Tell me what it is, and I'll feed it.

 

I found it on the street. My guess is - a holder for beverages.

 

Picture

Yes, it's a picture! One that I have been wanting to take for a long time. It's looking East from the Bon Air Bridge crossing the Corte Madera Creek. It's on Margie, Sandy, Bob T and my Thursday morning walk, from the College of Marin Track, along the creek on one side and back on the other. Trouble is that you have to cross the street to take the picture. Today I finally did it!

 

Swan

I counted fifteen Mute Swans at the Ellis Creek Ponds in Petaluma this morning. For the second time I ran into Bob Dyer, the most knowledgeable docent around. I asked him why the swan in my picture was fluffing his wings. Bob told me that the swans are very territorial, and this one was asserting himself and showing off. Bob believes there are two swan families at the ponds and they are always in competition. Bob also said that the Mute Swans are not welcome because they are quite aggressive toward other birds.

 

Despite their name, the Mute Swans are far from mute!

 

Outdoor Art

Arturo Ragno was born in Rome, but, early on, moved to Florence to study art at the internationally renowned Scuola Lorenzo de' Medici. Upon completion of his studies, the artist picked Point Reyes to practice what he had learnt. This morning I chose one of his masterpieces, exhibited through December 31st on the Bear Valley Trail, for my Daily E-mail.

 

For those with a curious mind ~ the artist's surname, Ragno, means 'spider' in Italian.

 

New Career?

I wonder whether, in this time of specialization, I could make a living as an elbow photographer? Attached is an example of my work. The elbow belongs to a lovely lady whose name I cannot divulge, because of  the right of privacy. As far as the face is concerned ~  resemblance to any person, living or dead, is purely coincidental. Though I will admit that Max Schmeling comes to mind.

 

Is this a possible career for me?

 

Fatma

No more spiders for a while!

 

As you know, portrait photography is one of my passions. Gorgeous Fatma (yes, Fatma - not Fatima) was helping her friend, Tsadae Neway, at her Inesscents Aromatic Botanicals booth at the Green Festival in San Francisco today, and she graciously allowed me to take her picture. Fatma is from Kenya, but unlike our President, she was born there. And yes, I will E-mail her the picture.

 

Spider in the Morning

My sincere apologies to those among you who are afraid of spiders, even if they are merely on a photograph. But how could I have resisted taking a picture of this gorgeous specimen at the Ponds this morning? Pea-soup fog covered everything with shiny pearls. Once again, my Audubon guide failed me, and you'll have to live without an identifying label. But then, what's in a name? If you must, you can call him/her TIGER, for the yellow and black striped legs. 

 

Ellis Creek

If you live in the San Francisco Bay Area there's a new treat in store for you. The Ellis Creek Trail System, in Petaluma, was opened to the public last July. There are four beautiful ponds, all part of the Ellis Creek Water Recycling Facility. Bird life is already abundant, and more birds are arriving. There are many, very helpful kiosks along the trail, describing the history as well as flora and fauna. Note that Ellis Creek is accessible from Shollenberger Park, which I discovered recently. You owe it to yourself to visit this area. Google will tell you more.

 

And by the way, Bob H and I had the good fortune of running into, and speaking with the number one docent, Bob Dyer.

 

Who'd a thunk?

Yesterday, in Margie's own speak ~

 

"On the Bear Valley Trail one can sometimes see deer, ospreys, rabbits, crows, quail, robins, turkey vultures, and more, but yesterday Hans spotted a new species of wildlife!  It's as yet unidentified."

 

And here's my entry.

 

Magical Mystery Tour

Sometimes, when we venture onto the Bear Valley Trail in the early morning, it's as though we were entering a virtual fairyland. Any moment now, a wizard will step out of the woods and take us on a magical mystery-tour.

 

Should you get nostalgic for the Beatles version, click on http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=euMCu5IRRHM

though any similarity is purely coincidental. But but who wouldn't want to hear the foursome again!