Dinner is served...

If only I could post the sumptuous aromas wafting up from these yummy, organic veggies...

Coffee inspires...

I ran into an old buddy, Stevo, whom I used to work with way back during my days at Muddy Waters in the Depot at HSU. I remembered a poem he had written for me and a co-worker and had to dig it out for remembrance sake.

Juta + Emily

Held in slender hands
Steaming morning ritual
Bright smiles awaken
Returned by java ladies
Movements precise, perfect
Coy caffeine concert
Bright cheerful greetings
Enhance coffee's warmth
Making morning's tog
A little less gloomy

(October 19, 2000) >> Now that makes me feel old! I swear it was just yesterday.

Argiope aurentica

While picking blackberries this morning I came across this beauty. This spider is commonly known as the Halloween spider because the females abdomen becomes large and bright in the fall. Not only is this a beautiful spider but her web design immaculate!

This particular spider was on her best behavior allowing time for a mini photo shoot and even letting me get my picture with her. What a wonderful way to start the day!

Click on photos for an up-close look!

Humboldt Bay Coastal Education Center & Reserve...

Last week Friends of the Dunes went through escrow on 38 acres of dune property along with a bunker style house as seen in the top left corner of the photo. This means that I get to fulfill my dream of managing and restoring land (presently I work with land managers to restore their land). I spent all day walking around the property today getting to know the lay of the land and what plants are present where. I start writing the restoration management plan in August. A big endeavor that I can't wait to begin.

And while I'm bragging... this will be my third achieved dream job.
1) A park ranger / naturalist
2) Environmental Educator
3) Land Manager

#4?????? Well, if I set my goals high and far out of reach, cause I don't think I'll be striving for anything new for awhile, I'd have to say farmer. I've always felt a longing to live on some land outside of town working with my hands in the soil. I've even spent my vacations doing such a thing. However, I don't see #4 happening without striking rich first somehow or meeting the man of my dreams who just happens to be filthy rich and chooses to farm because it's his dream job. And because this is my dream, I think I'll really only want to farm part-time and on the side I'll have a pottery wheel and kiln to throw ceramics and sell them at the farmers market where I'll be selling my produce and popular watercolors. I'll also have the time to learn to use the loom a friend gave me years ago, knit wool sweaters, purchase a river kayak and use it, and lose my idiotic fear of bears. A gals allowed to dream...

One more...

This is an addition to

Eight Things About Me: A Meme

As previously stated on June 14, 2007:
6. I quit volleyball my sophomore year in high school because I didn't want to wear the
butt-huggers.
7. I quit tennis my senior year cause I didn't want to wear a tennis skirt.

I just remembered that I also quit band in high school because I didn't want to wear the marching band uniform and look like a q-tip head. At my school if you were in band you had to be in the marching band. Whatever! When I gave up my drum sticks and flute I acquired an acoustic guitar and have been playing it ever since. Who ever said quitting can't be a positive thing?

two & three...

Okay, number two was created on Friday on the Trinity River in Hoopa. I discovered it's much harder to do watercolors when it's hot out and my little pools of color would dry out before I could finish using them.
There's a grey blob in place of the river that I was too afraid to even attempt to paint.

Number three, "The Bee Hive Tree" was made while sitting at the Blue Lake Fiddle Festival yesterday.

First try...

I just purchased this travel watercolor kit and took it on its first of many adventures. I went down the street to the community redwood forest to one of my favorite spots.

I'm quite excited about this new art form of combining my outdoor experiences not just in writing but now in color. So be prepared for more of these postcard sized watercolors.

Yum...

Thimbleberry and native blackberry pickins from just up the street of my place. I think the rest of the neighbors think these red berries are poisonous or somethin cause they look at me like I'm crazy every time they see me munchin on em.

Out in public...

I saw a notice in the paper promoting free Tai Chi on the Arcata Plaza before the farmers market last Saturday. I've been intrigued to participate in such a thing ever since I spent a morning watching a large group practicing in a downtown SF park a year ago. The only thing I had to fret about was the fact that it was happening in a very public place and I had no idea what I was doing. EvaEverAfter declined to join, not wanting to look silly in front of lots of people. Well me, coming into my wise age of not caring if people think me silly, decided to go for it. It would be an adventure for sure! I was really enjoying the practice when from out of nowhere a photographer from the newspaper was taking lots of photos. The focus of the photos being the dog, Ruby Mae, who was the most looked at participant that morning. YAY for dogs!