When You're Bored

Exploring the Foresthill Divide

Posted on March 26, 2014 by joanienaz

Well, I’m patting myself on the back for getting out into the lovely early spring weather over the weekend. Now it is pouring much-needed rain, and the thermometer has plunged thirty degrees. Back to turtleneck weather.

Sierra Crest from Foresthill Road

Sam and I drove out the Foresthill Road from Auburn on Saturday, and ended up at Sugar Pine Reservoir. This is an area that I have had my eye on for many years, and never got around to investigating.

Sugar Pine Reservoir

The Foresthill Divide is a long ridge between the North Fork and Middle Fork of the American River, surrounded by the Tahoe National Forest in Placer County, California. I had been nearby in the past, and looked up at the ginormous (an engineering term) bridge that spans the North Fork. It looked scary. But we discovered that you can cross the river near the confluence of the forks at a less intimidating elevation.

Foresthill Bridge sign When we reached Sugar Pine Reservoir, we had a picnic near the boat dock and then we took a short hike along the trail around the lake. Part of it was under construction, but it was dry and we had no trouble. If we had more time we could have walked the 3.5 miles around the lake easily. It was very peaceful so early in the season.

Foresthill Bridge from trail

We came back to Auburn by way of the higher bridge. I took these photos from the top, and part way down on a trail. Ironically, I have no photos of the river. Next time, I’ll have to take a photo of the view looking up at the bridge. There were dozens of cars along the sides of the road at the confluence-it was a perfect day for river bathing.

Pipevine Swallowtail on lupine

These swallowtail butterflies were all over the lupine along the side of the road near the bridge. It was a perfect day for every creature.

Anise Swallowtail on lupine

Posted in nature, photography, travel | Tagged American River, Anise Swallowtail, Foresthill Bridge, Foresthill Divide, lupine, nature, photography, Pipevine Swallowtail, Sugar Pine Reservoir, Tahoe National Forest | 4 Comments

In Search of the Elusive, Healthy Cookie

Posted on March 20, 2014 by joanienaz

I haven’t posted any recipes on this site in quite a long time. Those of you who follow my antics know about my obsession with oatmeal cookies. What is an obsession, really, but an attempt to find/create/enjoy a memorable experience? My celebration of the first day of Spring is yet another cookie recipe.

This one has no eggs, no added sugar or salt, and no added fat. The sweetness comes from fresh fruit (apples), cinnamon, and a bit of sugar in the minuscule amount of semi-sweet chocolate chips. Also, there are golden raisins. The fat comes from chopped walnuts, and a bit of vegetable oil added to the glass baking dish. They are chewy and flavorful, not too gooey and not too dry. Here is my recipe:

Joan’s Oatmeal Bars

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

Lightly oil 9″ x 13″ glass baking dish.

Mix together 3 large, grated apples with peel (I used Golden Delicious and Fuji, about 2 cups) and 1 teaspoon cinnamon.

Add 1 1/2 cups flour and 1 teaspoon baking soda and blend.

Add 3 cups Quick Oats, 1 cup chopped walnuts, 3/4 cup golden raisins, and 1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips and mix thoroughly.

Press dough into baking dish using a sheet of waxed paper.

Bake for 25 minutes until golden. Do not over bake.

Cool and cut int 32 bars.

Yum.

Posted in DIY, food, home, photography, sustainable living | Tagged baking, food, healthy, home, low fat, low sodium, low sugar, oatmeal cookies, photography, recipe | Leave a comment

The Great Tulip Experiment

Posted on March 14, 2014 by joanienaz

The deer haven’t been around much this winter. It’s been so dry. Now that some late winter rain has greened things up, however, I’ve seen a couple here and there, and heard them outside the cabin at night.

March tulips 5

When the daffodils came up in great abundance, I couldn’t stand it any longer. I missed my tulips. So I bought some red and yellow ones with buds on them, which I transplanted into large flower pots. I spaced the pots out among the daffodils (apparently poisonous), and waited to see what the deer would do.

Three of the pots have both red and yellow tulips, and two have a single color only. Soon after they bloomed, none of the yellow tulips had been tasted. Was this because they blended in with the color of the daffodils, or because they looked like poisonous flowers? The red tulips that were alone in one pot had their blooms completely removed. This pot was a bit separate from the clumps of daffodils, in the front. One of the pots with both colors in it had one red tulip with a bite out of the bloom.

Now that the daffodils are fizzling out (I think that is a horticultural term), we’ll see what happens to the tulips without their “protection.” In the meantime, I am enjoying my spring color.

Posted in DIY, nature, photography, sustainable living | Tagged bulbs, California, daffodils, deer, home, nature, organic gardening, photography, tulips | 2 Comments

A Wonderland of Moss

Posted on March 7, 2014 by joanienaz

Now that California is finally getting some rain, Spring has officially arrived ahead of schedule. Our latest quick storm brought thunder, lightning, and an overnight deluge to the northern part of the state on Thursday night. The Sierra Nevada mountains, while still under-snowed, looked a lot whiter today after the clouds had blown through the area.

Here are some photos I took between storms. The lush moss has created a fairyland around a rock outcrop on the hill below our cabin. We live in a spot where the pines give way to oaks, with seasonal ponds and plenty of grass.

Before long it will be dry and brown again, but until then I will enjoy all this greenery. In another ten days we may be searching for leprechauns.

Posted in nature, photography | Tagged California, leprechauns, moss, nature, oaks, photography, rain, Sierra Nevada, Spring | 3 Comments

Territorial Red-shouldered Hawk

Posted on March 2, 2014 by joanienaz

Earlier this week the sun was out and the birds were going crazy. Among the avian revelers in my yard was a Red-shouldered Hawk, one half of a pair that has been observed by us perched on the wires along the main road, head bent down, hunting in the field below.

