Special Day

A very happy Shasta
on this Summer Solstice
and 2021 Father's Day

A bit tardy with this post. We have been celebrating the very first Father's Day Dwight has had both of his two daughters with him since I have known him (34 years). And of course, Mike, Katie's husband, joined us to Shasta's delight since he is one of her very favorite humans in the whole wide world.

 Dwight and Leigh put together the swing frame

over the previous day. And we found just the right spot

for it in the corner of the backyard.

Above is daughter Katie, Dwight and 

daughter Leigh enjoying the swing.

Mike in the back

Katie, Dwight, Cathie

Shasta in the front.

Leigh playing with Shasta's ears.
All are just so happy to BE together!

Once Shasta could rouse herself

from enjoying the cool slate of the 

back patio, she found the zinnia leaves 

make for a very tasty snack.

The summer solstice is the time of greatest light. 

It is a day of enormous power. 

The whole planet is turned 

fully to the brilliance of the sun.

The great culmination is not static or permanent.

Indeed, solstice as a time of culmination 

is only a barely perceptible point. 

The sun appears to stand still.

Its diurnal motion seems to nearly cease.

Yesterday, it was still reaching this point,

tomorrow, it will begin a new phase of its cycle.”

Some “celebrate this day to remind themselves 

of the cycles of existence.

They remember that all cycles 

have a left and a right,

an up side and down side,

a zenith and a nadir.

. . . All of life is cycles.

All of live is balance.

So celebrate . . .”

365 Tao: Daily Meditations, Deng Ming-Dao

Bright purple seed pods
of the evergreen perennial (Dianella tasmanica),
along the West side of the walkway 
from the front to the back of our house.
Two of the plants will go to Katie.
All the remaining are earmarked for the yard waste bin
UNLESS someone locally reading this wants 1? 2? or ?

As we all celebrate cycles, balance and this glorious day of the greatest light, may we

Meanderings

Meanderings in our new neighborhood is both familiar and not. While I use to shop at Oliver's, the local grocery store here in Cotati, while we lived at MuRefuge, we did not walk about this cozy little town of over 7,000. We did used to walk along the Laguna de Santa Rosa headwaters that our English friend and now near neighbor restored. The plantings are all native and have grown into stunning flowering shrubs and native blooming trees like the Buckeye tree which I love.

We have a long, narrow "dog" park (Delano Park) just across the street from our new home that Shasta and I walk through each morning as we use to walk to Lopez Park in Santa Fe. Some mornings we meet a number of dogs and their owners, other we are by ourselves. As we come out at the far end of the park there is an expansive field across the street. Here's what we saw this morning.

Each morning we see the two cows and usually a small flock of wild turkeys of which there is a plethora, both here in Cotati and other towns and cities in Sonoma County. We have heard of over 200 in flocks and most all the citizens complain of the numbers. If they get into one,s garden they can reek havoc with the plantings for sure!

As we round the corner and come upon the City of Cotati Munipal Center, we pass a stunning planting of Matilla poppies which is my most favorite "bush" for its spectacular "floppy" flowers.

Matilija Poppy (Romney coulters)

And here is what the "bush" looks like.

My plan is to have one? two? three? in front of our breakfast nook window near the "floppy" flowered rose bush that rests against the garage. 

As you can see the flowers of the two have a similar quality. And while I am neither a big fan of roses nor do I have any skill in knowing how to care for roses, this rose is rather growing on me. The other yellow with a slight reddish tint rose bush I will dig up this week. The lady who cares for all the roses at the church down the street is going to plant it with all the pink and red roses which have been donated by people after their loved one's funeral. She was delighted to get another color.  

After breakfast all three of us have a couple mile walk, sometimes longer. One of our new favorites is walking West beneath the freeway into a neighborhood with really old stately homes and small newer ones as well as bigger ones dotting the shady road.

Another common bird is the peacock.
Here is one in his favorite
shady spot
where we see him almost each time 
we walk here.
We have seen a female with two babies
 . . . cute beyond description!

