Song Of Nature

 

“In their previous lives, poets were bats, and thinkers were owls.”

 
~Michael Bassey Johnson,

  Song of a Nature Lover

 

  

The bats of 2025 were beautiful, but that's not a new revelation. If you know me at all, you know I fell hopelessly in love with every single Mexican Free-tailed bat the visits each year. But this year I cherished them even more, as their numbers at the Franklin boulevard Bridge were noticeably fewer. As were the mosquitos. The two go together. It was disappointing and a little scary to witness such a change. In years past, the bridge would be lined with my fellow bat enthusiasts, the kids love it! But between the strangely cool summer we had, and the lack of our bat friends, it was an unusual year for nature in the San Joaquin Valley. I have also noticed less birds here as well! I am obviously not sure whether it is the decline of the ecosystem due to Climate Change, caused by greed and ignorance, or just one of those off years that happens sometimes! I have my suspicions. California has done better than most states in our fight for environmental causes, but we are far from perfect. There is discarded trash everywhere in the valley. Folks throw their old furniture and tires anywhere they think no one will notice. The folks around me just don't care! Stocktonians are dead inside.

 

Speaking of which, while I was working on this post,

 this happened, right outside my bedroom window... 

 

CBS 13 Sacramento

BANG, BANG, BANG, BANG, BANG

SIREN, SIREN,SIREN, SIREN, SIREN

FIRETRUCK

 

(Silence)

 

Stockton Police helicopter circling, in a beautiful sky, above my home.

(Falcon One)

 

It's been 2 hours and the police still have the streets closed off.

 

DRAMA. Useless drama.

 

( Sad, Scared, Depressed, Silence) 

 

Man, this post went sideways fast! 

 

Okay, so lets just focus of the beauty, shall we?

 

 

Stay Safe My Friends,

 And Be Grateful For The Beautiful Things In Life.

It's The Signature, Stupid

 

NBC News

Donald Trump's signature

 

Is it or isn't it his? 

 

Secrecy And Silence

 

“In order to escape accountability for his crimes, the perpetrator does everything in his power to promote forgetting. Secrecy and silence are the perpetrator’s first line of defense. If secrecy fails, the perpetrator attacks the credibility of his victim. If he cannot silence her absolutely, he tries to make sure that no one listens. To this end, he marshals an impressive array of arguments, from the most blatant denial to the most sophisticated and elegant rationalization. After every atrocity one can expect to hear the same predictable apologies: it never happened; the victim lies; the victim exaggerates; the victim brought it upon herself; and in any case it is time to forget the past and move on. The more powerful the perpetrator, the greater is his prerogative to name and define reality, and the more completely his arguments prevail.” 

~Judith Lewis Herman

 

Trauma and Recovery: The Aftermath of Violence - From Domestic Abuse to Political Terror  

The quote says it all. So do the math on this man. 

 

 

The Spiders Of Summer

 

“If you run from your fears
And don't bother to find,
The things you think scare you
They'll stay in your mind.” 

~Elena Schietinger,

 

  There'S a Spider in My Closet!

 

I didn't get out this summer quite as much as I have in other years, but I searched for spiders every time I did, and while they were difficult to find, I did find a few I absolutely loved for their colors and shapes. This one, for example. It is an orb spider, and colored in earth tones, which is very much to my liking! I guess you could say, its my favorite type of spider, if having a favorite spider is a thing, but in any case, I highly respect them for their designing capabilities! They have gorgeous homes! I don't know which impresses me more, the beautiful webs they spin, or the beauty of the spiders themselves. I am still not fond on tarantulas, after the encounter with one I had in Turlock, but at the same time, perhaps this will be the year I spot one on Mount Diablo. From the car, of course! 

 

European Garden Spider 

 

 

A Quote And A Hawk

 

“I dreamed my shoulders held up the sky for a thousand hawks that squawked and cawed and beat their feathered wings against the hotness of the day. I supported their flight, watching and marveling, until sweat dripped from my body, and groans crossed my lips over fatiguing muscles.

Choosing to let the sky fall, I awoke.

My eyes opened to a cast of hawks gripping me in their talons. They supported my weight, hauling me high above the clouds through a blue expanse of heaven. And though they struggled—squawking and flapping wearily—never once did a single bird release its hold.” 

 

 
~Richelle E. Goodrich,

  Making Wishes: Quotes, Thoughts, & a Little Poetry for Every Day of the Year

 

Today, Just a quote and a beautiful bird, the Red-shouldered hawk.

