Garden of the Gods

Posted on April 4, 2014 by azgilstrap

During a January trip to Colorado, I was able to travel to Garden of the Gods near Colorado Springs and Pike’s Peak.

As best I can recall, we took a family vacation here when I was quite young, although I didn’t have any specific memory of the red rock wonderland. Thanks to a few hours of photoremedy, however, I’m quite certain I won’t soon forget this impressive destination; it is an awesome setting for both traditional and fine art landscape photography.

Garden of the Gods – Fine Art Photography

Pike’s Peak – Fine Art Photography

Note: The photoremedy mission is to encourage those fighting chronic pain and other afflictions to consider using photography as a powerful tool to move their focus away from the pain. In the process, we strive to enhance readers’ ability to see beauty and experience elevated joy in their lives. There are many gifts that can accompany health challenges; one of the greatest offerings is it frequently forces sufferers to set better priorities for their lives and assists them in seeing the world in new and more meaningful ways.

Heavenly Focus

Posted on February 24, 2014 by azgilstrap

Additional back issues and managing a small home improvement project at our house has kept me off of the PC for perhaps my longest stretch since the early 1990s, but I’m happy to report that I have been able to partake in a bit of photoremedy this year.

Granddaughter Isabella just before she turned one

Deacon Paul Louderman

I’m hopeful that I’ll be back to sharing the fruits of my photoremedy efforts regularly this month. And, stay tuned for new grandson photos on, or around, St. Patrick’s Day! One of the highlights for me this year was to be able to travel to Denver’s Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception to see our longtime friend Paul Louderman ordained as a Catholic Christian Deacon. It was a beautiful experience; we are so proud of Paul and his family.

The trip then allowed me to partake in some much needed Christ-centered photography.

Denver’s Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception

Mother Cabrini Shrine

For me, photoremedy at religious places that speak to (and calm) my soul is the perfect combination. As a result, I recommend that others who have a similar orientation give it a try the next time you are focused on pain or feeling blue. Why not give it a shot? You too may find that a greater focus on heavenly matters–with your mind and, occasionally, your camera–is a great step towards bringing a little more heaven to earth.

When Words Are Not Necessary

Posted on November 17, 2013 by azgilstrap

Stephanie Inn – Cannon Beach, OR

Click on any image below to see our Oregon Gallery in slide show mode.

Astoria, OR

Bumble Bee Cannery Museum – Astoria, OR

Astoria, OR

Pier 39 Coffee Girl – Astoria, OR

Astoria, OR

Pier 39 – Astoria, OR

Astoria, OR

Pier 39 – Astoria, OR

Astoria, OR

Bandon, OR

Coquille River (Bandon) Lighthouse

Near Coquille River (Bandon) Lighthouse

Brookings, OR

Near Brookings, OR

From Stephanie Inn – Cannon Beach

Haystack Rock – Cannon Beach, OR

Cannon Beach

Haystack Rock – Cannon Beach, OR

Chowder – Seaside, OR

Oregon Coast Railroad Crossing

Oregon Coast Wildflowers

Ecola State Park, OR

Road to Ecola State Park, OR

Heceta Head Lighthouse State Park – OR

Oregon Coffee

Oregon Coast Scenic Overlook

Surrey Rentals – Seaside, OR

Seaside, OR

Southern Oregon Coast

Yachats, OR

Yaquina Bay State Park, OR

Astoria, OR

In the event you need words, ample information is available at: http://traveloregon.com/ and http://visittheoregoncoast.com/.

Where We Never Forget

Posted on November 6, 2013 by azgilstrap

USA Weekend recently featured an entertaining look at multigenerational vacations – where retirees and Baby Boomers travel with their adult children and grand children. The article asserted that such adventures, “Create bonds that money can’t buy.”

The well-written piece primarily focused on picking up the whole gang and traveling on a cruise ship, experiencing a theme park, or going wild on a city safari. While those are all awesome recommendations, don’t forget that traveling close to home can produce similar bonds for a fraction of the time and price. Getting us away from our mobile phones, text messages, and computers often produces the kind of lift that children of all ages crave these days.

Mary, Katie and I discovered that conclusion this weekend when we journeyed about four blocks away to take Katie and Andrew’s Emmett and Amanda and Stephen’s Isabella–our grandchildren–for a picnic lunch and train ride at our community park.

It was a great experience that left me with three major takeaways. 1) You can pack chicken nuggets, but sometimes a good thumb is all that’s needed.

2) Standing in line isn’t fun for long.

3) Human touch with those we love is always a great source of photoremedy – whether we actually snap a photograph or commit it to the part of our brains where we never forget.

Greasy Spoon Redefined

Posted on October 11, 2013 by azgilstrap

You just can’t believe everything you read online.

I know that may be a shocker to those who have found themselves occasionally saying, “It has to be true. I read it on the Internet!”

