The Tree at Night

Decided to take another picture of our wonderful tree as night was falling, just before there was need to use the flash. I am very pleased with the end result. Love the way the treelights and shadows are playing on the walls.

Christmas Tree 2010

For the first time in ages, this year we have a real, full-sized Christmas Tree. What a treat. My dear husband worked tirelessly to ready the Zen Room in which the tree is housed.

It turned out wonderful. We drove to town late yesterday afternoon and found the perfect tree in the last Christmas Tree lot in town. Ashlee, our granddaughter was as thrilled as we were.

We rushed home, got it set up and started decorating at once. Worked until late in the afternoon/early evening and got it done. Revisited many nice ornaments I hadn't seen in many years. I'll share a few before the season is over.

Nest in Winter

When leaving the fitness center after our Tai Chi Class the other day, my eye fell on a lovely, little bird's nest, newly revealed by the falling of the last autumn leaves.

All summer we walked past that tree, not knowing of the cozy home, hidden in the center. Protected by lush growth, nestled securely amongst the branches.

But now, with inhabitants long flown, it's been exposed . We'll be listening carefully come spring. Will the former occupants set up home once again., maybe raise a feathered family?

Abalone

Earlier this year my dear husband of nearly of quarter of a century celebrated his 70th Birthday. So rather then spend it at home, I planned a 3 day outing for him. We spend a few days in Monterey. The highlight of our stay was a visit to the Monterey Bay Aquarium.

As the year is nearing it's end, I wanted to share some of the images I took that day.

This Abalone shell was resting in a shallow pool, allowing visitors a close-up look and touch of it, and the brilliant sea stars and seaweeds alongside it.

Winter Morning

Many of our mornings are now frosty. Which is wonderful for getting us in the Christmas Spirit in sunny California. Growing up in a land where the holiday season tended to be of the Winter Wonderland variety, even frost in the morning gets us in the spirit. So on those winter mornings when our garden is sparkling with diamonds of frost, I always skip around cheerfully, trying to capture as much of it as I can with my camera. The amethyst gazing globe glittering in the morning sun was a wonderful find for me.

Morning Frost

As November is coming to an end, winter is starting to claim the garden. This morning, on this first Sunday of Advent, our garden was covered in heavy frost. The sun illuminating the ice crystals, bringing them to brilliant life.

While pruning my Flutterbye Rose a week or so ago, I inadvertently cut a bud. I tucked it into my little fountain. She's been sitting there unchanged for days and days now. But this morning frost coated her heavily and froze the water beneath her. The Hawthorne tree, with most leaves long gone was rimmed in frost as well, with the sun melting some of it, adding glittering dew drops.

Though it was very brisk, a wonderful morning to walk through the garden enjoying the wintery scene.

Giving Thanks!!

The thanks we have to give for our many blessings are as numerous as the remaining leaves on our Liquid Amber Tree. Though it's often easy to grumble about the things we do not have, how many actual blessing we have in our lives that we often take for granted.

The roof over our head, be it ever so humble. The plentiful food on our table. Our health, which might not always be 100%, but we're enjoying our lives and are able to do so. Our group of furry family members who are faithfully by our side, day in and day out. Our wonderful, natural surroundings. A reliable vehicle. Things that many are doing without this holiday season.

So we're feeling deeply thankful for the blessings we do have.

And of course for friends and family, both near and far.

Happy Thanksgiving!!!!

Plumbago

Though most of the garden is in vivid ,technicolor fall foliage, here and there late summer still hides. But tonight we're to drop into the 20's or possible teens. So these last hold- outs of a season long gone will succumb at last.

The Plumbago has been blooming tirelessly for months. And still it blooms. But no doubt this image I captured late yesterday will be the last of the season. So thought I would share it.

Mikesh

Thought it was time I shared another of our dear furries with you. This is our boy Mikesh. He's been ill recently, slowly recovering. He'll be 15 this coming year. Not bad for a country boy.

He is a sweet boy and took his medicine for a month without much of a fuss. Though of course he wasn't thrilled about it all. Here he is, sitting on top of the old doghouse, sunning himself. In the background is a wonderful shrub. It was supposed to be a Persian Witch Hazel. But don't think it is as it's never bloomed like witch hazels do in the winter. But the fall colors are stunning. I'll include a closeup of some of the leaves as well. Mikesh looks very handsome indeed with those glowing colors in the background.

