Sausalito

If you guessed that this was a van, you were absolutely correct. It has been sitting in Sausalito for years and just keeps getting prettier. Is this what our cities would look like if all these pesky people would suddenly just go away? Hmmm! Makes you think!

 

Startled

Bob H and I wandered around Bel Marin Keyes a week ago. The two fawns were startled by our sudden appearance. For a split-second they froze in their tracks, and it was only my exceptional presence of mind that allowed me to take their picture before they bolted.

 

P. S. I'm so full of myself that sometimes even I am sickened!

 

Acacia Tree Seed Pods

I find Acacia Tree seed pods really beautiful. Each one is a work of art. I took this picture at Bel Marin Keyes, in an area where the ground is carpeted with them.

 

Looking at these seed pods brings to mind the saying 'Stop and smell the flowers', which is really not related to flowers at all. It is a reminder, a message, for each of us, to stop rushing, stop working late, time passes quickly. Stop and enjoy the day, the moment and the minute. Each minute that you miss, is time lost and will not return to you again.

 

But the Acacia Trees brought to mind another memory. Namely that of my dad who was unbelievably allergic to these trees in their flowering stage. I'll never forget his uncontrollable sneezing! Fortunately this is not an affliction I am 'blessed' with (hey - watch that grammar)!

 

Bee

It's about time for me to present another one of my famous Honey Bee pictures. I took this one a few days ago in the Bel Marin Keyes area of Novato. Lots of bees plus dozens of active bee-hives, with the name 'Mark Tauzer' stenciled on them. Honey Bees are really fascinating insects that have been around for eons. A 14-million-year old specimen was found in Nevada. The Egyptians were enjoying honey! If your curiosity has been aroused check out this You Tube about the life cycle of Honey Bees   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sSk_ev1eZec

 

Formation

Why did these Canada Geese fly in this kind of formation? How did they decide on their place in the line? How did they avoid bumping into each other? Why do I want to know?

 

Metamorphosis

Is it too late for me to experience a metamorphosis? Is it possible, so late in life, to morph from famous photographer into famous painter? The attached picture may provide a clue. Meanwhile I am torn betwixt and between.

 

The photo was taken yesterday in Sausalito by Ronnie La Dow. The real artist, Van Bo (as in Van Gogh), can be seen standing in the background with his bicycle, next to his Van. Sorry, but it's all very difficult to explain.

 

Crime Does Not Pay

 

The other day Bob H and I hiked around Bel Marin Keyes when, suddenly, and without provocation or warning, I was attacked and stung by a mosquito. The insect made a fatal mistake and the rest is history, as documented by the attached picture (taken by Bob H). Let me just add that mosquitos are the only living creatures I will kill.

 

Buck

Peering out my kitchen window the other day, I spotted this buck, resting on the ground. I thought that his behavior was unusual since he remained rather motionless. I was a little concerned. I took a couple of pictures, then left on a little hike. My plan was to call the Humane Society if the deer was still there when I got back. He wasn't and I didn't.

 

In case you are wondering about all the bare twigs in the picture, let me remind you that there were 600 goats roaming through the hills a few weeks ago, devouring everything that appeared even remotely green!

 

And now for a little bit of education and edification ~

 

The word "deer" was originally quite broad in meaning, but became more specific over time. In Middle English der (O.E. dēor) meant a wild animal of any kind (as opposed to cattle, which then meant any domestic livestock, from the idea of ownership and related to chattle and capital).^[1] This general sense gave way to the modern sense by the end of the Middle English period, around 1500. Cognates of English "deer" in several other languages still have the general sense of "animal" – for example German Tier, Dutch dier, and Scandinavian djur, dyr, dýr. "Deer" is the same in the plural as in the singular.

 

Mount Tam

Mount Tam again. This time from Bel Marin Keyes. I'm really lucky to live here.

 

Nature's Art

Believe it or not, I'm at a loss for words.

 

(no subject)

 

Five Chilling

Five chilling at the San Anselmo Art and Wine Festival last Saturday.

 

Canada Geese

I'm not a mathematician but I know that, at the rate their population is growing, Canada Geese will inherit the world before too long. After having buried us in guano!

 

Not What You Think!

I did not plan this picture. I was at the San Anselmo Art and Wine Festival yesterday and was taking pictures of people dancing. When I got them on the screen I noticed the large hand that seemed to be reaching for the lady's leg. In fact that was not at all what happened. The man was much closer to me than the woman and the picture was just a fluke.

 

So get your mind out of the gutter!

 

Great Blue Heron

Great Blue Heron at the Ponds last Tuesday.

 

Quail

A male California Quail. I took this picture last Sunday. The nitpickers among you will delight at noticing a minor fuzzy area in my picture. It's a couple of blades of grass. I had two choices ~ stand up from my seated position and scare the bird away, or shoot the picture, anticipating the blur. So don't be so critical, just enjoy the beauty of this bird. But I would like to know why Quails always call "chicago, chicago"?

 

Anis

Anis is really beautiful and it moved me to do a Black and White. This morning at the Ponds.

 

Everything I Ever Wanted is Right Here

Ah don't need to take no stink'n trip outta the country when ah kin git all ma favorite treats rat here in Santa Rosa!

