tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-51009163709054085382011-09-26T05:15:43.524-07:00Another artisic outlet, the world thru my lens...Toni James ~ Desert Winds Studiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06860867110287653039noreply@blogger.comBlogger391100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5100916370905408538.post-18990681740450969832010-11-09T06:26:00.000-08:002010-11-09T06:26:58.282-08:00

I am not happy with whatever is going on with the Blogger uploader. Used to you could select multiple images to upload, but not anymore. It's one at a time and I'm not diggin it.  Here are a handfull of captures from last week, enjoy!

Toni James ~ Desert Winds Studiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06860867110287653039noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5100916370905408538.post-56488485431294862522010-09-02T21:24:00.000-07:002010-09-02T21:24:32.849-07:00

These monsoon clouds have brought us a lot of rain this summer..  the mountains have turned green !  Tucson on a stormy evening that gave us no rain. The monsoon will be drawing to a close here before to much longer. I'll be off to capture who knows what after that. I'll be heading north to the pine country for a few days.. and lots of pictures to take. See you when I return! Tj

Toni James ~ Desert Winds Studiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06860867110287653039noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5100916370905408538.post-19171198694877704062010-08-12T08:42:00.000-07:002010-08-12T08:57:38.303-07:00

All I can say is... WOW! I can't even begin to do this sunset from last week justice. This band of clouds snuck in behind the mountain, I didn't realize it was coming because I had been zoned out working on "Open Range", my current colored pencil WIP. My hubby came home from work and headed outside, so I followed. Wow.. had to go back in and grab my camera, we weren't sure what was going to

Toni James ~ Desert Winds Studiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06860867110287653039noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5100916370905408538.post-61072706437430455522010-08-07T16:20:00.000-07:002010-08-07T16:20:08.017-07:00

This one.. was magnificent!! God certainly outdid himself this evening.... Ok, so this isn't a pretty cloud.. but he was a little to close for comfort, and no, I wasn't at the zoo. Add caption

Toni James ~ Desert Winds Studiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06860867110287653039noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5100916370905408538.post-44222446381538324092010-08-07T16:12:00.000-07:002010-08-07T16:12:16.836-07:00

Tank is certainly enjoying the giant rain puddle!

Toni James ~ Desert Winds Studiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06860867110287653039noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5100916370905408538.post-12363080726736819132010-08-07T16:03:00.000-07:002010-08-07T16:12:57.576-07:00

Well... I've fallen behind yet again!  You know, after awhile these sunsets all start to look the same?

Toni James ~ Desert Winds Studiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06860867110287653039noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5100916370905408538.post-21166406844842724822010-05-02T13:06:00.000-07:002010-05-02T13:09:09.876-07:00

I'm testing out a new format for my images... thought these spring flowers would be a good place to start.

Toni James ~ Desert Winds Studiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06860867110287653039noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5100916370905408538.post-24164232244955286712010-03-01T17:28:00.000-08:002010-03-01T17:28:53.777-08:00

Last Monday was a typical Monday, a storm blew in, it rained, got cold but no big deal... until about 8pm. Then POOF.. out the lights went! Now, this happens frequently, when the wind blows. Usually a couple hours and the power company has the power back on. ...  But not last Monday. The power was out just about 13 hours. 13 long hours! So out of  boredom someone decided to do homework that

Toni James ~ Desert Winds Studiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06860867110287653039noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5100916370905408538.post-70186787652889999322010-02-18T12:44:00.000-08:002010-03-09T06:26:05.577-08:00

 Who'd of thought these would turn out so kewl??   The kids were out blowing bubbles and when a few of them started to float away, I grabbed my camera. Now, I'm so glad I did!