Tehama Skies

Though I am somewhat limited by my little Exilim camera, still thought this November Sunset bears sharing . The tall Italian Cypresses in the background delineate our property line. We face the Western Coastal Range and often have wonderful sunsets. As I saw the sun making it's way behind the Yolla Bolla mountains, suddenly the low hanging clouds lit up, giving the appearance of a forest fire blazing in the distance. Just had to capture and share it, imperfect as it might be.

Yin Yang Bees

While wandering through the late fall garden yesterday found a delicate rose blossom . It must have just opened that afternoon in the warm sun, still full of delicious pollen. I watched two bees fight over the riches inside and all of the sudden they made things work by each taking a side . Thus being able to share the pollen and in doing so forming the Yin Yang Symbol. Balance at work.

Pomegranate Bird Diner

Yesterday we paid a visit to our Pomegranate Tree. It's a huge shrub really. Though it doesn't have quite as many fruit as last year, the ones it does have are very large.

While checking to see if they are ready, spied this one, way up in the tree. A bird's delight. Any of the Pomegranates we leave on the tree are a feast for our many wild birds. And of course we do share. We always leave the highest ones, or those already wide open, for our feathered friends.

As our last remaining little hen lives in the orchard, she loves the company of the wild birds and they live happily side by side, sharing any of the bounty which falls to the ground.

Though of course these high fruit are out of reach of the little hen. So while we're out there snacking on our fruit, we make sure to leave some treats on the ground for her.

Kwan Yin

Thought I would share a picture of the wonderful little abode my dear husband Richard build for my little statue of Kwan Yin.

It will be installed on a post in front of the little Zen House we're working on at the moment.

A place to be quiet and reflect. A place to practice Tai Chi And Qigong (without the help of the dogs).

It's at the back of our property, nestled next to the little library.

A very serene and peaceful setting, so this female Buddha, the Goddess of Compassion, will be a wonderful addition.

Though we are far away from family and friends, how lucky we are to have found such a nice piece of land which lets us create our own little "paradise".

Hard to find in these difficult and challenging times. Once again, mostly recycled materials are used to create this newest addition to our little "village".

We are deeply thankful ,both for being fortunate enough to have this humble, little place we call home, and for our continuing ability to work on these projects. Though of course not at the speed that was once ours. :) But it gets done. Despite achy bones, especially my dear Richard's. He's worked so hard all of these years, using his body to the fullest. I admire him for getting out of bed every morning, stretching out the aches and pains that plague him, and then moving forward. Often frustrated with hands that no longer want to do the job all the time. But doing regardless, just taking a little extra time. I assist as best as I can and together we manage.

Autumn Color

As our nights are getting cooler, the trees are slowly changing colors. So this morning I wandered through the property to capture a few before they fall. The first picture is of our Fuyu Persimmon Tree. The second our young Hawthorne. This year we've got more berries then last, so it's slowly settling in, finding spaces in our heavy clay soil to spread his roots. It is a Paul's Scarlet Hawthorne, which blooms a nice red, however for some reason, this last spring it bloomed white. Very strange, could've sworn the first years flowers were red. But maybe not. We'll see what happens next year. It is a lovely, little tree and I am looking forward to watching it grow, shading our front porch. And with flowers in the spring, wonderful color in the fall and those luscious, shiny berries in the winter for the birds can't go wrong. And of course our persimmon tree, though fruitless this year for some reason, does have very nice flowers as well, followed by those richly colored leaves in autumn and delicious orange fruit in November. Hope it resumes it's fruit production next year.

Burgundy Mums

Love the color of these Mums, they pop up faithly each year in front of my little library. In previous years the deer have munched off the buds, but this year they survived. So decided to take a picture of them before they are discovered. After the recent storm the blossoms still had lots of raindrops captured in their petals. Like silvery pearls.

So many wonderful things to discover, even this late in the season.

Cheeky the Squirrel

Thought I would share a picture of our very own furry visitor, Cheeky the Squirrel. He started coming to visit a couple of months ago and is now a daily diner. Rather then have him trash the birdfeeder, we modified an old out of service feeder and keep sunflowers seeds in there for him. Yesterday he brought a date. :)

The first week of November and the winter storms are slowing making their way in. Making the feeders get even more feathered and furred traffic. So better head out into the rain and top everything off.

