California, Don't Let Me Down

 

"Here's the truth: for every bill that's too high, there's special interest profiting off keeping it there. They want you to believe that's inevitable. That's just how that market works. But that's BULLSHIT!"

~Tom Steyer

San Francisco Speech

2026

Here we go, it's June 2nd, 2026, California Primary Day! 

Come on California, vote with a clear head about all we've been through with Donald Trump. My pick for California Governor is Tom Steyer and Michael Tubbs for Lt. Governor. To be honest, the top offices were pretty much all that mattered to me in my district, however, I am closely watching a race in Central California, Bakersfield, David Valadao, who will face two Democratic candidates with impressive backing by different parts of the party. Physician Jasmeet Bains, and Randy Villegas. Valadao is the last of the republican representatives who voted to impeach Trump, not once, but twice! For that reason I don't hate him, but lets face it, at the end of the day, he's a republican, and you can't trust the lot of them. As my dad used to say, why would you vote for a republican if you don't have to?

 And, of course, the race for Mayor of Los Angeles has me on edge. The current mayor, Karen Bass, has had a rocky time, especially after the devastating wildfire ravaged the southland in early 2025! Republicans were there to spread misinformation, that she was never able to get out in front of. Once again, conspiracy theories managed to rewrite history. I believe her biggest opponent tonight will be Spencer Pratt. I can't roll my eyes enough at the mere thought of it!. He's a former reality TV actor. A villain. Who is currently running a campaign right out of Trump's playbook, complete with AI generated superhero imaginations of himself, because, I don't know, everyone loves a Marvel superhero? Everyone wants to be entertained? Pratt has NO experience in governance, in balancing a budget for an entire city, for any kind of emergency response. He's a stupid choice. But L.A. you do you!

I can't make people be smart.

I just pray they act with wisdom when casting their vote.

California, please vote!

Fate, And Welcome To It

 

“Autumn is the mellower season, and what we lose in flowers

 we more than gain in fruits.” 

~Samuel Butler 

 

 

Oh my. Some of the most beautiful colors of autumn, happen in vineyards, in October. Delicious ripe grapes, make delicious wines, and the Central Valley has no shortages of them. My favorite wine, Apothic, comes from a vineyard in Modesto. Grandpa owned a vineyard in Lodi, and dad spoke often about the colors of the grapes in the autumn. I wish I could have seen it, but the entirety of the property was sold years ago. Maybe one day I wish search my family tree and see if I could locate where the property sat. It would be nice to see what my past looked like. I wish I could have known my grandfather, he immigrated here in the early 1900's with 6 wife, 6 children, and a rather large sewing machine. Not long after they settled in, grandma became pregnant with my father, the only one of his kids born in the United States, and soon after giving birth she perished from the flu pandemic of 1918. See, with my fathers deep roots, finding myself living here was probably fate, and I am really okay with that. While dad never liked the valley either, he was mightily impressed with the grapes, and all the other joys of living here. Now, I understand it too!

 

It's Not Here Yet, But It's Close

 

"Autumn seemed to arrive early that year. The morning of the September was crisp and golden as an apple."

 

~J.K. Rowling

Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows

 

 It's almost the mid point of September, so you know I am awaiting, anxiously, the arrival of the Sandhill cranes. I wake up every day, listening intently for their chatter as they fly over, but I know they just aren't there yet, but on a happy note, some water fowl that has arrived, and its the gorgeous Canada geese! What a treat! Cosumnes Preserve finally released water on Desmond road, and there was a small variety of other water foul swimming and enjoying the sun. In addition to the Canada Geese, there were Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs, Black-backed Stilt, Shovelors, and Northern Pintail, Brewer's Blackbirds, and I thought I spotted a Turkey Vulture or two! 

 

Woodbridge has some water too, but not nearly as much as Desmond road, still there was enough to attract a small flock of White-faced Ibis. I love them, but unfortunately they were a little too far away to get a really good picture. Soon. Every bird in it's time... right? And even the last of summer sunflowers are hanging on! I love that the highway hangs onto their beauties for so long, because they really are one of this prettiest part of the season. I was just telling hubby that one of the things that keeps me connected out here, is the nature... not necessarily the people. Sigh. But here I sit, happily awaiting one of the best things on earth, the return of the beautiful Sandhill cranes, and I am A-okay.

