One Of Those Days

I got around in good time this morning so I could leave for Los Angeles promptly at 8:00 a.m. and have adequate time to make an 11:30 appointment.

In reality the trouble started Tuesday afternoon. I went to get the tires on my truck rotated from front to back.  Before the dust settled and the checks cleared, I had new brakes on the front end, the brake rotors had been turned, and there were two brand new tires on the front.

But now I was ready for my trip ... or a least I thought I was.

Up early, horses fed, cattle fed, all my chores done, and I rolled down the drive 5 minutes before 8:00, planning on a quick stop for fuel on the way.  I was very smug as I turned onto Highway 190.  Not only was I thoroughly ready for the trip, but I was also right on time.

As I got up to speed I glanced down to scan the gauges.  The symbol of a battery was shining bright red.  Then it went out .. came on again ... and promptly winked out again.  That was troubling.  All was not as securely ready as I had hoped.

I stopped to fill up my tank.  When I started on the battery light never went out.  I made a quick call and resignedly headed across town to they guys who work on my truck.

Two hours later I was on my way to Los Angeles, with a brand new alternator humming along nicely.  Fortunately, it was all covered by Warranty, and I was only out time, not money.

I called the doctor's office.  They said to come on in whenever I could get there.  They could work me in.

The upshot of the day was that I made a round-trip to Los Angeles with no dangerous problems, no tire blow-outs (which had been a real threat I learned), and the brakes stopped me smoothly.  And I didn't have an electrical problem in the middle of the Ridge Route.

Even the doctor's appointment worked flawlessly.  I only waited 10 minutes before seeing the doctor.

And on top of all that, I got in and out of Los Angeles between drive-time traffic, driving most of the freeway miles at cruising speed.

So, I guess it really WAS one of THOSE days ... a really GOOD day!

Quick Comment & Question

I am thrilled to see the number of viewers coming to this blog.  Thank you all very much.

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Feel free to make a comment, either good or bad, about any post.  If you'd like to see more of this, or less of that, or whatever you think, I'd really like to hear.

Quiet Sunday Morning and a Fire in The Fireplace

I had to break down and start a fire in the fireplace this morning.  Though it is really not that cold, it still feels good to have a little warmth coming out.  I'll have to keep plenty of kindling around for we will probably see the fire go nearly out during the day, before rebuilding it at night.

After a raucous night last night, it feels good to take it a little easier this morning.  Well, maybe raucous is a bit harsh, considering it all.  An unexpected, last-minute loan-signing job, a dash home then leave for Eagle Mountain Casino not long after getting back, pick up our tickets to Randy Travis, go to dinner (thank goodness we had reservations), then off to the 8:00 p.m. concert.

The new sit-down restaurant at the casino, The River Room,  did not have one of their better nights. The front desk was turning away walk-up diners, explaining to us they wanted to be sure they could get all of us fed and on our way to the concert in a timely fashion.  Since our reservation was for 6:00 p.m. we thought we had more than plenty of time. Actually, we did, but it was nearly 7:25 before we paid the bill and headed for our seats.

Delivery of food from the kitchen was both slow, and not always as ordered.  Even the General Manager got into the act, bringing out plates and bussing a table or two.  Wait staff was trying hard, but it was a rough night in the kitchen.

The food was excellent, and our steaks were done perfectly. But cold potatoes and not-well-done-enough steaks were sent back by other tables. However, I suspect if you went on a night other than a concert night, it would be fine. We will definitely go back.

Of course, the highlight of the evening was the concert by Randy Travis.  He is a consummate professional and very accomplished. So much of the music he performed is so well known we could all sing along. And most of us did.

His backup band is comprised of 8 men, 3 of which provide vocal backup for him. When he went through introduction of the band, we were struck by the length of time they have worked together.  The newest member of the group has been with him 7 years, the fiddle-player for 32 years.  Sharon and I commented, "You don't keep band members traveling on the road with you for 7 years, much less 32 years, if you're not treating them right."

I noticed the Sycamore leaves in the river bottom are finally beginning to show color, but not in the usual "one here - one there" manner.  Rather the entire tree is slowly changing hue.  Most trees are still basically a dull green, but a few are beginning to look a bit more yellow throughout the canopy.

History Day

Yesterday I had the most marvelous experience at Zalud Park. I was one of 56 presenters in the annual Butterfield Stage History Education Day for 4th Graders of the area.

