tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34040846928959077832024-03-06T12:02:52.270-08:00biobabblerAn enthusiastic conservation biologist's life in the sticks & travel adventures.biobabblerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15081382623906668057noreply@blogger.comBlogger964125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3404084692895907783.post-81701287259131713842020-07-01T15:43:00.000-07:002020-07-01T15:43:19.941-07:00Yosemite rocks Hey, there, fine people:<br />
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1) Hope you are well and hanging in there as best as one might hope. xoxoxo<br />
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2) Blogger is NOT letting me reply to your LOVELY comments, so please forgive my apparent lack of response to your reaching out. I've TRIED (many times). It doesn't even know who I am? Even tho' I've signed in 40,000 times. Annnnnyhow .... <virtual hugs to you!><br />
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3) [redacted]👇<br />
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SHORT VERSION:<br />
Experiencing computer, camera, software & sundry device-compatibility issues that are making a return to blogging an uphill battle, shall we say. XD erf!<br />
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Wild rose (Rosa californica) hips shining @ a National Wildlife Refuge south of Sacramento in Feb</div>
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Good news:<br />
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<ul>
<li>Successfully backed up all photos & docs on this old computer (this is MAJOR and was plaguing me for months)</li>
<li>DH ordered me a new computer (woo-hooo!)</li>
<li>I am right now backing up my iphone pics onto Google pictures (or whatever it's called, JUST installed that app moments ago), so hopefully that means they'll be easy to pop up onto this blog, soon (as well as backed up)</li>
<li>Will be mailing my camera to the recently re-opened Nikon repair facility in L.A.</li>
<li>All the computer frustration I've experienced today may mean I'll ACTUALLY do yoga today to get through this. XD So, that's healthy, right?</li>
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Therefore: Pics on THIS post will likely NOT be relevant to what I write 'cause I'm still in the trenches. I HAVE figured out how to get SOME pics up, though. =D So, nice, irrelevant decor, commence!</div>
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Our ever-charming kitty, Ginger, making this shot of dried rose petals</div>
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in a jar sooooo much better. As is her wont. =)</div>
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DH & I have two trips planned, one in July (westward), one in August (eastward). We MAY not do them, as rates of infection continue to climb in CA. We currently live in a low risk area (v low population), so driving through higher risk areas to stay in higher risk areas (like near the beach!) for 5 days is giving us pause. 😷<br />
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Beautiful sand dollar & perfect holes on the beach at Morro Bay, last winter.<br />
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We DID get back toYosemite, recently, now that it's reopened (via a new reservation system). DH's been working from home since this all started, and tho' he's a park employee, we were not supposed to go there to recreate, so we did NOT--but now it's open. The return was heavenly. Hiked the Panorama Trail from Glacier Point to Illilouette Fall, one of my favorite hikes of ALL time.<br />
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We are SO fortunate to live nearby, but living nearby (less than 10 miles as a crow flies, over an hour by car) and NOT GOING for months and months of hunkering down suuuuucked. However, what we DID do, after a while, was hike in the nearby Sierra National Forest!<br />
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Baby American alligators we got to see at the <a href="https://corkscrew.audubon.org/">Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary</a></div>
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back when flying to Florida was an option. SO, so thrilling! =D</div>
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DH & I USED to hike in the Sierra NF pretty regularly, but that faded out as illegal marijuana growing increased, rendering it dangerous (way more than the alligators). THEN marijuana was legalized, so that risk was reduced (@ least in theory?). THEN we got hit by the Ferguson Fire, and that blazed (& closed for a year) a good bit of the forest which is near (including allowing us to see it torch trees FROM OUR BACK YARD), so if anyone THOUGHT of going back into the forest to grow weed, they'd find all the dense cover they need GONE. Woot!<br />
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Consequently, we have lately been exploring and really enjoying this beautiful forest all over again. And the fire opened up the forest, so there's LOTS more views and more sunshine for the now very happy & abundant wildflowers!<br />
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Seriously, it's been GREAT. We have our forest back! It'd been over 5 years since we went at all regularly, so I'm soooooo grateful for this.<br />
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But, there's no place like Yosemite.<br />
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North Dome (left) and Basket Dome (right), resting beneath Mt. Hoffman (snow-covered).</div>
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Ya gotta love that rock.</div>
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xoxoxoxo bb</div>
biobabblerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15081382623906668057noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3404084692895907783.post-19897034547237027912019-12-03T11:12:00.000-08:002019-12-03T11:12:10.691-08:00It's BEEN a while... =D <br />
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Hey, there!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXcrnQppSHL4ncRQg4Wt7w8kDadGPKgamQtWkVQ0DGaBWbzgbq3QvqXD7zqoU8YsSku0nEz6uKxRj-rYQkJJ-okCm6VOPfMXcUckfvfQwBosPY0ielR9XynzKDTM6IOaZ5WdUG9ULG3kcY/s1600/YoseCliffsSnow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXcrnQppSHL4ncRQg4Wt7w8kDadGPKgamQtWkVQ0DGaBWbzgbq3QvqXD7zqoU8YsSku0nEz6uKxRj-rYQkJJ-okCm6VOPfMXcUckfvfQwBosPY0ielR9XynzKDTM6IOaZ5WdUG9ULG3kcY/s400/YoseCliffsSnow.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>
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(Yosemite Valley cliffs)</div>
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I have been thinking about this blog, lately.</div>
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I have been wanting to WRITE, lately.</div>
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Thinking about that a lot.</div>
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Not doing it.</div>
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SO, even though I kinda thought that blogs were a "was,"</div>
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I DO go to them for some things,</div>
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and the point of all this in the first place was to write, so...
I'm back.</div>
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Seeing if I have any muscle memory for this. XD
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This also means I will check on the blogs I had connected to and check THEM out.</div>
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See how many are still there.</div>
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(Snow play fun at El Cap on Black Friday. =D)</div>
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Feel like I've cracked open a long-locked door into a room</div>
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& am coughing on dust & looking around to see what's there.</div>
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(Cook's Meadow, looking west, after a November snowfall)</div>
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"Helloooo.... "</div>
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=)</div>
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xoxobb</div>
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<br />biobabblerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15081382623906668057noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3404084692895907783.post-68818559854579091042017-05-09T11:06:00.000-07:002017-05-09T11:25:42.731-07:00Lazuli Bunting, Yosemite water craze & obligatory Monty Python reference<div style="text-align: center;">
Hey, there peeps!</div>
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"I'm not dead! Think I'll go for a walk!" 'nuf said? =D</div>
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<b>Lazuli Lifer</b></div>
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Lazuli Bunting appeared on the feeder (Sunday) &</div>
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I freaked out SO HARD my hands were shaking.</div>
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I'd NEVER seen one EVER & had to look up among the SHOWY birds </div>
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I've never seen to even figure out what it was. WOW!!! =D</div>
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Then it took off & I jumped up and down</div>
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& DH & I high-fived. </div>
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<b>The Iris Time</b></div>
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A furled purple iris. I love how moody they look.</div>
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Polka dots! =D</div>
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Those tiny specks make me CRAZY happy.</div>
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Just sitting there, looking (& smelling) glorious...</div>
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The carpenter bee has returned to its annual haunt of the iris bed outside our window:</div>
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Love this giant, territorial creature: it flies laps & dispels other bees</div>
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and I'm grateful it's been cutting me slack, so far, as I walk past... =D</div>
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I will always adore these flowers & am so glad they like our Mediterranean climate. =D</div>
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<b>Yosemite Flow</b></div>
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Have been going to the park (Yosemite) more than usual this spring,</div>
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partly for work (poor, poor me) and partly 'cause there was SO much rain this winter.</div>
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<br />
The waterfalls are CRANKING like MAD and the Merced River</div>
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is WAY up so marvelous reflections abound. Fabulous! =D<br />
Yosemite Falls</div>
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North Dome & wetlands & a TINY piece</div>
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of Clouds Rest & Half Dome. =D</div>
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This was just inches south of Southside Drive,</div>
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just west of the chapel. Water!!! =D</div>
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<br />
Speaking of, I tweeted & Instagram-ed videos of Yosemite Falls<br />
that I took with my iPad &<br />
it got picked up by <a href="http://www.sfgate.com/outdoors/article/Epic-winter-warm-weather-have-Yosemite-11123146.php">SFgate</a> & <a href="http://www.grindtv.com/nature/7-incredible-videos-of-the-historic-sierra-snowpack-melt-at-yosemite-falls/#Gkf80Asl30LuLhMq.97">GrindTV</a> ,<br />
the latter in an article called,<br />
"7 incredible videos of the historic Sierra snowpack melt at Yosemite Falls."<br />
Turns out TWO of those 7 are MINE?!? Crazy.<br />
And I only know 'cause the Tweeple alerted me to it.<br />
<br />
Hooray, you guys!! =D<br />
<br />
Anyhow, that was bizarre & fun. It's totally DH's fault:<br />
he alerted me re: when the river would peak (high flow)<br />
so recommended I drive up, so I did & it was HEAVENLY.<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>Etc.</b><br />
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Got a few new hummingbird feeders, including this orange one</div>
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which just ADDS to the Anna's hummingbird's amazing pink shimmer. Phew!</div>
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Color not enhanced AT all. =D</div>
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This is DH photographing a small bear we startled on the Valley Loop Trail in Yosemite:</div>
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As you can tell, I'm respecting the bear's privacy,</div>
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NOT totally being a bear-scaredy-cat. =D</div>
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The bear had been ear-tagged but was doing good wild bear stuff,</div>
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shredding a downed log for delicious grubs.</div>
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With all this winter rain, the grass at our place is OUT OF CONTROL!!</div>
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There's ENTIRE DEER there...</div>
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And here's the view from my back porch, looking across the grass sea... *sigh*</div>
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Some of the grass is nearly as tall as I am (6'). I THINK there's a few</div>
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planted plants in the garden amid the crashing waves of weeds... 😁</div>
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So, I will be in the valley MOAR this summer since due to my 1st gig this spring,</div>
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and the kind woman who hired me, I get ANOTHER gig in early summer! =D</div>
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Which means numerous required visits to the park to plan where we'll</div>
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meet & stop & walk & what I'll blab about.</div>
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Which ALSO means I get lots of steps hiking for research.</div>
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In Yosemite Valley.</div>
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Which means I get happy.</div>
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Again.</div>
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HOORAY!! =D</div>
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xoxoxobb</div>
<span style="background-color: #bd081c; background-position: 3px 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; background-size: 14px; border-bottom-left-radius: 2px; border-bottom-right-radius: 2px; border-top-left-radius: 2px; border-top-right-radius: 2px; border: none; color: white; cursor: pointer; display: none; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; line-height: 20px; opacity: 1; padding: 0px 4px 0px 0px; position: absolute; text-align: center; text-indent: 20px; width: auto; z-index: 8675309;">Save</span><span style="background-color: #bd081c; background-position: 3px 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; background-size: 14px; border-bottom-left-radius: 2px; border-bottom-right-radius: 2px; border-top-left-radius: 2px; border-top-right-radius: 2px; border: none; color: white; cursor: pointer; display: none; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; line-height: 20px; opacity: 1; padding: 0px 4px 0px 0px; position: absolute; text-align: center; text-indent: 20px; width: auto; z-index: 8675309;">Save</span><br />
<span style="background-color: #bd081c; background-position: 3px 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; background-size: 14px; border-bottom-left-radius: 2px; border-bottom-right-radius: 2px; border-top-left-radius: 2px; border-top-right-radius: 2px; border: none; color: white; cursor: pointer; display: none; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; line-height: 20px; opacity: 1; padding: 0px 4px 0px 0px; position: absolute; text-align: center; text-indent: 20px; width: auto; z-index: 8675309;">Save</span><span style="background-color: #bd081c; background-position: 3px 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; background-size: 14px; border-bottom-left-radius: 2px; border-bottom-right-radius: 2px; border-top-left-radius: 2px; border-top-right-radius: 2px; border: none; color: white; cursor: pointer; display: none; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; line-height: 20px; opacity: 1; padding: 0px 4px 0px 0px; position: absolute; text-align: center; text-indent: 20px; width: auto; z-index: 8675309;">Save</span>biobabblerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15081382623906668057noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3404084692895907783.post-71164665591644433952016-08-17T15:33:00.002-07:002016-08-17T15:33:16.545-07:00Photo phling: 2 ambushed, 2 Bs & 1 hoverfly.<div style="text-align: center;">
Hey, there. Am presently in panicked photo printing mode (co. fair deadline)</div>
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but owe you photos from July, so here's 5 lovelies for you.</div>
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Lookit! I found an ambush bug on the mint plant again this year. Hurrah!! =D</div>
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They look SO tough, but are SO tiny. =)</div>
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Turns out, there's TWO on this plant.</div>
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This second one was darker.</div>
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If ambush bugs found, then biobabbler is happy.</div>
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A very yellow bee on a native, BIG ol' aster. SO very fuzzy! =D</div>
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Honey bee putting her left foot in (hokey-pokey style),</div>
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showing off that off-white pollen. =D</div>
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Hoverfly on mustard at the work site. </div>
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Little beauty. =D</div>
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So, hope you enjoyed this glimpse into July bugginess,</div>
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next post will be August charmers.</div>
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If you'd like to share your summer bug posts via links in the comments, feel free! =D</div>
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xoxoxobb</div>
biobabblerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15081382623906668057noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3404084692895907783.post-58260112264503860452016-06-17T13:47:00.000-07:002016-06-17T13:47:23.265-07:00The county fair & photo exhibit + 3 bonus photos just 4 u. =)<div style="text-align: center;">
So, 1st: apologies for NOT POSTING in MAY. Wow.</div>
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(Throws biodegradable glitter to distract you.)</div>
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<b>Fair Foto Fun</b></div>
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Annnyhow,</div>
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I entered some of my photos in a nearby county fair at the end of May.</div>
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Very exciting & less totally nerve-wracking than last time.</div>
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Perhaps experience breeds calm? Or, at least lack-of-total-freakout. =D</div>
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The fair itself was last weekend, and that's when I learned how I did.</div>
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Which is pretty well! =)</div>
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Got 1st & 2nd in 8/9 photos.</div>
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I'll take it! =D</div>
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I ALSO got to ogle other's lovely & inspiring work.</div>
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Which is MOST enjoyable.</div>
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One professional/advanced photographer's work I LOVED was Christopher Viney.</div>
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His 1st place photo in landscape:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDNTxFWv7Emb-FWpPyvYpV2rAmGH0Jz-1rbS2huhWr85x-zMGWNLG1kARUPiKyb3CDgUzmXdLVk3w2Pl8E8n9E-01Xnfb5FPMt8QJ_STwItOPaVwaEST56Qu5CJTmpsww_kxo3Db_brQo0/s1600/DSC_0038_edited-1-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="540" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDNTxFWv7Emb-FWpPyvYpV2rAmGH0Jz-1rbS2huhWr85x-zMGWNLG1kARUPiKyb3CDgUzmXdLVk3w2Pl8E8n9E-01Xnfb5FPMt8QJ_STwItOPaVwaEST56Qu5CJTmpsww_kxo3Db_brQo0/s640/DSC_0038_edited-1-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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gah!</div>
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And his 1st place agriculture photo:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY99jQHKe43lmQ8zoUYOlYywtqadoZcEMx6O-x-YIL2uHcMJxbPyBNvMjIOgyqY9BYM23xkB0cD_xXlSxbo7xGIKMH6KUY7BTm5_V7uVqfZfcyd2MZYUvyxbwYXeAZ4NFDxLSvHCi_BkP3/s1600/DSC_0040-1_edited-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="418" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY99jQHKe43lmQ8zoUYOlYywtqadoZcEMx6O-x-YIL2uHcMJxbPyBNvMjIOgyqY9BYM23xkB0cD_xXlSxbo7xGIKMH6KUY7BTm5_V7uVqfZfcyd2MZYUvyxbwYXeAZ4NFDxLSvHCi_BkP3/s640/DSC_0040-1_edited-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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How surprising & abstract is that for "agriculture?" Too cool.</div>
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So, I got curious & googled his name.</div>
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Apparently, when he's not being a rockin' great photographer,</div>
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he is teaching physics at UC Merced.</div>
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Clearly, not much goin' on, there. =D</div>
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Here's another shot I LOVED (flower)</div>
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but unfortunately didn't get the photographer's name in the shot.</div>
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Crazy good.</div>
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DH's party shirt (white horseshoes on red background)</div>
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& me & my Trader Joe's bad made some weird reflections, therein.</div>
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Also ogled sundry gorgeous cows.</div>
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Mama & junior looking coy (typo was "cow"). =)</div>
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DH in his happy place: Part I</div>
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Petting the cute little goats.</div>
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DH in his happy place: Part II</div>
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Look out, honey, your Midwestern heritage is showing!</div>
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They have a pretty nice range of old tractors there so we took in the tractor parade.</div>
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Fun was had by all.</div>
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=)</div>
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<b>Bonus Pics</b></div>
