Christmas Celebration

Christmas Concert
Originally uploaded by egret's nest.

My in-laws live in a wonderful senior community. They have the most active social life now -- it's wonderful. They have made some fantastic friends and have some really good times. My father-in-law, Ros, joined the Chorale at their community. They give two concerts a year and practice every week. This past Saturday, we went to their Christmas Concert.

They are joined by a bell choir, JuBELLation, that is directed by the same woman who directs the Chorale. They alternate songs and do two songs together.

It was wonderful! Very traditional which makes sense. They did a "community sing" in the middle which was so much fun. I found myself remembering alto lines from doing the same songs in High School. The picture below shows my father-in-law in the dark glasses with the dark hair.

We took the kids and it was a little long and slow for them but they were very good. My nephew, who is in 5th grade, was also there and also wonderfully well behaved -- including silently entertaining Gage when Gage was just about DONE! I took the kids up to look at the bells after the concert and one of the bell ringers came and talked to us about them and showed us how they worked. He let the kids try bonging them with the mallets they use sometimes. It was so thoughtful. And, I learned something too. Bellringers wear gloves so they don't leave fingerprints on the bells! I figured there was some fancy technical reason why but it's just not wanting to polish them as often! Love the practicality!

Here is a video clip of parts of two songs. First comes the bells doing We Three Kings and then the chorale doing the same song -- albeit a very different version. The songs are just snippets.

O Christmas Tree!

O Christmas Tree!
Originally uploaded by egret's nest.

O Christmas Tree!
O Christmas Tree!
How lovely are thy branches!

I am so proud of our tree this year. We did it together as a family -- which is a change since usually I am the only one who can decorate a tree correctly! :) (Let go of the control, Liza!) Our tree is eclectic -- filled with ornaments collected over the years that are special to each of us. This year, the tree is huge and holds all our ornaments beautifully. Really, there are only a few that I didn't put on the tree and they will be scattered around the house in other ways.

And, now the countdown begins -- getting ready for the holidays. Oh joy!

Running room

Running room
Originally uploaded by egret's nest.

An empty room can
contain so many ideas
or just running feet



written for One Deep Breath's Weekly Haiku Prompt: Containers

Final Result!

Whole Living Room
Originally uploaded by egret's nest.

We are pleased with it. The yellow is muted and warm and glows. It could be more even but perhaps the mottling is part of its charm (she said, hopefully). As always, I see all the flaws but most people won't notice them. We decided against putting the black leather recliner back in the room. It was done and it served it's purpose.

When I was pregnant with Gage, my father's father died. My father's mother died when I was pregnant with Ruthie. Thus, I inherited a little money. We used it to buy a huge black leather recliner. I sat and rocked young Ruthie (my kids are 18 months apart) through many a sleepless night and then continued on with Gage in the same way. The chair had heat and massage which was blissful when I stayed in it all night by choice towards the end of my pregnancy. And, of course, it worked beautifully for nursing babies as well.

By the end, the massage and heat no longer worked. The seat cushion had a tear in it and we found we weren't choosing to sit in it anymore as it just wasn't comfortable! So, when we took it out for the carpet cleaning, we decided it didn't need to return.

In a perfect world, we would get a big wrap-around leather sofa with room for the entire family. We often all pile on the couch at night to watch TV, curled up under blankies, and cuddled together. A little more room would be NICE. But, it isn't a perfect world so another black leather chair may in our future. We'll have to see what turns up.

Yellow Walls and Chicken Nuggets!

Yellow Walls
Originally uploaded by egret's nest.

In the insanity of excitement of getting our carpets cleaned, I had the brilliant idea of painting the walls. The walls in my living room that soar up ridiculously high. So, I told my husband -- who SHOULD know better -- and he thought it was a great idea. I wanted to pull a shade of yellow out of the stonework of the fireplace and give the room a warm glow. He liked that idea and wanted to make sure that there was enough contrast with the white beams and trimwork. "Go bold," he said.

And, so I did. And, the result was YELLOW walls. And, not in a good way given that most of our furnishings are black, white, light wood, and a blast of red. Sigh. What to do. I have been watching a LOT of Debbie Travis' The Painted House lately so I got brave and went and got a sandy color of paint and a LOT of glaze. And, after some failed experiments, I ended up pouring a quart of sandy paint into a gallon of glaze and rolling it on the walls. The result wasn't EXACTLY what I'd hoped for but it worked. The room is still yellow but now it glows rather than glaring. I'm pleased. The trimwork around the windows (mostly) got a new coat of high gloss white last night. Greg will scrape the windows clean and it should be ready for furniture again. THANK GOODNESS!!!

And, then we can finally decorate for Christmas. I'll document everything with my fantastic new camera.

Speaking of which. I let Ruthie cook dinner for herself and Gage last night. She wanted to and wanted to -- particularly give me a break which is the type of sentiment I want to encourage in my daughter and son!!! -- so I guided her through the process of making chicken nuggets. She set the table for the kids, poured their milk, got them veggies to eat, and dipping sauces (ketchup and ranch) and proudly served up her first home cooked meal.

Yes, I was mighty proud of her!

Check This Out: virtualparks.org

I stumbled across the most amazing resource this evening while taking a break from painting. I urge you to go check it out -- particularly if you live in the Western US.