Halloween 2010

As the year is drawing ever closer to the end, thought I would post a picture to celebrate Halloween. Our boy Mikesh, 14 years ago. The picture is of his very first Halloween as a wee kitten.

He's still with us, though slowing down, with some off and on elderly cat problems. Most of his siblings are still alive and with us, though he's the last of his particular litter. Little did we know all those many years ago, how long we would be caretakers of our group of feral born cats.

Though we've lost some to accident and illness over the year, a good number of them are still alive and well, including their tough little mother who will be 16 this year..............at least.

Thanks to our immediate spay and neutering of the whole gang, the group has stayed stable.

With only a few strangers slowly creeping into our property, finding a home with us.

Pirate Squirrel at Lake Britton

After we informed this cheeky squirrel that we were not allowed to feed the wildlife, he thought about it for a moment, then promptly dove into the bag of ginger snaps, snatched one and proceeded to munch away. Obviously he felt that if he helped himself, we weren't breaking the park rules. :)

Lake Britton

After hiking along Burney Creek, all the sudden, around a bend, Lake Britton was revealed. A fair size lake, dotted with coots. Very tranquil this time of year with the summer vacation crowd gone and the adjacent camp ground closed for the season. A few stray day visitors here and there, but for the most part we had the trail and the lake to ourselves.

Upper Burney Creek

This is Burney Creek, down a little way from the falls, making it's way to Lake Britton.

We followed it all the way there, listening to it chattering and chuckling along, over the moss and grass covered rocks.

The banks ablaze in the first fall color.

Priceless!!

Burney Falls

Continuing with our Sunday Drives...........this weekend a visit and hike at McArthur-Burney Falls Memorial State Park. The falls are enchanting. Though sadly on this visit the trail, which allows you direct access to the bottom of the falls, was under construction. But still, had a wonderful time. The leaves are starting to change so lots of color, with golden October sunshine illuminating the colorful foliage. Had our Tai Chi Friend Jean along, and after soaking in the beauty of the falls, made our way along the Lake Britton Trail and then back via the Rim Trail, enjoying the forest around us. Very few people out, so the trails were ours alone. Luxury!! :)

Indian Creek

Today we had an extra special day. Decided on a Sunday Drive. Took all day to meander along first the Feather River and then turned onto Hwy 89 to follow Indian Creek toward Lake Amador. Some spectacular scenery along the way. Sadly not much in the way of autumn color, but wonderful just the same. It was everchanging. Photo-ops at every turn. Though my little camera really doesn't do justice to the vast landscapes, it did well enough.

Quince

You know autumn is in the air when the Quince start turning golden and getting fragrant. These are a variety known as Pear Quince, as they are pear shaped. My Mom has an old Quince tree in her garden plot in Berlin so I took some pictures of the nearly ripe fruit. Each year she gathers them and makes Quince Jam or Jelly. It's an old, often forgotten fruit, I have a Quince tree in my garden as well, Apple Quince, which ripen in late October. Sometimes I just pile them in a bowl so their wonderful fragrance scents the air. They are inedible until cooked. Very nice stewed with cloves and cinnamon sticks. I did make a chutney with oranges out of them one year. Very tasty, but labor intensive.

Late visitor

A late visitor arrived while we were drinking our afternoon coffee on the terrace . The temperature is a comfortable one, Indian Summer like. Some of the warmest weather so far. But the nights are cool. This beautiful butterfly must have hidden away someplace cozy and is now refueling for the next cool night. Not sure if we have this kind in the States, it's called a "Peacock Eye" here.

Autumn

The Honeysuckle on Mom's terrace was pushing out some more blossoms, even as the berries of the earlier blooms were ripening, ready to be nibbled off by passing birds. Autumn is definitely in the air.

Forest Treasures

In the fall, after a warm summer and heavy rains, mushrooms spring up everywhere in the forest Many of them edible. Of course as I am not familiar with the varieties and Mom not 100% either, we merely admire them, rather then risking tasting possible deadly ones.

While we were at the Baltic Coast, hordes of people roamed the forests, willow baskets in hand, looking for the fragrant, tasty treasures. On our travels into Poland many had roadside stands set up, often with huge baskets of freshly picked Porcini mushrooms. My favorites are the Chanterelles. Which are offered in all of the restaurants right now. Delish!

