August 28, 2007

As I've already mentioned, it's been raining a lot over here in New Mexico and flowers are blooming all over. There are so many wonderful sunflowers along the highway - I just love their cheerful yellow faces. Sunflowers are one of my very favorite herbaceous plants.


Did I mention that it has been raining a lot? Today, the rain was pretty much blowing sideways.

Hey, free car wash!

August 26, 2007

Today, Steve and I did a ten-mile hike (round trip) to view the second largest alligator juniper tree in the nation. It's approximately 5'10" in diameter, with a circumference of over 18 feet. It's about 63 feet tall with a crown spread of around 62 feet. I don't know if that really sounds big, but if you look at the photo below, the small pinkish blob at the bottom right of the tree is me eating lunch.

Hey, it's a Tree Hugger!

Steve standing in front of a much smaller juniper tree laden with berries (which are actually part of the cone).

August 25, 2007

Tonight, Michael made Steve and I the Best pork chops I think we've ever eaten! Served with stewed whole tomatoes and onions and angel hair pasta with some sort of cheesey sauce - Yummmm-eee! It was fabulous!

Below, Michael enjoys a preprandial beverage. The weather has been unsettled, with thunderstorms every afternoon - we had originally intended to eat our entire meal al fresco but were chased inside my thunder, lightning, and some impressive rain drops.


Steve enjoying his beverage, as well.

August 24, 2007

Yes, I've missed a few days. Been busy with work and unfortunately spending a lot of time sitting in front of a computer, which makes it not real appealing to come back to the hotel room and sit in front of the computer some more. BUT, I did take this photograph of the top of a wicker picnic basket, which I thought was rather interesting. So, there!

August 20, 2007

And so, after a two-week sojourn in California and a week at home in Phoenix, I am headed back to my home-away-from home in Silver City, New Mexico. I decided that whenever possible I am not going to drive through Tucson to get here. Although it's faster, it is longer and almost entirely interstate driving - ugly and stressful.

Driving east on the 60, I pass through a myriad of small towns with antique shops and unique restaurants. I cruise right by the Boyce Thompson Arboretum. It's mostly scenic the entire way, and a slower pace that keeps my blood pressure below the boiling point.

Once in New Mexico - thunderheads building towards afternoon showers.

Lovely and pastoral. There are sunflowers EVERYWHERE right now. It is so green!

August 19, 2007

Caught up! Whew! And tomorrow I head back to New Mexico! I tell you, the fun never stops. I don't even bother to unpack my suitcase, anymore. There is stuff in the bottom that I haven't seen in months (seriously - I never seem to dig that deep!).

Yesterday, I cleaned out the pond. The "waterfall" was down to a trickle. Turns out some of the plants' roots had grown into the skimmer and were choking the pump! It was a mess. I finished cleaning it out last night so I could stay out of the sun. Got up this morning and took this pic, though. You can see that the water is flowing just fine - for now!

August 18, 2007

Came back from Truckee with this rustic quilt from the Little Mother. Thought I'd hang it on the wall out in the "Butler Cabin" - aka, the Garage. Cool, eh?

August 17, 2007

Correspondence between Maybe and Uzi after Uzi’s unfortunate cyst removal and teeth cleaning, (hey, one-stop shopping!):
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Dude,

I am SO feeling your pain! (See attached!) Some advice: MILK IT! I can't stress enough that it is your DUTY to DEMAND attention and LOVE because of this horrific experience. NEVER LET THEM FORGET what you are going through. Trust me, you can get a lot of mileage out of this one, and it is your RIGHT as a CAT to do so! Amen!

Love, Cousin Maybe

P.S. Uh,Clem - that "white kitty" with the scabby nose - sends his regards.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Dear Cousin Maybe,

BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAA you look like an ass!!!! I now know what mom means when she says "ass-hat." I'm milkin' it as best I can. It's kinda hard tho when you embarrass yourself by walking into walls, soaking your ass-hat ribbon (causing you to freak yourself out) and getting cat litter stuck in your "hat." There must be some "chick" science to this whole "milking it" thing......me, my ego is just crushed. I am getting lots of attention!!!! And it's kinda funny to watch mom and dad argue over who knows better........dad's really a big softy and if mom would just get the hell outta the house, I know I can convince him to remove the ass-hat! She doesn't look like she's budging tho. Must go work on the science of "Milking it."

Thanks for your kind thoughts and well wishes, cousin Maybe. All my love, and lack of fur.

Uzi (not to be mistaken for oooozie)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Dear Cousin Uzi,

I'm thinkin' you don't look much better in YOUR "ass hat!"

Yeah, that walking into shit is totally humiliating. But as I earlier advised: NEVER LET THEM FORGET. When you wake them up at 2 AM and they give you that look... two words: Ass Hat! When you need a snack and you need it NOW: Ass Hat. Don't let them live it down! Amen!

Love, Cousin Maybe

August 16, 2007

Guess where I'LL be sitting today!

August 15, 2007

Although the yard is out of control, the inside plants are doing quite well. Below is the avocado that Michael gave me - it's grown while I've been gone!

August 14, 2007

I don't know if you can read this, but it's a message from Steve written in crayon on the shower wall. Awww...!!

My Own Bed! It's good to be home!

August 13, 2007

Heading south from Mammoth Lakes, we stopped at Erick Schat's Bakkery and I saw this Amazing juicing contraption! Steve and I each got a pastry for "later" and split a sandwich for "now."

A herd of elk grazes beneath the watchful peaks of the grand Sierra Nevada. A couple of males were doing some bugling - it's such a wild and lonesome sound. Makes me think of Wyoming.