This gentleman, Eric Goetze, loves taking VR Panoramas and seems to be a big time hiker. So, he hikes, takes panoramas, creates amazing maps, and posts them all on his website. It is truly amazing!

I urge you to go take a look! This is the California State Park nearest my house. It is so lovely and with the VR you really get an idea of what it is like. All the little purple diamonds indicate panorama locations. Click away! I live about 10 miles away from this park.

Enjoy the tour!

I and the Bird

Don't forget to visit I and the Bird! I plan to spend some quality time with it this afternoon when I should be putting my living room back in order!

Two past midnight nights of painting that living room have left me somewhat stupid with exhaustion. Pity my students today!

Are the Clampetts moving in or moving out?

Is it more absurd to store your furniture in the entry way
Originally uploaded by egret's nest.

Neither! We are getting our carpets cleaned. All my living and ding rooms furniture can easily be stored in the entry way to my house -- or as my mother dubbed it, the lobby. You can't see it in the picture, but there is a path to the front door that is easily navigated.

Getting the carpets cleaned yesterday was SO wonderful. We bought the house with white carpets in it. White! We had, at that time, a 3 year old and an 18 month old. Our decision was to live with the carpet until we couldn't stand it anymore and then to tear it all out and put in something more practical. Well. Best laid plans.

Now the kids are nearly 7 and 8-1/2 and we still have the damned white carpet. So, each year before the holidays, we have it cleaned. My mother-in-law pays for it and we gratefully accept. It feels sooooo nice to walk in and see the carpets clean that you can ALMOST understand why someone would pick that color to begin with -- almost!

Two things happened with the cleaning though.

1. The kids went wild with the wide, open spaces. Running and wrestling ensued.

2. I went wild with the wide open walls and decided that we needed to paint the living room too. My husband (whom I count on to talk me out of such things) thought it was a swell idea -- even when I started talking about such insanity as paint techniques and pulled on my Debbie Travis overalls.


Insanity, you say? Here is my living room . . . it's so big that one shot won't give you the full impression.

(There are more interior shots here).

I've been watching Debbie Travis and have been inspired to make bolder choices. So, I chose a yellow color out of the stonework of the fireplace. Greg suggested I be bolder than I intended so it contrasted enough with the white beams, etc. So, I did. It was clear upon putting up the samples that the yellow was too yellow. No worries, I'll do a glaze technique over it to make it look like linen wallpaper. It'll be gorgeous!

And it will. But OH MY GOODNESS that's a lot of wallspace to cover with paint and then cover again and then drag a brush through. And, that is a tall ceiling and did I mention that I'm afraid of heights?

I'm really hoping that in the light of day, a 2nd coat of yellow doesn't seem necessary! Fingers crossed.

While I was at it, I painted an accent wall in the dining room green. Now that turned out good and was an accomplishable goal for one day.

But, it will look gorgeous when it's done. This is what resulted the last time I lost my head and did a paint technique on these walls.

And, yes, my friends, that is the world's largest TV. It's 80 inches and great -- although you have to be across the room from it to see it and we worry about neighbor's being distracted and driving into a tree when we watch it with the blinds open!

So, with that, I leave you with a link to a post at 10000birds to a great poem about birds and the depths of winter . . . {click}. Enjoy!

Annual Holiday Letters

I am laughing at myself! Since 2000 when my son was born, I have not sent out our annual holiday letter. I've written it every year (except last year when I just knew I was too busy!). Anyway, I just have SOOOOO much time now that I'm not going to school that I cranked out this year's letter tonight!

If you are interested in the haps of this year and previous years, click here!

Oh, and here is a beautiful picture of a raven. At least beautiful by my standards! I'm loving this camera! He (She?) was sqwaking and talking to another nearby raven. They were having a good long chat. I sat in my car enjoying it and then as I was walking to pick up the kids, I got this shot! Yay!

A quiet chat with the big guy

A quiet chat
Originally uploaded by egret's nest.

The kids went to have their annual chat with Santa tonight. We are willing to drive an hour to go visit with the real deal. The Stanford Shopping Center rates the REAL Santa.

The kids had figured out what they were asking for. Ruthie wants a Littlest Pet Shop Digital Puppy and Butterscotch the Pony. Butterscotch is a nearly lifesize pony that is "interactive" and retails for more than $300. Greg explained that Santa may be magic but he can't get a pony down the chimney. Gage wants Thrillville, a game by Lucas Arts that only works on one of the video game systems which we don't have. Oh joy. Gage also wants a "surprise" -- that, thankfully, is in the realm of the possible!

Santa's going to be working overtime trying to figure something out.

2006 Christmas Tree

2006 Christmas Tree
Originally uploaded by egret's nest.

Our favorite place for Christmas Trees is Crest Ranch in Bonny Doon. We had such a great day there. The weather was misty-moisty and cold but we dressed right and had so much fun!



We got a BIG tree this year which works because we have 12 foot ceilings in the living room. I love these trees with the very horizontal branches and lots of open space for displaying ornaments. They tend to be what we get.

I saw lots of birds up there but the only pictures I got were of American Robins. There were a bunch there but they were very wary. So, the only pictures I got were fairly distant. But still.

