Silly Geese

Canada geese at fairgrounds

Canada geese congregate in our area during the winter months, wherever there is a stretch of open grass. They can be found feeding and looking quite majestic in horse pastures and near grazing cattle. They even populate the baseball diamond at the school where Sam teaches. I often hear them honking near the cabin where we live.

goose trio

Over the weekend, Sam and I took a break after running errands to walk at the county fairgrounds. It’s a great place to stretch your legs during the winter. There are paved walkways through the pines, and a small pond in a meadow near the campground has a path around it that is walkable when it hasn’t rained for a while.

hungry geese

A flock of geese patrols the pond area, along with a variety of ducks, a resident red-shouldered hawk, and an egret. I had my camera with me, and while I had intended to photograph the egret, I ended up with a variety of goose images.

more hungry geese

They posed for me near a puddle, then I found my way to the edge of the pond, dodging goose droppings as I went, to a spot where they are often fed by those who don’t seem to realize there are plenty of natural edibles for them in the vicinity. The geese took flight toward me to get their fair share. They landed gracefully and kept a birds’ eye on me, but to no avail.

goose landing

When I got too close to the egret’s perch, it flew across the pond. I headed back to the car where my husband waited, and along came a couple more geese straight toward me. I informed them that I had no food (with gestures), and they left me alone. I found the antics of the geese to be fascinating and comical. I hope you enjoy them.

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A Writing Contest!

ground cover in JanuaryJanuary flowers are full of hope!

When I opened the file of my National Novel Writing Month document two days ago, the novel I began on November first of last year, the date on it was December 2. I hadn’t worked on it, or even looked at it, since then. I took a deep breath and clicked.

Why go back to it at all? Why not keep procrastinating? My avoidance strategy has worked fine for the past seven weeks. I even began a new novel. Why finish the old one?

I’ll tell you why. My father always said, “Finish what you start.” Completing a task is embedded in my early learning. Also, I found a contest to enter.

The amazing thing about a contest is that no matter how many times you don’t win, you are right back at it again the next time one rolls around. You never learn. Call me an optimist, but please don’t call me naive.

I know what my chances of success are. But if I wasn’t a dreamer, a believer that things can and will work out, I wouldn’t be writing in the first place. So here I go again.

This contest is sponsored by Writer’s Digest, specifically Chuck Sambuchino’s Guide to Literary Agents Blog. All you have to do is email the first 150-200 words of your YA or Sci Fi novel, and post links to the contest. It’s FREE.

Let me tell you though, those 150-200 words had better be good. This is an excellent way to approach editing your work. Getting someone excited about reading your book in one page is no small feat. Once you have cleaned up the first page, the rest of it should be no problem, right?

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The Daily Writing Habit

frosty amThe weather has begun to change here in the Northern California foothills, from the frosty days of the past week or two to sunny skies and warmer temperatures. As my brain has thawed, I have been getting back to my writing. New Year’s resolutions sound good at the end of December, but by the middle of January the guilt arrives.

I chose so many resolutions for 2013 some of them are bound to be kept. Sam and I have been taking afternoon walks. I have given up chocolate (except for that one cup of hot cocoa). I read the first eleven chapters of Les Miserables (only 354 left to go).

But the novel I began writing last November, during National Novel Writing Month, remains untouched since the end of that month. Instead of finishing it, I have begun another. I came up with the idea when I was looking at something online having to do with technology in education, and began thinking about a science fiction plot.

So far I have three pages. Sometimes that’s all it takes to get the creative juices flowing again. Another cup of hot cocoa wouldn’t hurt, either.

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Cabin Fever

Today was a clear and sunny day in western Nevada County, California, and although the air was chilly, Sam and I decided to take a stroll in a local park several miles from the cabin. As the warmer air in the open was more inviting than the chilly damp air in the shade (where there was still unmelted ice), we soon found ourselves gazing up at huge oak trees spread across a wide grassy area.

Red-shouldered Hawk 1

Winter is the perfect time to watch raptors hunt. A Red-shouldered Hawk flew between perches as we enjoyed the show. Without leaves to obscure our view, we were able to see this agile avian in action.

Red-shouldered Hawk 2

The light was much better today for photographing wildlife than it was during  my attempts this past week. Not only was I able to get close to my subject, but this hawk obliged me by spreading its wings and taking a short flight in the sun-lit afternoon. My chilled face was well worth venturing outside.

Red-shouldered Hawk 3

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Hawk Hangout

Red-shouldered Hawk in Oak

Red-shouldered Hawk on hunting perch in oak tree

A Red-shouldered Hawk has been hunting on the hill behind the cabin I share with my husband Sam in the foothills near Grass Valley, California. I have caught it flying low over the grass a couple of times during the past month. The last time, I watched it land in a nearby oak.

Red-shouldered Hawk in January 3

I brought my camera outside and approached the raptor’s perch with care. It didn’t appear to be bothered by my presence, but I chose not to get too close! These images capture the appearance of this bird of prey in the early afternoon on a cloudy January day.

Red-shouldered Hawk in January 1

The Red-shouldered Hawk is found in the eastern part of the US as well as along the Pacific coast. It is slightly smaller than the Red-tailed Hawk.

Red-shouldered Hawk in January 2

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Winter Swan Dance

Oodles of Trumpeter Swans have spent weeks cruising around the ponds along Highway 20 in Sutter and Yuba Counties in the Sacramento River Valley. My husband Sam and I have enjoyed watching them as we drive between our home in Mendocino County and the  cabin we rent in Nevada County, where he works. They peaked in numbers between Thanksgiving and Christmas. Several series of storms passed through the area during that time, and the snow-white birds were looking pretty grubby from feeding in the murky water, but their gleaming majesty was still evident.

skating swan

On our way back up to the Sierra Nevada foothills yesterday afternoon after two weeks spent near the coast, the light was fading but I was impatient to pull over for a photo shoot. Where were the swans? Most of them had flown the coop.

