Brenda's Bicycles

On July 5, 2014, I moved from Pisac to Calca. Both towns are in the Sacred Valley, in the Cusco region, nestled in the Andes mountains of Peru.

Calca is situated at an altitude of just over 9,600 feet above sea level, nestled in a valley surrounded by mountains on all sides (except for a few narrow valleys / river channels). Pisac has become a popular spot for westerners to live, and is a sort of hub for spiritual travelers. Calca, about thirty minutes away via local transportation, is almost entirely untouched by tourists. I hear that there are perhaps less than a dozen foreigners living here, but I rarely see them. In fact, I have only see two that I am sure of. In other words, I am living alone in a community where speaking English is simply not an option.

At least for now, I rarely go out unless it is to shop or run errands. I have been doing a huge amount of inner journeying, personal ceremonies, and meditation, focusing on my own private “retreat of sorts”.

The place was 99% unfurnished when I moved in, and I pay only 500 soles per month (about $182 US). Within three days of stating my intention to move here, I had manifested all the furnishings that I need to fully function with kitchen and bedroom). The cost was extremely reasonable, and I should be able to recoup it all when (if) I liquidate the belongings and move on. Presently, I have signed a lease that ends in mid November, but who knows??? I certainly do not.

On the outside, in front, the house looks rather basic and dirty, but walking down the dark hallway to the back side of the property is like walking into Narnia. It is a magical playground for me.

After living here for six weeks, I have decided it is time to post a few (a lot of) photos.

As usual, the photos in this post are thumbnail images. Please click on any photo to enlarge it. The thumbnails leave much to be desired as far as colors and resolution – plus the thumbnails clip all of the edges. I use thumbnails for the post itself, because it gives people an opportunity to get a summary glimpse without downloading huge amounts of data for the high-res photos.

CLICK ON ANY PHOTO TO ENLARGE TO HIGH RESOLUTION

The Outer World

I don’t have many photos of Calca itself. Following are the few that I do have.

This photo was taken on June 16 – the first day that I explored Calca as I went to see the house for the first time.

There is a funny story behind this photo. I am in the “Plaza Municipal”, one of two town squares. I arrived early, so spent about an hour lounging in this beautiful little park. Suddenly I noticed two women painting benches just across from me (this photo). And then it hit me. The bench where I was sitting was VERY WHITE compared to others around me. As I began to shift positions, I felt my pants slightly sticking to the bench. To make a long story short, my butt was covered with white. I almost did nothing, but then realized I had sweat pants on underneath. After removing the outer layer, I walked over to one woman, and in the best Spanish I could muster, showed her the paint on my pants and asked if she might have something to help remove it. We giggled together for the next twenty minutes as we poured turpentine and scrubbed repeatedly until most of the paint was gone.

Another view of the center of this beautiful plaza, with the bench beyond the fountain still in the process of being painted. The woman with the paintbrush is barely visible on the left center.

And another view in this plaza. I was sitting on the far side of the fountain.

This, and most subsequent photos, were taken on August 4, 2014.

This is the street in front of my house, as seen from my front door, looking left, up the road that leads into the mountains. My house is the wall at the left edge. The street is paved here, but has so much gravel on it that it appears (and sounds) unpaved. A vehicle driving by quickly makes a lot of noise over the loose, crunching rocks.

Across the street is a little “monumento mulita” … monument to the mule. It is not visible in this thumbnail, but can be seen in subsequent photos.

This is taken from the same spot, looking right, back toward the town of Calca. I am about a fifteen minute walk from the center of town.

The little store behind that car on the left belongs to “Maria”. I buy eggs and miscellaneous items there. I do most bigger shopping at the large town market.

A motorcycle zooming down my street, coming from the left. You can see political signs on the building to the left. It seems to be a very political season right now, and people paint their own homes with such signs.

A closeup of the monument in honor of the “mule”. This is directly across the street from my front door.

The view looking out my front door.

This is my house as seen from across the street. I am renting the entire downstairs level. The upstairs belongs to the landlord. He lives there about half of the year. Right now he is living in Lima, so I have the place to myself. My bedroom window is the middle one on the bottom.

Another photo of the street leading back toward Calca. This is taken from the same spot as the previous photo (across the street).

Looking straight out (just right of the mule monument) at another road that curves back toward town, leading to the market. It is dirt right now, but appears to be in the process of being prepared for paving. The construction is literally shaking/vibrating me in my kitchen at times, LOL.

