tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-167006712024-03-14T06:08:49.131-07:00Ventura DreamingReports, comments, thoughts, and (mostly) photos of my family, animals, friends, pondfish, plants, and flowers living in and around our Ventura home. (Layout is viewed best in Internet Explorer or Google Chrome.)Renatahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09496376338192260658noreply@blogger.comBlogger235125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16700671.post-53211633612478878322016-01-17T14:40:00.003-08:002016-01-17T14:40:34.248-08:00Maybe 2016 Will Be the Year to Reactivate This Thing Happy New Year, <b><i>my</i></b> new year, that is :-D<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small; text-align: start;">January 14th at Alpine Meadows. What a great way to celebrate turning 65! </span></td></tr>
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I must admit Facebook diverted me from this blog. I used to share my favorite photos here, but it has become so much easier to simply share a single photo on Facebook, or to quickly create a photo album. Then Shutterfly created Shutterfly Share, basically replacing my old Kodak Gallery albums (which Shutterfly inherited when they purchased Kodak) with Renata's Pictures. Now MS Open Drive, Amazon.com's Kindle Fire support, and Google Photos offer free auto-backup uploads, so my photos are available everywhere. Yesterday, I reactivated my Twitter account and may start sharing a bit more there. No, I won't open an Instagram account to duplicate even more, but the way social media gets bought and sold, I wouldn't be surprised if I suddenly have an account opened for me and I'll have to eat my words. Oy vey.<br />
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Anyway, it's a new year - 2016 is off to a running start and I'm beginning my 66th trip around the sun. Every day I work will hopefully be my last work day, as I look toward retirement at the end of this year. Time to get organized and hopefully keep <a href="http://venturadreaming.com/">venturadreaming.com</a> a bit more active this year.<br />
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Here's wishing everyone sunny days, enough rain and snow, and happy times with friends and family.</div>
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Renatahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09496376338192260658noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16700671.post-50989266433893881832015-07-19T12:11:00.003-07:002015-07-19T12:11:33.915-07:00Hummingbird Summer MorningAfter a wonderful day of very unusual summer rain brought to us by Tropical Storm Dolores, we had a warm humid morning at home. A hummingbird came by and enjoyed the calla lily nectar while we had coffee on the back porch. It doesn't get much better than this!<br />
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Renatahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09496376338192260658noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16700671.post-76406509316289182292014-02-24T03:29:00.000-08:002014-02-24T03:29:12.292-08:00I'm Back and Hope to Return More Often<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsOQhzt-lJX2APw5M-7ZS3hq4jVer4UxMO2SGEGnWfB7LoJha30FBxWUpOkNGBU3f0WFEjdFqVTYWr9AE43My6VRtloyIrxVYLKlqPQkInpD7p4z00RPsEcyFBrJC6bQmyqWJo/s1600/nikon-bulbsandcats_0025.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsOQhzt-lJX2APw5M-7ZS3hq4jVer4UxMO2SGEGnWfB7LoJha30FBxWUpOkNGBU3f0WFEjdFqVTYWr9AE43My6VRtloyIrxVYLKlqPQkInpD7p4z00RPsEcyFBrJC6bQmyqWJo/s320/nikon-bulbsandcats_0025.JPG" /></a></div>
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Ever since becoming active on Facebook, I've barely visited this blog. Then in early January, I tried to renew my venturadreaming.com domain and had no luck until yesterday. My automatic renewal setup didn't work and since the domain registration was no longer through a Google app payment program, I didn't have a clue as to what the password to the account was :-(</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRUmJAOPct-KTVUlHlAZw-St3HjAw0zStQXtMam7B12WkUth9HTN-8U_Z5vuh3FPmnTOgsQ105k9HoTKN1AbGqSQPVZXw0Rxetau8ESGS1bice_quU2prabV_HVQslxYj6rMfb/s1600/nikon-bulbsandcats_0034.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRUmJAOPct-KTVUlHlAZw-St3HjAw0zStQXtMam7B12WkUth9HTN-8U_Z5vuh3FPmnTOgsQ105k9HoTKN1AbGqSQPVZXw0Rxetau8ESGS1bice_quU2prabV_HVQslxYj6rMfb/s320/nikon-bulbsandcats_0034.JPG" /></a></div>
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So later in January, I discovered my automatic payment had not gone through as I thought and I could no longer log into this blog. I didn't do anything about it until a week and a half ago. It was too late to renew the domain name at the original $10 per year but I had a few more days to renew at $39.99 per year. If I waited longer than the set time after non-renewal, I would have had to pay an extra $250.00 to regain "my" domain.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid76C2pkd3dbKgQJVJDGgSACox7TUIGiN2F5sAdEqkNzXIpeU3jjNixgj5H5QnAiUoS-4m_lYfNF4UTG74qPGD1ll_Apq2QpRi-lSkhBOEsn9nyDVJnUgvMR82Q16Cm39vqleX/s1600/nikon-bulbsandcats_0029.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid76C2pkd3dbKgQJVJDGgSACox7TUIGiN2F5sAdEqkNzXIpeU3jjNixgj5H5QnAiUoS-4m_lYfNF4UTG74qPGD1ll_Apq2QpRi-lSkhBOEsn9nyDVJnUgvMR82Q16Cm39vqleX/s320/nikon-bulbsandcats_0029.JPG" /></a></div>
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Tom and I decided to pay the new annual fee to keep my Ventura Dreaming site name and then the trouble really began!</div>
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<img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU6GZ4J4fpAFnVG40b_WzGh8ORZCW1OFTZAlCn0B6Bb_vbU3AzleDiQsIKLVOYaulctP2j60Ppio-NEbCkU98yMjqUF3oQAdyBayGNMIHEciYsVDwfnBXKfC1_QJNGEBS0iQ0w/s320/nikon-bulbsandcats_0054.JPG" /> </div>
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I was caught in a Catch 22 - I was able to create and sign-in to the eNom.com site in order to setup new automatic renewal payment instructions but because my ownership of the domain name had lapsed, I couldn't give the Google help people my password.</div>
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Through a long back-and-forth email conversation, they told me to ask for a new password. I did that but couldn't sign-in because without my instructions for renewal, the domain still didn't exist! By then I was ready to give up and wrote back that I had done all I could but they could have the domain name, I was through beating my head against a wall.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGReLnjQkug5WQOQA9N2oNKZiGAkPLILjXz1fY3xVA9XLQYQ45C03K-KWXaUNGnJrkp_St_tYPHUNU6ovtPdHVcbpGfvXj9XVxB05vRpQ2CgTbMQTn_0s5PWmjUU3QB7slJ397/s1600/nikon-bulbsandcats_0059.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGReLnjQkug5WQOQA9N2oNKZiGAkPLILjXz1fY3xVA9XLQYQ45C03K-KWXaUNGnJrkp_St_tYPHUNU6ovtPdHVcbpGfvXj9XVxB05vRpQ2CgTbMQTn_0s5PWmjUU3QB7slJ397/s320/nikon-bulbsandcats_0059.JPG" /></a></div>
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Finally, I got this reply back yesterday: </div>
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<span style="color: #1f497d;">Hello,<u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1f497d;">Thank you very much for your response with all the needed information, approvals and password for verification.<u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1f497d;">I have successfully recovered and renewed your domain <a href="http://venturadreaming.com/" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">venturadreaming.com</a>. Your domain is now available in your direct account for management.</span></div>
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So after all that hassle for the past six weeks, Ventura Dreaming is back and I'm ready to post to this blog again! </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw6OMn47nMdwnzZ6t5CR6Z75ohzDO1I2U7vhB-RHrAFEbQUNPFlFBIw30fJCDJIReSjNvzGpTJllvUi6JQCh-whpir_JOxAztqKxG564efXcjNZcW3dOEgNp0nlemnmEEdlgRH/s1600/nikon-bulbsandcats_0052.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw6OMn47nMdwnzZ6t5CR6Z75ohzDO1I2U7vhB-RHrAFEbQUNPFlFBIw30fJCDJIReSjNvzGpTJllvUi6JQCh-whpir_JOxAztqKxG564efXcjNZcW3dOEgNp0nlemnmEEdlgRH/s320/nikon-bulbsandcats_0052.JPG" /></a></div>