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And just for fun, the <a href="http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species/Sphinx-perelegans">elegant sphinx</a> moth (<i>Sphinx perelegan</i>s) I found on our garden gate</div>
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(species ID confirmed by my moth-y expert friend, Dr. Dan Rubinoff)</div>
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"Don't see my eyes!"</div>
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This is a LARGE moth. From ~3.5" to 4.25."</div>
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Made my DAY.</div>
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And it blended in PERFECTLY with the faded grey wood. =)</div>
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Dr. Dan said they raise their young on manzanita (among other things),</div>
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so this pup could have grown up right here. =)</div>
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Last, this flower went into a windstorm with wet hair,</div>
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and now looks AMAZING! =D</div>
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And when open, this bee was VERY happy to be there.</div>
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Note the white pollen coating its legs. =)</div>
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Thassit! I hope your summer (or winter) is starting out well.</div>
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It's been AMAZINGLY mild & wonderful this last week, </div>
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but is on schedule to fling itself into the 100s soon, </div>
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so I'll have to start taking Stop Whining pills then.</div>
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For now, I will simply bask in the glory that is our world right NOW.</div>
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=) </div>
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xoxoxoxobb</div>
biobabblerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15081382623906668057noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3404084692895907783.post-28713966310552721072016-04-12T10:44:00.001-07:002016-04-12T10:56:15.081-07:00I love spring<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>On the road</b></div>
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My commute home from work site--skirting the storm.</div>
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It's so great to see the hills all green after years of drought.</div>
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Check out how the rainbow is doubling itself (at the bottom).</div>
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One of the cutest things I've EVER seen: baby killdeer</div>
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with its siblings and very busy parents at Merced National Wildlife Refuge.</div>
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Check out that TINY wing! =)<br />
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Snow goose, also at the Merced NWR.<br />
That beak makes me think of a sock puppet, for some reason... =)<br />
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This native phlox was SO frothy & pink (on highway 166) we HAD to pull over</div>
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during our drive to Carrizo Plain NM.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZJGoroTlTB3n6NHc4tQGLu6yQsVSxwZUWeetioNhSiqfO8ncRWr-eqjZwfucnL69UO0BMrJHE1zrHcnEzEzpiCVW0S40OsZYbZVXwN2yhZUYjNG3t37eJUxcZwC7i_T2UwVzjgrIJTUjF/s1600/phlox_sb-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZJGoroTlTB3n6NHc4tQGLu6yQsVSxwZUWeetioNhSiqfO8ncRWr-eqjZwfucnL69UO0BMrJHE1zrHcnEzEzpiCVW0S40OsZYbZVXwN2yhZUYjNG3t37eJUxcZwC7i_T2UwVzjgrIJTUjF/s640/phlox_sb-1.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
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The Carrizo Plain NM: a fascinating place.</div>
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Heaven for a minimalist, and I was anxious to visit, since</div>
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the last time we saw it, it was 4 years into a drought.</div>
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Soda Lake stirred by wind.</div>
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Carrizo Plain had greened up nicely, thanks to El Niño.</div>
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Desert candle (Caulanthus inflatus), a species I'd never seen before, at Carrizo Plain NM.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw-kjH94SF6lrEmEhjK5cEdqu4IsFW2deBF54S0sI6NCdsfRs8rBf0xzkmBldrQrAlsf0gwPSBTNt4C06_vhollTZenSQ2tQ-9iXpT7ElPOaI-yB1uHQXsqgIyutQimrGv5lDRzRtZypsX/s1600/desertcandle_sb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw-kjH94SF6lrEmEhjK5cEdqu4IsFW2deBF54S0sI6NCdsfRs8rBf0xzkmBldrQrAlsf0gwPSBTNt4C06_vhollTZenSQ2tQ-9iXpT7ElPOaI-yB1uHQXsqgIyutQimrGv5lDRzRtZypsX/s640/desertcandle_sb.jpg" width="540" /></a></div>
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Another thing we saw from the car & stopped to investigate. =)</div>
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We drove up elevation from Carrizo & found purple puddles of Phacelia. So great!</div>
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Closer shot of Phacelia--love those flamboyant anthers. =)</div>
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More wildflower puddles, north and uphill of the Carrizo Plain.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHuyR_kmSjED5jOuXRZta73c-vOiJqBMzuJKnN8t_9eoSe2c5VVVT59tPU9V_dbBZofLjLaAFt_X4dqtE21LfMEerpSJ_gow-J14buIU37f0R-NOC_Fq_xbgV0v_K_4hONc6pnekh8eko2/s1600/springin_sb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHuyR_kmSjED5jOuXRZta73c-vOiJqBMzuJKnN8t_9eoSe2c5VVVT59tPU9V_dbBZofLjLaAFt_X4dqtE21LfMEerpSJ_gow-J14buIU37f0R-NOC_Fq_xbgV0v_K_4hONc6pnekh8eko2/s640/springin_sb.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<b>Back home</b></div>
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Band-tailed pigeons appeared under our bird feeder—that was a first!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJa5vty1VaUXrdJkHdm-iHd8kotDunM9DTdtG_5-rUDDG4NYb0Q_ZABcWPmNhstmrWsgwP5WexQm0GidURb-eQy-LAYesusMr1U2wOWhkboEA3FefQmWKySMqLwXQ5qxdMJhl6bNveCTyh/s1600/band-tailed_sb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="450" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJa5vty1VaUXrdJkHdm-iHd8kotDunM9DTdtG_5-rUDDG4NYb0Q_ZABcWPmNhstmrWsgwP5WexQm0GidURb-eQy-LAYesusMr1U2wOWhkboEA3FefQmWKySMqLwXQ5qxdMJhl6bNveCTyh/s640/band-tailed_sb.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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They are SO much bigger than mourning doves (upper left corner).</div>
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Love their bright beaks & feet.</div>
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Ladybird beetle upon lilac. Ah, spring! =)</div>
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The new climbing rose we just bought is making me swoon.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8vGV6J_c6QgJwCQjs1c5FMlRewLo4sjOl-wSP1pbY8tql_HwzCV8nB6jQL9ThUoKgi_FFZxK9yLL0kdmPh-TY8F-K4b7QL_Y2jOcVaoB9WCu4GCmgZQjKBi_VW6v4_KpBo9v3R5y9uOm1/s1600/rose_sb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8vGV6J_c6QgJwCQjs1c5FMlRewLo4sjOl-wSP1pbY8tql_HwzCV8nB6jQL9ThUoKgi_FFZxK9yLL0kdmPh-TY8F-K4b7QL_Y2jOcVaoB9WCu4GCmgZQjKBi_VW6v4_KpBo9v3R5y9uOm1/s640/rose_sb.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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I have a thing for anthers...</div>
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Wavyleaf soap plant (<i>Chlorogalum pomeridianum</i>) beading water beautifully. =)</div>
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Lovely variegated miner's lettuce (<i>Claytonia</i> spp.) on our property that caught my eye.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcNbdqeSDpTbQ-iURjRxIZCzvyDGrsOhgsmFxo7wARzXOe4QxqtOPxGrQip3SYo29BdR0r3KUcZSSQLTViinj2knj2DoFckaBjk6IPaNB-5cMF0WUCvlG32w9IhkUXoBFBMLBEKpGB-iSW/s1600/Claytonia_sb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcNbdqeSDpTbQ-iURjRxIZCzvyDGrsOhgsmFxo7wARzXOe4QxqtOPxGrQip3SYo29BdR0r3KUcZSSQLTViinj2knj2DoFckaBjk6IPaNB-5cMF0WUCvlG32w9IhkUXoBFBMLBEKpGB-iSW/s640/Claytonia_sb.jpg" width="488" /></a></div>
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So stylish! =)</div>
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Last, a wild hyacinth (<i>Dichelostemma capitatum</i>) on our property.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit9dHo24eT3F68PcZz8HUHTizLB_Hc5nLNM7IF_J8sRNuMkw65-gwQKX7uIL0mPbMSFZuoYlvEm55UyyIWuxP_SXfmvePJdAnS61nCYnS20Dej7w8IxUm-CQwJssQKXkizxnFKatkjfajo/s1600/Dichelostemma_capitatum_bb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit9dHo24eT3F68PcZz8HUHTizLB_Hc5nLNM7IF_J8sRNuMkw65-gwQKX7uIL0mPbMSFZuoYlvEm55UyyIWuxP_SXfmvePJdAnS61nCYnS20Dej7w8IxUm-CQwJssQKXkizxnFKatkjfajo/s640/Dichelostemma_capitatum_bb.jpg" width="428" /></a></div>
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What an elegant beauty.</div>
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I hope you all are having a marvelous spring (or fall).</div>
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It's a pretty amazing thing.</div>
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xoxoxobb</div>
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=3404084692895907783" style="background-color: transparent; background-image: url(data:image/png; border: none; cursor: pointer; display: none; height: 20px; opacity: 0.85; position: absolute; width: 40px; z-index: 8675309;"></a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=3404084692895907783" style="background-color: transparent; background-image: url(data:image/png; border: none; cursor: pointer; display: none; height: 20px; opacity: 0.85; position: absolute; width: 40px; z-index: 8675309;"></a>biobabblerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15081382623906668057noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3404084692895907783.post-90248565090387648752016-03-19T10:29:00.000-07:002016-03-19T10:29:50.597-07:00Wild (speedy) wildlife photo fling<div style="text-align: center;">
Just in case you don't follow me on Twitter or Instagram,</div>
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I wanted to be sure you see the <i>lovely</i> creatures</div>
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that have been gracing our property, of late. =)</div>
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The grand coyote (Canis <i>latrans</i>) arrived after big splashes of rain.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_VA05voJgHBq-nqOi1Y0drYIRb-SZVbEvfJS3R5SeLZxXiM-hWku9SCAzxQrSjjpUTxAMX1YRk_MrhdZMIb_mHkVtnMLsi4jbaRyjyrAzSTc0RJ9Y-zIW_-_-aohZYySjZgyvA0GNJhp2/s1600/coyote_trot_sb-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_VA05voJgHBq-nqOi1Y0drYIRb-SZVbEvfJS3R5SeLZxXiM-hWku9SCAzxQrSjjpUTxAMX1YRk_MrhdZMIb_mHkVtnMLsi4jbaRyjyrAzSTc0RJ9Y-zIW_-_-aohZYySjZgyvA0GNJhp2/s640/coyote_trot_sb-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Was cruising around, hunting gophers,</div>
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spending a lot of time looking about (hence, Wily Coyote).</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-_8yqsw7RY35ClMSvDpNsmUhUPiaLSANTaPWfM-vHFlTkpxo-VURLLFid4UBmkK-M0YIMmpj6jQJqg70ED7Z-4bl63mwWZ8zRK36BDwGvCnTyoSVNPGqnJh__kNFZtBRgaIpNDEVBKglv/s1600/coyote_rain_sb-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-_8yqsw7RY35ClMSvDpNsmUhUPiaLSANTaPWfM-vHFlTkpxo-VURLLFid4UBmkK-M0YIMmpj6jQJqg70ED7Z-4bl63mwWZ8zRK36BDwGvCnTyoSVNPGqnJh__kNFZtBRgaIpNDEVBKglv/s640/coyote_rain_sb-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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(Note coat is wet fm. all that rain)</div>
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The classic LEAP & JAM down into gopher tunnels. =)</div>
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We also saw bobcat (<i>Lynx rufus</i>).</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie_Wc6YAPh3KNjZB71964UkaodfxlYMgQNWO8CKEmxWQHqay97Dh0-DXDLNoCSAZB-hzumisT6Stp5K9o2xnymWmT-mJQZgM-ZhsaLLxPOtDtr-6k5Msr-1H1XkB2jRumg5C0GwvnCpieF/s1600/bobcat_sb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie_Wc6YAPh3KNjZB71964UkaodfxlYMgQNWO8CKEmxWQHqay97Dh0-DXDLNoCSAZB-hzumisT6Stp5K9o2xnymWmT-mJQZgM-ZhsaLLxPOtDtr-6k5Msr-1H1XkB2jRumg5C0GwvnCpieF/s640/bobcat_sb.jpg" width="534" /></a></div>
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That fence is at the northern (and very wild) edge of our property.</div>
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Source of many great things for a biologist. =)</div>
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Sleepy bobcat in manzanita shade at the edge of our driveway.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1pBdpXpFOI3U_E0G0qUnPhbqotiC4hHLyFA21-d6-ON_h01FesLG8EB3co5HnTUDZSuFVY3RtOAxAINgQ7uNm7qHqBkP8O4hWRI_Ro7adEpoLqvJpYO_0CwU0PftIPYEoE2-Wsp2aaPaa/s1600/sleepy_bobcat_sb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="420" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1pBdpXpFOI3U_E0G0qUnPhbqotiC4hHLyFA21-d6-ON_h01FesLG8EB3co5HnTUDZSuFVY3RtOAxAINgQ7uNm7qHqBkP8O4hWRI_Ro7adEpoLqvJpYO_0CwU0PftIPYEoE2-Wsp2aaPaa/s640/sleepy_bobcat_sb.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Very exciting for me, but I only allowed myself 3 photos, </div>
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then left that window so it could relax w/o the paparazzi. =)</div>
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And, here's an animal both the above species love to eat,</div>
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and of which we have <i>plenty</i>, the humble gopher (Thomomys spp.).</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxvaC9jF-f94eP6iuMuTwNjpLdUYUVQUE9rKfGFwyzL3YwLZW5mmaam8MQtl0mEJl0uqX2GDVQuvtKx4ULSIUyAm9VgbCfDIXwUNADY1Zv1iMFPwrC-LyOqJFORmHzr77jsguMzd5JUsMk/s1600/DSC_0005+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="486" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxvaC9jF-f94eP6iuMuTwNjpLdUYUVQUE9rKfGFwyzL3YwLZW5mmaam8MQtl0mEJl0uqX2GDVQuvtKx4ULSIUyAm9VgbCfDIXwUNADY1Zv1iMFPwrC-LyOqJFORmHzr77jsguMzd5JUsMk/s640/DSC_0005+%25281%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Attracts SO many exciting carnivores for me to ogle. =)</div>
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<b>Wily Coyote Tale</b></div>
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I'd recently noticed the fencing of our hen's porch</div>
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seemed a little more pulled away from the framing than it had been.</div>
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As if a creature was helping that process along...</div>
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So, investigating it to asses when & how to fix it,</div>
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I saw FOUR long hairs right at one of the pulled-away corners.</div>
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Pretty sure hair <i>that</i> long is from a coyote.</div>
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Funny, when I'm about (& awake) the coyote studiously avoids the hen house.</div>
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Looks like when the humans are snoozing,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
coyotes return & look into opening that tantalizing snack shack.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Since then I've shored it up & will do more of that work today.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Mechanical exclusion is my #1 method for dealing with pests,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
whether they're gophers or deer (gardening) or coyotes & bobcats (chickens).</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
That way, if I'm smart, there's no need to kill anything.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
These giant brains can be very useful, if we employ them. =)</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
xoxobb</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<a href="" style="background-color: transparent; background-image: url(data:image/png; border: none; cursor: pointer; display: none; height: 20px; opacity: 0.85; position: absolute; width: 40px; z-index: 8675309;"></a><a href="" style="background-color: transparent; background-image: url(data:image/png; border: none; cursor: pointer; display: none; height: 20px; opacity: 0.85; position: absolute; width: 40px; z-index: 8675309;"></a>biobabblerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15081382623906668057noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3404084692895907783.post-73512667094440617092016-03-17T14:49:00.000-07:002016-03-17T14:49:25.310-07:00Tiny worlds...<div style="text-align: center;">
Baby blue-eyes (<i>Nemophila menziesii</i>) sprung open this a.m.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSZEg53CQGzAjDwxqOpJDoRkmqxnyjcvXfqFZQ8ELWbd_mMd2hbGjsMpRZALy_QmeWqDjUVxSj9Tvf5M0EuLznsn-t_vSBZ9J6i3R_OHdTxcWOVzjl-AFqwdFpN9nfwLYdK-ck4dz5cQfR/s1600/baby_blue-eyes_sb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSZEg53CQGzAjDwxqOpJDoRkmqxnyjcvXfqFZQ8ELWbd_mMd2hbGjsMpRZALy_QmeWqDjUVxSj9Tvf5M0EuLznsn-t_vSBZ9J6i3R_OHdTxcWOVzjl-AFqwdFpN9nfwLYdK-ck4dz5cQfR/s640/baby_blue-eyes_sb.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
And therein I found things I never saw clearly before I got a macro lens.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpDMPBQbgGQOaA37LFcj6V1Xmo6WEjj_mF4kHmIJl86B2FzCKlZct2vNzFRbFao_HM_Ir7sS-rcr6soV-Y98IUQutGLa-wJ9Pnn0Ejm7r3wLqvEVq0Oa6EQ5awAmsyoNqF8vy-Z0slKNj6/s1600/springtail_dancefloor_sb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="490" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpDMPBQbgGQOaA37LFcj6V1Xmo6WEjj_mF4kHmIJl86B2FzCKlZct2vNzFRbFao_HM_Ir7sS-rcr6soV-Y98IUQutGLa-wJ9Pnn0Ejm7r3wLqvEVq0Oa6EQ5awAmsyoNqF8vy-Z0slKNj6/s640/springtail_dancefloor_sb.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Little worlds are everywhere...</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqyBUJWucuA0CUdLa4QUy1yNnvE79TRO2x4uqdgVAOyW7JzhLmaHYxCfXXfKLU5HeR0E7397M1oUqR6LA_8c8JCHtdy6LokB5KP55ZfhToP792eA91i5M3069cP3EzQGwufb2Qo8OV4Esm/s1600/springtail_sb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="574" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqyBUJWucuA0CUdLa4QUy1yNnvE79TRO2x4uqdgVAOyW7JzhLmaHYxCfXXfKLU5HeR0E7397M1oUqR6LA_8c8JCHtdy6LokB5KP55ZfhToP792eA91i5M3069cP3EzQGwufb2Qo8OV4Esm/s640/springtail_sb.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Probably globular springtails, see <a href="http://bugguide.net/node/view/258368/bgpage">bugguide.net</a>.</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Tiny little lives, everywhere you look...</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
xoxobb</div>
biobabblerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15081382623906668057noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3404084692895907783.post-48511169031247795012016-03-01T08:44:00.000-08:002016-03-01T08:44:54.008-08:00February flash, flung 1 day late =D<div style="text-align: center;">
He is glorious; she has the munchies.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicXptsXEFLr-kF6poxQg7Ojeyv2lbMlqh6ba70KZpuI0k9PgCrFez9Qvjj1ypJIjeMvfM-ImoBYWTcfZ_Xclaatv4oRTB8LucOKt57qpso9r_uq67UxWPNGkA1DcZZ3_Gbcsf29d0sRDYN/s1600/show-er_showee_sb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="476" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicXptsXEFLr-kF6poxQg7Ojeyv2lbMlqh6ba70KZpuI0k9PgCrFez9Qvjj1ypJIjeMvfM-ImoBYWTcfZ_Xclaatv4oRTB8LucOKt57qpso9r_uq67UxWPNGkA1DcZZ3_Gbcsf29d0sRDYN/s640/show-er_showee_sb.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
It's that time of year, turkeys parading all over.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I LOVE the percussion males provide to accompany their dance. SO COOL!</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Squirrel-y cunning leads to tasty breakfast.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0k_MM92TvsSdQLc_-cU8NBNzrkpkF5dRcIbRSc-bhkqzcJSOtUE84N3YCbGyfi1fdvlYaOUN1LG8P0cr-WKX-6WwnH_7_cA7811X464qR4zAtNUe9jFIua2leTrfoPZuGiPkSoyTNl0wN/s1600/breakfast_workout_sb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0k_MM92TvsSdQLc_-cU8NBNzrkpkF5dRcIbRSc-bhkqzcJSOtUE84N3YCbGyfi1fdvlYaOUN1LG8P0cr-WKX-6WwnH_7_cA7811X464qR4zAtNUe9jFIua2leTrfoPZuGiPkSoyTNl0wN/s640/breakfast_workout_sb.jpg" width="332" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Extremely impressive core strength in this creature.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
BIG THING FOR FEBRUARY:</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
new-to-me species!</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Common sharp-tailed snake (<i>Contia tenuis</i>) I found while raking around the grape arbor.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4G3Fl9mi9r_3a80_NbsZN2XV-ayp0U3mzKQHO969w3xItHS_wrkk0Bq4asvLbosPiCPRqFEjmYMJbzaHc5dGYcvCXIFC9kz3juy5E1GqBSwMy3TLFXFx8z3Kx67emQyDJPG8c3sw7-aLX/s1600/DSC_0002+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4G3Fl9mi9r_3a80_NbsZN2XV-ayp0U3mzKQHO969w3xItHS_wrkk0Bq4asvLbosPiCPRqFEjmYMJbzaHc5dGYcvCXIFC9kz3juy5E1GqBSwMy3TLFXFx8z3Kx67emQyDJPG8c3sw7-aLX/s640/DSC_0002+%25281%2529.jpg" width="450" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Pretty gorgeous tummy, eh?</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Those are pine needles, so you can see this is a SMALL snake.</div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
It was kinda cold, so I righted the snake for a photo,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
then returned it to its home under a bunch of leaf litter.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaOt64hQYNx-xgEofbhwVhTD3qgZKM3KOktRc8hHb6CXio97vuGAiCWJ7l-pIFhfX0L7fP0bNxp11fNdqpBE-Ot4ux5wb1V_h73YTvw-C0HfzEEkjIkJuf8kasZIQreniEOZZ3Da7PqX1M/s1600/posture_sb-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaOt64hQYNx-xgEofbhwVhTD3qgZKM3KOktRc8hHb6CXio97vuGAiCWJ7l-pIFhfX0L7fP0bNxp11fNdqpBE-Ot4ux5wb1V_h73YTvw-C0HfzEEkjIkJuf8kasZIQreniEOZZ3Da7PqX1M/s640/posture_sb-1.jpg" width="524" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Such an exciting discovery, and I'm glad it was unharmed (far as I could tell).</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
For more info on this species, I highly recommend <a href="http://www.californiaherps.com/snakes/pages/c.tenuis.html">its page at Calherps</a>.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Now that gardening activity is on the upswing (here in the northern hemisphere),</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
a friendly reminder to CHECK under your row covers</div>
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EACH a.m. & release anything trapped w/in. =)</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3sco6lp9-L1I19SeHgTDV60Q361KWPzq9CTXHkn7kVmzUXd5dZkB3z6n5C9ariU4zhapbe33j8wSwI5gshbRw7vpN2F-W4ElCiwoj5oIVZ090kgHrVakCEQr3SHphTjJctF1jzDnqjeHq/s1600/DSC_0003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="470" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3sco6lp9-L1I19SeHgTDV60Q361KWPzq9CTXHkn7kVmzUXd5dZkB3z6n5C9ariU4zhapbe33j8wSwI5gshbRw7vpN2F-W4ElCiwoj5oIVZ090kgHrVakCEQr3SHphTjJctF1jzDnqjeHq/s640/DSC_0003.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Beautiful male wasp (ichneumon, I believe)</div>
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I found under my row cover and released. </div>
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<br /></div>
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It was 0% aggressive and, btw, males don't have the</div>
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equipment to sting. Note LACK of pointy barb @ end. =)</div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
From February 1st--note the snow on the ground.</div>
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Seems like FOREVER ago. =)</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlwzAFFbwoLmGlKXUMsLR9dvSa8yKbO7duWhQNEB_kfhD2X5wC_nkRJmI8tb2VAX3AsjMSWEZfTcSf-4GpBvK8NAeP5nBE2tosWXeAuThvzhZqwLuquy6sIXTSTDeELSFrOaGpIwNXxbhD/s1600/DSC_0002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlwzAFFbwoLmGlKXUMsLR9dvSa8yKbO7duWhQNEB_kfhD2X5wC_nkRJmI8tb2VAX3AsjMSWEZfTcSf-4GpBvK8NAeP5nBE2tosWXeAuThvzhZqwLuquy6sIXTSTDeELSFrOaGpIwNXxbhD/s640/DSC_0002.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
