Let's Try This Again...

 

“Birds know themselves not to be at the center of anything, but at the margins of everything. The end of the map. We only live where someone's horizon sweeps someone else's. We are only noticed on the edge of things; but on the edge of things, we notice much.” 

 

 ~Gregory Maguire

  Out of Oz

 

Last week, will doing some birding close to home, I spotted for the first time, a pair of White-tailed Kite, possibly nesting, in some cedar trees in Louis Park's Pixie Woods. It was really amazing, because I rarely see them south of Lodi, so to be right next door in the park gives me some hope that this year will be full of surprises. We are again planning to visit the Monterey coast later today, barring any unforeseen circumstances. The birds recently seen there makes it impossible for birders like us to not go and check out the possibilities. I can't wait to come home and tell you what I find, and of course, show off the photos of the beautiful birds! So, let's try this again...

 

 

The Birds Of Monterey Bay

"When the autumn meets the tranquility,

 there you can see the King of the Sceneries!"

~Mehmet Murat ildan 

As much as I love an autumn landscape, with nothing but red, yellow, orange and brown leaves floating from here to there, it isn't the only thing to appreciate about my favorite season, sometimes it's just the amazing color of the sun, and the way it makes everything around seem so tranquil. As you know from my previous post, Alan and I spent a day this past week, in beautiful Monterey, Pacific Grove, and Carmel. I love it there, I really do, but since moving to the Central Valley, I don't spend nearly enough time along the coast. In fact, this was our first visit back, since we moved here in 2015, so it was an especially nice journey back! While I didn't see as many different sea birds as on previous visits, the ones I did see were quite spectacular, and if I didn't know better, I would think they were posing for the camera!

October 17th, 2018 was a wonderful autumn day!

#30 Leaf Of The Day

October 20th, 2018

Pacific Grove, California

Photographed October 17th 2018

~Mood: Happy

~Me

The Decline

"Change is an unsuspecting and finicky foe. You don't realize the strength or grip until it's too late."

~Dave Cenker

Second Chances

A short break from the usual autumn tribute. No pumpkins in this post, decorations, or thoughts of ghosts, just a collection of beautiful butterflies! Lovely, and gentle! Fragile and too few! On past visits to the Monarch Sanctuary, in Pacific Grove, California,

the eucalyptus groves were dripping with thousands of monarchs, resting in the leaves, until the sun turned, and they all flew at once into the warmth of the late afternoon sun! It was enchanting! But yesterday, Alan and were shocked to see only about 15 total! It was very sad, and really quite disturbing!

The earth is hurting. Climate Change is real, and it's at the most serious point it has ever been, yet it is being blatantly ignored by the American government, who should be leading the world in connecting the scientific facts and evidence to common sense approaches to reversing the damage already done! The most recent climate study is frightening! Total devastation could happen within my lifetime, And believe me, based on the obvious lack of butterflies, bees, and deer that usually wander all around the sanctuary, coupled with the decline of the number of different bird species in the are, that had seemed to drop off as well, it left me not just depressed, but also truly scared! 

#27 Leaf Of The Day

October 18th, 2018

Stockton, California

~Mood: Quiet

~Me 

Round Robin Challenge: Spring Time! + A Week Of Yellow Day Six: Soft Yellow

Soft Yellow California Poppy
Golden Gate Park, San Francisco
Spring, 2012

"It's spring again. The earth is like a child that knows poems by heart."

~Rainer Maria Rilke

RRC: Spring Time

I think I should probably begin this post with a heartfelt I am Sorry Karen, because I know that flowers are not at the top of her list of favorite subjects, both to look at or to photograph. But here's the thing, I found myself absolutely drawn to them this year, probably because of my illness last Spring which kept me housebound for most of the season! I didn't get out to do much photography from late February thru early June, and by then, most of the first young lovely flowers of spring, were moving over for the more hardy plants and flowers of summer! 

The summer flowers are beautiful, and you know I would give up all the flowers of both seasons, in favor of the leaves of autumn, but when you can't photograph them, you learn to not take them for granted. So, this post is quite flower heavy, with flowers from springs past, and a couple from spring of this year! But hey, it's not a total loss, there is also a furry wild creature or two to break up the flower monotony! :)

My Spring Gallery...

