Besotted With Bluebirds!

I am absolutely thrilled that the pair of Western Bluebirds came back this year and have their nest in a cavity of a nearby Sycamore tree.  After doing some research through the North American Bluebird Society's website and talking with Lisa at Wildbirds Unlimited, I have been putting out mealworms for them .  I made a simple feeder by attaching a round plastic-backed cork mat (used for placing potted plants on) to an old broom handle and a potted-plant saucer as a dish ~ it is working out great!  It is so much fun to watch both of them come, eat and then gather up as many worms in their beaks that they can carry and fly off to feed their babies.  I'm hoping that when the babies fledge, they will make an appearance.  I will definitely try getting photos of that.  They are the sweetest birds and I love watching them.  They make me happy just seeing them!  I feel very lucky that they have taken up residence nearby and that I can help provide protein for them and their little ones!

Renewal and Rebirth

It has been way too long since I have blogged, so during this Easter season, I decided that there was no better time to get back to blogging. 

There are signs of rebirth and renewal all around.  I spent a few hours last Sunday up at one of my favorite places, Deukmejian Wilderness Park, and marvelled at how the Park is coming "back to life" after the devastating Station Fire 2-1/2 years ago. 

Here's wishing all of you a blessed Easter and Passover.

♥ Japan ♥

I took a break from work this morning and went to one of my favorite places, Descanso Gardens.  As I walked by the Japanese Tea House and Gardens, I said a prayer for all those in Japan who are affected by this devastating earthquake and tsunami and also the nuclear disaster.  My heart breaks for them, as I cannot imagine the untold suffering and utter despair that they are going through and will for a long time to come.  How does one recover from something like this?

Having lived through a few large earthquakes, I cannot wrap my brain around the utter devastation that I see on CNN.  Living in Southern California, we have always been told, as far back as I can remember, that the BIG one is coming and to be prepared (most are not).  Japan is one of the most-prepared countries for such a disaster on the face of this earth; however, even they could not be prepared for what was unleashed upon them one week ago today.  My mouth dropped as I watched the tsunami as it was happening, in real-time, a week ago tonight.  I could not believe what I was seeing.  The wave washed over farmland, carrying boats, houses and destroying everything in its path.  I keep thinking that mankind, in its arrogance, thinks that it has everything "figured out".  Not.  We are in no way a match for nature and its absolute power.  All we can do is be prepared, the best that we can, and if and when something happens, be there for each other.

What strikes me is the Japanese people's civility, even in the face of this unimaginable tragedy.  No looting, no anger; such grace.  I so respect them - I think we can all learn a lesson from them.

Spring Has Sprung

Spring has sprung!  On a more serious note, my heart and prayers go out to the people of Japan and all who are affected by the catastrophic earthquake/tsunami.  I cannot believe what I am seeing and it is just so unimaginable.  I have been through a few large earthquakes, but nothing that compares with this and I pray I never will be.

Happy New Year!

Wishing all of you a happy and healthy 2011!

Making Progress

After a craptastic August and September, I seem to have lost my crafting mojo and it was nowhere to be found.  Slowly, but surely, it seems to be creeping back.

I have had this Bernat "Galaxy" yarn (which sadly has been discontinued) in the Mars colorway for years, and finally decided to dig it out last night and start knitting a simple scarf for myself.  I love when a yarn does "all the work" and all you have to do is mindlessly knit.  I chose to do a simple scarf (I was "scarfed-out" from knitting so many when I first started knitting about five years ago), as I wanted a simple project to do while watching television in the evening.  I just casted on 15 stitches and started knitting and will continue to do so until I run out of yarn!  Hopefully the two skeins I have will make a decent-lengthed scarf.

What projects are you working on?

One Year Ago Today

These are just a few of the images I shot a year ago during the Station Fire.  We were asked to evacuate early the next morning, but it turned out to be a goof-up of the reverse 911 system, but it was very scary nonetheless.  I will never forget the smell of the smoke; I think it will be a memory that will stay with me for the rest of my life. We were extremely lucky (we are very thankful) there was no wind; it would have been a very different outcome for our little valley if there had been; however, many people were not as fortunate as we were.

We love our firefighters.