 

 

BATS! It's The End Of Summer!

 

“The basis of all human fears, he thought.

 A closed door, slightly ajar.” 

~Stephen King,

 Salem's Lot

 

I always thought I would be afraid, if I ever encountered a bat, but as it turns out, nope, I wasn't scared at all, and I found that out, just the other night. You see, hubby and I were driving home, along Franklin blvd, on the bridge that goes over the Mokelumne River, when suddenly thousands of the Mexican Free-tailed bats, flew really low over the road! It was an astounding sight, and equally astounding was the fact that there were folks on both sides of the road taking photos, and videos, and enjoying the experience completely!

 

Well, we circled back, and hubby decided to check what was happening. I stayed in the car. There was NO WAY I was going to get out of my lovely and very safe, Mini Cooper, just to stand in the midst of a million or so vampires. Nope. Not on this earth.Well, Alan was gone for about 30 minutes, so I was kinda sure he would be wearing a cape and fangs when he finally got in the car, but again, nope! All he was wearing when he got in the car, other than his clothes, of course, was a really big giddy smile. He went on to explain that standing on the bridge, as the bats flew off into the Twilight, in search of their meals,  was a really cool experience and he believed we should comeback the next night, so I could give it a try!  

 

I wasn't completely sure that was something I wanted to try, but after some thought, and a little reading on the Internet, I found out the specific species of bat that called that bridge home, was not something I had to worry about! It's called the, Mexican Free-tailed bat. It migrates from deep in South America, and it only spends a little time in this area, mostly the summer months, then it will continue on it's way north as Autumn comes. We might be able to see them at the Yolo Bypass early in October, but for the most part they will be on their way possibly this week, so we found out about them just in time.

 

I did something new. I got to be brave one more time. That is a good thing. Alan, and a medium sized bat, helped me gain a little more bravery in life, funny that! I am still conquering fear at 61 years old! It's not over for me! I can still move past the things that hurt me, and hold me back, which is a good lesson, because this has been one cruel summer. I lost my niece. She died. I also lost my nephew. He died too, but it was by his own hand. He committed suicide. I wish I knew why. I wish I understood my niece's car accident.

 

In addition, I wish I understood the death of my favorite actor, Treat Williams. He died on June 12th. According to the police report, he never had a chance. I think when all is said and done, and I know everything about their deaths, I will have grown a little more, because it all still hurts me, scares me, and in fact, devastates my whole being.

 

So, in the meantime, life goes on. There will be victories, and probably more pain along the way to closure, but there will also be great joys too! Like finding out that bats are sort of cool, and not at all interested in hurting me, as they go about their life. I love all the nature in the Central Valley, and as much as I hate to admit it, this place is starting to feel like the best home I had ever lived in! So I am a little sad that my new friends will soon be on it's way, just when I got to know them.

Oh my.

 

 

Flames Of Autumn Orange

 

"The Sussex lanes were very lovely in the autumn. Spendthrift gold and glory of the year-end. Earth scents and the sky winds and all the magic of the countryside which is ordained for the healing of the soul."

 

~Monica Baldwin 

 

I don't know what these trees are, but I will definitely be tracking it down before next autumn, because they are gorgeous. Small orange leaves. Stunning. Especially when passing by a full orchard of them. The Central Valley is known for certain crops. Nut trees. Almonds and Walnuts. Fruit. Apricots in particular. I will figure it out. All I know is, I am going to have plenty to research this year, to keep my mind off all the things that would ordinarily worry me. The Audubon Guide to Trees, Western Edition, will definitely be on my list for Santa Claus. 

 

 

 

~Carly

Stockton, California

December 4th 2020

Bird Watching Is A Lot Like Autumn Leaf Peeping

 

"November at it's best...

 with a sort of delightful menace in the air."

 

~Anne Bosworth Greene 

 

There are so many species of birds in the Central Valley, that I could spend my whole life out here with the camera, and not photograph the same bird twice. I wonder which of my albums will contain more individual photos by the end of 2021, my Leaves, or my Birds? It's a very pleasant thing to ponder. Peep.