Baltic Sunrise

Took this photo on the last morning of our Baltic Vacation on the Island of Usedom. It was still slightly hazy. The sun was just making it's way through the light fog layers that shrouded the coast. It was utterly quiet, other then for the breaking of the waves and the calling of the sea gulls. Barely anyone around yet. So a very nice Goodbye visit for me, before loading our suitcases up for our return trip to Berlin.

Snails

It's been a while since my last blog entry. On vacation in Germany, visiting Mom to celebrate her 80th Birthday with her. So many pics to catch up on. But wanted to share this wonderful little pic of two pretty snails, making their way across a bunch of rosehips . Rugosa rosehips are huge. Loved the markings on the snails as ours are just simple garden snails , not fancy striped ones. I've always been fond of snails, unusual for a gardener I know. I love the way their little horns come out and retract in an instant. :) I found these especially attractive.

Sedum

I love Sedums. Have quite a few Autumn Joys, but this delicate beauty, who's name escapes me, is an especially nice sedum. They do well here for us, as they can withstand the extreme heat much better then some of my other favorites.

What I like about this one is the delicate coloring of the blossoms as well as the burgundy stems. They set of the green leaves very nicely.

Four o'clocks

Through a trick of photography my Hummingbird bench by Rusty's pond came out a lovely Monet-blue. I was going to fix it to reflect it's real appearance of cast iron and aged oak, but then I decided I really like that color in the background, with the brilliant Four o'clocks in front.

So decided to share it that way.

View from the garden cafe on the Havel

Here's a view onto the Havel from that garden I just described in my previous post. Thought it might bring the mood along that started with a single bumble bee visiting a fragrant rose. Very shortly I'll be back in Germany, celebrating my Mom's 80th Birthday with her. Visiting Berlin in late summer, which I haven't in many, many years. Forging new memories for the years ahead. Adding pictures to my collection, many of which I hope to share here.

Bumble Bee

Found this fat bumble bee wiggling it's way through the golden heart of a Rugosa Rose during my last visit to Berlin.

Wandering through a beautiful private garden, open to the public on certain days. It's on the edge of the Havel, one of the many waterways in and around Berlin. So we sat there, with a lovely breeze coming off the water, having a delicious lunch. Taking in the scenery, enjoying a beautiful May Day.

Spring Views

It's been a few days since I've blogged. To busy with this and that. But wanted to be sure I'd not forget about this little corner of my world. :)

Today's picture was taken earlier this year on our morning doggy walk through the hills around our property.

I love it when the sky is not only a beautiful deep blue, but has banks of soft, white clouds as well. The golden winter hills were just starting to sport some pale green. With the oaks covered in delicate young leaves all around us. The earth was coming back to life, renewing us as well after a long, wet winter.

Garden Friends

Today I thought I'd share a few of my gardening friends with you. This happy pair of rabbits, nestled amongst the Virgina Creeper, Lemon Balm and Ivy.

They've been keeping us company for quite a few years now.

I love garden statuary, don't you? Puts life and points of interest amongst the greenery. Little surprises, hiding here and there. So even if nothing is blooming, there's something to see.

Two of our boys

Thought it was time to post another picture of members of our furry family. This one was taken last year, just 5 days after Beauregard, the regal boy in the background with the silvery snout, had his 13th Birthday.

Little did we know that we were to lose him before the end of that month. So a bittersweet picture of our old boy in the background, with the now "old boy" of our pack, King Tut, in the foreground. We still miss our dear old boy. He'll always be with us in our thoughts and the many wonderful memories we have of him. He was my stalwart friend and guardian, seeing me through many years up here alone, while my husband earned our living away from home.

Now King Tut is our "old boy" at 6 years of age. Slowing down a touch, in body only, with an arthritic knee. So our youngster, Petey, does a lot of his running for him. But though Tut's a little challenged right now with his painful knee, he's full of good spirits and craziness, keeping us laughing with his antics. He is a character. A bit on the wild side, but he's a good boy regardless.

Hummingbird Delight

There's nothing that delights our Hummingbirds more then the first Salvia blossoms of the season. All winter they've subsisted on our feeders, but finally, after a long, wet spring ,the first delectable blossoms are much appreciated. The "flying jewels" hover above the plants, which are thriving in a spot near one of our little ponds, darting often from the flowers to a quick dip at the nearby waterfall, tumbling into the pond.