Playing with my camera was so much fun. The kids had a blast. So did Greg and I. We were up there with his family but we ended up heading off for our own space which was totally fine. We found our way under some glorious oaks and madrones. It was so beautiful in the misty fog and dripping trees. When the rest headed back, I came more slowly taking pictures. I still have a lot to learn about this camera. The biggest thing is that I have to remember to open the flash when I'm using the camera. My old camera is always ready for flash and doesn't need to be told to do it. But, I think this camera is going to be so fabulous when I get used to it.

We came home and worked on the house. Before the holidays, we have to clean it stem to stern, get the carpets cleaned, and then decorate. We have a Christmas Eve Eve party and need to be ready! We got a LOT done. Phew!

Then off to my inlaws for their weekly dinner that they call Miller Mission. Totally fun! I had Greg drop me off at their pond so I could get duck pictures. I wasn't there 2 minutes and it started POURING! No cover and I didn't bring my umbrella. Oh well.

My father-in-law makes glorious Manhattan's. YUM! We had an amazing pot roast tonight. Melt-in-your mouth delicious! These totally warmed me up!

Then we had a rousing game of Canasta which -- uncharacteristically -- we won! Normally, Greg's parents obliterate us at this game but not this time! It was NICE! We even played Crazy 8s with the kids before heading home. Wonderful day!

Test shot with the new camera

Hummingbird through screen
Originally uploaded by egret's nest.

12 x zoom. 16+ feet away. Through window and screen! If you look at the big image, you can see the screening.
Anna's Hummingbird (Calypte anna) sipping hummer juice!

Do I need to say that I LOVE it? :)

Into the Wildnerness

Queen's Saddle
Originally uploaded by egret's nest.

My husband and I have been following the tragedy that befell the Kim family in Oregon these last two weeks. We are so sad for all of them. As parents, it is all to easy to imagine the terror and despair that grew in that car over those days they were trapped. I can't bear thinking about it.

I lived in the Sierras in my "middle school" years. I did backpacking in the high country. I skiied and was on the local race team. My step-father did Search and Rescue. I have three times been surprised by unseasonable snowfall and once found myself the last car on a snowy road as night was falling deep in the high country. We joke about the night I drove over the Sierras in a snow storm to get to my parent's house to prepare for my wedding but what I should have done was stopped and spent the night somewhere. I was very lucky -- and thankfully was in a 4WD pickup truck with mud/snow tires.

My husband and I had a long talk this evening about what we do right when we go into the high country and what we should do better. We do pretty well -- we are generally fairly thoughtful and cautious about how we travel.

Here's what we do right . . .

• we take our truck with 4WD and mud/snow tires or we take a car with chains (no matter if it's August and 100 degrees when we leave home)
• we have tools with us whenever we travel
• we have extra water, oil, transmission fluid, etc. for the car if needed
• we take blankets and pillows
• we take food (although on ourlast trip, we didn't take anywhere near enough)
  

Here's what we could do better . . .

• fill up with gas before we head into the high country -- even if that means topping off at an expensive station
• have backups of water, fluids, etc for your vehicle in case of trouble
• take cold weather gear even in the summer
  
• make sure that people know when we are leaving and when we expect to arrive and we call if the plans change
• pack hiking boots and warm socks -- even if we aren't planning to hike
• Put together an emergency kit with a handheld cb radio and a solar powered battery charger along with a first aid kit, gallon jug of water,and long-lasting food
• trust your gut -- if the weather gets bad, turn back and spend the night in a motel. It's just not worth it to "push through"

I am not saying any of this as a criticism of the Kim family. By all accounts, they did amazingly well given the circumstances -- and even if they hadn't, mistakes happen to all of us. I am saying this to remind myself that it could happen to anyone and that we have to respect the wilderness and prepare for the worst. I grieve for the Kim family and hope that they all find a way to peace after this ordeal.

Edit 12/7/06 - Found this article by Tom Stienestra of the SF Chronicle. It says what I said but says it better and has some great ideas that I'm going to add to my plan.

My New Camera

my_new_camera
Originally uploaded by egret's nest.

In honor of my finishing my credential program (and for Christmas, birthday next year, Mother's Day, Valentine's Day, Groundhog's Day, St. Patrick's Day, etc..), my wonderful, loving, fantastic, stupendous husband has just ordered me this spectacular camera.

If you are interested, you can read all about it here! It gets rave reviews and the photos I've seen from it online are wonderful! Sure, it's not as nice as the Fz20 or the Fz30 but it also costs a WHOLE let less! I'm happy!

Here is why I want this camera . . . .

• 12x optical zoom -- I can get up close and personal with birds and kids and whatever.
• Image stablization -- no more blurry pics when zoomed in
• 2.5" screen with a bright mode -- being able to see the images, menus, etc. better.

Counting the seconds until it arrives (Friday!) . . .

close closer closest: A Chance Meeting

step
freeze
velvet
with a sting
wild ninja bug
my toes curl up in the cool sand
wishing for shoes to keep you from leaping and biting

This little darling is a Velvet Ant which is actually a flightless female wasp (Dasymutilla sackenii). I found her on the beach near the Calaveras River in the Sierra Nevada foothills. She froze when I approached her which made for great picture taking but I knew she WANTED to leap and bite me. Evidently, their sting packs quite a wallop. Glad we decided to leave each other alone. If you look at a larger version of the picture, she has a rather intense look in the glossy black eye.