 The world can take care of itself.

 

The Smallest Of The Falcons

 

"A kestrel can and does hover in the dead calm of summer days, when there is not the faintest breath of wind. He will, and does, hover in the still, soft atmosphere of early autumn..."

 

 ~Richard Jefferies

 

This is one of my favorite birds, the American Kestrel. I love it for it's beauty, but just watching how it flies, really draws me in! They soar with such whimsy, and they hover for food with deep precision. They are stunning birds, and in my opinion, not mentioned enough in the arts! Did you know they are the smallest of the falcons?

 

 

Imposter Seasons

 

"If I were a flower…I would be a sunflower. To always follow the sun, turn my back to darkness, stand proud, tall and straight even with my head full of seeds."

~Pam Stewart

It's late summer now, and but there are still some tiny sunflowers to be found along the roads here and there in the San Joaquin Valley. They always make me smile. I want to stop at each spot and take a photo, just so I refer back on cold days of winter, to keep me warm inside. The weather was perfect this summer. Not too hot, if not a little too cool. One night in July, I was actually shivering, while I was batting on the Franklin Bridge. I hardly got bit, there weren't nearly as many mosquitos as in years past. But there were sunflowers, which no matter what, they are always there in summer. That's a good thing, if not, I might not know if spring had ever ended!

Deer Crossing

 

“The clearest way into the Universe is through a forest wilderness.” 

~John Muir 

 

While out waiting for bats one evening, on the Franklin Boulevard Bridge, I was enjoying that night's twilight of mild summer temperatures, when I spotted a group of deer wading through the Mokelumne River toward the southern bank, and let me tell you, it was just what I needed to see, when I needed to see it! The Mexican Free-tailed bat is a yearly visitor to the bridge, with numbers that on some years reach as many as 200,000, but for some reason their numbers don't seem to have nearly that many this year! When that happens, the photographer in me has to rely on other things in nature to photograph. Birds, dragonflies, even spiders are some of my favorite subjects, and I do have plenty of those to share, but I had been hoping to see something new to try, and then the chance presented itself. It was one of those magical moments, when the camera was with me, and the camera was charged up, and the camera actually had a memory card in it. You see, I tend to forget all those things from time to time. But on this night it all came together.

 

As I said, it was magic!

 

And there's a lot more to share with you!

 

 

I Met A Friendly Little Junco

 

“In order to see birds it is necessary to become a part of the silence.” 

― Robert Lynd 

 

I was in Cull Canyon Park, birding, and I just wasn't seeing anything, I heard a lot of chirping, but I wasn't actually seeing the birds! They've gotten crafty about evading me. I guess they are taking advantage of the last of the summer's green leaves to hide in. Autumn will be here soon, and some leaves are already beginning to turn, so they know it's only a matter of time until birders like me will be visiting the parks and preserves. This dark-eyed junco wasn't so shy, it hopped right over to my car, and played in the fallen leaves, and I was so jealous, because that was something I would do if I could. Still, I got a lot of happiness just watching him. It was one of the best parts of last week!

 

 

The Smile On The Block Of Something

 

“I never realized how much you meant to me until someone spoke your name and an irrepressible, goofy grin stretched my lips.”

 
― Richelle E. Goodrich,

 

  Slaying Dragons: Quotes, Poetry, & a Few Short Stories for Every Day of the Year

 

As you know, I see smiles in inanimate things. It's called, Pareidolia, It's common, but not everybody experiences it at the same rate. I see faces all the time. In trees, in work equipment, in painted surfaces, and even road delineators. I love it! It makes my creative side excel at trying to find out why the object feels the particular emotion I see, it also makes me more aware of how people, even those I don't know, are feeling. And when there is no one around me at all, it makes me feel less alone somehow. I love the gifts the human mind offers. There is a lot to think about!

 

 

By the way... what the heck is that block of whatever, smiling at me?

 

 

Also on Friday, August 29th, 2025

 

 

“There was no other sound in the world like a car crash.”

 
― Maggie Stiefvater,

  The Dream Thieves

 

Also on Friday, as we were returning from picking up our new kitty, Tyler, this happened! Not to us, but these two cars. One was making a left turn into a gated community, the white car was speeding in the right lane, coming in the opposite direction, and hit the SUV and a crash occurred which knocked the SUV on its side. We stopped immediately, to provide help if needed, and to make sure they had a witness if need be. As it turns out, the car parked behind the accident, also stopped, and that man had to run down the passenger of the white car that got out and ran. I am reluctant to show his photo, as he was only 15. But what does that say, that he would leave his friend, who was injured, and run? Amazingly, an off duty police officer was driving behind the white car and saw him hit the SUV! That's very bad news for him!

