A Little Rain Opens the River Mouth

Finally, the little rain we’ve had was enough to open the river mouth of the Gualala River. Fresh and salt water are now connected.  Imagine how the steelhead feel about this!

A Dry and Unusually Warm Winter

Though I am concerned about the severe lack of rain, I must admit that this weekend was gorgeous! The ocean was spectacular, the swell big, the air warm and clear, just the drive up the coast was wonderful. I can never tire of the beauty of this stretch of the coast – beauty that never fades and changes with the seasons.

Mendocino Crab & Wine Days

If you are looking for an excuse to go to Mendocino next weekend, January 20-22, is it! The Mendocino Crab & Wine Days celebrate everything we love about the North Coast: seafood, mushrooms, good wine, to name a few. See a whole list of activities and events here.

Perspective

Things can look so different, depending on from what direction and under what conditions we look at them – in nature and in life.

Scooner Gulch looking north at high tide

Scooner Gulch looking south at a minus tide

 

Point Arena Light House

Area open to the public south of the light house

We went out to the Point Arena light house on Saturday morning. The air was clear and crisp which made all the colors and shapes come into focus. We did spot a whale spout, probably one of the last gray whales going south to Baja, Mexico. The Mendocino Coast has a way of mesmerizing you any time of the year.

Al is back!

Al in front of the rights at Point Arena Cove

For the 19th year, Al has returned to Point Arena. This Laysan Albatross has become a  local celebrity. He loves to hang out with surfers and attracts birders from around the country. This is a rare place where you can observe a Laysan Albatross from solid ground and don’t have to endure a long boat ride to watch one of these amazing seabirds that have a wing span of up to 80 inches.

I looked at my picture of Al from last year and he looks exactly the same! Do birds not show their age? I wish I could say that for myself.

Al in February 2011

Al in January 2012

Christmas Tree Point Arena Style

Christmas 'Tree' at Point Arena Cove

Happy New Year!

Thank you for staying at Enchanted Meadows! John and I wish you all the best for 2012, especially health and happiness.

Sunburn in December

Anna's Hummingbird perched on top of the persimmon tree

Who would have thought you can get a sunburn from the low-angle winter sun? Well I didn’t, but I did. It was in the low 70s and wonderfully comfortable for shorts and a T-shirt. Maybe it was the warmth of the sun that made the hill buzz with life.  I can’t remember ever seeing that many humming birds competing for the remaining blossoms of the season… and the humming bird feeder. Their energy and sounds were electrifying the air – chirps, songs and the unmistakably-sounding wing vibrations. A Steller Jay perched himself right in front of me on top an old redwood stump pecking noisily at an acorn. The crows were having conversations across the forest, sometimes sounding like humans. Mesmerizing.

Fall

The fire place and hot tub are among the most appreciated features this time a year. Saturday night was cold; we had a fire going all day.  Then on Sunday, it warmed up. We sat in the hot tub with the lightest, softest drizzle that didn’t even show on the surface of the water. It was like a warm embrace of humidity, almost invisible against the wind-still sky and trees.

The garden is resting as well, except for some cabbages I planted in October. Will they make it before it gets really cold?