The poem is an extended Fib. The basic concept is that you use the Fibonacci Sequence as the syllable count mechanism. Start with 0 and 1. Add them together and you get 1. Now add the last two -- that's 1 and 1. Next line is two. Add the last two -- 2 and 1. Next line is 3 and so on. Usually Fibs stop at 8 syllable lines but this one needed more room to grow! :)

I wrote this poem for the Close Up Challenge at One Deep Breath. Thank you for your efforts, Susan and Jennifer!

What happens when a simple drive . . .

New Dining Room Table and Chandelier
Originally uploaded by egret's nest.

. . . turns into a life-changing event.

Greg and I drove down our little valley yesterday. Our goal was to see what our local used furniture store had in stock. We forgot that it was a Sunday and since it was church-based store . . . they'd be closed. Oh well, it's a beautiful drive and since we had to get gas anyway, we stopped and loaded up on iced coffee and donuts at the gas station.

I know that lowered our sales resistance somewhat.

We stopped at a favorite little "antique" store which mostly sells reproductions at this point. Inside, they had this huge "old farmhouse table" with two teak benches. We did not need the benches but we have needed a new table for eons. This is not a great table but I think it's going to suit our needs fabulously. It's meant to look like an old farmhouse table and so they've put in a lot of "character". I suspect that at somepoint, I'm going to take it out on the deck and sand the heck out of it to put the "character" into it in a more authentic way but still. It's nice. Long and strangely lean (which as a mother with children, I kind of like -- I'm constantly reaching over to someone's plate for some reason). It goes with our Ikea chairs nicely -- in fact, Greg is going to go get us some more now that we can seat so many at our table. They don't sell the green anymore but I think a couple of reds and a couple of plain pines will do nicely.

And our new chandelier looks gorgeous over it. We spent two hours last night swagging it over to the right place above the table. The architect who designed our house was -- in my not-so-humble opinion -- a moron in many, many ways. So, fixing the light fixture was a necessity. I think it looks good. I took some clearer pictures of it as well but I think the warm glow in this picture better shows how nice it looks. Now I have to get the rest of the house looking this good! :) That's my "job" this week in the afternoons when I'm not working!

Things I love

Inspired by Laurahinnj's post.

Things I love . . .

1. Snuggling with my honey under blankets with a big bowl of popcorn and a bunch of stuff on the TiVO.
   
2. My morning cups of Mocha while reading blogs and writing posts
   
3. Watching birds at my feeders.
   
   
4. Seeing the scale dip down a number or two.
5. The joy of opening a new book -- that little crackle from the binding -- knowing that new worlds await
6. Driving along the coast on a sunny day -- to me, it's the epitome of freedom
7. Coming over Tioga Pass in the Eastern Sierras and seeing Mono Lake spread out in front of me like a jewel
   
   
8. Seeing the intelligence of my children -- watching them figure things out (particularly when they think they are outsmarting me -- someday they will but not yet!)
9. Tangible shows of love from my family. Should be unnecessary but it's not. (New light fixtures in my kitchen and dining room were picked out and installed by my husband and kids yesterday!)
   
   
10. Taking pride in the knowledge that I finished something well and did it all early and that my life for the next month will be a little bit better for not procrastinating!
    
    

I'm done!

I just turned in my last assignment for my teaching credential program. I'm done.

It has not sunk in yet -- despite the nice dinner that Greg and the kids took me out to tonight.

But, I do know that tomorrow morning when I wake up feeling like I ought to get up and get started on my schoolwork, I can roll over and sleep for another half-hour and that's a good thing!

Hot damn!

In the gloom

Coyote yipping
in the creek behind
my house
Not quite dawn
the light grows
but the darkness still fills the woods
Are you looking for your brethern
who spread out in the night hunting
playing running
in the cold
Go find them and curl up in
a quiet spot
Little Coy-dog

© 2006, Liza Lee Miller
All Rights Reserved.

What Kind of Reader Am I?

What Kind of Reader Are You? Your Result: Dedicated Reader You are always trying to find the time to get back to your book. You are convinced that the world would be a much better place if only everyone read more.
Literate Good Citizen
Obsessive-Compulsive Bookworm
Book Snob
Fad Reader
Non-Reader
What Kind of Reader Are You? Create Your Own Quiz

Despite what this poll may or may not say about me, I am a seriously obsessed reader who is anxiously awaiting the return of my reading free-time! I will be finished with my Teaching Credential Program on December 9th (actually sooner than that in all likelihood) and I am longing for a return to my REAL life. I have a long list of books I want to read, crafts I want to craft, things I want to do around the house. Two years is a long time to put off living but that's what it feels like I've done here. So THANK GOODNESS for moving forward!

Happy Thanksgiving!

DSCN4915.JPG
Originally uploaded by egret's nest.

We're home from our trip to the Eastern Sierra Nevada Mountains. What a fantastic trip! Gathering both sides of our family together is usually successful but adding in lack of privacy, five days of togetherness, holiday stress, and all that good stuff ups the ante a bit. Thankfully, it all went really well.

Here's a brief rundown!