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Renatahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09496376338192260658noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16700671.post-16748358618517910422012-02-28T23:07:00.024-08:002012-02-29T02:21:02.763-08:00Rehearsing Fern Hill at CSUCI<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLq68NsSVxh_IJSsYVSklwsNsxjNlEKerGGcIJxBy1O9Fj7RIFEXnrNVx3oPSMz9PJcyhymGlaYu_tW-1YQNZKT7VYfXiOjceZrPN0JdafDbf71l58weDK-_3fJYo_239tUACb/s1600/FernHill_cover.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 144px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLq68NsSVxh_IJSsYVSklwsNsxjNlEKerGGcIJxBy1O9Fj7RIFEXnrNVx3oPSMz9PJcyhymGlaYu_tW-1YQNZKT7VYfXiOjceZrPN0JdafDbf71l58weDK-_3fJYo_239tUACb/s200/FernHill_cover.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5714495338280046338" /></a>I've really grown to love this piece - we (Ventura First UMC's Chancel Choir) have been preparing to sing <em><strong>Fern Hill</strong></em> with the <a href="http://choir.csuci.edu/aboutus.htm">CSU Channel Islands Choir</a> and the <a href="http://www.cichamberorchestra.org/">Channel Islands Chamber Orchestra </a>for several weeks and I've begun to come on campus to join their Monday night rehearsals. Last Saturday, some of us participated in CICA's retreat where I took these pictures and <a href="http://youtu.be/C5xX96HBo6U">video</a>.<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUp3CU4MPNi80Ee8Fm9O03w1XB8kQlhgDEkXiAoojbXyAjkzOL7cJi1edTluG1bRJQfIVr2l_V4dbq-4rPBV03xcd3HGVsagKUn2dSlZ8r_JLcy5QgymT5Tyn9sRRa1pid9Q4a/s1600/2012+02+25_Blackberry_4827p.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 175px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUp3CU4MPNi80Ee8Fm9O03w1XB8kQlhgDEkXiAoojbXyAjkzOL7cJi1edTluG1bRJQfIVr2l_V4dbq-4rPBV03xcd3HGVsagKUn2dSlZ8r_JLcy5QgymT5Tyn9sRRa1pid9Q4a/s400/2012+02+25_Blackberry_4827p.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5714470039644094706" /></a>Now as I was young and easy under the apple boughs<br />About the lilting house and happy as the grass was green,<br />The night above the dingle starry,<br />Time let me hail and climb<br />Golden in the heydays of his eyes,<br />And honoured among wagons I was prince of the apple towns<br />And once below a time I lordly had the trees and leaves<br />Trail with daisies and barley<br />Down the rivers of the windfall light.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5yE-G7VPKOLz_7o2EZziLm8TOTln-P3lzi260NDKrNLkw9yOZGAdsQ5AgSWvSFrUczD2Ke-_LxaVsMtiAga3HnngJpw41ZkopovGDUXpVGvZwNX_nfkCT-Pmwcbj7muhIr-jv/s1600/FernHill1-3.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 397px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5yE-G7VPKOLz_7o2EZziLm8TOTln-P3lzi260NDKrNLkw9yOZGAdsQ5AgSWvSFrUczD2Ke-_LxaVsMtiAga3HnngJpw41ZkopovGDUXpVGvZwNX_nfkCT-Pmwcbj7muhIr-jv/s400/FernHill1-3.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5714489240696692994" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />And as I was green and carefree, famous among the barns<br />About the happy yard and singing as the farm was home,<br />In the sun that is young once only,<br />Time let me play and be<br />Golden in the mercy of his means,<br />And green and golden I was huntsman and herdsman, the calves<br />Sang to my horn, the foxes on the hills barked clear and cold,<br />And the sabbath rang slowly<br />In the pebbles of the holy streams.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDwrqrMWRrtuC5mPFDRjZw7TYYbsKhGrXrwW-KXjxT4_d1kjjaN-Mlvxazjvd7vOIRTqaSftPoSNv4gisHdBuumHYquvIRkDhBx-RwN2UpZkMtKNbhiWJ1t1wH5N124cKo2eXw/s1600/FernHill3-5.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 331px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDwrqrMWRrtuC5mPFDRjZw7TYYbsKhGrXrwW-KXjxT4_d1kjjaN-Mlvxazjvd7vOIRTqaSftPoSNv4gisHdBuumHYquvIRkDhBx-RwN2UpZkMtKNbhiWJ1t1wH5N124cKo2eXw/s400/FernHill3-5.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5714489249271198610" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />All the sun long it was running, it was lovely, the hay<br />Fields high as the house, the tunes from the chimneys, it was air<br />And playing, lovely and watery<br />And fire green as grass.<br />And nightly under the simple stars<br />As I rode to sleep the owls were bearing the farm away,<br />All the moon long I heard, blessed among stables, the nightjars<br />Flying with the ricks, and the horses<br />Flashing into the dark.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRswV_0dvqZ0y7CTs7-oSuEi9oJPMIIu_ludFLV86QKbxVlpP7JQDuolWH_DRf9xEhka8AgkrWohGVxCN_aK7kKMwiDJ4nO18IkAYJ-hRAo6tTtpCkz3cg8en9Mp8MyKCn0eFJ/s1600/FernHill3-4.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 296px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRswV_0dvqZ0y7CTs7-oSuEi9oJPMIIu_ludFLV86QKbxVlpP7JQDuolWH_DRf9xEhka8AgkrWohGVxCN_aK7kKMwiDJ4nO18IkAYJ-hRAo6tTtpCkz3cg8en9Mp8MyKCn0eFJ/s400/FernHill3-4.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5714496155445213490" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />And then to awake, and the farm, like a wanderer white<br />With the dew, come back, the cock on his shoulder: it was all<br />Shining, it was Adam and maiden,<br />The sky gathered again<br />And the sun grew round that very day.<br />So it must have been after the birth of the simple light<br />In the first, spinning place, the spellbound horses walking warm<br />Out of the whinnying green stable<br />On to the fields of praise.<br /><br />And honoured among foxes and pheasants by the gay house<br />Under the new made clouds and happy as the heart was long,<br />In the sun born over and over,<br />I ran my heedless ways,<br />My wishes raced through the house high hay<br />And nothing I cared, at my sky blue trades, that time allows<br />In all his tuneful turning so few and such morning songs<br />Before the children green and golden<br />Follow him out of grace.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIL_MpDdtPEj7wZWm2Ktg5i5mT-V543Ab8yTqBwQna6NbVHBb4q7VAM0jLLQ6Gz2OG9KIEqXsCjCnafHkFcSLlRy9aUS7uMSUVaak5SlXEaXNXqGQDeCWbjSaoLsUECqe4rh_F/s1600/FernHill4-5.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 369px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIL_MpDdtPEj7wZWm2Ktg5i5mT-V543Ab8yTqBwQna6NbVHBb4q7VAM0jLLQ6Gz2OG9KIEqXsCjCnafHkFcSLlRy9aUS7uMSUVaak5SlXEaXNXqGQDeCWbjSaoLsUECqe4rh_F/s400/FernHill4-5.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5714489256935062258" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Nothing I cared, in the lamb white days, that time would take me<br />Up to the swallow thronged loft by the shadow of my hand,<br />In the moon that is always rising,<br />Nor that riding to sleep<br />I should hear him fly with the high fields<br />And wake to the farm forever fled from the childless land.<br />Oh as I was young and easy in the mercy of his means,<br />Time held me green and dying<br />Though I sang in my chains like the sea.Renatahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09496376338192260658noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16700671.post-56822235906426219912011-11-04T17:00:00.001-07:002012-02-28T23:06:59.501-08:00November Brings Rain, Snow, and an Update<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixdTJQ0ox8qfSu3N5OF1ig-oPYAZdiaraq7Me6sdJ8UlwBOuTmhOXW2QJlPkufuCiry9iRXKoAyLFGtClSGh1Tfnl9Rvs69_Jt1yx5lFbRohsvSLCHyFdx3rKgU27GO-kX8MLn/s1600/2011+11+04_Nikon_after_cleaning_1774.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixdTJQ0ox8qfSu3N5OF1ig-oPYAZdiaraq7Me6sdJ8UlwBOuTmhOXW2QJlPkufuCiry9iRXKoAyLFGtClSGh1Tfnl9Rvs69_Jt1yx5lFbRohsvSLCHyFdx3rKgU27GO-kX8MLn/s400/2011+11+04_Nikon_after_cleaning_1774.