On this particular day, one of the pair was making quite a to-do above the hill in back of the cabin. It finally perched in the top of a spindly pine long enough for me to photograph it as it peered this way and that. After a couple of minutes it flew up the hill, circled, and vanished. I briefly heard its mate.

I haven’t seen this bird hunting in the immediate vicinity of the cabin since January last year. It is a common species in the area. We saw one in a park near here in the same month. These were my best Red-shouldered hawk photos so far. A handsome bird.

Posted in home, nature, photography | Tagged bird watching, California, hobbies, home, nature, photography, Red-shouldered Hawk, taking a walk | Leave a comment

A Pond of Turtles

Posted on February 19, 2014 by joanienaz

Monday was Presidents Day, and a lovely day here in the Sierra Nevada foothills of northern California. As we took a stroll around a local pond, we were treated to a view of five turtles, scattered around the periphery and basking in the late winter sun.

There was one adult with two juveniles, and there were two individuals in separate areas. One of them disappeared into the water before I could photograph it.

As this nature area is on the county fairgrounds, the cattails had recently been trimmed back. The wildlife was still protected, but our view was improved.

When I first saw turtles basking at this pond last year, I assumed they were Pacific Pond Turtles. Now that I have had a closer look at both juveniles and adults, I see that they have the distinctive markings of Red-eared Sliders, a red mark behind the eye (which can fade in older adults), striped yellow markings, and a serrated edge at the rear of the upper shell (carapace).

Here is one of the guides that I used for identification. The Red-eared slider is not native to California, so these turtles were released into the pond by pet owners. They are the most popular pet turtle. due to their small size as juveniles. However, when they grow to adult size and their owners realise how long they live (up to 50 years), they often are released into ponds near populated areas. The turtles are widespread. I will still be searching for native Pacific Pond Turtles.

Posted in nature, photography | Tagged California, nature, photography, pond, Red-eared Sliders, taking a walk, turtles | Leave a comment

The Nuthatch is Back

Posted on February 16, 2014 by joanienaz

nuthatch 1

After another night of rain (which is desperately needed here in northern California), I woke this morning to sunshine and birdsong. I went outside to see if I could capture the images of some of my feathered neighbors, and before I even left the porch I spotted a bird that I haven’t seen in months.

This White-breasted Nuthatch always hangs around the same area, but I haven’t seen it for quite some time. It is the largest nuthatch, and a noisy, year-round resident. My schedule has changed, and the weather has been much different from last year’s. So even though we haven’t met of late, I’m certain it has been doing its usual thing.

nuthatch 3

What a treat to have good light and active songbirds all at the same time. The new leaves are out on the oaks, and the insect supply is abundant. Late winter feels more like early spring, no matter what the Pennsylvanian groundhog has to say about it.

Posted in home, nature, photography | Tagged bird watching, California, hobbies, nature, photography, White-breasted Nuthatch | 2 Comments

False Spring Has Sprung

Posted on February 5, 2014 by joanienaz

In between the rain that has arrived at last, I have been stalking the songbirds around the cabin this week. The light has been infuriating, but I am stubborn. The monochromatic Oak Titmouse, signature species of the oak woodland where I dwell, is so quick it is difficult to track through the naked branches as it forages. The only reason I can keep up with it at all is the constant noise it makes.

Oak Titmouse

A pair of Western Bluebirds appears to be nesting in the vicinity of a clump of mistletoe, and the male has been perching in the tops of a variety of nearby trees.

Western Bluebird

A trip to a local pond for a walk included a visit from a Great Egret, often seen perched in a tree along the shore. Another series of storms is headed our way, and I will be perched for quick trips outside in between to catalog more harbingers of Spring.

Posted in nature, photography | Tagged bird watching, California, Great Egret, nature, Oak Titmouse, oak woodland, photography, pond, taking a walk, Western Bluebird | 2 Comments

The Opposite of Rain

Posted on January 30, 2014 by joanienaz

Here in the Sierra foothills of Northern California, we have had exactly two days of rain this month. The first single day of moisture was a light mist to a drizzle. The second, yesterday, was real rain, with puddles forming and everything. It began tentatively, picked up a bit, paused, and then came down with a vengeance, lasting into the evening.

This is in stark contrast to the rest of January, which has been the opposite of rainy. Every last bit of moisture has been sucked out of the landscape by unseasonably warm and dry conditions. There is little snow pack in the mountains; a horrific drought has descended upon the Golden State.

Flicker

I was relieved to say the least when I got caught in a light shower while out running errands. This morning, the air smelled fresh and clean. The birds were hopping around in the damp leaves, finding plenty of food. Along with a flock of Juncos, I spotted this Flicker. The clouds are still hanging around, and I hope they gather again and wet things down before they blow away.

Posted in nature, photography | Tagged bird watching, California, clouds, drought, Flicker, nature, photography, rain, sky | Leave a comment

Liebster Award

Posted on January 22, 2014 by joanienaz

A shout out to Jwls Mac Ray for nominating me for the Liebster Blog Award. Thank you for the honor! It is an award given to highlight smaller blogs with less than 200 followers. If you choose to accept the award, you may answer the 10 questions sent by the person who nominated you.

My answers to Jwls Mac Ray‘s questions:

1. When did you begin blogging on WordPress?

I wrote my first blog post about ten years ago.

2. What is your main focus on your blog?

The focus of my blog is creativity and nature study.

3. What inspires you to write?

I often wake up with fresh ideas in the morning. I’m not sure where they originate!

4. What is your most unusual writing place?

I have written in my car.

5. Does music inspire your creativity?

Sometimes it does. But I write without background music.

6. Why do you follow blogs?