Sunset in the Grand Canyon

We spent three days at the Grand Canyon.  One thing which we didn't want to miss was the SUNSET.   SO---we went to the canyon two different nights to see it... The first night (June 15) --we went to Mather Point (near the  center area of the canyon, close to the Visitor Center).   The sunset was gorgeous that night ---but our vantage point was not the best.   Then--the next night (June 16),  we went all the way to Hopi Point,  toward the west end of the canyon.  The vantage point here was better --but it was hazier outside that evening and there were more clouds...  SO---I'll show you pictures from each night --and you can choose which night you liked the best...

It was hard narrowing the pictures down to about 8 (for this post) ---but there will be more posts upcoming I'm sure.  Anyhow,  the first four pictures were taken on the 15th and the last four on the 16th.   I don't know which is more beautiful:  looking at the sun as it sets or looking at the shadows and sun hitting the canyon... I almost think that looking at the canyon is more awesome!!!!  The picture above will show you why....  NOBODY needs to miss a sunset when visiting the Grand Canyon!!!! Wow!!!   (Be sure and click on these pictures and make them larger!)

Is this not just totally breath-taking??????

Looking the other way,  here is the actual sunset.

As the sun disappeared,  the sky just got more and more beautiful...

These next four were taken the very next night from 'supposedly' a better vantage point (recommended to us)... BUT--I'm just not as sure that they are as good as the first group.  But---this just proves that sunsets are all different,  from one night to the next... At this location (Hopi Point),  we could see the Colorado River below --but you can't see it in the pictures since the sun wasn't hitting that area. Aren't the clouds pretty?

This picture shows quite a bit of this massive canyon. You cannot believe how large it is until you see it yourself.  What a gorgeous place!

Don't pictures like this just take your breath away?   I can watch a sunset from various locations --but you haven't 'felt' the tingle one gives you until you see it at the Grand Canyon.

And here is one more picture of the sunset on June 16.  I was sitting on a big rock --and loved having that pine tree as my 'border'....  As you can tell,  there were clouds ----so only a bit of the sun jumped out as it was going down.  BUT--I love the color of the sky.

Hope you enjoyed our Grand Canyon Sunset pictures today.  I hope you share this post with your family.   AND---like I've said,  IF you ever get to the Grand Canyon,  be sure and see the sunset...  (I'm sure the sunrise would be great also---but we didn't manage to get up THAT early... By the way,  they are on Mountain Standard time --which meant that it didn't get dark out there until after almost 10 p.m. OUR time--Central).


Hope you have a fabulous weekend.  I will see you on Monday.
Hugs,

July Backyard Birds

I've been home from our trip since June 28 -----and I'm just now doing a "Bird Blog"....  What's up with that??????  ha ha..... WELL, first of all,  I put all of my bird seed and feeders AWAY for the 3 weeks we were gone...(I knew that the raccoons would get them the first day or two anyhow!)  SO---when we got home,  I had a little fear that the birds would forget me and NOT come back.  Many people had assured me that they WOULD return --but I wasn't totally sure.  Guess what though?????  They did return!!!!  Yeah!!!

SO---since I know you are yearning for one of my famous bird blogs (GAG),  I am going to show you some of my sweeties who posed for the camera this week... Above is one of my good buds,  a PILEATED WOODPECKER. We have 3 of them --who flit around the trees in the backyard  --taking turns at the suet feeder... SO CUTE!!!!

Next is another favorite woodpecker of mine,  our  NORTHERN FLICKER.  This one is a female since she doesn't have a mustache.

Here's a regular visitor also, and is our tiniest woodpecker,  the DOWNY.  I think she was the first one back to the feeders when I put them up on June 29.  It's as if she was 'watching'... She does not have a little red spot on the back of her head like the males do.

Another frequent visitor is one of our noisy BLUE JAYS.  They are pretty birds and are with us except during the winter... I don't know where they go ---but they leave my home! Male and female Bluejays are VERY similar in appearance.

Always a favorite,  the AMERICAN CARDINALS frequent our area --and they were happy to see me come home I'm sure.  They have been busy (like most of our birds) having babies. They are the first birds at the feeders early in the morning and the last ones to come at night.
Above is Daddy Cardinal ---and he looks a little bedraggled since I took his picture after a rain storm.  He also is beginning to molt. BUT--he's still a beautiful little bird.  Wonder what that is in his mouth????  Looks like a green leaf....?????

More colorful summer beauties are our GOLDFINCHES.  We have had many Goldfinches around this summer.   This one is a female ---as she is duller than the males and doesn't have black on her head.

This little beauty,  one of our MOURNING DOVES,  loves to 'take over' the big plate feeder ---and protect it from other birds.  They are at the feeders in the late evenings more than any other time of day.  The plate feeder is close to our door--and I was taking the picture JUST  inside the door. He was 'watching' me --but didn't fly away when I got so close. The males have a blue head/nape and the females have a brownish gray head/nape.






Finally,  here is one more CUTIE PIE for you...

WHOOPS----how did this one get in this blog post??????  Goodness Gracious.... Maybe I will name her a "DEER-BIRD"... ha ha ha.....  (Just couldn't resist putting this one in for you...  She was having a staring contest with me when I took this picture recently.... I was telling her to stay away from our Lilies and Roses!!!!  Think she will listen??????)

Hope you enjoyed seeing some of my little Cuties....

Remember NOT to miss my blog post on Friday....  It's one which will probably make you say  "WOW"... At least I hope so!!!!!

Hugs,