Tuesday after school, we headed off to the mountains! We left home at 2pm which is exactly what we hoped for. The kids were great on the drive which is a long one. It helped that for the first time, we let them watch a DVD in the car. We only allowed it after dark and when it was nearing bedtime. We drove through Yosemite National Park in the pitch black. I made Greg drive down Tioga Pass since even though it's pitch black I know all to well how long a drop off it is with no guard rails. We arrived at my folks in June Lake around 9:20pm.

We got up to a beautiful day in the Sierra. We wanted to do a little boondocking and since my mother a) hates driving on 4WD roads and b) had a lot to do to prepare, we headed off to do it. We were hoping to see wild Mustangs in the Montgomery Pass area but we didn't see any. We did see some horse poop on the road which was probably from them, however. We saw lots of amazing sites and explored some abandoned mine buildings. We made it up a nasty 4WD road with switchbacks to the top of Queen Saddle which has a lovely view all the way around. It was very cold and blustery up there -- I didn't even get out of the truck! On the way back down, we saw a very sweet and cooperative Mountain Bluebird (life bird). He posed on a tree for us and Igor (my step-dad) got a shot of him. Very fun! Greg's folks and sister and nephews joined us around 7:30pm that evening.

Thanksgiving Day dawned clear and bright. We decided to do the Bodie trip that day since I can easily lead it and Mom and Igor have been to Bodie plenty of times in their lives, thank you. So, off we all went. On the way to Bodie, we saw a Golden Eagle (life bird) wheeling around on the side of the road. Bodie is always spectacular. Thankfully the weather was pretty good -- cold but not unbearable. It's either miserably cold there or miserably hot there. My favorite part was watching my kids run wild in the town -- they were more secure going off from us with their cousins close at hand. We arrived back at my mom's in time for cocktails at her neighbor's house. Then we walked back home and had a great Thanksgiving feast. Igor cooks the turkey on his Weber grill and WOW is it the best turkey you've ever had! I really find all other turkeys to be "okay" at best after his! It's utterly fantastic. We ate and ate and ate. I felt a little sick at bedtime from all the food.
Friday was another fun day. Thanks to Igor's generosity, we took our kids skiing for the first time. They had an absolute blast! We sat in the cold (again not TOO cold) and watched them learning to ski -- it was wonderful! That night was my parent's anniversary so they went off to Convict Lake for dinner and we went to the Tiger Bar for our dinner! Totally fun!
Saturday may have been my favorite day. Igor and Greg took all the kids on a super hike. They went to Lake Gardinsky. Igor and my oldest nephew Evan took it even further and went up to the top of Tioga Peak. His first peak! They all had a blast but it was hard and tiring and cold. They saw tracks of bear, mountain lion, and Sierra Big Horn Sheep on the hike which was very cool. We gave them hot chocolate on their return and let them watch a DVD. Evan fell asleep but there was no doubt that he had earned it! Meanwhile, the rest of us went shopping. We explored June Lake which was mostly closed -- my mother went into every shop announcing, "I come bearing tourists!" Our favorite stop was the Thrift Shop -- we all made purchases including my father-in-law! Dinner that night was a conglomeration -- turkey left-overs and Igor's homemade wonton soup. YUM!

Sunday morning, we ate pancakes, packed up, and headed home. We hit rain when we got out of the Sierras which was lucky -- we got to use Tioga Pass both ways on the trip which saved us hours of driving -- Phew! The drive home was uneventful. We arrived home to a new roof on part of the house and a cat in the house. The roof is great -- no clue who the cat is or why she's hanging with us and crying. No pee or poop in the house so we think maybe the roofer came to check how the roof was holding up today and let her in either by mistake or thinking she was ours. I put her outside in the rain and gave her some turkey. Poor thing is still hanging around crying!

We're glad to be home though. What a great trip!

Birds seen on trip:
Common Raven - 40 or something crazy like that
Lesser Goldfinch - 1 (broken foot, staying at feeder instead of migrating)
*Mountain Chickadees -- countless
*Cassin's Finch - 2 (male and female)
*Golden Eagle - 1
*Mountain Bluebird - 1
Steller's Jays - countless
Dark-eyed Juncos - 6
American Robin - 1
American Coot - countless
*Northern Harrier - 1
Unidentified Hawks - countless
Hairy/Downy woodpecker (couldn't id) - 1
Great Egret - 8
Turkey Vulture - countless
Pigeons - countless
American Crow - countless
Merlin - 1
Gulls - countless and no specific id
*White-tailed Kite - 1
*White-breasted Nuthatch - 1
Pygmy Nuthatch - 2
Blackbirds - countless ( couldn't id)
(* means Life Bird!)
Other wildlife -
6 point Mule Deer buck

Lessons learned at my mother's knee

When preparing for a trip, always make sure your laundry is at least a month behind schedule. That way, in order to pack, you must do 42 loads of laundry and stay up until at least 1am in order to accomplish said goal. Further, you will then be able to enhance your trip preparation by being too tired to think of everything so you'll have to take part of the next day off from work in order to accomplish what you could have done while you were watching HGTV and waiting for the dryer to finish another load. While you are home from work, you can do two loads of dishes, put away 42 loads of laundry (not that there's any hope of that -- who has that sort of closet space?), and with any luck think of everything that you've forgotten to pack but can't live without on a five day trip to the mountains. And, best of all, you know that 5 minutes down the road, you will absolutely think of at least one more thing that you can't live without. Repeat that last step 3 times -- for each additional member of the family -- and you have a fair approximation of what my night last night was like and what my day today looks like.