Here you see a male turkey attempting to woo a nearby female
who seem uninterested, at least to this human's thought of the matter.

A touch of Santa Fe: 
here is a picture of
Olive Tyrrell's, the chef at
The Kitchen located
in the Plants of the Southwest,
beautiful slab pot
with a rabbit foot fern
sitting on the back of our
new very low flow toilet.

I know it has been almost two months since I have written a post. Seems the moving, unpacking, having my very first yard sale (with stupendous guidance from Katie), digging up plants and throwing them into the garden waste bins x2  which get filled to the brim weekly, going to an A's game every few weeks and spending time with our long time friends here in Sonoma County . . .  well, the time has sped by. But now you can look forward to the upcoming Summer Solstice post.

There is one native plant, well it is actually a vine, that was previously planted in the gardens of 35 Page Street. This I will not only keep but cherish especially when the Pipevine Swallowtails eventually visit and lay eggs on the leaves. 

California Pipevine (Aristolochia californica)
now retrellised after all the icky redwood bark
was removed, then watered and fed.

May we all during these unsettled times (what an understatement . . .huh?) continue to

2021 Second Cross Quarter Day

May Day, or Beltane, is the halfway point between the Spring equinox and the Summer solstice. It marked the beginning of summer for the ancient Celts. It was a day for dance and song to honor the sown fields beginning to sprout. 

May Day when I was a child was celebrated by picking flowers and putting them in pretty hand made baskets. Then these baskets were delivered to neighbors by knocking on doors and running away . . . laughing.

 

To celebrate the second cross quarter day of 2021 and May Day, rather than delivering baskets of flowers, I am sending pictures taken on our morning walk with Shasta.

                                 Tidy Tips (Layia platyglossa) is one of my favorite wildflowers.

                                         California poppies (Eschscholzia californica)

Live Coastal Oak (Quercus agrifolia)

Apple blossoms with pollinator

As the seasons turn may we all enjoy a heartful

Whirlwind

LEAVING

1832 San Felipe Circle, Santa Fe, New Mexico

The day after "our" POD was delivered and picking up our 12 foot Penske truck, we packed up. Of course, we had the stellar help of Affordable Movers who filled both the POD and truck to the brim! When the house was empty on Wednesday, March 03, we drove to Albuquerque. Dwight in the truck and Cathie with Shasta in the Prius. Whew! Were we ever glad to sleep! The next day on to Las Vegas, Nevada where the smog was worse than any time we have been in Los Angeles.

Over the mountains and into Bishop, California, for another night of sleep. The entire next day was leisurely: our favorite hike along the Western edge of Mono Lake

Our view East looking across Mono Lake

Off leash Shasta's having great fun leaping in the snow
after being cooped up in the car  for three days.

and a picnic in the Lee Vining city park overlooking Mono Lake. Then we drove North on Highway 395 to Minden, Nevada, for our last night of sleeping "on the road". Sunday we checked into our short term, very small rental on the Northern edge of Sebastopol, California.

While on the road our Stamm home in Santa Fe sold and our realtor/friend did a stellar job of "making this happen" sooner than later. As I write this post the new owners have moved in are getting settled. 

ARRIVING

  

35 Page Street, Cotati, California
picture taken by Michael Stoyka.

Our search for a Sonoma County home began in earnest the day after our arrival. We are ever so fortunate to have another outstanding realtor. We spent four days driving around Petaluma as this is where we imagined ourselves buying a house. In the area we desired to live no houses were for sale. And then this house pictured above appeared in Cotati. 

Our realtor, Dwight and I jumped on looking at it immediately. We have long time English friends who live in Cotati not far from this house so they are excited to have us nearby. Tanis came to see the house the day before offers were due. She said, "It is so you," and we discovered she had never been to Cotati before. We had a lovely lunch at the Redwood Cafe to celebrate finding our "perfect" house.