1,400 or more of active 10-year-olds came, with their teachers, to be led to a different presenter's station every 20 minutes. High School students were utilized as guides or escorts for the classes, taking them around the class's next presentation in various locations all over Zalud Park.

Long lines of students waiting to be served a hearty lunch. But, waiting time in line was only about 15 minutes or less. 

The variety of presentations was diverse and covered many different subjects. Subjects ranged from tanning hides, an Indian TeePee, Corn Husk Dolls, Playing Stringed Instruments (like banjo, zither, etc), branding pieces of wood, cooking in a Dutch Oven over a fire, Indian dances and games, and old tools used by pioneers.  These are only the ones I could see, as I didn't get an opportunity to go around and look myself.

My subject was "Reading Cattle Brands." The basic rules of reading brands are simple, but if you don't know how it can be confusing.  I was raised in the cattle industry so grew up around it, and learned how to tell the difference between a Lazy R or a Hanging S.

I created a PowerPoint (actually it's in Keynote, a Mac application) presentation, which could be used in a classroom if there were a TV to use.  Because I was to be outside, I printed mine out on paper so each "page" could be held up for kids to see. I also took a handful of old brands to show as well.

I needed a helper to hold up the pages while I stood in front of the kids to show the brands, and explain everything.  I went to the folks running the show and asked for someone to come be my assistant for the entire day.  Very quickly Lao, a young man in his second year with the California Conservation Corp (CCC), showed up, "You needed some help?"

Lao standing ready for action.  Some of the kids approaching our station. Pages are all in the box in order, ready for him to hold them up for me.  His Red Hat indicates he is a Crew Leader, and not a Blue Hat, or a "newbie."
Notice the yellow fire truck beside his hat in the background.

Lao was quite impressed with the affair, and commented to me, "Gee. I wish we'd have had something like this in Fresno where I went to school."

It was an excellent day for the students and teachers from both the Porterville Unified schools as well as several of the outlying schools.  When I asked, I was told the Porterville schools provided 800 attendees, and the remainder came from places like Burton, Terra Bella, and Springville.  A teacher and their entire class of 4th Grade students moved between the presenters as a group, staying together during the entire time.

The students were made into four different teams (colors of Red, Blue Green, Orange) and moved to a new location when the fire truck parked in the parking gave a blast on the siren. The high school student knew where they were going next, and would take the class to their next assigned location all over Zalud Park.

We started the first presentation at 9:00 a.m. doing 6 by 11:00 a.m. then broke for lunch for an hour.  The school district had made a really nutritious "goulash" sort of meal of hamburger, corn, macaroni elbows, seasoning etc, and then a serving of Apple Betty, a nice muffin, and milk.  Not gourmet, but very decent, and filling.

At 12:00 p.m. we started up again, doing another 4 presentations in the afternoon.  Everything ran like a well-oiled machine, and literally zero problems.

I had a ball, thoroughly enjoying watching the kids, and presenting to them.  Most were wonderful, and none were a problem.  Some were more attentive than others, but almost all went away knowing a little more than when they arrived 20 minutes earlier.

A real tip of the cap to the folks at PUSD for putting this on for the 13th year.  It was originally started by the Porterville Chamber and was a 2-day affair, general public on Thursday, kids on Friday.  When they dropped it, the schools thought it so valuable an addition to the education of the kids, they have continued it, but only as a 1-day affair and only for 4th Graders.

Spirit's doing well

Spirit, the twin-calf born Friday afternoon and being cared for by our neighbors, is doing exceptionally well.  If we aren't careful, when she comes back to our hilltop to join the rest of the herd, she's going to be more human than animal.

That calf is being absolutely and positively spoiled.  Spoiled rotten in fact.  But right now, that's just fine.  She's alive.  There is no doubt she would not have survived the night had the ladies not intervened.  So go ahead and spoil her a little.

Milk Replacer from a bottle is providing all the nourishment she needs for now.  But a little scoop of Calf Manna will be offered to her right away, as the calf can do very nicely on that.  Add in a little hay for roughage, and "Spirit" will be all set.

I spent the morning working on a presentation I am going to be doing for the area's 4th Grade students at the Butterfield Stage History Education Day at Zalud Park on Friday.  4th Graders study California History this year, so the Butterfield Day started to augment their education, utilizing folks of the area who can provide "Living History" demonstrations and presentations.

My 15 minutes with the kids will be about "Reading Cattle Brands."  When I am finished, they will be able to look at a brand and tell whether it is a "Lazy R" brand, or maybe a "V Hanging S."  By going through the pages of my presentation, I'll involve the kids in "calling" brands.