August 12, 2007

Today, Steve and I left Truckee and headed back towards Phoenix. We spent the night in Mammoth Lakes; however, before calling it a day, we headed out to visit Inyo Craters. Sadly, the sign was more impressive than the craters. Guess we're spoiled after having been to Yellowstone, Flagstaff, Mt. Lassen, and Hawaii where we saw more serious volcanic activity. Nonetheless, it was a nice day and we had a passable Italian dinner at Giavani's.

August 11, 2007

Clan Bake! Clan Bake! Today was the DAY! You can read all about it on my regular blog, Notes From a (Mostly) Dry Place. Pictured below are Dad, Mom, Aunt Sonia and Uncle Paul. (Dad and Sonia are brother and sister.)

August 10, 2007

"What have YOU done to reduce your Carbon Footprint today?"

This question was posed at the beginning of a presentation at a reception I attended with my parents at the University of California, Berkeley, Sagehen Creek Field Station. The presentation by Matt Kiese of River Run Consulting, focused on the fluvial geomorphology of Coldstream Canyon and the adverse impacts that human activity in the area has had on the watershed. I found the talk so interesting, that when Steve arrived this morning we decided to go hike up the Canyon and observe firsthand and with new eyes what was happening to the riparian habitat and the streamcourse, itself.

It IS a bit confusing:
Donner Memorial State Park calls it Coldstream Valley.

This looks like a lovely alpine lake, but in actuality,
it is a water filled gravel quarry.

A buck in velvet.
Won't be long before those antlers are ready for the fall rut.

The culvert at horseshoe bend. This constriction has dramatically altered the characteristic of the stream channel. There is a backwater upstream that collects sediment, while immediately below the culvert the channel is eroding and becoming entrenched.

Railroad spikes from the line of tracks along the horseshoe bend.

Yours truly on the signal trestle (shhh!) over the tracks on the horseshoe bend.

Steve, the Little Mother, and Dad.

Amy and her birthday Cheesecake.
We celebrated a couple of days early.

August 9, 2007

Busy day here, today. We're getting ready for the "Clan Bake" in earnest. Tomorrow Steve, Amy, and Jerry will arrive and our little nuclear family will have a day to visit before the rest of the family arrives on Saturday. Below is a photo of the "scene of the crime." We're planning to set up tables on the front lawn under the trees and grill sausages on the barbecue along with skewers of vegetables - yummy! We've got horseshoes and croquet and lots of beer!

One of my tasks was to create labels and attach charms to all the wine glasses - that was rather fun, actually.

I also wrapped all the cutlery in cloth napkins.

Lastly, I finished painting the wheelbarrow which will be full of ice and beer on Saturday. (Looks pretty good, eh?)

August 8, 2007

Dad practicing the piano. Isn't he cute?

August 7, 2007

Today Mom and I drove to Sacramento to have lunch at my grandparents' house. In the backyard was this ENORMOUS hibiscus!! I mean this thing is freakishly large. That's my sister's hand for scale. WOW!

~ Me and my Sister ~
(Whoa! I think I look a bit like a horse! Gotta carrot?)

August 6, 2007

Sitting on the back porch, looking out at the world, and there on the lawn is this adorable little bunny. Loooove bunnies!

August 5, 2007

Today, my old roomie from my Chico Days came up to visit. Vicki - aka "Cheeto" - and I lived together for three years during college. It was SO good to see her and have a chance to catch up. Vicki is an historian and works at Old Sacramento - very cool.

August 4, 2007

It's so hard to take just ONE picture on vacation! So here, again, are three!

Today, Mary and I headed towards Truckee, with several stops along the way, one of which was breakfast at the Whoa Nellie Deli (and Mobil Gas Station), in Lee Vining. I had a bagel and cream cheese and Mary had a trout omelet.

Can you BELIEVE the price of gas!! I don't know how clear this photo is, but Regular is $3.899 per gallon and Super is $4.049!


Another of our stops along the way was the Ghost Town of Bodie which exists in a state of arrested decay. Totally cool place.

August 3, 2007

Today was a hike to the bridge below Vernal Falls. Unlike Yosemite Falls, Vernal Falls actually has water flowing in it. The trail is quite popular, but the view was worth the effort.

Tonight was dinner at the Ahwahnee Hotel. Here, Mary and I are dressed for our ultimate dining experience.

Alpenglow on Half Dome - I waded out into the river to get this shot (still dressed for dinner, but what the heck!)

August 2, 2007

Ahhh... a nice cold beer on the patio at the Ahwahnee Hotel (Yosemite National Park) - that's a fine way to while away an hour or so on a warm afternoon. While sipping my Sierra Nevada Pale Ale I noticed this squirrel all flopped out on the concrete trying to keep cool. He's got some nice leaf action going, there.

August 1, 2007

Today, Mary and I stopped to visit Mono Lake (along with quite a few other attractions on our trip north on 395). It was getting on to dusk and the sun was starting to dip behind the Sierra Nevada to the west. We were heading back to the car and I spotted this seagull strutting around the parking lot of the South Tufa area. I thought he (she?) was just lovely!

July 31, 2007

Today, Mary and I pointed the car northwest and headed towards Barstow, California, where we will spend the first night of our road trip to Truckee (for the Clan Bake!!). Driving through Vidal Junction, I spotted these enormous plastic roosters on top of the Vidal Junction Cafe. I've never seen chickens on a roof - horses, yes, but not chickens. So, viola! The Picture Of The Day!