So now we are waiting to move in. As we orchestrate the move in we are enjoying a frequent

Aaaaaaaaah Awesome

The above picture was taken from Auntie T's lovely
Pt. Reyes Station home's outside sitting area.  
Since the tide is out the area is pretty much dry.
When we first visited many years ago, 
this area was grasslands filled with cattle grazing.  
We watched the returning of the water to this area
during the Giacomini Wetland Restoration Project.
When the last levee was breached,
the water previously held back returned.
It was a pretty impressive event which we felt fortunate to view.
Now when the tide is "in" the area is filled with
all kinds of birds, large and small, feeding.

The dead tree has been purposely left for the herons,
both kinds of egrets, and Bald Eagles to roost in. 
While sitting in the sunshine turkey vultures like to spred out their wings to dry.

The very first time Shasta visited she walked onto the pond.
She was surprised when she fell into water.
Needless to say, she, BEing the very smart dog she is,
has not repeated her experience. She presently is walking
about the pond sniffing all the delicious smells left
by the myriad of critters who visit.

A stunning white flowering area

Another impressive flowering area. 
This one in shades of pink to lavender.

Pink flowering currant (Ribes sanguineum)

The tiny blue flowering plants are Bluebells. 

Tanis is not a native plant fanatic as I am.

She use to be a "professional" gardener using plants

of all variation, choosing the right plant for the right spot

in each and every garden she planted and cared for. 

In her own garden she has followed that path.

So I do not know the names of all the plants 

in her garden nor of the ones photographed for this post.

The bottom of this walkway leads
to the brick area featured in the very first picture above.

Beyond the gate sits Tanis' new hybrid Camry. 

One of the many different California Wild Lilacs (Ceanothus).
This particular one was chosen for this spot because of its vibrant purple color.

 Both buildings of this home have a sod roof.  
There is a bedroom and bathroom in one building
and in the other is a kitchen, living room,
meditation room, computer space
and TV room with a Murphy bed
+ another bathroom with a sauna adjoined.
Many of the kittie cats that have lived here
love to sleep on the luxurious roofs for their naps.

The hot tub is on left in this picture 

with table and chairs for eating outside slightly to its right. 

Apple trees have been planted below the bricked area.

Looking beyond the apple trees is the tidal area towards the West.

Behind the far ridge covered with trees is the Pacific Ocean. 

The area is known as the Point Reyes National Seashore.

The entire time we were all together in this Aaaaaaaaah Awesome setting, we shared many a

Glorious Spring

Our arrival in Sonoma County was heralded by verdant green rolling hills, teeny tiny lambs gamboling together, cows and calves feasting on fields of lush green grass and fruit tree in glorious bloom.

Rosemary in full flower
near the Joe Rodota Trail

Wild plum tree in bloom along the Joe Rodota Trail
in Sebastopol. This trail was previously a railroad track . . .
now a wonderful biking, walking, running path
between Sebastopol and Santa Rosa.

Ahhhhhhhh . . . the very best is BEing at sea level where my heart is so happy because it does not have to work so hard and walking is pleasurably easy rather than a breath taking experience. Shasta is enjoying eating fresh green grass on our early morning stroll down the lane. She does miss her romps with Hobbs at Lopez Park however. 

The Spring or Vernal Equinox is March 20, 2021. It occurs when the Sun heading North in the sky crosses the equator line. This tilting more towards the Sun results in increasing daylight hours and warming temperatures here in the Northern Hemisphere. This shift brings about all the glorious signs of Spring that are so uplifting after Winter. 

We have recently come from the high mountainous desert of Santa Fe, New Mexico, where it was Winter when we departed. Thus we are especially joyful to BE experiencing the vibrancy of Spring here in Sonoma County. Rain has been falling a number of days we have been here. The rain feels so nourishing and many tell us that it is so needed. Auntie T in Point Reyes Station, California, tells us she has measured only 1/2 of her typical rainfall in her rain gauge.

Wild turkeys with the males strutting their stuff by fanning
out their tails and puffing up their feather to attract the females.

Mustard blooming in the foreground
Valley Oaks in the back ground.