Toni James ~ Desert Winds Studiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06860867110287653039noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5100916370905408538.post-29064236702200107972010-02-13T11:28:00.000-08:002010-02-13T11:28:09.184-08:00

Most of the time I am alone when I venture out to shoot some photos, so we thought I could use a partner, one that has better ears and eyes than I do! This is Tank, he is a Queensland Heeler. What a goofball he is. He's about 3months old currently. Ha.. I thought that doofy ear would never stand up, but it has since I took this photo. Yay.   Don't be surprised if you see more images of him as we

Toni James ~ Desert Winds Studiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06860867110287653039noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5100916370905408538.post-60191138860775949222010-02-12T13:21:00.000-08:002010-02-12T13:21:11.900-08:00

Arizona rim country. I love it, as does everyone who grew up or lived in the valley for a summer or more.  It's where us "desert rats" escape the searing dry heat of the Valley of the Sun summers.  All one has to do is watch the traffic headed north out of the Phoenix metro area on any Friday when the weather starts to warm  all the way thru the fall. Since we moved to the Tucson area we

Toni James ~ Desert Winds Studiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06860867110287653039noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5100916370905408538.post-64228308284719080242010-01-28T22:34:00.000-08:002010-01-29T07:20:38.818-08:00

Uno... Dos.... Tres! Hehe.. ok, that was bad. lol. I watched these grow all summer, I had to do it! It was either that or the Three Amigos. How are you holding up, tired yet? We've still got a ways to go..... I was thinking of heading to the Mogollon Rim are of Arizona for a weekend of camping... would you care to come along?

Toni James ~ Desert Winds Studiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06860867110287653039noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5100916370905408538.post-36690691940714116252010-01-28T18:27:00.000-08:002010-01-28T18:27:51.528-08:00

I'm still behind on this blog... if I didn't take so many pictures this wouldn't happen? Of course I put a question mark there! Well.. anyway put on something comfey, your walking shoes, pack some lunch, your sunscreen, a hat, and might want to pack a coat too.. we could be gone awhile. Here we are in October... Coronado National Forest, Arizona. now.. off we

Toni James ~ Desert Winds Studiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06860867110287653039noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5100916370905408538.post-90629395222445831802009-12-03T13:02:00.000-08:002009-12-03T13:02:10.673-08:00

Our summer monsoon season has always been a favorite of mine. It not only brings cooling rain, but also the wonderful billowing clouds that break up our monotonous blue skies we have in early summer.

Toni James ~ Desert Winds Studiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06860867110287653039noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5100916370905408538.post-86158511779414709322009-11-09T05:54:00.000-08:002009-11-09T05:54:01.136-08:00

This Diamondback Rattler decided to come see what I was up to one evening as the sun was setting...

Toni James ~ Desert Winds Studiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06860867110287653039noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5100916370905408538.post-18611522129139906392009-11-09T05:44:00.000-08:002009-11-09T05:44:51.262-08:00

This Gila Monster had most likely been washed out of it's burrow in the flash flood from the night before, common in our monsoon season.  I saw him early one morning, just as he had crossed the wash, so I grabbed my camera and followed him thru the bushes... He really just wants me to go away, and as he dove into some denser brush, I had to call it quits. Thanks for the pictures, until next

Toni James ~ Desert Winds Studiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06860867110287653039noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5100916370905408538.post-5146680648012229462009-10-26T07:36:00.000-07:002009-11-09T16:05:18.564-08:00

What a busy summer I've had! I had a new Grandaughter that entered this world a few weeks early, I traveled to Atlanta, Ga. for a week to attend the International CPSA Convention, we also to Lubbock, Texas for a few days, then I moved my studio and after all that and more ......... my computer broke! I did manage to continue taking pictures, although I didn't find the time to update this blog.

Toni James ~ Desert Winds Studiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06860867110287653039noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5100916370905408538.post-61911104744261488742009-07-05T23:03:00.000-07:002009-07-05T23:13:13.082-07:00

This little hummingbird visited my studio one morning... he didn't want to leave either.

Toni James ~ Desert Winds Studiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06860867110287653039noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5100916370905408538.post-87629319778253173702009-07-05T22:51:00.001-07:002009-07-05T23:00:41.746-07:00

I guess I've been busy with my pencil work... Although I've been taking photos, I haven't updated this blog. *sigh*. I've been debating of combining my art blog with my photo blog, at least that way the updates would be consistant. In theory that works because If I'm in studio, I'm not out shooting photos, and vice versa. Not something I've really decided yet, but I am tossing it around. This

Toni James ~ Desert Winds Studiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06860867110287653039noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5100916370905408538.post-10129862516485042492009-04-08T22:57:00.000-07:002009-04-08T22:57:37.699-07:00

Due to some atmospheric dust in the air, from far away Volcanic eruptions and who knows what else, we are expecting some colorful sunsets these days. Last night I had to rush out to my studio, grab my camera in order to get this shot... ( I really should pay closer attention sometimes) Then this evening, my intention was to get some different types of shots, so hubby and I headed out where we

