Roof's Back - Mama Too (A Bird's Nest)

Weeding - Just Cleaning

Mama Bird Went Out For Worms

Roofs Back - Mama Too

Blackberry Dreamin'

When I grow up I’m gonna be a BLACKBERRY!

A very uncooperative Prickly Pear - Perservere - Teenager

Prickly Pear, AZ Gardens, Stanford  University

This very uncooperative Prickly Pear keeps her face turned away. 

She knows how to use her prickles to her best advantage.

I finally catch her blooming when she isn’t looking.

Once upon a time my daughter was a teenager.

I know all about perseverance.

Time Travel 1893 - Philadelphia

Reading Terminal Market, Philadelphia, PA


Traveling back to 1893 Philadelphia
I Spy Tulips To Gladden My Desk
Little Changed Here - 125 Years Away in My Home-Time

~ ~ ~

Resources

https://readingterminalmarket.org/about-us/

Prima Donna - In Bloom

Barrel Cactus
Stanford University Arizona Gardens

Prima Donna

Is Her Bloom Worth Her Bite?

Pinnacles The Old Latch at Bacon Ranch

The Ranch - Pinnacles

Ben's Wife Orea Called To

Him -Husband Supper!

Resources

Pinnacles is 25 miles from Hollister CA

Known for Condors, Caves - Take Flashlights-, Very Warm Summers

Bacon Ranch is a quarter mile from the Campground - It's highly accessible

Reservations for Camping are Challenging - Check Early 

https://benitolink.com/features/walking-san-benito-pinnacles-national-park-bacon-ranch

Baylands in Bloom (Wildflowers, Palo Alto Baylands, CA, Silicon Valley)

I used to call you a Compositae

As I thought I was more sophisticated you became Asteraceae

You're a Daisy

Such a Big Family You Come From

Do You Know That, Little Darling?

~ ~ ~

Resources

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asteraceae

Praise Ye, the God of Brass! - Rehearsal Bing Concert Hall Stanford University

Belshezzar Commanded . . .
Praise Ye, the God of Brass!

Brass Players are an Essential part of this Symphony.

As are Choral Singers Like Me!

Stanford Symphony Performs 

William Walton's Belshazzar's Feast 

This Coming Weekend 

Stanford University's Bing Preforming Art Center

https://live.stanford.edu/calendar/march-2018/danny-elfman-concerto-violin-and-orchestra

From My California Cottage - (Tulip Haiku)

Hey Winter Move It!

Time for Tulips Outside In

. . . California

Spring Sneaking Into California (Magnolias, CA Haiku)

Magnolia in Bloom
Atherton Library

Spring Sneaking In On

Folks Round Silicon Valley

California!

Dungeness Season (Crab Haiku)

Round Here - Dungeness 

From Half Moon Bay Fishermen  

Doesn't Get Better

Recipe - One of these Chocolate Chip Cookies is tasty and satisfying (Protein and Carbohydrate Watching)

Folks grow almonds and walnuts just north of where I live. 

Nothing beats a California almond - unless it's a cookie made with CA almond meal

Almond Meal Oatmeal  Chocolate Chip  Cookies Protein and Carb Watching?  Make 18 of these Tasty One Cookie is Sastisfying

     

Make cookie dough the regular way - Cream the butter and sugar, add the salt and baking soda and eggs then mix in the dry stuff. 

§ 2½ cups almond flour

§ 1/2 cup rolled oats (not instant kind)

§ ¼ cup walnuts, shelled and chopped

§ 1/2 cup unsalted butter

§ 2 large eggs

§  

§ ½ cup  sugar  

§  

§ ½ cup Guitard milk chocolate chips (OK you can use your own favorite - These are my favorite!)

§ ½ teaspoon salt

§ ½ teaspoon baking soda

§ 1 tablespoon vanilla extract

Bake at 350 degrees

Stone Riiiiiivveeeerrrr (Field Trip San Francisco Bay Area, Stanford University, Cantor Art Museum)

"Stone River"
Cantor Center for Visual Arts , Stanford University, Stone River,
British environmental artist Andy Goldsworthy

(sung to the tune of "Moon River")

Stone River, wider than a mile

I'm crossing you in style

Someday

Dream maker

You heart breaker

Wherever you're going, I'm going your way

...

My huckleberry friend

https://news.stanford.edu/news/2002/january23/goldsworthy-123.html

https://genius.com/Audrey-hepburn-moon-river-lyrics

California Blue Eyes - Winter Wildflowers

Sisyrinchium Bellum

A little Iris

Blue-Eyed Grass is springing up

Beneath Stanford trees

~ ~ ~

Las Pilitas Nursery carries them. I've visited this lovely nursery. 

Make an appointment next time you're in San Luis Obispo county.

https://www.laspilitas.com/nature-of-california/plants/642--sisyrinchium-bellum

Agave americana - In Bud

Agave Americana

in Bud

Stanford University - AZ Gardens

Fall Fennel - Sing it Gilbert and Sullivan (Palo Alto Baylands Field Trip)

Put on some good walking shoes.

Head to the Palo Alto Baylands.

Click on that Pirates of Penzance recording and sing along....

Foeniculi - Foenicula - Foenicula ha ha ha ha!

Fennel

It's just Fennel

No, I don't know if it's safe to eat. I wouldn't take a chance - especially as some of the nearby flowers are from the carrot family and look suspiciously like poison hemlock. Yah, that's the stuff Socrates drank and three hours later - no Socrates.

So just sing along. 

OK?

~ ~ ~

Resources

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palo_Alto_Baylands_Nature_Preserve

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foeniculum

A fan of Gilbert and Sullivan Pirates of Penzance - I thought the song was called 'Tarantula' now am wondering..... Is it called 'When the foreman bears his steel'?

When the foreman bears his steel - Tarantula!
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Pirates_of_Penzance

http://stageagent.com/shows/operetta/385/pirates-of-penzance/songs

Fall Colors: Redwood Shores (pickleweed, endangered salt marsh harvest mouse, San Francisco Bay Area)

Bay Side Pickleweed

Redwood Shores - Redwood City

Harbor for Rare Mouse

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salt_marsh_harvest_mouse

Senita People - Eat it Up - Cactus

Currently blooming at Stanford AZ Gardens

Gorgeous white flower on your right is a Senita Cactus

This was an important food for the Senita People

Cousin Martha and I hope to visit the Sonoran Desert where Senita's grow

Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument

https://www.desertusa.com/cactus/senita-cactus.html

Quince from my California Garden - Membrillo de California

Quince - Uno Membrillo

I feasted on you in Spain

Hala! Mucho Gusto.

The Wedding Tomato - A Black Krim

Now Fruiting- Our Commemorative  Black Krim Tomatoes *

My Rosalinda

Married - San Luis Obispo

Home to this Black Krim

* Plant Purchased at San Luis Obispo Farmer's Market
 At nearby Loma Grande Ranch, Rosalinda and Joe married