If there is time left at the end of my 15 minutes, I can always tell a story about Judge Roy Bean, the Hanging Judge, who convicted a cattle thief.

Using a "running iron" the bad guy "fixed" the Bar-S brand to look like his brand, the Forty-Eight.  As soon as the brand healed, it was impossible to tell the new brand from the old.

So how did Judge Bean get the goods on the thief?

Come to Zalud Park Friday morning disguised as a 4th Grader and I'll tell you.  If I have time.

"Spirit" is Thriving

Our neighbors, Bob and Peggy, have been taking wonderful care of the little calf.  At first the front feet would not hold her up as they had not uncurled following the months in the womb.  By massaging and stretching, she is now able to stand on her own, and is doing much better.  Bob is even going to the length of massaging her behind with a warm rag to stimulate her bowel movements, exactly as the cow would do.

Of the greatest importance, however, is the sucking instinct.  Bob said she took about half a bottle of milk being poured into her mouth, let her swallow, and then pour more, before she began sucking his finger.  Now she's taking a rubber nipple on a bottle.  He is getting Milk Replacer down her and she is doing well.  And of course, the more of that Milk Replacer she takes in, the stronger she will get.

And she is indeed a cutie.

Because she refused to quit, she's been named "Spirit"

Her head is down in this picture, not because she wasn't feeling good, but was concentrating on staying upright. 

Though we tried yesterday to get the old cow to accept this baby, it had been too long.  All she could see was this was a strange calf, and not hers.  After the cow butted this calf a couple of times it became obvious this one is going to be a bottle-baby until she can eat Calf Manna on her own.

And, frankly, with the situation as it was, with me in Chico, and only Sharon here, to get help from the neighbors, the calf would have been dead had everybody not stepped in.  Could we have gotten the cow to "take" this calf?  Maybe, if she'd been put in with the cow immediately.  But that just couldn't happen with the limited resources available.  So the calf is alive, and we will have to care for her in the best way we know how.

I had thought possibly this calf was the product of a second conception, maybe a few weeks or even a month later than the first one.  Having seen the calf I've changed my mind.  I'm convinced this was indeed a fraternal twin, conceived at the same time as the other one.  Somehow, this fetus didn't develop as fast, or completely, leaving the front legs not quite "finished."  

Time, Milk Replacer, and Calf Manna will most probably cure what ails this little gal though.

So ... now you know the upshot of all the fal-de-rahl on the twins.  

One Lone Leaf, and Two Strange Twins.

If you've been following the Strange Saga of Sycamore Leaves, you know the trees in the river bottom along the northern end of Globe Drive are not behaving as they should.  Not at all.

When the river gets low, usually in the last couple of weeks of August, I watch for the first sign the Sycamores are getting ready to stop using water so heavily, as they begin to yellow a leaf here and there throughout the canopy above.  This year, even though the leaves got a dusty shade of green, which usually indicates they're about to begin turning yellow, they never did.  In fact, as recently as last Friday morning (the last time I went through there in the daylight) there were no bright yellow spots visible.  None.

I was gone all weekend, so when I returned home last night, having been rained on most of the way south from Chico, I fully expected to see the ground littered with Sycamore leaves brought down by the wind and rain.

From the Upper Globe Bridge, and all across the river bottom, there was no carpet of dry leaves.   But about half way, there was one single, lonesome, great big dry leaf.  Just one.  The roadway was absolutely clean.  Wet, but clean.

Turning the corner and starting up out of the sand-flat, I pass under an Oak tree.  That was an encouraging sign. The Oak had the good sense to shed a goodly number of leaves.  The wind and rain spread them over the roadway.  Now that was what I had expected back in the flat.

But not the Sycamores.  Strange.  What's with these stubborn Sycamores?  Are they simply being difficult?  Nothing like a stubborn Sycamore.

Now that we have received a couple of little showers (though the amount received yesterday only wet the bottom of my rain gauge and isn't measurable) will the Sycamores get in line with the rest of the well-behaved, season-respecting trees?  Will they recognize it is indeed mid-October?  We shall have to see.

I arrived in Chico about 5:30 Friday evening and was busily getting set up for the weekend conference I was there to attend when my bride called.  Now I always enjoy hearing from her, but I was truly busy.  I didn't really have time to engage in being a socially correct husband.

Well, in truth of course, I did.  But I didn't want to TAKE the time.

But, it was one of THOSE calls.  After being married 45 years ... I immediately recognized the signs ...  I'm sharp.  I took the time.

