Life Lessons


"Figuring out our gifts in life is part of our journey to becoming enlightened human beings.” – Allison DuBois

Showing posts with label Tiger Swallowtail. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Tiger Swallowtail. Show all posts

Wednesday, June 17, 2015

A Bare Spot

Song - Animal Crackers in My Soup by Shirley Temple


The critters were abundant in Lake Tahoe over the last two weeks.



There was a Ladybug hatch one day at the beach.  They would float in on the water, land in the sand, dry off and fly away.  It was hard to cool off in the water with out stepping on them as they blanketed the shoreline.




The Canadian Geese and Sea Gulls were out in record numbers as well.  They could hear you opening your lunch from across the lake! 



The Merganser's and ducks would float in and out.




Every morning several Tiger Swallowtails would great me "good morning"! It was lovely to watch them float through the forest weaving in and out of the trees.







I saw squirrels, chipmunks, huge Carpenter Ants, deer and this little fellow came to visit Mr. B and me when we returned to the cabin from the beach.....



I named him "Bobby Bear".

Doesn't that just fit this big guy (who was about the size of a VW bug!)?


I think he needs a pedicure........




Cute, fuzzy-wuzzy guy who was focused on getting to the creek behind me.








There were lot's of Robins, Stellar Jays and songbirds. I even saw a Bald Eagle but wasn't quick enough with my camera.



Can you see the White-Headed Woodpecker?  I had never seen one of them before. It was just after a thunder shower.



The Forest Rangers had a "bird show" going on near Camp Richardson, just down the street from our cabin.  There was a Kestrel which was found in someone's swimming pool.



A Red Tailed Hawk.........




And a Gyrfalcon or "white falcon" who had to wear a blinder the entire time because he was raised by one man and never saw any other people.  When the man died, he would become traumatized if he saw other people.



This is the woman who is now raising him.  She is a Master Falconer and the young woman several photo's above is her apprentice.  Falcons were used for hunting before guns were invented.  It's how they got food on the table for the family!






But one of my favorite critters was a litter of Coyote pups who were having a great time playing with each other on this log. We saw them on our way home from Yemmonaide Lake (Angora Lake).





And now to show you the fiercest animal of the forest.......






She was on-guard all day long and in the afternoons she was plain tuckered out!  Probably dreaming about chasing squirrels......


"The quality of life is in proportion, always, to the capacity for delight.  The capacity for delight is the gift of paying attention." 
- May Sarton

Sunday, June 29, 2014

Emerging From the Mountains

Song - Sugar Mountain by Neil Young



Lupine in a meadow near Fallen Leaf Lake


Mr. B, Mika and myself returned from the mountains on Friday evening.



An Evening Grossbeak


It felt like we were leaving too soon.



A female Tiger Swallowtail



After all, not everything on our list of activities had been done.

I mean we didn't even hike to Lemonade Lake or play Putt-Putt golf yet!!!!

"Mr. B can't we stay at least two more weeks?"

But I knew we had to leave, mostly because of several art commitments that I had in the Bay Area.

I cried a little.



My new "Electra"


Mr. B bought me a cruiser bike for my birthday and I had fun driving around the cabin.  At least until I had to go uphill.....without any gears.....so I ended up pushing Mika and my bike up the hills.  Andy and Mika took a spin over the weekend.




She looks like she is his co-pilot and on watch for bumps in the road!

Ashley chose to ride solo - It kinda makes you feel like a little kid again! Can't you just see it in her smile?




Butterflies were in abundance this year!


Now that I have settled in it is nice to be home and return to my own bed, my garden, friends and family but it's also quite a shock!


The clarity of Lake Tahoe near Zephyer Cove


Now the mountains at home are the mountains of laundry, dishes and "to do" lists!


Sunset from Sunnyside

As always, great memories of Tahoe!


I want to thank my parents and grandparents for having the foresight of treasuring this beautiful lake and spectacular wilderness!








            "How glorious a greeting the sun gives the mountains!"
         --John Muir


PS - Mama Robin had 4 babies while we were there.  She was a busy lady feeding her little ones!


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