PRIDE

 

Yesterday saw me taking pix at the PRIDE (aka Lesbian, Gay, Transsexual & Transgender) Parade in San Francisco. I was fascinated by the bulldog pushing his/her ball along the parade route. He/she was keeping pace with the guy in the red vest, who was not prodding the dog, or otherwise urging him/her on. I've never seen anything quite like it. In answer to your question "no, I don't know if the dog was gay".

 

Education

 

Here's another example of why I might just as well quit roaming around all over creation and, instead, just settle into a rocking chair right here at home. The attached picture shows a mom teaching her youngster about the nutritional benefits of Calla Lilies. The lesson took place not ten feet from my kitchen window. I love the white dots on the fawn, and wonder what Mother Nature's purpose was.

 

Surfing

 

Who sez an old guy can't have fun? Here I was, taking pix for the SCOPE at the Redwood Hi Graduation Party. The surfboards were a big draw. It all happened a couple of weeks ago.

 

BALL

 

File this one wherever you wish ~ Artsy-Fartsy, Composition, Lake Lagunitas, Reflection, Crazy Hans ~ it's your choice!

 

Clark

 

What is it about Basset Hounds that make them so endearing? I met Clark with his mistress yesterday at Lake Lagunitas. Basset Hounds are bred to hunt rabbits by scent, but I doubt that portly Clark ever saw a rabbit, much less hunted one! The name derives from the French word "bas", meaning "low".

 

Surprise!

 

I have become a little blase about the richness and variety of animal life found on Mount Tamalpais. However, what Bob T and I encountered at Lake Lagunitas today did take us a little aback. I won't bore you with any more words but let my picture speak for itself.

 

 

Danika

 

And then,

quite suddenly,

unexpectedly,

a flash of adolescence.

Danika, almost nine.

 

Brush Rabbit

 

Recently I've shown you a couple of examples of Jack Rabbits. Here, for a change of pace, is a horse of a different color ~ a Brush Rabbit, which I spied in the Tennessee Valley. While the Jack Rabbit was very camera-friendly, this gal/guy was a real scaredy-cat. Did I throw enough animal names into the mix?

 

Feather

 

I found this feather in the Tennessee Valley this morning. I have no idea what bird it came from. The only colorful birds I saw were some quail and a robin. Your input will be accepted gracefully (and gratefully). And once again, three cheers for Mother Nature! My favorite artist, except perhaps for Frida Kahlo. But I may be a little prejudiced, since I saw her MOMA exhibit on Thursday, and enjoyed a wonderful, private tour by my friend, Emma Krasov, the best docent ever.

 

Notice how I segued (actually one of my least popular words)?

 

Stinson Beach

 

Today was a real scorcher. Even at Stinson Beach, where I took this picture. I really liked this scene of dad walking into the surf with his two kids in tow.

 

Swallows

 

What you see is not just boids. In fact, it's a rather unusual picture. On the left a Tree Swallow, on the right two Barn Swallows. Of course, it took none other than Dr. Janet Bodle to alert me to this fact. Aren't you glad I have an ornithologist on my staff?

 

I took the picture last Tuesday, at the Bear Valley Trail trailhead in Point Reyes.

 

More Artsy-Fartsy

 

In case yesterday's Artsy-Fartsy wasn't enough, here's another one!

 

Artsy-Fartsy

 

The toughest part of my day is deciding which picture to use.*

 

*just kidding!

 

.Rabbit

 

Not long after I E-mailed a picture of a rabbit here's another one. What's noteworthy is that, as you can see, this rabbit was running straight toward us. It wasn't until we almost collided that he/she took a turn to the right! I just don't know anymore!

 

Deer

This morning a deer appeared on, what we call, Pelican Island, at the Ponds. It's very unusual to see deer there, since they have to swim across. I thought it was a very lovely scene. Have you ever noticed how American men never use the word "lovely"? I, however, do!

 

Rabbi Yolles

 

Last Wednesday I was invited to the home of Eva and Alan Leveton to hear Chassidic Rabbi Hershel Yolles speak (to an audience of about fifteen). I have listened to him at the Levetons before, and each time was charmed by his soft voice and sweet words. This time his topic was THE TREE OF LIFE  and THE MENORAH. My picture shows the Rabbi clapping his hands in rhythm with a song he was singing. If I believed there was a God, I am convinced that he would look like Rabbi Hershel. The only downside is that the Rabbi is actually younger than I! Oy vey! For those of you in the know - Rabbi Yolles, who was on a visit from Boro Park, one of the fastest growing and most vibrant neighborhoods in Brooklyn, and the home of one of the world's largest Jewish communities, is a direct descendant of the Ba'al Shem Tov (the founder of the Chassidic movement).

 

I must profess that I am rather ignorant when it comes to religion, but love to listen to the words of spiritual women and men.

 

Breakfast

 

Daddy Blackbird feeding a very hungry youngster. The latter is as big as dad. Reminds me of today's teenagers! This scene took place this morning at Fort Baker.

 

 

Katze

 

According to my collective bargaining agreement, granddaughters must be accorded equal space. The other day I sent you a picture of Kelsey at her high-school commencement. So here's a drawing done by Danika, my almost nine-year old, while visiting from Byron, Illinois, this week. While using a little metal figurine as her model, she added some of her own imagination.

