DEER "TAILS..."

Between deer invasions and other interesting visitors, I did manage to get a “grandmother’s blanket” woven for my friend Lorraine Christensen who is having her 1st grandchild soon.   I hope you enjoy  the photos I took one morning of “The Herd of 8”.  They are becoming frequent visitors and I often see them lounging around in the sun and shade, depending upon the time of day.    We also have a pair of rabbits hopping around - could mean trouble next year...and a pair of blue jays have a nest in a bush right outside my computer room window.  The babies hatched a few days ago and we can see open beaks thru the leaves.  No photos yet, but I haven't given up.  Don't want to disturb the frequent feedings!!!

Our next "wander" is a long one and we hope you will stop by occasionally, for a quick look,  as we travel by car, plane, and ship on our 38 day adventure of the Pacific Northwest with a special side trip to Sitka AK, Glacier Bay (via small cruise ship with only 76 passengers) and Juneau AK.  Another exciting part of our trip will take place from Vancouver Island as we board a small 12 passenger excursion boat  which will take us to a Grizzly sanctuary in Knight Inlet BC to photograph moms and hopefully a few cubs!  Yes, this is a non-5th wheel trip as we will do most of our traveling in my Red Hyundai Santa Fe SUV.  We leave home June 4th after I attend the 2 and one-half -day Conference of Northern California Handweavers in beautiful Squaw Valley CA.   Get ready for even more photos as we continue to wander free!!!!

Other visitors...rest on the shed
A Polyphemus Moth (males have these
outrageous "fluffy" antenna).  One
of our largest moths - wingspan up to 6".

  

About 10 inches away,
a Gypsy Moth.  Made the trip to the shed
that morning very interesting.

Threading the loom

Winding the warp (cotton yarn) on the loom

The finished piece

Deer Tails... "What are you looking at"?

"Glad you didn't get your weeding finished"

"Oh My...this Gerbera Daisy is even better" 

"And, this St John's Wort looks tempting"

"Don't you have something better to do?

"For a young buck you're pretty funny" 

Friends gather to the East in the morning sun

while the rest of the herd prefers the northerly shade
as they check out the recent pruning 

"Nice butt shot"!!!

"Boy this stuff is really good and easy to get".

"Hey what are you doing over there?"

"Getting eaten by mosquitos".

"Hey, now there after me"!!!

"Quiet...I'm eating"

"Look what I see over there..."

As you can tell,I enjoyed taking pictures this morning, but
when they came this close I ran out the door yelling and
screaming so they
bounded away...
only to return later after I filled the birdbath.

Family, Flowers and Falls

We’ve been having so much fun I haven’t found a moment to write/post...  So here we go, catching up with the rest of May. Of course there was Mother’s Day which we spent with our daughter Kristine and son-in-law Richard, which included a great brunch and time relaxing around their pool.  And later Kristine celebrated her 49th!!!  Two of our good friends spent time in the hospital for various operations and we are happy to report both Barbara and Carmen are doing well.

There were even more special events for the month.   Cassie (stage name KASS) our almost 19 year old granddaughter released her first CD May 16th on i-tunes..  We attended the concert on May 17th as she sang “Step”, which was written specifically for her by Liz Hill, plus 4 other songs.  You can listen on the i-tunes store by searching on KASS.    Just click on the album cover and then the arrow to the left to hear a short segment.   In case you need help interpreting this “pop lingo" (like I did) let me know and I'll send you the lyrics!!!

And just as exciting, granddaughter Megan’s fiancé, Marine Lcrpl Jaron Jones, safely returned from a 9-month tour of duty in Afghanistan.  Megan greeted him upon his arrival, in North Carolina, where they will stay until she returns to Hawaii Pacific University for her 3rd year of nursing school and Jaron continues with his Marine Corps duties and assignments.

