A Christmas present from musician Craig Padilla

Here’s my pal Craig Padilla offering the gift of music for everyone. Recorded for Christmas in a living room in Cottonwood CA (near Redding CA) in 2022. 

Craig Padilla is an American electronic musician and composer known for his ambient and experimental electronic music. He has released numerous solo albums and has collaborated with other artists in the electronic and ambient music genres. Padilla’s music often incorporates elements of space and cosmic themes, and he is known for his use of synthesizers and other electronic instruments to create expansive, immersive soundscapes.

Padilla began his career in the 1980s, releasing his first album, “Beyond the Horizon,” in 1986. Since then, he has released a number of albums and collaborative projects, including “From Within” (1991), “Paradise Found” (2003), and “The Great Shift” (2017). In addition to his solo work, Padilla has collaborated with other artists such as Steve Roach and Michael Stearns, along with local northern California artists Marvin Allen and Skip Murphy (me). He has also and has composed music for film and television.

Padilla’s music has been described as “ethereal” and “otherworldly,” and he is known for his ability to create immersive, atmospheric soundscapes that transport the listener to far-off places and realms of the imagination. His work has been praised by critics and fans alike, and he has developed a devoted following among fans of ambient and experimental electronic music. More about Craig at https://craigpadilla.bandcamp.com/

Walk through the Garden of Lights 2022

Only a few more days left to enjoy an evening stroll through the McConnell Arboretum festooned with zillions of dancing lights. Seen here from above via my drone video:

 

I’ve written about this unique attraction before, and it just gets better every year. Great fun to invite some friends to dinner, and then walk the show grounds.
Holiday lights with friends in Redding' Garden of Lights in 2022
The Garden of Lights is an annual holiday light display event held at the Turtle Bay Exploration Park in Redding, California. The event typically takes place from late November to early January, and features a variety of holiday-themed light displays throughout the park’s gardens and trails.

Visitors to the Garden of Lights can enjoy a leisurely walk through the park’s gardens and trails while marveling at the colorful and festive light displays. The event also features live music, hot cocoa, and other festive activities.

One of the highlights of the Garden of Lights is the Park’s Christmas Tree, which is adorned with thousands of twinkling lights. Other popular displays include the “Tunnel of Lights,” which features a long tunnel adorned with colorful lights and holiday-themed decorations, and the “Festival of Trees,” which features a collection of beautifully decorated Christmas trees. Really well done synchronized music and lights to popular Christmas songs.

Overall, the Garden of Lights is a must-see holiday event for those visiting or living in Redding, California. It’s a fun and festive way to get into the holiday spirit and enjoy the beauty of the holiday season with friends and family. Now through January 8 2023. Tickets at the link:
https://www.reddinggardenoflights.org/

Wide view of Mt Shasta Ski Park on an epic Saturday!

A gorgeous 60 minute drive north from Redding will deliver you to the Mt Shasta Ski Park. It has always had a great family atmosphere, with parents dropping kids off for the day, and where you often met your neighbors and acquaintances.

 

This year, they added a new quad chair lift to the 8,000 ft Gray Butte, opening miles of new terrain. And in the process, this will make it much more of a destination ski resort. The ski park has had some rough years recently, fraught with drought and pandemic woes. So delicious to see it on an epic Saturday, with hundreds of people reveling under blue skies with perfect snow conditions! Let’s hope this terrific weather continues.

 

Flying over the river after a Winter storm

Drone practice flight over the Sacramento River from the Bluffs to the Sundial Bridge with fresh snow on the mountains in the background. Click on the image below to enlarge, hit play on the video to watch the flight.Sundial Bridge with snowy mountains in the background

I’m still learning about shooting video with this new drone. For years, I have mostly only shot still images. Mostly for my real estate marketing. I’ve been working on video technique recently, but this still looks a bit jerky in terms of camera moves. Anyway, it was beautiful clear and cold morning in lovely Redding CA. Hope you like it.

3D printed homes come to Redding

So, evidently I live in a science fiction novel. They print houses in my town. And I took a photo of the work getting underway using a supercomputer/digital camera I carry around in my pocket. It’s easy to get bogged down with all that seems to be going wrong in this world. But given my perspective from across nearly seven decades of progress on this planet, so many things have improved greatly. Astonishing, really. #thisisredding

Printing homes in Redding