#74 Disorder

Otherwise known as cable clutter. I'm in no contest for worst cable clutter collection. I have seen other photos online. Some people have their cables nicely under control. Others have chaos. I have a number of excuses as to why I haven't tidied it up. Want to hear them? No? Someday I'll have the perfect desk set up. Not today.Thanks to everyone who comments. I appreciate the attention and encouragement! Can you believe it? We are two months into this challenge! I'm having so much fun. Hope you are, too!

#121 Fruit

In front of the Saddle Mountains on the Columbia River, this cold storage building (in white) keeps the apples until they can be distributed to markets. The stack of empty apple bins (in brown) wait until fall harvest when they are distributed to the area orchards. I am always amazed at this sight - so much abundance! I think the young trees in the foreground are exotic fruit - kiwi, gingko, or maybe just more apples - or cherries. The owner likes to experiment and expand his options and I forgot to ask.

#308 The Letter G

Grape Vineyards are quite the financial investment. This vine isn't quite ten years old. Before planting, the vineyard owner had to install the trellis in order to train the vine. Then he had to install the drip irrigation system (seen at the bottom of the photo). Both systems have to be maintained. I won't even start on how much labor is involved in planting and maintaining the vines! These vines have been pruned and are ready for the spring growth. (From one of the many vineyards in the Columbia Valley, Washington state.)

#87 Entrance

Desert Aire is a golf community on the Priest Rapids Reservoir (Columbia River - Washington), smack dab in the middle of nowhere/everywhere, depending on your point of view. We lived there for eight years even though we don't play golf. We miss our friends but keep in touch. Residents of the area are retired, work in agriculture, work for the Public Utilities District, or support the local community (teachers, health care, etc). Irrigation makes tree fruit, grapes, potatoes, onions, asparagus, and hay abundant in the otherwise sagebrush/deserty environment.

#336 Traditional

This traditional setting at the Hawker Funeral Home in Blackfoot, Idaho, makes people feel at ease during a difficult time.

#362 Wine

Award-winning wines from the Ginko Forest Winery in Mattawa, Washington, owned by our friends, Mike and Lois Thiede. We did a bit of tasting, not too much.

#9 Arranged

One of our primary social events is the pot luck, where food is arranged for all to partake!

#365 Yellow

I don't see very many of these where I come from. A Lamborghini is quite the vehicle. Not only do they start at $200,000 but get 6-9 mpg. Whoo-hoo!

A young lady with long legs climbed into this one and confidently sped away. Maybe someday I'll experience what the ride feels like. I sure don't want to own one or even drive one. Just get the feel of the ride. I think a white or red one would be prettier. What do you think?

#328 The Office

More supervision. This is where I do my "paid" work. I'm proud of how uncluttered and condensed it is. It also serves as the feline highway between the window and the kitchen sink.

#92 Exhibit

Our town is privileged to have a collector's museum. This week was my first visit. I took a few photos before being told cameras were not allowed. Rats. Seems thieves use pictures to pick and choose what they can come back to steal later.

The special exhibit shown here also featured trains and cars. They have over 100 permanent collections of everything you can imagine. I liked the Star Wars and Harry Potter collections best. She also had a ton of all kinds of dolls including a whole room dedicated to Barbi. I'm just glad it's all in the museum being gently taken care of instead of getting dusty in my house.

#26 Blurred

Big brother has been lighting the candles for a year or so. I think he's four. This was the first time little sister (age two, I think) showed any interest in participating. She followed him up, watched while he "did his thing" and walked back with him all on her own volition. By the time I got over the cuteness of it all and remembered my camera, I was rushing to get this shot and blurred it. Did I mention they were cute? (We are an informal church. The pastor encourages the presence and participation of children.)

#166 Laundry

Garf isn't helping OR supervising! Just being silly. Not sure what his motivation is for being on the washing machine. The orange bucket holds my DIY laundry soap.

#29 Bread

From the bread machine, this weekly loaf symbolizes the body of Christ at the Communion table.

#347 Valentine's Day

A pretty Valentine's Day candle centerpiece for our church banquet.

#185 Motionless

The Tin Men are amazing entertainers on the streets

(and in the hotels) of Las Vegas.

This is my last Las Vegas post. Promise. It was a fun two days!