And, then we have the 6 hour drive across California!

Are you jealous yet?

Happy Thanksgiving everyone. We'll be home on Sunday!

Haikus for the Senses

Sound

The raven calls
His great wings flapping
up silent streets

One Deep Breath posed a challenge this week for the senses. This image has been dreamlike in my skull since I saw it a week or so ago. Looking out my bathroom window, I heard a raven call and then it flew past in the fog -- it's wings moving the air. A moment later its mate followed again with a call and then the wings flapping the air. Maybe this one should have been a haibun to really convey what I wanted to say. Nevertheless, the haiku is good. I'll have to think of some other senses haikus before the end of the week and add them.

My poetry can be found here.

Thanksgiving Plans

to my mother's house we go.
We are off to lovely June Lake, California for Thanksgiving. June Lake is in the Eastern Sierra Nevada mountains and is high-desert. Mono Lake -- an important bird area -- is nearby. The scenery is dramatic as the mountains on that side of the Sierra are rugged and steep. It's lovely and isolated.

Thankfully, the weather is with us -- no snow planned and the best pass (right through Yosemite National Park) is open and looks to stay open until we come home. It will take us about 6 hours to get there (with no stops). Today, I'm thinking about the drive up. We're taking our truck which means close quarters. We're leaving around 2pm or so. School gets out early on Tuesday and then Ruthie has an eye appointment. After that, we're coming home, packing up, and heading out. Should be a fun trip. We won't arrive, however, until around 10pm (because there WILL be stops!). The kids will do well on the trip but at some point boredom and bickering are inevitable. So, how to counter it . . .

Here's what I'm planning on.

• Each child will pack a small backpack with favorite toys, books, and beloved things. They'll have pillows and special blankets too to make sleeping in the car easier.
• I have bought a couple of books designed to make long car rides easier. We'll see how that goes.
  
• We bought whiteboards for the kids to use. They can use them for math, writing, drawing, etc. We've done this in the past and it was successful.
• Movie. We have an in-car DVD player now. We aren't big fans of watching movies in cars but I'm thinking that when we are in the dark for 5 hours, a movie or two will be a good thing for the kids. They can watch and then sleep. This will be our first time to try this method. It won't happen until after dark.
  

Other suggestions for keeping kids from killing each other (or causing their noise-sensative mother from killing them) will be appreciated!

Life's Lessons

Life can be a hard provider of lessons. And, this week, my darling daughter learned a tough one. Our little hamster friend, Flufsy -- she of the many esacapes -- died this week. I have no idea what happened. She was well cared for -- cage cleaned weekly, food and water, regular exercise. She was handled and cared for at least twice a day. Ruthie was exceptionally gentle with her. She hadn't gotten out of her cage in weeks. She was just curled up in her nest, peacefully dead. So sad.

Ruthie has handled it well. She found her and knew that a cold hamster meant nothing good. She has been very brave about it. I think she was surprised how much work a pet was and she really wanted a cuddle, mellow pet which hamsters are not particularly. She didn't feel safe holding and cuddling her so I suspect that Ruthie isn't as sad as she could be.

She decorated a box for Flufsy and we buried her yesterday in our rose garden. The whole family participated and it was very nice. She was a sweet pet and her time with us was way too short.

Saturday, my big dog, Gander is going back to his breeder. This is very sad for us but it is best for us and best for the dog. Part of being a responsible pet owner is knowing when you can't do your best for a pet. I didn't do well by Gander because I kept trying to ignore the fact that he didn't have a good home with us. We loved him but his seizures unnerved us all so much that we didn't spend enough time with him. As a result, he's been a very lonely dog -- especially since Rosie died. I let my feelings get in the way of what was best for him on so many levels and that is something I'd always vowed not to do with a pet. So, I'm correcting a long standing wrong.

And, for the first time in about 17 years, I will have no pets. It will be a difficult adjustment for all of us. Tonight, I'm going to give Gander a good brushing, pack up a crate and food for him, give him a huge raw bone to chew on. Tomorrow, a long walk in the morning before he goes off to with Greg. I don't think I'll be too sad -- he'll be so much happier living with someone with lots of dogs and nothing but time to spend on him.

It's tough to admit that I failed with something I set out to do -- particularly when it involves the care of a living creature but what's harder is that I knew I was failing a long time ago and it took me this long to suck-it-up and change things.

Cleanup Crew

Cleanup Crew
Originally uploaded by egret's nest.

One of my favorite things about the school that I work at and my children go to are the birds. We have a flock of ravens (poetically known as an unkindness of ravens) who live at the school. There are 8-12 around the school at all times. Ravens are gorgeous birds -- big, black, shiny, and very smart. They make the most amazing range of noises.

They are normally pretty solitary and aloof from people but these are used to us. Still, if you get too close, they leave the area. In the picture above, I took two more steps and they left the area en masse.

Yesterday, I watched one of the ravens walk past my classroom door. He (She?) turned and went up the stairs. He hopped up the stairs all the way to the 2nd floor. Funniest thing I've seen in a long time -- and no camera available.

