...of Poppies and Snakes

Today the Matilija Poppies are in bloom. Matilija poppies are great white crepe-papery blooms that hang on the end of weedy looking green stalks. Most of the year, we see the stalks and wonder "Why do we keep these ugly things in the garden?" Then, the stalks erupt into enormous white flowers and we know the answer.  The buds look primordial...I'm sure their DNA was included in the cosmic ooze.

Here's a bloom I called Marilyn Monroe. You remember her famous pose from "The Seven Year Itch?" Just squinch up your eyes, and you might see what I'm talking about.

Not only are the poppies blooming, but the snakes are coming out of hibernation.

As we were driving down our gravel road, this fellow was basking in the sun. I got out of the car to take this shot and discovered, it's only a common garter snake, not a rattler (no buttons).

(about 36 inches long)

Rattlers don't have long lives on the "ranch" but garter snakes can stay as long as they like.

Hummingbirds

The goal of any photographer is to catch hummingbirds. They are quick little buggers. The other day we were visiting a friend who has a flock of free-loading hummers and I tried to capture them. Here are my best efforts. 

DKG

This past weekend I went to the annual statewide convention for Delta Kappa Gamma (DKG). DKG is a international honor society for women teachers.  Over 500 people were in attendance at this state-side conference.  DKG started as a Civil Rights organization in the 1920s for women teachers when women teachers needed some Civil Rights. Fortunately, through the efforts of organizations like DKG, women teachers finally got some Civil Rights in the form of better pay, more satisfactory working conditions, and the like. DKG, like so many volunteer organizations, is now seeking a new cause. It’s not been easy, but it seems like DKG is trying to become active in state politics by influencing state legislatures to keep supporting quality education.

It is not easy for a volunteer organization to survive in these times, especially volunteer organizations where the main participants are overworked teachers. Like many volunteer organizations, we are an aging group with fewer and fewer members who still have their original hair color! Every year, a few local chapters are disbanded due to lack of participation/interest or death.

I do not know what volunteer organizations need to do to attract and keep members, but I’m sure it has something to do with the purpose of the organization. While camaraderie and friendship are noble, it’s not enough to make an organization like DKG work. What started out as a civil rights organization for women teachers need to re-form it’s purpose. Maybe, influencing legislators will be the new guiding light. A new purpose is needed, and until it has that new purpose completely synthesized into the structure of the society, it will flounder.

SO, we worked on what legislation we want to support in California. We went to sessions. I even gave a presentation. AND, we had a lot of fun.

Birthdays and Easter

This year my birthday fell the day before Easter. When I was a kid, I wanted my birthday to fall on Easter because my mother's birthday fell on Easter. I remember looking up Easter on a Perpetual Calendar and discovering 2000 was "my Easter Birthday" year. That was far too long to wait when I was 7.

Fast forward to 2000, and I had my Easter Birthday! It was exciting. I wondered if it would ever happen again. Easter 2011, is the closest with only a one day discrepancy. Easter 2014 is 3 days off. In fact, the next time Easter and my birthday coincide will be in 2079! WOW! Watch this space and I'll let you know all about it!

If you are interested, click here to see the list of dates. By the way, the earliest date for Easter is March 23 and the latest is April 25.

So, today is Easter. Yesterday was my birthday. All is good.

Around the House

Just a few views from around the “old rancho.” The hillsides are covered with greenery and it’s beautiful. It will not last very long, so we need to enjoy it while it’s still here.

There were a pair of geese on the pond this morning. I heard them “talking" to each other before I saw them...then they glided in over the fence and landed ever so gracefully on the still water. Of course I did not have the camera ready to record the landing. I wonder if they are going to stay for the rest of the spring?

I like to look at old wooden fence posts and we seem to have a number of them. You have to wonder how they stand up and how they keep the cattle out. To me, it looks like one swift “kick” and the whole fence will topple over. Somehow, that does not happen.

Every so often, I see a little surprise. This morning it was a footprint or rather a paw print in the mud. I don’t know what made it, but it was worth a picture.

Lastly, we come to the “famous wood pile.” The wind was so strong, it blew the pile over so we reinforced the framework with t-bars and the other DrC has been working on restacking the wood. I did not know there is a science to restacking wood, but apparently there is. This morning, as he was finishing up, he stepped on a piece of wood with a rusty nail in it...the nail went through the sole of his shoe and landed in his big toe. The next stop was to my file of medical records to see when he had a tetanus shot. It was 9 years ago and they are good for 10. I called our doctor and he recommended it might be a good time to get a  new one. So, the wood pile is still not as tidy as it should be, but we don’t have to worry about lockjaw! There’s always something.

The G11

I'm learning my old camera again! I have not used it in 4 months while I was trying to gain expertise with the 60D....there are lot of differences. I am missing some of them right now. The focus on the 60D is excellent. The lens has an autofocus feature that is hands down better than the lens on the G11. In addition, the viewfinder on the 60D shows 96% of the picture...and that's not the case with the G11. The difference is of course the DSLR lens. With a DSLR camera, what you see is what you get. With a point and shoot camera, what you see is some of what you get. Still, even though the quality is not the same, the size of the G11 is just so much better! Now, if someone would make a DSLR camera the size of the G11, I'd be a very happy camper!

Flowers after the storm

Most of March has been stormy and gray. It's amazing any flowers have survived the onslaught, but a few hardy individuals have persisted. The African Daisy is a surprise! I planted it last year on a whim and it made it thru the winter!

The ceanothus sounds like it is hovering over the ground as it's filled with bees. They have not had a chance to do their work with all the rain.

 The redbud has been battered by the wind yet a few blooms are clinging to the limbs. The trees only bloom 2 weeks a year, and this year, most of the blossoms were blown away.

 The firethorns are just starting. It will be awhile before their red berries appear.

 The rosemary are just starting to sprout their bluish purple buds. Soon they will "hover" like the ceanothus will their own flock of bees.

 The last flower to arrive is an iceplant. The bright golden yellow flower looks like a shining beacon in the garden.

 It's good to have the sun back! March came in like a Lion and it looks like it will go out like a Lamb. Tomorrow is April Fool's Day! I wonder what that will bring!?