A Quote for Monday

"There are no rules of architecture for a castle in the clouds."  Gilbert K. Chesterton 

I took this photo on August 22, 2012, at a little after 8 p.m.  It was dark down in my little valley, but the sun was lighting up these cumulonimbus clouds boiling up behind the ridge in a spectacular fashion! 

Sunday Sunsets

Sorry about the copyright thing, but I found out someone has been stealing photos directly from my blog.  I checked for the photo in question on Pinterest, thinking someone may have gotten it from there, but the photo isn't on Pinterest.  I don't mind folks pinning my photos to Pinterest, because Pinterest provides a direct link back to the source of the photo on my blog, where I'm very clear that my photos are copywrited and may not be used without my permission.  How did I find out the photo had been stolen?  I saw the photo on the cover of a local publication!  The editor, a friend, was horrified.  Fortunately, he had not given credit to the "author" of the photo yet, so that's all right.

Faeries Friday - Faery Gardeners

Out for a walk today, I stopped in the shade to rest a bit.  There are always ferns growing in this spot, and it's always cooler than the surrounding shady areas.  I think this is because there's a little spring under the ferns.  In wet years (I think I faintly remember those) it flows enough to fill a little pond.  The pond has been dry for several years now, but things are always so much greener in this spot that I know the water is still there...somewhere.  Anyway, that's what I thought until today.

I looked away for a minute, then something made me look back...this is what I saw....

Perhaps it's not the water.  Perhaps this spot is always greener and cooler because it's being tended by faeries!

Wednesday's Winding Road

A little lane winding among the cedars and dogwoods deep in the San Bernardino mountains.  It doesn't show in this photo, but there's a little creek, a rivulet really, about twelve inches wide and usually no more than ankle deep, that runs along the right side of the road.  Its voice, full of burbles and splashes, makes a nice companion when you're out for a walk on a warm summer's day.  Around the bend, and a ways on, there's a rock that's perfectly shaped and placed for sitting and cooling your feet in the cold water while you listen to the songs of the birds and watch the spangles of light dance through the forest. 

International Faeries Day

                                           (image by XueDuan)

It's International Faeries Day and I almost forgot!  Although...looking around the Internet I found few references to it.  The most informative one at www.faemagazine.com  said that its a day to celebrate the Fae folk and let them know you believe in them.  No mention of how to do this, but I suppose if you believe in Faeries you'll have enough imagination to figure it out...

I just walked out into the forest with a bowl of honey, set it down and said, "Happy Faeries Day, Faeries...I believe in you!"  I just hope Mrs. Rose and the raccoons leave enough for the fae folk, or vice-versa.  I'm really hoping the raccoons don't get it all.  That's the last thing I need, a bunch of rowdy raccoons on a suger rush high!

Good thing there was no one close enough to hear me talking to the Faeries...;-)

A Quote for Monday

"A flower's appeal is in its contradictions; so delicate in form yet so strong in fragrance, so small in size, yet big in beauty, so short in life yet long on effect."  Adabella Ridici 

These are tiny little wildflowers that bloom all over the roadsides in great masses up here in June.  Their blooms are minuscule, usually no bigger than one quarter of an inch in diameter.  But, up close, oh!  Splendid Gilia really deserves its name.

Sunday Sunlight ~ After Solstice Sparkles

Sun sparkles on the waters of Lake Gregory in the San Bernardino mountains of California, the day after the Summer Solstice.  In the Northern Hemisphere the days get shorter from now until the Winter Solstice, when they start to lengthen.  In the Southern Hemisphere, the days are starting to get longer.

Happy Summer Solstice!

However you celebrate it, have a happy one!

Wednesday's Winding Road

This was taken in an area above Highway 18, right before you get to the Twin Peaks turnoff, that is called Skyland.  It's full of little twisty, turning lanes and tiny little cabins.  It used to be rather magical...sadly, most of it has become rather run-down.  So many of the cute little cabins and cottages that used to be vacation homes have been turned into rentals and, while some of the renters do take good care of the places they rent, it seems that nowadays there is a different class of renters who just don't care.  The area in the photo is one of the few that hasn't lost its magic...I'll have to take another, longer drive around in there and see if I can't find other places that haven't lost their magic.

The Moon Eagle

I meant to post this before now, but ... you know ...  Anyway, I took this March 13th of this year, in the late afternoon.  It's a Bald Eagle, but I didn't know that until I cropped the photo.  I hope you can tell it's a Bald Eagle...if you look closely you can see the white of its tail and a bit of its white head. (Click to enlarge the photo). Even though its not all that clear, and very grainy after I got done with the cropping, I was thrilled to get a photo of an eagle soaring over my cottage with the clouds and the moon, too!

Wednesday's Winding Road

Still a lot of dirt roads up here.  They usually start out looking pretty navigable, but if you don't have a four-wheel drive, chances are good you'll get stuck pretty quickly.  And cell phones rarely work up here...

Sunday Sunsets

Taken in July of 2007 at Lake Gregory in the San Bernardino mountain range.  If you look closely, you can just see the top of Mount Baldy (elevation 10,068 feet) in the San Gabriel mountain range peeking over the tree line in the center of the photo.  Actually, the proper name is Mount San Antonio, but everybody calls it Mount Baldy.  It's in Los Angeles County.

Thursday Night's Moon

From far away...

A little closer... 

Close!  (Well, as close as I could zoom in without using a tripod).  I meant to post this Thursday night after I got back from my walk, but it slipped my mind.  This mind-slipping thing happens with distressing regularity nowadays, darn it!

Wednesday's Winding Road

Taken in down in the Valley of Enchantment near Crestline in April of 2005.

Meet Alyce Eloise

She came to us last September, a little six week old pastel calico.  She hasn't really gotten much bigger than she is in this photo.  We call her our miniature kitty. She was a little nervous about the camera at first.  "What is that big, black, shiny round thing you're pointing at me?  Is it hungry?!"

But, she got used to it.  She's very sweet and is beloved by her bigger 'siblings.'  (They're not from the same litter). 

She can be a little opinionated at times... "This is my saucer, and I'm not moving!"

But, she always wins us over with her sweet face and her little kitty kisses.

A Quote for Monday

"We have forgotten how to be good guests, how to walk lightly on the earth as its other creatures do."  Barbara Ward

June is...

Adopt a Cat Month!  This is "kitten season" and more cats than ever need our help.  Whether you adopt from a shelter or save a stray/feral, you'll be saving a precious life.  The joy they'll bring to you is just an added bonus.

Of course, every month, year in and year out, there are cats, dogs and other animals who need help from a kind and loving human (October is "Adopt a Dog Month)...but I just wanted to let you know that June is Adopt a Cat Month! 

(Photo is from Pinterest, sadly the link doesn't give credit to the photographer.  If you are the photographer, please let me know).