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Super cool stuff soil does when the cold freezes the water out.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt3sVdd8LLw2xjw2psNGdYhv2NM-ZznCuOpyRbO9rdfJzEj0N69SWhAkOQ1lnXumMb7uAnS3z9E4KAhme0ceiakb16Zta661N4wyXLUH8Qs1pvXIP0NfzzJnJSZJlPi556dxE9JK9yIhyM/s1600/DSC_0004+%25281%2529_sb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="510" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt3sVdd8LLw2xjw2psNGdYhv2NM-ZznCuOpyRbO9rdfJzEj0N69SWhAkOQ1lnXumMb7uAnS3z9E4KAhme0ceiakb16Zta661N4wyXLUH8Qs1pvXIP0NfzzJnJSZJlPi556dxE9JK9yIhyM/s640/DSC_0004+%25281%2529_sb.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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I didn't grow up in really cold places, so this is fascinating to me. </div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
One of the first macro photos I ever took was</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
of this non-native early bloomer, red-stemmed filaree.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Changed my view of the world.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdKlZaA-EgT-iUsZvInLjcaiUNKa1RZiUzL3w290dfk_rUvaQQjZppRr0xVYXPuGHDmFXnOYgW_moDnlM0vB4JtrwAZVGKaG4J30Wbe-7aPDg3Adk1-axs4dVCgowL_KFQKC9CcdEoriod/s1600/red-stemmed_filaree_pollen_sb-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdKlZaA-EgT-iUsZvInLjcaiUNKa1RZiUzL3w290dfk_rUvaQQjZppRr0xVYXPuGHDmFXnOYgW_moDnlM0vB4JtrwAZVGKaG4J30Wbe-7aPDg3Adk1-axs4dVCgowL_KFQKC9CcdEoriod/s640/red-stemmed_filaree_pollen_sb-1.jpg" width="627" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I'm a sucker for visible pollen grains, especially on purple anthers! =)<br />
<br />
<br />
A lovely little flower...</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyCZKpe_ftGKmzA2R-l5tOcy2rn9-HS59jyeSIB6ab6GX4LX84j4jOBexovMzFQ6DTA6H7rJ2WOWteXk1qMqqy36PArIe9nNHBEhu5NsK36Y3Vg_3zYTjY4WxFqT7vG3JD713mZAwaeKgP/s1600/r-s_filaree_sb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyCZKpe_ftGKmzA2R-l5tOcy2rn9-HS59jyeSIB6ab6GX4LX84j4jOBexovMzFQ6DTA6H7rJ2WOWteXk1qMqqy36PArIe9nNHBEhu5NsK36Y3Vg_3zYTjY4WxFqT7vG3JD713mZAwaeKgP/s640/r-s_filaree_sb.jpg" width="574" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
Gorgeous small beetle I saw clambering across the greenery as I photographed the above flower.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9TiFhWxevlWVmX5TlQ4yfgCjM2b2tmnZPa_xtNiYMX8uwjV1MlLKlTBTN04DfLZkPf_wZBLGv2hOlur5p_CI8xbEI7_PHxHdgJhAeLQBwqTdVfvvuBTS5BmCF29dpb5wpOTFJrHpwcknj/s1600/shiny_beetle_sb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9TiFhWxevlWVmX5TlQ4yfgCjM2b2tmnZPa_xtNiYMX8uwjV1MlLKlTBTN04DfLZkPf_wZBLGv2hOlur5p_CI8xbEI7_PHxHdgJhAeLQBwqTdVfvvuBTS5BmCF29dpb5wpOTFJrHpwcknj/s640/shiny_beetle_sb.jpg" width="579" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
So glad I got to see it.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Wildlife prints I found at the work site:</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
best part is the gray fox (Urocyon cinereoargenteus) print...</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
you can SEE the fur on the underside of the fox feet. SO cool!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD4bsgU32lydN3AH442cNhJ8CYzqlAcPZFUl2Nm4z0AIvMzGN2P0vHkZmXAhaaOdVQz1usQ1ulEC5eGbKaqinnrHFS7FYB61dVpB-4gHwiwuwaZi05y0v0PRQNBQOtUvAb4WMVNOp_bcgp/s1600/foxtrack.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="483" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD4bsgU32lydN3AH442cNhJ8CYzqlAcPZFUl2Nm4z0AIvMzGN2P0vHkZmXAhaaOdVQz1usQ1ulEC5eGbKaqinnrHFS7FYB61dVpB-4gHwiwuwaZi05y0v0PRQNBQOtUvAb4WMVNOp_bcgp/s640/foxtrack.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
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K. That's some of the myriad delights that transpired in spring.</div>
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March onward!!! =)</div>
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<br /></div>
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xoxooxbb</div>
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<br /></div>
biobabblerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15081382623906668057noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3404084692895907783.post-61279110005473367052016-01-11T17:33:00.002-08:002016-01-12T09:41:16.544-08:00I FINALLY planted milkweed seed. WOOT! =)<div style="text-align: center;">
Did some work in the a.m., then in the afternoon felt unwell.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
DH prescribed gardening.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Who am I to question him? =)</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
So, planting milkweed seed was priority one.</div>
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<br /></div>
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I weeded this iris plot (protected fm. gophers via that wire mesh)</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL1B-f40f0qjyLIt8YRC4anO6WlMwt2P3ZcJgrVC2LwE7b5_VOCeRp-1pKcLoUTVV_WEBJCc7-5sqXwWX7gPtUmd5KwDBT2JamtRsB7hDbOIJeGUzONFvg9yzOdkjXumlKNr8f2A4UTdXk/s1600/DSC_0001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL1B-f40f0qjyLIt8YRC4anO6WlMwt2P3ZcJgrVC2LwE7b5_VOCeRp-1pKcLoUTVV_WEBJCc7-5sqXwWX7gPtUmd5KwDBT2JamtRsB7hDbOIJeGUzONFvg9yzOdkjXumlKNr8f2A4UTdXk/s640/DSC_0001.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
and got to work.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I took photos 'cause I've learned that where I plant X Y and Z</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
stays in my brain about 15 minutes.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Next day, it's gone.</div>
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<br /></div>
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SO, I made these! =)</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwMZnzuxv-LmybwiddyxdQTeXYRvR0sbeu-qdD3sOTjHs36PEtEsY7zIDEg16trdXGZXUWtpeDXtEITN56YWkAPXh_LmS1p7CluPi2yOldrF58NkDngJN7CNVnCY4VXi_0DLjfEZNaGJmI/s1600/DSC_0003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwMZnzuxv-LmybwiddyxdQTeXYRvR0sbeu-qdD3sOTjHs36PEtEsY7zIDEg16trdXGZXUWtpeDXtEITN56YWkAPXh_LmS1p7CluPi2yOldrF58NkDngJN7CNVnCY4VXi_0DLjfEZNaGJmI/s640/DSC_0003.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj00K1GA6r1GBShSTmup8rNVGnzuuyVY6Q2SJP1HsU0XUCORIF4AZDaELNA4ekgPfMwqnsjJqiZeg2pocrJH_OHpjJy1r8Uys6EfcMNX5c4BFfEDO8CrEU7-aOHUrnU_pmI7FyLOUU9SBnn/s1600/DSC_0002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj00K1GA6r1GBShSTmup8rNVGnzuuyVY6Q2SJP1HsU0XUCORIF4AZDaELNA4ekgPfMwqnsjJqiZeg2pocrJH_OHpjJy1r8Uys6EfcMNX5c4BFfEDO8CrEU7-aOHUrnU_pmI7FyLOUU9SBnn/s640/DSC_0002.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
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And here's the details, re: the seed packets.</div>
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I'd researched it in the past to find spp. native to California</div>
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and which help monarchs specifically, butterflies in general.</div>
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<br /></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXK6L47IZwX7CJDbT0tQj94zz6pDgpJXvwdKPMCOkNWiOWW9WsO6b7uXYHGWQ_TVl15rFR7rfFk5DwGjN_vwYk43TS22gEN-0yVhwZFWzzsOaltcFN6q9T1nNzeD2dh-uF1hiXnehjHorL/s1600/DSC_0004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXK6L47IZwX7CJDbT0tQj94zz6pDgpJXvwdKPMCOkNWiOWW9WsO6b7uXYHGWQ_TVl15rFR7rfFk5DwGjN_vwYk43TS22gEN-0yVhwZFWzzsOaltcFN6q9T1nNzeD2dh-uF1hiXnehjHorL/s640/DSC_0004.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<br />
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Note the one above likes to be over 1,000 feet in elevation: we're 3500, so we're a go!</div>
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<br /></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_HCBWG_bansexow3lsqcEXTLhmWRHWAoTozztfwfNsEjKZzaIs0hBoHOdVK2G6vfgCblBYgXHkSrxK3SXRjMqXCDgiwj3JuPUWyky_l6PHmyV4Bp1Ybc4SHrE5frTjlgqdaC8ZarkTAbP/s1600/DSC_0005.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_HCBWG_bansexow3lsqcEXTLhmWRHWAoTozztfwfNsEjKZzaIs0hBoHOdVK2G6vfgCblBYgXHkSrxK3SXRjMqXCDgiwj3JuPUWyky_l6PHmyV4Bp1Ybc4SHrE5frTjlgqdaC8ZarkTAbP/s640/DSC_0005.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
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Note: "packed for 2014" means I shoulda planted them 2 falls ago,</div>
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but, whatever.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Planted is better than not planted.</div>
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Part of learning to garden is learning to quash the perfectionist.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Just. Do. Something.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg86nyZMfJ5oHYJ8D9k7gxwEMgBxsyYQVOw_oydsbkN1RF76f2Ncd6peV66awVq38yILRlcQYO-NTxkVCVg0LAwFgww5YQcpYU8zvOkEa2_q47HaPqc5QqcBBT948PkfC-9Z6HxLkDzYnQA/s1600/DSC_0006.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg86nyZMfJ5oHYJ8D9k7gxwEMgBxsyYQVOw_oydsbkN1RF76f2Ncd6peV66awVq38yILRlcQYO-NTxkVCVg0LAwFgww5YQcpYU8zvOkEa2_q47HaPqc5QqcBBT948PkfC-9Z6HxLkDzYnQA/s640/DSC_0006.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Also, I paid for these (& a bunch of to-be-planted-in-spring kinds)</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
versus looking for a free source. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
My priority was get the right spp. for our area & bugs.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Didn't cost much, anyhow. =)</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Next, I had to protect our seeds from the HOARDS of hungry seed-eating birds:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi_nHma-LgzWRBUSKU4ja56ZPTDlGBpPDsXttNcXvCN5GCBV9twTCVJAUVEAGmIPNH38-tuHCeizjr70onbIjqLc8cTLhzm-KvL__Ka32Hk5m0vKAU5yz5AyX6XMS1_-O_2qSOhxmhdbXg/s1600/DSC_0007.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi_nHma-LgzWRBUSKU4ja56ZPTDlGBpPDsXttNcXvCN5GCBV9twTCVJAUVEAGmIPNH38-tuHCeizjr70onbIjqLc8cTLhzm-KvL__Ka32Hk5m0vKAU5yz5AyX6XMS1_-O_2qSOhxmhdbXg/s640/DSC_0007.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
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Before I learned this trick, I'd plant seed mixes and get almost nothing.</div>
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I concluded I was a crap gardener.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Turns out, dark-eyed juncos (& friends) kick through & eat seeds on & under the ground.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
So, I protected newly planted areas in the above manner</div>
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and suddenly I had LOTS of BABY PLANTS! Total miracle.</div>
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<br /></div>
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=)</div>
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<br /></div>
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Next I need to attach that wire mesh to wood so it's safe for wildlife.</div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
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But, now, having followed my husband's recommended cure,</div>
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I am now well, AND I've got 3 species of milkweed planted in our garden.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Some</i> of which can grow to 5 feet. SWEET!!</div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
One of the best things about gardening is it gives you things to look forward to.</div>
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Like stunning, fabulous flowers attracting stunning, fabulous insect life</div>
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that I then get to ogle and PHOTOGRAPH.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Woot!</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
xoxooxxobb</div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
biobabblerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15081382623906668057noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3404084692895907783.post-46054284407844896512016-01-05T13:08:00.001-08:002016-01-05T13:21:04.622-08:00life, art, biology, repeat: quick East Coast flash, bug question & a question answered<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
During our trip back east,</div>
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I <i>pigged</i> out at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, DC.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFG_g9Qdy9FDIMg7hdyGmFMnCULjA0HoPhrdtkqPKxSwztuBRR7iKEgAOdLV8NxGUf916YiOrUKu3mB19AcAsuwZ96aK8D228NdJBddWwAbu1e-VBQoX5HuoSk0VhvXpEkGVx3Cq4Hiejr/s1600/DSC_0011_sb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFG_g9Qdy9FDIMg7hdyGmFMnCULjA0HoPhrdtkqPKxSwztuBRR7iKEgAOdLV8NxGUf916YiOrUKu3mB19AcAsuwZ96aK8D228NdJBddWwAbu1e-VBQoX5HuoSk0VhvXpEkGVx3Cq4Hiejr/s640/DSC_0011_sb.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>So</i> yum.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
What follows: a biological subset of the delicious repast.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><b>Images Caveat</b></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I looked for but didn't find "can't share these" on nga.gov,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I only took photos of those we were allowed to (w/o flash, of course),</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
& given that many can be downloaded for free <a href="https://images.nga.gov/en/page/show_home_page.html">here</a>,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
& many are >100 y.o., I'm thinking it's ok to share them here. =)</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>End Caveat</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>Gorgeous data bank</i></b></div>
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<b><i><br /></i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Painting style that makes the nature noodle in me drool...</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9vRq8PPCO6mKSBDYmpeHBEHqRNI-PPvvvpvamZB8yqeCgeSVna5UqfMVdb0POpn7toxjA0AfKVacElDcc-67ufxeiFPg4ynWsrXPecyzXFJPEKNKvMd3wzZtpyfWF7NFhbRl4vteotpzz/s1600/jan_van_huysum.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9vRq8PPCO6mKSBDYmpeHBEHqRNI-PPvvvpvamZB8yqeCgeSVna5UqfMVdb0POpn7toxjA0AfKVacElDcc-67ufxeiFPg4ynWsrXPecyzXFJPEKNKvMd3wzZtpyfWF7NFhbRl4vteotpzz/s640/jan_van_huysum.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Still Life with Flowers and Fruit</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Jan Van Huysum, oil on panel, circa 1715, Dutch</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Stunning, excruciatingly detailed work that seems like a</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>great</i> way to preserve data re: living things (if accurate).</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Can't imagine any pressed botanical specimen</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
having color like after 200 years</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
(tho' obviously natural history museum collections</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
can be <i>staggeringly</i> valuable to science).</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Seems like you could ID many of these species,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
if you knew where they were collected. Maybe. =)</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
And the bugs are the <b>kicker</b>.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnnfrafs0FbPaZmHEiAL-CKmbduJaERzeO3vRJ9rTfAj9f7C0TVgvt49X_hqLWqJ5UmE04vLdOHMso0qu-KRTrZnOcSDS5F8cHaOT4Qe3PwZfTuqzEbWolOxVsqIPb7I0tVMBuXUEDsyc-/s1600/Version+2+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnnfrafs0FbPaZmHEiAL-CKmbduJaERzeO3vRJ9rTfAj9f7C0TVgvt49X_hqLWqJ5UmE04vLdOHMso0qu-KRTrZnOcSDS5F8cHaOT4Qe3PwZfTuqzEbWolOxVsqIPb7I0tVMBuXUEDsyc-/s400/Version+2+%25281%2529.jpg" width="353" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Detail of <i>Still Life with Flowers and Fruit</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I bet $$ that's a (300 yr old) tiger beetle. =)</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Can any bug people confirm or deny my tiger beetle guess?</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Pretty please do, in comments, below. I'd be MOST grateful. =)</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Fly, ants & butterfly (or moth?), same painting:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiecA0xsshzdM9Kn4t6pUYH-Nb_qsdScglk7BX0cqHV0DY_PCcvqsHKgKFVrCZXmqVjRnnh8DWQlTjR4eIWW5p7kpfQQkWH5lkjLD7Tgxi_5fdvXeuTv_shkE8A6qaa4rFQRcUiRWtFwQLU/s1600/DSC_0103.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="432" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiecA0xsshzdM9Kn4t6pUYH-Nb_qsdScglk7BX0cqHV0DY_PCcvqsHKgKFVrCZXmqVjRnnh8DWQlTjR4eIWW5p7kpfQQkWH5lkjLD7Tgxi_5fdvXeuTv_shkE8A6qaa4rFQRcUiRWtFwQLU/s640/DSC_0103.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I think it'd be fun to review the flora and fauna</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
of paintings like these to see if they were accurately depicted.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Not your "Great British Bake Off"...</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOaBq3fAyd1AVYkCbWtSV9Jlnx8JaKPFKnm0NPZ6fag3BiWeiD5ksxfeyKEX3au6kk9vpOXNq7BqttEOLEYsqGI8FlwEBLNuEepceTdz-FI9nE1CiVIW909Re7fNKgfiCrSgrlgxnTdQkz/s1600/DSC_0104_sb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOaBq3fAyd1AVYkCbWtSV9Jlnx8JaKPFKnm0NPZ6fag3BiWeiD5ksxfeyKEX3au6kk9vpOXNq7BqttEOLEYsqGI8FlwEBLNuEepceTdz-FI9nE1CiVIW909Re7fNKgfiCrSgrlgxnTdQkz/s640/DSC_0104_sb.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Still Life with Peacock Pie</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Pieter Claesz</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
oil on panel, 1627, Dutch</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
This made me think of the amazing creations</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
that Great British Bake Off contestants try to emulate.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
But, the <b>first</b> thing I thought of</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
when I saw the above was the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. =)</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I'm pretty sure peacocks aren't covered by it (not native to US, etc.),</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
but part of my job is to look for such violations, so my brain sent up a RED FLAG. =)</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Also, by now the bird's been dead for close to 400 years...</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Among NGA's amazing display of lush American-made furniture,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
this table leg caught my eye, for obvious reasons. =) </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivOl8sSx5SZCSNwGYkf8tP1fRF02lb-Y_hBXavsZMgar9_aoQRNyGLa6dl8FoQ5jHr1qqAyQEoggxGYnp7_chF0pGZNYrNwuMg8HHAzFzmv05K4xT_GF7sXot-QWyAPIWLPZ5GiTB6GQ_j/s1600/theclaw_sb-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivOl8sSx5SZCSNwGYkf8tP1fRF02lb-Y_hBXavsZMgar9_aoQRNyGLa6dl8FoQ5jHr1qqAyQEoggxGYnp7_chF0pGZNYrNwuMg8HHAzFzmv05K4xT_GF7sXot-QWyAPIWLPZ5GiTB6GQ_j/s640/theclaw_sb-1.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>RAWR! </i>=)</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I'll post more images & thoughts later,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
but for now, I'll address what many have asked:</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Why don't you spend more time at the Natural History Museum?</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Because that stuff is what I've been studying</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
my WHOLE LIFE (or there abouts).</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I want to look at different things,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
unfamiliar things,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
things I may not understand.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I want to explore other worlds when I'm on vacay.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
And, apparently, art makes me happy.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Really</i> happy.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
=)</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Plus, there's LOADS of overlap between nature and art</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
which I'll continue to explore in further posts.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
And I believe nature can explain much of why that overlap exists.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
We're just another mammal, after all.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
=) </div>
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xoxoxobb</div>
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biobabblerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15081382623906668057noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3404084692895907783.post-49036689027685433712015-12-17T12:56:00.001-08:002015-12-17T12:56:27.693-08:00Nature upload: the living, traces of the past, finicky finches, and a GAME! =)<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>The Living</b><br />
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Some lovely lichen I found 'neath an old oak tree</div>
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when I was foraging about for some nature coolness.</div>
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<img border="0" height="460" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzGlVOYwE15bLqo88GuEGkqOhQHUj_6vN8J9GDoEvIjr418bZfyv_sRxQTBlZLx7k9TWky7boNU0880GCpMSTiUia9ihwakj_D7A9cw4vokZj-C9vHKu2acqM7Bcvt7CY9bFI_M31zN1ef/s640/DSC_0012_sb.jpg" width="640" /></div>
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Under the same oak, I found this a few days later.</div>
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Looks like a nest with a perfect hen's egg in it, right?</div>
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<img border="0" height="470" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCqcdBcYEiWySwy9db3mDi95HMhg0LbqbYKx3Tvr-M8rJUfrL-_ohizcWdZ0mez_cs6QaomRrCMVIrZY2o-eIC-dMlyS8zQXEu3b5K1SCvZ04qMw52o1-K7ElNERH0hpO6yMBrPh4RuyBB/s640/DSC_0009+%25281%2529_sb.jpg" width="640" /></div>
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It's fungus. Some kinda puffball, I presume. =)</div>
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<img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXWhnFSMVFAk5jn5W3tOeUaZcHu07TbLUVrXx37eSxGnkG40niOA9-XCS7TyzOvxxcK9HHQgDMCQ1j9jGSR__Xk2XdDwahgi7yynjokm6Z-rPCI7jvX4IIeHpkagmY4eT_jH4Rk_cXtElR/s640/DSC_0003+%25283%2529_sb.jpg" width="640" /></div>
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And, from my field site, a super not great photo of a FABULOUS bird, a phainopepla.</div>
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<img border="0" height="544" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwH1D-SLmau5l2k-WLmEuiLWmXXVEqyoCYgBwI2wJmF1UOvQhJKrwMey-qMmGQ7G6F5fr6fznXp5aTM3ZAljqut9v6Y4F5x0J9BXRPnbLWdJuxMpWjMn5SE6mhUC8QItHBl8zKGqybp8f-/s640/DSC_0027.jpg" style="text-align: center;" width="640" /></div>
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I'd never seen one at the site before, and have only seen them maybe 4 times?</div>
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Looks like a black cardinal with red eyes. And makes a sweet little sound.</div>
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SUPER cool.</div>
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<b>Traces of the Past</b></div>
