SFMOMA

The lobby of the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art is decked out in banners displaying beautiful designs that look like ancient Chinese pictograms of which I have a little knowledge. It turns out that, in fact, they are meaningless, false Chinese ideograms, created by Chinese artist Gu Wenda (Wikipedia him for his fascinating story).

 

Hummingbird

Most of the pictures I take from my apartment-house are out my kitchen-window. But today's attachment is from my deck in front. I think it was an Allen's Hummingbird visiting the feeder. I sat there, waiting, camera on the ready, no more than two feet away, when it showed up. These little guys/gals never cease to enamor and amaze me.

 

Last Night's Moon

Last Night's Moon

Au clair de la lune,
Mon ami, Pierrot,
Prete-moi ta plume
Pour ecrire un mot!
Ma chandelle est morte,
Je n'ai plus de feu;
Ouvre-moi ta porte,
Pour l'amour de Dieu.

Au clair de la lune,
Pierrot repondit:
"Je n'ai pas de plume,
Je suis dans mon lit;
Va chez la voisine,
Je crois qu'elle y est;
Car dans la cuisine,
On bat le briquet."

 

At the Ponds

I just love a parade!

 

When Housecleaning Pays Off!

I ran across this picture this morning when housecleaning! Sorry, but I don't remember where I took it, or where I took it. Could it have been in Bodega Bay? I assume you all (y'all) saw Alfred Hitchcock's "The Birds".

 

Red-shouldered Hawk

There must have been six dozen birders at the Ponds this morning. All from a birding class. Unfortunately there seemed to be more birders than birds (Canada Geese don't count). Fortunately this Red-shouldered Hawk showed up, or I would have had to go home empty-camarad (should it be camared?)

 

More from Sausalito

Herring-boat KATHY L hauling in the catch.

 

Sea Star

While nosing around for herring related photo ops in Sausalito, Bob H called my attention to this Sea Star. It must have measured at least 12", tentacle to tentacle.

 

PS Don't call it Star Fish - it's not a fish!

 

Hungry for Herring

Sea Lions and Brown Pelicans share the dock in Sausalito, hunting for herring.

 

Brown Pelicans

We don't see many Brown Pelicans in Marin. Today was different. Hundreds of Brown Pelicans descended upon Sausalito to feast on herring, here on their annual migration. My picture shows the birds congregating right next to the Spinnaker Restaurant. A herring boat, the Bay Bridge and the San Francisco skyline in the background.

 

Sausalito Houseboats

This morning Ethan B and I went on a Safari to Sausalito's houseboat community. Ethan brought along his pet moose, seen here trudging up the steps of one of the houseboats. A fun trip!

 

White-faced Ibis

I photographed these birds at the Sacramento Wildlife Sanctuary, having no idea what they were. When Janet B saw the picture, she immediately identified them as White-faced Ibis (wading birds in the family Threskiornithidae). Now, why didn't I know that?

 

Snow Geese

There are literally thousands of Snow Geese at the Sacramento Wildlife Refuge. A wonderful treat for birders!

 

Landscape

On our way to the Sacramento Wildlife Refuge we passed by the Sutter Buttes, sprinkled with snow. Consensus in the car was that the rows of trees in the foreground were almonds.

 

Great Horned Owl

A not great picture of a Great Horned Owl at the Sacramento Wildlife Refuge a few days ago.

 

What's my excuse? The sun had set and you couldn't see the face of the owl. Also, it was quite far away. Once back home, Photoshop came to the partial rescue.

 

Great Egret

This morning at the Ponds. First I took some pictures of the Egret as it was standing absolutely motionless (how do they do that?). I followed suit, knowing that, sooner or later, she/he would take wing. That sure sounds stilted! In more modern speak I'd say "Hey, I knew that , if I'd hang long enough, the bird would split. Know what I mean?"

 

Northern Harrier

I was out at the Sacramento Wildlife Refuge yesterday. A great trip and I saw quite a few species of birds. Attached is a picture of a Northern Harrier.

 

Boydz

Boydz

Ellis Creek Revisited

After posing for a picture on the ground, two of the swans took off for a fly-over. I took it as a salute.

 

Historic Art Find

The art world rejoiced yesterday, when one of my major works of art, "Friends", from my Fork-People Period, turned up, after being thought lost for a quarter of a century. The piece, was found in a cardboard box during a major house-cleaning of my hacienda (apartment). I am expecting offers from the major Bay Area museums.

 

Mixed-up Cat

Today I saw the weirdest cat. Most of it was white, but there were also distinct patches of tiger. How could that be?

 

More Ellis Creek

Mute Swans get bad press because "they are not native". That's not their fault! The fact of the matter is, that most of us are not native either. So just grin and bear it.

 

I can't get enough of Swans. They are so beautiful and graceful. At Ellis Creek you can get quite close. They stand their ground or, at most, saunter away slowly. Such hams!

 

My Favorite Tree

My favorite tree at Ellis Creek in Petaluma. I took this picture yesterday.

 

Man And His Dog

This morning at Ellis Creek in Petaluma. I thought it was the quintessential "MAN AND HIS DOG" scene. I wonder what the man's thoughts were? I wonder what the dog's thoughts were? Am I getting too romantic?

 

Reflection

Reflection

 

Rarin' to go!

Alaskan Huskies, Tashi and Kojak, were just rarin' to go this morning at the Ponds. They are absolutely happy and willing participants in the program! I've photographed them before, but their sight still thrills me.

 

In case you're curious, there's a special rig for the cart on the back of the owners' SUV.

 

Long-eared Owl

For the past month, people at the Ponds have been teasing me with stories of a Long-eared Owl, sitting on a pole and watching the world go by. I never saw it and was getting frustrated.

 

Until this morning, when I saw the owl, big as life! Proving that there is justice in this world.

 

Rafael Lozano-Hemmer

Great visit today to the SF-MOMA. I was really impressed by Rafael Lozano-Hemmer's installation. The piece consists of floor-mounted projectors that cast the shadow of the public onto a wall and another set of hanging projectors which project images inside the shadows. Too hard to fully explain. Ya gotta see it for yourself. And while you're there be sure to see the main attractions ~ Jasper Johns and Jay Defeo.

 

Great Egret

This morning at the Ponds. Can there ever be too many Great Egret pictures?

 

Chichen Itza

In 1994 a friend and I bicycled around Mexico's Yukatan Peninsula. About 550 miles. We saw many beautiful Mayan ruins. The most impressive one was probably the Kukulkan Pyramid in Chichen Itza, shown in my picture. My friend climbed up, while I was too chicken to do it!

 

San Francisco - Oakland Bay Bridge

I took this picture from Fort Baker last Sunday. It shows Alcatraz with the Bay Bridge in the background. The new Eastern Span is scheduled for completion just after Labor Day. Note the new tower, with a crane sitting on its top.

 

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Sunday Bob H and I stopped by Van Bo's painting display in Sausalito. When we wished Bo a "Happy New Year", he pulled out a board and started painting the message. Then Van and I posed for a picture with the sign, and Bob obliged! The sign, painted in oil, is now sitting on my sundeck waiting to dry. It'll take a month at least!