Wouldn’t it be great if Wednesday was the first day of the week? All of our anxiety over how to get through yet another five-day work week (for those of us who follow a traditional schedule) would dissolve. Sure everything else would shift, so that our weekend would fall on Monday and Tuesday. Many people already have this kind of schedule. But the beauty of a shift is that our habits don’t change that quickly. So while our mind and body are out of sync, we will be fooled (for a while) into thinking we’re getting a break. Just a thought.

Enjoy your Wednesday, the first day of the new year. I like the sound of 2014. It’s an even number. Solid. Try not to think about it too much. Just live in the moment. Before you know, it will be December again. While you’re not thinking about how long January lasts, here are some images to ponder.

Mad River Beach

My husband and I made our periodic trek out to the coast in Humboldt County in December. Now that we live in the Sierra foothills, I miss the ocean, but not the fog (except when the thermometer passes 90 degrees). The last couple of times we were at Mad River Beach, it was socked in with fog. This is the view looking South on our most recent visit. The fog was burning off, and it was sunny and beautiful. Arcata at its best.

Bufflehead on Mad River

On the Sunday before Christmas, we paused along the Mad River on our way to the beach to check out some Bufflehead and a Grebe, two of my favorite water birds.

Grebe on Mad River

I followed one of these sandpipers along Mad River Beach below the mouth of the river for some distance. Then the other one appeared.

Strolling Sandpiper

They were gracious enough to pause in between scurrying back and forth along the edge of the surf.

Sandpipers at Mad River Beach

Happy New Year, and may your wildlife sightings be plentiful.