Toni James ~ Desert Winds Studiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06860867110287653039noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5100916370905408538.post-69396736026675659482009-03-25T21:46:00.000-07:002009-03-25T21:46:05.279-07:00

Spring is springing.. the ocotillos are trying to bloom, sparse green leaves are starting to appear. Buds on the prickly pear, and the mesquite trees are turning green. However for me, it's the wild flowers that signal spring. Not the garden flowers.. the wild flowers! My mother was born and raised in Indiana, then moved out here several years before I was born. I remember as a little girl, my

Toni James ~ Desert Winds Studiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06860867110287653039noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5100916370905408538.post-82386857072473707322009-02-16T09:09:00.000-08:002009-04-08T23:21:12.828-07:00

Wow...am I ever behind! We've had a couple snows here in the desert, which lasted just long enough to be fun and different. I know it's just a measly amount for a lot of you, but I enjoy the little bit we do get.

Toni James ~ Desert Winds Studiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06860867110287653039noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5100916370905408538.post-3982781720668863292008-12-04T06:15:00.000-08:002008-12-04T08:07:22.731-08:00

Whoops! I've been a bit behind in posting my pictures, so sorry Norma! lol. Actually I'm in the middle of putting together a book full of my pictures, some I've posted here and some you've never seen. However the book images are a larger format, and don't have that goofy © across the middle of  the images ; ) My husband had a week "vacation" from work, plus the weekend and the holiday, plus he

Toni James ~ Desert Winds Studiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06860867110287653039noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5100916370905408538.post-10292692181268338702008-11-15T11:03:00.000-08:002008-11-15T13:29:57.536-08:00

I had the privilege of getting up just a little bit earlier than usual one day late last week, to this gorgeous full moon.  I do love early mornings!The next morning I decided to try it again.As the sun rose,  the moon was still high in my sky... cool!As I was outside playing with the sunrise, I thought I'd capture some images from my morning wanderings...this is home.ah.. the gambles quail. We

Toni James ~ Desert Winds Studiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06860867110287653039noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5100916370905408538.post-46818488920231673522008-11-11T21:49:00.000-08:002008-11-11T22:00:39.914-08:00

Toni James ~ Desert Winds Studiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06860867110287653039noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5100916370905408538.post-64921916998768720942008-10-27T07:58:00.000-07:002008-10-30T06:21:40.673-07:00

It seems that our cooler fall weather has decided not to join us anytime soon. Yesterday we decided to ride, even though the temps here were forecasted to be 90+. Uhg. We hadn't explored this area, a few miles south of where we live. The southern tip of the Empire Mountains, in thru Davidson Canyon. I'm going to have to go find a topo map to give me the exact names. We loaded up the mules, and

Toni James ~ Desert Winds Studiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06860867110287653039noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5100916370905408538.post-16127072365310854232008-10-21T08:06:00.000-07:002008-10-21T08:35:02.223-07:00

One day last March, my husband says... Hey! let's take a drive, to somewhere we've never been before!Hmmm, OK. Sounds like fun.When all the kids were little, we made it a point to take a "day trip" as a family, once every month or two. We all added a little slip of paper with our day trip "destinations" into a coffee can. Then once a month we'd pull one out, and that's where we'd go. Awww

Toni James ~ Desert Winds Studiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06860867110287653039noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5100916370905408538.post-22820677581590633302008-10-14T21:44:00.001-07:002008-10-14T21:49:15.118-07:00

This evening as I was walking...... I had the strangest feeling I was being watched, because I was!

Toni James ~ Desert Winds Studiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06860867110287653039noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5100916370905408538.post-76103865653210410902008-10-06T22:19:00.000-07:002008-10-06T22:24:52.474-07:00

In case anyone was wondering... these guys DO NOT like it when you use a flash to take their picture! Consider yourself warned lol.

