Things are about to get very busy, so I'll put out my Chrisrmas wishes now.

Anita, Christine and I will be doing Christmas Eve here at the old homestead. A traditional Norwegian fish feast (perhaps with some local Dungeness crab?), opening gifts and then off to the Lutheran Church for midnight services. All very nice stuff.

Then we will be off Christmas Day to San Jose and Will's family for more gift giving and feasting... especially with granddaughter Ava. This will be the first Christmas that really means anything to her, so it should be fun for all, especially her.

So, here is hoping all have a joyous Christmas, and remember, be grateful for what you have!

This picture is of a lodge near the Sierra summit at Donner Pass. A beautiful spot, especially on a sunny day after a snowfall.

Move Over Ansel Adams :)

Just kidding!

It is quite an experience to follow in the footprints of The Master.

These are film images from the archives that I shot a couple years ago. (I've been pretty sick, so nothing new has come down the pipe in a while.) My brother and I ventured up to Yosemite dressed for February weather. When we got there is was bright, sunny and 60 degrees on the valley floor. Not exactly what we had expected. But it was a beautiful day to take in this the most majestic of our National Parks.

I did not want to mess these pictures up with copyright bug, so...these images are the property of John A.Wilson and all rights are reserved.

Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow!

Truth be known, I HATE being cold, but I love the snow. What's the solution? Live in California. I can go "visit" the snow when the mood moves me. Three hours or so in the car and I can see snow like flatlanders never dreamed of. Then three hours back and it's warm again. Now that is having your cake and eating it too.

I liked the way the wind sculpted this drift in The Sierra. I had to wade through snow up to my hips to get at it. The light was kind of interesting too.

Sierra Cascade

I am just getting over an Olympic class cold. I cannot remember the last time I was this sick. Yuck.

Anyway, that makes me yearn for something clear and clean. There is little that is clearer or cleaner than a Sierra stream cascading down a mountainside. Sigh, get me up there.

This is a film image I took a couple years ago. I slowed the shutter speed just a bit. The effect is not too bad.

(I just checked the Yosemite portfolio and see this is a duplicate... oh well, what's worth doing is worth doing twice.)

Donner Pass in The High Sierra - Let's Go for a Ride

Last year at Christmas time son Will and I went up into The High Sierra near Donner Pass. It was one of those "memory making" days that you carry with you the rest of your life, nothing big, just a very good time. It was a combination of great company and a great place. We need to do that again.

It's That Time of Year

Reaching into the archives for an older film image that I happen to like. I'm finally surrendering to the notion that it is winter, though here in the Central Coast our idea of winter is an occasional frost. But, head a few miles east to the Sierra and... voila!

In the High Sierra

An older film image, but it captures the season.

This past year was one that pushed me around.  I am going to take a firmer hand this year.  That is my resolution.  Carpe diem!

For larger image click on picture.

Lunch at a Mountain Lodge

A New and Glorious Morning - Merry Christmas from the High Sierra

For larger image click on picture.

In the High Sierra

For larger images click on pictures.

For the history buffs out there, this is a pretty famous place. It is hard to imagine what happened up here all those years ago. Today it is a beautiful and serene setting.