It seems one of our old cows had calved.  Not just one calf, but actually two.  We had twins.  But there was a problem which made it one of THOSE calls.

One calf, a pretty black with white face, was quite healthy.  The other, apparently a real anomaly, appeared to be a preemie.  The only way that can happen, is if the cow is actually bred at two different times, conceiving both times, so that one fetus was full-term, the other not quite.

Obviously there wasn't a whole lot I could do from Chico, so she had to rely on neighbors and friends and figure it all out.  I gave her a couple of suggestions, and and a phone number to call, returning to my business at hand.  I left her to deal with the calving problems.  And of course, she figured it out.

A neighbor is bottle-feeding the preemie, and we are going to try to get the calf onto the cow today.  Not sure whether that will work or not, but we shall see.  Plus, the front legs of this calf are not even uncurled yet, though the neighbor has been working on stretching the tendons.  She has gotten the calf to stand, but only briefly.   Time and warm milk will provide the strength to use them more and more.  And the calf is taking the bottle willingly, so the sucking instinct is intact.

The old cow was licking the other baby this morning, spiffing it up for the day, which is a very good sign that she is "mothering" her offspring.  The trick will be to get her to take BOTH calves.  Not sure whether that can be done or not.

Sharon was very concerned about seeing what she termed a "pack of Coyote" around the house.  She thought they might be a couple of females, each with a couple of big early-season pups.  When I told Sharon they were probably coming around to clean up after-birth she was much relieved.  She thought maybe they were after the calf.  It's not impossible, but that's probably not the case.

It is really good to be home again.  I left here at 7:30 Friday morning, and didn't get home until 7:15 last night, driving 345 miles each way.  Sure encourages one to sleep well, though.

Sycamores, Skunks, and a forgetful Notary

You might think the headline is somehow related.  It's not.  I just wanted to get your attention.

Well, actually it is in a way.

First, the colors of the Sycamore leaves in the river bottom along Upper Globe Drive, range from brilliant green to nearly yellow.  One tree, as you get off the bridge, is at least 100 feet from the river's edge, on relatively dry ground.  The leaves on that tree are far from green, most turning a dry-yellow, and will be falling before too long.  Many others standing at the very edge of the river, with roots extending under the flowing water, thus constantly watered, are still holding their green colors, though most have taken on the dusty hue.  But very few yellow-colored leaves are in among the green.

Sometimes in the fall, when the season is about to turn, the green leaves of all the trees will become interspersed with bright yellow, slowly spreading to the entire tree over a month or so.  But this year, we see nearly zero yellow ... yet.  I'm assure you, that day is coming, but I am at a loss to tell you when.  I suspect the first really cold night may bring on a rush to Fall, and the yellow leaves will show very quickly.

Another skunk was bounding along beside Globe Drive as I came home around 7:30 p.m. last night.  Funny how you won't see (or smell) them all summer, and then in the Fall .. they are all around.  I still get a whiff of skunk every few evenings.

Yesterday turned out to be the busiest day I've had as a notary public in many years.  I can go for two weeks without getting a call to facilitate a loan signing for an escrow company.  And then it seems I've suddenly shown up on someone's radar screen again.  But yesterday was ridiculous.

Without going into boring detail, I had a 9:00 a.m., dash home, print up docs for the 6:00 p.m., grab a bite of lunch, record and edit my audio for our Business News website, post that, pick up everything I needed for the 3:00 p.m. and the 6:00 p.m. and roll.

While I ate lunch, I got a call to see if I could do a small job.  I already had to go to Three Rivers for the 3:00, and since the small job was in the same place, I agreed, printed the docs, and added that one to the mix.

And, bottom line, it all fit ... almost.

As I was driving along on Spruce Avenue on my way toward Highway 198 to go to Three Rivers I had a sudden sinking thought.  I called Stockton and sure enough I had failed to do the one last thing needed to have my Stock Report appear on the web ... post it.  I'd done the recording, and editing.  I had it all ready to go ... and got so busy getting three more appointments sorted out I forgot to simply post the blasted audio to the web.  Sigh.

That seems to happen more as I get older ... but I forget why ...

One more loan signing this morning, some grocery shopping and other errands, and hopefully time to get ready for Writers Group tonight with Chapter 4 of Fire on Black Mountain, my young reader's book.  I'm tempted to say no, and stay home, but I really need to be there and read as well as help with the critique of the other folks' work.  So, am going to give it a go.

