Fog

Morning fog rolls in.

Snow

This is a salute to all of you back east who are getting so much snow; the only snow we have is the 48-inch snowflake on the top of our flagpole, seen here blinking through the fog Tuesday morning.

Urban landscape

The view out the back window of Ann Langston's studio in Art Works Downtown in San Rafael reveals a colorful urban landscape.

Culverts in a row

Four culverts in a row on Corte Madera Creek.

Geese in a row

And a lot of geese in a row.

Ducks in a row

Ducks in a row on Corte Madera Creek on Christmas Eve morning

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas, everyone!!!
Love,
Margie

Lipstick kiss

I know people love their horses, but don't you think this is carrying it a bit far?

December sunrise

December sunrise at Terra Linda High School.

Bear Valley Sky

I love these foggy, moody landscapes.  This is Bear Valley in the early morning.

Inventory

The lumber yard in Point Reyes Station inventories their fence posts by color splotches on the ends.  If you want a yellow one, it will be $x, or a pink one will probably be cheaper since they seem to be selling well.

Bird on the wire

Perhaps a such a sight was Leonard Cohen's inspiration.

See http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mjem3G_QsKA&feature=related

New green

The first real rains bring new green along a trail branching off from Bear Valley Trail.

Rain on roses

A light rain leaves jeweled edges on these new rose leaves.

Sun & cloud

The sun just peeked over the cloud and shone on a drying mudhole at the Hamilton restoration project.  For some years it was a large airfield on land that was once a marsh; now it is being restored to a marsh.

Tree

I love trees in the fog, and a couple of flittery flyers flew into the picture!

Potatoes

Red, white and purple potatoes all in one box - take your pick - mix and match - as you wish.

Sun

Sometimes on the darkest days, the sun will peek through to remind us it is still up there!

Rose

A rose grows in San Francisco.

The Sleeping Lady

The Sleeping Lady (Mt. Tamalpais) through the palms on an overcast day at Hamilton.

Delta

Is this the delta of a mighty river coming down from a mountain?  Hardly.  It is the outlet from a sump pumping from one side of the levee to the other at Hamilton in Marin County.  The former Hamilton Airfield is being returned to its original marshland.  On one side of the levee are houses and on the other is the future marsh.  There is some seepage on the housing side and this is the result.  And although it looks as if it could span miles, the photo covers only about 30 feet.

Shapes

Did someone put these shapes out here just for me?  Because of course I couldn't resist them!

Leaf

While it was snowing in the hills on Monday, it was raining in the flats.  This leaf collected raindrops on the sidewalk in front of friend Martha's house in Novato.

Snow???

What's this?!!  Snow???  In Marin?  Yes, it's snow, something we rarely see in Marin and usually it's just a dusting, but this is solid white.  This photo was taken from San Marin Drive in Novato, looking south.  It's not the best vantage point, but you have to take when it you see it because it might not last!

Gomez Cleaning Services

We don't do windows.

Half Day Cafe

Every Thursday morning after some of us walk on Corte Madera Creek and others run on the College of Marin track, we meet at the Half Day Cafe for breakfast. Sometimes the table swells to 12 or 13 of us and Erica & Kendall give us each separate checks! 

The Half Day has a small entrance on the street and it's only a counter for take-out.  The main restaurant entrance is in the back next to the parking lot. Confusing if you don't know. . .

Orbs

Last Thursday I took a photo of this ditch with the reeds, which flows into Corte Madera Creek.  The photo didn't look the way it appeared to the eye and Hans suggested I try the flash.  That photo came out very dark and I gave up.  However, in Photoshop  I lightened the dark photo and behold! orbs!  I was a bit excited because I have seen such pictures in which some people think the orbs represent souls frequenting certain spots.  ooooooo!

However, the reality is probably a bit more prosaic.  It was a misty day and the flash bounced off moisture drops in the air that were very close to the lens.  Not on the lens, as can be seen in the photo taken seconds earlier, but just close.  For further elucidation see: http://www.ghostvillage.com/resources/2006/features_11092006.shtml

Green leaves

In Point Reyes Station, there are still some green leaves in December.