Looking straight back toward town, with a zoom.

A motorcycle truck … fairly common around here.

A closeup of my next door neighbor’s house. I haven’t officially met them, but they seem really nice, and are quite active in the farm field out behind my house (and across the river).

Looking up the road with a zoom.

Another photo of the monumento mulita.

The Inside … and the Paint Job

When moving in, I asked the landlord if I might be able to paint. He told me “yes” and the former resident told me that I should expect to pay for it all myself. The landlord “Abelardo” did, however, patch up all the holes himself. I spent nine days, all day long, painting five rooms, plus the exterior of all exterior areas.

This is a photo in my kitchen. The walls were very dirty and grungy. I really wanted nicer walls.

Before taking these photos, I had already begun painting. I have already painted new white paint around all the edges. The actual ceiling is not yet painted.

You can see how much difference the new white ceiling is going to make.

The other end of the kitchen, BEFORE painting … very dirty.

And this is my kitchen AFTER painting and doing a tiny bit of decorating. That table is nothing but an old door and a bunch of concrete blocks for a base, with a newly purchased indigenous fabric for a table cloth.

I love this spot for my computer. I have a gorgeous view, it is warmer at night, and away from my sleeping quarters.

The wall  opposite the table area. Nothing luxury, but I love it, and have it all to myself.

Looking at the other end of the kitchen, now painted. The refrigerator is on the left, and my little toaster oven on the right. That window leads to a spare bedroom. I have three bedrooms and a living room, but only use the one bedroom plus this kitchen.

Another view, showing my table and refrigerator, with the door between them.

As I began to paint my bedroom on July 9, I quickly stopped and took a few photos here too. I had already begun to put light green paint on the edges. The walls were a very dark orange with lots of dirt and smudges.

Looking at the bathroom door from the middle of my bedroom. Yes, yippee, I have a private bath. (also pre paint)

And looking at my bed and wall behind. That window is filled with adobe, and is very dirty. The people wo renters ago put the adobe there to block out street noise. I only hear it a tiny bit at night because I rarely hang out in this room during the daytime.

Me, taking a photo in the bathroom mirror.

Another mirror photo. The bathroom walls were the same dark orange color, and very dirty.

My bedroom after painting. I chose the light green because I wanted a “heart chakra” color and it is so much lighter and happier than that dark orange. You can also see the end of a long table that I built using another old door, more concrete blocks, and another indigenous cloth. I use it as a meditation alter.

I kept half of the room in a more yellow color, but covered the old orange with yellow, giving it a brighter feel. And it even has a textured, multi-color look (not visible in the photo) – the kind you might pay someone else to do.

The little corner with my meditation space.

Bobby-bear and Brenda-doll enjoying my pillow.

I considered hiding the adobe, but after cleaning the window up and painting neatly, I quite like it the way it is.

I did not take any pre-paint photos of this living room. I do not see myself using it for that purpose. I felt guided to paint it and clean it up just in case I might want to host any ceremonies here. This is a large room with a beautiful tile floor. The window looks out in the garden.

And this is the other side of the living room, also having an adobe-filled window.

The Back Exterior Of My House

This is taken from across the garden, looking back at the  house. The one-story blue-green building is my kitchen. The house is built like a courtyard, with all rooms opening to the outside. Just left of that kitchen, down a dark hall, are entrances to the two spare bedrooms. I did not paint them or furnish them.

I also have the bottom half of the two-story structure. It has my bedroom with bathroom, the living room, and an extra bathroom.

Another view of the house from the upper garden area.

And another, taken from the far end of the garden. Behind me is a gate that leads into a magical river playground.

A different view showing the mountains to the south. This is winter and they look dry … plus we are at 9600 feet in elevation, right here in the valley.

A closer view of my kitchen exterior. I often sit on a bench just below that window, taking in the warm morning sun.

And another angle with a slightly different perspective.

Just more perspectives…

Closer view of my kitchen exterior.

And a closer view of the main house building. Remember, I only occupy the downstairs part. I have a huge outdoor patio under that upper building.

This one shows the entire house area from across the garden.

Taken from the bench on my patio, looking back through the bushes toward the garden.

Looking from the same spot, but pointing more to the right. The door at the right edge of the photo leads into the garden. This is a beautiful space to sit outdoors and meditate.