Great Weekend, Crazy Week

The wedding rehearsal on Friday and the ceremony on Saturday turned out well.  Nice group.

My phone rang off the hook on Friday and then again on Saturday, so I've ended up with three Loan Signings on Tuesday, and another now on Wednesday.  No complaints though, let me assure you.

I finished the rough draft on the next Daunt to Dillonwood column and should have it ready for turning in by afternoon.  At this moment if is about 200 words longer than it needs to be, so the editing needs to be a chop-and-whack session.

On Friday of this week, I have to make my way to Chico for a meeting, returning on Sunday afternoon.  It is close to a six hour drive each way.

Sunday morning, just before 7:00 a.m., I was heading for Springville.  As I came into the river bottom area I spied a yearling doe walking toward the river for her morning drink.  I slowed as she passed across the road in front of me, and walked into the thickets along the side of the river.

These are the same thickets I mentioned in the column about the potential for flooding.  I was very near this little doe, yet as I got even with her, I couldn't see her.  She moved, and I caught her motion.  But she very accurately stopped with  thick area of leaves between us, and both literally and figuratively disappeared.

Then I spied the fawn doing the same thing she was.  It would move a little, but used leaves as a shield from my line of vision.  Very amazing creatures, with a finely-tuned sense of how to disappear from view.

I also noticed the Sycamore trees in the river bottom have not even begun to turn  yellow yet.  Here we are nearing the middle of October, and all the leaves seem to be holding their green.  I suspect when they do turn, the change will be quite abrupt and sudden.

Did you notice the small group of Buzzards in the trees along the river bottom south of the Barn Theater the other day.  Just like humans, I guess there's always a group that either don't pay attention, or didn't get the message.

Animals on the Hilltop

The wild animals have totally taken over the Gill Hilltop.

My grandkids from Bakersfield are actually pretty wonderful children, rambunctious of course, but we have a great time together.  Of course, the menu for lunch has to include Grampy Burgers.  And that's a tale all its own for another time.

The Wednesday night reading of the book, Fire on Black Mountain, got a very positive thumbs up from the ladies.  As is typical following the critique, the suggestions proved to be most helpful in making the story read better, and be more correct in presentation.

I am told one of the major reasons manuscripts are rejected by publishers, is they are not punctuated nor structured correctly.  Long run-on sentences which should be broken into two or more much shorter sentences, are also a common mistake.  So the value of reading my work to this experienced group, is immeasurable.

The process of re-writing and re-re-re-editing the story, is ongoing and seems continual.  But, Chapter 3 was read this week, and there are only (?) a total of 15 chapters.  So, obviously, another dozen to go.

The ladies of the group have commented on my improving writing skills, which is very gratifying.  I too have noticed a positive difference in the way I build the tale.  But any improvement is a direct result of the learning process of: reading to this group, listening to their suggestions, then practicing what they suggest as I write a new piece.

The key is going to be to get it sold though, so a publisher has to take a liking to the story as well.  Obviously, that is a good 12+ weeks away, which makes the finishing date on the book about mid-February if one assumes we won't meet every week.

Time for Grampy to pay attention to the young'uns.  I have a wedding to officiate on Saturday afternoon, with a rehearsal this afternoon, so the kids will be going down with me.  Mom will pick them up at the rehearsal.  Ah yes, busy times around here.

Wet Evening In The Foothills, But What's Next?

What's with this rain?  Though it feels good as compared to the hot, dry summer around here, I am concerned about it being a bit early.

My father, an old experienced Stockman, used to quip, "The perfect grass year would be to have rain on Halloween, green grass for Thanksgiving, and fat cows on Christmas."

And, this rain, though nice, may be at least three weeks early.  If it continues to rain during the fall months, early is no problem.  But historically, the rains in the fall can be spotty and fickle, if they continue at all.

You may be thinking, "What's the worry?  Three weeks isn't very long."  And in one sense you are very right.  But consider this.  Plant a new lawn, let it get up enough to break the soil and throw out those first leaves, then quit watering it for 3-4 weeks.  Even if the weather is relatively moderate, the new grasses are going to take a beating from being dry.

This fine morning, October 7th, there is about 1.05 inches of rain in my gauge.  I already had 0.25 inches from the weekend, so last night's rain brought at least 0.80, which is plenty enough water to start the green grass sprouting.

There can be both good and bad in the sprouting of the grass though.  The good part is ... the days are still pretty warm.  The grass will grow more quickly than if the days were cool.  The more it grows up before the cold weather, the better chance it has.  When it grows up, it also covers the ground, which tends to help hold the moisture in the soil, extending the time between necessary irrigation by rains.