Cold misty morning

Hans says: It was really cold when we got to Point Reyes yesterday morning!  And the photo of the frosty fence is his.  You can see Hans' blog here: http://hansroenau.blogspot.com/

An hour and a half later the sun had burned off enough mist to create shadows.   Without talking at all about it, we photographed the same fence and found it out the next day!

Misty morn

Misty Bear Valley just at sunrise.

Black necked stilt

A black necked stilt is getting his breakfast at the Ponds.

Island

This is a green island at the Sanitary District Ponds which are surrounded by one of our favorite walks in nature.

Yesterday's tennis ball nest brought a couple of interesting comments from Muriel and Leon:

A man uses the balls to play fetch with his dog. When he loses sight of his dog he gets on the ladder to look for him.

I always wondered where tennis balls come from. Looks like one is trying to leave the nest early.

Nest

On the same day that we saw the ladder along Corte Madera Creek, we spied this rare tennis ball nest beside the path.  Strange happenings. . . .

Grass

Dry grass at the Ponds.

Thanksgiving dancer

At Thanksgiving he danced with such joy he lost his head!

Thanksgiving

We are grateful to live in such a beautiful area. And I know it's beautiful where you are too.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING

Stilts

These are some stilt-type birds at the Ponds; I'm too lazy to look them up!

Yesterday's 'Mystery', yielded some interesting comments:

Maybe it was "Jacob's ladder", and he thought Heaven was closer than it is.

A clever photographer brought it there and then decided to leave it .

somebody has a marvelous, philosophical sense of humor, perhaps?

to take a better picture?

High water?

hmm, maybe a diving board for an adventurous soul.

That is a mystery. It could be superimposed, I guess. (Margie says - oh no! I have witnesses. See the next two comments.)

Last week, we decided the ladder is there for photographers but we meant for photographers to stand on to take photos, not for photographers to photograph and ask why it is there...........

OH, I AM SO GLAD YOU GOT THIS PICTURE.

It's there so that Margie can get a better angle for her photo across the creek.

the ladder came down the creek, was washed ashore, and somebody took pity on it an righted it (stood it up?)

And my favorite:


It appears to be the director's stand for the evening bullfrog concert, Be sure to buy your tickets early, for it's a croakingly good show.

Mystery

Here's a mystery for you - why do you suppose this ladder is standing on the edge of Corte Madera Creek?  It's in the marshy area where no one walks (except the occasional dog). ????

Tin roof

Wouldn't you like to hear the rain?  or maybe even hail. . . .

Orange house

From the town of St. George, Utah, one can see a row of houses up on the side of a mountain.  One of them really stands out - a bright orange mansion.  I got out of the car to take a photo of it while Elyse was in Walgreen's - and the car door locked with the keys inside - arrgh!  But it turned out to be a good experience.  People can be very helpful and nice.  Thanks, Shirley of Walgreen's, and Rabbit Downward & Josh of Executive Auto!

Springdale

More proof that Springdale is located right in the mountains!

Autumn rain

After an autumn rain. . . . .

These photos from the road were made possible by my Transportation Captain (driver) Elyse C.

Snow/Rain

In Springdale we could see it raining or snowing not very far away.  Earlier we drove through huge icy snowflakes or raindrops - it was hard to tell.  Maybe it was soft hail?  Very interesting.  It made big splotches on the windshield.  Sorry, no photos!

Rock thief

They take their rocks seriously in Springdale!  Notice the thief's boot that didn't quite make it into the grave.  And the alligator?  Don't ask me!

Mountain

I spent a few days in southern Utah attending a film festival where our daughter Elyse's short film 'Far Sighted'. was screened.  As you can see, the scenery in the area is spectacular. It's very near Zion National Park.

This is one of the mountains surrounding Springdale; the fire hydrant in the lower right shows how close it is to the town. Or should I say how close the town is to the mountain?

Hot handle

It must get very hot in the summer in Hurricane, Utah, but it was more like winter this weekend.

Another sunrise

Sunrise last Saturday.

My next photo will be next Monday.

Wildlife

On the Bear Valley Trail one can sometimes see deer, ospreys, rabbits, crows, quail, robins, turkey vultures, and more, but yesterday Hans spotted a new species of wildlife!  It's as yet unidentified.