Lorquin's Admiral ( Limenitis lorquini )

 

Lorquin's Admiral

Cosumnes River Preserve, River Walk

Galt, California

April 30th, 2026

A fallen blossom returning to a bough, I thought... but no a butterfly"

~Arakida Moritake 

Traditional Japanese Poetry: An Anthology

Yesterday was a beautiful day. Hubby and I took a walk, and a roll in my wheelchair, along the Cosumnes River Preserve, River Walk. It was peaceful and produced several birds we have not yet added to our birds list for this year, so that was nice. In fact the whole day was amazing, except for the keys that were dropped right on top of my head, the scary encounter with the skunk that ran right past my husband's feet, and the large rat and assorted lizards we encountered. We were definitely spending a day in nature! I will share more about all this later, but I guess on the bright side, the keys didn't break my nose, or put my eyes out, the skunk didn't spray us, the rat didn't bite us, and the lizards were quite content to mind their own damn business. As I said, yesterday was a beautiful day. There is beauty in the world!

More later...

She's A Rainbow

"Life throws challenges, 

and every challenge comes with rainbows,

 and lights to conquer it."

~Amit Ray

World Peace: The Voice Of A Mountain Bird

The rainbow is from early this month, and it sure was fun to photograph. It had been a stormy day, and I was out in nature, trying to find some beauty. I didn't have much luck with the birds that day, and I was getting rained on, so we decided to head back home. While we were driving down HWY 5, the rainbow appeared across the highway. We pulled into In-N-Out Burger, to grab dinner, and that gave me time to snap a few photos of it. That's a pretty good time with nature I think. It's hard to feel down in the dumps when a rainbow crosses your path!

The Rolling Stones

She's A Rainbow

The Kindest Of All Birds

 

"Be like the bluebird who is never blue,

 for he knows from his upbringing what singing can do."

~Cole Porter

We did a little birding the other day, just the usual places, and while we didn't find a lot new in the way of birds, we did find out two pieces of information that made us smile. First, the small bridge on Franklin Blvd has now been fully repaired and is now open for traffic! It has been closed since, January 1st, 2023, and was supposed to reopen in October of 23, but for whatever reason, repairs got pushed back! It's a fairly short bridge, but quite necessary. It provides traffic with a straight shot, to Thornton road, as opposed to having to travel through the middle of the Cosumnes River Preserve! The additional traffic Desmond road had on it, always seemed dangerous to me. Bruceville/Desmond is a fairly narrow road, with a dangerous elbow turn. The speed limit is only 35 mph, but I have seen folks traveling the road at over 50 mph. It's safer for the birds, and it's safer for the birders! So, YAY! 

The second piece of information involves that pretty little Western Bluebird. I spotted it, just inside the entrance to the Cosumnes River Preserve. It stunned me. It was sitting on a very thin branch, not making a sound. I was lucky I spotted it! They are such tiny birds, that sometimes you have to seek them out. It's a quiet little bird too. I have always got the impression that it was the kindest of all birds. It just give out that vibe to me. According to Google AI, the Western Bluebird symbolizes, joy, hope and the arrival of spring. And hey, it's not just me who finds them so ethereal, Neltje Blanchan described their disposition as, particularly angelic! So, Spring is here, finely, and I got a few photos, so it's a happy start of things to come! Last Sunday was a very good day!

Starting Off Monday With Last Friday

 

 

"Decreasing the budget on the space exploration is nothing but a great treason to humanity! Space exploration is closely related to our very existence! Cut the budget on other things and increase the budget on space exploration! Think great; if you do not think great, universe annihilates you!"

