Douglas-fir tussock larva...

Next on the list...

Picture this: a small room filled to the brim with ~60 white chairs, south and west walls are full windows; the windows are overlooking coastal bluffs, a lazy ocean and a setting sun. (Photo on left is taken from just outside the room)

This was the setting of the Dar Williams concert I attended not 24 hours ago in Little River, CA. Intimate, beautiful and better than I had anticipated. Dar has been on my list of "must see before I die" musicians for years. She rarely tours, and if she does it's usually on the east coast. I by chance found out about this little show from Fuego. Thank you Fuego! Dar played two long sets, played every song I was hoping to hear, and delighted the crowd with her candor, wit and impressive knowledge of recycling.

After crossing Dar off the list I was unsure if there was anyone left. I've been blessed to see many talented performers (i.e. Billy Joel, Greg Brown, Kris Delmhorst, Peter Mulvey, Bonnie Raitt, James Taylor). My brain blanked for a few minutes when Sara Harmer jumped into the lead. I was super close to seeing her last year but couldn't bear to fork out $30 bucks only to see her open for someone. Oh, and I still haven't seen Lyle Lovett.

A hidden bridge...

Today I awoke to the warmth of the sun shining down upon the little town of Arcata. The air was still and blue skies stretched out to the coast. The perfect Sunday morning for a bike ride in the country.

I rode out to Bayside where I know of a covered bridge. The bridge is located on a dead end street and was a chance discovery about a year ago. The last two times I visited I witnessed a gray fox with her pups meandering about the stream below. Today I watched two young deer feeding and resting in a nearby field. I also found the plumpest of blackberries to give me a little sugar for the ride back home.

Tasty Math...

+







=

Belief-O-Matic

Okay, so this is the second time I've taken the Belief-O-Matic test. This test consists of 20 questions that are supposed to determine what religion (if any) you practice. Based on your answers it ranks the religion you're most aligned with 1-27.

Last time Neo-Pagan was #1 on my list. This time it has slipped to #2. I didn't even know what a Neo-Pagan was and had to read up on it on the website. I take this test purely for entertainment value but there is actually a lot of interesting information about all different beliefs to be had at the website.

1.	New Age
2.	Neo-Pagan
3.	Mahayana Buddhism
4.	Taoism
5.	Unitarian Universalism
6.	Liberal Quakers
7.	Theravada Buddhism
8.	New Thought
9.	Scientology
10.	Hinduism
11.	Jainism
12.	Christian Science (Church of Christ, Scientist)
13.	Mainline to Liberal Christian Protestants
14.	Secular Humanism
15.	Sikhism
16.	Orthodox Quaker
17.	Reform Judaism
18.	Bahá'í Faita>
19.	Nontheista>
20.	Orthodox Judaism
21.	Seventh Day Adventist
22.	Mainline to Conservative Christian/Protestant
23.	Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (Mormons)
24.	Islam
25.	Jehovah's Witness
26.	Eastern Orthodox
27.	Roman Catholic

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.