Free Ranging Friday ~ California

The smell of freshly roasted coffee is in the air. Elijah buys the beans and roasts them in an air popper and then does things like walk down to my tent with a perfect cup of coffee for me. Life is good!

I wrote about this last year and it's just as good this year. I can buy coffee beans locally. Why don't I do this myself? Good question.

Tonight's Blue Moon (get it now, next one not available until 2015!) will find me far from the scene of the last full moon, out in the desert of Texas, with nary a tree on the horizon.

Instead, we'll be looking through the giant pines for that sight. We talked about going on the King Range mountaintop hike but since we're hoping to go hiking in a day or so, I'll save my feet for walking. Especially after reading this 'Hikers should be prepared for a route that gains 1,900 feet over 2.6 miles. They should wear sturdy hiking boots, bring food, water, and a flashlight or headlamp, and be prepared for coastal weather.' Coastal weather can mean, super foggy while freezing your tuchus off...Nah, no thanks.

As I mentioned, my camera(s) are grrrrrring me, so I thought I'd share some photos that don't belong to me but that I spend a lot of time looking at, thinking about, and lusting over, from the website called, appropriately enough, Cabin Porn. There are hundreds of cabins, hiking huts, grand looking homesites and even floating homes here, from all corners (or roundnesses) of the Earth, either finds of the site owners or sent in by readers. These are just a very few I liked, for one reason or another. 

Because I just downloaded and forgot to copy and paste the info (who where what) please go to the site and check it out. If you like it, you'll be addicted. If your idea of home is nothing remotely like this...well, you probably don't read this blog anyway.

I've actually posted this one before. It's a fire lookout station and
my own version of  'if I could  have any dwelling I wanted, this would be it' dream.

Have a fully free Friday! Do something fairly rare.

The Truth about Time

The other night I was going to walk back to the tent and forgot my lantern (battery, just so you don't worry I'm going to burn down Northern California). Julia forgot her headlamp...it was, pre-moon, no more than a crescent dark out there!). So I took my open computer, walked her to her tent and then walked to mine. Computer as flashlight; it works. If I already told you that story...oops!

End of magic light time from my tent view

Then, a couple of nights ago, I forgot my lantern again - this seems to be a theme. But in the light of a half moon, I figured I could feel my way down the beaten path and down the other not so beaten path without getting snagged on the barbed wire fence that runs along the way to where the tent is. I hoped. If you find yourself in that situation, here is a song I sung along the way. You may use it freely.

In the light (light light light) of the silvery moon
I'll scare a bear, or maybe just a racoo ooo oon.
I'll be home soon, by the light of the moon.

In the li li li li light of the silvery moo ooo oon
I'll sing away a mountain lion la la la soon.

There's my tent, I think it's right up ahead
I feel no dre dre dread in the light la la lalalala. La.

~repeat as often as necessary, in this case, once.

I don't sing that song in the daylight; I mean, hell, the tent's right there!

That song is about how long it took to actually get to my tent. Maybe two minutes. But time, my friends, is a rubber band. In fact, it's a lot of rubber bands. There is time like that fat purple rubber band that is around asparagus, the kind that is barely stretchy and you are sure you are going to wreck the asparagus or wreck your car or wreck your way-too-late-to-be-home kid's neck with that kind of time.

Purple rubber band time

With time like purple rubber band happening, there is probably a clock ticking in the background. Of your head. Loudly.

Then there is just good old brown stretchy rubber band time. The kind of time we should live in most of the time. A little late, a little early, who cares? It's the way people used to eat dinner together time, playing b ball in the driveway time, laughing with cohorts at work time. There give and there's take and things work out.

But the time I seem to know best is...knobbly, barely any elastic, you know if you aren't careful it's going to break and then it does rubber band time. There's a second where you know it's going to break but you're already thinking maybe I can tie it together but you also know it will just fall apart more and more insultingly, leave that rubbery stickiness that shouldn't even be in such a dried up worthless $%^&* rubber band but is. Um, where was I?

