India and The Taj Mahal

India is without a doubt one of the most interesting places I have been.  While my daughter was living there I was able to go visit several times and being a photographer I was in paradise.  Amazing architecture that was over 2000 years old.  Modern cars, auto rickshaws, carts pulled by camels or elephants all together on the roadways.  What an experience riding in an auto rickshaw in a motorized chaos along the Delhi streets with the drivers yelling back and fourth at each other with the wind blowing your hair into a gnarly mess.  An experience not to forget and would love to do again.

 The Taj Mahal in Agra should be #1 on anyone's list for a visit to India.  Great care is still taken of the beautiful mausoleum that is made completely of white marble and has 28 different varieties of semi precious stones embedded into it.  It was commissioned to be built in 1632 by the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan to house the tomb of one of his three wives that had died giving birth to her 14th child.  The Taj Mahal took 22 years to build and used over 22,000 workers. 

Street vendor selling bananas in New Delhi

This alleyway shows the night time street life in New Delhi takes us to one of our favorite restaurants.  "The Big Chill".

 Fresh fish for sale at one of Delhi's many markets.

The markets were filled with stacks of rugs, scarves, carvings, materials, spices, live chickens and just about anything imaginable.  It is a shoppers dream.  In the city there are wonderful Spas where you can get massages, full facials and manicures fit for a queen.  Diversity is everywhere.

 Outside New Delhi were beautiful bright green fields of grass and small villages with amazing houses made of mud with cow dung patties in huge stacks drying in the sun.    

In small village near Bharatpur enjoying the
warmth from the morning sun.

©2015  Elaine Taddei.  This story and images are copyright and all rights are reserved

Happy Thanksgiving!

We have Thanksgiving Day to remind us each year to be thankful for what we have. Life is busy for most people these days and having this reminder is necessary.  The Pilgrims first Thanksgiving was in 1621 and was attended by 90 Native Americans and 53 Pilgrims after their first harvest in the New World.  Then in 1863 Abraham Lincoln declared it a Federal holiday for the US and called it a national day of "Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficicent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens".

 All this aside while talking with a friend the other day about Christmas and the enjoyment of gift giving they told me there were some people that never thanked her.  It was not that she required it but she was worried that the recipient did not like the gift or appreciate it.   It is so easy to get caught up in the whole holiday buying, wrapping, cooking and cleaning to forget those that cared enough to give.
Thanksgiving Day is one day a year but should serve as only a day to remind us all to be kind, be thoughtful and be thankful.  That said have a wonderful Thanksgiving Day and a wonderful holiday season!

I wish to thank all my readers of this blog and my Facebook friends that support My Facebook "ETaddeiPhotography" page throughout the year.   Thank you so much!!

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving Day!

  ©2013  Elaine Taddei.  This story and images are copyright and all rights are reserved

Antique Shops in Greenville, California

Greenville is located at the west end of Indian Valley in Plumas County, California
 Highway 89 takes you directly through the middle of town where you can find
several unique and interesting antique shops.

"INTO THE WOODS"

Looking for more antiques?   Jayne and Paul have got you covered.

"Into The Woods" has two houses filled to the brim located at 116 Hwy 89.

 

 Paul, a retired school teacher, works as an assistant coach for Greenville High School and
Jayne is a 4th grade teacher in Portola but still finds the time to use her amazing decorating skills in their shop.

 

 Jayne and Paul have made this quaint shop look comfortable enough to move in.

Not just antiques! You can find beautifully handcrafted hickory furniture.

Check out their website:  "Into The Woods"

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These are but a few antique shops that Greenville has to offer.  Across the street from "Into The Woods" is Greenville Cottage Antiques located at 147 Hwy 89 and just down the street a 5 minute walk is Sterling Sage located at 213 Main Street.

Greenville is worth the drive to check out all these shops have to offer.

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When you are all done and worked up an appetite check out "Elaine's Food Wagon".
Located on Hwy 89 right next to the Mohawk Gas Station.  The selection goes from healthy
Wraps to Burgers and Milkshakes made from real ice cream in flavors you can not get any where else.

 Elaine's Caesar Wrap

There is more than food at "Elaine's". While there check out the selection of
local photography "Prints and Notecards"  or why wait, check out E Taddei Photography Facebook for
 images of Plumas County, Wildlife and Nature Photography from California to Alaska to the East Coast and farther.

Thanks for looking!

©2013  Elaine Taddei.  This story and images are copyright and all rights are reserved

Keddie Ridge in Plumas County California

When I was young my dad used to load us up in the jeep and drive us all over Plumas County showing us the places he had logged and helped to build logging roads.  Now most of the mountains nearby have old logging roads that make it possible to get out and into nature.

Yesterday I took a drive up to Keddie Ridge on one of the old dirt roads that we used to frequent.  What a beautiful place and very few see it from this vantage point.

 Looking across Keddie Ridge down to Indian Valley where smoke still lingers 

from last weeks lightning fires on Mount Huff. 

 Near the top at "the saddle" on Keddie. 

 The sound of the wind in the trees at the top of a mountain is . 

 Berries are out and  manzanita bushes are everywhere.

©2013  Elaine Taddei.  This story and images are copyright and all rights are reserved