 

 And get this, that was the second accident we had seen in two days!

 

We had to drive down to the Bay Area on Thursday, to pick up Tyler. That ended up being it's own drama, I will share about that sometime. So, anyway, we were kinda stressed on the way home, which I am sure you understand, and then, suddenly, we were witnesses to an accident. We also stopped at that one. Fortunately, there were no injuries! They exchanged their info amicably and we were on our way again. Luckily, there was no need for the police. As was good, so we were on our way.

 

But...

 

On the very top of the Altamont Pass, the engine light came on in the Cooper! Holy Hell! It turned out to be a minor thing, and again we were on our way, but doggone, can anything else scare the Hell out of me? Whew! Thursday was a day, and Friday had it's moments too, but we were okay. The biggest dramas were happening to others. It didn't matter to me if it was a democrat or republican, it never entered my mind, all I knew was that we had to stop when those accidents happened, and help! End of story. I hope others feel the same, but I don't know, we are all so fractured right now. Sigh.

 

Anyway was a strange week, and I can't help but wonder how much the moon, or sun flares, or just plain being distracted, by all the worldly drama played a part. All I know is we are okay, and that's the story. Driving on HWY 4 and the Altamont is a challenge. People speed, and weave in and out of traffic. You have to really be aware of what's happening around you. You just do. I hate taking HWY 4 in any direction, but if I want to do some birding this year, at the Clifton Court Forebay, we have to take HWY 4. It's the only way to get there! I guess I will worry about it when the time comes, sometime after the middle of this month!

 

For now... Ohmmm Ohmmm, HERE KITTY KITTY KITTY😊

 

 

Friday, August 29th, 2025

 

“There are two means of refuge from the misery of life 

— music and cats.” 

― Albert Schweitzer 

 

So, this post is all about what you see in the above photo. That's not a throwback picture of Hendrix, that is the first photo of our new kitty, Tyler. We adopted him on Friday, August 29th! He is adorable, and is already fitting in terrifically. It's less pressure for Joey, and for us too. One thing about kittens, they will use the hoomans, and the established cats, as scratching posts. Also, less harmfully, when they jump on us out of play and pure joy, kitty nibbles take place! Kitten nails and teeth can hurt. It's called owning a kitten, so I am not super worried about the less fun parts, I am focusing on what about them that fills my heart! I love to watching them grow up! In a few months it will be time to get them fixed and chipped and then it's fairly smooth sailing through their first year of life. It will be fun, and scary and well worth the effort. They are little for a such a short time, then before you know it, you are saying goodbye. But now is they time to celebrate all the love in this house, but also the love we once knew.

 

Welcome, baby Tyler! 

 

Come back tomorrow for Friday... Part Two. It's a really something. 

 

 

 

 

A Late Spring Robin

 

“The robin flew from his swinging spray of ivy on to the top of the wall and he opened his beak and sang a loud, lovely trill, merely to show off. Nothing in the world is quite as adorably lovely as a robin when he shows off - and they are nearly always doing it.” 

 

― Frances Hodgson Burnett,

 

  The Secret Garden

 

A few photos of a beautiful Robin, taken just as spring was leaving and summer was arriving. It was strange this year, as it seemed like nature simply shooed summer away and let spring have a full 6 months of the year, well almost. It has a been dreamy having autumn begin in spirit in early summer. It made me want to watch every horror movie ever made, as if Halloween were going to begin any minute! I refrained, however, and they will be waiting for me come October. As will my other fall movie favorites, St. Elmo's Fire, When Harry Met Sally, Raiders of the Lost Ark, and Arsenic and Old Lace. Throw in a few Alfred Hitchcock movies and I am all set! 

 

Can you believe Halloween items are beginning to show up in stores? 

Not that there is anything wrong with that.

 

Here is a little Robin folklore. On that day I saw that beautiful bird, I was grieving so deeply for my boy Hendrix that maybe he was sending me a message that he was okay and beauty and love was all around. Or maybe it was Dylan and Hendrix sending me that message, or maybe it was just the love of a beautiful robin, showing off it's song. I love all those scenarios, and I don't like to limit the possibilities, especially as I grow old. I have a curious mind, and I appreciate just how much magic life holds for us.

