For Dev... On the Way to Rebekah's 8th Grade Graduation

Junior and I were ready, and waiting.

Dev finally came out the door.

Twice or three times.

Then, ta daaaa!  The Graduate!

 

Ok.  Now we have to hurry, because 5 minutes ago

we were supposed to be there.

Noooooo!  No more photos!

(Isn't she so dang cute???)

Congratulations!  

xoxoLPC

Musing Morning

Last week our neighbor had her grass cut.  Porfiro left a patch out in the field, and upon questioning, replied, "There is a turkey setting there..."  So I went tippy-toe around the patch, twice.  I couldn't see any turkey.  So, I went in closer, around again.  Then I stopped.  To get a better feel for the situation.  I let my eyes rest, and looked down at my feet (being extremely too close) to see the white bars of her tail feathers about 8 inches from my red Crocks.  I could see her head, too.  I raised my camera, and BOOM!  She was outta there, huge in her fury and chaos and pandemonium.

Oh Goddess.  Forgive me.  What was I thinking?  I wish I'd have stayed with the original shot, this one, of her little piece of meadow which Porfiro left for her.  I am trusting that she went back to her nest, and is settled down in there, peacefully.  I am staying away.

Mary is officially a 6th Grader as of yesterday.  Hers is a precious class of twelve students, and I heard deep appreciation from the words of their teachers.  They will be missed.  And everyone blesses their journey.  Gosh.  From here, it seems that life speeds up a couple of warps, doesn't it?

Lively is an understatement.

Which leads me to my Morning Meditation Room.  The back orchard has become such a haven.  I have been spending hours out there, planting, moving compost, staring into the Borage blue, listening to hundreds of birds all at the same time.

We built a planter box, with a wire bottom, to keep the voracious gophers out of the peppers and beans.  Oh awful rodent: starts at the bottom and chows the whole plant down into its hole, gobbles it whole, leaving me the name tag.  ANCHO gone missing.

So I have over-planted my raised bed.  With anticipation!  I can hardly wait for the medley of plants.  Here is the list:

• Ancho Peppers
• Chinese Long Red Beans
• Rattlesnake Pole Beans
• Dill
• Cukes
• Simpson Lettuce
• Rhubarb Chard
• Teddy Bear Sunflowers
• Carrots!

It is a pretty big bed.  (smile)

Oh and tomatoes!  But they are not in the bed.  We will maybe show those to you tomorrow.  

Yep.  I am back in the garden.

xoxoLPC

Healdsburg FFA Parade

This one quit, and no amount of cranking could get it going again.

So, everybody out, and push!  This may have been the longest parade ever for these guys.

 I've been told to not photograph strangers, but I couldn't help myself!

OH!  It's the Dancing Mary!!!

...and friends!

Mary is prone to the giggles.

And we are glad of it!

I don't know.  Couldn't spell or pronounce these guys.  Let's just call him the Bottle Guy.

Really.  It was the best parade, ever.

xoxoLPC

New Work

Our Lady Guadalupe of the Moon

by

Laura Paine Carr

This painting, and 9 more, are on exhibit at Rochioli J Vineyards and Winery through May 15, 2012.   Open daily, 11 - 4, and by appt. on Tues. & Wed.

Would love to have you see them in person!  Sip a little of the excellent wine and enjoy the spring vista of vineyards,  cottonwoods and willows along the Russian River, and the wild sky.  And enjoy the paintings, too, of course!

Love,

LPC

They Just Think They Got Away

The morning coffee klatch.  Warming up for a day of soaring.  And, of course, finding nasty things upon which to dine.

Did you know that Turkey Vultures are quite talkative?  They are.

Oh this is my current favorite shot.  Love those feet in the morning light.  I could never plan for such a shot, that is for sure.

Here is my Raven friend, busily avoiding me.  I am sure that they know who I am, as they seem to hover about, and fly off as soon as I roll to a stop.  It is entirely too orchestrated to be accidental.  One day I think that I will invest in a tasty sandwich and place it upon the hood of my car and wait for them.  Then, CLICK! I will have my Raven.  Heee hee.  We shall see.

This is a pretty good shot.  Interesting composition.

Next time I will catch him flying the other direction.

On this trip home from The Lake I also saw a Bobcat!  A beautiful, healthy and rather large one loped across the road in front of my car.  I watched it leap out of the grass, and was so stunned I was unable to pick up the camera.  It crossed the road, and as it leaped into the brush, it looked back over its shoulder at me.  I cannot help but feel that these critters know me.  Perhaps one day each will hold still long enough for me to get my shot.  Neither Luna nor Emerson even noticed the cat, being satiated from their swim.

I am fascinated with the big black birds.  Wildlife and animals in general are my favorite subjects, whether to read/research or to follow with my camera.  My paintings are progressing, Our Lady Guadalupe guides me right now into realms I never knew existed.

It is peaceful in these realms.  Colorful, quiet, and soothing.

Love & hugs.
LPC

A Goooooooood Day!

I am wanting to be a famous Raven Photographer.  Ha ha.  No, really.  I do.  Only problem is that they do not co-operate.  I am tenacious, though.  So we shall see.  They are intelligent, humorous, wary, and very forward when one does not hold a camera in hand.

My brother feeds Ravens in his back yard.  He even knows some of their favorite snacks, like Aunt Cleo's pancakes.  He puts the "compost" out in their garden and bangs the pot on the fence.  Goes inside and watches them come sailing out of the forest from his kitchen window.  The Ravens chuckle and gobble up their treats.  They hear the pot bang, call in the whole clan, and drop in for snacks.

Some day a Raven will follow me home.  Even when I am up in the mountains on the way to the Lake,  from their vantage point my house is only about three miles away.  Every trip I invite them, show them the way.

This was a fun interlude in my day:  Grand Kidlets.  Ice cream and good company = Smiles.

Took a circuitous route home.  Found piglets in the vineyard.  They are an integral part of a system where bye the soil is tilled and fertilized by pigs and chickens.  There were four of this size; very extremely cute.

Flamboyant Flowering Quince, made the more bright by the sun setting behind the hill.  Wow.

And ever so coincidentally meeting Mary, who's smile is the BEST!  Now seriously, isn't this the coolest way to end a day?

Hugs.
xoxo
LPC

Laughing with the Horses

He is the Littlest Guy.

 He is the Biggest Guy.

Perspective:  Skyler (the human) is 6'3"ish.

Pretty cute, I say.

This Guy hangs his tongue.

 Hanoverian advantage.

Got him by the chin hair.

Needless to say, they're good buds.

xoxoLPC