Looking from the same spot again, to the left, toward the kitchen. Yes, that IS a bicycle behind that yellow post. The landlord gave it to me to use while I am here. That door on the left leads to the first spare bedroom.

From the kitchen, looking back toward my bedroom door and patio area.

Another view from the kitchen, looking at both levels of the main house.

A closer view as I approach the kitchen from the patio area.

Another view of the patio area, seen from by the kitchen.

There are beautiful flowering plants and shrubs surrounding the wall that separates the house from the garden.

The gorgeous view looking out my kitchen window. You have to enlarge this photo to really appreciate it.

A closeup of my outdoor table in the patio. It is also an old door supported by concrete block, with an indigenous cloth to cover it.

On the table are a few items that I have collected during outdoor ceremonies.

These two pieces of ceramic took on special meaning as I randomly found them in the garden and discovered that they fit perfectly.

Here they are fitting together.

A beautiful flower on the patio wall.

An interesting potted plant on the patio wall.

An unknown fruit with a bitter taste, also along the patio wall. I understand why I don’t see them for sale in the street market.

The Garden Playground

The following photos are taken in and around the garden area. I have a lot of fun exploring out here.

A view of the garden area from the patio wall. At the far end, a door leads to a private space by the river. On the left are huge eucalyptus trees that line the river.

Looking from the kitchen wall to the west. It is hard to see here, but there are huge mountains on all sides. It is almost sunset here and the sun is preparing to set behind that mountain, … thus the glare.

I have gotten over my refusal to walk barefoot in the garden, and now do it all the time … at least when the sun is out. I love these little yellow flowers.

This is the path that leads from my house to the river side of the garden.

There are two large gardens here, one slightly higher. I am now looking at the upper one. Both gardens are planted and cared-for by the neighbors. I am still not sure if this is cabbage or perhaps broccoli.

Now walking along the path on the river side of the upper garden. The wall on the left separates the garden from the river below.

Another look back at the house, taken from the same place.

Now you can see the gate in the distance. This leads out to the river playground. The door is open because I am doing a ceremony out there, and felt guided to grab my camera and take all these photos.

Looking to the west, through a gap in the vegetation, across the river toward the far mountains.

And yet another garden … a flower garden … on the left just before the gate. I spend some time in here too.

This is another view of the flower garden. The river is just left of where that wall ends. Huge eucalyptus trees tower to my left. Most of the blooms get picked shortly after they expose their beauty. The young boy who cares for much of the garden cuts the flowers and takes them home.

I love these red-leaf plants.

A few Iris flowers have managed to remain unseen for a day or two, not yet being cut by the boy.

This old pruned and thorny rose bush has taken a deep metaphorical journey with me, many times.

And I have also connected with this thorn-less rose. I watched a beautiful bud gradually open over more than a week … and then suddenly it was gone. I was sad when it was cut by the boy, but soon found the pure loving innocence of it all.

I have especially connected with this stand of eucalyptus trees. Large old stumps were once cut, and these younger trees grow from those old thriving root systems.

Looking back at the house from the flower garden gate.

A closer look at the plants growing in the garden. I have watched a few times as a caretaker waters them using a diverted irrigation ditch, and then several young men come in to chop and hoe the weeds.

An even closer look. I am waiting to see what they turn out to be … still suspecting cabbage or broccoli.

A pile of debris by the large eucalyptus tree.

An old garden tool in the same general area.

A different view of the old eucalyptus stump with new sprouts growing. I have occasionally sat on this stump to feel the tree’s energy.

Still fascinated by these plants.

Looking back down the path that leads between the river and garden, back toward the house.

Walking that path, barefoot.

Loving the process of connecting with the energy of Mother Earth. I can’t believe I used to hate having bare feet in the soil.

I have been finding incredible beauty in simple things, like these little clover flowers.

And this one … noticing the symmetry and different shapes.

The neighbors who care for the garden live in these houses (at least I think they do), directly on the other side of the upper garden.

Standing on my patio, looking through the door out into the garden.

Same place, but without the door … looking mostly north.

Another stand of beautiful flowers along the path.

A different perspective at the base of the flower garden, looking through the trees at the mountains above.

And a similar attempt at creative photography.

Looking across the river at a field with mountains in the distance. (My garden in the foreground)

Another view looking northwest.

Looking up at the cloud-covered mountain to the west.

My River Playground

Barely looking through the door at the top of the flower garden.