 

Crimson Leaves

“I was drinking in the surroundings: air so crisp you could snap it with your fingers and greens in every lush shade imaginable offset by autumnal flashes of red and yellow.” 

― Wendy Delsol,

  Stork

 

My Favorite Tree, Cull Canyon Park

August 26th 2025 

  

Autumn is here. It has felt like autumn began sometime around august 1st. It was a milder than usual summer. We have only had a few days of hot weather, but in general, I could wear long sleeves and not be too uncomfortable. One night, in July, while on the Franklin blvd waiting for the bats to emerge, I was actually cold! Anyway, my autumn leaf guides all point to this being an early autumn, which means the color is already arriving! Ahhhhh... I am tickled to see my favorite tree in the world, showing off an autumn leaf grin. it makes me feel happier inside than I have in months! Just look at that gorgeous tree, putting on it's autumn sweater! There is more to come, so visit often, as this autumn emerges, Especially after September 23rd, when I officially begin my Autumn Leaf Of The day project!

 

 

Getting To Heaven

 

"I wanna try and get to heaven if possible. I'm hearing I'm not doing well. I am really at the bottom of the totem pole. But if I can get to heaven, this will be one of the reasons."

 

~Donald John Trump

August 21st, 2025

Fox News 

 

Is it his physical health that he is referring to, when he says he's not doing well? He has had some problems lately.  He was recently diagnosed with Chronic Venous Insufficiency, which does not sound fun, but is not uncommon for a man of his age. I wouldn't wish that on anyone, I have trouble with my feet as well, but I can self correct by lowering my sodium intake, drinking more water, and elevating them occasionally.  Of course it could be he is considering getting to heaven by tweaking his attitude, but I have seen no evidence of that happening anytime soon, and it really doesn't seem to be that, because he continues to bash the Ukraine, and drool over Putin. That is quite a disconnect, but he still insists he hates the killing that's happening. Maybe it's everything, everywhere, all at once. Maybe he is concerned about his whole life. Revenge, Retribution, Selfishness, Greed, Bearing False witness, and then there is all that Epstein business. I am reluctant to share my personal opinion about that, but I believe that a lot of people were hurt by Maxwell, Epstein, and now by the Trump administration by not releasing the full files. And lets not forget his quest for the Nobel Peace prize! He has wanted that for years. it's all about President Obama winning one. Who knows? I know he hasn't looked physically well these past three months. Maybe life is catching up with him, time waits for no man... or woman. Or maybe he finally understands that there is life beyond this life. That there is a God who will be the ultimate judge to our deeds good and bad. I don't know, but something is ringing a bell inside. I hope he listens to it. I hope he changes his ways, I just won't be surprised if he doesn't. I wish I felt different. I believe truly accepting Christ, and I will be praying for that, as it's best for everyone.

 

 

Walmart, On A Saturday Afternoon

 

“Disagreement is one thing; disrespect is quite another.”

 
― Richard V. Reeves 

 

Sigh, Walmart on a Saturday afternoon. 

 

In my time, since getting to know my wheelchair, Phoebe, I have seen a lot of things, this takes them all. I actually started a file a while back of of folks who park in handicapped spots, with no placard and no specialized plates. Sometimes it's been commercial vehicles, sometimes crooked parking, TRULY crooked parking, but three, able bodied bikers, with music playing at 200, just taking what they wanted, is about as disrespectful as it gets. But we live in a time of take what you want, do what you want, and there is also a turn toward disabled persons, such as myself, being cast aside. We don't matter anymore. I knew this would happen one day, Trump's disrespect for this community finally wore off on a certain class of people. 

 

It's a no brainier, if you disrespect me, you are disrespecting yourself two fold. That act was not just disrespectful, it was illegal. So what else are they doing?

 

 

Franklin Boulevard At Desmond Road

 

"There's a sunrise and sunset in every single day. Don't miss so many of them."

 

~Jo Walton

 

I was happy with this photograph. It turned out just the way I imagined it would. Photos don't always do that. It was my intention to show off the gorgeous sunsets we get out here, and the slight eeriness of the scene in front of me. Standing at the corner of two dark roads, with the light nearly gone, and the bridge on Franklin blvd, caused by a storm from 3 years ago, is still closed, it made me realize how beautiful, and so wicked life can be.

 

 I wasn't able to photograph it, but there were 4 barn owls just down the road to the left. We had gone to see the Mexican Free-tailed bat, and after the show they put on, we drove down to Desmond road, to check for birds that tend to arrive in late Summer. While we didn't find any new ones, we were treated to the sound of Canadian geese flying over, a reminder that autumn isn't very far away, and the gorgeous owls, who I had thought might be an urban legend.