~ Mehmet Murat ildan

Christina Koch (NASA Photo)

Today, Monday April 13th, 2026, and through the rest of the week, it seems like life  will be a never ending shitstorm of stupid. So, lets just start the week by remembering the astronauts of Artemis II arriving back on earth after their triumphant trip around the moon. Last Friday was a good day! I have to admit while watching their approach home, I couldn't look away! Being the geek that I am, I snapped photo after photo with my cellphone camera, and held my breath, until communication with the astronauts was resumed after their reentry. watching that tiny ship make it through the temperatures of the earth's atmosphere was stunningly beautiful, and scary as Hell! And just like that, for a little while, something wasn't about politics. It wasn't about anything but science, and beauty, and humanity pulling for the safe return of the four scientists aboard the Artemis II. Science was cool again! I liked the world last Friday, and I am thinking of that as we greet the week ahead, I just wonder how long the good vibes will last? I am hoping they will until at least noon! 

Ellipsis Word Of The Week... Snollygoster

 

"Don't gobblefunk around with words."

~Roald Dahl

The BFG

I came across this awesome word several months ago, and I meant to do a post about it, but somehow there was always something else to talk about. Well, today is Saturday, and as a rule they tend to be kick back and relax kind of days, so here is something to think about... but not too seriously!

Does the word, snollygoster, remind you of anyone?

Used In A Sentence... Donald Trump is quite the snollygoster!

See Merriam Webster for full definition and word history.

I Don't Like You Anyway, You Dumb Stupid-heads!

"An angry man rarely stops to let facts get in the way of their fury."

~Nikki Sex

 

Common Buckeye Butterflies

 

Common Buckeye Butterfly 

(Junonia coenia)

"Nature's message was always there for us to see.

 It was written on the wings of butterflies."

~Kjell B. Sandved

The beauty you see is the wonderful, Common Buckeye, butterfly! I haven't seen one in years, and not at all since moving to the, San Joaquin Valley! The last time I saw them, was when I visited the butterfly exhibits at the Conservatory of Flowers in San Francisco! Needless to say, I was very happy to be in it's presence the other day! It was like being back in 2012 all over again! I checked some facts, and it seems they are common in the Bay Area, mostly along the coast, and it's not out of the ordinary to see one here, I just haven't noticed one! Hopefully it's an amazing turn of events, and I will be seeing a lot more of them here in the Northwestern San Joaquin Valley!

The Painted Lady Butterfly

 

"Be like a butterfly and a flower... beautiful and sought after, yet unassuming and gentle."

~Jarod Kintz

Despite all the depressing stuff going on, it's not like there isn't beauty in the world. While on Woodbridge road the other day, I spotted the first of two unique types of butterflies for 2026, floating along the wildflowers along the road! This particular one is the Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui) which is one of my favorites, and seeing it reminds me that there is a lot to focus on, beyond politics. Why do I and should I, let the stupid stuff steal my joy? I wish I could answer that question! Today, for example, my body hurts head to toe, all because I tensed up yesterday, in anticipation of nuclear annihilation of Iran, and the very real possibility of World War III. I should have known Trump would Taco at the last minute, but I wasn't sure he would! Oh well, that was Tuesday, and today is today, and we all got here one moment at a time, so going forward I am trying that! One moment at a time.

Wish me luck!

I will have more new photos this week, so come back for that!

Okay, So, The Apocalypse Again In Two Weeks?

 

Cats, Easter Bunnies And A Peep

 

"Life is short... buy those shoes, have a sense of humor and take a break when you want."

~Unknow

Yesterday was Easter, and we had a good time. We enjoyed the boys having fun picking toys out of their Peep's Easter basket. Tyler immediately put his catnip toy mouse into his water bowl. He has a bug up his ass about that. He puts all his toys in his water bowl. Strange. It's like he's seen fish in a pond. I know he hasn't, but odd habit remains. Simon chose a little blue bunny to bat around. So sweet. Later they will get some nom noms and big snuggles. I am really in love with my little stress buster cats. I don't know where I would be without them! Mom and dad are made a special dinner of, roast chicken, stuffing and green bean bake! Delicious. Despite the awful things happening right now, history will tell the tale, we are had a good day. The way it should be!

The Main Event

 

It's Friday, Good Friday in fact, so how about a fun little movie from YouTube free tv shows and movies?

And Oh, by the way, this happened yesterday. 

"Betrayal is not a single act,

 but a crack in the mirror of loyalty, reflecting shards of shattered trust."