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5671313383187603234" /></a>Facebook makes it so easy to comment on things or share events and thoughts, I'm surprised to see how long it has been since I've "blogged". Today is my 5th anniversary of when I started working for Oxnard at the South Oxnard Branch Library - so nice it happens to be my "off-Saturday" so I have three days off this weekend and we're able to spend the time at Sam's house in Kings Beach. It's also nice Ann and Zane are always available to take care of Bob, the fish, and the house whenever we're away. <br />Life has been good for the most part - great most of the time with a few bumps along the way. Bryan married Jessica, Sam and Jenn broke up, Brooklyn is 1-year-old and Lindsay and April are expecting again. Tom and I celebrated our 40th anniversary in Italy! <br />I think I said the same thing a year ago, but I hope to post here again more often.Renatahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09496376338192260658noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16700671.post-85109299449204705972011-04-09T19:14:00.001-07:002011-11-04T17:31:24.758-07:00Beautiful Snowy MorningWe've spent a very relaxing Spring Break with Sam & Jenn. Five days in this beautiful Tahoe North Shore area with our kids is a great way to vacation! <br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/3CifVoA-Ol0?hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/3CifVoA-Ol0?hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br />(Nov.4, 2011 note: I've never edited previous blog postings until now. Back on this day in April, I posted being overjoyed that Sam and Jenn were getting married in November, this Saturday, in fact. Sam broke it off in August and although I was very sad, we all agree it was the right decision. I've just removed the photo I took that week of the happy couple - no need to open old wounds by keeping it up.)Renatahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09496376338192260658noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16700671.post-65265359044338852702011-02-09T17:58:00.000-08:002011-04-09T21:11:23.406-07:00Wind: Another Trial for Mother Birds<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5GaSsxfpQXIDKE4Xx7J0nCH4T5vMzpeTon_4U4B80emf72oaX1aqemdhFbW9yjCYiV2a8ubl-svz68T2t2DcVzyAMmiZ6VEqR2LlgiZ3zN3sJmK7Wk8zx-JT1wEmob2BU49Ht/s1600/2011-02-09-windy+%252812%2529pse.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5GaSsxfpQXIDKE4Xx7J0nCH4T5vMzpeTon_4U4B80emf72oaX1aqemdhFbW9yjCYiV2a8ubl-svz68T2t2DcVzyAMmiZ6VEqR2LlgiZ3zN3sJmK7Wk8zx-JT1wEmob2BU49Ht/s400/2011-02-09-windy+%252812%2529pse.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5571874998270581282" /></a>We are having another windy day and gusts of 25-30mph were blowing the avocado tree branches all over the place this morning. Poor Mama Hummer was spreading her wings and tail over the nest, but she still had to leave to find food. You can barely see one of the babies along the left side of her body if you click on this picture and see the enlarged photo.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiURAJrhCvUlP50HsKqO-w3LCjQqpPm-hQB3D9wXsV7Odox5s4mZnxKSnNpoplRw4Xedv7FgpI7ZHexema3Dl2OGpA5Z7wUe9BUYLJQBEw4l_e8lD8k05WLi83Cp4IJlAKIUcNf/s1600/2011-02-09-windy+%252808%2529pse.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiURAJrhCvUlP50HsKqO-w3LCjQqpPm-hQB3D9wXsV7Odox5s4mZnxKSnNpoplRw4Xedv7FgpI7ZHexema3Dl2OGpA5Z7wUe9BUYLJQBEw4l_e8lD8k05WLi83Cp4IJlAKIUcNf/s400/2011-02-09-windy+%252808%2529pse.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5571875005745611554" /></a>This is the first time I've seen her with her back to the house, but I guess she was facing the wind to protect her nestlings.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4JN0oggTxCSHf4flnm1xjPs5513vcd2UY9nmh7EcvIQ4I6pxYe6ze-MIKSH6A5YhCr2iaK8MadMkFhob0nFUV96TfLk-uU2wBI6q2pkY8q91pIhyIM1VbnZggzx3RsJ1LdUwc/s1600/2011-02-09-windy+%252822%2529pse.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4JN0oggTxCSHf4flnm1xjPs5513vcd2UY9nmh7EcvIQ4I6pxYe6ze-MIKSH6A5YhCr2iaK8MadMkFhob0nFUV96TfLk-uU2wBI6q2pkY8q91pIhyIM1VbnZggzx3RsJ1LdUwc/s400/2011-02-09-windy+%252822%2529pse.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5571875006826430562" /></a>Renatahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09496376338192260658noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16700671.post-57783612040433731232011-02-07T01:04:00.000-08:002011-02-07T04:27:17.500-08:00Baby Hummingbirds!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia8fG0Ygs51_uo0uXGsfSawP5hax4RAmho7UgqeXY-kjPyXM9l7YksWwmWKN16UYGBuUudGFtiOI1jFfQD3tpFo-OX2kYQPaDNsN9o2uID7Xg33hzniFDKSyYvTFFMip0SiB3H/s1600/2011-02-04-MamaHummerDSC_0763.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia8fG0Ygs51_uo0uXGsfSawP5hax4RAmho7UgqeXY-kjPyXM9l7YksWwmWKN16UYGBuUudGFtiOI1jFfQD3tpFo-OX2kYQPaDNsN9o2uID7Xg33hzniFDKSyYvTFFMip0SiB3H/s400/2011-02-04-MamaHummerDSC_0763.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5570907207690187842" /></a>A week after noticing the nest in our avocado tree and seeing the mother bird was letting me take pictures while she was away, I went upstairs to get a closer look from the balcony. What a wonderful surprise to see eggs in the nest!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDcgqlotk64FKFj5Ez8QYYsGIo5-lI6otsZSj1ARMNJYBRvFa7KBD6JSvz-JD08yvXQgV-exUsI5vq7lptTiNkLLQWMGXpVdGde3KgrLIerQOGhsGYHOHsRM1sqwDyUyzbJcQW/s1600/2011-02-04-eggsDSC_0765.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDcgqlotk64FKFj5Ez8QYYsGIo5-lI6otsZSj1ARMNJYBRvFa7KBD6JSvz-JD08yvXQgV-exUsI5vq7lptTiNkLLQWMGXpVdGde3KgrLIerQOGhsGYHOHsRM1sqwDyUyzbJcQW/s400/2011-02-04-eggsDSC_0765.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5570907214747605810" /></a>This morning, I was a little worried when I didn't see the eggs (a nesting pair of scrub jays had been noisily announcing themselves the day before.)<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqAh-iOFUETQP-FQ_1tRBs6mae2ZS6kMAQYj2tLsssXdyLu7Jg9SdWei8X8XGSLkLnuxlfGlzXLZBpGegLBmHIKOCKcpDXkbnW2j625j0fK4g99p5Co5S2wR3P45K6Knnuoqkj/s1600/2011-02-06-DSC_0891-mom_in_flight.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqAh-iOFUETQP-FQ_1tRBs6mae2ZS6kMAQYj2tLsssXdyLu7Jg9SdWei8X8XGSLkLnuxlfGlzXLZBpGegLBmHIKOCKcpDXkbnW2j625j0fK4g99p5Co5S2wR3P45K6Knnuoqkj/s400/2011-02-06-DSC_0891-mom_in_flight.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5570914620856859218" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkuwYl0q6LtE76PBL-I26EjXpiY-mYT5bLSMQyBXMQOzquUKVo32AK9kDAvAuxI5n3phRxDXgEZ80-p4-nHV-wfI42u0X3vT449eRxiZ7Cdb27BELeXGOMWmTu9xg6Qi5NL3y_/s1600/2011-02-06-DSC_0890.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkuwYl0q6LtE76PBL-I26EjXpiY-mYT5bLSMQyBXMQOzquUKVo32AK9kDAvAuxI5n3phRxDXgEZ80-p4-nHV-wfI42u0X3vT449eRxiZ7Cdb27BELeXGOMWmTu9xg6Qi5NL3y_/s400/2011-02-06-DSC_0890.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5570914626098436706" /></a>When Mama came back, she appeared to be feeding a little beak.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLbojAsO2h_Ik_xa3GIuy9y4c3cAM79uO8wRB5uxC6SG3hgwNjr9OQWKm1zva4031-8EKa1vquc0skMnSSKQ2cHe42EXEaXQYv3mLBGSWRNDYFc5aGK6lS4yqMWsVbGGbKQoX-/s1600/2011-02-06-DSC_0829feeding.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLbojAsO2h_Ik_xa3GIuy9y4c3cAM79uO8wRB5uxC6SG3hgwNjr9OQWKm1zva4031-8EKa1vquc0skMnSSKQ2cHe42EXEaXQYv3mLBGSWRNDYFc5aGK6lS4yqMWsVbGGbKQoX-/s400/2011-02-06-DSC_0829feeding.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5570916878169610322" /></a>I was delighted to see two baby birds in the nest! They are far from cute at this point - blind, featherless with bulging eyeballs and tiny beaks. Thankfully, it is warm this week so Mama can leave them long enough to find food for them:<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix-KsAryuDw89uG61yiOU8qhIMGkULtuZ881tZlOSVjBJ41SeOsfO-hAsENeskof2ISJYsrnzR0-SRFmjS97EueoBZIzEuLvP_7d1IFPTRkgeHxJQHvSUkL8kmtcds-AGOLcwo/s1600/2011-02-06-baby_birdsDSC_0894.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix-KsAryuDw89uG61yiOU8qhIMGkULtuZ881tZlOSVjBJ41SeOsfO-hAsENeskof2ISJYsrnzR0-SRFmjS97EueoBZIzEuLvP_7d1IFPTRkgeHxJQHvSUkL8kmtcds-AGOLcwo/s400/2011-02-06-baby_birdsDSC_0894.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5570916885807281954" /></a>Don't forget to click on the pictures to see the bigger versions.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEEAIOIk2tMEXDTe9wFH5sKD6cAINhKcMaXcwvwOPjFRl3N2xe0_Mzi11CqhYmVmaRZhEOcXGRtH2k8U-NAFjeRbxu3i3BNbVmTqiHTC3Lx3IriomvDG6c42h7aBASYW5MJ5eF/s1600/2011-02-06-mom%252B2babiesDSC_0895.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEEAIOIk2tMEXDTe9wFH5sKD6cAINhKcMaXcwvwOPjFRl3N2xe0_Mzi11CqhYmVmaRZhEOcXGRtH2k8U-NAFjeRbxu3i3BNbVmTqiHTC3Lx3IriomvDG6c42h7aBASYW5MJ5eF/s400/2011-02-06-mom%252B2babiesDSC_0895.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5570916896855162610" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicJjexIOdCAYnkp_OXeyWYxYJfU27jrDa8AV1hpvU-d9YDz5zd2NPBZtEF1NJExxu6nmLwsiFS8WnCxSKMuRx7f5AQ_MOIt6p7uisN-StzT76LretFe_hnY3mQbfPnAZDBlwUi/s1600/2011-02-06-mom%252B2babiesDSC_0896.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicJjexIOdCAYnkp_OXeyWYxYJfU27jrDa8AV1hpvU-d9YDz5zd2NPBZtEF1NJExxu6nmLwsiFS8WnCxSKMuRx7f5AQ_MOIt6p7uisN-StzT76LretFe_hnY3mQbfPnAZDBlwUi/s400/2011-02-06-mom%252B2babiesDSC_0896.