Don is up to 1760 geocaches and Nancy managed managed a couple of hikes also.  A 5.5 mile out and back near Lake Valley Reservoir with an elevation of 5500-6800' created a little heavy huffing and puffing as we started steeply up right out of the car!!!  We enjoyed many sightings of snow flowers and other wildflowers along the trip.   The week before, our hike to University Falls, (near Georgetown) with an elevation of 4086’ down to 3651' was a pretty easy 6 miler, except for one rocky steep climb out of the gorge.

Cassie 18, Kenny 9, Kristine 49, Everett 23

Richard 48 Nancy pushing 74 hard...

Our gift to Cassie a custom made
Mosaic mirror created by my friend
Lori Verschoor

Toby doesn't like the water

especially when Pale' sneaks around the back
side.  But Kenny steadies the "boat". 

Kass singing...

Jaron and Megan (both almost 20)

A BIGGGGG long overdue HUG

Ione, Audrey, Marilyn, Margie & Connie

Plainleaf Fawn Lily

Snow flower

6 Snow Flowers among the rocks

Don't know what it is - looks like
Paintbrush, but not...

Very tiny about 1.5 inch in diameter...no
don't know what it is either - do you?

Lunch spot...looking North towards Mt Lassen
which we could actually see off in the distance.

Dianthus (Pinks) come in lots of colors...
today on the way to University Falls they
were Orange-Red 

Very dry this year at 50% of normal rainfall...
The falls drop 70' just ahead, but no safe way
for us old ladies to get there... however Bob (68) did.

A tough climb up for about 1/2 mile. .

Seems like July...

As we approached May, it seemed like July with temperatures soaring into the mid 80’s for several weeks, here in Colfax.  And,  it was 90 when we watched grandson Kenny  pitch for his community baseball team.  He is only 9 and playing 9-12 year age group!!!  And we enjoyed a visit with his older brother Everett (almost 23), who also showed up to cheer him on!!!

Animals were busy around the yard.  Loved the lizard (Northern Alligator Lizard - maybe) who always does a spread eagle while being pursued by a ferocious looking dominate lizard.  The big one seems in constant pursuit as we often see them together in the late afternoon, while enjoying "cocktails" on the deck.  And boy are the spiders busy weaving wonderful webs.  (I'm also weaving but you'll see my results in May.)  The cross spider (common garden spider) is a master at creating spiral wheel shaped webs.  Found several in the yard this year.  And, speaking of the yard, it’s really looking good about now.  Deer continue to roam the area and rest in the shade of our trees often.   One day on the way home, 4 came walking down Iowa Hill Road towards me.  When the leader (mom), got too close to my stopped red car, she simply bounded over a 6 foot fence from a walking start and cleared the "bar" by 18 inches.  I quickly pulled out my i-phone as I was sure the yearlings would follow...No such luck, but got some good pictures anyway. 

Hawks Peak is one of my  favorite hikes 7200’-7729',  It  starts at the end of a paved road in an exclusive residential area called Tahoe Donner.  Snow capped peaks graced the skyline.  And we even encountered five or six 50-75 yard snow patches covering the main trail...but that didn't stop us.  In one photo you will see Pal, up to her knee cap while I called back...hold that pose.  Every inch of the 6.6 mile Hawks Peak hike provided breathtaking views.   Normally we can't hike here till late June!!!   Hope you enjoy the photos...

Grandson Kenny - team pitcher

Grandson Everett - our first grandchild...

The rest of the herd jumped a 4' fence...

and found an easy way out.

When the snow is gone, we'll hike this ridge also.

Pointed peak "Castle Peak" (left) and "Frog Lake Overlook"
on the right.  We have had lunch on top of both...

Pal takes a photo of the ski hut elevation

As we turn north towards Hawks Peak snow covers
the trail...

These are still the cross-country signs.  Trail signs not
up yet!

As we arrive at Hawks Peak, a hawk circles and lands...

while Pal celebrates our 360 degree view at 7729'

On the return trip Peggy waits as Pal extracts her leg...
and Nancy takes a photo!!!