I love seeing and hearing the ravens everyday. We live 3 miles away from the school and rarely saw ravens around here. Thankfully, this spring, a pair moved into the area. I hear them almost every afternoon and see them often. They are not used to people and remain wild but we've seen some dramatic flights over our house.

I got the closest I've gotten to a raven with my camera today and got this shot here . . .

To my husband . . .

Companion in Life
In darkness, we tell stories
Of our days and kids

When life is hard, we team up
When life is good, we laugh hard

a solo renga
11/15/2006 -llm.

submitted to One Deep Breath, Week 24

Recorder Practice

Recorder Practice
Originally uploaded by egret's nest.

Our school has a very limited music program. One of the things we do right is teach all the kids to play the recorder. First graders learn and then the upper grade music teacher does recorder karate.

Ruthie is in 3rd grade and still remembers how to play beautifully. Gage is just starting on his in 1st grade. Here are the kids playing together.

Please ignore the messy house. It never looks like that normally. [cough!]

Gray day

Rain in my driveway
Originally uploaded by egret's nest.

Feeling gray and dragging today. It's pouring rain and all I want is to curl up in front of my fireplace with a good book, some popcorn, and a glass of good wine.

Instead, I'm sitting at my desk, procrastinating getting to work, and giving a good whine about the weather.

It's not a good alternative!

On a more upbeat note, this will be my second year participating in Project Feederwatch. I counted birds on Saturday and Sunday this week and saw:

Chestnut-backed Chickadees - 6
Steller's Jays - 1
Anna's Hummingbirds - 3
Pygmy Nuthatch - 1
California Towhee - 2
Dark-eyed Junco - 6

I can't say that I'm totally serious about PFW yet but I did get my feeders set up and organized before the Nov 11 startdate this year and I am counting from the very first weekend. This is such a fun project and so important for the data. I am proud to participate and even sent a kit to my parents this year -- I hope they participate! And, I'd love to see more people to sign up too. The east coast is well represented but the west coast and mid-west are more lightly represented. And, Alaska and Hawaii -- sad!

Maple Tree Haibun

Fall is my favorite time of year -- cool crisp days filled with sunshine and just enough rain to make us appreciate the sun while it lasts. Living here, though, we don't get enough fall color. So, when my maple tree dresses for Autumn, I feel so grateful. Sometimes I catch my breath when I look at it.

glowing from within
dressed in autumnal colors
japanese maple

Fall is my favorite time of year -- cool crisp days filled with fall colors that make the trees catch fire and glow.

Submitted to One Deep Breath. This type of poem is called a Haibun. It's a combination of poetic prose and haiku. This is my first haibun. Thanks to Somewhere in NJ for introducing me to this site.

I cook for the birds!

Lynne from Hasty Brook asked if I would share my suet recipe. Of course I will!

Suet Cake
(adapted by myself from several sources from the Internets!)
Ingredients:

• 1 cup crunchy peanut butter
• 1 cup lard
• 1 cups quick oats
• 1 cups cornmeal
• 1 cup whole wheat flour
• Additions - bird seed, dried fruit, chopped peanuts, etc.
  

Tools:

• pot large enough for ingredients.
• containers that are about the same size as your suet holder.

Directions:

1. Assemble ingredients.
   
2. Heat peanut butter and lard in pan on stove, stirring until melted.
3. Remove from heat.
   
4. Add oats, cornmeal, and whole wheat flour.
5. Pour into containers.
6. Freeze until hard.

Note: In the winter, suet does great but in the summer, this recipe will melt and make a mess. It also has a risk of going bad. Watch it carefully!

Suet Dough
(introduced to me by the amazing Julie Zickefoose, also here [click].)
Ingredients:

• 1 cup melted lard or beef suet
• 1 cup peanut butter
• 2 cups quick oats
• 2 cups yellow cornmeal
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/3 cup sugar (optional)

Directions:

1. Melt lard and peanut butter together on a low burner.
2. Take off heat and add remaining ingredients.
3. Spread on cookie sheet and allow to cool in refrigerator until mixture is just hard enough to cut into pieces.
4. Store in freezer bags and use as needed.
   

Note: I use a large plastic container to cool and store my bird dough (as I call it). I pour some out on my hanging platform feeder each day and the birds LOVE it. My dark-eyed Juncos which are normally ground feeders come right up on the platform to eat it. I always toss some out in the yard for them and the other ground feeders too.

While I'm at it, here is how I prepare my Hummingbird Juice. I have Anna's Hummers here year round and pretty soon should start seeing Rufous and/or Allen's Hummers too. So, keeping the juice flowing in the winter is a good thing. A hummer is usually the first bird I see in the morning when its cold! Oh, just FYI, the feeder in the picture is not filled with cloudy juice -- it's 42 degrees out and it's covered in condensation. Brrr!

Hummingbird Juice
Ingredients:

• 1 cup sugar
• 2 cups boiling water
• 2 cups cold water with ice

Directions:

1. Boil 2 cups water.
2. Add sugar to water. Stir to dissolve.
3. Add cold water and ice.
4. Pour into feeders and distribute.

Note: I use the ice method because I usually am making the juice when I've already run out of hummingbird juice and the hummers are anxiously awaiting its arrival. I often get buzzed while I'm putting it out. They love it.