#199 Nightlife

Freemont Street Experience is just that - an experience. That's the actual name of the street which used to be "old" Las Vegas. This collage is my feeble attempt at capturing the light show. Imagine a three block long curved roof over the street. At night, every hour on the hour, there is a short light/music show. The images flash, swoosh, race and crash into your brain as you get a crick in your neck looking up. We were lucky to catch this psychedelic performance done to "American Pie" by Don McLean. That means is was an eight and half minute spectacle. I just kept clicking pictures.

The street is quite the community attraction, even for families who brought their children. Never a dull moment!

# 339 Two

These two ladies were lounging in the MGM Grand Hotel Lion Habitat in spite of all the tourists gaping at them. Lions sleep 18-20 hours a day and this was part of their nap time. I think the trainers, who were also lounging in the enclosure with them (but fully awake) have to wake them up soon. Somewhere I read they rotate the cats out every five hours. The lionesses can't smell or hear any of the tourists and the temp and humidity inside the habitat is ideal for them. Life o' Riley, I say. Photo came out pretty well considering it was through glass.

I will be slowing down on Las Vegas trip photos soon, I promise. There was just so much going on. Had a great time in two short days.

#131 Gold

Probably not REAL gold but Leo, the MGM lion in the hotel lobby was very impressive. In spite of the obvious glitz, I liked him. I'm partial to cats of all sizes.

#78 Drink

Funny kitties. Simon MUST drink out of a glass which MUST be on the left hand side of the sink. Garfunkel also insists on the same glass but finds the bath tub an acceptable substitute.

They are so cute.

#188 Movement

Either he's moving the sparklers fast or I have a slow shutter or both! It was a fun evening!

#82 Eight

My adopted grandsons put on a short fireworks show for all of us (yes, it was cold). This shot of figure eights with sparklers was the best of the bunch.

#162 Joy

I like this. It's still in color - no black & white adjustment. The chandelier is reflected in the mirror which is behind the J O Y which are on the mantle. Simple yet elegant.

#96 Family

A blast from the past - 1957 to be exact. Today is both my dad's and my sister's birthday. My sister is the younger one. This was taken near McArthur Park, Los Angeles, California by my professional photographer uncle. By the way, that's as close to a smile you'd ever get from my dad unless he was watching a Red Skelton TV show. Then he'd actually laugh out loud.

#263 Silhouette

In honor of the many men who worked to build Hoover Dam, this statue "stands out" with the beautiful Arizona sky behind him. He also looks like a mountain climber on belay but, not. SOOC.

#155 In The Distance

The drive to Hoover Dam takes thirty minutes - not far. We took advantage of the new learning center and all about building the dam. The recently finished bridge over the Colorado River downstream from the Dam makes driving from Kingman, Arizona to Henderson, Nevada (or vice versa) a lot faster.

Happy tourists. Thanks to our host, Mary, for taking this photo.

#165 Large

It's the Year of the Rabbit and each hotel did a great job! I hope you can see the smaller photos. The rabbit and the emperor were at least twenty-five feet high, maybe more. I'm not good at estimating. Good luck and happy new year to all the rabbits, bunnies and hares!

Can you imagine what they (the hotel display designers) do for the other holidays? Wow!

#357 What is That?

What is that? That is a photo of the mirror on the ceiling above the world's largest chocolate fountain at the Jean Phillipe Patisserie in the Bellagio Hotel, Las Vegas, Nevada. I know it's the world's largest because the sign says so. Also the Guinness Book of World Records says so. It's hard to make it out in this photo because you are looking at the bottom and reflected top of the glass bowls which form the fountain.
The fountain is behind glass. I was hoping for a fondue arrangement like I experienced at a banquet once. Chocolate dipped banana - yummmm. Alas, no sampling.

This was on my must-see list. Success! (In case you are wondering why I didn't choose the Chocolate theme for this, I have other places in mind.)

For more information go to: http://www.jpchocolates.com/

#97 Fashion

Not my cup of tea but I'm sure others really like these shoes (sorry about the metaphor mix-up). Found at a store called "arche" who warn "our products can be addicting." This shop was one of the many high-end shops in the Venetian Hotel.

There are five things you can do at a Las Vegas hotel: be an overnight guest, gamble, eat at one of several restaurants, shop, or be a free-loading tourist. Guess what we did.