The various “greasy spoon” designations offered by the many online dictionaries are great examples of where the Internet can fail us. Almost all of them have “greasy spoon” definitions that basically say, “A cheap and rather unsanitary restaurant.”

Who writes these definitions? People who have never left major metropolitan areas? Drink wine with their pinky fingers fully extended? Frequently find themselves craving “food” from brightly colored chain restaurants?

I was born and raised in Kansas, educated in Texas, and have spent the last 20 years loving Arizona. All of these states offer a variety of what are lovingly known as greasy spoons. To me, a great “greasy spoon” is like the one Mary and I frequented for breakfast on our recent Oregon coast exploration. The restaurant is located south of Bandon in Langlois and it is, appropriately, named the Greasy Spoon Cafe. All of the photos on this individual post are from this charming restaurant.

I was going to try and write my own definition of “greasy spoon.” I found, however, that it wasn’t necessary. Online reviews of the Langlois Greasy Spoon best tell the story of why this cafe, and similar restaurants, are ineradicably etched on the hearts (and stomachs!) of so many. A few Yelp reviews are offered below.

My husband and I ate at The Greasy Spoon after reading about it in a USA Two-lane Highway Tour Book. The sausage gravy and biscuits was homemade fresh to order and it was amazing. As well, the pancakes melt in your mouth and our over medium eggs were cooked to perfection; thick tasty bacon was to die for. We totally enjoyed our server and we even got a chance to chat with the owner/cook. Truly good folks and great home cooking! – Jesse W. from Chino Hills, CA

I was passing by at lunch time on a summer road trip. The Greasy Spoon was perfect road trip fair. I had the ham melt with fries. Thick slab of ham with gooey American cheese on perfectly grilled sourdough bread and the fries were good. My traveling companion had the tuna melt and these tater tot jalapeño poppers that I kept stealing off the plate. She is a self proclaimed tuna melt fanatic and she proclaimed it a great example of the golden sandwich. – Susan M from San Fernando, CA

From Greasy Spoon Cafe’s Gardens

I’ve driven by the Greasy Spoon Cafe for years, but never when it was open. Today I got lucky; the open sign was hanging in the window…I ordered a cheeseburger and fries, and it was better than I expected. (Hmm, I’m not even sure what I was expecting.) A warm, soft bun with a thin but large enough patty topped with two slices of cheese, fresh onion, tomato, and crispy lettuce. After the couple at the next table raved about their milkshake I wished I would have ordered one, but I’ll be driving past here soon enough to try one, and maybe some pie too…I give it 5 stars, but don’t confuse the rating with some yuppie San Francisco burger bistro. The name of the place says it all. And for $6.50 including a soft drink what do you want? The best part is the sign on the menu board that reads, “This isn’t Burger King. You don’t get it your way. You take it my way or you don’t get the son of a bitch.” Ha! Inexpensive food and a priceless sign. A winning combo for this Greasy spoon. – R.W. from Humboldt, CA

I’m thankful so many personable online reviews are offered. I feel like such descriptive stories help better define what constitutes a “Greasy Spoon.” The reviews for the Oregon Greasy Spoon Cafe also help prove that much of what we read online can–in fact–be extremely reliable. This was a great stop!

Beating the Heat

Posted on August 29, 2013 by azgilstrap

Arizona’s incredibly diverse climate and topography never cease to amaze. On any given day, it can be scorching in one part of the state while it is glacial in another. This is what happens when desert rather abruptly collides with mountains. According to USA Today, Arizona’s high and low temperatures since 1970 have ranged from a low of -40°F to +128°F. Wow!

Before doctors discovered that a lumbar fracture was causing my vertebrae column to dangerously tumble over my tailbone in 2008, I used to enjoy beating the heat by working up a sweat in the cool country. It’s just a couple of hour drive from Anthem to the base of the Arizona Snowbowl Ski Resort in Flagtaff, where you can climb more than 1,800 feet in elevation on a six mile road. It’s a lot of work, but it is an awesome experience for bike riders. Plus the adult beverages rarely taste better than at the base of the ski lift.

In late June, on a day that featured rapidly changing weather conditions, I traveled up to Snowbowl with my buddy Pete. It was the first time I made this trip since my three back surgeries.

While it is becoming increasing obvious there is little chance I’ll be riding a bike again in this lifetime, I didn’t have time to do anything other than enjoy the experience. While Pete was hustling up (and down, as shown above) the mountain on his bike, I was elevated in spirit with incredibly diverse mountain top photoremedy. And, at the end of the trail, Pete got his beer and I got my Bloody Mary. It was a remarkable day, and an extraordinary way to beat the desert heat.

All of the photos below, and the images that support the photo art, were taken during our June Snowbowl trip. Just click on one of the smaller individual photos below to view in slide show mode.