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5570916901463751138" /></a>(Sitting on the nest with squirmy babies underneath is not as stable as before!)<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrePmqeB8GblE52WmrVE206_ADVcK7VmD82eG_K-_57f_0c_O2kDQ1m4GkwWA6DL8Lu40Oay6QcHksHX-76udYyOgBeAToqwVLvdAchfuWzfsfva5Mio3lNnxVaMSAgWqsBimV/s1600/2011-02-06-getting_back_in_DSC_0853.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrePmqeB8GblE52WmrVE206_ADVcK7VmD82eG_K-_57f_0c_O2kDQ1m4GkwWA6DL8Lu40Oay6QcHksHX-76udYyOgBeAToqwVLvdAchfuWzfsfva5Mio3lNnxVaMSAgWqsBimV/s400/2011-02-06-getting_back_in_DSC_0853.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5570916902139346786" /></a><br />According to several websites, hummingbird eggs take an average of two weeks to incubate, so Mama camoflaged her nest well enough we didn't see it for at least a week! It will be fun to watch the <a href="http://www.thehummingbirdsite.com/hummingbirdbabies.html">babies</a> grow feathers and learn to fly. Stay tuned!Renatahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09496376338192260658noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16700671.post-5503737527357142442011-01-29T15:37:00.000-08:002011-01-29T18:47:19.954-08:00Hummingbirds in the Backyard<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyzPt4Lw-F8KimLzUkX-cEk3f41xTdSNvaMGPx1ROMQNAolto5rzNABeom-t_XFRLvmYQAvgK2a7-bZqwjpanxC2S6ds_-cODvo_7TgNNd0NUBVszyvJgOKpjxCLoVTmv725Rp/s1600/2011-01-29-DSC_0718.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyzPt4Lw-F8KimLzUkX-cEk3f41xTdSNvaMGPx1ROMQNAolto5rzNABeom-t_XFRLvmYQAvgK2a7-bZqwjpanxC2S6ds_-cODvo_7TgNNd0NUBVszyvJgOKpjxCLoVTmv725Rp/s400/2011-01-29-DSC_0718.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5567799263551075378" /></a>I've been watching a couple of hummingbirds in the yard this weekend and was happy to see that one of them let me take some closeup shots with my camera this morning.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWgC4Ndod_b75Zi0gTbiX_Sc0D4Rj0ehGaKP3fR1gsilKvo7MsFqMGBiQ0ysBjBIUNqT-MalXS7ciyNIuMM1RUCbzDga4bS0Pwp6BAzIc56-oFT1YbKO66QwdPRQCEOfGK_WWR/s1600/2011-01-29-DSC_0716.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWgC4Ndod_b75Zi0gTbiX_Sc0D4Rj0ehGaKP3fR1gsilKvo7MsFqMGBiQ0ysBjBIUNqT-MalXS7ciyNIuMM1RUCbzDga4bS0Pwp6BAzIc56-oFT1YbKO66QwdPRQCEOfGK_WWR/s320/2011-01-29-DSC_0716.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5567780853786865298" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1aInUi1FP3d0i2lRn_caLBnO2j9JSiZz480taa75sJLHD1qTKPyEHmwLca7ua1yO43OTxH5iuyDILF8mMVpm_AuPydYG3JW07dP88jKq-UUP0O9XqQGq0Juk0rkV69q0B3Ckx/s1600/2011-01-29-DSC_0714.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1aInUi1FP3d0i2lRn_caLBnO2j9JSiZz480taa75sJLHD1qTKPyEHmwLca7ua1yO43OTxH5iuyDILF8mMVpm_AuPydYG3JW07dP88jKq-UUP0O9XqQGq0Juk0rkV69q0B3Ckx/s320/2011-01-29-DSC_0714.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5567780845771129250" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8eXdd1TXAzCJ6bz9updnhjSqcy1K8wx5TUUBD-EQgCuBQu5bgMo58nVHNxsubXIwrINhaXfArio8IcKLjCJK2MzFCb6Xce3F8Zc0UxitDmJu7TXY_bikgrdG1t77QTsw6YvFN/s1600/2011-01-29-DSC_0713.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8eXdd1TXAzCJ6bz9updnhjSqcy1K8wx5TUUBD-EQgCuBQu5bgMo58nVHNxsubXIwrINhaXfArio8IcKLjCJK2MzFCb6Xce3F8Zc0UxitDmJu7TXY_bikgrdG1t77QTsw6YvFN/s320/2011-01-29-DSC_0713.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5567780844752582594" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiixJn2M5HdlHhHlc3Er8dn1lnTcX4Wy23vWCUiHbqb1ALKieRI9C4GTdlnv58YqBLSg0yRm6O6yzQwWkypS2InJr7qFDGFPho1cjzoYkToRdxSG1atECjOly2YusxhjJdFsPUI/s1600/2011-01-29-DSC_0711.jpg"><img style="float:leftt; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiixJn2M5HdlHhHlc3Er8dn1lnTcX4Wy23vWCUiHbqb1ALKieRI9C4GTdlnv58YqBLSg0yRm6O6yzQwWkypS2InJr7qFDGFPho1cjzoYkToRdxSG1atECjOly2YusxhjJdFsPUI/s320/2011-01-29-DSC_0711.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5567779208484206690" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidtbo7jY1XuqW9zYLVtUkbiWp1jQt4z8H5lvJ63ri5J4TBlzcxBoCOOFwFo-CObL5J3bbZmfDB5L_wHRsWbNsS0RiOdc_pkQvLnW9nUN7wvD1D2duPrIhNnsFf1xzutmytblyN/s1600/2011-01-29-DSC_0710.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidtbo7jY1XuqW9zYLVtUkbiWp1jQt4z8H5lvJ63ri5J4TBlzcxBoCOOFwFo-CObL5J3bbZmfDB5L_wHRsWbNsS0RiOdc_pkQvLnW9nUN7wvD1D2duPrIhNnsFf1xzutmytblyN/s320/2011-01-29-DSC_0710.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5567779176064582290" /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; "></span></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfDW9Wg81q1OfXnRTeMQZF6J72zk_f8IgJ5NaXZrapTcbI8U9lw9SV6kDyPW9tVIMMnUbDxr81aWfK59gLtBaDuAXPK7Y8yoNkBOLtds4Pv9PmoiW3TIauHNKopzW1o8QxhXHT/s1600/2011-01-29-DSC_0696.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfDW9Wg81q1OfXnRTeMQZF6J72zk_f8IgJ5NaXZrapTcbI8U9lw9SV6kDyPW9tVIMMnUbDxr81aWfK59gLtBaDuAXPK7Y8yoNkBOLtds4Pv9PmoiW3TIauHNKopzW1o8QxhXHT/s400/2011-01-29-DSC_0696.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5567788245660248818" /></a>I wondered why this one was sitting in one spot for such a long time - until I took a closer look and discovered it was nesting! I am also able to see the tiny bird and her nest from our balcony.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizaycDDDRFrCZx9cQ-sJU0SzhTIj_10s6lraopfrrmzobH6ZMSdl-ZUcQ32RzwxAM3ip5j40Mn40x7fGMsqV9NCgirWkqWgM1_pM_Z9MBuMQWcQ3Hv5-EFDrQODfcJzoUsa3RL/s1600/2011-01-29-DSC_0727.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizaycDDDRFrCZx9cQ-sJU0SzhTIj_10s6lraopfrrmzobH6ZMSdl-ZUcQ32RzwxAM3ip5j40Mn40x7fGMsqV9NCgirWkqWgM1_pM_Z9MBuMQWcQ3Hv5-EFDrQODfcJzoUsa3RL/s320/2011-01-29-DSC_0727.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5567783124518070386" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdexh7Ymc2_zYUK4uxGVo0RTPUH6R-GN3ZeWouBJXN46x_Ytv7DmLyScv5b2auPLCNsBiNxzKV8LD-GI5cpAm_x5LBaCb6PunKraiKDl_KYC6WnJhZAdQOg0hbGfSOVJCb97Rp/s1600/2011-01-29-DSC_0695.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdexh7Ymc2_zYUK4uxGVo0RTPUH6R-GN3ZeWouBJXN46x_Ytv7DmLyScv5b2auPLCNsBiNxzKV8LD-GI5cpAm_x5LBaCb6PunKraiKDl_KYC6WnJhZAdQOg0hbGfSOVJCb97Rp/s320/2011-01-29-DSC_0695.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5567779182443018450" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifxCINGFAYDI3enu0mlobKr5TI8fWtRkzizIym6YnLuierEmsdU2i8_Wk9lW6K5RLt7__Q63l94c5qqFJcKBn5DSusEqI9zTYrjePudoc30uOS2SMEk6ySd-T7UZAUPmTLFqT2/s1600/2011-01-29-DSC_0723.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifxCINGFAYDI3enu0mlobKr5TI8fWtRkzizIym6YnLuierEmsdU2i8_Wk9lW6K5RLt7__Q63l94c5qqFJcKBn5DSusEqI9zTYrjePudoc30uOS2SMEk6ySd-T7UZAUPmTLFqT2/s320/2011-01-29-DSC_0723.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5567780865840304690" /></a>I caught this shot while the bird was out of the nest for a while. One of the little birds was on the telephone wire and chirped a warning for the other to come back. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5f6c22AHBNiPgjF9WX8t7pGqDbIw9kF2ZDUM1D9VOKEgwCT3rocoYOZDKiVAUJ80M5DDN4yzyNIeIziL2atxSC0xn7zklMldCGBa1TqbgQz2xpUnTz201eY8848lzeZLXZSm3/s1600/2011-01-29-DSC_0726.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5f6c22AHBNiPgjF9WX8t7pGqDbIw9kF2ZDUM1D9VOKEgwCT3rocoYOZDKiVAUJ80M5DDN4yzyNIeIziL2atxSC0xn7zklMldCGBa1TqbgQz2xpUnTz201eY8848lzeZLXZSm3/s320/2011-01-29-DSC_0726.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5567783121051721058" /></a>Now whenever I've gone out and found the nest empty, one of them comes back to the tree but doesn't immediately go back to the nest. It is pretty well hidden, so I guess they either know that, or have seen me enough times to know I won't hurt them. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVBxucVnQyIG5KRKnnLbMbUWx0vQvlOpSl7qWutDh5pERnTYoFGBYpKjA1OfRIwpXZlNnq9GhJIjJsXgDGEVqN1jXmgBo7agn1RQl_u8cXHL_rUQNiqbP8eh9zNSyOhxGmPLaR/s1600/2011-01-29-DSC_0730.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVBxucVnQyIG5KRKnnLbMbUWx0vQvlOpSl7qWutDh5pERnTYoFGBYpKjA1OfRIwpXZlNnq9GhJIjJsXgDGEVqN1jXmgBo7agn1RQl_u8cXHL_rUQNiqbP8eh9zNSyOhxGmPLaR/s320/2011-01-29-DSC_0730.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5567783130576249010" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDcCRHNMNl0aA9Zjvh5UnE0Wg_OeyXL9XfhmOYbVQPHS_aTyj2lCyGQpkC95j-BHpb1KJYuyE_MWpVMLHM6vgS_XdMjqKnG6Q7MGXOdZIH6wf-JpMaj1eW43vMdj1Jk0xuZ27b/s1600/2011-01-29-DSC_0732.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDcCRHNMNl0aA9Zjvh5UnE0Wg_OeyXL9XfhmOYbVQPHS_aTyj2lCyGQpkC95j-BHpb1KJYuyE_MWpVMLHM6vgS_XdMjqKnG6Q7MGXOdZIH6wf-JpMaj1eW43vMdj1Jk0xuZ27b/s320/2011-01-29-DSC_0732.