Total Lunar Eclipse

I made a point of watching this morning's total Lunar eclipse, a super blue blood Moon, to get some photos for Skywatch Friday (that's a total solar eclipse and a total lunar eclipse in just over five months). It's super because it's at the closest point to Earth in its orbit. Here the Earth's shadow is just starting to touch it.

It's blue simply because that's what the second full Moon of a month is called. Here it's almost gone.

It's blood because that's the color it turns when totally covered by the Earth's shadow, only getting sunlight refracted through our atmosphere. I took the dogs for a walk under this very dim red moonlight.

And as if nature hadn't blessed us with enough beauty for one day, driving to work a few minutes later I took the following photo.

San Juan Bautista Plaza Historic District (2)

Finishing up my series on the San Juan Bautista Plaza Historic District and Mission San Juan Bautista (which are right next to each other), here are some photos from a preserved hotel of the era (built in 1855). First up is their elegant dining area.

Here's a preserved guest room.

This is an area for the ladies to congregate.

And what Western hotel would be complete without a large saloon?

Our World Tuesday

Inside Mission San Juan Bautista

Here are a couple of final photos from inside Mission San Juan Bautista near Monterey, California. Some areas are maintained almost like a museum.

Others can still be actively used for worship.

Inspired Sunday

Mission Trees (2)

I absolutely loved this view when I was in the Mission San Juan Bautista, and instantly knew I had to take a Skywatch Friday shot!

San Juan Bautista Plaza Historic District (1)

Next to the mission I showed you in the last couple of posts is the San Juan Bautista Plaza Historic District. It's a state park consisting of several well-preserved and restored old buildings. Here's an old stagecoach - imagine riding in this for hours in the Old West!

One of the buildings is an elegant, large old house.

It's fascinating to see how people lived back then and well worth the small admission fee.

They lived in such a beautiful place.

And of course every community had to be self-sufficient!

Our World Tuesday

Merced National Wildlife Refuge

While in California last year we drove by the Merced National Wildlife Refuge, a 10,262 acre refuge. While the birds weren't in the area, I thought the wide-open expanses would be worth a couple of photos for the blog.

I captured this for Floral Friday.

Mission Trees

For Skywatch Friday, here are a couple of trees from the Mission San Juan Bautista in central California.

Mission San Juan Bautista Gardens

Today's Our World Tuesday post will show you a few shots from the gardens of the Mission San Juan Bautista (you saw inside a couple of days ago).

As expected, everything's very well kept.

And I've saved a couple more shots for other memes!

Mission San Juan Bautista

Last time we were in California I visited a couple of the old missions. This post is about Mission San Juan Bautista, northeast of Monterey.

Founded in 1797, the mission is very well-kept. I used a fisheye lens to capture the next shot.

Here's another photo of the inside of the church.

Today's last photo is of the cemetery, but I've got more to come from this beautiful area.

Inspired Sunday

Boston!

We were visiting family in Boston over the holidays; here's a photo of the city for Skywatch Friday.

Red Rock Canyon

I wish all my readers a happy 2018. And now, here are some photos from a hike in Red Rock Canyon Open Space last year.

I love the rock formations and views in this amazing city park.

It's a good one to hike in the winter because of the low elevation.

I make a point of going through its old quarry every time I'm there.

And I always get a shot of these stairs!

Our World Tuesday