This whole year plus of "lock down" has taken a toll on all of us. At this time of Spring when we see renewal all about us, may we feel the vitality of springtime and the regenerative energy. Ahold of the season's energy may we dig deep to tap into our own resilience for each day going forward during these trying times.

How strange and wonderful our home, our earth,
With its swirling vaporous atmosphere,
Its flowing and frozen climbing creatures,
The croaking things with wings that hang on rocks
And soar through fog, the furry grass, the scaly seas
How utterly rich and wild . . .
Yet some among us have the nerve,
The insolence, the brass, the gall to whine
About the limitations of our earthbound fate
And yearn for some more perfect world beyond the sky
We are none of us good enough
For the world we have.
         Edward Abbey

As we celebrate Spring in all her glory may we each have a joyful belly

Climate Catastrophe

 

Photograph taken by Rosa Arroyo
near Villanueva, New Mexico:
two of her dogs romping in the snow.

We awakened to still more snow and it continued snowing for several hours after we were preparing breakfast. I am so aware this "unseasonal weather" here and across much of the United States is another reminder that the climate catastrophe is upon us. Our inadequate, and in some areas nonexistent, preparation for such events is bringing to "front and center" that altering these ways of going about our lives will determine our future. 

I receive regular posts from Susan Wittig Albert who lives in the Hill Country of Texas. In her recent one she wrote of their preparations on their property and about what she is learning. Included in this post were "comments" and in one of these the below appeared: 

Prayer for Texas

God, they are boiling water

and it is simply to drink,

except in places

where they is no power for boiling.

They are lighting candles

when the lights have gone out,

and there are fires.

They face frozen pipelines

and frost-bitten fingers,

icy highways,

desperate nursing homes,

hospitals, and dialysis centers,

waiting lines for propane,

blankets, shelter and food,

new guidelines

for using melted snow.

Mostly, there is this new fear

among the hurricane-wise,

drought-savvy, tornado-ready,

even, thanks to Harvey,

flood-trained,

who are so blizzard-innocent.

As winds, snow, deep cold

endanger lives

across all the country,

and we grieve losses,

encourage those who restore power,

enable vaccine lines,

support those who offer shelter

with as much

pandemic-protection as possible,

we pray especially for those

across southern states,

who learn quickly,

but find themselves saying,

like folks in an old church hall –

“we’ve never done it this way.”

Amen.

                              MAREN TIRABASSI, a New England pastor

Also early this morning during sitting I read an "Earth Prayer" that seems fitting for these catastrophic events many of us are experiencing now or have experienced during this year passed.

Let there be peace, welfare and righteousness

in every part of the world.

Let confidence and friendship prevail

for the good of the east and west

for the good of the needy south

for the good of all humanity.

Let the people inspire their leaders

helping them to seek peace by peaceful means

helping them and urging them

to build a better world

a world with a home for everybody

a world with food and work for everybody

a world with spiritual freedom 

for everybody.

Let those who have the power of money

be motivated by selfless compassion.

Let money become a tool

for the good of humankind.

Let those who have power

deal respectfully with resources of the planet.

Let them respect and maintain

the purity of the air, water, land and subsoil.

Let them co-operate to restore

the ecological soundness of Mother Earth.

Photograph taken by Rob Bartlett,
Santa Rosa, California:
California Pipevine in bloom,
February 18, 2021.

Let trees grow up by the billons

around the world.

Let green life invade the deserts.

Let industry serve humanity

and produce waste that serves nature.

Let technology respect 

the holiness of Mother Earth.

Let those who control the mass media

contribute to create mutual understanding

contribute to create optimism and confidence.

Let ordinary people

meet by the millions across the borders.

Let them create a universal network

of love and friendship.

Let billons of human beings

co-operate to create a good future

for their children and grandchildren.

Let us survive

in peace and harmony with Mother Earth.

                                         HAGEN HASSELBALCH

As we all experience the climate catastrophe, whether during wildfires or hurricanes or prolonged frigid weather, may we consider altering how we live our daily lives and