The bad part is ... the days are still pretty warm.  This dries out the moisture much more quickly, bringing on dry soil conditions sooner, which begins to adversely affect the tender new grasses.

One of the plants vital to our area, the foothills of the Sierra Nevada, is Filaree.  (pro: fill - a - ree').  This is one of the very first plants to sprout, and is very rich in nutrients.  The cattle will actually lick the ground in order to eat this plant as it emerges.

If the Filaree sprouts, and then gets dry, it turns a deep burgundy-red color and lays flat on the ground.  Fortunately, the plant can survive a long time in dry conditions this way, awaiting the next life-giving rain storm.  When the hillsides of the foothills have a dull red color, the Filaree is waiting, flat to the soil.

When the rain does come, the change in the hillsides is startling.  The dull-red hillsides will turn into lush green hills seemingly overnight.  When moisture enters the nearly dry Filaree plant, the red color is replaced by brilliant green, and the ability of the plant to stand tall is renewed.

My dad used to comment of those times following a good soaking rain, "The grass is growing so fast, it's throwing dirt in the air."  And it surely almost appears that way.  The change in the grazing ground can be startlingly abrupt.

Today we have had only the first rain.  It is enough to sprout the Filaree and other grasses.  We will soon see breaks in the soil as the seeds begin unfolding their first leaves, reaching for the sunlight.  Around the rocks on the hillsides, where the rain has run off the edges, the additional moisture will urge greater growth.

The very sun that urges growth, will also hasten drying.  The next rain is surely coming, but the real question is when.  Are we seeing the beginnings of a wonderfully wet winter?  Or are we going to be teased with an early rain, and then nothing, bringing on a long dry spell?

Whatever it is ... it's started.

Will The Tule River Flood This Winter?

As I make my way to and from home along Globe Drive, I enjoy looking in the river bottom to see what I can spot.  Yesterday I noted the rather dense undergrowth below the Sycamores and other trees.  Many of the trees are 12 to 15 inches in diameter, towering high in the air.  But it is not the trees that are the "root" of the problem (pun thoroughly intended).  It is the proliferation of little growth that will start the flooding problem.

Nature has a way of cleaning out the river channel which She calls flooding.  This starts high on the slopes of the Sierra Nevada, usually because a nice warm rain has come in on the heels of a cold storm.  The snow-level is down around 3,500 feet altitude, just above the Upper Powerhouse on Highway 190.  Then what's known as the "Pineapple Express" comes barreling in, straight out of Hawaii, and is both wet and warm.  You know it's going to get sloppy down here when you hear it's raining at 10,000 feet.

This brings all that snow down in a great rush.  It is this combination of events, the cold storm out of Alaska, and the warm rain behind it from Hawaii, that have precipitated many of the more destructive floods in the Tule River Canyon.

When the water level in the river channel begins to rise, smaller plants along the side get uprooted, washing along in the rushing muddy water.  When sufficient little stuff is uprooted, it begins to build up around the trunks of the trees.  When the accumulation of small stuff exceeds the holding ability of the roots of a tree, down it comes.

When one tree comes down, others are sure to follow.  Soon there will be a log-jam of trees exactly like the bunches of little stuff hanging up on the trees.  As the logs accumulate, water builds behind the temporary dam.  But ... the downward flow of water will not be denied.

At some point the collection of trees and rocks holding the log-jam give way to the inexorable pressure of the river at flood stage.  Now a channel-wide floatilla of uprooted trees, tightly packed with small brush and other lighter plants, goes bounding downstream cleaning the channel as it goes.

As effectively as a giant bulldozer, this jam of logs and plants will scour the river bottom, removing all dirt, roots, and plant material from the channel.  When the river recedes, and returns to its quieter form, there are only bare rocks shining in the sunshine once covered by thick, lush brush and plants.

The underbrush and plants under the trees seem to repeatedly flourish and grow, constantly fed by the river, until the flood cycle scrubs the river bottom the next time.  The process of regrowth can take 15 to 20 years or more before the right set of conditions come along to cause a flood.

So, will the Tule flood this year?  If the storm conditions create a high flow of water, the undergrowth and mature trees are there waiting to become a huge floating bulldozer and scour the river channel most of the way to Lake Success.

The Buzzards Are Leaving Us ... No They've LEFT!