Now, standing in that door and looking to the  north. This area is dry but grassy, triangular in shape. The river is on the left. A little irrigation diversion ditch runs on the right. Directly below me is a return channel for unused irrigation water. To my right is a control platform where the channel gates can be opened and closed.

Having stepped into the grassy area, I now look back toward the door and the irrigation controls on the platform to the left. The ditch that runs forward on the left exists in a little narrow “alley” between my garden wall and the neighbor’s walls. The ditch that goes right is the return runoff for unused water.

This is taken from the same spot, looking to the right where the unused water runs through that gap in the wall and cascades down into the river below. I often find myself walking barefoot through that very cold water, down that runoff channel, and stepping down into the river below.

Toward the upper point of this triangle, I have my blanket and sheepskin set up for my ceremony in progress. You can barely see the river on the left. At the upper part of the photo are an old bridge and another little irrigation platform.

Looking from above, back toward the lower part of the grassy area. The garden area and house are through that gate on the left.

Looking across the river at a field that was filled with tall wheat just a few days ago. A week later it will become a flurry of activity as five teams of bulls are used to pull manual plows, following which corn will be planted.

Looking directly across the river from my blanket.

And looking a tiny bit upstream.

The beautiful mountains … bad lighting and winter make them look dryer in this photo … but they are gorgeous to me.

A mule grazes in the field. A few days ago, a bunch of bulls were grazing here.

Looking downstream from the river wall near my blanket.

Another view of my ceremonial space. The sheepskin was given to me, and really helps make things warmer on the cold ground.

Another view downstream, this one including the majestic eucalyptus trees.

This beautiful Dartura tree (Toe Tree in Spanish) graces the southern edge of the river playground.

The Dartura tree with a huge mountain in the background (remember, the valley is already at 9600 feet in elevation).

This orange house is barely visible through the trees. It is above the grassy area, behind a wall.

A closer view of the door back into the garden. I frequently walk across this concrete slab, which acts as a small bridge over the irrigation runoff water.

Fires such as this (see the smoke) are quite common around here. The farmers frequently pile up old plant debris and light a match.

Another view of the fire in the far distance (full zoom).

An attempt to capture the beauty of this mountain to the west. It is nearly sunset and the glare really plays with the lighting, not allowing me to capture the colors.

Some of the cute plants along the wall, above the river.

There are also several geraniums.

Including red ones.

Looking at the bridge just upstream. I love how those young eucalyptus trees grow so vigorously from those old mature stumps.

Another attempt to outwit the sun. That mountain really is beautiful.

More clover flowers near my blanket.

A glimpse down the irrigation ditch that runs behind my garden wall. On the right edge you can barely see into my garden.

A different view of the same. The water on the left runs forward if the ditch is open. All other water spills over to the right and returns to the river.

Another view of the return channel taking unused water back to the river. I love to wade in here.

Looking back toward the river from this corner of the triangle.

The Dartura tree and the little channel, in one photo.

Another view of the field across the river. I have had a lot of fun watching activity over there.

Now I am down in the river channel, looking back at the river wall. My blanket is right in the middle, above the wall. The garden gate in the distance on the right.

Another beautiful flower in this area.

A closeup of a beautiful bell-like Dartura flower.

And a small tree with hanging red flowers.

Looking southwest from the place where the runoff water re-enters the river.

More of the geranium. I took a huge number of photos out here and could not get myself to delete many of them. They are in semi-organized order, but also quite random in places.

Yellow flowers on a small tree in this area.

Another view of that same tree, with the irrigation ditch behind it.

With this photo, I was trying to capture the effects of a strong breeze blowing the leaves around. You cannot really tell that the wind is blowing strongly.

This area is usually quite private, but is often visited by others on a mission … such as this man who came up from the lower irrigation ditch to adjust the flow.

At first I felt “invaded” by such unannounced visitors. Now, I rather enjoy the fact that it doesn’t bother me in the least. I simply smile and wave, and they leave me alone.

More of the red geraniums.

And another photo of this beautiful place.

My Ceremonial Playground

I have been holding private ceremonies out in the river and garden space, at least three or four times per week, beginning at the end of July.

I come out here sometime around 8:00 or 9:00 a.m. and set my space up, and then spend the day here until some time between 3:00 and 4:00 p.m., after the sun goes behind the mountain and it gets very cold.

Another typical view.

