It Was A Very Good Tuesday

 

"We begin to read each book, 

not knowing if we will see a peacock's feathers, or a baboon's arse."

~Kevin Ansbro

Hubby and I took a ride to Tracy yesterday, just to check out the range on the new EV, and while there we decided to check in at the Clifton Court Forebay, to see what new and wonderful birds might be lurking about. We first found about 100 or so swallows, cliff swallows I think, flying around the first bridge on the road. There may have been a couple different species of swallows, they were flying so quick I couldn't quite get a shot of them. I need to come back in the early evening, when they are slower and ready to roost. You can spot them on the telephone lines sometimes. Next, to my delight, we came across a flock of Caspian Tern. I love those birds, and I was afraid I wouldn't get to see one this year, but happily, there they were, flying on both sides of the forebay! I only wish they could have been a bit closer, my camera is feeling it's age, but still, I'm not really complaining! It was nice. And it was nice in general to get away from all the drama of worldly events. As irritating as those worldly events were, finding, photographing, and being able to enjoy the beauty of those beautiful birds erases a lot of bad! And to make it all that much better, I had a delightful dinner with my hubby, a Jersey Mike's sandwich, and a Habit Burger Garden Salad. Yep, it was a pretty good Tuesday!

Ellipsis Movie Of The Week... Six Days, Seven Nights

 

Robin, Speaking to Quinn: I've flown with you twice,

 and you've crashed half the time."

~ Six Days, Seven Nights

Imagine six days and seven nights on a fabulous tropical island, sounds like a dream come true, doesn't it? Although I would probably rather spend my vacation birding in Central Park, or shopping in London, I could see how it would be an amazing idea, especially if you're vacationing in winter, but good ideas can go horribly wrong. That's what this film is all about. Good ideas, bad ideas, and the love and strength to survive your choices along the way. You never know when fate will line things up, there are so many random moments in life, the worst idea can turn out to be just what you needed, and the perfect moments can sometimes fall spectacularly flat. Anne Heche and Harrison Ford are terrific, and they bring the adventure and romance!

Watch it! It's a pretty good time! It's a rom com worth curling up with!

The Calypsonians 

By

Taj Mahal and the Hula Blues

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

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!

Two Weeks or Forever

 

Everything, with Trump, has a two week timeline.

As of today, we are in day 35. But, as of last Wednesday, when he gave his big fancy speech, he said, again, we could be out of the war in about two to three weeks. That would make the date, somewhere around April, if we give him the full three weeks! So, we'll see. 

Sigh.

As of the writing of this post, we have a missing airman, who was shot down near the strait of Hormoz. I am praying for their safety, and that we will find them alive and well! I also pray that it doesn't take two weeks to find them!

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.

Breathe, Love, Meditate

 

Video Taken On One Of My Recent Walks

Cosumnes River Preserve Wetlands Walk

Galt, California

"When one tugs at a single thing in nature,

 he finds it attached to the rest of the world."

~John Muir

Breathe in, breath out. 

Meditate.

Breathe in nature. Know your worth. Live in love.

Meditate.

Breathe in, breathe out.

Meditate.

Scenes from Cosumnes River Preserve

March 19th, 2026

Greater White-fronted Geese

And A Little Soft Jazz