Another overcast morning yesterday and low tide, exposing the mossy-green rocks. These are the treasures I found with Jasper dog while a fishing boat went by and a local fished from shore.
Shells among broken shells, next to the swells
Incognito Beach Medley
Another one from the other cloudy morning! And a video of my bird friends when another person arrived on the beach and disturbed them….
Another Medley from Yesterday
On the lava beach boulders with the birds and Jasper. And, how beach sand is made:
On the beach
Storm Morning
Last night it poured rain off and on, a rarity here in the Sonoran desert but familiar to me visiting from the Pacific Northwest. The power went out before first light, we made drip coffee by headlamp and went down to the beach to watch the sunrise. Because of the dense cloud cover, there was no colored light show to demarcate night from morning, just a gradual fade of night.
Overcast lighting conditions are my favorite for photographing my medleys, so Jasper and I returned to the beach with my pile of save special shells to get down to work. It was a glorious morning spent with the gulls and pelicans on the beach.
Storm Treasures
A cluster of pink barnacles and a wee sea salp!
Storm Rolling In
The wind kicked up yesterday, so I wandered down to the beach to see what washed in. Nothing spectacular to report at sunset, will check again in the morning!
A circle of Turkey Wing and Mossy Ark shells. The most prevalent shell on one of the beaches here on the Sea of Cortes, but not a type we have back home in the islands of the Salish Sea.
Different Here
Internet research led me to the website of the National Shell Museum in Florida. It appears these types of shells are also found in the Gulf of Mexico as well as the Sea of Cortes. There’s also an awesome local Shell Museum I visited yesterday. More on that tomorrow!
Succulent-like ground cover plant - I wonder if animals and insects here take advantage of this stored moisture?
Desert Plants
Having studied the function/role of many plants within my own ecosystem back home helps me decipher each desert plant’s role here, although I don’t know their names. Maybe a Sonoran desert local is reading this and can help?
A bush-type plant with woody stems and moisture-capturing leaves, now-dried blooms that have presumably dropped their seeds.
Desert tumbleweeds! These grow on a type of cactus here, fall off and then roll to a new location to take root elsewhere.
These are immature desert tumbleweeds still on the mother plant.
Plentiful small leaves on a woody stemmed bush, big spikes possibly discourage animal foraging.
Desert Bees & Flowers
These are common “weeds” I see along the sides of the streets here in town. Flora and fauna going about their business as usual where the Sonoral desert meets the Sea of Cortes.
Working next to the pool, under the shade of the palapa roof.
Shady Work
The sun here creates harsh shadows when I’m making medleys. I’ve found I have to seek shade in order to photograph these well!
Found treasures of the Sonoran desert and the Sea of Cortes.
Learning Lots
This is my first vacation and time away from the Salish Sea in several years. I’m resting and learning more about the Sonoran desert and myself in the process. Apparently I prefer to make my medleys in quiet solitude with nature, which is almost impossible here with a constant stream of people and dogs aorund! I’m working on cultivating the stillness I need despite the distractions. I laugh because compared to my younger years spent in NYC and SF, there really aren’t that many people here in this Mexican town. But then when I compare it to home on my small island where I can go days without seeing more than 3 other people, this town is crowded!
Today I sent a newsletter to my subscribers full of photos and descriptions of my trip so far. If you’d like to see the next one, subscribe at the bottom of any page on my website!
Interview conducted via email now up!
New Mini Interview Online
India-based “Outlook Traveller” recently contacted me to learn more about my work and my life. Check out the interview here. Thanks Antara!
When in Rome, er, the Sea of Cortes
Hola desde el mar de Cortes!
Ola! There are no mushrooms or moss here on the Sea of Cortes in Mexico, but there are plenty of shells and occasional pieces of washed up seaweed to play with.
Final Winter PNW Mushroom Medley
—-For this season! I found and made these about a week ago, before leaving for a road trip south. After 10 years of caretaking/housesitting for others in the islands who visit warmer climates in the winter months, I thought I’d try it out myself. And get a break from living on a construction site. I’ve just arrived at the spot where I’ll be spending the next month. I’ll share more soon once I’ve unpacked!
The best place for a formerly wild forest dog to hide from boisterous big puppies and small children.
Merry Christmas!
My favorite christmas gift, my Jasper dog, under the tree! Merry Christmas everyone!
Medley Evolution
Tracking the latest medley over three days of snowfall and ice rain!
Thank you, past self from 2 days ago!
Solstice Medley
I found some mushrooms and leaves in Truckee that I’d collected a few days back, frozen but intact! I made this quick Solstice offering with other found leaves and icicles, before my fingers froze, sending me inside. Here’s to the coming light, we in the northern hemisphere made it through the first half of the dark days!
Winter Solstice Island Snow Kayaking!
My favorite time of winter on our sparsely populated island roads!
The first good dump of snow each season means snow kayaking!
Happy Solstice!
Growing up in Northern California, snow was not something I experienced much. My neighbors here on the island humor me each year by participating in an organized snow kayaking event.
Snow kayaking in the first good dump of snow is my favorite way to endure the cold and darkest days of winter here on the island. Yesterday we woke to 8” - 12” of snow, so winter solstice was celebrated a day/night early.
I organized the kayaking party with a neighbor driving while 5 of us took turns in the kayaks dragged behind. With less than 50 winter residents on our island, there were very few other cars on the island roads and lots of fresh kayak powder!
Another neighbor had a good fire going by the time daylight faded, others brought drinks and freshly baked cookies, and I made a simple dinner to share around the fire in the dark 20F night cold.
Maybe we’ll do it all again today/tonight.
Brrr, its cold!
Snow and cold are here! I didn’t get the wood stoves hooked up in the house or the temporary shed living quarters yet, so I’m holing up in the shed with two space heaters admiring the snow falling outside on the house/studio-in-progress.