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Photo that represents much of what I love about my job.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXWhnFSMVFAk5jn5W3tOeUaZcHu07TbLUVrXx37eSxGnkG40niOA9-XCS7TyzOvxxcK9HHQgDMCQ1j9jGSR__Xk2XdDwahgi7yynjokm6Z-rPCI7jvX4IIeHpkagmY4eT_jH4Rk_cXtElR/s1600/DSC_0003+%25283%2529_sb.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="544" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1BNeXngFOCePbvaiqAfYv4bZGpPihwr0LXtIxieK9sYCvdT81qsZuQgDSZkmMzWwZhvGX0xXQ4my7NLiL1f9bn_j3R_fRjh0ke_Wtq8yC4u9_GhpnjsGXS624FNbH1L2KtolOiivxVTWZ/s640/DSC_0049_sb.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Looking for and detecting wildlife, in whatever form I can.</div>
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This is a coyote print in some tasty mud.</div>
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And thanks to the smarty tweeple I follow on twitter (e.g., @Laelaps & @LianaBrooks),</div>
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I believe THESE are worm tracks.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjekhVTRyCoI_DbOWakHkr_x6sw3SHTvl2O47yVsXFhEPZmi_8oIgpGM5nSeCgSXVFM2npJ8Wlv6zFES4EIH7HmG0jrXAeum_o54UXyG7ndi5Gp6pGPCxTs-iEzHvMkLgZbCPdLn5lv4acl/s1600/DSC_0071.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjekhVTRyCoI_DbOWakHkr_x6sw3SHTvl2O47yVsXFhEPZmi_8oIgpGM5nSeCgSXVFM2npJ8Wlv6zFES4EIH7HmG0jrXAeum_o54UXyG7ndi5Gp6pGPCxTs-iEzHvMkLgZbCPdLn5lv4acl/s640/DSC_0071.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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I only find them RIGHT after a rain storm in areas that are pure dirt (no plants).</div>
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I'm super psyched I learned this. Such beautiful tracks.</div>
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DH and I were cruising around learning about local mining history.</div>
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Our shadows on infrastructure of what I think was a ferry landing at the Merced River.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVJm3nMBEhoreBOHcWq7-72r4BjG15SOxKF7qOfiUCW1rXiHbvTXfVsWRUtE6c7csW0kBTwyZejaHGIMiT95IB8uLkfp6IWynmaf0wYDZ3mhEdrQBFg018SeWCFGbv1Jvjryq7RcCwEQEV/s1600/DSC_0010_sb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVJm3nMBEhoreBOHcWq7-72r4BjG15SOxKF7qOfiUCW1rXiHbvTXfVsWRUtE6c7csW0kBTwyZejaHGIMiT95IB8uLkfp6IWynmaf0wYDZ3mhEdrQBFg018SeWCFGbv1Jvjryq7RcCwEQEV/s640/DSC_0010_sb.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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It's just off highway 49 (its name is NO coincidence re: 49-er history).</div>
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Hills are greening up nicely, around here. Yay! =)</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNt4-3RhTnf1Ra5xL8XYna4sx2ZRkDDnYeSkIiYLFd9337AsnoL_J0O0ryFLSLknSn8H_mljceEC5i7UcBquGxnzdGvOgsJj8msmEJmB4mkXWX9HBizUC4cA47PvC0U0UGd4kfTE3h6ngm/s1600/DSC_0008_sb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNt4-3RhTnf1Ra5xL8XYna4sx2ZRkDDnYeSkIiYLFd9337AsnoL_J0O0ryFLSLknSn8H_mljceEC5i7UcBquGxnzdGvOgsJj8msmEJmB4mkXWX9HBizUC4cA47PvC0U0UGd4kfTE3h6ngm/s640/DSC_0008_sb.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Then we cruised down foothill backroads to where some mines used to be</div>
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and found this beautiful fence. I LOVE the way it frames everything.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcV56ih7ocSx8sb_1sf5T-w2okl391gPSn_hF1Smgt9cKwTRKKvOHtittxMd8oMHzxevBfqJb_fyTiIKvVOJoC2-hAYcCGO9exHvWP0IoNLmhToftRlmE8SgmdqJG5qOvUCoLXEr9qTMKr/s1600/DSC_0013_sb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcV56ih7ocSx8sb_1sf5T-w2okl391gPSn_hF1Smgt9cKwTRKKvOHtittxMd8oMHzxevBfqJb_fyTiIKvVOJoC2-hAYcCGO9exHvWP0IoNLmhToftRlmE8SgmdqJG5qOvUCoLXEr9qTMKr/s640/DSC_0013_sb.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<b>Finicky Finches</b></div>
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Got photo documentation of our local birds</div>
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rejecting the millet in the birdseed I put out for them. =)</div>
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House finch grabbing millet to fling...</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiESZyBtOiM_d_KG1m8Mc0KqZRTTth_PoRHlZwXMFva5oUWTZZjHOmw39xmbqk7P4KZtqIRTDHax2drrcalF0uO4y5nhkpeowEiPsPdB1uyLgbvASD9e0O7SPz-YLZJPbjLMjPL1TZAa0xC/s1600/DSC_0018.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiESZyBtOiM_d_KG1m8Mc0KqZRTTth_PoRHlZwXMFva5oUWTZZjHOmw39xmbqk7P4KZtqIRTDHax2drrcalF0uO4y5nhkpeowEiPsPdB1uyLgbvASD9e0O7SPz-YLZJPbjLMjPL1TZAa0xC/s640/DSC_0018.jpg" width="584" /></a></div>
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...annnnd flung!</div>
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(See lower right hand corner)</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGio31pzva_zr8_7EANZs16l6C9bHDAJdAqkoXGbWWa5yWMqovaHhw5xkoCH0OE1he5_ob657TVOoMWzwZcvICe_TtNnJIgmPFcwU-qbngNGPMukHiEbrVSYoeDOUWKPXpbC4opoI55ug9/s1600/DSC_0026.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGio31pzva_zr8_7EANZs16l6C9bHDAJdAqkoXGbWWa5yWMqovaHhw5xkoCH0OE1he5_ob657TVOoMWzwZcvICe_TtNnJIgmPFcwU-qbngNGPMukHiEbrVSYoeDOUWKPXpbC4opoI55ug9/s640/DSC_0026.jpg" width="586" /></a></div>
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Duly noted. =)</div>
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<b>Guessing Game: How Big Is This Oak?</b></div>
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An oak as viewed from within the Ahwahnee in Yosemite NP.</div>
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How tall would you guess it is?</div>
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If you were standing next to it, how high up would the top of your head go?</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIx4V85qyfUsRdbAoe6f9KfKxsgiblDO8VN-P31HOA943ndhKA8E06YE71pV20cU3b6DHwgHlzgmYMvSLsNadPehS22vS8kd5h6ix935h2FYqZxZqPL-cXyGbs0CMlAL-IJvdGEMif3Cap/s1600/DSC_0006_sb-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIx4V85qyfUsRdbAoe6f9KfKxsgiblDO8VN-P31HOA943ndhKA8E06YE71pV20cU3b6DHwgHlzgmYMvSLsNadPehS22vS8kd5h6ix935h2FYqZxZqPL-cXyGbs0CMlAL-IJvdGEMif3Cap/s640/DSC_0006_sb-1.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
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Just go ahead and try and picture yourself there. </div>
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Then scroll down to see how tall people are relative to the oak.</div>
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derp</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHy5ympLhHpbcYilIi_OT3Sw18CsraAocWRBROIDOzbqJLnLvXb19IGrjaShUg0WDp-slciiYqDu2MfKmVTTKP8KlYHqAjTd_q2DbBL_a365rZ0Ry25Wb0X8sdciuh2j41JZH8LdRnmF1e/s1600/DSC_0005+%25281%2529_sb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHy5ympLhHpbcYilIi_OT3Sw18CsraAocWRBROIDOzbqJLnLvXb19IGrjaShUg0WDp-slciiYqDu2MfKmVTTKP8KlYHqAjTd_q2DbBL_a365rZ0Ry25Wb0X8sdciuh2j41JZH8LdRnmF1e/s640/DSC_0005+%25281%2529_sb.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
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So, how close were you to reality?</div>
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I think that tree is OVER 70 feet tall.</div>
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A towering beauty, to be sure. =)</div>
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I hope your winter is cruising along nicely. =)</div>
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xoxooxobb</div>
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biobabblerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15081382623906668057noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3404084692895907783.post-31967237833418251082015-11-10T11:19:00.001-08:002015-11-10T11:19:13.929-08:00Rando photo fling<br />
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Gotta go do fieldwork, but gonna fling a few photos 'cause it's TIME, jeepers! =)</div>
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Lovely cosmos face in November.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW4zqBoXkbnfh63BJUsHkmChEHlRkcv9V898QMAqTzm9qqdqEfDHW3FfktIv90KGUS3KpooxXCwQ1dYZrgry_bsW_5H-0TQwigLNXcBz9qGGvJvq_6PaQUzevKX99H71GWRrQxjVHd6PVB/s1600/DSC_0037_sb-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW4zqBoXkbnfh63BJUsHkmChEHlRkcv9V898QMAqTzm9qqdqEfDHW3FfktIv90KGUS3KpooxXCwQ1dYZrgry_bsW_5H-0TQwigLNXcBz9qGGvJvq_6PaQUzevKX99H71GWRrQxjVHd6PVB/s640/DSC_0037_sb-1.jpg" width="372" /></a></div>
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The Three Faces of Eve (or 3 stages of a cosmos blossom).</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijwEjPue0VuJw_Mc10Iv_uKAq-mgzvqiZ3YTsOb_cfu3Zvr_6LtMe6AwtdP8Nc3mwrG2hYf0G6APP114HFAhD4mgM6ILIOtvqni0aVRKZ1sqb1vBxjAO5wUBK-WJoZsj_2mU8xIUQoqizk/s1600/3phase_cosmos_sb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijwEjPue0VuJw_Mc10Iv_uKAq-mgzvqiZ3YTsOb_cfu3Zvr_6LtMe6AwtdP8Nc3mwrG2hYf0G6APP114HFAhD4mgM6ILIOtvqni0aVRKZ1sqb1vBxjAO5wUBK-WJoZsj_2mU8xIUQoqizk/s640/3phase_cosmos_sb.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
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We got 2 inches of rain a few days back, so I looked for soggy green stuff.</div>
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Lichen and moss assemblage on the shady side of a rock.</div>
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First hygroscopic earthstar I've seen this year.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiMmRmUlXJn5bGJXBPE8ktXJmgZKiw2vSSgyN_Y6KaN73wen7-a4Ap990VnNdzlP7D43x1niDboCNPDggstig7iKBEyED7GHLx_m3YDSCLsTHaANbsLzzIT6m5OO7eL5WSd4iJJh7uY7-h/s1600/DSC_0004_m-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiMmRmUlXJn5bGJXBPE8ktXJmgZKiw2vSSgyN_Y6KaN73wen7-a4Ap990VnNdzlP7D43x1niDboCNPDggstig7iKBEyED7GHLx_m3YDSCLsTHaANbsLzzIT6m5OO7eL5WSd4iJJh7uY7-h/s640/DSC_0004_m-1.jpg" width="628" /></a></div>
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In order to keep my solitary hen company,</div>
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she lives with a mirror that she can cuddle up to.</div>
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It needed washing, so I brought it outside in the shade & this happened.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirXL0eBctDyVxRnOj5VMn5fX8wU_zITZlXQNEtR2MmNc5Q2HAakm2ZdsyzvhA_WXyjcgP2n9ak2kvTXUMhUw6H_d8d4jx5grJlXhjdfJqilp0p-81Agn-mg0k1nJi4XbwgHV7HPSOOrvEc/s1600/DSC_0022+%25281%2529_sb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="406" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirXL0eBctDyVxRnOj5VMn5fX8wU_zITZlXQNEtR2MmNc5Q2HAakm2ZdsyzvhA_WXyjcgP2n9ak2kvTXUMhUw6H_d8d4jx5grJlXhjdfJqilp0p-81Agn-mg0k1nJi4XbwgHV7HPSOOrvEc/s640/DSC_0022+%25281%2529_sb.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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One of the joys of stormy weather: places for the sunset to play.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMbItSjFoPrbFQccZkqQAfS5JDOOBM3ms-n16sQTEFL3XbTN5PKFVoE_pOeu9Ynl87EERUHLd3ZDmE-WfPa-VvjIzXmzIZC0C7RBVLeAnDg86D6EzhFQ0ISq9vwQRulWU_VHYMf9AJHZpW/s1600/cloudy_sb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMbItSjFoPrbFQccZkqQAfS5JDOOBM3ms-n16sQTEFL3XbTN5PKFVoE_pOeu9Ynl87EERUHLd3ZDmE-WfPa-VvjIzXmzIZC0C7RBVLeAnDg86D6EzhFQ0ISq9vwQRulWU_VHYMf9AJHZpW/s640/cloudy_sb.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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xoxoxobb</div>
biobabblerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15081382623906668057noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3404084692895907783.post-47909064518541968812015-10-29T13:54:00.002-07:002015-10-29T18:46:13.504-07:00Towering palm trees, I'm awfully frond of you*<div style="text-align: center;">
I was born in San Diego, and there developed a real weakness for</div>
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very tall, slender, old palm trees.</div>
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Last week DH & I drove by a part of San Jose that had a <i>lot</i> of them.</div>
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I vowed to walk there if possible.</div>
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Next morning I googled "palm tree-lined streets San Jose, CA" and BAM!</div>
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Palm Haven pops up, established 1913, incorporated in 1917.**</div>
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Which I'm thinkin' means these lovelies are <b>one hundred years old</b>.</div>
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Wow!!</div>
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And they were just a few blocks away from us.</div>
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<b>Thank you</b>, magical internet.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ7iWzyNE6gXc7yCRx5VQQH6jhWM7CEPOtHzg7jE1or5Re57ishythqv6HEj2Ggtsl0O-aTX-yozWkhcz0yLTTlDvct-tKbNGhg8i-hgfksrrpQaZmXIos5W3z4-U7DYCC4Z1KUJC5FfM4/s1600/DSC_0020_sb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ7iWzyNE6gXc7yCRx5VQQH6jhWM7CEPOtHzg7jE1or5Re57ishythqv6HEj2Ggtsl0O-aTX-yozWkhcz0yLTTlDvct-tKbNGhg8i-hgfksrrpQaZmXIos5W3z4-U7DYCC4Z1KUJC5FfM4/s640/DSC_0020_sb.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
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<i>Witches can be wounded via impact with palm trees--look out, ladies!</i></div>
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<i><br /></i></div>
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<b>Some of these trees may be nearly 100 feet tall.</b>**</div>
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The tallest ones would be the Mexican fan palm (<i>Washingtonia robusta</i>); the species I adore.</div>
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And these elegant trees may be just about at their age limit.</div>
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L.A. (which also has very old palms) is replacing dying palms</div>
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with trees that provide more shade and can remove more pollution.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd4eRgmdlaajIFe1lOhRg6OP4il6qu0KHmBybg1T-Y1XYK71KuXwvg2jqEV9A7diyaXE2u5EaAQA1Oi0QiNYsa9Vx0YwWsA-rZBeXgSqHfPlMRQQFWmK0TawBDbHzgKkk7lXfeBGH-h6fE/s1600/DSC_0022_sb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd4eRgmdlaajIFe1lOhRg6OP4il6qu0KHmBybg1T-Y1XYK71KuXwvg2jqEV9A7diyaXE2u5EaAQA1Oi0QiNYsa9Vx0YwWsA-rZBeXgSqHfPlMRQQFWmK0TawBDbHzgKkk7lXfeBGH-h6fE/s640/DSC_0022_sb.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
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<i>Palm Haven's tall, thin lovelies. *happy sigh*</i></div>
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<b>We may be living in the golden years of tall, old palms in California.</b></div>
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It might be wise to appreciate them now. =)<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-family: Times; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; orphans: auto; padding: 6px; text-align: center; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN-AecxM6i6E1k18fTkSB9BEMZeXx2ZJo91OJ2SW8SxbMbMAbXyU6Dp_n7w9cWvS5NHh2vpz79aEvvfgG_9T3fQCdmHRlYt9DO91RHJvJMxzpa9I3FhfoegdAUpgmEjp6uy1GPAbQdCZsH/s1600/DSC_0013+%25282%2529_sb-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN-AecxM6i6E1k18fTkSB9BEMZeXx2ZJo91OJ2SW8SxbMbMAbXyU6Dp_n7w9cWvS5NHh2vpz79aEvvfgG_9T3fQCdmHRlYt9DO91RHJvJMxzpa9I3FhfoegdAUpgmEjp6uy1GPAbQdCZsH/s640/DSC_0013+%25282%2529_sb-1.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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In all their spindly glory.</div>
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xoxoxobb</div>
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<br />
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P.S. For more info, there's <a href="http://www.kcet.org/updaily/socal_focus/history/la-as-subject/a-brief-history-of-palm-trees-in-southern-california.html">a brief history of palm trees in Southern California</a> online which includes a photo from 1918 Beverly Hills, a long boulevard with stubby little planted palms. SO CUTE!<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">*With apologies to sesamestreet.org & their charming "Rubber Ducky" song. </span><span style="font-size: x-small;">It's the 1st record I remember getting fm. my parents & I'm pretty sure it made me so happy I cried. Also, apologies for the pun, but it was just SITTING there, STARING at me.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">**Wiki page on Palm Haven, and PalmHaven dot info.</span></div>
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biobabblerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15081382623906668057noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3404084692895907783.post-44506727611948080052015-09-21T16:35:00.001-07:002015-09-21T16:35:04.119-07:00Yosemite etimesoY<div style="text-align: center;">
Reflecting near Tioga Pass, Yosemite NP, this past weekend.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqdmT4V1kT3ft6se7FUh68pQUrRf3Cbd9cqOMc_V-R4R45jaZ6s2UYD5P3LVAdlVv64lNIZDqsF8I6iomXD8GpqgpQZRXM9iiT6c1BisWrjEJm3HDRDH_J8dqlFbCaZcnd9KuphPyk_U1s/s1600/DSC_0077_bb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqdmT4V1kT3ft6se7FUh68pQUrRf3Cbd9cqOMc_V-R4R45jaZ6s2UYD5P3LVAdlVv64lNIZDqsF8I6iomXD8GpqgpQZRXM9iiT6c1BisWrjEJm3HDRDH_J8dqlFbCaZcnd9KuphPyk_U1s/s640/DSC_0077_bb.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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It's a pretty nice place.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVtlG1ZiBVEMuJm8TdaqaxEFjhv5DXrNRImwskcYj9qCM0W5seZzI66pdAHlry5Nts66j-AGi_b1gjg1aXG9aE5lVeyuhyz0z_-K2ZiBm9iKUrTnbOy7AtDWQQORS36lFTbcOn9poROBDh/s1600/DSC_0082_bb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVtlG1ZiBVEMuJm8TdaqaxEFjhv5DXrNRImwskcYj9qCM0W5seZzI66pdAHlry5Nts66j-AGi_b1gjg1aXG9aE5lVeyuhyz0z_-K2ZiBm9iKUrTnbOy7AtDWQQORS36lFTbcOn9poROBDh/s640/DSC_0082_bb.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Here's to finding a beautiful, natural place near you,</div>
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and getting <i>into</i> it.</div>
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And, although the NPS is running a</div>
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<a href="http://findyourpark.com/">Find Your Park campaign</a> to encourage & celebrate such things,</div>
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and I am a <i>huge</i> fan of the NPS,<br />
it doesn't have to be a national park.</div>
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Whether you're at some famously stunning natural landscape,</div>
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or peering at the bugs that flew to your porch light,</div>
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nature can always enrich your life.</div>
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Ours is a complex and wonderful planet.</div>
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And it's all <i>right</i> <i>out there</i>...</div>
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=)</div>
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xoxobb</div>
<a href="" style="background-color: transparent; background-image: url(data:image/png; border: none; cursor: pointer; display: none; height: 20px; opacity: 0.85; position: absolute; width: 40px; z-index: 8675309;"></a><a href="" style="background-color: transparent; background-image: url(data:image/png; border: none; cursor: pointer; display: none; height: 20px; opacity: 0.85; position: absolute; width: 40px; z-index: 8675309;"></a>biobabblerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15081382623906668057noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3404084692895907783.post-90067681874293396092015-09-15T12:46:00.001-07:002015-09-15T15:12:10.767-07:00The world is on fire... or at least California is.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
This freaky sunset brought to you by the Butte Fire (taken last Friday)</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6NyKzSnXtWwxQwNnQ6Rrc7DmCI4VAQxVmRF1rSQxhNXcrFPxr16bWmljjZXfXf61lLj84YsPK34xHmtKSnH1j0fcpDVi_EUSx3bLBPjHP6SDbC3HpWxR7WmYRMJT3UHlD0MY22AM0LZRi/s1600/DSC_0226_bb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6NyKzSnXtWwxQwNnQ6Rrc7DmCI4VAQxVmRF1rSQxhNXcrFPxr16bWmljjZXfXf61lLj84YsPK34xHmtKSnH1j0fcpDVi_EUSx3bLBPjHP6SDbC3HpWxR7WmYRMJT3UHlD0MY22AM0LZRi/s640/DSC_0226_bb.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
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This was my drive into Sonora, Calif., last Thursday afternoon...</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6HbiJ0lIk19sd8LGVe0jq_ysnlYYD6HQF7vAHknSRvDR_OSm0Weni8sUg-TiXOcgyFYLwEpLCDxwjKZuuxmpcHVyR3H0eo-27dgJaxNDFB7R5fgEpV9Cbu83gyYsG8fI1Pc1L0ZQlJwa0/s1600/DSC_0197_bb-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6HbiJ0lIk19sd8LGVe0jq_ysnlYYD6HQF7vAHknSRvDR_OSm0Weni8sUg-TiXOcgyFYLwEpLCDxwjKZuuxmpcHVyR3H0eo-27dgJaxNDFB7R5fgEpV9Cbu83gyYsG8fI1Pc1L0ZQlJwa0/s640/DSC_0197_bb-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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The Butte Fire started the previous afternoon, about 43 miles from Sonora,</div>
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and since spread quickly and moved a lot closer.</div>
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Drive to Sonora Friday afternoon... a wee bit smokier.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheqpp32ygPzgS-gEDr8tFNvC0Ae8uu1MfjrDnmKIbvQTVj4B3j1Kpi-EnyRC4acw44yKMYzm-7BIPP7eqdkH6JiHyeHzb9YmUOwo6m8Npitj7-cYMSE_81Fz2zEG8FcsELzaB0yWmey3Rh/s1600/DSC_0197+%25281%2529_bb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheqpp32ygPzgS-gEDr8tFNvC0Ae8uu1MfjrDnmKIbvQTVj4B3j1Kpi-EnyRC4acw44yKMYzm-7BIPP7eqdkH6JiHyeHzb9YmUOwo6m8Npitj7-cYMSE_81Fz2zEG8FcsELzaB0yWmey3Rh/s640/DSC_0197+%25281%2529_bb.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Note how dark it is, at 5:30 p.m. Spooky stuff.</div>
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I've never been anywhere with such thick smoke.</div>
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Tiny bits of white ash fell like a very light snow. Odd.</div>
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I have relatives who've been evacuated from their home for days, now,</div>
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due to this fire. Happily the fire missed their house,</div>
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now they're waiting for the power to come back on,</div>
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so they can move back (no power=no water if you're on a well).</div>
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Last Sunday afternoon DH and I tore ourselves away from scanning fire info</div>
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(re: the Butte Fire, the Valley Fire, and the Rough fire)</div>
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and head to the golf course.</div>
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DH golfs, I bird/peruse nature.</div>
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Acorn woodpeckers living up to their name.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijRKUOOc3oixK8GreGS8SwG1lfZiFdsD-5C0Z0wKx4oTEvqm6tptRa_e_FhXwUy2UApsKqK3lfJ39cPgbYrOGl8XDe6z5BB5yy3AywXVh4VUzJN3UcKxwUOCSeeFCcBzQu8VFt0vsuGLKY/s1600/Version+2+%25283%2529_bb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijRKUOOc3oixK8GreGS8SwG1lfZiFdsD-5C0Z0wKx4oTEvqm6tptRa_e_FhXwUy2UApsKqK3lfJ39cPgbYrOGl8XDe6z5BB5yy3AywXVh4VUzJN3UcKxwUOCSeeFCcBzQu8VFt0vsuGLKY/s640/Version+2+%25283%2529_bb.jpg" width="468" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>"This one goes here..."</i></div>
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I love how this branch is so densely drilled</div>
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that in parts it's see-through. </div>
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I love the white eyeliner on this California ground squirrel (<i>Spermophilus beecheyi</i>).</div>
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Cutie. </div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
Non-native mullein affected by <a href="http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/GARDEN/FLOWERS/DISEASE/fasciation.html">fasciation</a></div>
