Notes from the Flatlands...

 On Friday, 3 of March I had the privilege of spending an hour at Bay Front Park in Millbrae, California, just a few miles south of San Francisco International Airpot.  The tide was out, and most of the birds were well out of range for my 70-200 lens. 

The good news is the weather was nice and I found two birds I had never seen before.  My first victory was three American Avocets.

American Avocet

This was the first bird I saw when I left the parking lot and I immediately went to find my camera.  As you can tell, I am really too far away to get a good shot, so this is a “proof-I-saw-the-bird” variety.  Still fun.

I noticed that the birds swipe their beaks in the mud to stir up food.

Next up was the Northern Shoveler.  Their coloring made it easier to tell that I was on to a new type of duck, but the are so far away, I had to get home and use my phone to cross reference the grainy photos I had.  Hat tip to Sibley V2 bird app for the help.

Northern Shovelers near SFO

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Northern Shovelers

Again, I am taking these pictures from the other side of the moon.  Still fun to see new birds.

Shot-of-the-Day

Snowy Egert

 

The view from the crest of Mt. Piscah, Eugene, Oregon

Last Monday, I got to hike Mt. Piscah and it was beautiful.  As I reached the crest I could see a shower taking place across the valley, and that is what you see above.  When I first summited the peak the rain shower was more to the right, and it looked stunning.  I was slow to the draw and I missed the "A" shot, but this is close.

On the trail up Mt. Piscah

The sun peaked through and there was a inspiring tunnel of light that shined down on the ferns.  I am too close here, so you don't get the sense of the sun hitting one spot, but not another.

WPA era bridge over the Siuslaw River Bridge

I love these bridges on the Oregon Coast.  There are several bridges that appear to have been created during the WPA era.  According to Wikipedia this bridge opened in 1936.  Brilliant work.  I am pulled in by the detail of the spires on the bridge.

Center section of Suislaw Bridge

Mark Brody's "Glam-Y Salmon"

We stopped in Florence for an excellent lunch and this artwork was across the street.  Love the salmon artwork.

After ice cream at BJ's we strolled down to the marina and looked at the whole range of vessels that were harbored there.

Finally we headed off to the beach.  Despite the weather apps telling us there was no rain in the area you could see a nice squall to the southwest headed our way.

Great visit.

Brea in the harbor on the Suislaw River.

Beach at south of Florence.

 Dear Harriett,

Happy Birthday.  Wow, 79 years old — way to go.  

Harriett Hadlock Rice - circa 1978

So it has been a long time since I have written and I have been thinking of you this week.  I thought it might be good to update you on what is happening here.

I not sure that I shared with you that Erik is married - for several years now.  He has married a wonderful woman, Mary, and they are now raising two wonderful children —Jude and Aria.  Jude is nineteen months old and talking more and more.  Aria is beautiful, she looks like her mom, and she recently began rolling over.  Eeek…Erik and Mary live in East Chicago, and Erik works in downtown Chicago.

Maura lives in town and she is the Operations Manager for a local cheese and meat shop.  She was the cheese buyer for three years, but now she has moved up a level.  She has been dating Austin for two years now; he also works at the cheese shop, and is now the person who buys the cheese.  Great fun.  Austin is a very interesting young man who studies plants, history, and is currently teaching himself Russian.  He seems to love learning, which makes the two of them a great match.

Karyl and I are stepping into retirement.  She is in her last week of working in the Communications department.  She has pictures of the first day of school to take, and a couple of projects to put to bed and then she will be done.  I think she may take some pictures here and there for the school, but we shall see.  This week teachers are back at school, and I am not there.  I miss the people of the middle school, but I don’t miss the pace and the drama, so I am learning to enjoy time to do all the projects that working 8-5 got in the way of.  So far, so good.

Karyl and I are hoping to visit Winston and Gaylord soon.  More details on that to follow.

You have been gone now for twenty-one years, but you are still very much with us.  Your laugh, humor, and graciousness shaped the way we navigate these crazy times.  All three qualities are in short supply, but I won’t bore you with those details now.  Suffice to say the world has changed a lot, and we are working to catch up and help shape a new future that is equitable and safe for all.

So, we will host a bowl of mint chip in your honor.  Cheers,

Byron

Egret on the left, osprey up top, geese on the right.

 

Osprey

Coopers hawk

Warbling vireo

Magnolia warbler

Black and White warbler

American redstart

 I found this this morning on Twitter...

 

Katie Scherer, Gargi Bajpai, Beckie Alexander

School has started and for the first time since forever ago, I am not there.

All summer long people have asked me how "retirement" felt and my response was always, "Well, I am normally off in the summer, so right now retirement feels like a normal summer."  Not so this morning.

The sun has been coming up later, and it is cooler at night (thank goodness) and it feels like time to convene with fellow middle school teachers and laugh, plan, and begin the next academic year.  I will definitely miss the time with colleagues.  They are the best.

There are some parts that I will not miss, but we don't need to go there.  The good news is I have colleagues with whom to meet outside of school and lots of projects that require my attention...

So, it is truly time for the next chapter.  Here's to doing some kick-ass writing on that next chapter...

Last night I watched the Vikings preseason game versus the 49ers.   The game took place here in Minnesota, our only home game of the preseason.  Here are my takeaways: