Winter color, Friday, 12/27/19

With the winter solstice behind us, we can look forward to longer daylight hours, but those come slowly at first.  The best we can hope for in NorCal now are clear, fine days, the kind where we can get Out and About, take in a few rays, absorb some needed Vitamin D ... and maybe work off the load of calories and cholesterol and fats we've consumed this past week!  I think Santa comes down the chimney bringing not only good cheer, but slabs of fat for hips and tummies!

You know we have options, trail-wise, and I suggested the Newtown Canal trail which I thought might be sunnier than our local Cascade Canal path.  The temps have been quite chilly; today the high temp was forecast at 52°, jacket weather for sure!  El Sol's rays would feel mighty good to both of us.  Besides, we'd be fools not to take advantage of a fair day like this, 'cause rain will fall again soon (this wkend).

Winter's season isn't known for high color ... flowers are few and far between.  It's all about contrast, the lights and darks, with berries thrown in for good measure, as above.  Perennial Toyon produces bright red berries, and Manzanita's pale green leaves look fetching against its dark-purplish bark.

Stretching the legs felt good.  We were caught off guard by the mucky, wet trail, thinking enough time had passed since the last soaking rain, but apparently not.  We were able to dodge the worst of it.

The fast-moving water in this particular canal, though shallow, is perfectly clear (top).  We didn't see any fish on this hike, but we spied a flock of Dark-eyed (Oregon) Juncos trailside (bottom left).  Many conifers wore a thick Christmas-green blanket of moss (bottom right). 

More Toyon, native to the Sierra foothills, amid the Oaks.

Yellow caution tape had been trampled to the earth, by others (Don't Fence Me In!), but the sign remained.  When we looked at the sign's date, we shrugged and said, "We're good to go."  Further on we encountered the work (above), and here the muddy trail had been really chewed up by a large yellow earth mover tractor.

Where the path splits -- go straight 2 miles to Nevada City, or .4 mile down to Deer Creek -- we chose the latter, following the switchbacks down to the creek.  Much of this section was shaded, cooler, with little luminous color.

At the creek, we were very surprised to see ice on the rocks, the bridge, and the plants!  Perhaps you've seen road signs that read "Bridge freezes before road?"  We've had freezing temperatures at night and apparently the cold creek water keeps everything moist ... hence, icy or hoar frost.  The white on the pic above is ice.

The bridge was slick, and we were careful.

The grays and greens of Deer Creek.

Wondrous ice flowers!

We've been at this place in summer when the temp kept us overheated.

Now look:  The grasses are ice-covered.

Turning around and away from the creek, I noticed the colorful symmetry of this scene:  Deep mossy green combined with sage green lichen is a winner!

Four miles later, overlooking this gentle valley, we retraced our steps to the car.  Afternoon long shadows were crossing the path and we could feel the air cooling.  A slight breeze ruffled the leaves.  Jimmy put on his gloves.  I pulled up the zipper on my jacket.  We were ready to be back in the car.  

We weren't alone as we walked ... plenty of others were Out and About on this winter's day.  Bikers and hikers, dogs on leashes and off, trotting in front of their owners, runners in Lycra, and the occasional solitary walker, all smiling, enjoying a break in wintry weather.  Enjoy it while you can ... and burn a few calories in the process!

Christmas magic! Dec 25, 2019

If there's ever a time to be aware of magical goings-on, it's Christmas with a young'un.  The pretty young miss below is two-and-three-quarters-years-old, but if you ask her, she'll tell you she's two-and-a-half.  She knows about Santa, and she'll also tell you that "Santa comes down the chimney."  When pressed, she'll say that he brings toys, but I guess she hasn't heard about being a good little boy or girl yet!  That'll probably come next year.

Each December, Jimmy and I pull our Christmas tree from a box in the garage and after setup, we decorate it with souvenirs and memories from our lives and travels -- happy things.  We hoped Everly Rose would be excited to see the tree this year, and we weren't disappointed.  It sits in front of a wide sliding glass door, but is placed far enough away from the glass that you can walk all the way around it ... and Everly Rose took advantage of that.  Look at the adorable picture below.

She touched as she strolled around the tree, noting the bigger bulbs are "hot," and the little ones are not, each tiny bell rings, some ornaments are "shiny," and pointing out boats and Mickey Mouses, a teddy bear and birds and ice skates and-and-and ....  She was intrigued by the very old "go-'round" you see above in center foreground.  She asked first if she could "hold it" (any ornament) and some she could, breakables no, but she was completely enchanted by the bright, vibrant colors and every lovable ornament.

This post is a combination of days and photos.  Matt, Jenny and Everly Rose came up to our Nevada City home, as did Jen's parents, Alice and Tom, for Christmas eve.  We exchanged gifts (Santa came down the chimney here!) and I served a yummy ham dinner.  As to presents, Everly Rose knew what to do with the wrapping paper -- Gramma said, "just tear it off!"  She seemed delighted with what Santa brought!

She was still a bit unsure about the bike that Daddy was holding, because it slid on our wood floor and it didn't feel "sure-footed."  Riding a bike in the living room isn't a good idea, anyway.  We'll have plenty of time to practice biking outside after the holiday is over. 

Dinner was served and almost finished!  (Sorry the photo is less than stellar.)  We had a grand time with everyone on Christmas eve, though the little one grew tired and got cranky.  It happens. 

The next morning Jimmy and I ate brunch at our friend, Mary's home, and then made haste to Sacramento where we'd spend the day.  Today we'd get to watch our sweet granddaughter play with the toys Santa brought to her house!  So much durned fun, it should be outlawed!

December 25th is also Jen's birthday -- 38 years young and looking as beautiful as ever.  She assembled a delicious charcuterie for our enjoyment prior to a later dinner of Dungeness crab and aged steak.  Ohmygoodness, we had such a fine, joy-filled and magical day.

Cheese!

This Minnie Mouse doll with interchangeable "outfits"

from Aunt Anne and Uncle Rus was a huge hit.

By the time we left around 7pm, we were ready to go home.  I was too tired to drive and luckily enough, my wing man, Jimmy, who had shoulder surgery two weeks ago and now has a broken wing, said he was okay to drive the 60+ miles home.  I dozed off twice, so it was better that I didn't drive!  Jimmy has already begun physical therapy for his shoulder and he got us home safely.

Finally, the day after Christmas, we played cards with our intrepid buddies, Mary and Terry, plus exchanging gifts.  I'm showing off the scarf Mary (above) gave me, and Jimmy is sporting a new sweater.  It all but took an act of congress to get it on him (think shoulder surgery) and then off again, but no harm was done.  Thanks, you guys -- you're the best.

Busy times.  Joyful times.  Poopy weather, indoor times.  Lots and lots going on, but it is too soon over, and doesn't come again for another year.  By then, we'll be ready for it.

Whoa ... surprise! Wed, 11/27/19

We were warned:  Winter Storm Warning -- Tues through Thurs, with one-to-two-feet snow accumulations predicted above 3000'.  We're at 3200', plus snow could be expected all the way down to 1500'.  That's low, and that's a lot of snow!  More than we've seen in ... I don't know when or even if we've seen this much snow in one 24-hr period.  Seems kinda early in the season, too.  Flakes began falling Tuesday afternoon, lightly at first, but by bedtime, we had seven inches piled up on our patio table (our "yardstick").  And snow was still coming down when we crawled under the nice, warm cover.

When I went out around 7 this morning to fetch our newspaper, I donned boots and gloves and my jacket with hood, and entered a hushed, wintry-white world.  Snow continued to fall; the sky a dull slate gray.  I got a boot full of snow with my first step and gingerly made my way to the road, but the paper box was empty. The road hadn't been recently plowed, and was blanketed in deep snowy slush.  Luckily we had power.

If weather threatens, our MO is to park the Prius at the top of the driveway, near the road, so we can get out if we had to or needed to.  Look at that poor thing!  We had no intention of going anywhere today! 

This is the first time our Kwan Yin statue has been 100% encased in snow.

Later, Jimmy and I pulled on our snow pants, picked up our snow shovels, and attempted to free the Prius.  Call me strange, but I love this kind of day!  I had both my camera and my phone in pockets, and I found many interesting, even artsy, wonders to photograph.  Like the chain link fence, above, its look completely altered by snowy inserts, prayer flags adding the only color to be seen in the yard. 

Bright, snow-laced Pacific Dogwood leaves on the other side of the house will probably be on the ground by tomorrow. 

A coconut macaroon bird bath?

A non-functioning hummingbird feeder ....

Checkerboard block wall.

Hmmm, I don't think windshield wipers are supposed to hang this way.  Looks bad.  I trooped over to Tergel and brushed snow off the windshield and wipers, and they bounced back.  This storm dropped really heavy, wet snow.

Too heavy.  Too wet.  Uh-oh, the shop's awning is broken.

Don't know if it can be repaired.  tbc 

We dug out the Prius, especially where the snow plow had made a substantial berm in front of the car.  Then we put the shovels away.  No more was necessary today.  Oh, we found our newspaper tied in blue plastic and thrown atop the snow so we wouldn't have to cross the road.  Pretty thoughtful.  It's atop the car in the above photo.

The 12" ruler was replaced with a 3' yardstick on our back deck table.  14" was recorded at this point, but snow was till coming down, so we probably received about 15".  Woohoo, hello winter and farewell fire season!  

Heck, when I went to the mailbox around 3pm, the Prius was coated again!  And the plow had left another deposit.  Well, tomorrow we can fix it -- by dinnertime this storm had passed.  More rain/snow is predicted for the next few days, but not tomorrow.  Hopefully we'll be able hit the road, aiming for a family Thanksgiving in Roseville.  Fingers crossed.  

Gray Lodge, Sunday, 11/24/19

Oh boy, ready or not, Nevada County in NorCal has a winter weather warning approaching, starting Tuesday.  Better get your play time in now!  On top of that, we'd had the feeling that too much grass had grown under our feet since we'd been Out and About spying on birds and "communing with nature."  Or too many chores and party shenanigans!  Today (Sunday) was a good day to fix that, with warmish temps and a partly sunny day.

I'd seen on the news that migratory birds had returned to the central valley. Jimmy and I saw this spectacle once before, more than several years ago, but I was keen to see this sight again. Each year more than a billion birds follow the Pacific Flyway, one of the four primary migratory routes in the Western Hemisphere which connects such far-flung habitats as the Arctic tundra and the wetlands of South America.  And, here's NorCal, sort of in between the tundra and So America, and teeming with millions of birds.

Sutter Buttes.

A week or so ago, a friend told us about "all the birds" at Gray Lodge Wildlife Area in the Central Valley, roughly sixty miles from our home, so that made our destination easy.  I'd never heard of Gray Lodge before, but learned it has approximately 9,100 acres providing food, water and shelter for more than 300 species of resident and migrant birds and mammals.

Surrounded by rice fields and backed by the Sutter Buttes (considered the world’s smallest mountain range), more than a million waterfowl feed in the rice fields and return to the wildlife area’s wetlands.  Flocks of Snow geese and Ross geese make up the bulk of the birds seen here (wherever you see white, that's geese).  Also, plenty of White-fronted geese, American Wigeons, Northern Shovelers, and Black-necked stilts.  Others, too, I'm sure.

With walking trails and an auto tour loop, we covered quite a bit of territory.  Not many people were here on a Sunday (I thought it might be crowded), and we basically had the place to ourselves.  Nice.  Yes, it was peaceful, but not certainly not quiet.  The cacophony of a million birds makes quite a din, but not unpleasantly so.

We saw more than waterfowl.  I watched an American Kestral grab a small bird from a tree branch and fly away with it -- all in the space of a second.  Numerous hawks perched high above, keeping watch.  Even a couple of buzzards found a spot to dry their wings, looking like giant bats up on bare tree limbs.

There seems to be something for every creature -- grassy fields and wooded riparian areas, but reflective ponds are the big draw. They are beautiful.

If you're lucky, and your camera is ready, one bird will give a silent signal, and suddenly the flock will take wing ... while you stand mesmerized ... and clicking the shutter.  Up they go.  What a sight!

Noisy, too.

My favorite.

Clockwise, from top left:  Great Blue Heron hiding in the tule reeds, Great White Egret ready to fish, California Quail crossing the gravel road to get to the other side, and a reflective Northern Shoveler.

We weren't in a hurry, yet we managed to put over three miles on our feet.  Every pond or waterway we passed teemed with life.

Oh, I almost forgot about the Coots.  Of course we saw Coots!

They're everywhere!

Hints of autumn color remained, though the winter storm fixin' to blow through NorCal will probably put the kibosh on colorful leaves.  It was a lovely day to spend time outdoors, communing with nature.  Hours flew by and the afternoon sun dropped low in the sky before we had our fill.  I hope we can come back before the birds migrate northward in the spring.