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5567783136528863378" /></a>(If you click on any of these photos, you'll see the bigger versions. If you click on the two photos of the tree, you'll see the bird in her nest. The last shot is a wide-angle shot from the balcony. I've drawn an arrow and labeled the location of the nest since it is really hard to find when you have the whole tree to look at.Renatahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09496376338192260658noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16700671.post-44468766179864536492011-01-22T07:27:00.001-08:002011-01-22T07:29:06.902-08:00FacebookI just added a Facebook badge to this blog since I obviously haven't been keeping up here. I <span style="font-weight:bold;">DO<span style="font-style:italic;"></span></span> have hope I'll come back and update this sooner than later!Renatahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09496376338192260658noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16700671.post-85527575160195934632010-09-25T07:37:00.000-07:002010-12-07T07:53:49.520-08:00Weeks Later, the Latest Pond Iteration is Done!Just a few more plants and rocks to relocate and it's done! <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCUOQmVOFDgvCmrFSXkm7WCLSKsl1c_Q88Eh6uc5ngnxFZyPcW5MKU0LurVz9VCEKr8YyD4vRdCTwWUYdoSb9LWI1dIsXaDXxLk1wq4osXK8uJh3JCMZCNk0ElZ3fHqJ1sv3hQ/s1600/DSC_0179.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCUOQmVOFDgvCmrFSXkm7WCLSKsl1c_Q88Eh6uc5ngnxFZyPcW5MKU0LurVz9VCEKr8YyD4vRdCTwWUYdoSb9LWI1dIsXaDXxLk1wq4osXK8uJh3JCMZCNk0ElZ3fHqJ1sv3hQ/s400/DSC_0179.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5547969015618691970" /></a>Renatahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09496376338192260658noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16700671.post-68199756961512972842010-08-23T07:51:00.000-07:002010-08-24T13:11:40.729-07:00Dead Goldfish Aren't So BadNormally, I would have been very unhappy to discover two of my goldfish dead in the pond, but the good news is that these two moved into our first "raccoon-proof" pond more than two years ago, after living at least one year in a Portola classroom fish bowl. They survived many fishing attempts by marauding raccoons the past late summers-early falls and seem to have lived out their goldfish lifespans. <br /><center>Fish 1</center><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGKVOciPB_h3B3f8t_JyPyHmM4ZiarhAcwf91d-y6FsD14UIfK6WPmNZnuB2vCgWwLqp7PsxIDi5BDKSaIjTnWdWsHtq5c7LJliMWmfsKD6EPbNVGnMJt3LiU7Y2ywsCYM_UR7/s1600/2010-08-21-pondfish+(1).JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGKVOciPB_h3B3f8t_JyPyHmM4ZiarhAcwf91d-y6FsD14UIfK6WPmNZnuB2vCgWwLqp7PsxIDi5BDKSaIjTnWdWsHtq5c7LJliMWmfsKD6EPbNVGnMJt3LiU7Y2ywsCYM_UR7/s400/2010-08-21-pondfish+(1).JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5508620081827639890" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-3pF_EuMGmjt-Lvy7-IPxggPlUfYIwPG3PxXQr2xX6A5LhIC7-umNd3_pIfWueki-0-WyqkatmmjbIAqTvHVmW7huyq08BuOSRt7YeFENMaB8IZPB3a71LigninSDrl1K8NRw/s1600/2010-08-21-pondfish+(3).JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-3pF_EuMGmjt-Lvy7-IPxggPlUfYIwPG3PxXQr2xX6A5LhIC7-umNd3_pIfWueki-0-WyqkatmmjbIAqTvHVmW7huyq08BuOSRt7YeFENMaB8IZPB3a71LigninSDrl1K8NRw/s400/2010-08-21-pondfish+(3).JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5508620093946023234" /></a><center>Fish 2</center><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjCTsuBLxETejXSx3_7UzN0kJ2YO_vkb5af7BiInVCViA1EgWbZeSHxD5owW8Mt7uWXStwyLWU1iV8U8wNK0yCl99dHsYf1FAa2hjYvvaBbqjwJ8eWrU2i6L1_NQW-Tjv5ALHn/s1600/2010-08-22-squarepond+removal035.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjCTsuBLxETejXSx3_7UzN0kJ2YO_vkb5af7BiInVCViA1EgWbZeSHxD5owW8Mt7uWXStwyLWU1iV8U8wNK0yCl99dHsYf1FAa2hjYvvaBbqjwJ8eWrU2i6L1_NQW-Tjv5ALHn/s400/2010-08-22-squarepond+removal035.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5508620124738211810" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2gvQfwNlBzRibJKdPurJ0Lf9E2gT11M1W4w-q1BxZurUsLZnJx22QyB5RLgL_o44l4L_Q-u5TVEz1JqJGmcT9K2-V1iuDy_-LpvpkVTgG090zEtVbxc02N1GByCfKlqgIcJ8W/s1600/2010-08-22-squarepond+removal028.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2gvQfwNlBzRibJKdPurJ0Lf9E2gT11M1W4w-q1BxZurUsLZnJx22QyB5RLgL_o44l4L_Q-u5TVEz1JqJGmcT9K2-V1iuDy_-LpvpkVTgG090zEtVbxc02N1GByCfKlqgIcJ8W/s400/2010-08-22-squarepond+removal028.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5508620111628260018" /></a>It is possible that the roots of the water irises and mint plants had crowded them out or taken up too much oxygen, but knowing what survivors goldfish can be, I rather doubt it. After taking the plants out yesterday afternoon, there was still at last 15 inches of water space at the bottom, as well as space at the top of the "squarepond". <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpZemxjDy381dwrz6lCc6CjSFZEJY9STp6zp-GvFpXOHi4CIPqvFppw1OTcID0_1reF3OmdgV2w8bsq5ZPb0Vp0tn9FM0Ik-i9Ki-fPcxVu_fRUSSv6qmY1glURAahjEVoBV4S/s1600/Augustpond.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpZemxjDy381dwrz6lCc6CjSFZEJY9STp6zp-GvFpXOHi4CIPqvFppw1OTcID0_1reF3OmdgV2w8bsq5ZPb0Vp0tn9FM0Ik-i9Ki-fPcxVu_fRUSSv6qmY1glURAahjEVoBV4S/s400/Augustpond.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5508717735843125874" /></a><center>Before deciding to remove the pond</center><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilszzxTQgn9BFtKmoSddRyGowSHDSxCC0WYwr3OZ8lqX7Ho3SUov2W3P1w0x9ukUWVM7s-sKCO4GMd7lEQlkzd3Q8BOZ8XtBaQ9EOT4j_vBm3DKFn0iNOv21PWp21kV70YcXys/s1600/2010-08-22.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilszzxTQgn9BFtKmoSddRyGowSHDSxCC0WYwr3OZ8lqX7Ho3SUov2W3P1w0x9ukUWVM7s-sKCO4GMd7lEQlkzd3Q8BOZ8XtBaQ9EOT4j_vBm3DKFn0iNOv21PWp21kV70YcXys/s400/2010-08-22.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5508717742272958802" /></a><center>Pulling out the plants in order to drain and remove the container</center><br />So now I have an opportunity to "remodel" the pond area again. It's been three years since I built the current configuration; this coming weekend, I'm going to try connecting the two ponds and giving the two koi and the four other goldfish a bigger home. Tom has his doubts that it will work since I'll need to connect the smaller pond to the bigger one with two separate pond liners and a channel under the bridge for the fish to travel between water holes. There is definitely the possibility of creating a big leak or dirt collapse, so wish me luck!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeMbz6LZmRalOhPma-NrtwCsSFtds1DMWxtC0J59ZBJnl9eV_pqMDFvybqnyfI634KU1z978c4EX3wjbxf3f9rdJtdKruxXuA0q-oDtO4850_3y_ripQkDziWonjjIFTATpex8/s1600/2010-08-22-squarepond+removal102.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeMbz6LZmRalOhPma-NrtwCsSFtds1DMWxtC0J59ZBJnl9eV_pqMDFvybqnyfI634KU1z978c4EX3wjbxf3f9rdJtdKruxXuA0q-oDtO4850_3y_ripQkDziWonjjIFTATpex8/s400/2010-08-22-squarepond+removal102.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5508921626052121378" /></a><center>This week's configuration</center>Renatahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09496376338192260658noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16700671.post-42401579467727303362010-07-31T17:16:00.000-07:002010-08-24T13:02:09.214-07:00Had a Great Time; What a Place We Live In!