Toni James ~ Desert Winds Studiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06860867110287653039noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5100916370905408538.post-41871988762436919072008-09-26T06:05:00.000-07:002008-09-26T07:04:13.868-07:00

As I'm scrolling thru my image files on my computer, I'm finding images I've taken and never even opened! Is that a sign of someone who takes to many photographs?   Actually I take a lot of them as reference sources for my artwork. Some I'll get around to using but many of them I won't. So.. I decided to share a few more images, even thought they aren't new.My hubby and I, took a little trip out

Toni James ~ Desert Winds Studiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06860867110287653039noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5100916370905408538.post-14189341093616740382008-09-17T11:43:00.000-07:002008-09-17T12:10:29.354-07:00

I noticed the light had changed a couple weeks ago, does anyone else notice too?While alot of you are feeling cooler temps, the high here today will be in the low 90's. Considering thats cooler than our summer temps, the plants have gone into fall mode, such as it is.These have recently started blooming, not sure what they are yet. I'm just enjoying the small burst of color the Lord has blessed

Toni James ~ Desert Winds Studiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06860867110287653039noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5100916370905408538.post-63716772384274599282008-09-16T13:32:00.000-07:002008-09-16T14:03:35.998-07:00

" Now when you pick a pawpaw Or a prickly pear And you prick a raw paw Next time beware! Don't pick the prickly pear by the paw When you pick a pear Try to use the claw But you don't need to use the claw When you pick a pear of the big pawpaw Have I given you a clue? "  ~ excerpt from "The Bear Necessities" lol.. ok so thats what my kids chant everytime the sneak another jar of jelly out of the

Toni James ~ Desert Winds Studiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06860867110287653039noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5100916370905408538.post-21140171899707102282008-09-15T22:34:00.000-07:002008-09-22T13:35:20.357-07:00

Pip is our insane West Highland "White" Terrier (white being a non operative description seeing how playing in the MUD is one of her favorite things!) So besides mud, she love to chase tennis balls. Yes, she does bring them back and if your not paying attention she'll throw it at you too! Doggie slime and all...anyway...We had been in the studio for a few hours, so we both went out to stretch

Toni James ~ Desert Winds Studiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06860867110287653039noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5100916370905408538.post-12894785598760113552008-09-08T21:31:00.000-07:002008-09-15T22:28:15.759-07:00

I hope this week finds you all happy and well! Might I add creative to that list? Weather it's with a camera, a pencil or a brush... enjoy!One early January morning, I was coming home from my daily shuttle to the High School, and as I crossed the wash, these little beauties caught my eye.  Luckily I had grabbed my new camera and my brand new nikkor VR lens I had gotten for Christmas. I started to

Toni James ~ Desert Winds Studiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06860867110287653039noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5100916370905408538.post-15011870486949223332008-08-31T21:59:00.000-07:002008-08-31T22:02:53.979-07:00

and then just a short time later..... WOW.This sunset was amazing...

Toni James ~ Desert Winds Studiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06860867110287653039noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5100916370905408538.post-30113082042474588742008-08-31T21:50:00.000-07:002008-08-31T21:54:19.537-07:00

awwwwwwwwww this one must be for Valentines day, how sweet! The Prickly pear are LOADED with fruit this year, so I'll be making Prickly pear Jelly soon... would you like see how that goes?

Toni James ~ Desert Winds Studiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06860867110287653039noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5100916370905408538.post-50773578612200329392008-08-23T10:10:00.000-07:002008-08-23T10:19:04.665-07:00

I kinda liked this onion, and when I stuck it in the window I liked the lighting on it even more. It was overcast and rainy, the soft light just caught my eye. One day.. it'll become a colored pencil piece.. or maybe some other medium. Haha.. on my list of 25 pieces to do ...

Toni James ~ Desert Winds Studiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06860867110287653039noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5100916370905408538.post-29714363745605403162008-08-23T09:33:00.000-07:002008-08-23T10:09:34.716-07:00

prickly pear blossomsAlso known as... I need a test run. ;)

Toni James ~ Desert Winds Studiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06860867110287653039noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5100916370905408538.post-69953710976875299192008-08-22T02:47:00.000-07:002008-08-22T02:56:44.410-07:00

A new blog just for my photographs.... I love my SLR digital camera! Before that I loved my Minolta SLR, which at close to 26 years old was probably worn out. lol. I've always taken lots of pictures. I think friends and family got tired of seeing that camera.Oh well.Last year for my birthday My dear, sweet, thoughtful husband bought me a Nikon D-80, isn't he wonderful?!The main reason I wanted

Toni James ~ Desert Winds Studiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06860867110287653039noreply@blogger.com2