For what its worth, this is my favorite hummingbird feeder: The Best-1 feeder -- it's easy to clean and care for. It holds a lot of juice (I have the 32 oz one) which isn't useful in the summer as I still have to change it often but in the winter, I go ahead and fill it as the juice doesn't grow mold in the winter. I'm thinking about getting the Dr JB feeder to try as well.

I voted!

I voted yesterday and I'm proud of it. I have missed maybe 2 elections in my adult life. In my very first election, I voted for Dianne Feinstein in her mayoral recall election -- I've been proud to vote for her everytime since then. A classy smart lady!

I'm over the moon with how the voting went -- particularly on the national level. Taking back the House! HUGE!

In California, we have a statewide sense of humor. The Governator is back but he's got all Dems to deal with now from Lt Governor on down except for Insurance Commissioner. But, Iw as disappointed in our Proposition results. A modest ($50/parcel) property tax to benefit education was voted down as was our landmark taxes on oil and cigarettes. (However, they did pass in my county which is not a surprise -- we're mighty liberal here, folks!)

Still and all, though, this is a day for celebration, dancing in the streets. An election unstolen. An election where the voters turned out and spoke their minds. Groundbreaking change is coming. Pelosi will be our first woman Speaker of the House. Hurrah! The Senate was nearly taken cleanly and may yet be won.

A message was sent. Is the fool in the White House listening?

Everybody's doing it . . .

Thanks to Hawk Owl's Nest for this survey.
What state (or country) do you live in? California
How long have you been birding? I started birding when I was about 17. Then I stopped until last year.
Are you a "lister"? Yes. I keep my lists on eBird.
ABA Life List: Don't know what that distinction is.
Overall Life List: 58 species.
3 Favorite Birding Spots: Big Basin State Park, my backyard, Henry Cowell State Park.
Favorite birding spot outside your home country: Haven't birded outside the US.
Farthest you've traveled to chase a rare bird: An hour away to see a Crested Caracara -- I was unsuccessful.
Nemesis bird: Don't have one.
"Best" bird sighting: Black Crowned Night Heron -- spotted him in his juvenile plummage and watched him change all winter until he was looking sharp.

Most wanted trip: ???
Most wanted bird: Clear sighting of a Pileated Woodpecker would be nice. Even better if it would be in my backyard! :)
What model and brand of bins do you use?: Cheapies from Kmart.
What model and brand of scope do you use?: Don't have one.
What was the last lifer you added to your list?: Barn Owl on 10/1/2006
Where did you see your last lifer?: Elkhorn Slough near Moss Landing, CA.
What's the last bird you saw today?: Well, it's early in the morning and no one is at the feeders yet. The last bird I saw yesterday was a Chestnut-backed Chickadee.
Best bird song you've heard ever: Mockingbird. I had one that used to sing for hours in my backyard years ago in another house. And, it learned to imitate my dog's whining and would trick me into going out to see what was wrong.
Favorite birding moment: That moment when you identify a new bird and you're SURE. Too many times I'm NOT sure -- being sure is a nice feeling. :)
Least favorite thing about birding: All the lousy pictures I've taken of something cool.

Favorite thing about birding: Getting out and communing with nature.
Favorite field guide for the US: Sibley and Peterson in concert -- I like to check them both.
Favorite non-field guide bird book: ???
Who is your birder icon?: Julie Zickefoose and Bill Thompson III. I idolize their life.
Do you have a bird feeder(s)? I have several.
Favorite feeder bird? Anna's Hummingbird and Chestnut-backed Chickadee tie for that honor. They are my most consistent feeder birds.

Camping!

Cozy Sleeping Quarters
Originally uploaded by egret's nest.

We took a much needed long weekend to go camping in our FMC. We met up with a bunch of other FMC owners and had a wonderful weekend. Here is our sleeping quarters. The kids' bunks pull down from the upper cabinets and they slept above us. It all worked beautifully but we'll be making some changes as time goes on.

The whole weekend was wonderful and much needed. Despite being less than 10 miles from home, we took it easy. No work. No stress. Both Greg and I needed that and had a great trip. The kids loved it and were disappointed to come home!

More pictures here . . . [click]

Goodbye, Rosie

Campbellcroft Cibola Rosette -- Rosie
February 27, 1992 -- November 2, 2006
Rest in Peace, Rosie-Posie.
We love you.

Liza, Greg, Ruthie, and Gage

Chickadees love my homemade Suet

Chickadees love my homemade Suet
Originally uploaded by egret's nest.

November 1. Start of Project Feederwatch.

I'll be starting late this year though. November 1. Day of utter insanity for me. Day when I stayed up until 1:30am processing a videotaped lesson that has to get onto DVD and be fed-exed off the next day. Day when we are supposed to be packing up to go camping. Day when . . .

So, here is an archived photo of a Chickadee at my feeders. I took this picture and it is recognizable as the bird that it is. So, there ya go. You easterners and mid-westerners, meet the Chestnut-Backed Chickadee. The most frequently seen bird in my backyard. In the winter, I'll have upwards of 30 of them swarming my feeders. They are cheerful, greedy little things and utterly charming. They get so used to us and the feeders that they'll fly in and chirp at me that I'm not moving fast enough when I fill the feeders in the morning. We'll get other birds, no doubt, but these little cuties are my year-round staple bird. Without fail, I'll see bunches everyday. (Except when I'm doing The Big Sit, of course! :).