Backyard Blue Jay Contemplating the Garden

while thinking about, wishing for and singing about PEANUTS!

Reading Christopher Hitchens' exquisite memoir in between taking photos of my favorite things outside in 77 degree weather. 

The perfect Sunday!

Attacked by Wild Turkeys

So, for my post birthday, at the invitation of Kim Foscato, I go out to Skywalker Ranch for a delightful karate class taught by the incomparable Derek Bentley.  Thankfully my Yoga Fairfax classes have gotten me back in shape enough to keep up.  As I cruise back to my car with lunch in hand, I'm attacked by two wild turkeys!  There were three Toms courting a Hen.  I made the mistake of stopping and making eye contact.  When they saw me watching them two Toms veered off and started after me.  I threw ice water at them to no avail and ran to my car.  Like the Velociraptors in Jurassic Park (which, according to this article were, in fact, just scary turkeys) they split up and came after me from the front and end of my car.  Swinging my fanny pack and lunch at them, I scrambled to get into the car as they huffed and puffed and jumped and moved in closer.  Once in my car, they tried to stop me from leaving and, after finally getting by them, I could see them in my rear view mirror chasing after me running 10 miles per hour.  Phew!  Turns out there are a lot of Wild Turkey attacks out there these days if the YouTube turkey attack videos are any indication.  But guess what - they are not all attacking Mail Persons.

The photo pictured here was taken last Spring at Skywalker.  It seemed appropriate since the weather today was very Springish.  The turkey is from the beautiful book "Birds - The Art of Ornithology" by Jonathan Elphick and is one of John James Audubon's hand-colored aquatints.  The book is well worth having.  The turkeys are not.  Let's all eat Turkey for dinner this week!

Seattle Running Mom

Pictured here is Amber running with the twins down the streets of Seattle around GasWorks Park and back - a quick three miler (except when you have to stop for the light).  The air was clean and crisp at 36 degrees.

No Outlet

Driving down the back roads from Petaluma to San Anselmo this past week,  I stopped to watch a flock of starlings.  They were flying up into the air and diving for insects or massing together on the open fields and on telephone lines.  There were hundreds of birds, all chirping loudly and enjoying the day.  It seemed idyllic until one looked more closely at the ramshackle farm house and the "No Outlet" sign.  It might be fun for the birds but I doubt if it's easy being a farmer.

Camels in Petaluma?

Look who I ran into on the back road to Marin after going to Cottage Gardens in Petaluma! This big guy was next to a field filled with goats.  Not what I was expecting to see but a lovely sight nevertheless.

Hand Painted Bookmarks at Iolite Event

These hand painted bookmarks, and more, will be available for only $2/ea at the 6th Annual Iolite Art Event and Party.  More info and directions are here "What Me Worry?".  Click on EVENTS then 1/22/2011 for directions.  Click on IOLITE 6TH ANNUAL ART EVENT AND PARTY for the invitation and time.

Angel Elsa Acting Goofy