Coming out of town yesterday evening, I glanced up at the Eucalyptus trees south of the Barn Theater.  Not only were the tops of the trees populated by buzzards, the air above them was full of circling birds.  The cooling weather, including the rain we had Friday and Saturday, have set in motion a timeless event. Migration.

These birds hang around the area all summer cleaning up carrion as Nature's garbagemen.  But when fall begins to turn, the abandon us and head south, traveling in well-defined routes into Mexico where they will spend the winter.

The buzzard is fully capable of flapping wings and putting themselves into flight.  Their preference however, is to glide on long outstretched wings.  The only way to stay aloft without flapping their wings, is to descend.  They are essentially falling out of the sky in a controlled manner.  If it were not for updrafts, a buzzard in flight would soon either be on the ground, or be forced to flap their wings to regain altitude.

These big black birds are masters at finding and using every available updraft they can find.  Some feature of landscape, something that is warmer than its surroundings, will start a bubble of air upward.  As that air moves up, it will provide vertical lift to gliding birds.  Even though they are descending, relative to the air passing under their wings, the upward bubble is pushing them higher above the landscape.

When the buzzard migrates they gather into large flocks, many times numbering in the hundreds.  They fly around apparently aimlessly until somebody hits an updraft.  When that bird banks into the vertical breeze, others see it and join in.  Pretty soon everybody is circling the column of rising air being lifted into the sky.  When the lift gives out, the bird on top will level off and head for Mexico.  As the rest of the "stack" reach that height and the lift gives out for them, they too fall in line, wings outstretched and unmoving gliding along in a long line.

When the lead bird finds another rising bubble of air, it turns into the lift and another rising stack of birds is soon built.  I have seen as many as four and five "stacks" with birds streaming between the top of one stack, and entering into the bottom of the next stack.

Another interesting form of lift is caused by a breeze blowing against a hillside.  The air runs into the hill, and flows up the slope toward the top.  I have watched buzzards riding these upslope breezes, skimming the edge of the hill, their inside wing nearly touching the ground.  They will fly back and forth across a clear slope, rising on each pass until they climb above the ridge or hill.

But not every buzzard goes south.  Some will tough it out and remain through the winter, for you will see one or two here and there.  When spring returns to the San Joaquin Valley, and the green grass is growing lush and full, start watching the southern sky.  The rest of our flying garbagemen will be back when the weather warms.

For now though, the big trees along Highway 190 in the river bottom ground, the big Sycamores near PDC in particular, as well as those Eucalyptus near the Barn Theater, are a temporary roosting place for buzzards gathering together to begin their annual trek to Mexico.

Added later: I had to be in town late morning, so threw the camera in and was going to go into town past the Barn Theater on Plano, and get some pictures of the buzzards, working around the Eucalyptus trees, and the general area.

As I came along Highway 190 beside Porterville Developmental Center, there was not one buzzard in those trees, or in the park area.

This doesn't look good.  Have they all left?


I scanned the trees east of the Tule River Bridge on Plano.  Still not a buzzard in sight.

Well son of a gun.  They're gone.

I slowed as I approached the trees next to the Barn Theater.  Not one buzzard remained.  There weren't even any birds circling in the air anywhere in sight.

Nature spoke quite loudly to the buzzards, they listened, and they're on their way to Mexico, via Hinkley today.  The season has changed according to the local feathered prognosticators.

An Invisible Bobcat, and a Wet Wedding ... almost.

Saturday morning before the sun was up, I stood at my kitchen sink looking across the Horse Pasture in front of my house.  As I scanned the hillside, a bit of motion caught my attention.  Glancing to where I thought I saw something ... there was nothing there.  Then, as if out of nowhere, a large bobcat took a step forward.  As soon as he stopped moving, he nearly disappeared again.

This is most probably the same cat, but was taken about 2 1/2 years ago. 

I marveled at how perfectly his mottled gray-brown colors matched the dry grass and granite rocks on the hillside.  Nature has given this big cat an amazing ability to blend into his surroundings.  I called Sharon to look.  At first she couldn't find him.  When he stepped forward, ghost-like, she exclaimed, "Oh. There he is."

A little closer look at this beautiful big boy.

This is a very big bobcat, most probably a male, and totally unafraid of being within 100 yards of humans and dogs.  Of course everybody was inside the house, but he was obviously used to hearing, seeing, and smelling us.

The big cat stepped over next to the fence, and sat down, then lay flat on his stomach almost as if he were watching for something to pounce on for a breakfast snack.  When he quit moving it was almost as if he totally disappeared again.

