Eleven Birds

We saw;
Acorn Woodpecker
Western Scrub Jay
Tree Swallow
White breasted Nuthatch
Black Phoebe
Band-tailed Pigeon
Lesser Goldfinch
House Finch
Blue-gray gnat catcher
Turkey Vulture
California Towhee
Brown Creeper

Powell Street Blues...

This shot looks like it is from the early 1960's...

Here is Powell street.  This is an older shot, but it works well to giving the background for yesterday.

We reserved a car at the National agency on Bush and Powell.  After Winston and Shiho arrived a little after 6 pm we boarded the Bart for SF.  We got out at the Powell Street Station and walked uphill - with luggage to said rental car agency.  We were greeted by a cheery young man who worked in the parking garage.  He informed us that the rental car place closed at six p.m. and the only place to get a car was the airport.  We were tired from lugging our crap up the hill.  We didn't murder the kid, or each other, but it was close.  I didn't think to take a picture of this - unfortunately...

We ended up having dinner (expensive but good food) at Ailment, and then we walked down to Union Square, caught a cab, returned to the airport, where we got a car...and began the sojourn to Sonoma.

The only other event was a big grey carpet/or deer in the road.  We were buzzing along at 70 mph and I managed to steer around the obstacle...Thank you God...

More insanity to follow...

As The Worm Turns...

So, it's February and the sun is here longer.  That's cause for a little optimism that the weather will keep inching along toward nicer and nicer weather.

Today we had annual winter outing with skiing, tubing and the lot.  I did a tiny bit of skiing on some 170's that were very kind.  The snow was very nice and I didn't detect much ice.  What little skiing I did was pretty relaxed and fun.  Not much exercise, but then I was purposely cautious because I haven't been doing anything but walking Shiloh for exercise.

This week we learned a few things about next year.  Dan will be on sabbatical and the sixth grade will be at 100 students next year.  That means new sections and new people (and I don't know where they will teach the sixth section of Dan's class).  So, there is change staring us in the eye.  Perhaps it would be good for us to start thinking about this and planning.

I am just reminded this week about the need to continue to be curious.  I think it is important to try new things and look for new adventures.  

Hiking at Pike Island

Evidence of an active beaver population.

 On Tuesday, Shiloh and I packed into the car and drove down to Fort Snelling State Park so that we could hike around Pike Island.

Zebulon Pike was sent up the Mississippi River in 1805 to buy the land for a fort.  This island, which I believe was quite important to the Dakota and Ojibwe, was named after Pike.

I have not been here in a couple of years, but the beaver population definitely is in good shape.  The same can be said for the deer, who were all over the island.

One of many deer.

On the move.

 We saw so many deer that you had to wonder how they were going to do in depth of winter.  We saw some green grass because the snow cover has melted in the recent thaw.

There were some great deer shots, and lots of woodpeckers at the south end of the island.  I saw one pileated woodpecker.

A very muddy romp, but it was great fun.

Out in the meadow.

The Mississippi on the left meets the Minnesota on the right.

Yet more.

Some creature.

Yikes.  I think the beaver knock down a big tree like this and then take the branches off.

As we are leaving we see several turkey and a four point buck.

Help From a Friend...

Shiloh offers to help with the computer work.

Rope-A-Dope...

Ayala Cove, Angel Island, San Francisio

When I look back over the last two years I notice that I seem to be posting a lot less.  I knew that I was down for this year, but I didn't realize that my slump was actually two years long.  Well, no more.

I am taking back the title, and putting pen to paper again.  I am through muting myself so that I don't venture out where the ice is too thin.  That is no way to live...

Joe Strummer's Telecaster

Robbed....

Joe Strummer - 1952-2002

This morning while I was drifting around the house Steve Seel and Jill Riley from The Current played "Burnin' Streets" by Joe Strummer.  Mr. Strummer is best known for his work with The Clash, but the "Burnin' Streets" was on an album by Joe Strummer and the Mescalero's.  Unfortunately Mr. Strummer died of a heart attack at the age of 50, in 2002.

The song has a haunting melody that sent me scrambling for my mandolin.  The song is in the key of F.  "Soon your gonna be runnin down those burnin streets"...

A very belated thank you to Joe Strummer for the wonderful music.  I don't know what I would do without music like this.  Life certainly wouldn't be as rich.