My hat and sunglasses come in handy when the sun is strong. It is high altitude and it is winter in the Andes Mountains … yet our proximity to the equator helps to mix things up. When the sun is out it can get nice and warm, like a nice spring day. When the sun goes behind a cloud or the mountain, or when the breeze blows, it can get very cold.

On Aug 4, 2014, I happened to have a bag of old peas that needed to be eaten, so I took it out here with me, sorting out the rotten ones and eating these good ones.

I love picking up occasional items that have a metaphorical meaning in my process. Today, these eucalyptus shells demanded that my gathering instincts be activated.

I have also begun to use my voice recorder, frequently recording my journey and the things that flow through my mind.

This shocks even me. I have never been able to get into a full yogic position, but I am getting close. Today, I tried this for the first time and was actually able to maintain this pose for a few seconds.

Feeling especially giggly today, I took many self photos, hoping to get a good one or two. I love them all.

I liked this one so much it is now my Facebook profile photo.

This one really made me giggle. A day or two earlier, my right earring had disappeared and after searching everything and everywhere I gave up ever seeing it again.

Then, today, after being up and down on that sheepskin repeatedly, over several hours, I suddenly looked down and it had appeared right in the middle of that white sheepskin, as if placed there by higher energies. I put it on and had to show it off.

It is hard to do a self-photo with a zoom LOL.

And time for a photo without that hat.

And one final one with my hat.

Abelardo’s dog “Shook” … the previous owner told me the story of how he had asked Abelardo to explain the name “Shook”. It took a few exchanges to understand, but my friend finally told me that Abelardo said, you know “Shook … like Shook Conner”. It is now so obvious … “Chuck”, pronounced in Spanish would indeed sound like Shook.

Anyway, sometimes this little dog can be so playful and eager to be all over me … and other times he gives  me the cold shoulder. Today he was very playful. I am grateful that I do not need to care for him. The neighbor boy does that.

“Who, me?”

I have been having quite the journey with very itchy bites. They come from some type of “chigger” or “no-see-um”. I never feel the bites until well after they have happened, and never see what is biting me. Today, I took a couple of photos to remember the journey. For me, the bites have deep metaphorical meaning as I working on “healing the things that bite me … annoy me … bug me.”

I  have fifteen or twenty bites just on this one upper leg alone (front and back).

There is a went sandy spot down by the river, and that spot is always covered by bees. This too has been a fascinating metaphor at times. In this photo there are only three bees, but there were about fifteen in the general area, drinking the moisture of the sand??

And five more in this tiny area.

And two more. I have never tasted this soil to see if it is sweet … but it is definitely wet.

I often take this beautiful rose quartz with me as well.

This farmer often crosses that upper bridge and goes out to his field. Today he is taking something out in a sack and scattering it … perhaps organic waste.

We always wave at each other when I see him. One day he sent his daughter out to give me a glass of “chicha” … a lightly fermented drink made from corn. Usually it is not alcoholic in a measurable way, but that glass, given to me in a cut-off plastic soda bottle, had a kick to it.

On a couple other days, he saw me down by the river and tried to encourage me to jump into the deep part of the pool. I giggled, shaking my head left to right, and said “too cold”. Who knows, one day soon I may fully immerse myself in that pool.

The farmer walking back across his bridge.

The River Playground

I occasionally (often) go exploring in the river when I am out for a ceremony, barefoot with sweatpants rolled up. It is cold, but very fun.

 

At the top of my grassy area is this old concrete dam, long since eroded into a small waterfall. Sometimes it is a single cascade when the water is higher. I’m only guessing that this dam was built to provide water for the irrigation ditch, but that is now accomplished by homemade rock dams about twenty feet higher.

A better view of the dam and pool below. The pool on the far side is at least five or six feet deep.

A view from downstream, looking upstream.

I often stand on this platform and rest against the rail. This appears to be an  old ditch control that is no longer usable because the dam has eroded.

A bridge just upstream. I cannot get to it from my side of the river, because it goes right into the neighbor’s wall, but I have been up on top of it a few times when approaching from the far wall. (I cross the river and climb the far side).

Perched on the platform, looking downstream.

Another view of the dam/falls.

Looking downstream from the wall. I often cross the river on the rocks … and sometimes just walk in the cold waters, placing my feet on the bottom.

Another similar view. If you look closely, you can see a boy in the river down in the distance.

A young boy crossing the river down below (taken with zoom). This looks like the boy who takes care of the dog and sometimes the garden.