Even though the green grass helps see this beautiful guy, he blends in rather well.

He turned his head toward the house, revealing the brilliantly-black tips on his ears, and a big round fuzzy face, though the rest of his body blended into the surroundings.

I had things to do outside and figured as soon as I stepped out the back door and became visible to him, he'd get up and move on.  Not this guy.  I walked the length of the garage, got on my quad and started it, then drove down the driveway.

He never moved.  I saw his head turn toward me once, to make sure I was staying on "my side" of the pasture.  But then he unconcernedly turned back to watch whatever it was he was keeping his eyes on over there.

This is a pretty good-sized cat.

The weather around here has sure been in a state of flux.  I had a wedding to perform on Saturday evening at 6:00 p.m. at River Island.  The rehearsal was Friday night at 6:00 but we got it in between showers with no problems.

Saturday afternoon at 2:30 our satellite TV signal began to break up from storm activity, and the rain came down with a vengeance depositing 0.20 in well under 30 minutes.  This did not look good for getting an outdoor wedding ceremony completed.

By 4:00 p.m. I was at River Island, watching a light sprinkle.  By 4:30 however, it quit, I set up my music and the altar, and covered them with a large plastic bag.  For an hour it looked as if we were going to make it in the dry.

About 5:45 the shower we'd been watching approach from the southeast arrived, sending the guests retreating to the dry, to see if the rain would stop.

Sure enough, by 6:00 the staff was quickly wiping chairs, the guests were seated again, and we had our wedding outside.  In fact, about half-way through the ceremony, during the Sands of Life Ceremony, one of the audience pointed to the east.  A big gorgeous rainbow had appeared over the Tule River Canyon.

The final tale of Pick the Mule appeared last Friday in the Recorder.  Several more really nice comments were heard, and one gent even said, "I shed a tear over Old Pick when I read your column."

I will read Chapter 3 of Fire on Black Mountain, my young reader book, this week at the critique group. I really am looking forward to getting this finished and ready for publication.  Then comes the REALLY hard part ... getting it sold.

Another busy week looms ahead, and another wedding this weekend.  This one is at Hummingbird Hollow, and under a roof.  The weather looks much less threatening this weekend however, so should be no problem.

Sycamore Leaves and Skunks

As I was heading for Springville yesterday evening about 5:30 I gave a closer inspection to the Sycamore trees in the river bottom along Upper Globe.  I discovered something I find somewhat interesting.  The yellow leaves that usually begin to show up on a "here and there" basis about now ... aren't.  The trees growing away from the river bank itself, whose roots are not soaked by the river water every day, are really getting that dusty look. The leaves are losing their verdant sheen, and are looking very tired.  Those leaves will turn color very soon, I suspect.

The big Sycamores standing on the very edge of the river, whose roots are bathed in Tule River water all day every day, are still pretty green.  There are the "one-sy and two-sy" leaves here and there that have turned color, but are still hanging on.  But the green of the majority of leaves is holding rather persistently.  Makes me wonder if we are going to go through the river bottom one day under bright green leaves, and the next day be showered in yellow leaves.

And what's this deal with all the skunks?  Though they are not at all an unheard-of thing around the area, last Sunday night I was returning home about 8:30 p.m. and there was one bounding along beside my driveway, heading off into the field.  That's the first skunk I've seen in many months.

But man I've smelled them a bunch in the last two to three weeks, maybe even a bit longer.  Fortunately my dogs have not been the recipient of a spraying, nor the cause of that familiar "wood-kitty" smell, but it has wafted across my hilltop every day or two for some time.

Last night I was in a meeting in Springville at the Lighthouse Chapel across the river behind the Fire Station.  About 8:15 p.m. we were all treated to a whiff of skunk.  It wasn't very strong, but was certainly there.

I've been watching the current weather with some interest.  It is quite obvious the major high pressure area in the Arizona, New Mexico area has either broken down, or is moving around.  The clouds we are experiencing are coming up out of the Gulf of California, and the moist tropical air is coming right along with the clouds.

The national weather forecast this morning showed a band of green, which indicates showers or rain, aiming northwest, coming into California over El Centro and Mexicali, through the Riverside, San Bernardino area, and into the southern end of the San Joaquin Valley, though not very far north.

My iPhone weather also shows a high potential for thunder-showers this afternoon and tomorrow afternoon.  I hope it holds off from about 5:30 to 7:00 both tonight and tomorrow, because I am officiating at an outside wedding at 6:00 p.m. on Saturday, and the rehearsal is tonight.