Point being, a walk in the barely more than dark light to the tent, that takes maybe two minutes, took about thirty minutes in rubber band time. The song helped, nay, the song worked! No bears, no mountain lions, not even a racoo ooo oon!

Of course, just to be thorough, there is Culebra Time. Which is outside of all time and inside of it too. It's time where 'mañana' does not mean tomorrow. It means when it happens it will happen if it has to happen at all. It's my favorite of all times and the kind, when I really let it flow through and around me, makes me the most content.

Culebra Time sort of looks like this 

 But really more like this

 And a whole lot like this

Or this. Ok, now I'm just being silly.

(As of today, I now have two unworkable cameras. I love my cameras, but there is this nasty little flaw in this series of Canons...and I've gotten bitten in the butt by it before, though I usually have a back up. So...depending on how much my phone camera works, we'll walk through this together, gentle readers, until I get things fixed. Which depends on a few factors. The biggest being when I'll be near a camera fixing place. So bear with me, por favor! I'm hoping PRM will happen and I'll be able to get the Blue Moon, keep your fingers crossed!)

Also, give some time to think about (and even do something about if you can?) the people badly affected by Isaac. They are still not out of the bad zone and many have lost homes. We've been so fortunate at home and they haven't been. 

Have a take time Thursday. Do something transparently tiptoeingly timely.

Tuesday Round Up

While the pace is as slow here as Culebra, there are things going on that have filled my days and nights early evenings, including being able to eat as many blackberries as I want, just taking a walk down the road. Here are some of them.

The Whitethorn Fire Department held a dinner dance to raise money for a building they need. The phrase dinner dance can bring a lot of images to mind, but most of them wouldn't quite match this one. A friend of ours got two tables and bought tickets for a few of us, which was incredibly generous, both to us and the Fire Dept. I ate two of the biggest ribs I've ever seen; having to skip the chicken to do them justice. There were desserts by the eyeful; I only tasted one that was something like cheesecake, pie and regular cake, lemony, tart and sweet all at once. I have no idea what it was called, but it was good!

The Lost Coast Marimba band. I'm not sure how many hand made instruments
they used but they sounded like home turf to me.

Here's a few seconds of them playing. 

They were the first band up - a great start to a really fun time!

This little one reminded me of Helena, not so long ago.

Yep, that's my boy (standing next to Pippi Longstocking)

The dance was held at Whitethorn Lumber, where this old tree made good seating.

 I left before it got dark (surprise surprise) and took a few photos on the way home. Really, it was just an excuse to pick and eat blackberries on the pause.

Sometimes, common is incredibly rare.

This blossom is exactly like our aloe blossom, but the plant is much more grassy looking. 

Mama calling in her young turkey babies.

A woman Elijah knows makes these and gave him this one.
I've been looking at it for three years now and still find new bits that I didn't notice before.

 This morning when I woke up, I saw this. Jupiter was still shining to the side of this pine tree. Here's the scenario. Find camera. Get warm again. Steel self to get back out of the sleeping bag, unzip the screen, take photo. Jump back into the sleeping bag. Dream of coffee being handed to me. Or tea. Or a hot toddy. Or mittens.

But now the sun is out and the day will warm up. Shorts will replace sweat pants, a t-shirt will emerge from the long sleeves and jacket. Life is good. Especially when I am warm.

Have a teasingly temperate Tuesday! Do something tangy.

Eggzactly!!!

Today is about celebration! I just got a photo from T, who is looking after the girls while their awesome other caretakers are off island. I don't know if this is the first egg, but it's the first one I've seen and it knocks off the board anything else I was going to post about today. I want to go home now (but not yet, there is still my Sarah Bear to see and have fun with in Portland first)!

So, all of you who have been patiently waiting for me to deliver on my "I'm going to have big brown eggs, really!" claim, let the games begin...er, when I get home. Woot woot! Cluck.

Dear Chicks, thank you berry much. Love, Ma

Have an eggcitingly memorable Monday! Do something eggstradinarily moving.