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(note normal mullein bloom on lower left).</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoGfRY4qq17dKRVPIL7fDoIpRrai5XRH9HqGC9ITz7XykxHi0idlks7-tl-Uqfdjj90pdLjc5-UYDGfTtaKvGHPrwwtiuRXZxodXUcPL9XTxZtAOc9FOh3cjuCCpxJe3uwJeb_7_Q7vPVI/s1600/DSC_0208_bb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoGfRY4qq17dKRVPIL7fDoIpRrai5XRH9HqGC9ITz7XykxHi0idlks7-tl-Uqfdjj90pdLjc5-UYDGfTtaKvGHPrwwtiuRXZxodXUcPL9XTxZtAOc9FOh3cjuCCpxJe3uwJeb_7_Q7vPVI/s640/DSC_0208_bb.jpg" width="430" /></a></div>
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I <i>love</i> fasciation and the super interesting shapes it brings about.</div>
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Another herbivore (desert cottontail, <i>Sylvilagus audubonii</i>), diggin' the golf course habitat.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuSiSxaCi46Dmcg5lZupeUcGp2lzqwnk7hIjDBB5feMkuBxTaxyhcm3JwaYwQwP7NW8vHfrjIAxSbU9JPD8OuOJqyqSVr05bpu8dMO0_Cx7RADvIoUAvACzoSZLdl1fG1yeXkkiKVZbbm0/s1600/Version+2+%25282%2529_bb-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuSiSxaCi46Dmcg5lZupeUcGp2lzqwnk7hIjDBB5feMkuBxTaxyhcm3JwaYwQwP7NW8vHfrjIAxSbU9JPD8OuOJqyqSVr05bpu8dMO0_Cx7RADvIoUAvACzoSZLdl1fG1yeXkkiKVZbbm0/s640/Version+2+%25282%2529_bb-1.jpg" width="504" /></a></div>
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Their habit of freezing when startled is great for photography. =)</div>
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Canada geese, another herbivore species that favors this place.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1ffsTyaOt5VLW2dmPC1GugPghE3LsRYf5Z2clhyJpD1Z3p6nK5kRRsboy2XrmYEdcYk40tnvuNBHUki8R7XTqVdEiBtqjffSBEN2IXy2HzAHZ1FVTXHhYANpVl0K6A6pYdfldxY6jFQzS/s1600/DSC_0234_bb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1ffsTyaOt5VLW2dmPC1GugPghE3LsRYf5Z2clhyJpD1Z3p6nK5kRRsboy2XrmYEdcYk40tnvuNBHUki8R7XTqVdEiBtqjffSBEN2IXy2HzAHZ1FVTXHhYANpVl0K6A6pYdfldxY6jFQzS/s640/DSC_0234_bb.jpg" width="478" /></a></div>
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Considering I didn't have the auto-focus telephoto lens,</div>
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I'm very happy with how sharp this shot is. Luck!</div>
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So, with a couple soothing, non-fire-focused hours under our belt,</div>
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we see this...</div>
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<br /></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvaaYSkcFN1716Q9JKNyNySh4MPiQIfjh1UCnm0AKTVxCjr8aUs0SdvoirDKCOHdrpQ9v-PMriQBGX7cBL0ycdMOvXfItguJ7tNf-lZAAyKzsCE8NzWPka4kFivQpApIMUoX9h60MXb8SY/s1600/DSC_0243_bb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvaaYSkcFN1716Q9JKNyNySh4MPiQIfjh1UCnm0AKTVxCjr8aUs0SdvoirDKCOHdrpQ9v-PMriQBGX7cBL0ycdMOvXfItguJ7tNf-lZAAyKzsCE8NzWPka4kFivQpApIMUoX9h60MXb8SY/s640/DSC_0243_bb.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
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Oh, dear. Another fire?!?</div>
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It was the Sundance Fire, near Oakhurst.</div>
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Happily, we also saw this large air tanker a little while later,</div>
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and the smoke cleared pretty soon thereafter.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibVAk1pZJrFYS3sPpkEwPLKpfjp3UL6MN1EprrcY5qBJ73tYOz2S7trNank4mQHd9X_W6qrZvDThoBcTstbgHdbKGDLc_OrNkicYFTkbcc0IoKhIqzdmo9qjZNIEpyrd5U5oP0OOjiAp-h/s1600/DSC_0259_bb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibVAk1pZJrFYS3sPpkEwPLKpfjp3UL6MN1EprrcY5qBJ73tYOz2S7trNank4mQHd9X_W6qrZvDThoBcTstbgHdbKGDLc_OrNkicYFTkbcc0IoKhIqzdmo9qjZNIEpyrd5U5oP0OOjiAp-h/s640/DSC_0259_bb.jpg" width="582" /></a></div>
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<i>Phew!</i></div>
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And last night it actually rained a little bit (minor miracle),</div>
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which is very exciting.</div>
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I hope it helps quiet some of these fires.</div>
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It's also about 20 degrees cooler than it was last week.</div>
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Also good.</div>
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Anyhow, I don't have a profound way to end this post.</div>
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It's been very sobering seeing what's been happening</div>
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in Middletown (via the Valley Fire) and elsewhere.</div>
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If there's a vote re: whether or not summer should end now & fall should start?</div>
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I'd vote YES, please.</div>
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Let's do that.</div>
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Stay cool, everyone.</div>
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xoxoxobb</div>
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<br /></div>
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=3404084692895907783" style="background-color: transparent; background-image: url(data:image/png; border: none; cursor: pointer; display: none; height: 20px; opacity: 0.85; position: absolute; width: 40px; z-index: 8675309;"></a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=3404084692895907783" style="background-color: transparent; background-image: url(data:image/png; border: none; cursor: pointer; display: none; height: 20px; opacity: 0.85; position: absolute; width: 40px; z-index: 8675309;"></a>biobabblerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15081382623906668057noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3404084692895907783.post-79316565331583566852015-09-09T13:05:00.001-07:002015-09-09T13:05:29.995-07:00County fair chickens, cowboys & ribbons--quite the summer blowout<div style="text-align: center;">
I just learned a blogging friend entered her photos into the county fair</div>
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after being inspired by my post about doing just that.</div>
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<i>Competing chicken beauties we ogled...</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3ksR9zkZbkJgF0C0CsTt3zz64uL_yl89Km4ie_tyXmZtdnam0cDGbmfkoU3qaOq9-COPpke0PZgPgCfqUl_asxAhgLb_xmgpIZZ4A33lQpTZYzY5zt_Nzvn-mVBE97hKSf4FMgqCwDgx3/s1600/Version+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="572" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3ksR9zkZbkJgF0C0CsTt3zz64uL_yl89Km4ie_tyXmZtdnam0cDGbmfkoU3qaOq9-COPpke0PZgPgCfqUl_asxAhgLb_xmgpIZZ4A33lQpTZYzY5zt_Nzvn-mVBE97hKSf4FMgqCwDgx3/s640/Version+2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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This made me happy.</div>
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Then she tells me her husband saw <i>her</i> example</div>
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and he screwed up the courage to enter his baked goods</div>
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into the local county fair (there's a men-only category).</div>
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<i>Very cool 'do!</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS1ZXUAh1r_JLf6OPhdwJEsiNarhSmEHNv_tuljQcsyfu1LJjPO33QOB2pvRSBuLTHzaKxPj0DS3bLo6w-zl-xXNY9TElDB3SEFC8-xCGDfx1ZNCx5DcxmjmAsbgbwzxNdHZDXTPV05glp/s1600/DSC_0036+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="418" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS1ZXUAh1r_JLf6OPhdwJEsiNarhSmEHNv_tuljQcsyfu1LJjPO33QOB2pvRSBuLTHzaKxPj0DS3bLo6w-zl-xXNY9TElDB3SEFC8-xCGDfx1ZNCx5DcxmjmAsbgbwzxNdHZDXTPV05glp/s640/DSC_0036+%25281%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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This made me even <i>more</i> happy.</div>
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So, I've decided I should risk accusations of bragging and write about <i>this</i> year's results</div>
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'cause maybe another person would be similarly inspired. =)</div>
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<i>I don't pretend to understand 4-H economics. Wow!! =)</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7dyD_kN-x6r2uShB3_0ulyD9BEl-RLfxiKLNl2IlzSLeRlZ1AWPFEAKsG4Lfk9Paq4myrpErl7ahGyr4j9whjF8cdZB1reMYa5cvSICh352kUNer_TRf61iQLocEvjLjmB8I8-dfXOXB3/s1600/DSC_0057_bb-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="578" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7dyD_kN-x6r2uShB3_0ulyD9BEl-RLfxiKLNl2IlzSLeRlZ1AWPFEAKsG4Lfk9Paq4myrpErl7ahGyr4j9whjF8cdZB1reMYa5cvSICh352kUNer_TRf61iQLocEvjLjmB8I8-dfXOXB3/s640/DSC_0057_bb-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Plus, I just learned fair organizers say that</div>
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the more people enter stuff, the better the fair.</div>
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<br /></div>
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<i>This duck looks like a deep thinker to me...</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4Oht-OeLE7bDt06Lzj-SxOEIyQsUdNCmGgaK0eS0lfQeQH6xetTaqUlrXW-SYKUsz354ahOvizyTGyr0sSIT-NUEK7McQHvBjfFkXjcksIzVx9fsp8ymN0hDZ3sQucz_WYSrswCjKa5Ua/s1600/DSC_0033_bb-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4Oht-OeLE7bDt06Lzj-SxOEIyQsUdNCmGgaK0eS0lfQeQH6xetTaqUlrXW-SYKUsz354ahOvizyTGyr0sSIT-NUEK7McQHvBjfFkXjcksIzVx9fsp8ymN0hDZ3sQucz_WYSrswCjKa5Ua/s640/DSC_0033_bb-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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So, you are helping your community by doing this, not merely seeking approval. =)</div>
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<i>Loved the feather shake-out on this gorgeous rooster.</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio6NL71TqGg7b53AZC4UX0tKnhmTQeNysfPB105sMzzI7cZVeIXA7QFW2YdIslJx3Dy6JVBk2iqJoOd_-pErtbETEdgukQQ9ybWeZdoltYTttciHAMh5iyGepXNXdUw5yHZjbqo8wbLhQd/s1600/DSC_0051_bb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio6NL71TqGg7b53AZC4UX0tKnhmTQeNysfPB105sMzzI7cZVeIXA7QFW2YdIslJx3Dy6JVBk2iqJoOd_-pErtbETEdgukQQ9ybWeZdoltYTttciHAMh5iyGepXNXdUw5yHZjbqo8wbLhQd/s640/DSC_0051_bb.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
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<i>Didn't get his head in this shot, but it's the only fluff-up he did.</i></div>
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Last year I entered my photos into the county fair for the 1st time.</div>
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And I won some ribbons, which was a surprise.</div>
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No 1st place, but I was delighted to win anything.</div>
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And I learned a lot, and had a great time. =)</div>
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<i>How many dollars-worth of cowboy hats are in this photo?</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp88qPnMIFq6bryYwG4MyUhboVIUomZjvC_heUYqEu67mOMyl6rrhZfxzly1MGz047hu-DX2cVLf0QLU4Bz9We_PYkCsLbdKxOrIEKimY6nmIAk7fOLRDHR3qmTL9GYSbRFrSe8cAAtJJV/s1600/DSC_0115_bb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="350" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp88qPnMIFq6bryYwG4MyUhboVIUomZjvC_heUYqEu67mOMyl6rrhZfxzly1MGz047hu-DX2cVLf0QLU4Bz9We_PYkCsLbdKxOrIEKimY6nmIAk7fOLRDHR3qmTL9GYSbRFrSe8cAAtJJV/s640/DSC_0115_bb.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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This year I entered again, and DH entered a few, as well.</div>
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This weekend, as soon as we stepped into the photo-zone,</div>
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I saw one of my photos from afar & saw the blue of a 1st place ribbon.</div>
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<br /></div>
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SWEET! Already beat last year.</div>
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So, DH & I cruise around, ogling folks' fabulous work...</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv0HIlarg-0_rpXrX4XX0RXntafy7Itl1JgHWCkfvVioZUKXtu4j-71WNfcA9Wj9NW4SGBjZ068-lmINSW6iAxJ5F0YdgFOPc_q1YqS-jRltzwVFWa2tSlKg1v6bCogMb47qrQSd8OIbKE/s1600/Version+2+%25281%2529_bb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv0HIlarg-0_rpXrX4XX0RXntafy7Itl1JgHWCkfvVioZUKXtu4j-71WNfcA9Wj9NW4SGBjZ068-lmINSW6iAxJ5F0YdgFOPc_q1YqS-jRltzwVFWa2tSlKg1v6bCogMb47qrQSd8OIbKE/s640/Version+2+%25281%2529_bb.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<i>(The center bottom one is a super cool abstract. Looks like waves but is rock! =) )</i></div>
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...and seeing how we did.</div>
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<br /></div>
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So, here's Sammy's results:</div>
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1st & 3rd place in "flowers", 2nd & 3rd in "insects and reptiles"</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjeVNrihUSdG3zctqLai6LD8Glp2eeEmgowvMU2KU8S8s1RTpHNU62vlRP-eigvf8ev4ubg7YmeFSPI7TXHdo-T1-gv73UxRSZVU8cEncQNY6aDkAQNn1cC2KZ2xy9Z2gQyU7u1EcQrjCd/s1600/DSC_0003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjeVNrihUSdG3zctqLai6LD8Glp2eeEmgowvMU2KU8S8s1RTpHNU62vlRP-eigvf8ev4ubg7YmeFSPI7TXHdo-T1-gv73UxRSZVU8cEncQNY6aDkAQNn1cC2KZ2xy9Z2gQyU7u1EcQrjCd/s640/DSC_0003.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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1st place in "any other" category</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZwMQ6_s-2LrViyWyctQ80js5ivawjgkwKu_LhA3jy4jQYTasuL-hSonjmGBga0f_2d85kBP13bIvbq3MI8CfZ-EmYt-5kwNEEoZGWbuJ5g5cqFJ6EXHGWGTftoXLdNMJywC12wcVoUaFZ/s1600/DSC_0012+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZwMQ6_s-2LrViyWyctQ80js5ivawjgkwKu_LhA3jy4jQYTasuL-hSonjmGBga0f_2d85kBP13bIvbq3MI8CfZ-EmYt-5kwNEEoZGWbuJ5g5cqFJ6EXHGWGTftoXLdNMJywC12wcVoUaFZ/s640/DSC_0012+%25282%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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1st place in "seascapes/marine"</div>
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and a nothing (upper left) and 1st in & best in show in "plant life/natural environment (no flowers)"</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQkNXbOMDOrHgUf6E8eDezA2oE14Rif-Nz5Z7FNRZy_fhYTNy130-y7b_K3KRpuEP_-foJswMwo_4sFICOmAaI1S_muO4BUad5zFNX9yCvvNnCyTOPJ3g2A0Z9Y1bovJfcvgj8r2mzfcF9/s1600/DSC_0006+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQkNXbOMDOrHgUf6E8eDezA2oE14Rif-Nz5Z7FNRZy_fhYTNy130-y7b_K3KRpuEP_-foJswMwo_4sFICOmAaI1S_muO4BUad5zFNX9yCvvNnCyTOPJ3g2A0Z9Y1bovJfcvgj8r2mzfcF9/s640/DSC_0006+%25281%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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So, at first I saw the giant rainbow ribbon & freaked.</div>
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They give out one per each division (beginner, intermediate & professional).</div>
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I was SUPER amazed.</div>
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I'd only seen photos of people & agricultural plants get best in show,</div>
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so I figured I'd never get it.</div>
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<br /></div>
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<i>Then,</i> DH noticed a small chart on the wall,</div>
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which lists the special awards.</div>
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It listed best in show for the 3 divisions,</div>
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then best in show overall,</div>
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AND MY NAME WAS THERE!</div>
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You can't tell fm. the above (& I didn't notice in person)</div>
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there's TWO giant rainbow ribbons there.</div>
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Wow!!</div>
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<br /></div>
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I'd call this some pretty serious positive reinforcement for</div>
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doing new things despite the discomfort & initial floundering,</div>
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working on your skills,</div>
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joining the fray,</div>
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and thinking happy thoughts.</div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b>Check your ego at the door</b></div>
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<b><br /></b></div>
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In case you think my head will be getting huge from ego,</div>
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I overheard a woman talking to her husband,</div>
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looking at & discussing my ribbon-festooned photo.</div>
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<br /></div>
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"It's a picture of <i>bark</i>.</div>
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On a <i>tree</i>."</div>
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<br /></div>
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Like that's the dullest thing in the world. =)</div>
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Made me laugh out loud.</div>
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Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, baby!</div>
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xoxoxobb</div>
<a href="" style="background-color: transparent; background-image: url(data:image/png; border: none; cursor: pointer; display: none; height: 20px; opacity: 0.85; position: absolute; width: 40px; z-index: 8675309;"></a><a href="" style="background-color: transparent; background-image: url(data:image/png; border: none; cursor: pointer; display: none; height: 20px; opacity: 0.85; position: absolute; width: 40px; z-index: 8675309;"></a>biobabblerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15081382623906668057noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3404084692895907783.post-66632601517337509922015-09-04T15:16:00.001-07:002015-09-04T15:16:12.821-07:00Late summer: Yosemite, clouds, cowboys & cutting out California wine...<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Home</b><b>...</b></div>
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<br /></div>
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Tiny, gorgeous fork-tailed (I think) bush katydid nymph on California poppy, chez-nous.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCWE2HMurQA-dWQ23WiX4GBE15l_KWfinVIwRwXKmJTrCPKP8KZbr2nKmIJusJB87SqgTsStN4PchHK1p5pdM-MDanG0P3uMoiHspeaFMObJnJ2r3L9ozB1wI4RZtJ-994_wVWzSf8XZj7/s1600/fork-tailed_bush_katydid.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCWE2HMurQA-dWQ23WiX4GBE15l_KWfinVIwRwXKmJTrCPKP8KZbr2nKmIJusJB87SqgTsStN4PchHK1p5pdM-MDanG0P3uMoiHspeaFMObJnJ2r3L9ozB1wI4RZtJ-994_wVWzSf8XZj7/s640/fork-tailed_bush_katydid.jpg" width="496" /></a></div>
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This young creature is backing verrrry slowwwly away from yours truly. =) </div>
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Got a twitter-heads up that "mares tails" were in the Mariposa county sky,</div>
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so I looked out the window:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd75BTTY0uebetVY0_ho39CDd3FsITiy3FR6DI7sMU-zC9zSWOdgw-j3BS82e1kgiyI983nz1sFQAcq2Cu_c0bCeksyMBRSFfU7dDqA78z7HC96uDTDYC_SpbokS0BVJUNPd9vHp2aKZrA/s1600/mares_tails.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd75BTTY0uebetVY0_ho39CDd3FsITiy3FR6DI7sMU-zC9zSWOdgw-j3BS82e1kgiyI983nz1sFQAcq2Cu_c0bCeksyMBRSFfU7dDqA78z7HC96uDTDYC_SpbokS0BVJUNPd9vHp2aKZrA/s640/mares_tails.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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They're lonnnnng, thin clouds</div>
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(streaky left-to-right thing, not the vertical contrail).</div>
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<br /></div>
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And this one had a rainbow in it. BONUS.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirBFfIuiTpI1qxeztrWKDfyXDEreKOOirIJyJcPGWMtwQuGgMRN7bHaqR0x_jx62Gdy-GMqK4pm89N6djvoHmksLIH-Q_4cnrsGR4yK3K8LwPs_8v8by1dhCr16Gw766ZANUa513XAfoEn/s1600/mares_tail_rainbow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirBFfIuiTpI1qxeztrWKDfyXDEreKOOirIJyJcPGWMtwQuGgMRN7bHaqR0x_jx62Gdy-GMqK4pm89N6djvoHmksLIH-Q_4cnrsGR4yK3K8LwPs_8v8by1dhCr16Gw766ZANUa513XAfoEn/s640/mares_tail_rainbow.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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The garden is underwhelming this year (I'm being very stingy with water),</div>
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but these pea flowers really <i>do</i> have the golden sparkles you can see, here.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtGM4Lfwz7r8AkP8VI9L3aeoAn_f-pkrLuSQ8AETDsJFmVdWH8aAsF1-SF8ag7Etij4MFy3M8VXbdV6M57D5qoDc5zGQAf1qGtOkjxz92yJG-IhjYO_pvw6M_cyf6RKEwmSZoESn5hK90d/s1600/DSC_0052_r.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="448" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtGM4Lfwz7r8AkP8VI9L3aeoAn_f-pkrLuSQ8AETDsJFmVdWH8aAsF1-SF8ag7Etij4MFy3M8VXbdV6M57D5qoDc5zGQAf1qGtOkjxz92yJG-IhjYO_pvw6M_cyf6RKEwmSZoESn5hK90d/s640/DSC_0052_r.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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It's one of the few things our local Anna's hummingbird gets excited about in my garden.</div>
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I need more flowers, next year.</div>
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I'll have to make additional drought tolerant, flowering plants happen.</div>
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Maybe next year the (very drought-tolerant) pomegranates I planted will bloom?</div>
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And the baby California roses? Maybe? Crossing fingers. =)</div>
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<b>And Away</b></div>
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Hiking to Lukens Lake in Yosemite, recently, </div>
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we happened upon a family of</div>
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one of my favorite & most rarely-seen birds: mountain quail.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi40_e5T4RXJIf5p9_R41W8zpdaALUHeuNPehQjecl7cNaM4eVb_6dPLj029Z7kWObWcjuLTQq9lTXfph1qL6XYQNzpLXRl_OPAZ5_SHhlvCQKutmnXNWpLxMZ66VxR4ftXNbwA1hZE48NM/s1600/mtquail_r.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi40_e5T4RXJIf5p9_R41W8zpdaALUHeuNPehQjecl7cNaM4eVb_6dPLj029Z7kWObWcjuLTQq9lTXfph1qL6XYQNzpLXRl_OPAZ5_SHhlvCQKutmnXNWpLxMZ66VxR4ftXNbwA1hZE48NM/s640/mtquail_r.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Can you see them atop the log?</div>
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Cropped.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq0Ivwp1o4llfvasrKvtpGVsgjfUoM4eIPVpwe8rwAD_8DRLvdsEGvcfNUYHFzajyj8Fw3XBoy6WvowanKCl-I44JqYx6o1-e36xFaZ5MWnYIaRaf2JlCq22gXxDAkDh-6PTweVQch-d5t/s1600/mtquail_r-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="254" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq0Ivwp1o4llfvasrKvtpGVsgjfUoM4eIPVpwe8rwAD_8DRLvdsEGvcfNUYHFzajyj8Fw3XBoy6WvowanKCl-I44JqYx6o1-e36xFaZ5MWnYIaRaf2JlCq22gXxDAkDh-6PTweVQch-d5t/s640/mtquail_r-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Adults have exclamation points atop their heads (v. Calif. quail have commas).</div>