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJeGi3ie_sx_kJnbYQDOlX5OihlQK6X4Dx35YdroxbDyPFOU1949mQsZgHiJRD3TPMWZO-PB9NfVTEsz8Gfpyjim3ujvYDN6jI-IXH8aNDF3HUnxsWc8bB_VapgjKq4nZ-8SM3/s1600/TuolumneMeadows-july27+(144).JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJeGi3ie_sx_kJnbYQDOlX5OihlQK6X4Dx35YdroxbDyPFOU1949mQsZgHiJRD3TPMWZO-PB9NfVTEsz8Gfpyjim3ujvYDN6jI-IXH8aNDF3HUnxsWc8bB_VapgjKq4nZ-8SM3/s400/TuolumneMeadows-july27+(144).JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5500348549598974514" /></a>We got back from Yosemite's Tuolumne Meadows last night - six wonderful days of "roughing it" in order to thoroughly experience the beautiful mountains, rivers, meadows, flowers, and wildlife in the High Sierra. It felt great to shower and wash my hair after we got home (running water is a wonderful luxury) but I would have easily traded another week of living in a tent with the only running water in the river, if I had more vacation time. It struck me that if ever I didn't have a house to live in, I could follow the warm weather and spend the maximum number of days camping in national and state parks. I'm sure lots of homeless people are <strong><em>forced</em></strong> into doing it, but as long as we had the vehicle and fuel to travel, that would be a reasonable alternative. <br /><br />Coming home, in addition to running hot water and a real bed, also meant returning to electricity and an internet connection. Although I had a mobile phone that got great 3G connectivity, I had my old phone with the battery that wouldn't hold a charge, so although I could take pictures and email them, I couldn't check Facebook or weather updates. (That's why they call it "roughing it", ha ha!) So now I have over 1660 photos and about 50 minutes of video clips to edit - plus laundry and other things to deal with before my vacation ends tomorrow night. Yeah, my life is really rough ;-) <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsKy1znLpezG8ZP7HAKDzzApahKiqKzucJra-3dFfrUAEDyqQjfkTe4nCXAb-8UP_ilEZNVpnqhb7udrk28wCOZ152GIsCvGXJ4uNRzSsACANg0vUuTv0KMW-4gpTifsR3i0r0/s1600/TuolumneMeadows-july27+(62).JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsKy1znLpezG8ZP7HAKDzzApahKiqKzucJra-3dFfrUAEDyqQjfkTe4nCXAb-8UP_ilEZNVpnqhb7udrk28wCOZ152GIsCvGXJ4uNRzSsACANg0vUuTv0KMW-4gpTifsR3i0r0/s400/TuolumneMeadows-july27+(62).JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5500347130193322690" /></a>We live awfully blessed lives, living so near the beach in Ventura and having the resources, health, and time available to drive 3-8 hours to places with 8,000-10,000 foot elevations for hiking, fishing, and skiing. Now that I have to go back to work on Monday, I'm already looking forward to another vacation in the fall . . . and looking way further ahead: to retiring and getting to travel even more in a few more years!Renatahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09496376338192260658noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16700671.post-48538662667761493112010-06-01T08:31:00.000-07:002010-06-01T08:53:43.918-07:00I'm Back - and on the Road to ZionWow, it's been over four months since I last updated this blog. I've actually written more on Pond Ponderings, and of course the CROP Hunger Walk needed (and needs) updating. I think Facebook is the biggest culprit - it so much easier to write one sentence and upload a few pictures. So I'm back with loads of flowers, fish, trips to visit Sam & Jenn, special occasions, and Bob updates to catch up with. This is the day after a wonderful, fun, sunny Memorial Day Weekend. I had to work Saturday, but Friday, Sunday, and Monday were great. Sam & Jenn came down Sunday evening and yesterday was the annual UCLA Reggae Festival. I stayed up late last night putting videos on YouTube and here is my favorite:<br /><object style="BACKGROUND-IMAGE: url(http://i1.ytimg.com/vi/Xar_C96y1mA/hqdefault.jpg)" width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/Xar_C96y1mA&hl=en_US&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/Xar_C96y1mA&hl=en_US&fs=1" width="425" height="344" allowscriptaccess="never" allowfullscreen="true" wmode="transparent" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"></embed></object><br />(You will eventually see all my videos from yesterday's festival on YouTube - just search for UCLA Reggae Festival 2010 venturahundleys.)Renatahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09496376338192260658noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16700671.post-9966389704093142372010-01-23T02:42:00.000-08:002010-01-23T02:53:12.947-08:00Time to Start Planning for April 25th<a href="http://venturacropwalk.blogspot.com/2010/01/great-job-in-2009-get-ready-for-2010.html"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 310px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5429884466415661042" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0hU8qGZeFcMBGd7rym0uvxlrQyFxHn3rMazvSMRq1pxBJZySWSbmZspYPGS1t-I8lqMhiaYue-9P6-Fm7gdQ4tbejwXVwxxjDYu3wHnFVkTOK7IxURdvUPYF497YWYezzd7S8/s400/2008poster.gif" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">Doing something to fight the causes and effects of hunger is important now more than ever - join us in the Ventura CROP Hunger Walk! </span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><a href="http://www.venturacropwalk.blogspot.com/">www.venturacropwalk.blogspot.com</a><br /></span>Renatahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09496376338192260658noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16700671.post-27977502169216121882010-01-19T16:01:00.000-08:002010-01-19T16:10:05.584-08:00Rain Is Predicted To Fall All Week!That's practically unheard of in drought-stricken SoCal, so I'm in rain-lover heaven!<br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/YgwOOdljAgE&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/YgwOOdljAgE&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br />Yesterday, Tom and I wandered around LA Live, trying not to get blown away with our umbrellas ;-) Today, we got this incredible straight-down-from-the-sky <strong><em>very loud </em></strong>downpour. There is more rain predicted for the next two days so I'm really excited!Renatahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09496376338192260658noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16700671.post-11435283833605412632010-01-11T09:46:00.000-08:002010-01-11T17:13:03.846-08:00Happy Holidays and Best Wishes for 2010!As usual, we are late getting out our Christmas cards, but until they all arrive, here is our annual letter with this wish:<br /><br /><b>May the world’s Hope for <br /><br />Peace, Love, and Joy <br /><br />during the holiday season<br /><br />last throughout the New Year!</b><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghc3Bh6g6OFBWVK7lX5ahjTJdHLMHiFfTHb3_4fd4smN6d3UVa8qYd1ZXFeUlA_SGJsBpF5R2Ayaoe5pIf_c8gwFQnWedZdQwRTAi5M3tW6w2iKUE_YHhyrilymFbe_raxHMfH/s1600-h/Thanksgiving_2009-143.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghc3Bh6g6OFBWVK7lX5ahjTJdHLMHiFfTHb3_4fd4smN6d3UVa8qYd1ZXFeUlA_SGJsBpF5R2Ayaoe5pIf_c8gwFQnWedZdQwRTAi5M3tW6w2iKUE_YHhyrilymFbe_raxHMfH/s320/Thanksgiving_2009-143.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5425544530023528066" /></a><br />(Our annual letter will open if you click on this posting's headline.)Renatahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09496376338192260658noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16700671.post-482860869385233852009-12-22T14:53:00.000-08:002009-12-22T16:37:11.146-08:00Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIlmFuSfXHsejcwHNR2eEm_ewrk1lxtpzlfRu9uBAsNjo1vocDF7u9SAFpEcXQhemzISage1KwsW8D8V2j9TCUDjalzKbeX4z5Bd4k1XjyZwDATDVsyOP1r4L2ltPnLrQb1HxU/s1600-h/DSC_0328.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 170px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIlmFuSfXHsejcwHNR2eEm_ewrk1lxtpzlfRu9uBAsNjo1vocDF7u9SAFpEcXQhemzISage1KwsW8D8V2j9TCUDjalzKbeX4z5Bd4k1XjyZwDATDVsyOP1r4L2ltPnLrQb1HxU/s320/DSC_0328.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418211652051927698" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRihkp6zgDAzkWEmBcQo0xBjB7Zwz-Qa4-HUOwfsc1IRNrDwIpY4EoLMtZTUu3cUG141KpqFn2OQFx73cEbHm9ciCnN4hf69HOeVfRgsTT45z6rOhJbDoLlIaVVLuLO-P6H1Zs/s1600-h/DSC_0339.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 246px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRihkp6zgDAzkWEmBcQo0xBjB7Zwz-Qa4-HUOwfsc1IRNrDwIpY4EoLMtZTUu3cUG141KpqFn2OQFx73cEbHm9ciCnN4hf69HOeVfRgsTT45z6rOhJbDoLlIaVVLuLO-P6H1Zs/s320/DSC_0339.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418207450896910322" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibeMs65DS9m3PRJyJLxbEmu88m09IHsvOxHOIqbucQncBHE4DxggrO-MDaFZ81phENXoptcEIqKE-_l-Xtqoyl3szbR8xppGMQYkbVf9NjR3QK2F4PQA3zO9JRvmje1lBjTz8c/s1600-h/DSC_0336.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 247px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibeMs65DS9m3PRJyJLxbEmu88m09IHsvOxHOIqbucQncBHE4DxggrO-MDaFZ81phENXoptcEIqKE-_l-Xtqoyl3szbR8xppGMQYkbVf9NjR3QK2F4PQA3zO9JRvmje1lBjTz8c/s320/DSC_0336.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418207467172852226" /></a>We drove up in a little bit of rain and slush, but the real snow began to fall yesterday afternoon and we woke up to a bit of blue sky with snow on the ground. And now it is definitely snowing! I'm happy to know that we will most definitely have a white Christmas while we're up here at Sam & Jenn's. It is the perfect place to rest, relax, enjoy our family, AND ski whenever we want!