Simple Sunday ~ California

While I usually try to keep Simple Sunday simple, I can't help but mention a farewell to Neil Armstrong, whose accomplishments, while eclipsed (so to speak) by him being the first man to set foot on the moon, range farther and wider than that momentous split second in history. And to me, he was one of the men who my father, working at NASA as an engineer, helped put on that lunar trip. Growing up with regular interruptions in our school days to go stand on the playground and watch rockets fly into space made Neil Armstrong and the whole American space program personal to the children I grew up with, most of whose parents worked in some capacity with the Cape or the military. The triumphs were our own, as were the disasters. The astronauts, and Mr. Armstrong in particular, were not just the wobble-helmeted space heroes seen on television, they were the men (at that time, it was only men) whom our parents knew and worked with.

It is a gone era in time, and I'm glad I am old enough to have known and felt that wonder and awe and pride that seems to me now to hardly exist on any kind of national or indeed, international level. A new computer or cell phone, sanctioned murder of 'bad guys', or the flash in the pan idiocy of some soon to be forgotten celebrity doesn't sweep me into the OHHHHH!!!zone.

Rest in peace, Neil Armstrong and thank you for, long after that step on the moon, continuing to be a decent guy, eschewing the superficialities of your fame for concrete actions to do good for the remainder of your life.

Have a space full Sunday. Do something shyly strong.

Storms and Farms and Bucks, Oh My

Looking at the local (Culebra) radar this morning, it looks like Isaac is a spotty rain event, which is a good thing! Hopefully true too, as the radar has fooled me before and will again. Just seen from Kelli on fb ~ "Weather update: bright and sunny on the hill--a bit windy though. We are all good up here--gracia a Dios!" Yippee!!

This is NOT the local radar. 

This is.

Yesterday we did some work for some friends and then got stopped by El Sol, so it was a good afternoon to do a camera walkabout. 

Did you know that 72% of all prayer flags in the world can be found in Northern California? Amazingly, within about a 100 mile radius. Or maybe 1 mile. Really, it's true. Snopes says so. 

If you read this blog last year, you'll remember this passion fruit vine, which is still growing and this year produced about 7 fruit. None of which are delicious, but they are really a beautiful color, more like a mango than a passion fruit. It's a little bit of home in a very different place.

There are a lot of cool old pieces of machinery around here. For the most part, I don't have a clue what they are or were. All I know is, there won't be many taking a photo of a computer chip that runs a whatever it is anytime in the future.

The temperature changes here are pretty wild. From 102 in the day to in the high 40's at night. Which means I have on or take off most of the clothes I brought with me in the course of a day. Plus socks.

This morning I got up to check the computer and what was happening with Isaac, meaning walking from my tent to the kitchen, where wifi lives. I turned around and this is who I saw. If you turn right at the gate, my tent is down there somewhere...

These deer aren't scared; they usually run a few feet and then saunter. 

He was not even sauntering, he just meandered down the path. 

The shaky photo above was me being nervous he'd bolt and not taking the time I should have. Again.

"All right! Take your damn photo and let me get on with my day."

As I should get on with mine. I think today will include making hot sauce, people like it here and I like supplying it. Well, not the mango hot sauce...maybe I should use those passion fruits.

Have a thankful Thursday. Do something tropical.

Fogged but not Forgotten

This morning, the fog is hanging heavily around the farm, no doubt to burn off later. I'm hoping Isaac burns out far to the south of home...those were my first two thoughts this morning. The other was, I'm glad I got back to sleep after waking up with deer seeming to be walking through my tent rather than around it. Which was fine. It was the heavy footed, heavy breathing thing that had me wide eyed as a Maurice Sendak reader at age 4.

My eyes will be on the radar and reading the weather stories and my heart is wrapped all around the people and place of home. Thanks to those who help keep an eye on my things when the wild winds blow.

Have a not too much wind Wednesday. Do something welcoming.