 

The bats have seemed less this year, as have the birds, but in batting and birding, these things are all about equal parts timing and luck. I suppose amazing summer sunsets kinda fall into that formula as well. Shrug. All I know is I will be exploring more sunsets this year, because, well, who has time left in life to take them for granted? Don't just love ones right after a rainstorm? The possibilities are endless!

 

 

It's That Time Again, The Inbetween Time

 

Simon, Adopted July 4th, 2025 

 

“A kitten is the delight of a household.

 All day long a comedy is played out

 by an incomparable actor.” 

― Champfleury,

  The Cat Past And Present

It's August 23rd, and that means it's the anniversary of Ellipsis. I got the date wrong last year, which will tell you how much I gave a shit, but this year it means a little more to me then it did a year ago. This blog, which may seem quaint in a world of micro-blogging, serves a profound purpose to me. It is the record of not just my life, as I navigate along, but also as a continued goal to achieve. Sometimes I want to give up. Use my photoblog as my only record, but then happy things come along, and I can't wait to share them with the world. Happy times like beginning a new chapter. Well world, meet, Simon! He's my next chapter.

 

He was a happy turn of events, in a devastating time in life. When my beautiful Dylan passed away, I basically wondered around for a while. I pushed my feelings deep, and concentrated on my beautiful Hendrix and Joey. To my surprise, Hendrix mourned Dylan, deeply. They snuggled together all their lives, and believe me, they fought. I was caught off guard about how deeply Hendrix grieved. I watched him as he cried and searched and stopped eating. I took him to see Dr. B. who said there wasn't anything wrong with him, but his mommy knew there was, because I was feeling it too. 

 

Hendrix lived another nine months. In June, he suddenly became ill, and finally passed away. He was just a few months shy of his 17th birthday. A long time for a cat. In his years he was 84 years old. He worked hard his whole life caring for all of us, and he was tired. I can't begrudge him that, he earned the time to move on. The last time I saw him, he was on his way downstairs to the living room, where he passed away around 6:00 am the next morning. It hasn't even been three months, and I miss him deeply. I miss his love. He loved deeply. But sometimes, if you are open to life, you will find magic along the way.

 

Simon came along like magic. About three weeks after Hendrix passed away, hubby and I were walking out the door, when we noticed 4 little kittens playing with the neighbors cat, who I always called, Socks. I am not sure whether or not those people ever named her. They were deeply strange people, but I will speak of that some other time. Anyway, hubby and I discussed getting a kitty at the right time, when the right time made itself known. So when we asked about the kittens, and how old they were, we found out that they were born the same week Hendrix passed away. It felt like more than luck to us, it felt like Hendrix sent us love.

 

And now we have a Simon, named after, Paul Simon. Or My little Butterfly, which is his first official nickname. All cats have several nicknames, according to Old Possums Book of Practical Cats. 

He is a wonderful kitty. His momma cat moved away, along with the family next door, several weeks ago, so now I am the momma. He is a bright kitty, he knows his name, and he understands the words, no and bad. He's playful, especially on the curtains. YIKES. But I got him some curtains he can tear up, until he learns what is okay to play with and what isn't. He's a good little eater, and digs into Joey's food every chance he gets. He has already had his first set of big boy shots, but there are more to come. And he loves his Sesame Street friends.  Big bird was his first friend, and even at 4 weeks old, he dragged him everywhere. He purrs deeply and seems happy to be with us and Joey. In fact, they are already play friends, and the fighting is rare, but it's all about boundaries, just like humans have to learn. It's been a long time since we raised a cat, and this will be the last one we do, because we feel our age as old folks. Time marches on, whether we want to go with it, or not.

 

I call Simon my little butterfly, because the back of his head looks like a butterfly. When he moves his ears it looks like a gorgeous butterfly in flight. His ears are trimmed in a white, which only adds to it. He is gorgeous! So, that's the beginning of this new year of Ellipsis. Autumn is coming, as are the birds. Halloween and the deep autumn holidays. Leaves, glorious leaves, and our vacation in October, the magical month! So much to share! Hopefully we won't get Covid-19 this year, but who the hell knows. Through all of it, this blog will be here, to help me clear the head noise, and remember it all. We won't discuss Trump... for now. 

 

Happy 23 years old, Ellipsis.  Onward.

 

I am back every day now. The Autumn Leaf project begins on September 22nd.