 

~Carly

Stockton California

November 27th 2020

 

Autumn In Everything

"Days decrease and autumn grows, autumn in everything."

~Robert Browning

The sun is finally shining again. The smoke from the wildfires has cleared, so that autumn light, that always starts in late august, is free to come through the bedroom window.That window has the morning light, and the autumn light hitting the mirror is so pretty. It's easy to wake up happy when that's the first thing you see in the morning.

I am beginning to see little bit of autumn everywhere. In the trees. In the colors catching my eye. In silly disregard chairs. In the fruits and veggies at Central Valley fruit stands. In fish at the cute little Oakdale Cheese and Specialties, in Oakdale, California. We visited there last Saturday, and even the Koi in the pond had me thinking of autumn, which is on a breath away. 

I always think of autumn as the great corrective of the year. The Equinox will fix it, whatever "it" is. This year, there is a lot of pain caused by the pandemic and wildfires. Life during the pandemic and all the Trump drama has made life so difficult, but hope is waiting like a superhero, and in just a few weeks it will fly in, and with it comes everything I love, including vacation, and while everything is Covid-19 hesitant, and scaled down, leaf peeping remains constant. I picked a good subject to specialize in. Wonderful, glorious, magnificent autumn in all it's beauty. That's one thing the pandemic can't touch. 

Autumn in everything. 

Things are going to get better. In time.

Carly
August 27th, 2020
Stockton, California

Winter Migration

Canadian Geese

December 21st 2019

Lathrop, California

 Nikon

"She decided to free herself, dance into the wind, create a new language. And birds fluttered around her, writing "yes" in the sky."

~Monique Duval

Migrating Canadian Geese

Black & white

December 21st, 2019

Nikon

On the way home last Saturday, I spotted all kinds of different birds making their way south. Migration in the Central Valley has been lovely so far! Not only did I spot a brand new bird, just a couple weeks ago, but on Saturday I got to watch a gorgeous flock on Canadian Geese, and then a large group of Starlings making their way south, to warmer temperatures. I am thinking of asking Santa Claus for some bird feeders for Christmas, because that is something I can have a lot of fun with, even on this horrible Fibromyalgia days when there is no leaving the house because of pain! Who knows how many new birds I might be able to spot in 2020!? What a lovely thing to be able to look forward to!

 Starlings

~Mood: Happy
~Me    :)

Your Own Autumn Forest

"An autumn forest is such a place that
 once entered you never look for the exit."

~Mehmet Murat ildan

If you found your own autumn forest, 
would you ever want to leave?

#55 Leaf Of The Day
November 16th 2019
Stockton, California
Nikon

~Mood: Happy
~Me  :)

Acceptance

"I live in a place that's only good for leaving."

~Courtney Summers

Sadie

In case you haven't noticed, I have posted more this month, the first month of 2019, than I did last year at this time. In fact, this is the most posts in January, since 2015! What changed? Well, I am finally comfortable in my life. The most comfortable as I have been since moving. I am not 100% happy, that probably won't change until Trump is out of office, but I am comfortable in the house, and in Stockton. I have learned to venture out of the house, and find my way around, and I have some confidence in my photography as it applies to my semi-rural existence. I have gotten used to San Francisco not being a heartbeat away. I have stopped fighting my grief. I guess I have finally reached the acceptance of my situation, that will finally help me heal.

Acceptance... the 5th and final stage of grief, is the most important step to regaining your life, is perhaps the most difficult of the 5 to achieve, at least it was for me. It is, however a necessary evil, and by having let go, I have completed the necessary steps to feel free from the overwhelming hatred I felt for 2015. I think I feel better, but at the same time, I feel an familiar feeling of sadness for what's been left behind. San Francisco is my love, but at least my new town, of Stockton, and I can be friends! Finally! So, here is a new gallery of photographs from the Central Valley, taken last Sunday, during that fascinating storm that came through he Big Valley. So much light. So many clouds. And the beautiful rural towns, a little bit east of my new home!

Sights From The Central Valley Towns

Ione, California

Herald, California

I am already looking forward to the next winter storm!

~Mood: Happy

~Me