Tomato harvest

“It’s difficult to think anything but pleasant thoughts while eating a homegrown tomato.” ~ Lewis Grizzard Tomato harvest is underway – in my area, lots of Italian tomatoes, here loaded into the trucks for transport from the field.

Tomato irrigation

“Water is life’s mater and matrix, mother and medium. There is no life without water.”  ~ Albert Szent-Gyorgyi Here’s what irrigation looks like here in the central valley.

Finally, a crop in the empty field

“Start where you are. Distant fields always look greener, but opportunity lies right where you are. Take advantage of every opportunity of service.” ~ Robert Collier quotes You may remember the empty field I took a pic of previously during the winter. Well, now it seems it's got beans planted in it.

Tired black hole

Took this at the almond orchard, just an old flat on the back of a flatbed.

Almond harvest is coming

“Training is everything. The peach was once a bitter almond; cauliflower is nothing but cabbage with a college education.” Mark Twain The almonds are shedding their casing, revealing the shell and nut inside.  Two more weeks and harvest begins here in the valley.

Fields of dandelions and purple flowers

“The miracles of nature do not seem miracles because they are so common. If no one had ever seen a flower, even a dandelion would be the most startling event in the world.” ~ Unknown I wish I could bring up the purple flowers in this – in person, it looked real nice.  Check out…

Pepper seedlings in the field

“We were born to die and we die to live. As seedlings of God, we barely blossom on earth; we fully flower in heaven.” ~  Russell M. Nelson I have no idea if these are peppers, or if they are, what kind they are.  We'll find out!  Just another day on my way to work.

Apricot season

Most towns in the Central Valley of California have an annual harvest festival celebrating a main crop in the area.  Gilroy has it’s famous Garlic Festival, nearby Watsonsville has its huge Strawberry Festival in nearby Monterey, and my little hamlet has its Apricot Fiesta (yeah, definitely small town web site that needs help).  This picture,…

Field under a hot afternoon sun

“You have to walk carefully in the beginning of love; the running across fields into your lover’s arms can only come later when you’re sure they won’t laugh if you trip.” ~ Jonathan Carroll Panoramas are fun.  This field is along Hwy 5 just south of Tracy, CA.  I just like the feel of the open…

Stacks of hay

I’m a farm boy. If we need five people to haul in hay, we don’t take one and just work them to death. ~ Lincoln Davis, US Congressman (D) Remember those pictures of hay bales in the field? Well, as quickly as the hay was baled, it was gathered and stacked.  Here’s some variations.    

Open sky

By reading the scriptures I am so renewed that all nature seems renewed around me and with me. The sky seems to be a pure, a cooler blue, the trees a deeper green. The whole world is charged with the glory of God and I feel fire and music under my feet. ~ Thomas Merton  Just…

Another panorama of hay

Consider the lilies o’ the goddamn field or… hell! Take Delmar here as your paradigm of hope. ~ Ulysses from O Brother Where Art Thou I know, big deal, another pano of a field of hay. But look at that the cute poofy clouds on the horizon! Come on, you know you wanted to say “awwww.”  …

Hay, what’s up

Make hay while the sun shines. ~Proverb Yep, it’s sill hay season.  Lots of those giant bales waiting for pickup.

It’s not rust, it’s primer

“You may be a redneck if . . . you have spent more on your pickup truck than on your education.” ~ Jeff Foxworthy (American comedian, b.1958) Here’s an old flatbed near my home, waiting for the sander, or a coat of paint, or something.  Here’s some other versions, including the original photo.  

Bringing in the hay

“There is no reason to fear the wind if your stack of hay is well tied” ~ Irish Saying These are actually huge bails of hay.  Just part of my daily commute. 

Empty corral

"We herd sheep, we drive cattle, we lead people. Lead me, follow me, or get out of my way." ~ George S. Patton  I tried to capture the closed in feeling of this corral, which has the cattle gate to the right.   

Eating off the tree

You can't pick cherries with your back to the tree. ~ John N. Mitchell, United States Attorney General under President Richard M. Nixon. I stopped at the cherry orchard on my way in today (just pulled off to the side of the road) and tried a few of these babies. I don't like most cherry…

Cherries are near!

“Don't give cherries to pigs or advice to fools” ~ Irish Saying Saw this on my way in, and had to take a pic.  Looks like fresh cherries are right around the corner.  Smaller pic is the original 'unenhanced' version.