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw5ZwDRUNqqkjdlwpeEfFZrfqXPF9SUEt48Yt7SWziELyYMWGsD4KeqyRrVzY4jLXrbEuV7cPXpxiCcXzfny5f1iXN1BTXhmfOOhKB8EfLNFl9BVuHux39E42_FOVfXTfYz34l/s1600-h/DSC_0344.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw5ZwDRUNqqkjdlwpeEfFZrfqXPF9SUEt48Yt7SWziELyYMWGsD4KeqyRrVzY4jLXrbEuV7cPXpxiCcXzfny5f1iXN1BTXhmfOOhKB8EfLNFl9BVuHux39E42_FOVfXTfYz34l/s320/DSC_0344.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418207444373276146" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP40E13cABNnLkPD7RvQL7L8d2lnHhT7pk3wU4GSA3yOf-H-bTjOLNZGtWa1T3c61EMfGwDyuhU0PP9A_iVwm42Pb2SXDOaxdVv03yPSFs4T4U1wvnvK8Us9PzkH8i1B3t2q7g/s1600-h/DSC_0346.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 248px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP40E13cABNnLkPD7RvQL7L8d2lnHhT7pk3wU4GSA3yOf-H-bTjOLNZGtWa1T3c61EMfGwDyuhU0PP9A_iVwm42Pb2SXDOaxdVv03yPSFs4T4U1wvnvK8Us9PzkH8i1B3t2q7g/s320/DSC_0346.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418207459269258850" /></a>Renatahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09496376338192260658noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16700671.post-67206661484573159182009-12-09T18:19:00.001-08:002009-12-09T19:38:40.375-08:00Alternative Christmas Gift Giving<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipJLsUZgkdB3IOLWKnMMyZ8KrEHUzb2nzRB7JvTVtOEKf4UN7eF0SkvOJ090IS9VnG9mFN7Gfh7brcKvjBc3hmfEICGaFkBPH_eKKMbDVvxVfY0z56stBEzx7IbmaVXF7iOI-d/s1600-h/2009-12-06-ACF.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 143px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipJLsUZgkdB3IOLWKnMMyZ8KrEHUzb2nzRB7JvTVtOEKf4UN7eF0SkvOJ090IS9VnG9mFN7Gfh7brcKvjBc3hmfEICGaFkBPH_eKKMbDVvxVfY0z56stBEzx7IbmaVXF7iOI-d/s200/2009-12-06-ACF.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5413445641715010546" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-46fk60L-6eyt6hlQgEizYbQVvYMLHKDPOEbv0fWGmLhzMlEWYTNNJz5vhCIRlwBxNDPVygdwDpJBKpt33ATWE56Osu34NApRYCfgEe6MzL0U-lbUo5gEJ621c9afIjPU-MGN/s1600-h/DSC_0037.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 160px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-46fk60L-6eyt6hlQgEizYbQVvYMLHKDPOEbv0fWGmLhzMlEWYTNNJz5vhCIRlwBxNDPVygdwDpJBKpt33ATWE56Osu34NApRYCfgEe6MzL0U-lbUo5gEJ621c9afIjPU-MGN/s200/DSC_0037.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5413445060096560914" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Last Sunday's annual Alternative Christmas Faire was another successful time of raising money for others - while honoring friends and family with gift cards explaining what project had been supported. It is not too late to buy alternative gifts - just use the links to the <a href="http://docs.google.com/View?id=df9zqv3j_31cp48x8dj">instruction sheet </a>and "<a href="http://spreadsheets.google.com/pub?key=t9Dw5FcHLY4eEmYdIDVdQzA&single=true&gid=0&output=html">shopping list</a>", then email me to arrange exchange of a check for a gift card.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvsqPDwOpt9N7hy477hMgjuY6bcUdGWQ5UA1l2HFicrXKF33Cy9npMjEyoQkiBUZtFBJS4IYRiPR6rpObxn9ZQe-D3kB9N2tODYqzcSLjW1L1wFY2cRb8WNySQyOW56UhkYBH7/s1600-h/DSC_0035.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 160px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvsqPDwOpt9N7hy477hMgjuY6bcUdGWQ5UA1l2HFicrXKF33Cy9npMjEyoQkiBUZtFBJS4IYRiPR6rpObxn9ZQe-D3kB9N2tODYqzcSLjW1L1wFY2cRb8WNySQyOW56UhkYBH7/s200/DSC_0035.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5413444259463138242" /></a>Renatahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09496376338192260658noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16700671.post-48297591742216248112009-12-08T17:05:00.001-08:002009-12-22T23:06:39.980-08:00Snow Returns to Ventura!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6e7CA2QTw9318U-rXu9eNG1Gi-_DAshAHSeauhtPWUeeLtcMVDul8e8En_JkkRD-PtI6YrcPMOf41D8oxoFEELvsEIyPx7NG55VLc0eOqPD2kiEqMl6ICdwt-i3v3unIQfq5U/s1600-h/DSC_0121.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 251px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6e7CA2QTw9318U-rXu9eNG1Gi-_DAshAHSeauhtPWUeeLtcMVDul8e8En_JkkRD-PtI6YrcPMOf41D8oxoFEELvsEIyPx7NG55VLc0eOqPD2kiEqMl6ICdwt-i3v3unIQfq5U/s400/DSC_0121.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5413038363842027362" /></a>It's that time of year again . . . winter is on its way! We got .7" of rain in our back yard and the local mountains got lots of snow. I love more than anything to see snow on topa Topa, with Ventura's Two Trees surrounded by snow-covered mountains!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj02HBMlXmkkcTxNrMhvCzFl-9h9NZt3IZyIXcLbow_LoanjoAEz_l7IMJvzcfibZ9x-tshjyjH2hv0ftRItrtGWtg-9sS9DtgBnfX9A937FZ4yBei8yDwJ_ihrAcB63AvzKOkk/s1600-h/DSC_0114.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj02HBMlXmkkcTxNrMhvCzFl-9h9NZt3IZyIXcLbow_LoanjoAEz_l7IMJvzcfibZ9x-tshjyjH2hv0ftRItrtGWtg-9sS9DtgBnfX9A937FZ4yBei8yDwJ_ihrAcB63AvzKOkk/s400/DSC_0114.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5413037967447764482" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid0YF803ewCYmFaRCJHt9mKHf9AOLJUC4-PGsrZWIPZv86nqjMaHzXGdVTLxWhRhtuSHOs-UG4jUqSBH5fFW4eB1fXLiTDqPpfIFdACebDrqsb0vkFvaFVvHOsvH1Tx1m13Gtr/s1600-h/DSC_0111.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid0YF803ewCYmFaRCJHt9mKHf9AOLJUC4-PGsrZWIPZv86nqjMaHzXGdVTLxWhRhtuSHOs-UG4jUqSBH5fFW4eB1fXLiTDqPpfIFdACebDrqsb0vkFvaFVvHOsvH1Tx1m13Gtr/s400/DSC_0111.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5413037966078970018" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHEZdPASTeporGv4IZl8CLXIzjg8W7DZxqkc2_N24Usyq4OLZ06-3yYy_I3qZwlql45RGlRHOt4tdfjerRmEq1wZ0Azvi2WgsIesYSdnqtO16JmMQu715HCXb_xVGJclFyhnjP/s1600-h/DSC_0102.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHEZdPASTeporGv4IZl8CLXIzjg8W7DZxqkc2_N24Usyq4OLZ06-3yYy_I3qZwlql45RGlRHOt4tdfjerRmEq1wZ0Azvi2WgsIesYSdnqtO16JmMQu715HCXb_xVGJclFyhnjP/s400/DSC_0102.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5413037957521377394" /></a>Renatahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09496376338192260658noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16700671.post-56270845953049382852009-12-04T09:17:00.000-08:002009-12-04T09:41:58.152-08:00So Much For Which To Be ThankfulWhat a great Thanksgiving weekend we just had! It was full of good times, memorable images, and many firsts. Sam and Jenn came down to spend a few days with us and traveled to Costa Mesa for Thanksgiving dinner at April & Lindsay's - it was the biggest family gathering ever! Tom and I endured a wet and windy trip across the SB Channel to hike on Santa Cruz Island for the first time - what beautiful island views! I had to work on Saturday but it was nice that some of my Teen Council members could come and decorate the library in the afternoon. After a good First Sunday in Advent worship service, we had our first blocking session for <em>Amahl and the Night Visitors</em> and then went to the parsonage where we had a fun baby shower for Jacob and Heather and got to see how Mary has decorated her new home. I finished the four-day period with a nice long Sunday afternoon nap. (photos to follow)Renatahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09496376338192260658noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16700671.post-77467764956840417292009-11-06T10:15:00.000-08:002009-11-06T12:48:13.923-08:00RIP GeoCities and Hello hundleys.netThis link to an <a href="http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/technology/2009/10/geocities-closing.html">October 26 L.A. Times article</a> is a good summary of the GeoCities history.<br /><br />My first web pages appeared at an old, hard-to-remember, address in one of GeoCities' Rainforest neighborhoods. (Don't bother looking for www.geocities.com/RainForest/Jungle/8759/ - it no longer exists online). Back in the late 1990s, the only pictures on my site were pictures printed from film and then scanned into tiny files of less than 50k. Getting a digital camera of my own was great, but those first cameras were nothing like what we have today with all our big files and memory capabilities.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjShy1OqgWhTd_haSAxrzfqHVoQ56tVuRCZxAk1jMQQoVz2ldIGDpuIVtbR1BZeJP2W8QPTL1_RO1hU37pFF6PiJCrDjI1PgnegFx9MK3jaKv8cR4Kk9pmY96i2D64vGrRZAcDX/s1600-h/sam4x100.