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And cropped again. Such a stunning bird, jeepers.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLr7I5F25TXAaFevkOfjZ8CbdGguOgfC5RWoffANvbrFTEUJwFOdK8PhN_faawGtHScl2bmMOiBY2BB5X2AoGmVKc4nVkWhlmaEsOcUAkED7_lIbz4nAT3cpIsLIzQBX9JoGnAPPbmi1ZP/s1600/mtquail_r-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLr7I5F25TXAaFevkOfjZ8CbdGguOgfC5RWoffANvbrFTEUJwFOdK8PhN_faawGtHScl2bmMOiBY2BB5X2AoGmVKc4nVkWhlmaEsOcUAkED7_lIbz4nAT3cpIsLIzQBX9JoGnAPPbmi1ZP/s640/mtquail_r-2.jpg" width="633" /></a></div>
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Crap photos, but I was thrilled.</div>
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A stunning bird with a haunting call that can</div>
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send a chill up your spine when you're hiking in the forest.</div>
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The ever-picturesque Lukens Lake. A super easy hike, even at ~ 8,000 feet in elevation.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYLoAJk7-cfrRlMEaqm6JwjwTDaYccGQ8F4WAmFxX2SLBavhLX6p6txuD55iRMqZ-3eCLGTOtqW_2fruNTonUVyobiZi525E_-7_fAUkzpCEtj9KgZLtKvcee9_SUKK0fAugAVMwb6efIB/s1600/mtquail_r-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYLoAJk7-cfrRlMEaqm6JwjwTDaYccGQ8F4WAmFxX2SLBavhLX6p6txuD55iRMqZ-3eCLGTOtqW_2fruNTonUVyobiZi525E_-7_fAUkzpCEtj9KgZLtKvcee9_SUKK0fAugAVMwb6efIB/s640/mtquail_r-3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Note smoke on horizon, from the Rough Fire.</div>
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At the lake, I ogled this beautiful snag.</div>
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I have a thing for dead trees...</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8I9FlfjcXSHmZv4H4CFSdJTEQ6-pJfjtQ9-QXxjd2NfmBwv138lvCEubu8Tq7u2mm3Xc-PLoiHqBWYLjehr-5a5VFnRRhXYgoHU6IZxWhRCTzHPfYT3_GG1VNSc4UEIVQ8CN7qb_LvUnh/s1600/tree_speak.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8I9FlfjcXSHmZv4H4CFSdJTEQ6-pJfjtQ9-QXxjd2NfmBwv138lvCEubu8Tq7u2mm3Xc-PLoiHqBWYLjehr-5a5VFnRRhXYgoHU6IZxWhRCTzHPfYT3_GG1VNSc4UEIVQ8CN7qb_LvUnh/s640/tree_speak.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
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<span style="text-align: center;">I love how 'neath the bark is what looks like</span></div>
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a mysterious language scrawled into the tree.</div>
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<br /></div>
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What does it say?!?</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcLfvGPp82POTDcXTvmXFxrEgVBR38_FlgcNLRBGGB2hbw5j-o42hLONSAYSSmr5c3MaXHOELKjB_9zr6AUn4RjOYCqsYr-cwbyajuKWAnMxXjO7vwnEV2Xog8qYAWx8c7S2lMKts9xnJO/s1600/tree_speak-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="448" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcLfvGPp82POTDcXTvmXFxrEgVBR38_FlgcNLRBGGB2hbw5j-o42hLONSAYSSmr5c3MaXHOELKjB_9zr6AUn4RjOYCqsYr-cwbyajuKWAnMxXjO7vwnEV2Xog8qYAWx8c7S2lMKts9xnJO/s640/tree_speak-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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I wanna know.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Sat at the edge of Lukens lake with <i>dozens</i> of blue damselflies.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5LTXhi3EM-zsG6jFXngbUuluf1kF6hYG4KEUofz-YNfATw3eJ996fxKamPplsqY9QaQ1gjHoSzhTEqk2rW4vf1jVtz3SKeGBg8ekJ92nJWVra9T4H8xGNsChMaqrcO9mfnqjOOYqm4qF2/s1600/DSC_0026_r.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="306" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5LTXhi3EM-zsG6jFXngbUuluf1kF6hYG4KEUofz-YNfATw3eJ996fxKamPplsqY9QaQ1gjHoSzhTEqk2rW4vf1jVtz3SKeGBg8ekJ92nJWVra9T4H8xGNsChMaqrcO9mfnqjOOYqm4qF2/s400/DSC_0026_r.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Sharpest shot I got (via my non-telephoto lens):</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3ezdsTtH1efxxgSfkzjLXfLS3YyDaef4Vr1qIApcLkhAwGzaC5VuHHkieuz2kNsEE9_bxsb6Rt3ItSkJ-RUtbnuR14CVpYBwcCtgoOJa1tIRssaoFgPMRA21faj68mmd38DWVXGvl22hI/s1600/DSC_0032_r-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3ezdsTtH1efxxgSfkzjLXfLS3YyDaef4Vr1qIApcLkhAwGzaC5VuHHkieuz2kNsEE9_bxsb6Rt3ItSkJ-RUtbnuR14CVpYBwcCtgoOJa1tIRssaoFgPMRA21faj68mmd38DWVXGvl22hI/s640/DSC_0032_r-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Such gorgeous animals, jeepers.</div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
A favorite plant, <a href="http://www.calflora.org/cgi-bin/species_query.cgi?where-taxon=Veratrum+californicum+var.+californicum">California corn lily (<i>Veratrum californicum</i>)</a>.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNqybNKTUazRpn_QcGisiEYaubEe3kAQwZO7WJwxyBDcb06w3b52eMAGJZeyKQf05mNCikOZiNhVQIzHEahan9mXJnXv1YO5q_lil5wWzwwmr31VXFIXbsDJ81OEghKf-iSu-R9NkBIMlj/s1600/DSC_0050+%25281%2529_r.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNqybNKTUazRpn_QcGisiEYaubEe3kAQwZO7WJwxyBDcb06w3b52eMAGJZeyKQf05mNCikOZiNhVQIzHEahan9mXJnXv1YO5q_lil5wWzwwmr31VXFIXbsDJ81OEghKf-iSu-R9NkBIMlj/s640/DSC_0050+%25281%2529_r.jpg" width="470" /></a></div>
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See the little damselfly, center right, resting on a leaf?</div>
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Most of the corn lily was past blooming,</div>
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but this one, in the shade by the lake, was still going.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1_3Os_PJ0nC2h8q0e8OKOR1j95r4XRYqhSx-zJRQVf5_fQ-sMpmJVavok-joC2kbCMrBDgh7_e6mnNRIwljqGIkgi1-k9_VRcBaBst5BQVS1vB5oV9N3ZeyWiWCQ_VZXPWsAs04pLI8GG/s1600/CAcornlily.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1_3Os_PJ0nC2h8q0e8OKOR1j95r4XRYqhSx-zJRQVf5_fQ-sMpmJVavok-joC2kbCMrBDgh7_e6mnNRIwljqGIkgi1-k9_VRcBaBst5BQVS1vB5oV9N3ZeyWiWCQ_VZXPWsAs04pLI8GG/s640/CAcornlily.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
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There were numerous happy bees merrily visiting these flowers.</div>
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Recently, in Tuolumne county, I was later to a work site than I'd planned, due to a traffic jam.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitoz1geX39X9kV_lHVXuA4DkFxQ3ELpjoilf0NsZWkrdIf15Hx3DMMRaX5hXaCmqFjbF-XtC6tv4hs26q1SUJRJRhCussgWS6G8R9fH9dL3nhzVop-ZLGJXcAmcO9AisWXSJ8lc94Cg_ec/s1600/traffic_jam.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="420" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitoz1geX39X9kV_lHVXuA4DkFxQ3ELpjoilf0NsZWkrdIf15Hx3DMMRaX5hXaCmqFjbF-XtC6tv4hs26q1SUJRJRhCussgWS6G8R9fH9dL3nhzVop-ZLGJXcAmcO9AisWXSJ8lc94Cg_ec/s640/traffic_jam.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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They had a bunch of cows & their young on the road. Poor creatures sounded stressed.</div>
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It took several men & horses, a dog & lots of yelling & arm-waving to get the job done.</div>
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Finally, cattle off the road, I drove past slowly, stealing a shot of this horse & its <i>super</i> fit bod.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheyLHH1LXYnxLz70YjuwZJULcWRst3mDN8reSYPPW4KnZNlp1HZGrflmmTXMY7dI5lLw5XZqup5ktGR7l_-Y6rHCYjVmXnc-xGtJwl5kiXVyAtU3QkEU6gn8pjMtt3ZBUF7KzrepcWjGUZ/s1600/working+buns.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="440" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheyLHH1LXYnxLz70YjuwZJULcWRst3mDN8reSYPPW4KnZNlp1HZGrflmmTXMY7dI5lLw5XZqup5ktGR7l_-Y6rHCYjVmXnc-xGtJwl5kiXVyAtU3QkEU6gn8pjMtt3ZBUF7KzrepcWjGUZ/s640/working+buns.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Check out that crazy butt. This was back in August,</div>
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so you probably <i>want</i> to be lean in <i>that</i> heat</div>
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(daily over 100F in central CA).</div>
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Horses are SO beautiful (IMHO), I find it confusing.</div>
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Why do they affect us this way (from an evolutionary perspective)?</div>
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Did we co-evolve with them, so a desire to have horses could be selected for?</div>
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Or have we just selectively bred them to increase what we consider attractive traits?</div>
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Last, but not least, a tiny conservation vignette,</div>
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and why I may never accompany DH to this golf course again.</div>
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This sign calls the vineyards an "ecologically sensitive area."</div>
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Biobabbler's head exploded when she read this.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijnInq5tl-DhS09bR1zha3QqnSj76dtIQb0WAK6lIEo2bK0SG_Ya7z4uSyryCQZFid9kGYR-Y7ktBwJcI5rqL3OMh5IVgCXlDKRbLrNTv0HwxPDkO5hzfaRbj00uztna_V3jFgxBowF1wV/s1600/NotMyESA_r.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijnInq5tl-DhS09bR1zha3QqnSj76dtIQb0WAK6lIEo2bK0SG_Ya7z4uSyryCQZFid9kGYR-Y7ktBwJcI5rqL3OMh5IVgCXlDKRbLrNTv0HwxPDkO5hzfaRbj00uztna_V3jFgxBowF1wV/s640/NotMyESA_r.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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The quotation marks definitely indicate sarcasm, to me, in this case.</div>
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The baby vines are in the white tubes, in front of the mature vines (green in the background).</div>
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I never golf ('cause Imma conservation biologist), but I accompany DH and look at birds.</div>
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However, I used to <i>love</i> this course 'cause it had</div>
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large stretches of native California habitat in it</div>
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(vs. an entirely transformed, non-native landscape).</div>
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This is very unusual for golf courses in California.</div>
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But, this summer all those native spaces were razed and converted to vineyards.</div>
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=(</div>
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Vineyards are crawling across California,</div>
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taking out <i>so</i> much of California's remaining, unique native habitats,</div>
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it is a serious source of habitat destruction.</div>
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For something we do <i>not</i> need to survive.</div>
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And who knows how much water they are using?</div>
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Yours truly doing fieldwork in California habitat.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizr-kG8DP0lz7cIR5bROK9jkK62Bp7kcG-ts5AdXUJja1ZQLiwS86vl05K16uwgOvp37L7DpCsnxzMxnK6Y4YgFzPQ-CSzW7ACvJrbTckMqhhbVAEK9CyGEiTCy3k73C39I1sbHZhptyRG/s1600/DSC_0048_r.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizr-kG8DP0lz7cIR5bROK9jkK62Bp7kcG-ts5AdXUJja1ZQLiwS86vl05K16uwgOvp37L7DpCsnxzMxnK6Y4YgFzPQ-CSzW7ACvJrbTckMqhhbVAEK9CyGEiTCy3k73C39I1sbHZhptyRG/s640/DSC_0048_r.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
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Thinking deep thoughts. =)</div>
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Therefore, I've decided will not drink California wine, pretty much as of now.</div>
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I'm sure this decision won't be felt by the wine industry,</div>
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but I cannot reward this behavior (by giving them my money)</div>
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and feel OK about how I'm living my life.</div>
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So, <b>thank you</b>, darling peeps, for letting me express this.</div>
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I feel better, now.</div>
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=)</div>
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xoxoxobb</div>
biobabblerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15081382623906668057noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3404084692895907783.post-61070975605818700122015-07-08T17:16:00.001-07:002015-07-08T17:16:07.882-07:00Getty goodies (eye candy), and county fair foto updates...<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Getty Goodies</b></div>
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We hit the big town, L.A., on 4th of July weekend.</div>
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Took in a Dodgers game (great stadium, jeepers).</div>
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And, as per usual, jammed to the Getty (which is FREE*).</div>
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<a href="http://www.getty.edu/museum/">The Getty</a> provides SUCH great views, all over the place.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVYp9pvo29cIJOHF85FR19tLThtwZahYKKZA7SQAwVI3HfgEvsMUqQ5R6bxsxel6qERTvYV_AquzfnacdwboenHJB29rc-ukb0APLaISCf588fbWK7DDPevTfP9UraI7Y9kZFV-myuTxT7/s1600/DSC_0109_m.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVYp9pvo29cIJOHF85FR19tLThtwZahYKKZA7SQAwVI3HfgEvsMUqQ5R6bxsxel6qERTvYV_AquzfnacdwboenHJB29rc-ukb0APLaISCf588fbWK7DDPevTfP9UraI7Y9kZFV-myuTxT7/s640/DSC_0109_m.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
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If you're a minimalist who adores the sky,</div>
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it's pretty heavenly.</div>
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My shabby view whilst munching on chips. Such a sad life...</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsW9xdyCc1FgSJe7qb8LMHl9lrBD3ULxR0bSrNDpRcWD9q6Lywt0pPNC5qJREtNrgnC2KYqa591UC0IGIfNWZjtVhyA_v5qi95Gd2Isyqbmk7valrd5jVNxfPxE_DYSxI3f-JaQXiPZZaL/s1600/DSC_0115_m.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsW9xdyCc1FgSJe7qb8LMHl9lrBD3ULxR0bSrNDpRcWD9q6Lywt0pPNC5qJREtNrgnC2KYqa591UC0IGIfNWZjtVhyA_v5qi95Gd2Isyqbmk7valrd5jVNxfPxE_DYSxI3f-JaQXiPZZaL/s640/DSC_0115_m.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
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Found a young fence lizard (<i>Sceloporus occidentalis</i>) warming on the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Travertine">travertine stone</a>, therein.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYWj-YtBTZ9YXlnZ7-5ZBpCuE1yuIzlpsFgOid5WWhiLONBJeuF959edKCRfBjDdOrnYFhNBlE21p3Hkv25jmdMk79PhhuohHbjS6XoN6_uiuTIFLS_AIzt54HNNXCWOVkbIA2DcWRGwUy/s1600/DSC_0124_m.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYWj-YtBTZ9YXlnZ7-5ZBpCuE1yuIzlpsFgOid5WWhiLONBJeuF959edKCRfBjDdOrnYFhNBlE21p3Hkv25jmdMk79PhhuohHbjS6XoN6_uiuTIFLS_AIzt54HNNXCWOVkbIA2DcWRGwUy/s640/DSC_0124_m.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Ambitious vines. =)</div>
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Anyone know what that species is? I don't...</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeK6yGDmCv5thx9FvNk0dEGBccX0SDW14k2o_VLAbIkR6g2fBr0pRJvj6EDPbtpv1ydyPmsybRw5vP3JWCpQIOFxIECgtqdks1iw-xtArkdSeILrVweV0UJDfFRXvGxmXBuCLIQUbz4uDk/s1600/Version+2+%25281%2529_m.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeK6yGDmCv5thx9FvNk0dEGBccX0SDW14k2o_VLAbIkR6g2fBr0pRJvj6EDPbtpv1ydyPmsybRw5vP3JWCpQIOFxIECgtqdks1iw-xtArkdSeILrVweV0UJDfFRXvGxmXBuCLIQUbz4uDk/s640/Version+2+%25281%2529_m.jpg" width="500" /></a></div>
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Bougainvillea is one of my favorite plants.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdEzXKnvQ9Ux1nexyAmjcAdsXJtJsRDLbb7VeF_nkS6tBxsTEXg3BwRGcc2VE7eMzySm7AOsdLslaW0VGsT9r8yYU7J-6tB66KI6AOBEGcWX6_sraHnNotN_T6fJLdE2O49nPbchcWtUX5/s1600/DSC_0090+%25281%2529_m.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdEzXKnvQ9Ux1nexyAmjcAdsXJtJsRDLbb7VeF_nkS6tBxsTEXg3BwRGcc2VE7eMzySm7AOsdLslaW0VGsT9r8yYU7J-6tB66KI6AOBEGcWX6_sraHnNotN_T6fJLdE2O49nPbchcWtUX5/s640/DSC_0090+%25281%2529_m.jpg" width="486" /></a></div>
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And I love these little iron trees it's growing upon.</div>
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<b>County Fair Photo Exhibit Update</b></div>
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The view from the Ferris wheel.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFHVSK8p3DtbPcl8OobK924lS2DvWOAJNjRm-NH8TsSuVi95NKeVtUIm7_jNYJjJTy4y3DOsdBzXixqJur3sG9HEoeGZyj-LbBCYoenR6ag7Xn0dFE4KWKQsvNmxdf7YCpLFScPuztXzVH/s1600/county_fair.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFHVSK8p3DtbPcl8OobK924lS2DvWOAJNjRm-NH8TsSuVi95NKeVtUIm7_jNYJjJTy4y3DOsdBzXixqJur3sG9HEoeGZyj-LbBCYoenR6ag7Xn0dFE4KWKQsvNmxdf7YCpLFScPuztXzVH/s640/county_fair.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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SUPER quick update.</div>
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I was nervous 'cause it's a MUCH bigger county.</div>
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So "Bear" and I dove into the photo exhibit,</div>
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found nine of mine, and I got eight ribbons. EIGHT!</div>
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(ok, so most were actually stickers, not ribbons, but whatever.)</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjHsnDtgIFFC2WVQcw8wr65UhJIxWkUwDAwDajtgi9-WJqQ0OYyQr-14fBTEnoE-aHvOg1EXsygqYuuWv0zDpHK1UrDqWUUiOrwpHkZ0WMRneSDCG-Bf8hdlYXHLd9YfQn5q6izacMjd8d/s1600/fair_fotos.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjHsnDtgIFFC2WVQcw8wr65UhJIxWkUwDAwDajtgi9-WJqQ0OYyQr-14fBTEnoE-aHvOg1EXsygqYuuWv0zDpHK1UrDqWUUiOrwpHkZ0WMRneSDCG-Bf8hdlYXHLd9YfQn5q6izacMjd8d/s640/fair_fotos.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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SUPER cool. I was <i>stunned</i>.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgde_CSXHaD8xnGcAgeuFu_NQQG93GKfKkqRhlUNdNrXSR1DX1NTwJeO0txjDdlmRlWwvIyOh7UI_FXnx5b4sOm07rKh8NFkHC9lz0AOUSCVr7dy_6kJBVLaOtG6yUaC8_Az0Z-u4Y31-iv/s1600/phair_photos.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgde_CSXHaD8xnGcAgeuFu_NQQG93GKfKkqRhlUNdNrXSR1DX1NTwJeO0txjDdlmRlWwvIyOh7UI_FXnx5b4sOm07rKh8NFkHC9lz0AOUSCVr7dy_6kJBVLaOtG6yUaC8_Az0Z-u4Y31-iv/s640/phair_photos.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Of course I'd thought I'd turned in 10 photos, but wasn't positive.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ97NOYh83Kzd_9S3klOIgUJ-1s4cZGmDhulZ1x99763gugfZ-gNvVAdeUNPsQXrEebC-s-x33HqCohDqf6oQE4t27uCbMhziBGSWvboOSKHDsKNeQ0Vwca5z-RgLs92wcx9bWaKGjn2kK/s1600/2moar.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ97NOYh83Kzd_9S3klOIgUJ-1s4cZGmDhulZ1x99763gugfZ-gNvVAdeUNPsQXrEebC-s-x33HqCohDqf6oQE4t27uCbMhziBGSWvboOSKHDsKNeQ0Vwca5z-RgLs92wcx9bWaKGjn2kK/s640/2moar.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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So, even though it's a much bigger county (population-wise),</div>
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my theory re: how I won so many</div>
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is that they may get fewer photos entered</div>
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than our county 'cause we've got LOTS of retired folks w/time</div>
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versus the younger, working folks in that county?</div>
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Who knows.</div>
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ANYhow, I was thrilled to my toes.</div>
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Two hours later, Bear & I returned to the exhibit</div>
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'cause it was BOILING hot outside and we had time to kill before the rodeo.</div>
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So, strolling around the whole building,</div>
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I hear my husband laughing, and he says, "I found the 10th photo!"</div>
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And he's pointing to this:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZHy3W_uu00Eb3IkdQIlPRkTVABqlcSwv4-n9jTvKdcOioyz5otHF0AUWF86oMSODgp9LD9n1AHO9jMIAiMWxPKUnOOex5DsVcC_FNMTZB3WRvO4eEpFlNM7Lj_dPbRy1fE4f110kaxS7e/s1600/DSC_0079+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZHy3W_uu00Eb3IkdQIlPRkTVABqlcSwv4-n9jTvKdcOioyz5otHF0AUWF86oMSODgp9LD9n1AHO9jMIAiMWxPKUnOOex5DsVcC_FNMTZB3WRvO4eEpFlNM7Lj_dPbRy1fE4f110kaxS7e/s640/DSC_0079+%25281%2529.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
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Holy crap.</div>
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That's my photo (taken at the Getty, kisses to them!)</div>
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that I'd entered into the architecture category.</div>
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And we couldn't find my 10th photo earlier</div>
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'cause it was in a totally different place for all the FATTY ribbon winners.</div>
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WOW.</div>
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So, yes, that was bitchin. =)</div>
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I <i>highly</i> recommend joining the county fair photo fray</div>
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if you are photographically inclined.</div>
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It's FUN.</div>
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And winning or not, it gets your buns to the fair.</div>
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Which is always great.</div>
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As is the always-amazing Ferris wheel.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhERBOz54xyU_44L6-TXrW3dGKF74sw88Pq7KbcD2dSUqrQHk__NTLe9wWdTyFKS0R_hK1ZMsRIE7KCa2IXsBBxmIZPEixjeQjgYrnzewUmMwXzxrLzQOLzF6gmQenwc4cg8N4TIAjpWzCk/s1600/Ferris+wheel+w.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhERBOz54xyU_44L6-TXrW3dGKF74sw88Pq7KbcD2dSUqrQHk__NTLe9wWdTyFKS0R_hK1ZMsRIE7KCa2IXsBBxmIZPEixjeQjgYrnzewUmMwXzxrLzQOLzF6gmQenwc4cg8N4TIAjpWzCk/s640/Ferris+wheel+w.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
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What a heavenly invention.</div>
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<b>Next Fair Photo Exhibit: this weekend!</b></div>
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The day I turned in my photos for this <i>next</i> fair photo exhibit,</div>
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there were a LOT of BEAUTIFUL, interesting photos there already.</div>
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I was very impressed.</div>
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It's a multi-county fair.</div>
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Chatting with the woman working there,</div>
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one man turned in 100 photos. ONE HUNDRED.</div>
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Yow.</div>
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Took me three days to do 10.</div>
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So, even if I win nothing,</div>
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I'll have a pile of photographic eye-candy to pig out on. =)</div>
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And, of course, we'll always have the Ferris wheel...</div>
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xxoxo!bb</div>
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*parking is not free, but if you take public transportation there (city bus?),</div>
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I believe it won't cost you anything beyond your bus ticket. And it's AMAZING.</div>
