Ponderosa and Pinyon pine forest of the park...

On the Southern rim ....

The year 2013 has been great for us, in terms of visiting US national parks.....we had been to four amazing parks.....

In May, we landed in Lassen Nat'l park (CA)...established in 1916.......it was the end of spring and snow was still blanketing the earth...

In July, We went to Glacier Nat'l park (MT)....established in 1910.......summer was in full swing and myriad varieties of wildflowers and snow-thawed waterfalls mesmerized us...

                         

The same week, we headed towards the crowning jewel of National parks...yes, Yellowstone (MT and WY)....established in 1872.......wildflowers, rain, smoke...we were fortunate to witness everything...

The yellowstone river.........

In Thanksgiving holidays, we hit Sequoia Nat' park (CA), to spend some days with the tree  giants.....established in 1890.......

In 2014, Labors day weekend we visited Yosemite........established in 1890.......

In 2015 Spring break, Zion......established in 1919.......

and Bryce........established in 1928.........

I cherish the eyeful of inspiring landscapes, wildlife, fresh air and rejuvenation that I garnered from the trips....hope and wish, the coming year replicates this blessing.....