Pigeon vs. crow

The photos at Everything is Permuted are consistently outstanding. The photographer chronicles the lives of a family of foxes that have visited his backyard for years, but he also turns his camera everywhere, capturing stunning moments like this fight between a pigeon and a crow. When you have a moment to relax, treat yourself.

Baby birds and elephants

Photo from Stirway to Heaven

Scientific American posted an article today dispelling the myth that baby birds and other little critters that have strayed or fallen from their nest
will be rejected by their parents if touched by humans. The good news is: THEY WON'T BE REJECTED BY THEIR PARENTS! You can safely return a fallen fledging to its home. Just be very careful to not disturb the nest. Parents do find that upsetting and may move everyone, including the returned baby, but not without great trouble. I wish I'd known this when I was kid. I still remember agonizing over downed baby birds that died because we didn't put them back in the nest. All those sad, shoe box beds, digging worm, soaking bread in water only to find the poor thing dead by morning.




Okay then. For my proxy amends, I voted for the Elephant Sanctuary again. There's only 3 days left to help them win the $100,000. In case you're wondering if the Sanctuary makes proper use of their funds, they get top rating from Charity Navigator. Be sure and vote everyday!

Off road trailer report

Don wanted to see some photos of the off-road trailer that's been Lee's back yard project since last summer so here they are...


We didn't want to isolate on the shake-down trip we went to that rare Nevada campsite that actually has picnic tables, latrines and, caramba, other people. For the most part, everything checked out just fine but he still has to work on making it easier to refill the tank from the extra gas cans. You can't see them in this photo but, besides the two on the tongue, there are two more cans inside the trailer along with lots-o-water, kitchen supplies etc.The super-siphon is very cool and worked fine externally but wasn't long enough to reach from the cans inside the trailer.


The REI screen house is also new. It is a fucking wilderness palace. The flies could only dream of puking on us and our food as we sat within enjoying scrumptious camp feasts.


We used to think we were camping in the lap of luxury when the tent was on top of the jeep. However, we couldn't drive to a nearby area without breaking everything down and taking it all with us and oops, no screen house! How did we ever get along?



It's a big improvement with the tent on the detachable trailer along with all extra gear and water and, of course, the airy palace which awaits our return after a day of poking around the Great Basin. Finally we have a base camp for extended exploration.

Love among the sunflowers

 

They planted thousands of sunflowers in the spring.

Along with the evergreens, they were stately witness.

The bride was beautiful. The groom was handsome.

The yard, the thousands of sunflowers,
family, friends, food and music, all wonderful.
 

Even though it looked like it might, it didn't rain.

Clark's dog Edison wore a bow tie and
Asia's dog Cairo was lovely in her huge white bow.

 

As the sun set and the sunflower forest faded into the twilight,
the thousands of tiny lights strung through the orchard for the occasion

 

came on adding an extra touch of magic to an already magical day.

Honeymoon in hurricane season

I just got a call from the honeymooners. Blue skies, perfect temperatures and, other than the bride sobbing her heart out this morning over Edison the dog's losing battle with cancer (he was at the wedding in fine spirits, wearing his shiny black bow tie, eating heart shaped cookies and occasionally strolling out to mingle with the crowd) the tensions of the last few months are wafting away like jungle steam. At the moment they're in Old San Juan, soon to fly to the beautiful, romantic island of Culebra. photos I know I'm being silly about Tropical Storm Dalila, but a mama's got to keep an eye on things, eh? Anyway, here's the latest from Weather Underground:

These factors should limit significant

strengthening in the short-term and

ultimately result in weakening beyond

48 hours. Dalila will begin to encounter

cooler waters after 48 hours.
HA!

And this from Dive Global:

Although hurricanes can develop any time of the year in Puerto Rico, the season is generally considered to be from July to November, with September the most likely month. Island folklore has it this way:

June, too soon
July, pass by
August, we must
Remember September
October, all over.

So...

Wedding sketch

I can't go into detail about The Wedding. I'd get into big trouble with my daughter if I did that. You'll have to wait until after the honeymoon and she's back at the keyboard, ten days to a couple of weeks from now but I can't help saying one tiny thing. The Day was, in every way, Perfect.

Currently, the happy couple is honeymooning in Puerto Rico. Haven't been there but I'm sure it's wonderful. However, now that the pre-wedding trauma is over I, for one, am on post-wedding storm watch. Tropical Storm Dalila is just off Mexico's west coast. I'm not totally freaking out because we were in the Yucatan during Hurricane Wilma and, although ultimately Gamma was just one too many, we never felt that threatened. Keep a good thought with me?

Outta here

We're off to Oregon. My baby girl is getting married this weekend! Sorry. Photos and videos story from the trip will have to wait. I have a bad case of the flu.

Hasta la vista.

Return

Earth dreaming sky

We're back from our shake down trip in the Nevada interior. I'm exhausted. Facing the bitter, sad history of the land, the animals, suspended, crumbling into the vastness, emptied me. Oh yes. It was also invigorating and wonderful. There are a few bugs to still work out but, tor the most part, the new gear worked just fine. It was very different having a base camp instead of changing locations every couple of days. We took on too much, drove to many miles trying to cover too much territory. From now on, with a base camp, we can limit ourselves to a radius and get into the details. We did hike about half way up from the floor of the basin to the Alta Toquima snowman, but didn't make it to the top. Not on the agenda this time, thank the gods.

I took several photos and a few videos. As soon as they are ready, I'll post a few. At the moment, I'm moving pretty slow. Nice to be back but the desert hangs over my head like a vulture reminding me that these towns, these comforts forced upon it are, like everything and everyone that has tried establishing itself in this land, passing.

In a couple of days, we leave for Portland and The Wedding.

Hasta la vista

We're leaving in the morning for a four day shake-down camping trip to the middle of Nevada. Time to try out the off road trailer Lee built. We'll skirt the northern boundary of Area 51 for a bit before turning north into the Alta Toquima wilderness. That's where, a few Julys ago, I was lucky enough to photograph the famous, highly elusive Alta Toquima snowman. So, take care. Don't burn down the house. Vote for the Elephant Sanctuary (thanks Asia!) and save my place at the Busy Bee.