<a href="" style="background-color: transparent; background-image: url(data:image/png; border: none; cursor: pointer; display: none; height: 20px; opacity: 0.85; position: absolute; width: 40px; z-index: 8675309;"></a><a href="" style="background-color: transparent; background-image: url(data:image/png; border: none; cursor: pointer; display: none; height: 20px; opacity: 0.85; position: absolute; width: 40px; z-index: 8675309;"></a>biobabblerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15081382623906668057noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3404084692895907783.post-48141111426140150112015-06-03T08:42:00.001-07:002015-06-04T07:03:02.368-07:00Charming insects, upcoming adventures, Yosemite-as-homework & braving the fair...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b>'Round the Property</b></div>
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This young grasshopper nymph TOTALLY stole my heart. SO TINY.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMeWqXrXQiWtUeAJnUA1H7YO52Ll5dMXDs7Wc-ieSj8FyhHZp6QRsrYRn74ODgEJaen2gucP3XrWEPY4WA-ecIWHxI-baBukq6Dya-x_2eCbAKmDIxLaczfC0W7mhpoeLpSU3dTGK_MrTU/s1600/baby_grasshopper_m.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="524" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMeWqXrXQiWtUeAJnUA1H7YO52Ll5dMXDs7Wc-ieSj8FyhHZp6QRsrYRn74ODgEJaen2gucP3XrWEPY4WA-ecIWHxI-baBukq6Dya-x_2eCbAKmDIxLaczfC0W7mhpoeLpSU3dTGK_MrTU/s640/baby_grasshopper_m.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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European honeybee descending into a California poppy</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjollEP8TxsL1WDAtUSweJ_80xiYEJ-8WUFUTwT4ys03VmlCdz_ariTtCk1jBJ7TA31rVZWGDBn3ZnAahgxdaZeLLs4JpL4-nuWvsuzS-8OL6LavvDREhnygqY8B93gjoe82iOZABvmqqbY/s1600/bee+descent+m.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjollEP8TxsL1WDAtUSweJ_80xiYEJ-8WUFUTwT4ys03VmlCdz_ariTtCk1jBJ7TA31rVZWGDBn3ZnAahgxdaZeLLs4JpL4-nuWvsuzS-8OL6LavvDREhnygqY8B93gjoe82iOZABvmqqbY/s640/bee+descent+m.jpg" width="496" /></a></div>
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This year I noticed California poppies' first appearances in the morning.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi97Ux1cHrobJRRfpYtSO6AKMONJd_buDP6IX8RjU5q77rUvR_Yrng0em0H3XWjmj-yy4KCKHr1q2F4BXxLbRnSKaXVSEJf9VvqMzw2Y01weVTn4rJZ_v_ukWvHxn23GqALjAd1_oWwXh53/s1600/CA_poppy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi97Ux1cHrobJRRfpYtSO6AKMONJd_buDP6IX8RjU5q77rUvR_Yrng0em0H3XWjmj-yy4KCKHr1q2F4BXxLbRnSKaXVSEJf9VvqMzw2Y01weVTn4rJZ_v_ukWvHxn23GqALjAd1_oWwXh53/s640/CA_poppy.jpg" width="436" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm7i0GnDc-TCvSlnojOpT6vAN9E3gnCHcNXDN00z5dly3mmZhyphenhyphen5WYd35guqlIe4foi04Hvkb2AfyHjA9v6O9EAcmB5LuysKhXWfNLuwxBtI_D5l6asjKhwEe0-MjavlLfYI2u7RxAo9Ms9/s1600/DSC_0019_m.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm7i0GnDc-TCvSlnojOpT6vAN9E3gnCHcNXDN00z5dly3mmZhyphenhyphen5WYd35guqlIe4foi04Hvkb2AfyHjA9v6O9EAcmB5LuysKhXWfNLuwxBtI_D5l6asjKhwEe0-MjavlLfYI2u7RxAo9Ms9/s640/DSC_0019_m.jpg" width="438" /></a></div>
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<span id="goog_1834974399"></span><span id="goog_1834974400"></span>I'd never noticed them undressing like this, before. Super cool.</div>
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<b>Upcoming Adventures</b></div>
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I'll be doing fieldwork regularly starting next week. Here's the new job site.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGI05qVDQBBFJ7Vd_RhB8CPeXjQYLn3uwFp5OSmr0LmGI0verEQf_xcPIz1dqvfuVRkG3ZltLRFpwQ18lD4oUn41JXbfCc4tzhC9-YAno_0ILhMvabFFqRhMuPT0aRbMtQGOrxzdeeLzJg/s1600/DSC_0023.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGI05qVDQBBFJ7Vd_RhB8CPeXjQYLn3uwFp5OSmr0LmGI0verEQf_xcPIz1dqvfuVRkG3ZltLRFpwQ18lD4oUn41JXbfCc4tzhC9-YAno_0ILhMvabFFqRhMuPT0aRbMtQGOrxzdeeLzJg/s640/DSC_0023.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Technically that is across the street fm. the "action area"</div>
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but that means it's beautiful and will stay that way.</div>
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So, I will be out and about pretty much every week,</div>
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so hopefully will get lotsa fun photos phor you. =)</div>
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Took a side route home fm. the 1st job site visit so I could check out</div>
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BLM's Red Hills Area of Critical Environmental Concern. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAeNtDjTV3_RFMkOrR9Nt5RhGb1LHVn_d_pvsobdJTNZd_DzbE408cjIVdPstmsY5aiHRVKDrr1DRZUIJshezGXkWRiDwxjj5HYonO4drslO4FhqA1wSZNH6akL4R_Mk7euvYEDTZQpziC/s1600/DSC_0113_m.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAeNtDjTV3_RFMkOrR9Nt5RhGb1LHVn_d_pvsobdJTNZd_DzbE408cjIVdPstmsY5aiHRVKDrr1DRZUIJshezGXkWRiDwxjj5HYonO4drslO4FhqA1wSZNH6akL4R_Mk7euvYEDTZQpziC/s640/DSC_0113_m.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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That SUPER DRY, pale blue & green & grey stuff on the hill is very Red Hills-y.</div>
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Lots of clarkia were blooming their HEARTS out.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibm-0LvrxJckJfk7aWqxc1aSCzKND0rVuqC2mEhWQ-rJpgjmlnDt9R6EErxU2v8jYoFud140pPH130Lm8V3tKJYJv2mGcisbzI2PBBlLk2yoYVOjeRoxiyvF1smx_GkZ_fmMXI633AJThN/s1600/Version+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibm-0LvrxJckJfk7aWqxc1aSCzKND0rVuqC2mEhWQ-rJpgjmlnDt9R6EErxU2v8jYoFud140pPH130Lm8V3tKJYJv2mGcisbzI2PBBlLk2yoYVOjeRoxiyvF1smx_GkZ_fmMXI633AJThN/s640/Version+2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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I believe this is <i>Clarkia biloba</i>.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO-jPjjkko9gEzW-akY1xQAFTzs0CdVifLJsGL6IvxHP0XjHj2kIEX8ma9IeEyCaAI9anbfj8jGCMBVxrPONi6aiMrDJZa3BjWVRMIly8R3hnZtmsiS8_et8OxANe4XKgQ02rqJ7uXCLsB/s1600/Cl_biloba_m.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO-jPjjkko9gEzW-akY1xQAFTzs0CdVifLJsGL6IvxHP0XjHj2kIEX8ma9IeEyCaAI9anbfj8jGCMBVxrPONi6aiMrDJZa3BjWVRMIly8R3hnZtmsiS8_et8OxANe4XKgQ02rqJ7uXCLsB/s640/Cl_biloba_m.jpg" width="436" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-3bXQqLdb68QHVLNk-spmT5iIj78CsTS2Ck0AWGEOOpny_nrhYTeUPDTYpt6pdGbN1V1tyZO7PFEOqeqVtdzC2Iwgj091ljUuw-XcHhEW1aeavgCuQGXvs5bSmKUn2Z16WFgnbF4Qh2zW/s1600/C_biloba_m.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="617" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-3bXQqLdb68QHVLNk-spmT5iIj78CsTS2Ck0AWGEOOpny_nrhYTeUPDTYpt6pdGbN1V1tyZO7PFEOqeqVtdzC2Iwgj091ljUuw-XcHhEW1aeavgCuQGXvs5bSmKUn2Z16WFgnbF4Qh2zW/s640/C_biloba_m.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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And this during a multi-year drought.</div>
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I have so much respect for how tough clarkia are.</div>
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<b>Homework</b></div>
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So, to prep for upcoming fieldwork, I did some nature-study in Yosemite last weekend.</div>
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It was rough, as you might expect. =)</div>
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The western azalea is blooming in Yosemite Valley, and it smells AMAZING.</div>
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And we saw cobalt milkweed beetles that day, too.</div>
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Absolutely STUNNING insects. Photos can't do their shining magnificence justice.</div>
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<b>Photo Phrenzy</b></div>
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Just turned in photos to a nearby county fair,</div>
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so I'll def. post about how that went,</div>
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EVEN if I win absolutely nothing. =)</div>
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<br /></div>
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This is <a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=3404084692895907783#editor/target=post;postID=1832567071099267500;onPublishedMenu=posts;onClosedMenu=posts;postNum=1;src=postname">the post on the results of my 1st fair photo entries</a>,</div>
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but that was for our county.</div>
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What I entered just now is a nearby county's fair.</div>
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And it's MUCH bigger.</div>
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So I could definitely get NOTHING.</div>
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But, it's just a great opportunity to ogle other people's work,</div>
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and to force myself to print and mount some of my images.</div>
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And thanks to Shelly at <a href="http://mobugs.blogspot.com/">MObugs</a> for getting me blogging again.</div>
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=)</div>
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Mwa!</div>
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xoxobb</div>
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<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=3404084692895907783" style="background-color: transparent; background-image: url(data:image/png; border: none; cursor: pointer; display: none; height: 20px; opacity: 0.85; position: absolute; width: 40px; z-index: 8675309;"></a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=3404084692895907783" style="background-color: transparent; background-image: url(data:image/png; border: none; cursor: pointer; display: none; height: 20px; opacity: 0.85; position: absolute; width: 40px; z-index: 8675309;"></a>biobabblerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15081382623906668057noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3404084692895907783.post-59491565276273353942015-04-18T14:49:00.001-07:002015-04-18T14:49:06.003-07:00Snapshots of spring<div style="text-align: center;">
This hymenopteran (tiny bee? wasp?) was DOA, discovered while I was weeding.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOl9uRfgJxqq53WGb-fgkBjSpzifliiwQfradjsqLEFBWk_uGCzE3pj0UeHgx0F9hiJWmIY-MXwhdAm44lUNXdmIAT_PkR4lykeEK695wWr4cn2qcEJZ03EN3bvqChg-5c1K_0cqj72Hk4/s1600/t_hymenopteran_f_m.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOl9uRfgJxqq53WGb-fgkBjSpzifliiwQfradjsqLEFBWk_uGCzE3pj0UeHgx0F9hiJWmIY-MXwhdAm44lUNXdmIAT_PkR4lykeEK695wWr4cn2qcEJZ03EN3bvqChg-5c1K_0cqj72Hk4/s1600/t_hymenopteran_f_m.jpg" height="640" width="426" /></a></div>
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It is SO TINY I had to carry it on a saucer</div>
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with a glass over it to keep it from blowing away. </div>
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The irises are blooming, now. Not all of 'em, but this one is going at it. =)</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjABsanVT3JostIOLPc4RkFi_LJ7LryvZMsnMyeEz5XrLgHmaWpp35OyutG_bnZAVq-1JMvkmZq0MtGQeoHYfU8mNCNlceH-yvI7Fpi4PEEKbBxyWE81w1j1DUTIAlYYzV5XIHsYJ8Egrqv/s1600/thrip_focus_m.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjABsanVT3JostIOLPc4RkFi_LJ7LryvZMsnMyeEz5XrLgHmaWpp35OyutG_bnZAVq-1JMvkmZq0MtGQeoHYfU8mNCNlceH-yvI7Fpi4PEEKbBxyWE81w1j1DUTIAlYYzV5XIHsYJ8Egrqv/s1600/thrip_focus_m.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
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See the TEENY tiny thrip?</div>
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An extremely small insect</div>
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living in an impossibly beautiful place.</div>
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Western fence lizard watching me photograph irises.</div>
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I'm not sure that's an approving gaze... </div>
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The "beard" in bearded irises reminds me SO strongly of nudibranchs.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkjCaQIH5LA7KldUki3LXjas8arQ9YmQdN4DZcPnu4Ie2m-p6KaG5RXrsoQHTwRU3kUpMi7XYGjHGETvaa3LxQlLP7dSwlnHRa0jaf0XRAyMkw3ZZrPdbxnek202w8mvbvflVvvJ2ZZDh-/s1600/golden_iris_m.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkjCaQIH5LA7KldUki3LXjas8arQ9YmQdN4DZcPnu4Ie2m-p6KaG5RXrsoQHTwRU3kUpMi7XYGjHGETvaa3LxQlLP7dSwlnHRa0jaf0XRAyMkw3ZZrPdbxnek202w8mvbvflVvvJ2ZZDh-/s1600/golden_iris_m.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
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I'm JUST in love with irises. And the ones I have smell amazing, too. That's a requirement. =)</div>
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A local native, golden brodiaea. Beautiful buttery yellow faces beaming up at you.</div>
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Even with the drought, they're making a good showing.</div>
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They're just shorter than usual, if I remember correctly.</div>
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Yay, natives! </div>
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An extremely tiny spider (crab spider) atop a pale owl's clover flower.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVJcon8ECEq0-E_-Zwex4aox_bnJ4tpchevNKj3tjlvMmy1f3a5etT0sutGpXWircmWk3eea28YyGf5eslmdI-ycTPCUZnVxjtzE8hwqmmTczioWB6-EyqhZc0cqSl0rxbkEeYPyOpw0gY/s1600/teeny_weeny_terror_m.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVJcon8ECEq0-E_-Zwex4aox_bnJ4tpchevNKj3tjlvMmy1f3a5etT0sutGpXWircmWk3eea28YyGf5eslmdI-ycTPCUZnVxjtzE8hwqmmTczioWB6-EyqhZc0cqSl0rxbkEeYPyOpw0gY/s1600/teeny_weeny_terror_m.jpg" height="444" width="640" /></a></div>
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For a sense of how tiny thrips are, look at the pale part of the bloom,</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXrRYb2K_Rz7m12-hY7aUE76SGK5zK1qfJMQGkNPTRxMxkxg0S21nFdFV5RmXrUyIQAEReb2Tx6VUvNh3yNPSVeiKdPqU9-issY4uOhlPd_SHi_BgpvnnSrLblrJlNvI1d-qv9G73MhJPl/s1600/light_n_dark_purples_m.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXrRYb2K_Rz7m12-hY7aUE76SGK5zK1qfJMQGkNPTRxMxkxg0S21nFdFV5RmXrUyIQAEReb2Tx6VUvNh3yNPSVeiKdPqU9-issY4uOhlPd_SHi_BgpvnnSrLblrJlNvI1d-qv9G73MhJPl/s1600/light_n_dark_purples_m.jpg" height="640" width="426" /></a></div>
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center left edge. </div>
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Zooming WAY in, there's a few thrips.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_n6lwqeNTi0FF9RFwvXnqtZjkDgUF58oRW_lTGPQ0Ws244t-2R3L5Q1DgXpg0UG89owBHB2-vXmjoNhsoMqA-LblErHJGvcEnuf9NWj1dPn-tilpozmymi6z_MR__xFRP1nZJBk6xmouY/s1600/thrips_m.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_n6lwqeNTi0FF9RFwvXnqtZjkDgUF58oRW_lTGPQ0Ws244t-2R3L5Q1DgXpg0UG89owBHB2-vXmjoNhsoMqA-LblErHJGvcEnuf9NWj1dPn-tilpozmymi6z_MR__xFRP1nZJBk6xmouY/s1600/thrips_m.jpg" height="476" width="640" /></a></div>
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Can you find this tiny section in the previous photo?</div>
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One last moody gaze from a still-unfurling iris, this year's very first.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtjdXJO6snJv5tFfwClHKyQ1oW6wB5Mddg6VcwswZVEdTyEs1PNra0SqXk1a6LVJNdzL71YgBjf2mSyJm8Cne7KO5vPrLuopEJ2WS8YkvtoeiaCl0fdcvcwrJP8maZNH4u2Ykyd1v9sgMp/s1600/iris_1_m.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtjdXJO6snJv5tFfwClHKyQ1oW6wB5Mddg6VcwswZVEdTyEs1PNra0SqXk1a6LVJNdzL71YgBjf2mSyJm8Cne7KO5vPrLuopEJ2WS8YkvtoeiaCl0fdcvcwrJP8maZNH4u2Ykyd1v9sgMp/s1600/iris_1_m.jpg" height="640" width="426" /></a></div>
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A great thing about irises, since I am clearly deeply in love with them,</div>
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is that they love OUR climate.</div>
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They don't need summer water.</div>
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They just sit there, high and dry, through the drought,</div>
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waiting for the rainy season to return.</div>
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Lovely, since my standards for the drought tolerance</div>
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of plants I'll allow in our garden is rising every year.</div>
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I hope your spring (or fall) is progressing beautifully.</div>
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xoxobb</div>
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biobabblerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15081382623906668057noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3404084692895907783.post-24698122152701720432015-03-25T10:54:00.001-07:002015-03-25T12:20:17.311-07:00Stunning stilt striding, and other natural delights--it's been a good week<div style="text-align: center;">
With weather like this, and longer days, I've been outside more.</div>
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Which means more photo phun.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhatQ2ZTLo5DpAJergxn-GuofPUAwadRRkuThrtomVh-21lMTGVWQe3OWQMyf4hgjc7iQVZlTWMf6kSfNUAii8hhyphenhyphenrNkXYTyc35MVX3B6pynI47WIv25aI386laKe3bphh2SHcFxqGb1Q_J/s1600/bn_stilt_m.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhatQ2ZTLo5DpAJergxn-GuofPUAwadRRkuThrtomVh-21lMTGVWQe3OWQMyf4hgjc7iQVZlTWMf6kSfNUAii8hhyphenhyphenrNkXYTyc35MVX3B6pynI47WIv25aI386laKe3bphh2SHcFxqGb1Q_J/s1600/bn_stilt_m.jpg" height="416" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Black-necked_Stilt/id">Black-necked stilt</a> at the <a href="http://www.fws.gov/refuge/merced/">Merced National Wildlife Refuge</a>. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq1dOjL0QW25u4kUiFgo_qjkVW5Xit3xTwH5dYN2AEoKapv8whJ4Yigto_pzzSBfep6sVHb5ly31sWQ_47HSYY9l7Bxd1D7likH2G4aeaBswEuJbRwNdExYprlLfOGb3ljEQlRjwRGlRiY/s1600/w_kingbird_m.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq1dOjL0QW25u4kUiFgo_qjkVW5Xit3xTwH5dYN2AEoKapv8whJ4Yigto_pzzSBfep6sVHb5ly31sWQ_47HSYY9l7Bxd1D7likH2G4aeaBswEuJbRwNdExYprlLfOGb3ljEQlRjwRGlRiY/s1600/w_kingbird_m.jpg" height="562" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Western_Kingbird/id">Western kingbird</a>, same place. Always beautiful. That stunning yellow underbelly knocks me out. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitGVIHHivWF0Xgk3SlUMjkeU2wQEhZQisDVfuRsBuWnMyyNHDnqh7rxFonz1bISQ5yqCtcnengszmAugrCacNwXerHbLtf-Jnfcz7X5ONfEm6s8haO_i7lrE66xvTF_LYW7kSmdFYy_vV7/s1600/w_f_ibis_m.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitGVIHHivWF0Xgk3SlUMjkeU2wQEhZQisDVfuRsBuWnMyyNHDnqh7rxFonz1bISQ5yqCtcnengszmAugrCacNwXerHbLtf-Jnfcz7X5ONfEm6s8haO_i7lrE66xvTF_LYW7kSmdFYy_vV7/s1600/w_f_ibis_m.jpg" height="640" width="606" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/White-faced_Ibis/id">White-faced ibis</a> (Merced NWR).</div>
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Not always the most helpful name, but what a ridiculously regal bird.</div>
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Husband spotted this creature & knew I'd want to see it.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDkdQ7hlSOTbtVh_l2lktziTTb4uh4vVx97BNgrgOJVAVP_hQnmfn-DoU8O6kvQ0S6HFlPS_IsiUHLKhp5M4_P08PcN_srSSeMcj08YvVb8iEmIZeroRawyV-D_A1pnWk83HxvZOJuN6SO/s1600/hanging_fly_m.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDkdQ7hlSOTbtVh_l2lktziTTb4uh4vVx97BNgrgOJVAVP_hQnmfn-DoU8O6kvQ0S6HFlPS_IsiUHLKhp5M4_P08PcN_srSSeMcj08YvVb8iEmIZeroRawyV-D_A1pnWk83HxvZOJuN6SO/s1600/hanging_fly_m.jpg" height="640" width="526" /></a></div>
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Holy. Wow.</div>
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I <i>love</i> that face.</div>
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Learned from Twitter friends (@ta_wheeler) and bugguide.net</div>
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that though it looks like a crane fly, it's not a fly at all</div>
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(flies have 2 wings, this creature has 4).</div>
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It's a <a href="http://bugguide.net/node/view/164221">hanging fly (<i>Bittacus chlorostigma</i>)</a>,</div>
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and the only representative of its genus among the Pacific states.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMt6lRPtTZtW-T1bge2WUHOJgBNSPg_yQP2aFXZ6CDCMf9Yt7E-sWhhvDjmueuKlwp3TGZnW24mcNivkEh0iUgO1Cm-hjz4aTG3Ypjt0BW42o083b04IgCtPbzWVxMTv9HE99mRzcx_k9z/s1600/hanging_fly_d_m.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMt6lRPtTZtW-T1bge2WUHOJgBNSPg_yQP2aFXZ6CDCMf9Yt7E-sWhhvDjmueuKlwp3TGZnW24mcNivkEh0iUgO1Cm-hjz4aTG3Ypjt0BW42o083b04IgCtPbzWVxMTv9HE99mRzcx_k9z/s1600/hanging_fly_d_m.jpg" height="640" width="505" /></a></div>
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I am <i>so</i> glad I got to meet it.</div>
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Last, but not least, the first confirmed painted lady I've seen here this year.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5QsBDZwVURCpFokVAkvD4r2wAzQw1Hoq70XDG1eD5yBosPzOzGwCc4cTmKg16VhvwHYtEamuYKhzWk1TA6Zl2d6Opj68Ss-kQwRQJ5o7luKtTQ-DIU6wEiSx1NsxtuS8Iw3JlGVJlkOBv/s1600/painted_lady_lilac_m.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5QsBDZwVURCpFokVAkvD4r2wAzQw1Hoq70XDG1eD5yBosPzOzGwCc4cTmKg16VhvwHYtEamuYKhzWk1TA6Zl2d6Opj68Ss-kQwRQJ5o7luKtTQ-DIU6wEiSx1NsxtuS8Iw3JlGVJlkOBv/s1600/painted_lady_lilac_m.jpg" height="640" width="548" /></a></div>
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I took this photo because twitter-folks (@ErikRunquist @eButterfly_org)</div>
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are interested in tracking their migration.</div>
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And I'm so very glad I was therefore motivated to encounter this charming animal.</div>
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I hope spring is springing forth merrily (northern hemisphere),</div>
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or fall is falling elegantly (southern hemisphere),</div>
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wherever you are.</div>
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=)</div>
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xoxobb</div>
<a href="" style="background-color: transparent; background-image: url(data:image/png; border: none; cursor: pointer; display: none; height: 20px; opacity: 0.85; position: absolute; width: 40px; z-index: 8675309;"></a><a href="" style="background-color: transparent; background-image: url(data:image/png; border: none; cursor: pointer; display: none; height: 20px; opacity: 0.85; position: absolute; width: 40px; z-index: 8675309;"></a>biobabblerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15081382623906668057noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3404084692895907783.post-2360306490841041852015-03-17T12:01:00.001-07:002015-03-18T07:35:54.036-07:00Flinging photos: Sierra Nevada lower-montane life in early March<div style="text-align: center;">
This appeared at our window last night & I almost had a heart attack:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMbqmjyjLksahnzdKbReJehgaNDyI13lMAOM93o6SLznpiTbkFzXct62G-xpa3Nw_PEJaqTiD9uxYUmA2E_zVLRUAOXfpLiEhCJjJbyAEsBKKKWowXH4dcc2qnWOSvk1O6GiVlyIYEGkht/s1600/pink_ceanothus_m.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMbqmjyjLksahnzdKbReJehgaNDyI13lMAOM93o6SLznpiTbkFzXct62G-xpa3Nw_PEJaqTiD9uxYUmA2E_zVLRUAOXfpLiEhCJjJbyAEsBKKKWowXH4dcc2qnWOSvk1O6GiVlyIYEGkht/s1600/pink_ceanothus_m.jpg" height="614" width="640" /></a></div>