 

Grandkids is fun!

 

Point Pinole

Sometimes I worry that my landscape-loving friends will disown me if I don't please them once in a while. So here is a scenic picture taken from Point Pinole. Are you happy now?

 

Petaluma Marsh

 

Per yesterday's threat, here's some more Pelicans (not Penguins!). I really loved this busy scene. Toward the top there's a line of Pelicans swimming to the left. In the front a Canada Goose mom, followed by her five goslings swimming to the right. Added to the mix are some ducks, probably Mallards. Everybody marching to different drummers, seemingly frictionless! All this at the Petaluma Marsh in Novato.

 

My first mistake of the year! I've been spending too much time at the California Academy of Sciences!

 

Them Penguins wuz Pelicans!

 

Pelicans

 

This morning Bob T and I ventured into hitherto uncharted waters. Climbing through a hole in the fence, we explored the Novato Creek portion of the Petaluma Marsh Wildlife Area. Lately I haven't seen many White Penguins. The probable explanation is that they have been hanging out at the Marsh!

 

Warning ~ there may be another Penguin picture tomorrow!

 

Relaxed!

Here's a picture of something I have never been able to do. Relax at the beach. Whenever we (who dat?) went to the beach, I would sit, or lie, there, for sometimes as long as three minutes, then I'd jump up and hunt for rocks, or shells, or go and take pictures. I just have the wrong personality for relaxing in the sun! But I did think that these three presented a great picture opportunity. The scene took place yesterday at Stinson Beach, before the Dipsea Race runners began to come in and my focus changed.

Worm Art

After spending hours in Stinson Beach, taking dozens of pictures of the famed Dipsea Race, followed by shots of a helicopter responding to an emergency, I decided to down-size and send you a picture of, what I believe are, Sand Worm tracks. I took the picture because I thought that the tracks were very artistic; but for the scientists among you, here is some Sand Worm, or Phylum Gnathostomula, information ~From the Greek Gnathos for jaw and stoma for mouth.
Characteristics of Phylum Gnathostomula:-
1)Bilaterally symmetrical, and vermiform.
2)Body has more than two cell layers, tissues and organs.
3)Body contains no internal cavity.
4)Body possesses a blind ending gut, i.e. no anus.
5)Possesses simple protonephridia.
6)Has a diffuse epidermal nervous system.
7)Has a muscular pharynx with paired jaws and a basal plate.
8)Reproduction sexual, most if not all species hermaphroditic.
9)Feed on bacteria, fungi and protists.
10)All live in marine environments
Any questions?

The Graduate

Here's a rare example of your's truly bowing to pressure. But how could I ignore my granddaughter Kelsey, when she asked whether she would be featured in my Daily E-mail? It all happened yesterday at the Sonoma Valley High School commencement exercises. Kelsey graduated with Honors. Here she is with her dad, Sheldon (my son) minutes before the ceremonies began.

 

Yipeeeee!

 

Shadow

Bob H, being clairvoyant, knew that this would be today's Daily E-mail, even as I was closing in on my prey. So be it! What we have here is a leaf on a Madrone Tree at the Corte Madera Marsh.

 

Another Reflection

Another day, another reflection, another masterpiece by your favorite photographer. Taken at Lake Lagunitas a few days ago.

 

Don't blame me if you see a face in the picture, it is purely accidental, and was not my goal. You have a rich imagination. But by golly (Limey term), you're right, now I can see it too. A nose sticking out at the left, an eye, and even an ear.

 

Bird-Feeder

Shame on me! I take pix of birds all over creation, but regularly neglect the ones right outside my window. Today I tried to correct this shortcoming. Quietly sitting on a chair with my camera, I shot pix of Doves, Humming-birds, Finches, Sparrows, and a Scrub-jay, who had all come to wish me a "Good Morning"! My picture shows a female House Finch on the left, and a male House-Sparrow on the right. Aren't they gorgeous?

.

Housewives

Here's a couple of Mud Swallow housewives gossiping "over the fence" They are comparing notes on when their eggs will hatch. The nests are in the eaves above the entrance to the Target Store in Novato, and Target has put up some scaffolding to protect customers from bird droppings. I read about this spectacle in the Marin I.J. a couple of days ago, and Bob T and I journeyed over there to take some pix. The nests are made of mud from a nearby pond. The birds are visitors from South  America.

 

Butt shots not allowed

Any photography teacher worth his/her salt,  will tell you that "butt shots are definitely out. So here's a picture of Mr. and Mrs. Mallard as they were looking for their lunch at the Ponds this morning.

 

moi again

Today is my eightieth birthday! To celebrate the event I'm taking the liberty of attaching a recent picture taken by Margie Couvillion on the Bear Valley Trail. What I'm nibbling on is a Miner's Lettuce leaf.

 

Miner's lettuce is named after the California gold rush miners who ate it to get their vitamin C to prevent scurvy. It can be eaten as a  leaf vegetable. Most commonly it is eaten raw in salads, but it is not quite as delicate as other lettuce. Sometimes it is boiled like spinach, which in fact it resembles in taste.

 

Words of wisdom for the day ~ It's been a great ride so far, and seems to be getting better (body notwithstanding)!

 

I've been accused of being  a self-indulgent egomaniac before, so today's Daily E-mail should come as no surprise!