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 132px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjShy1OqgWhTd_haSAxrzfqHVoQ56tVuRCZxAk1jMQQoVz2ldIGDpuIVtbR1BZeJP2W8QPTL1_RO1hU37pFF6PiJCrDjI1PgnegFx9MK3jaKv8cR4Kk9pmY96i2D64vGrRZAcDX/s200/sam4x100.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5401088996489240002" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkhbmfnrmiaK-8dOZ-nA6zjHFOIyE2-9eWIyLXo1m2atNch0clnWkyMnwNhRYFifb0qwC5nHIxZkXwwn38qiYv5RvkHO3z9tqEIUDkuAKj3alVcRbzEhe1PGqKVcUjn5VZaQEe/s1600-h/truckwav.jpg" style="text-decoration: none;"></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkhbmfnrmiaK-8dOZ-nA6zjHFOIyE2-9eWIyLXo1m2atNch0clnWkyMnwNhRYFifb0qwC5nHIxZkXwwn38qiYv5RvkHO3z9tqEIUDkuAKj3alVcRbzEhe1PGqKVcUjn5VZaQEe/s1600-h/truckwav.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 140px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkhbmfnrmiaK-8dOZ-nA6zjHFOIyE2-9eWIyLXo1m2atNch0clnWkyMnwNhRYFifb0qwC5nHIxZkXwwn38qiYv5RvkHO3z9tqEIUDkuAKj3alVcRbzEhe1PGqKVcUjn5VZaQEe/s200/truckwav.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5401090794594916658" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKcOi_vwH1zij4-Pjy_BK1sRxOMNNOgJjScZ27GVswPg29cvboF7B8lZap1o0HF14w2LZJYQ6xrn6jkyL05RMcdROv1KXwkwGLUUMaOuCXzvghq-3bojPYmgp1NrFQqH2qJGfR/s1600-h/bot.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 317px; height: 253px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKcOi_vwH1zij4-Pjy_BK1sRxOMNNOgJjScZ27GVswPg29cvboF7B8lZap1o0HF14w2LZJYQ6xrn6jkyL05RMcdROv1KXwkwGLUUMaOuCXzvghq-3bojPYmgp1NrFQqH2qJGfR/s320/bot.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5401093120274111362" /></a>A few years later, the GeoCities neighborhoods were no longer necessary and our original address had changed from the rainforest/jungle URL to an easier "3hundleys" location.<br /><br />After we switched our ISP to Pacific Bell/which became SBC/which became ATT, I created another site on the "new" GeoCities (www.geocities.com/venturahundleys@sbcglobal.net). I was already thinking about buying a domain in order to change the difficult web address when I got the closing notice from Yahoo, so wasn't totally heartbroken. I <span style="font-weight:bold;"><u>am</u></span> sad about all the internet history that was not archived. In the meantime, I have a lot of work to do on our new <a href="http://www.hundleys.net">Hundleys.net</a> site.Renatahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09496376338192260658noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16700671.post-47619777586443184022009-10-27T23:09:00.000-07:002009-10-28T00:21:49.025-07:00Fall Colors, Version 2009<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWxe3Hm_jVcoSigX156NKdaec3nzk5lP_wZ5QjjT46i8NvB8LFS4ciNim4gT4V5b0M4JurchYNY86ZClpKEluhLMTeajwcnRvKSF0UywTV3krPEybFbjYdD04MVrPDg_jjf6Eo/s1600-h/DSC_0172.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWxe3Hm_jVcoSigX156NKdaec3nzk5lP_wZ5QjjT46i8NvB8LFS4ciNim4gT4V5b0M4JurchYNY86ZClpKEluhLMTeajwcnRvKSF0UywTV3krPEybFbjYdD04MVrPDg_jjf6Eo/s400/DSC_0172.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5397541138931289682" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf1vRHmLpJQcSEWvehJAo9D08YcEXP-PRtfEEYo6CqGLqrLTnRaKGr15M43rGVDxNS3wQvJ1o9cg-icXI1KqPurVEF-VRtMXDmBRAKI_XiMgS_uYfhZC9Xu2g2fPlaiT-xglEy/s1600-h/DSC_0119.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf1vRHmLpJQcSEWvehJAo9D08YcEXP-PRtfEEYo6CqGLqrLTnRaKGr15M43rGVDxNS3wQvJ1o9cg-icXI1KqPurVEF-VRtMXDmBRAKI_XiMgS_uYfhZC9Xu2g2fPlaiT-xglEy/s400/DSC_0119.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5397533808300308850" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqVSIlz_2fbG3eKCiuNWkLXMyoLGB4iQvzyvgbIv0wQih3DOlOWQdr-DxK9spSjjnwU7Y2IbL_xjrUnHce6-19tCqkNZh2lZm9xhgtjMj1PwbyISUkaa39B1gLi9ytT6WaghWR/s1600-h/DSC_0105.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqVSIlz_2fbG3eKCiuNWkLXMyoLGB4iQvzyvgbIv0wQih3DOlOWQdr-DxK9spSjjnwU7Y2IbL_xjrUnHce6-19tCqkNZh2lZm9xhgtjMj1PwbyISUkaa39B1gLi9ytT6WaghWR/s400/DSC_0105.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5397530555731457042" /></a>The past few years I've had a yearning to see fall colors, so we've been to Tahoe, Big Bear, Chicago, and Sacramento during Tom's Fall Break from school. Since we're traveling at the end of the week, I didn't feel like going too far away last weekend - so we drove up behind Ojai and found a little bit of color around the Sespe. Still a little early, but very pretty.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVRMfspnZDbU_wBgiGRj982Z4vRTt74i-pNsr7soo6yR0VOm8g8wmNGEOTgZi1JlMysrcgiQAz4_jHpYm9hqmTXTw6QrjNeJ8kUm2Ai8zgc7Hf4-k-vykMhL4sgfCYK53utJ3C/s1600-h/DSC_0177.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVRMfspnZDbU_wBgiGRj982Z4vRTt74i-pNsr7soo6yR0VOm8g8wmNGEOTgZi1JlMysrcgiQAz4_jHpYm9hqmTXTw6QrjNeJ8kUm2Ai8zgc7Hf4-k-vykMhL4sgfCYK53utJ3C/s400/DSC_0177.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5397533817129558290" /></a>Renatahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09496376338192260658noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16700671.post-55012238470815893282009-10-14T09:53:00.000-07:002009-10-14T09:57:54.626-07:00First Rain, pt.2<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbmsvHoJmAXBBTl_y-eNVCBorYvKNjyFQEecT6HlpiyQOInPqsUPC87GgLDP5PRrsGEO1zYwnJnD3GJelXgG07lYlKnFO82mv0UPUdhDOiorf1t0ABE9U05ClEctPOunAmlS1a/s1600-h/2009-10-14-730am-raingauge.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 309px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbmsvHoJmAXBBTl_y-eNVCBorYvKNjyFQEecT6HlpiyQOInPqsUPC87GgLDP5PRrsGEO1zYwnJnD3GJelXgG07lYlKnFO82mv0UPUdhDOiorf1t0ABE9U05ClEctPOunAmlS1a/s400/2009-10-14-730am-raingauge.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5392500352288141474" /></a>7:30 this morning: 1.5" in the rain gauge and the fishponds were at maximum fullness. The fish seemed to <em>love</em> it!Renatahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09496376338192260658noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16700671.post-38975307240411706522009-10-13T08:01:00.000-07:002009-10-13T11:11:57.267-07:00The New Rain Year Has Begun!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNOPUh22fGoFlwfMaamdmGPEYjwaT6ndgRLJf2J3mESm8IxA3VFOiV4XloGmHNi-pr_5OchK__THytZmvsbFlcNYSK94447MV6kmG1Q97g9w7oelN-eIqqOejlP_qeefnM7IIl/s1600-h/2009-10-13-DSC_0014.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 309px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNOPUh22fGoFlwfMaamdmGPEYjwaT6ndgRLJf2J3mESm8IxA3VFOiV4XloGmHNi-pr_5OchK__THytZmvsbFlcNYSK94447MV6kmG1Q97g9w7oelN-eIqqOejlP_qeefnM7IIl/s400/2009-10-13-DSC_0014.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5392118733278447874" /></a>About a week earlier than past years I can remember, our first rain of the season fell this morning as a light rain. <span style="font-style:italic;"><span style="font-weight:bold;">Real</span></span> rain, not "heavy mist" or even "drizzle" but actual drops that splashed and caused water to run down Channel Drive. I join everyone in the burn areas around SoCal in hoping it doesn't come down too hard and fast, but actual rain in the third year of an <a href="http://www.water.ca.gov/drought/docs/DroughtUpdate_sept30.pdf">officially declared drought</a> is great!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCh2ePORO-k3zAli89pQTBiy_ERRUWBD1EhJ3DW-hyXkSj07SGEtB4VGm06PZsLGf9Dt76rTwt_HLK8tiE5IEU3uIpZ6tmBM78YzynTO_uBYKqWA8jY3uzBTeCYbBJmhMhkWfS/s1600-h/drought-banner-severe.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 62px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCh2ePORO-k3zAli89pQTBiy_ERRUWBD1EhJ3DW-hyXkSj07SGEtB4VGm06PZsLGf9Dt76rTwt_HLK8tiE5IEU3uIpZ6tmBM78YzynTO_uBYKqWA8jY3uzBTeCYbBJmhMhkWfS/s400/drought-banner-severe.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5392102672565219202" /></a> <br />It is just beginning, but as of 8:30am, we already had .20 inch in the rain gauge.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBoM-LrLWuOgLOMpUUPATndoTxeZZ61hk8iMZizhMONXA1agflx8OfB5FZaLQA3Bpg9cbHTD59kyeRlc9Z8OMSegld8uuPBcqy6cmtuLDyiECuub8yI14xpNjt0ZpYoWCSFi3U/s1600-h/2009-10-13-DSC_0019.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 309px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBoM-LrLWuOgLOMpUUPATndoTxeZZ61hk8iMZizhMONXA1agflx8OfB5FZaLQA3Bpg9cbHTD59kyeRlc9Z8OMSegld8uuPBcqy6cmtuLDyiECuub8yI14xpNjt0ZpYoWCSFi3U/s400/2009-10-13-DSC_0019.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5392120371821817314" /></a>Renatahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09496376338192260658noreply@blogger.com0