Perhaps the food supply had dwindled to the point that it was time to go shopping again. The crowds of birds had vanished, but there were still a few groups of hangers-on, so I pulled out my camera and took my best shots. The light was muted by passing clouds, but the poses of these graceful avians were reflected in the glass-like water.

swan quartet

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Welcome to My Virtual Book Club

One of my resolutions for 2013 is to read the French historical novel Les Miserables, by Victor Hugo. I was inspired by the recently released film, and thought that it would be a good project to start off the year. It may keep me busy for the next twelve months. There are 365 chapters, and although they are relatively short, the entire novel fills about 1500 pages. If I can manage to read at least a chapter a day, I will finish the book by the end of this year.

So far I have read the first three chapters; I am ahead of schedule. It’s always more fun to share an experience with others, so I am going to blog about my progress and thoughts as I read this lengthy novel. I invite you to join me at any time. This virtual book club will be a regular feature of the blog.

The first volume of the book (there are five volumes in all) is Fantine. The first book of this volume, A Just Man, contains fourteen chapters, and they detail the background and life of Monseigneur Myriel. I have discovered in the first three chapters that the Bishop is a determined man. He is dedicated to do as much good in the world as possible.

When the story unfolds, the Bishop is already an elderly man. We are not told very much about his younger days, but he is from a noble family, and lives with his sister and a female servant. He was married, and left the country during the period of the revolution, but returned to France after the death of his wife as a man of the cloth. His character is immediately understood to be self-sacrificing when he exchanges his home in a palace with the humble building of the adjacent hospital, because there are so many in one and so few in the other.

This French historical novel was originally published in 1862. The translation that I downloaded from Amazon is easy to read. Victor Hugo wrote meticulously to paint a vivid picture of his characters.

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Picture a Day #353 – My Resolutions and a Painting

Here it is: my last Picture a Day of the year. Although I did not make it to #366, I came pretty darn close. If I hadn’t lost Internet recently, and hadn’t moved, etc…perhaps I would have completed my goal for the year.

I am already hard at work on my resolutions for 2013. First of all, inspired by the movie I saw two nights ago, I have ordered a FREE copy of Les Miserables for my Kindle. I plan to read it in the new year. I understand that there are 365 chapters, so if I can read a chapter a day, I should be able to finish it in the next twelve months. Who would like to read it along with me, and have a weekly online Book Talk? Anyone out there interested? Feel free to join in at any time. I will be posting my thoughts as I read right here!

On to my next resolution. I haven’t been painting lately. The inspiration left, and I have spent weeks searching for a new topic to explore. Today I began a piece, tentatively titled Paper or Plastic. So far I think it looks like a cluster of bundled street people from Les Miserables…we’ll see where I go from here with my collage.

Paper or Plastic 1

I began with a canvas and acrylic paints. I mixed Alizarin Crimson, Cadmium Yellow Light, and White to cover the canvas. Then I collaged a plastic bag, torn open, onto the canvas. Next I plan to add some  pieces of brown paper bag to the ensemble. What do you think?

Happy New Year to one and all. May your projects bring you joy in the months ahead!

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Picture a Day #352 – Movie Night

Last night I went to the movies with my oldest daughter. We drove across town to a tiny theatre which has been divided in two, but the size of the cinema made no difference. The movie we enjoyed transported us to another place and time.

Les-miserables-movie-poster1Les Miserables is a story known to many, but one I had never experienced. Embarrassed by my ignorance, I asked my husband (the wise guy) to give me a brief synopsis. He said it was about “a guy who helps a girl.” OK. No mention of the French Revolution, the struggle between good and evil, class warfare, true love. Ah well.

I was mesmerized, sucked into the lives of the suffering, struggling characters who sang their hearts out with tears rolling down their faces. The close-up shots were effective. I felt their pain.

My favorite character was Gavroche. That kid put so many others to shame with his juvenile bravery.

Now I am considering reading the novel by Victor Hugo, published in 1862 and admired as one of the greatest novels of all time. It is also one of the longest. This would be a challenging New Year’s resolution for 2013.

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Picture a Day #351 – Cookie Time Again

The holidays are a time for cookies, cookies, and more cookies. I wanted to take a favorite from my childhood and give it a personal twist, so I looked up the Betty Crocker recipe for Molasses Crinkles.

In the interests of reducing my fat and sugar intake, I substituted grated apple, which is something I do quite often. This made a less rich cookie, but it is still a spicy delight!

Molasses Apple Cookies

Mix together 1 grated apple (about 1 cup),  1/4 cup vegetable oil, 1/2 cup packed brown sugar, 1/4 cup molasses, and 1 egg.

Molasses Apple Cookies 1

Add 2 and 1/4 cups unbleached flour, 2 teaspoons baking soda, 1 teaspoon cinnamon, 1 teaspoon ginger, and 1/2 teaspoon cloves.

Molasses Apple Cookies 2

Cover and chill at least 2 hours.

Molasses Apple Cookies 3

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Oil a cookie sheet. Shape the dough into balls, dusting with a bit of flour (dough will be sticky). Dip tops in granulated sugar and place sugar side up on cookie sheet, a couple of inches apart. Bake 8-10 minutes, depending on size. Cool on a wire rack.

Molasses Apple Cookies 4

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