~Andrew Pacholyk

The Rhythm Of Betrayal

Shrug

Parking Lot Pickles

 

"Don't forget to relish the moment."

~Unknown

As you know, I live in Stockton, California. Well, from time to time, on any given day, even the casual passerby, may see a random object sitting in a random parking lot, and the object spotted will have NOTHING to do with anything in particular. In other words, it will all be deliciously, random! Like this Costco sized jar of Mt. Olive Kosher Dills. The day I spotted it, it was just there, in a stall, at Starbucks. Hmmm... pickles and coffee? Now I ask you, who orders a Starbuck's beverage, and chases it down with a pickled condiment?

Oh Barista...

 VT

 Pike's Place

 Decaf

 Caramel Macchiato

 with

Coconut milk

 Extra whip

 Caramel ribbon

 and

 Cinnamon Dolce Sprinkles

With 6 Stevia packets

And a Mt. Olive Kosher Dill Pickle, warmed.

And can you put it in a bag? Umm, the pickle, not the coffee.

Imagine the possibilities.

Spring, Yet Autumn Too

 

“She turned to the sunlight
    And shook her yellow head,
And whispered to her neighbor:
    "Winter is dead.”

 ~ A.A. Milne,

  When We Were Very Young

 

 “There's a promise between
beginnings and end.
And, there's a hope between
end and beginnings..!!"

O' Autumn, you'll never stop,
singing your sanguine songs.”

 
~Monika Ajay Kaul

 

I found this photo, while rummaging through my photo files from last April. I didn't post it at the time because I was feeling less than enthusiastic about everything. Yes, everything! The election had been rough, and I caught Covid-19  in December. Dylan passed away, and Hendrix was having some problems with grief and age. Last spring seemed black and white most of the time. But one day I was out with Alan, enjoying a walk through the Cosumnes River Preserve, I saw this blossoms beauty, but I don't think I grasped the bigger picture. I took that picture, because the blossom's colors remind me of autumn. Through all the sadness, I knew deep down that autumn would eventually come, and despite everything, I would feel better again, and I do. We are only a little ways in, and it's been incredibly magical. Marin county was stunning the other day, and we added 5 new birds to our album for this year, and one to our life list! Needless to say, Bodega Bay was... fabulous! Pictures to be posted soon! And we are planning a lot more trips. One for next week, fingers crossed. I am not mentioning where we are going, it seems like every time I do, something happens and we end up not going. So, you'll just have to keep visiting Ellipsis to find out where I am gallivanting off to next!

 

And there's a lot more to come!  

 

 

 

 

  

I Beg To Differ

It's the second worst approval rating in 100 years!

 

NPR

ABC

CNN

FOX 

 

Read all about it at NPR.

 

Once again, Trump gets the quote of the day.
 

1362 Days to go...

 

 

A Sunday In Bodega Bay

 

 

 “California loving smooth as the ocean tide
Carefree soaking up your love like sunshine
Crazy for ya feeling like a song with no rhyme
I’m falling for you like sun in the springtime
I’m so glad I found my California loving”
 

~Marie Helen Abramyan 

 

It was a nearly perfect day in Bodega Bay. We spotted a few more birds, but the star of the day wasn't a bird, it was this adorable Sea lion, sunning himself in the warm afternoon Bodega Bay sun. I watched him for about 15 minutes or so. It was soul cleansing. I miss the Sea Lions of Pier 39 in San Francisco, so this was a very cool find! The dock sits right behind the Tides Restaurant, so could that have been the same dock where Melanie Daniels rented the boat she used to reach Mitch Brenner's house in the movie, The Birds? I'd like to think so. It's been a long time since that movie was filmed, and a lot of things have changed, but the beauty and fun of Bodega Bay, hasn't changed a bit!

How Long will It Take Him To Break It?

 

Sorry, but it will all be history shortly. Sigh. Are you as tired as I am?

 

I'm not sleepy, I am tired. 

 

 

I promise to post something a lot more pleasant tomorrow.