 

Titmouse

Another contestant in last Sunday's American Bird Idol competition was this beautiful Titmouse. And, of course, I just had to research the origin of the bird's name. Here's what I found ~ The name titmouse is recorded from the 14th century, composed of the Old English name for the bird, mase (Proto-Germanic maison, German Meise) and tit, denoting something small. The spelling was influenced by mouse in the 16th century. What say you, my learned friends?

 

Bluebirds

Yesterday, after having been sworn to secrecy, I was blindfolded and led to a magical hideaway, where, sitting on my trusty folding-chair, I observed Western Bluebirds, Titmice, California Quail, Woodpeckers, and even a couple of Lizards. All this just a few feet away. What a thrill!

 

My picture shows a Mama-Bluebird feeding her teenage offspring, certainly old enough to feed her/himself.

 

Moorhen

Another Ellis Creek resident, and another bird I had never seen before. I's a Common Moorhen, also known as a Marshhen, a member of the Rail family. A group of Moorhens is collectively known as a "plump" of Moorhens. Who'da thunk! Despite the fact that Moorhens have unwebbed feet (bummer) they are fast swimmers.

 

Postcard

Usually I leave postcard-pictures to others, but once in a while I allow my baser instincts to get the better of me. So here it is, aptly named  "Landscape with Swans" (and be sure to note the cute gray teenagers). Even your aunt Millie in Pomona will approve.

 

Taken at Ellis Creek, Petaluma.

 

Pied-billed Grebe

You don't need to tell me that the picture quality is lousy. The bird was quite far away, I extended my lens as far as it would go, and later cropped the heck out of the picture. As a result you can see the pixels.

 

My defense is that this was the first time (June 24 at Ellis Creek in Petaluma) I have ever seen a Pied-billed Grebe. These birds create an open bowl type nest in a platform of floating vegetation, loosely anchored to float with the waves. When they leave their nest they cover the eggs with vegetation. After a period of time the vegetation will stain the eggs and help conceal them better. Grebes have legs set far back on the body, an adaptation to a life of swimming underwater to catch prey. As a consequence they walk poorly and are rarely found on land.

 

What a Difference a Day Made

"What a Difference a Day Made" is a popular song originally written in Spanish by Maria Grever, a Mexican composer, in 1934. Then, the song was known as Cuando Vuelva A Tu Lado.

Dinah Washington won a Grammy Award  in 1959 for Best Rhythm and Blues Performance with this song.

The song came to mind when I went to check on the goats this afternoon. They have been moved to their next assignment, and all that is left is their neat little droppings. I learned today that there are 600 of them and that they spend the off-season in Coalinga, California. And now you know as much as I do.

Goat-Heaven

This was the picture that met my eyes as I stepped out the back-door yesterday. Dozens of vegetation-clearing goats, with majestic Mount Tamalpais serving as a backdrop. The buildings on the left of the pastoral scene belong to Marin General Hospital.The single-minded, unflappable animals are rapidly eating their way through the hood!  What a treat for a simple city-boy!

 

You get outta here!

Birds of a feather may flock together but share they will not. As evidenced by these Turkey Vultures fighting over the delicious remains of a skunk. This morning, at the Ponds, Bob T and I braved the fragrance (Parfum De Mouffette) to get some close-ups of the action. We have never been to the Ponds yet that there hasn't been something worthwhile to photograph! Plus, we learned that TVs will, indeed, eat dead skunk! Yuck!

 

Surprise!

What joy to discover reflection of none other than moi in sunglasses at the Bolinas Fourth of July Parade!!

 

HAPPY FORTH!

As usual, I trekked out to Bolinas for the Fourth of July festivities. It all starts at 9:00 AM with the women's tug-of-war across the lagoon channel. Bolinas vs Stinson Beach. The rope is carried over by boat! Today the Bolinas women won. The men were next, and again Bolinas won, this time because Stinson was disqualified because some of the team member lay down in the sand (and on the rope)! After the tug-of-war everyone heads to in front of Smiley's Schooner Saloon and Hotel where Annie Croft appears on the second floor balcony and sings the National Anthem. At 11:00 AM, after Annie has been presented with a bouquet of flowers, the parade begins. The parade is hard to describe, except to say that it is the smallest,  funkiest, and most fun parade in all of Marin County. All of which explains why it is my favorite Independence Day event!

 

Of course you are right - that is indeed Annie Croft in my photograph,  belting it out from her perch!

 

Laura

I was wandering around the Marin County Fair today when I heard some beautiful fiddle-music. Facing the wall outside the little theater was a young woman. A romantic sight. The woman turned out to be Laura Smith (of Laura and Darin Smith, performers and instructors). She was warming up for a fiddling competition, which was soon to begin. I shot some regular portraits of Laura, but my favorite photo remained the one I have attached.

 

Mute Swans

Mute Swans at Ellis Creek in Petaluma. The grey ones are juveniles. I took this picture about a week ago.

 

No wisecracks today!

 

Spider-Art

One of these days the art-world will recognize Spider-Art and it will become all the rage. Just remember, you read it here first. Not that it makes any difference but, just for the record, I took today's picture on Florence Avenue in Sebastopol a couple of days ago.