Annual Migration of the Birds

It really is autumn!
This morning started out a bit overcast with some drizzle. Midmorning I walked across the street to our mailbox. Once the youngsters head off to school, and the workers leave for their jobs, it is very quiet around here.
So I was a bit surprised to hear a gaggle of geese overhead, followed by a couple more. Flying high, heading south. We live under a major western flyway and this is a twice yearly event, going on over several months. The birds come in to rest and feed on the barren rice fields for a few days and fly on. Depending on the species they come early, or later.
Gray Lodge Wildlife Area is the most quiet place I know. Larger than many towns or counties, it is eerily still. I have walked Azi there. Along the long walking path there are mostly song birds, sometimes ducks.
The big birds can be seen by car only, no getting out. It is an amazing sight, thousands of birds on the water, resting and feeding. After rice harvest is complete many of the neighboring fields are open for the birds to feed off of them. Hunting clubs are opened by then as well. Hunters, of course, pay for many of the conservation efforts.
Last year we saw a raccoon by the side of the path. He gave us the:"What do you want? Move on, already!" look.
So, the year's migration has begun!

Sierra Adventure

For months my friend's son had planned his mother's surprise birthday party. Rented the hall. Arranged for food, drinks, decor. People came from far and wide, as the saying goes.
My trip was only to be about forty miles long and taking about that long. So I got into some finery and began the drive. The weather was lovely and I was really enjoying the trip.
Close to my destination I noticed the road was extraordinarily rough, although it looked smooth. Ahh, a flat tire! Let me pull over and check it out. As luck would have it the shoulder is about two feet wide there, the road curvy. After a couple hundred feet I could pull over and checked on the damage. Forget damage. The tire was totally shredded.
Not a problem. I'll get on my cell and call AAA. Oh, wait, I rarely get service in those hills. That day was no exception. My next thought was to look at the shoes on my feet, to see how far they would take me.
I was able to hail a truck with an antenna hoping he'd make a call for me. The driver, who works for the water company, gave me a ride to the roadhouse/saloon up the hill. From there I was able to call road service, my family, and the birthday girl to let her know I'd be late. (Someone had already spoiled the surprise)
When the tow driver came to pick me up, he told me he took a guess at coming to the restaurant as he'd been told I would be waiting at a hair salon, he knew there are no salons in those hills. I guess old ladies don't wait at saloons!
So, back to the car, trade out the wheels, sign on the line, an hour later I'm at the party.
A fun party it was, too. I met all the cousins and friends I'd missed up to now, got reacquainted with those I already knew. We partied into the night at her house, after the hall time was over. I was the first one to the house and I noticed a deer. As I was walking toward it to get a closer look, others drove up and the deer bounded off. She really does live in the woods. Lovely.
So on Monday I made my way to the Les Schwab Tire Center, the replacement tire cost 50% of new, although I only had seven thousand miles on it. I'm happy with that though, I thought I'd have to pay full price anyway.

Oh, Nuts!

Nuts are good for you!
Suppose you take 8oz. of walnut pieces, sprinkle some crushed pepper (yes, the kind put on pizza) a dash of salt, a beaten egg white, half cup of brown sugar. Stir all that well, put on a parchment covered baking sheet. Bake at 350' for ten minutes.
So, so good, but let them cool before eating. Really!

Bread

I make most of the bread I eat. All sorts: whole grain, cheese flavored, white, rolls, pretzels, sweet, filled, twists, on and on.
I rarely get mixes, but yesterday at IKEA I purchased a bread mix, and put it together once I got home. Rye with lingonberry. At $4.00 a bit pricey, but I'll give it a try. It did make a very large loaf, but I'm not impressed. It's very dense, too much rye, and where are the lingonberries?
So I'll stick with my own recipe going forward.
I'm already looking forward to the pretzel rolls that I'll make next, they are best with ham and swiss emmentaler cheese.

My New Desk

I love my new desk. I started to make it about six weeks ago. I had to stain and varnish the old table top I had.
Then IKEA didn't have the table legs that I had to have, so that added another three weeks. Once they were in stock again, we made a quick dash to Sacramento. I had to prime and paint the legs black and attach them. The attach system is really well thought out. Moving the computer over was kind of fun.
Now my legs fit under the desk and my arms are comfortable on my new, wonderful desk that looks out over my front garden.

Thelma

I have friends that have a walnut orchard, and Thelma. She's tame, allows herself to be stroked and will pester until she has a treat. She prefers sunflower seeds, but today I tossed her oats and she seemed happy to scratch for those. She also rewards her humans with a steady supply of large eggs. She's not fenced and stays close to the house.
That's Selma!

Rice and Rain

We've had a couple of soaking rains in the past week.
Some of you would think,"Big deal"! But in the agriculture based economy of the Sacramento Valley it is a big deal when rain comes and only a third of the rice has been harvested. We grow some of the best rice here, much of it exported to the Far East.
The fields are a thing of beauty, especially in spring and summer when they are flooded and are of those lovely shades of green.
Now we want the fields dry, so the harvesters can collect, thrash, and haul the produce to the dryers.
Hopefully we have a reprieve for a few days and things will dry out again.
It's just right when the farmers who have worked so hard are able to their crops under the barn roof in time without damage. Besides, it keeps grocery prices stable.