Happy Father's Day!

Since I finally downloaded photos from my Canon camera to post last night's rodeo photos, I now have some photos taken in May at the General Patton Museum at Chiriaco Summit in California.

The photos include the General Patton and Willie statue and memorial bricks for my father, grandfather and uncle.

By the way, Happy Father's Day!

Father's Day Drive

Yesterday, I took a little Father's Day drive in Six Mile Canyon of the Cibola National Forest near home.

There were a couple of campers in the canyon that I saw, but it was otherwise devoid of anyone. 

The foliage in the canyon was still very green from the snows of winter and spring rains. We should be starting to get more rain as we are heading into monsoon season. 

Of course, I did take a few pictures.

 

Happy Father's Day

Above, my dad and I in 1993.

 Happy Father's Day to all you dads out there!

Rain and Power Outage

Above, during my check of Barking Spider Road. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Since around 11:00 last night until 9:41 this morning, the Jamestown, New Mexico area had been without power.

According to neighbors who contacted the power company, it was due to some problem at one of the substations. It was possibly caused by the rain we received over the past 12 hours, some of which were downpours (we needed those, anyway). We got about a half an inch of rain, according to friend Victor.

Above, we got a good soaking overnight and this morning. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Since it was not a good idea to open the refrigerator and I needed to take my meds with food, I headed down to Denny's at the Flying J for breakfast. They are on a different power grid than we are.

Anyway, the power is back on and we got some much needed rainfall. 

I checked Barking Spider Road to see if any of it was washed out and it made it through in fine shape.  

Happy Father's Day, everyone!

Father's Day Morning Round-up

Above, the escapee in Barking Spider Acre. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

About an hour ago, I participated in a little bit of a horse round-up.

One of my neighbor's horses got out of the pen. There's a gap of about 2 1/2 feet of the barrier to the ground and the horse apparently was lying down next to it and rolled out of the pen. I was out on my deck and spotted her in my neighbor's front yard.

Above and below, the other two horses in the pen. Photos by Armand Vaquer.

I went over to see if I could get a hold of the rope on her harness but she ran from me into Barking Spider Acre. I sent my neighbor a message about the horse, but luckily his wife and daughter were out in the yard (unaware of the escaped horse) and I told them. He was indoors sleeping. 

After a bit, my neighbor came out of the house and we all swarmed strategically to get her back into the pen. After a little while, she trotted in herself.  

Above, another shot of the escapee in Barking Spider Acre. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Afterwards, we were chatting and was told that his gelding, Buddy, was traded for some calves. I'm going to miss that guy.

Nothing like a Father's Day round-up.

Happy Father's Day!

Above, family and friends at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles for the "Happy Birthday,
 Ronald Reagan" campaign event in February 1980. My dad is wearing his leather jacket.

 

Happy Father's Day!

1993:

1963:

Happy Father's Day!

Above, my dad and I in Morro Bay in 1963.

Happy Father's Day!

Happy Father's Day to all you dads out there!

Here's a photo of my dad and me in Morro Bay, California in 1963:

And, on the same trip, my grandfather in his boat:

Both pictures were taken with my first camera, an Imperial Lark. My mom took the top photo and I took the bottom one.

Incidentally, I was going through one of my packing boxes from my move to New Mexico the other day and I found my Imperial Lark camera. My parents got it for me in Spring, 1963.

Here it is:

The Imperial Lark took 127 size Kodak film. I used it for years until I got a Kodak Instamatic. Even if it still worked (it might, I don't know), I doubt one can find that sized film roll today.

That camera got me started as a chronic shutter-bug!

On the Imperial Lark (from Camera Wiki):

The Lark is a 1960s plastic camera from Imperial (formerly Herbert George) of Chicago, Illinois. It appears to be a revision of the Imperial Mark 27 but with a restyled top housing which includes a "bug eye" flash reflector for flashbulbs. It exposes images 4×4 cm square onto 127 film, advanced with a knob on the camera bottom.

At Historic Camera:

The Imperial Lark camera was originally manufactured by the Herbert George Company of Chicago Illinois in the 1950s and later by the Imperial Camera Corporation. It was a simple and inexpensive snap shot camera made of plastic that incorporated the view finder and flash unit as part of the camera. It featured a simple fixed focus meniscus lens, and a switch to adjust the aperture for color or black and white film. It was capable of capturing 2 X 2 inch color slides, kodacolor or B&W pictures on number 127 roll film. It used the small No. AG-1 flash bulbs sometimes called "jelly beans" bulbs. It was priced at approximately $4.79. 

It's amazing that it retailed for under $5.00!

Father's Day At The Reagan Library, Part Two

Above, Amber and I waiting for the library to open.

When Amber and I visited the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Air Force One in Simi Valley during Father's Day yesterday, I must have taken over 40 photographs.

I posted 13 of them yesterday, but here are some more:

Above, a GOP elephant. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, the main entrance. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, the Ronald Reagan statue at the main entrance. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, the library pay station. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, Air Force One. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, Air Force One with the Father's Day banquet set up below. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, the tail. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, a nice setting for a luncheon banquet. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, visitors boarding Air Force One. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, a view from the Air Force One Pavilion. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, looking towards the Reagan tomb. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, the book section of the gift shop. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Going Through Old Family Albums

Above, my dad and I at Morro Bay in June 1963.

Following our visit to the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Air Force One, Amber and I migrated to her apartment to go through family photo albums in my mom's cedar chest.

I haven't seen these photos since before my mom passed away over six years ago.

While looking through them was bittersweet, it was a good bonding activity for the both of us. Where I could remember who they were, I identified many relatives and friends to Amber.

Since today is Father's Day, the above photo of my dad and I would be appropriate to post here. I was looking for a photo of us that I hadn't posted before. I found it in one of the albums today.

It was a good, fun day today.

Father's Day At The Reagan Library

Above, the statue of Ronald Reagan at the main entrance. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

For Father's day, Amber too me to the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Air Force One in Simi Valley, California.

We wanted to the the special exhibit of artifacts from the Vatican.

We got to see all that and the rest of the library and toured the inside of Air Force One (SAM 27000).

This was the busiest we've seen the library. A special Father's Day luncheon is to take place below Air Force One. We decided to skip that.

Here's some more photos of our time:

Above, the main entrance. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, the replica Oval Office. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, the forward section of Air Force One. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, the aft section of Air Force One. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, the luncheon set-up below Air Force One. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, Amber enjoying the view outside of the Air Force One Pavilion. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, a chunk of the Berlin Wall. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, a visit to the tomb of Ronald and Nancy Reagan. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, the headstone. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, our souvenir photo. Photo by the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library.

Above, while waiting for the library to open.

Above, at the Air Force One Pavilion.