Field of Dreams

Song - In The Air Tonight - Phil Collins cover by Sierra Eagleson 

 

 The day after Thanksgiving Mr. B and I decided to take a little day trip to our Field of Dreams.  See all of those cut corn stalks in this field near Lodi?  Guess what they attract?

 

Birds....thousands and thousands of glorious birds.....

Great Blue Herons

Tundra Swans

 

 Great Egrets

And Sandhill Cranes.....

October through March these birds migrate to the Delta wetlands coming as far away as Siberia and Canada. They will spend the winter here before returning to their home.

Sandhill Cranes in flight with their long fingertips in the breeze.....

We spent several hours observing so many birds and as we were leaving I spotted something that didn't look like a bird.

 

 A coyote running under the Walnut trees near a levee. He worked his way around the levee and began to approach the birds in the water. I thought they might all fly off or at least move away from the shores.  

But nope they stayed put but kept an eye on him as he took a long drink of water then moved on.

 

We headed back to "civilization" just as the sun was setting.  It was a wonderful warm day with windows open while listening to the multitude of birdsong.

 

We spotted Mt. Diablo in the distance near Rio Vista heading home. 

 

"Life is a journey

I don't have a map for."

--Delta Goodrem

 

Singing Your Heart Out

Song - All My Loving by Paul McCartney

Several years ago we rented a home in Idaho right on the Snake River. Every morning and every afternoon this little bird would hang out on the deck singing like no one was watching.  

Such joy in a tiny package!

Mounting Evidence

Song - Little Darlin by The Diamonds

Yep.....clear evidence that someone is busy building.....a nest!

Oh hello little Ms. Titmouse.....in the bird house!

 This morning I woke up extra early and saw this little Oak Titmouse with a mouthful of moss.  I watched as she flew straight into Mr. B's rustic bird house.  This is the fourth straight year they have built a nest here. 

Enough with the moss, it's time for some twigs!


They just brighten my day so much.

"I don't feed the birds because they need me;

I feed the birds because I need them." 

--Kathi Hutton

Hoppy

Song - Handle Me With Care by The Traveling Wilburys

For the last several years whenever I go up or down the stairs in our backyard, a bird flies out of the bushes growing in front of the lattice under the deck.  She looks like a  Brown Towhee.  I figured she was nesting back in there and even staying safe in the winter for protection.

The last time I saw her was in mid-October when I was reading out by the pool.  She was busy flying in and out of the bushes but then she landed near me.

She came quite close to check me out.  Unfortunately I didn't have my good camera only my phone but I snapped away. 

She only had one foot and seemed quite adaptable at taking care of herself and perhaps a nest of eggs.  Prior to this I had only seen her flying so I had no idea she was missing a foot.  What I found most admirable was that she didn't feel one bit sorry for herself.  She just got up every morning and went about her day.

I began to refer to her as Hoppy and Mr. B saw her a few times as well but then she disappeared.  I was worried a cat or hawk may have gotten her.  But this morning I spotted her outside of my bedroom door.  I was delighted to see she was safe and sound.  I said "Hello Hoppy and welcome back!".  She looked at me for a second and then hopped away taking care of her day.

Don't you just love happy endings?

PS - Sorry about my 2020 post being a day late.  I posted it to go out on the 31st so I'm thinking that someone at Google must of been out partying on New Years Eve and forgot to send it out on time!

Rain Drops Keep Falling

What to do on a hot, humid, rainy day in Nantucket? (it was 98% humidity)

Paint! Knit! Make some beautiful jewelry!

This is from a reference photo I took yesterday in Hyannis Port. Still need to do a few final corrections but I was pretty happy to be able to paint today while Sydney knitted and Jackie designed some bracelets.

This morning as soon as we got up we headed into town to do our grocery shopping. It was muggy out but felt like it wouldn’t be quite as warm as yesterday.  We brought our groceries home & fixed a yummy lunch of tomatoes, carrots, broccoli slaw, various cheeses, deli meats, olives & sliced baguette.

Then we headed to the art store to get me some Turp (can’t fly with turp) and to a bead shop for Jackie to buy some supplies. Then over to Sayles Seafood Market & Cafe to buy something for dinner as we did not want to turn on the oven!

Everything outside has moss and lichen growing on it

A little wren looking in my bedroom window

I decided to sit outside in the fresh air to paint but by the time I had gotten everything set up some big rain drops began to fall so I came inside & set up in the huge mud room.  Just as I had begun to paint, the girls talked me into painting in the dining room with them where there was a nice cross breeze. We all enjoyed our creative pursuits until dinner when we had fresh prawns with a delicious cocktail sauce & creamy clam chowder & salad.

A storm approached and we had some thunder & lightening while we had chocolate chip cookies & discussed restaurant ideas for tomorrow.

Tomorrow we head to the beach!

Back in Paradise

For those of you that know me well, my home away from home is Lake Tahoe.  It is were I go to relax and rejuvenate!  It is a magical place for me and I dream about this special place weekly.

Upon arrival, I am greeted by a sweet little bear.  Must be the "year of the bear" for me!


Driving up the Forest Service road to the cabin, I delight in seeing this sign.

Because that is what I feel like when I am in the mountains!

And right next to the sign I see 8-10 rocks piled in a Zen like formation.

Perfect.

I unload the car and get the cabin all set up then head to the beach.  Still some snow on Mt. Tallac.

At the local bulletin board I check the annual bear sighting report.  There is one in the area....mmmm....

Glad Mr. B is joining me tonight!

There is a momma bird sitting on her nest right next to the deck.  Yesterday I was painting in that corner of the deck and she kept her eye on me the whole time.  Today I will set up farther away so as not to make her too anxious.

Mika likes to lay in the cool shady wildflowers and watch me paint.

Mr. B and I headed to the beach at stateline for breakfast yesterday and this was our view.

I'm in love....again!