June Rain Light

So crisp. Everything looks special in this light.

June Rain Slideshow

June Rain Sky

 

June Rain on Desert Flowering Willow

 

Desert Art

 
As we drove down 395 from Olancha, this marvelous Joshua tree caught my eye. We circled back for a closer look...

Desert Art Slideshow

Sonata for Piano, Uke and Calico

 
A musical selection before we hit the road.

Click for giant version of Dinky aria.

Not all of our visitors are skeery.

Garage sale things.

 

We found these at a Siretta Street sale. Any ideas what they might be? As usual, click photo for more detail.

Memorial Day on the Kern

 
Click for the giant photo to see all the rafts and total cuteness of the Harris granddaughters.

 

Manzanita bug

  Another case of "what the heck is this?" We saw these larva-looking creatures attached to and eating manzanita leaves near the river.

Spiderwork

  Busy spiders on the Bull Run trail.

One more wild critter

A you-know-what in the grass

 
I wandered to the garden in the ravine this morning. The penstamon are blooming, and it's beginning to look quite lush. I bent down to pull a few weeds and came face to face with this guy...

 
Click this photo to get the full effect.


We made a few phone calls, and found there is a reptile rescue person in the Valley. His name is Buzz. Watch the slideshow to see him in action.

Buzz to the rescue

(Not for the snake squeemish, and you know who you are)

While we were away...

Our Desert Adventure

 
Behind us is Sandy Valley, ahead, the Kingston Wash and wilderness, the Excelsior Mine, and some great sights...
Click for the slide show!

We took the dirt roads home

Marty and Tim at Sandy Valley Ranch

 

The Hummingbirds at our door

 
One of three nests we can see out various doors. Momma hummer is in.

Phyllis McGuire

At the World Market event, I had a moment to visit with one of the most interesting women in Las Vegas.
 
The wikipedia article barely scratches the surface, but mentions Sugartime the HBO biopic. Click on this link for a bit more of the story , or also this review as a synopsis

The art of the building.

 
I love how the WMC building looks at dusk. Click for the full sized version.

 
Cars look especially lovely. Handsom Jag, eh?

A different angle

 
A view of the strip from the top of the World Market Center.

Meanwhile, in Las Vegas

 
We went to the Nevada Heart Ball
 
With our friends John and Teri Daly
 

Garden Frenzy Time

 
We put the tomato in what we hope is a critter-proof spot.
 
New color
 
Tomatillo. Never grew one before...

We went to see John Prine in Bakersfield

 
First, dinner at the excellent Mama Roomba's
 


 
Just one door down from the best neon anywhere

 
And the neon of the Fox Theater compliments a lovely sunset.


John Prine played for two-plus glorious hours to a wildly appreciative audience. He is a sly artist with words. His songs are like paintings.

The Holidays

For Passover, Josh led a sedar for six of our friends who had never participated in one before.

 

I set the table with Norma's linens and plates, and made the charoset, along with lamb.
 

Then Easter Sunday, Mitzi put together a Southern feast, jam session, and a beach party. Click for the slideshow.

Easter at Mitzi and Terry's

The Wedding!

April and Gary's wedding snaps-
Before and after:

April and Gary's wedding rehersal

The wedding day, before the ceremony

The Reception

Click on each thumbnail, then slideshow!

Yellow

 
was the color of the day as we walked up the Whiskey Flat Trail.

Yellow and then some...

The green was pretty good too.
Click for slideshow!

April's April Wedding

 
April and Gary are getting married April 5th at our house.
 
The ceremony will be in the front of the house, the reception on the back by the river.
 
Much sprucing going on.