Happy Halloween!

And a Happy Halloween to all!

 

Guatemalan Maskmaker

On a visit to Guatemala, about ten years ago, I saw this miniature diorama of a maskmaker, surrounded by his creations. I was fortunate in being able to purchase the masterpiece and bring it back to the United States, where I installed it in the Halloween Section of the Roenau Museum of Ethnic Art.

 

Docent-led tours are available. Please call for reservations.

 

Melanerpes formicivorus

Acorn Woodpecker at Lake Lagunitas this afternoon.

 

The Acorn Woodpecker is the only species that regularly drills holes for food storage, caching acorns in trees, telephone poles, or fence posts. These sites are referred to as granaries. The Acorn Woodpecker is a communal, cooperative breeder, with groups of birds filling, using, and defending granaries.

 

And it occurs to me that, if we had Woodpecker brains, we wouldn't be in the economic pickle we find ourselves in.

 

Alexandre Dumas

Were my eyes deceiving me? Or could it be that d'Artagnan had risen from the dead to join the OCCUPY SAN FRANCISCO movement? And if so, were his inseparable friends, Athos, Porthos, and Aramis hiding in an igloo, ready to jump out, and live up to their motto "all for one, one for all"? Momentarily I was transported back to my childhood, when "The Three Musketeers" was one of my very favorite books.

 

More "Occupy San Francisco"

This group looked like they had come to Justin Herman Plaza to lend support to the demonstration during their lunch hour. Note the police cruisers.

 

Staying in Shape

Young man staying in shape for the occupation of San Francisco.

 

Occupy San Francisco

Yesterday I paid a visit to Justin Herman Plaza in San Francisco to take a personal look at the "Occupy San Francisco" encampment. It was all very sweet, clean and orderly. I suddenly experienced a definite deja vu feeling. Was it sweet memories of the 60's Summer of Love concerts in Speedway Meadows? Or anti Vietnam War demonstrations, also of the 60's? Someone mentioned Burning Man.

 

Shakespeare

JULIET:
      'Tis but thy name that is my enemy;
      Thou art thyself, though not a Montague.
      What's Montague? it is nor hand, nor foot,
      Nor arm, nor face, nor any other part
      Belonging to a man. O, be some other name!
      What's in a name? that which we call a rose
      By any other name would smell as sweet;
      So Romeo would, were he not Romeo call'd,
      Retain that dear perfection which he owes
      Without that title. Romeo, doff thy name,
      And for that name which is no part of thee
      Take all myself.

Foggy Morning

Foggy morning at Ellis Creek, Petaluma.

 

One More, No More - Swans

These three teens are trying to decide who is next to follow the others into the water.

 

A Moment in History

Veni, Vidi, I photographed (Julius Caesar 47 BC) as a slight breeze was caressing the grass. Tuesday at Ellis Creek.

 

Swan in Flight

Whatever they do, they are beautiful!

 

Once in a Blue Moon ......................

Once in a Blue Moon you hit the Jackpot. Such was the case this morning. Dick C and I were out at Ellis Creek in Novato. Dick ran, while I walked. A passer-by told me that there were Mute (not really) Swans on one of the trails. That's where I headed, and sure enough, there they were. Not at all disturbed by my appearance. Pretty soon I was right in their midst. I was in seventh heaven and shot about thirty pictures. Attached is one, showing four teenagers, known as such by their light brown plumage and not yet red bills. 

 

Artichoke Plume Moth

I'm sure everyone immediately recognized this moth as a Platyptilla Carduidactyla (commonly known as Artichoke Plume Moth). It is considered an agricultural pest. But what I want to know is what it was doing in my apartment house. Could it be that someone is secretly and surreptitiously growing artichokes?

 

The Car

For years I have periodically stopped by the car at Galilee Harbor on Napa Street in Sausalito, to take pictures. It changes from one time to the next. New plants appear and grow, while others die and disappear. New dolls and toys pop up, while others vanish, An altogether organic process ! And, of course, I love it!

 

Occupy Marin

Today I went to the "Occupy Marin" (offshoot of "Occupy Wall Street") in front of the Bank of America in San Rafael. A very peaceful gathering with lots of interesting people and signs.

 

????????????

I made a special trip to the intersection to take this picture. Is the sign weird or am I being weird (please keep your smart-alecky remarks to yourself)?

 

Cucurbitacae

Once again, we're approaching that time of year.

 

Wave Art

Here's the very latest in Wave Art, as created by the wind that swept the LGVSD Ponds the other day. Alright, I confess that Photoshop helped a tad. And, finally, I decided that Black & White was appropriate.

 

Dejected

Odd Man Out

 

This morning in Point Reyes.

 

This Morning

This morning ~ view from the LGVSD Ponds.

 

Pelican Island

Pelican Island (so named by yours truly) with Pelicans and Cormorants, in the Corte Madera Marsh, with San Quentin Prison in the background.

 

HOMAGE

 

Back in Time

I took this picture with a Baby Brownie camera in Shanghai in 1946. The young girl was selling THE CHINA PRESS at the entrance of the Chase Bank Building, where I worked. I think my job was that of Teletype Clerk for the U.S. Air Transport Command (ATC). I was eighteen. My facts may not be completely accurate, but I have been told that I shouldn't let the truth get in the way of a good story.

 

Gerber Daisies

I've never heard of Gerber Daisies, but there they were, big as life. I saw them this afternoon at the florist in Mill Valley and was told the name. "Just like the baby-food". Pretty, aren't they!

 

Oops!

This is the portrait I meant to use earlier today.

 

Portrait

Here's another one of those kids' chalk drawings I'm so fond of.

 

Mount Tam

(Honking) Canada Geese over the LGVSD Ponds this morning. Mt Tam in the background. It's beginning to look like fall.

 

Handsome Fella!

Handsome Fella! On the backrest of my bench at the LGVSD.

 

Balancing Act

Ya jes' gotta love them tourists!

 

Alcatraz

Alcatraz Island, as seen from the visitor area on the Marin side of the Golden Gate Bridge. Note the, almost complete, new tower of the Bay Bridge. The rest of the Eastern span replacement, which was begun in 2002, will be finished in 2013. The cost? A mere $ 63 billion!

 

McNears Brickyard

The other day I went to McNears Brickyard in San Rafael, to take pictures of Chimney Swifts, which dive into the tall chimneys at dusk. While there, I took a picture of this piece of machinery. I like it but have no idea what it is. No wonder, since the brickyard dates back to 1868, and there are many interesting old relics strewn around. Oh, yes, I did see the birds, but it was too dark to get any decent pictures.