Happy Squirrel
Golden Gate Park, San Francisco
Spring 2010


Purple Flowers
Tilden Park, Berkeley, California
Spring 2006
 

Yellow Flower With Bee
Golden Gate Park, San Francisco
Spring 2005


Spring Bouquet
Berkeley, California
Spring 2014


Spring Balloons 
My Favorite Color Combination
Spring, 2011


Japanese Tea Garden
Golden Gate Park, San Francisco
Spring, 2005


Purple Ice Plant
Pacific Grove/Monterey Bay, California
Spring, 2010


Queen Wilhelmina Tulip Garden
Golden Gate Park, San Francisco
Spring, 2005


Spring Blossoms With Bee
Berkeley, California
Spring, 2006


Pink Blossoms
Pleasanton, California
Spring, 2014


Tree Blossoms
Golden Gate Park
Spring, 2013
 

"It's spring fever. That is what the name of it is. And when you've got it, you want... oh, you don't quite know what it is you do want, but it just fairly makes your heart ache, you want it so!"

~Mark Twain

Okay, now that you have seen my post for the Round Robin Challenges, how about joining in? I know Karen would be thrilled to have a new player joining us. Just click the link at the top of this post to be redirected to the official Round Robin blog, where you can find all the information you need to play along, plus the links to the other participants for this challenge. Please consider joining us!

Mood: Happy

~Me :)

The Spring Collection 2007

"It's a great thing when you realize you still have the ability to surprise yourself. Makes you wonder what else you can do that you've forgotten about."

-Alan Ball, American Beauty, 1999

For the last full day of spring, I thought it would be nice to post some of my favorite photos from this season. Although I didn't get out as much with the camera as I wanted to, I worked really hard with it when I did. I think slowing down has been good for me. I have been really running the last couple years, and in doing so, I think I might have missed some opportunities. The summer is looking ripe with photo jaunts, but I think I am going to set a goal for myself to take 50 or less photos per photo trip, in an effort to slow down and pay closer attention to details. I need a lot of work on dealing with the wind blowing my subjects out of frame. I shoulder has been giving me a difficult time, since I hurt it last December. I must remember... the tripod is my friend. LOL. I think after my appointment with Sarah later today, I might pay a visit to the Botanical Garden, in Tilden park. There should be lots of chances to relax and get in some time practicing with light and shadows. And, thank goodness, it is going to be a mild day as far as the weather goes. Sigh. Perfect for the last full day of spring. :)

Enjoy...

-OndineMonet
Spring, 2007

Art About Town... Pacific Grove, California

"Art is contemplation. It is the pleasure of the mind which searches into nature and which there divines the spirit of which nature herself is animated."

-Auguste Rodin

Yesterday, it was an absolutely beautiful day along the Monterey Bay peninsula, especially in the town of Pacific Grove. I had forgotten how amazing that place is in the spring, when all the wildflowers are in bloom, and the cliffs become alive with the colors of the season, the most striking of which is the purple, it is planted all along the cliffs and waterfront. My favorite park in Pacific Grove is, Lovers Point. It offers a gorgeous view of the peninsula, and although not too big as parks go, it is more than just lovely... it's stunning! It truly lives up to it's name. :) The park has two prominent sculptures on display, my favorite being the above, "Butterfly," by Petaluma born sculptor, Gordon Newell. Engraved on the base of the sculpture are the words...

Gift of Hilda Van Sicklen
1964
Sculptor George Newell

Pacific Grove is "Butterfly Town USA," after all. Every year, in the autumn, I look forward to visiting the Monarch sanctuary, where thousands of monarchs can be seen settling in the eucalyptus grove, during their annual migration. According to a one volunteer I spoke with last October, there can be as many as 15,000 clustered high in the Monterey Pines, Eucalyptus and cypress trees within the sanctuary. :) It is a place of peace and comfort for me, I guess that's why I love this sculpture so very much, and yesterday, I finally got the opportunity to photograph it. :)There really isn't a bad time to visit the Monterey peninsula, even on a rainy day it portrays a romantic atmosphere, and there is natural beauty to be found everywhere.


-OndineMonet
"Butterfly"
Lover's Point Park
Pacific Grove, California
April 12th, 2007
Early Afternoon