Brought to You By TD 9

There seems to be some pretty strong reasoning to believe TD 9 will stay south of us and all will be fine;, you can read all about it in many places (here's one place and here's another place) - . The more important question is, are you prepared if it shifts north? Gets stronger? Moves in to eat our lunch? If not, you'll be having a fun day fighting the hordes on the big island or finding out their ain't no nothin' left on Culebra. My sympathy o meter will be hard pressed but I'd still share my water with you, if I was there.

Here's a fact filled hurricane page, entertaining too.

Atlantic Tropical Depression NINE Advisory Number 2

08/21/2012 10:43 AM EDT

000
WTNT34 KNHC 211442
TCPAT4

BULLETIN
TROPICAL DEPRESSION NINE ADVISORY NUMBER 2
NWS NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL AL092012
1100 AM AST TUE AUG 21 2012

...TROPICAL DEPRESSION MOVING QUICKLY WESTWARD TOWARD THE LESSER
ANTILLES...NEW WARNINGS ISSUED...


SUMMARY OF 1100 AM AST...1500 UTC...INFORMATION
------------------------------

-----------------
LOCATION...15.1N 52.8W
ABOUT 580 MI...930 KM E OF GUADELOUPE
MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS...35 MPH...55 KM/H
PRESENT MOVEMENT...W OR 270 DEGREES AT 20 MPH...32 KM/H
MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE...1008 MB...29.77 INCHES


WATCHES AND WARNINGS
--------------------
CHANGES WITH THIS ADVISORY...

THE GOVERNMENT OF CURACAO HAS ISSUED A TROPICAL STORM WARNING FOR
SABA...ST. EUSTATIUS...AND ST. MAARTEN.

THE GOVERNMENT OF FRANCE HAS ISSUED A TROPICAL STORM WARNING FOR
MARTINIQUE.

SUMMARY OF WATCHES AND WARNINGS IN EFFECT...

A TROPICAL STORM WARNING IS IN EFFECT FOR...
* MARTINIQUE
* DOMINICA
* GUADELOUPE AND THE SURROUNDING ISLANDS...AND ST. MARTIN
* ST. KITTS...NEVIS...ANTIGUA...
MONTSERRAT...ANGUILLA...AND BARBUDA
* SABA...ST. EUSTATIUS...AND ST. MAARTEN

A TROPICAL STORM WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR...
* BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS
* PUERTO RICO...VIEQUES...CULEBRA...AND THE U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS

A TROPICAL STORM WARNING MEANS THAT TROPICAL STORM CONDITIONS ARE
EXPECTED SOMEWHERE WITHIN THE WARNING AREA WITHIN 36 HOURS.

A TROPICAL STORM WATCH MEANS THAT TROPICAL STORM CONDITIONS ARE
POSSIBLE WITHIN THE WATCH AREA...GENERALLY WITHIN 48 HOURS.

FOR STORM INFORMATION SPECIFIC TO YOUR AREA IN THE UNITED
STATES...INCLUDING POSSIBLE INLAND WATCHES AND WARNINGS...PLEASE
MONITOR PRODUCTS ISSUED BY YOUR LOCAL NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE
FORECAST OFFICE. FOR STORM INFORMATION SPECIFIC TO YOUR AREA OUTSIDE
THE UNITED STATES...PLEASE MONITOR PRODUCTS ISSUED BY YOUR NATIONAL
METEOROLOGICAL SERVICE.


DISCUSSION AND 48-HOUR OUTLOOK
------------------------------
AT 1100 AM AST...1500 UTC...THE CENTER OF TROPICAL DEPRESSION NINE
WAS LOCATED NEAR LATITUDE 15.1 NORTH...LONGITUDE 52.8 WEST. THE
DEPRESSION IS MOVING TOWARD THE WEST NEAR 20 MPH...32 KM/H...AND
THIS GENERAL MOTION IS EXPECTED TO CONTINUE FOR THE NEXT 48 HOURS.
ON THE FORECAST TRACK...THE CYCLONE SHOULD MOVE THROUGH THE
CENTRAL LESSER ANTILLES WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON OR EVENING...AND EMERGE
OVER THE EASTERN CARIBBEAN SEA BY THURSDAY MORNING.

MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS ARE NEAR 35 MPH...55 KM/H...WITH HIGHER
GUSTS. STRENGTHENING IS FORECAST DURING THE NEXT 48 HOURS...AND
THE DEPRESSION IS EXPECTED TO BECOME A TROPICAL STORM LATER TODAY.
AN AIR FORCE RESERVE HURRICANE HUNTER AIRCRAFT IS SCHEDULED TO
INVESTIGATE THE DEPRESSION THIS AFTERNOON.

ESTIMATED MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE IS 1008 MB...29.77 INCHES.


HAZARDS AFFECTING LAND
----------------------
WIND...TROPICAL STORM CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED TO REACH THE WARNING
AREA BY WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON...MAKING OUTSIDE PREPARATIONS DIFFICULT
OR DANGEROUS.

RAINFALL...TOTAL RAIN ACCUMULATIONS OF 4 TO 8 INCHES ARE POSSIBLE
OVER THE NORTHERN WINDWARD ISLANDS AND THE LEEWARD ISLANDS. TOTAL
RAIN ACCUMULATIONS OF 1 TO 3 INCHES WITH MAXIMUM AMOUNTS OF 6
INCHES ARE POSSIBLE OVER PUERTO RICO AND THE VIRGIN ISLANDS.

STORM SURGE...A STORM SURGE WILL RAISE WATER LEVELS BY AS MUCH AS 1
TO 3 FEET ABOVE NORMAL TIDE LEVELS IN THE NORTHERN LEEWARD ISLANDS.
NEAR THE COAST...THE SURGE WILL BE ACCOMPANIED BY DANGEROUS WAVES.

SURF...DANGEROUS SURF AND RIP CURRENT CONDITIONS WILL AFFECT THE
WINDWARD AND LEEWARD ISLANDS DURING THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS. PLEASE
CONSULT PRODUCTS FROM YOUR LOCAL WEATHER OFFICE FOR MORE
INFORMATION.


NEXT ADVISORY
-------------
NEXT INTERMEDIATE ADVISORY...200 PM AST.
NEXT COMPLETE ADVISORY...500 PM AST.

$$
FORECASTER BEVEN

Have a get it together Tuesday! Do something thoughtfully (and if your own preps are done, help out a neighbor who might be in need!)

Why They Call It Fishing...

Yesterday we went down to Shelter Cove to go fishing with a few friends. "Oh, you throw in your line and we'll fill up the bucket in 45 minutes. It will take us longer to clean them than to bring them in." That's what he said.

Yes, he has a wet suit on. No, I'd never go swimming here. Popsicle MJ? I don't think so.

This is the part where Elijah is supposed to be grinning at me with a big fish on the line.

Even the birds weren't fishing. Or catching.

There were a LOT of dogs around, all big, all boisterous.

This made me a little homesick.

Pink stands out here!

We've moved out on the jetty and Julia still has hopes. I was sure she'd catch the first one.

How some people get their boats out of the water.
This guy drives a tractor like our bulldozer guys do bulldozer ballet.

The sun came out a few times. The fish continued to be bored with shrimp.

I had a lot of time to take photos.

It got cool again. The action was non-stop. Drink some beer/wine, eat some snacks, throw a line. Put on and take off your jacket. 

We got hopeful when the ospreys came out.
They were searching a long time and I only saw one catch a fish.
So it wasn't just us. Really.

And here it is!! The big catch of the day. But for five of us,
not even a cracker's worth, so he was sent back to grow up.

It was a beautiful afternoon, foggy and sunny and full of brininess, with the Pacific tossing and turning around us. Nothing like our warmth and sun, but, while I was perched on a perfect for my butt shaped rock, on the inside I was stretched out and smiling. A lot.

Have a made for the moment Monday. Do something memory making.