Looking straight down into the pool from the wall by my blanket. One day I took all the old weeds on these rocks and threw them into the currents to be carried away. Today, I watch a pile of fresh weeds in the pool. The farmer threw them there and I watched them swirl in the circular current.

You can see the weeds in the right side of the pool, just going in circles.

Taken from up near the bridge, looking downstream. The dam is in the foreground, with the pool below it.

A view from the dam, and the water flow above it. A wall of rocks has been built to slow and divert the water to the right, such that it flows into the irrigation ditch.

Another view, looking downstream from above the left side of the dam.

In this photo, I am standing in the middle of the current, above the waterfall, on a wet rock that divides the two cascades. I am having a blast.

And here, I am in the same place, looking at the top of the falls.

Looking at the pool from above. It took a day or two, but those weeds eventually broke up and disappeared downstream.

Looking back at the rock where I was standing a few minutes ago.

Looking at the falls from the far side of the river.

Looking back at the wall from the far side, back toward where my blanket is placed on the grass, above that wall.

This old eucalyptus branch has been here for a long time. One of these days I might move it.

From down below, in the middle of the river, looking back upstream.

Another view of the wall, with my grassy area above.

More or less the same view, just zoomed in to show the wall on the far side of the grassy area.

A rock in the middle of the river where I often stand. Sometimes it is under the water when the runoff is higher.

Me, stepping out into the current, onto the rock.

And now, fully on the rock with both feet.

Another view looking downstream.

The upstream part of this same wall.

And another view. I often walk along this lower wall of protruding rocks. If you look close you can see the small cascade where the irrigation ditch empties into the river at the far end of this wall. It is easy to climb back up through that ditch, and this lower wall of rocks is a convenient path.

The irrigation ditch emptying into the river. Sometimes it is just a trickle, and sometimes a large cascade itself.

Me, standing in the water as the ditch empties onto my feet. This water is very cold.

Now walking up the ditch. It is not very deep today.

Looking back from the ditch toward the river below.

My Scenic Playground

These remaining photos are a random sampling of all the scenery around my house, garden, and river area.

Looking from the river area, across the river, to the southwest.

Looking more toward the south, with a stronger zoom. Much of that mountain burned up just a few days ago.

Looking to the northwest from my blanket space. It is very hard to see, but in the sky area, blurred by glare, are much taller peaks that often have a dusting of snow.

Looking to the east, over the neighbor’s house, at the smaller hill here. (Remember, we are already at 9600 feet in elevation).

Looking toward neighbor houses from the garden area.

I kept seeing this blue dot on that mountain to the east. Finally, I took this photo with full zoom, and then digitally zoomed in to see what it is. It is a building.

Slightly better view to the northwest, showing the taller mountains further back.

Another attempt to outsmart the sun as it sets over the mountain to the west. Just cannot get my camera to adjust for the glare.

Today, there was a beautiful swirl of thin clouds above me.

More of those clouds with a tall tree to add contrast.

And more unique sky in the distance.

Another view looking southwest, different lighting.

Still trying to get a better view of those taller peaks to the northwest (behind the near mountain).

Hiding behind a tree, with some zoom, I manage to get this photo … but it is still not very clear.

This one is using a full zoom, catching that lower, middle mountain from the previous photo. You can barely see some white snowy areas.

Still playing with my camera in the same spot.

More mountains to the south, with the Dartura flowers in the foreground.

Another attempted pre-sunset photo.

Looking a little southwest.

More northwest.

Suddenly, I see the half moon above me.

The moon, without the zoom.

Still trying that sunset photo.

The side of the mountain to the west, showing a conglomeration of farm fields on the side. Again, the glare interferes.

A stand of eucalyptus trees, young and old.

The sun has partially disappeared, but the glare still interferes with colors. The sun disappears around 3:50 p.m., but the area remains light until around 6:00 p.m..

Zooming through the eucalyptus trees to capture a better image of those rugged mountains to the northwest.

An unzoomed view of the same.

Finally, the lack of sun is helping.

From the garden, looking southeast after the sun has disappeared. You can see that it is still quite bright, reflecting off nearby mountains.

More of the rugged mountains to the northwest.

And more …

Looking northeast, as seen from my kitchen area.

The wind is blowing strongly, as you can finally see by the bend of these leaves.

And this is the end of my photos for today. I hope you enjoyed them

Copyright © 2014 by Brenda Larsen, All Rights Reserved