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It's a <a href="http://bugguide.net/node/view/42242">ceanothus silkmoth</a> (ID thanks to @CrawliesWithCri), 3.5-5 inch wingspan. AMAZING.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4alOpBNvVZS6pUk_UMHp7eMvBd6FpkG7PIeDI_vTXbzDOnNJd2-KvINCHA1syqRlV_JInR9ICiZ0Wug2kVp5SaxG3C-N4Tcmv-tRZcvylR0-AJw3HfNTUyfROjDfgybypUaxjfjEpOVHg/s1600/saturnid_m.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4alOpBNvVZS6pUk_UMHp7eMvBd6FpkG7PIeDI_vTXbzDOnNJd2-KvINCHA1syqRlV_JInR9ICiZ0Wug2kVp5SaxG3C-N4Tcmv-tRZcvylR0-AJw3HfNTUyfROjDfgybypUaxjfjEpOVHg/s1600/saturnid_m.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
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Just look at that gorgeous abdomen! So stylish, jeepers.</div>
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After taking some photos w/my confused camera (why shooting at night??)</div>
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I went back inside & turned off our lights so it would stop being confused by us,</div>
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and continue on toward finding a mate, or whatever it would normally do. =)</div>
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So, walking in the dark house, smiling quietly,</div>
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my husband said, "Welcome to Samantha National Park."</div>
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I'm glad he understands. =)</div>
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<b>Baby Blue Eyes and Friends</b></div>
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Photographed first <a href="http://www.calflora.org/cgi-bin/species_query.cgi?where-calrecnum=5836">baby blue eyes (<i>Nemophila menziesii</i>)</a> on our property this year, March 3rd.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhm5jEDAYeTRyxxAbq5D_oO2Mdcx37h_HIxrGLT-1Nzd7xypyjZWsjqXgrZsEUdd49wLbES0cJS2HvsWQLASOOZMTluBwbh2fPoH1PoSaRFruMLUP_OmUZrhzkUXtxABWYbwyOCq8q-Vee/s1600/baby_blue_eyes_m.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhm5jEDAYeTRyxxAbq5D_oO2Mdcx37h_HIxrGLT-1Nzd7xypyjZWsjqXgrZsEUdd49wLbES0cJS2HvsWQLASOOZMTluBwbh2fPoH1PoSaRFruMLUP_OmUZrhzkUXtxABWYbwyOCq8q-Vee/s1600/baby_blue_eyes_m.jpg" height="640" width="590" /></a></div>
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When I uploaded the photo, saw I captured one of</div>
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the <i>so</i> tiny (presumed) globular springtails in focus. So cute!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGMbuiIB7PFnwAzvgc045tA0-6w7d2gHkaIfQQBKjZOcJh0XCeBvZ_6cTcoq7XBetgXdjwkpSAgl_lprIXiuAhHQN5ux-9WpjOcLaie6_o_h8igMJvkCBHcXG4so0l_swN79P7OCZNnVsg/s1600/springtail_m.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGMbuiIB7PFnwAzvgc045tA0-6w7d2gHkaIfQQBKjZOcJh0XCeBvZ_6cTcoq7XBetgXdjwkpSAgl_lprIXiuAhHQN5ux-9WpjOcLaie6_o_h8igMJvkCBHcXG4so0l_swN79P7OCZNnVsg/s1600/springtail_m.jpg" height="400" width="340" /></a></div>
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If you scroll back up to the flower photo, can you find the tiny bug?</div>
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For amazing shots of all kinds of these cuties,</div>
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much clearer, and much closer up,</div>
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check out <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/50342657@N05/">Ed Phillip's photos on Flickr</a>.</div>
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Truly, his work is superb,</div>
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and there's such diverse colors & patterns in these species.</div>
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He finds them in leaf piles on the ground. So, so cool.</div>
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<b>Love and Death</b></div>
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Just this morning, saw evidence of a spidery romance on our window...</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB34xO7b3bRZdjxWYl8WETEM-uAy_ehN0NJFy680ZW4aCHAUHALVXfKeLhK6xTVESCc3Jhm7K_a_tNPciQCbyGDkfVWxeydQahSEwDFqRkqq1Wj1F1YH7KzPm3U2yQeEBRlnbMvqPq2nGD/s1600/spidy_date_night.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB34xO7b3bRZdjxWYl8WETEM-uAy_ehN0NJFy680ZW4aCHAUHALVXfKeLhK6xTVESCc3Jhm7K_a_tNPciQCbyGDkfVWxeydQahSEwDFqRkqq1Wj1F1YH7KzPm3U2yQeEBRlnbMvqPq2nGD/s1600/spidy_date_night.jpg" height="640" width="426" /></a></div>
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I think it's a female up top, and a male down below.</div>
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"So, Bob. How'd the date go last night?"</div>
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(no response)</div>
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"Bob?"</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAC_LlxEv9e5751gYoGS_8fg6FKIqighNe9i13I6zsKbf4q69-Cg_t8Z4XxhnXJ8tD5AHv9wEkqflRCG-fmOaV6cEhg5THVcKTRlwIcKKWshX72_m6Gib9HwoVcktu1smG2p80YEliBVsP/s1600/js_bob.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAC_LlxEv9e5751gYoGS_8fg6FKIqighNe9i13I6zsKbf4q69-Cg_t8Z4XxhnXJ8tD5AHv9wEkqflRCG-fmOaV6cEhg5THVcKTRlwIcKKWshX72_m6Gib9HwoVcktu1smG2p80YEliBVsP/s1600/js_bob.jpg" height="640" width="462" /></a></div>
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Presumed female looks as innocent as possible...</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgX-RaAYd6hMy3iAoh8uS11OnD6I7p4RQf9ksaEd-wqA7PMp8-KJU1CIUm5-ga69Dgx91MmyEeB26hD3-3QtalkEHKuCJvHcuZTMjw87t6m9v_70SlehQvsebS8BnHY1BLDzOO3yBVHT6a/s1600/js_judy_m.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgX-RaAYd6hMy3iAoh8uS11OnD6I7p4RQf9ksaEd-wqA7PMp8-KJU1CIUm5-ga69Dgx91MmyEeB26hD3-3QtalkEHKuCJvHcuZTMjw87t6m9v_70SlehQvsebS8BnHY1BLDzOO3yBVHT6a/s1600/js_judy_m.jpg" height="532" width="640" /></a></div>
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batting her perty eyelashes.</div>
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Dating in the spider world is risky business.</div>
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<b>Other Visitors</b></div>
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Teddybears of the insect world, a bee fly appeared recently.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho5m5_LHjvBvJj_UPxBRFIMC5T3B8JulKrg6LEClEa3My2avKu5_7czdQhZcrYtAW0OG1gAMDuymHp_Y8GpWJFpct7RtGJ4wBNxHJmDd37DZokG_GnUK2IBwjpAwPdZVeEqSOjFcjSpd6z/s1600/beefly.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho5m5_LHjvBvJj_UPxBRFIMC5T3B8JulKrg6LEClEa3My2avKu5_7czdQhZcrYtAW0OG1gAMDuymHp_Y8GpWJFpct7RtGJ4wBNxHJmDd37DZokG_GnUK2IBwjpAwPdZVeEqSOjFcjSpd6z/s1600/beefly.jpg" height="435" width="640" /></a></div>
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Super hard species to get good photos of--they're very speedy and restless. </div>
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For much better photos:</div>
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The <a href="http://bugguide.net/node/view/40598/bgpage">subfamily Bombyliinae</a> has lots of the fuzzy types.</div>
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Check out <a href="http://bugguide.net/node/view/17530/bgpage">this shot</a>--WOW. SO CUTE!</div>
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We flung out some birdseed & got lovely visitors, including this <a href="http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Spotted_Towhee/id">spotted towhee (<i>Pipilo maculatus</i>)</a>.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcAbxE_RABL_IBKo3f_mHfn061E3nJiIdLPoaGdvpt_2LCXA7rtT_Q8PGswcghYqFR-Ps9Pmzt1e19RBNSKT9aL-8j_2CtYW0z1dYjfk5gLt5zdRDdTDjBknGDZn8vPrKsE_RTUnKuHW3W/s1600/spo_tow_m.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcAbxE_RABL_IBKo3f_mHfn061E3nJiIdLPoaGdvpt_2LCXA7rtT_Q8PGswcghYqFR-Ps9Pmzt1e19RBNSKT9aL-8j_2CtYW0z1dYjfk5gLt5zdRDdTDjBknGDZn8vPrKsE_RTUnKuHW3W/s1600/spo_tow_m.jpg" height="640" width="622" /></a></div>
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The <a href="http://www.calflora.org/cgi-bin/species_query.cgi?where-taxon=Rhamnus+ilicifolia">redberry (<i>Rhamnus ilicifolia</i>)</a> is blooming--it's an extremely subtle event.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
At least to us. Lots of tiny bugs are floating around it, so for them it's shouting.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBlt2ZKGjwToa49cnf99DMDg8NeZwA_XfuN2XZ3_N5fQz-viBoyWMo5VXg_UyxMqhgjMFUHfU21Yr7C-wSMroT7uksPhbWgGX_blYNbN4iThL8HGJUW6ozT75fIDqovh_bzX1nmqIlsv4E/s1600/redberry_m.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBlt2ZKGjwToa49cnf99DMDg8NeZwA_XfuN2XZ3_N5fQz-viBoyWMo5VXg_UyxMqhgjMFUHfU21Yr7C-wSMroT7uksPhbWgGX_blYNbN4iThL8HGJUW6ozT75fIDqovh_bzX1nmqIlsv4E/s1600/redberry_m.jpg" height="640" width="560" /></a></div>
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Those teensy green blooms are barely discernible to my eyes.</div>
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Squinting hard I can pick out the white stigma to know which are open.</div>
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Miner's lettuce (Claytonia<i> </i>spp<i>.</i>) is also blooming happily.</div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDa7DdtYWqbTixkxBD6Ow6FWRna6xpI0wlf338VWvXOoSt1N0a9xAqZEu8C4jE_ozyEH1ZryRKgyx9Hy_pqtlvFvANvURdpAnbZFrp9XEfjgZGzQ7WRGw4Un9Aww01xHAyHbo76pQhljzx/s1600/claytonia.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDa7DdtYWqbTixkxBD6Ow6FWRna6xpI0wlf338VWvXOoSt1N0a9xAqZEu8C4jE_ozyEH1ZryRKgyx9Hy_pqtlvFvANvURdpAnbZFrp9XEfjgZGzQ7WRGw4Un9Aww01xHAyHbo76pQhljzx/s1600/claytonia.jpg" height="425" width="640" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB26PTK4TjdA-DYNWNXrfgW8iGXVEWTEhw5WCU9TA1AKGhBghNFLMwj31R3urkeQyiLXi85cqhYI8E0bjSeOFdNNXjTR-tEr8R1O0oaV_flIX0hfyXk06Cnpl_h1zsHcyAb0nNVO1BaIcz/s1600/claytonia2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB26PTK4TjdA-DYNWNXrfgW8iGXVEWTEhw5WCU9TA1AKGhBghNFLMwj31R3urkeQyiLXi85cqhYI8E0bjSeOFdNNXjTR-tEr8R1O0oaV_flIX0hfyXk06Cnpl_h1zsHcyAb0nNVO1BaIcz/s1600/claytonia2.jpg" height="640" width="489" /></a></div>
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Another fan of the birdseed: a brave <a href="http://www.mnh.si.edu/mna/image_info.cfm?species_id=303">western gray squirrel</a>.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw20N4ilNTz-UmnvanbhWGglZGCgHsEkISVu-vfGwOKCOpMv6x9MjMzmwaLZ3CnZGWnys0cSmVUI_9Y54s1SZhFDr9TBpvwzUa-Hw8DK-aT6BB1Sf9xWSEDNa2Z3zrc9k78FocG0C2misJ/s1600/gr_sq_m.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw20N4ilNTz-UmnvanbhWGglZGCgHsEkISVu-vfGwOKCOpMv6x9MjMzmwaLZ3CnZGWnys0cSmVUI_9Y54s1SZhFDr9TBpvwzUa-Hw8DK-aT6BB1Sf9xWSEDNa2Z3zrc9k78FocG0C2misJ/s1600/gr_sq_m.jpg" height="424" width="640" /></a></div>
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And last, early for Easter, a <a href="http://www.nps.gov/bibe/learn/nature/jackrabbit.htm">black-tailed jackrabbit (<i>Lepus californicus</i>)</a> plays peek-a-boo.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg61SQwIpYswYHp6K-e90ElaIOeMDpEOVE0RkBBusQi7DePqWWdyef4rFCGaZ0WHF8EVGo3yNxOnniF3Wow4D5xIDQD9aNUuCS_qI0qdlRSofrM0aT8ygEajk5quahiCQ4p6hD8zE0HwM3r/s1600/jr_low.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg61SQwIpYswYHp6K-e90ElaIOeMDpEOVE0RkBBusQi7DePqWWdyef4rFCGaZ0WHF8EVGo3yNxOnniF3Wow4D5xIDQD9aNUuCS_qI0qdlRSofrM0aT8ygEajk5quahiCQ4p6hD8zE0HwM3r/s1600/jr_low.jpg" height="512" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4BlRxTWVRQWsISuIUGkN_9hpmLSvgBxp7ngCAsgcCLuZjjepTt2zUii0SiBpLnTAjycWmk90nx4Q7uCw-Rg42VS8wy4hQTYuDjmjBC0rGB9bV6BmVUMSFyp3__QWo8WbUz59vVQk-Td6q/s1600/jr_high.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4BlRxTWVRQWsISuIUGkN_9hpmLSvgBxp7ngCAsgcCLuZjjepTt2zUii0SiBpLnTAjycWmk90nx4Q7uCw-Rg42VS8wy4hQTYuDjmjBC0rGB9bV6BmVUMSFyp3__QWo8WbUz59vVQk-Td6q/s1600/jr_high.jpg" height="516" width="640" /></a></div>
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Happy spring!</div>
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xoxobb</div>
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=3404084692895907783" style="background-color: transparent; background-image: url(data:image/png; border: none; cursor: pointer; display: none; height: 20px; opacity: 0.85; position: absolute; width: 40px; z-index: 8675309;"></a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=3404084692895907783" style="background-color: transparent; background-image: url(data:image/png; border: none; cursor: pointer; display: none; height: 20px; opacity: 0.85; position: absolute; width: 40px; z-index: 8675309;"></a></div>
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=3404084692895907783" style="background-color: transparent; background-image: url(data:image/png; border: none; cursor: pointer; display: none; height: 20px; opacity: 0.85; position: absolute; width: 40px; z-index: 8675309;"></a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=3404084692895907783" style="background-color: transparent; background-image: url(data:image/png; border: none; cursor: pointer; display: none; height: 20px; opacity: 0.85; position: absolute; width: 40px; z-index: 8675309;"></a>biobabblerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15081382623906668057noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3404084692895907783.post-65968516423679852312015-03-03T12:02:00.001-08:002015-03-04T10:48:32.991-08:00Feeder frenzy, fawn photobomb and fabulous fungi<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
It was a cold morning and I'd just flung a bunch of wild bird seed out.</div>
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The birds rewarded us with early morning visits.</div>
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Two hungry <a href="http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/acorn_woodpecker/id">acorn woodpeckers</a> (<i>Melanerpes formicivorus</i>)</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
neatly photobombed by a <a href="https://www.wildlife.ca.gov/Regions/6/Deer/Natural-History">mule deer</a> (<i>Odocoileus hemionus</i>) fawn.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCqbY9kZGGK_VRYoWz6nUB-kF5RySfMG9K3lyfeGtQqtq-O5SVnuDkbRr-BBp-nvcU0nH39_Tpe1OAPfdAascOV6S0gW83bogf0eJ3f8i2lTgRsvISPZJuXjTUa5QcLs0R0MPKksTQeSBz/s1600/fawn_photo_bomb_m.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCqbY9kZGGK_VRYoWz6nUB-kF5RySfMG9K3lyfeGtQqtq-O5SVnuDkbRr-BBp-nvcU0nH39_Tpe1OAPfdAascOV6S0gW83bogf0eJ3f8i2lTgRsvISPZJuXjTUa5QcLs0R0MPKksTQeSBz/s1600/fawn_photo_bomb_m.jpg" height="640" width="426" /></a></div>
<br />
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THREE acorn woodpeckers on one pinecone. Impressive.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhic70hnVwma3mQzjeiM5PQdySERqevDYe5hCvpIYmSwZlK6wAs84OqCT1_44HXFXPNdPgbBTwkKvNbxiZokX9joxv2cKnrhpMpjC-OQ6Ak1qm_51bNrRMqRBAWjG8DMjZX0NhPIU3kavc6/s1600/ac_wo_3_m.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhic70hnVwma3mQzjeiM5PQdySERqevDYe5hCvpIYmSwZlK6wAs84OqCT1_44HXFXPNdPgbBTwkKvNbxiZokX9joxv2cKnrhpMpjC-OQ6Ak1qm_51bNrRMqRBAWjG8DMjZX0NhPIU3kavc6/s1600/ac_wo_3_m.jpg" height="640" width="438" /></a></div>
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Especially the one that's upside down.</div>
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I also like that one tiny bit of feed falling 'neath them.</div>
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Sticking the tongue out.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzJsppvyUk2apgLmW7S0Rvi8vbcpToKUtUzUPZACAriCy00q2Vmmx_3mbz0dzSs1Cvt6CPq4d7rVR97qcb8KyNx3uMOQzQ-xbkJza3PvQ0pxoei8jBXfsiUyF0NIYrJft5EhX2p8KycOsR/s1600/ac_wo_tongue.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzJsppvyUk2apgLmW7S0Rvi8vbcpToKUtUzUPZACAriCy00q2Vmmx_3mbz0dzSs1Cvt6CPq4d7rVR97qcb8KyNx3uMOQzQ-xbkJza3PvQ0pxoei8jBXfsiUyF0NIYrJft5EhX2p8KycOsR/s1600/ac_wo_tongue.jpg" height="640" width="520" /></a></div>
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First saw these two <a href="http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/stellers_jay/id">Steller's jays (<i>Cyanocitta stelleri</i>)</a><br />
and wondered why the little one was standing its ground in the face of a larger one.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip7wuQRWQZT0AyU7yxNmF0xtTzZ_UwcG2WzrhDASnCMlMo7oJvMoBk-GPS-fLebKkJMNfHckKH2RcU3EGXBX4ECEk2n1f-8nzYjodbTW_4UxknAAxgY2qiKbmwWGmSseU1Y_vRkvOsMAl0/s1600/bigj_littlej_m.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip7wuQRWQZT0AyU7yxNmF0xtTzZ_UwcG2WzrhDASnCMlMo7oJvMoBk-GPS-fLebKkJMNfHckKH2RcU3EGXBX4ECEk2n1f-8nzYjodbTW_4UxknAAxgY2qiKbmwWGmSseU1Y_vRkvOsMAl0/s1600/bigj_littlej_m.jpg" height="450" width="640" /></a></div>
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And then I thought: oh... the little one is probably the offspring of the big one.*</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8XwZaxhKSvq7KbZhz4HMldr7jw74Y9MoABVZKvZ67DJ8aIjlb4Z0cKpKW5vtAsXTI2fi120dW_RgZlupE3d0d60Y8FbrA1kRRTs2ZzQypy5gKxZMtqPuWThTg9FRw1dMkE5XkUBZRXZuF/s1600/bj_lj_feedme_m.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8XwZaxhKSvq7KbZhz4HMldr7jw74Y9MoABVZKvZ67DJ8aIjlb4Z0cKpKW5vtAsXTI2fi120dW_RgZlupE3d0d60Y8FbrA1kRRTs2ZzQypy5gKxZMtqPuWThTg9FRw1dMkE5XkUBZRXZuF/s1600/bj_lj_feedme_m.jpg" height="384" width="640" /></a></div>
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And rather than threatening with the big mouth, it's saying, "Feed me!"<br />
It's a theory.*</div>
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Since we've gotten a bit of rain these last few weeks,<br />
the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Astraeus_hygrometricus">hygroscopic earthstars (<i>Astraeus hygrometricus</i>)</a> unfurled again,<br />
much to my delight.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeu9j_YyWJeA5gtPDylhKxnQc5wA-Ht_1iye4TpxuhLtOlPGaM4Zvlh8W9a68g_r2aLLke0IswyJgvZmCP4aHX2iDyAPpfitDQyrB2Rw1h0NkYOKIUfy-7cODEPkACUNCgwtqw1P3wZvWc/s1600/earthstar_dusty_m.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeu9j_YyWJeA5gtPDylhKxnQc5wA-Ht_1iye4TpxuhLtOlPGaM4Zvlh8W9a68g_r2aLLke0IswyJgvZmCP4aHX2iDyAPpfitDQyrB2Rw1h0NkYOKIUfy-7cODEPkACUNCgwtqw1P3wZvWc/s1600/earthstar_dusty_m.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
I love this olive green one... <i>so</i> elegant.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0uzEtSU_HNOGz4PoQ7QBftvlmpzpkcKT_HQO1eg33Q88YElwZ0fF2dIgf-dbGF2CR0GNdv9Kq-1-OQT1CAGp2i5jDtaFuyceK7sLcwZS6w97hFQOiNFiDVmzDkao7LkY_BLdsqqvGfJF9/s1600/earthstar_m.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0uzEtSU_HNOGz4PoQ7QBftvlmpzpkcKT_HQO1eg33Q88YElwZ0fF2dIgf-dbGF2CR0GNdv9Kq-1-OQT1CAGp2i5jDtaFuyceK7sLcwZS6w97hFQOiNFiDVmzDkao7LkY_BLdsqqvGfJF9/s1600/earthstar_m.jpg" height="606" width="640" /></a></div>
Nice beige, crackly one.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ6ETVOIPDScfcfAvUWWi76fyxUj24l7WGBIQzoZfQFs2Jr2_S2ZAblVOCNI5nzgpA7Dcaf7T0fuxsRfZC3ZPPmgCKWlQbZqzVx6isU12RzGLrmkHD2hN_hCl4uLz-Es3pSBjZ_W-l5rR6/s1600/es_acorn_m.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ6ETVOIPDScfcfAvUWWi76fyxUj24l7WGBIQzoZfQFs2Jr2_S2ZAblVOCNI5nzgpA7Dcaf7T0fuxsRfZC3ZPPmgCKWlQbZqzVx6isU12RzGLrmkHD2hN_hCl4uLz-Es3pSBjZ_W-l5rR6/s1600/es_acorn_m.jpg" height="512" width="640" /></a></div>
This one shows JUST how much they can look like an exploded acorn.<br />
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So, that's some of the things kicking around the property in February.<br />
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I will be posting more images of birds<br />
and the early-blooming flowers soon.<br />
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In the meantime, here's to more rain here in the west! Woo-hoo!<br />
<br />
xoxoxo bb<br />
<br />
<br />
*Yes, it's a theory, but it's probably wrong. Two smarties commented that<br />
this sort of behavior is common in mated pairs. Flirting, basically. =) Thanks, peeps!</div>
biobabblerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15081382623906668057noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3404084692895907783.post-35950443514647280722015-01-18T19:28:00.001-08:002015-01-19T07:29:42.231-08:00Verdict: tiny adorable birds = guilty, Biobabbler = innocent<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
One thing I learned in 2014: <b><i>it's not my fault</i></b>.</div>
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<br /></div>
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All the times I sowed seeds to fill my iris bed</div>
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(with plants that would bloom when the irises were done)</div>
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and ended up with nothing but weeds,</div>
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I thought it was me.</div>
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<br /></div>
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More than once I sowed and planted,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
and watered and waited,</div>
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and watched and watered and waited.</div>
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<br /></div>
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And nothing.</div>
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Zero new flowering plants, just a boring, perennial line of iris blades.</div>
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<i>Therefore</i>, I was a lame gardener.</div>
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<br /></div>
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But this year, I am <i>redeemed</i>!</div>
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The birds <i>totally</i> ate the seeds.</div>
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How do I know this?</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
"Your Honor, I would like to submit exhibits A and B."</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Exhibit A:</div>
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Sites where I did not protect the seeds from birds.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQJv2ygcC07vnw8TklhtsTTFQLYy-c48k1SelHbN8C6hXDwBJiFRNd8Vvv4qVGkMOGw2Q_ScnNtgwJ7aVHl01F_tIvqI4sJliX-UYBg2cwVaQqHKd0_E0HK5K5yTor7N7W5e-o2yFsSjuc/s1600/iris_birded.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQJv2ygcC07vnw8TklhtsTTFQLYy-c48k1SelHbN8C6hXDwBJiFRNd8Vvv4qVGkMOGw2Q_ScnNtgwJ7aVHl01F_tIvqI4sJliX-UYBg2cwVaQqHKd0_E0HK5K5yTor7N7W5e-o2yFsSjuc/s1600/iris_birded.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
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Look how tidy and clean and plant-less it all is...</div>
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And, Exhibit B:</div>
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Site where I <i>did</i> protect the seeds from birds.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiANFkmHUPQpHjZ7jGCsoYJPlvTfRAdtnF6JZpcSoF2OFl3ZdCuygx_HrOcYUgymgGgP5AWANSYJYfEjzI8hRmsY94PmSYHbruHffARVB6csg8oERBv3JcJGaKf6sOIhwv5pTPu7RRzSthT/s1600/iris_birdless.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiANFkmHUPQpHjZ7jGCsoYJPlvTfRAdtnF6JZpcSoF2OFl3ZdCuygx_HrOcYUgymgGgP5AWANSYJYfEjzI8hRmsY94PmSYHbruHffARVB6csg8oERBv3JcJGaKf6sOIhwv5pTPu7RRzSthT/s1600/iris_birdless.jpg" height="458" width="640" /></a></div>
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Rows of baby plants. Cute little tinsies (and a few weeds), bursting with promise. A miracle.</div>
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This may have changed my life.</div>
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I am <i>not</i> a hopelessly unskilled gardener.</div>
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I <i>can</i> make things grow,</div>
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I <i>can</i> fill out my iris beds</div>
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with things that will bloom after spring,</div>
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providing DH & I lovely sights (incl. bugs) to admire for months and months.</div>
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Hooray!!!</div>
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xoxoxobb</div>
<a href="" style="background-color: transparent; background-image: url(data:image/png; border: none; cursor: pointer; display: none; height: 20px; opacity: 0.85; position: absolute; width: 40px; z-index: 8675309;"></a><a href="" style="background-color: transparent; background-image: url(data:image/png; border: none; cursor: pointer; display: none; height: 20px; opacity: 0.85; position: absolute; width: 40px; z-index: 8675309;"></a>biobabblerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15081382623906668057noreply@blogger.com6