Exotic Blooms

Doesn't this Peruvian Daffodil look like some sort of exotic Reef Dweller? I am always amazed when the tall stems come up each year, and then one day these wonderful blossoms open up.

They do bloom later on in the year. Usually in later July, though this year, so far only the green has come up. But I am hopeful that it was merely our long, cool spring that has held up their blooming. Or maybe they needed a rest. They are coming up with small versions all around the motherbulb, so I am thinking that maybe they're working hard at naturalizing. That would be wonderful.

Story Time??

Here is a picture of one of our cats, seemingly being read to by the little guy. :)

Her name is Molly. She is 13 years old this year, one of the many kittens we raised here after their feral mom's gave birth to them the year after we moved out to the country full time.We were able to bottle raise all babies and everyone was spayed and neutered at that time. Of course finding forever homes for them didn't quite pan out, so our property became their forever home. Other then a couple of new arrivals, who appeared out of the canyon, all of our cats were born and raised here. They've slowed down a lot and mostly just enjoy hanging out these days. Even their mom, Green Eyes, is still with us after all of these years. We're guessing she's probably at least 15 yrs+ at this point.

Iris

I don't remember the name of this particular Iris, but love it's rich, golden colors. With the lovely white streak going to the center of the petal, surrounding the orange beard, it delights me every year as it opens it's first flower.

I often forget about it, hiding in the verdant spring weeds, and then all of the sudden I see it glowing amongst the green one morning. It always brings a big smile to my face.

Of course the beauty in our lives includes our furry family members as well. Those dear creatures that share and enrich our lives.

Here's a picture of our boy Petey, whom we rescued last year at about 8 month of age. He came to us on the eve of our first winter storm. Accompanied by his brother Buster, for whom we found a good home with the help of our local Second Chance Rescue. But no one claimed Petey, so now he's ours. Though our dog pack had shrunken to 3, after the loss of our dear Beauregard last July, it's now back up to 4 once again. Petey the youngest of course, shown here enjoying his wonderful Bingo Box Doggy Bed, surrounded by toys and love.

Flowering Linden

Nearly a decade ago, I special ordered a Linden Tree, also known as Lime Tree to some. I grew up with these magnificient, fragrant trees. Early each summer they would burst into bloom and the air would be heavy with their wonderful scent.

Now our young Linden, a little leaf variety, gifts us with it's flowers every year, early in summer.

The bees adore this tree. They check daily on the ever fattening buds, until one day the star shaped flowers open, one by one. And then the feasting begins. The tree turns into a veritable hive from dawn until after dusk. It hums with activity for those weeks while it's in flower. The bounty those bees must be hauling back to their hive. Alas, I must be satisfied seeing them enjoy our tree. Though I did hit the jackpot recently, finding a jar of Breitsamer Linden Honey all the way from Germany. So while it's not my own homegrown honey, it's Linden all the same. :)

Here is a picture of the moor Ash and I got to visit. A beautiful, watery landscape. Serene, filled with birdsong and the gentle gurgling of the water everywhere.

Travels with Grandma

Here's Sage's beautiful big sister, Ashlee, peering through the "walls" of a willow thicket while travelling with me last year in Germany. We had a wonderful time. Discovering so much together. It will be a trip the both of us will remember forever ,I am sure.

This picture was taken at a wonderful moor in central Germany. Endless wooden boardwalks traversing the verdant, damp enviroment. It was a magical place. We wandered for hours it seems, discovering new treassures along the way. All around us the damp, watery peat enviroment alive with trees, flowers and mosses.

Fishing

My Grandson Sage has gone camping with his Mom and Dad this weekend. He'll be helping Dad fish. :) So in the spirit of fishing, here's a nice pic of him, hard at work. His Dad took it a while back ,when on another little fishing trip. I love the serene, patient feel of the image. The little guy, sitting there so seriously focused on his line.

They as a rule catch and release. However if a nice rainbow trout, just the right size comes along, he might just get to taste his first freshly caught and grilled trout, right on the spot.

Butterflies

Butterflies, such wonderful visitors to the garden. The way they just lazily float through, with little effort. On a breeze it seems, gliding along. Captured this one while feasting on my white lilacs. They visited for days until the flowers were finally spend.