New Group FriendFeed, Northern California

If anyone I know is from Northern California, and you would like to share an event, or recommend something. I made a group in FriendFeed http://friendfeed.com/northern-california . You can join and post anything you like. Preferably no spam.

Finally, some Blackberries

Blackberries are the greatest fruit ever. I love standing in the middle of the blackberry bushes and picking them. It can be painful yes, but they are worth every prick of the thorns. You hands and arms can itch and feel irritated after picking them. Below are pictures of the blackberries that I picked. My neighbors can attest to these wonderful tasting blackberries. Please comment below neighbor with your opinion. :-)

Blackberry Bushes and Poison Oak

This is really happened to me. A couple of years ago I was on a wild blackberry picking frenzy . As I picked a blackberry and ate it, I realized that the leaf next to it and touching it was not blackberry looking. Turns out, I was standing in a huge of poison oak plant, picking and eating blackberries in the poison oak leaves. When I realized what I was doing, panic mode kicked in. I thought I might get poison oak in my mouth or something. So I backed out of the poison oak, walked back to the house, and when I got there, stripped outside, at the backdoor and jumped into a soapy cold shower.

I did not get poison oak, and maybe that is because I have been picking blackberries in that same spot since I was a little girl. I just never noticed it before, or even knew or cared what poison oak was. Below are the pictures, of the spot where I was standing. The poison oak seems to be spreading. Below is the picture of the spot I was standing in the blackberry bushes.

Trinity River Flow, August 2009

The level of the Trinity river is very high right now. They let water out for a Hoopa Native American ceremony of sorts.

I am including pictures from early June first, then the pictures of the river now. In the last picture on the right below, you can see the log it is under water now. I think also the beaver's home is under water too. I

would imagine now is good for white water river rafting. Please, if you are planning this type of adventure activity go find a river rafting guide.

Firefighters Monument, Junction City, Trinity County, CA

In Junction City, CA at the fire station, there is a rock monument which was dedicated in remembrance of those brave firefighters that lost their lives while fighting fire. The fires were horrific, and many firefighters from all over came to fight many fires. It was a tragic season for the lives that were lost during those terrible fires.

The people who live in the area have not forgotten and are very grateful for those that sacrificed their lives in the fires of 2008. They will always be remembered as brave souls that helped fight some of the worst CA fires ever.

We appreciate all the work the firefighters do in the area every day. We see the trucks filled with firefighters every day on Hwy 299 driving to and from the fires. You see them in groups at restaurants, stores, hotels, camp grounds, and always at the local fire stations. There were a few just resting in the shade on the day that I stopped by the monument. They were fully dressed, it was 100 + degrees outside, but the heat rarely seems to faze them.

Thank You!

Penny Island, Pacific Coast

My parents like to kayak out to Penny Island. Here is a picture.

Old Brick Building, Helena, California

On the way back from swimming one day at Helena, I briefly stopped and snapped some shots of this old building.

Naked Pink Lady Flowers, Redding, CA

These flowers are so beautiful, I love them. I never saw them growing up in Trinity County and only began to notice them mainly in Marin County. Some appeared in my Mother's yard these past few years, volunteers. They moved from one side of the yard to another this year.

When a Man Comes to Himself, Woodrow Wilson

I love old books, this was one of my grandfather's books not sure when it was published, it is very old though.

"Surely a man has come to himself only when he has found the best that is in him, and has satisfied his heart with the highest achievement he is fit for. It is only then that his knows of what he is capable and what his heart demands."

Excerpt from "When a Man Comes to Himself" Woodrow Wilson 1901

You can read for yourself.

http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/When_a_Man_Comes_to_Himself

View of Weaverville, CA from Oregon Mountain

On my way back from Helena a couple weeks ago I stopped at the top of Oregon mountain to take pictures of the valley below. Good ole Weaverville!

A very nice police officer pulled over and asked me if everything was alright, and to be careful. Everything was fine, and I was careful. Thanks for checking on me! :-)

Beavers Taking Trees Down

I noticed that the beavers have almost accomplished taking another tree down. A fairly large one, I wish it would just fall.

This first picture is of all the trees that they are working on, to the right, the left, and in the front of the photo are all trees that have fallen. In the middle of the photo, you can see the two trees which make a V and these are the current trees being chewed on. Below are the pictures close up.

I did see a beaver swimming the other day, and about 12 ducks, but naturally I did not have my camera.

Lily Looking for Sticks in the Trinity River

We never knew Lily had such a passion for retrieving sticks from the water. She will wade in the water and look around for sticks for hours. Does she realize that I am throwing them in for her?

Helena, Rope Swing, Trinity County

Tacoma the Cat

Tacoma loves to sit on top of this shed in the back of the house and bask in the sun.

To One in Paradise, Edgar Allan Poe

Thou wast that all to me, love,
For which my soul did pine,
A green isle in the sea, love,
A fountain and a shrine,
All wreathed with fairy fruits and flowers,
And all the flowers were mine.

Star Thistles and Wild Flowers, Trinity County

These are probably some of the most painful stickers when walking on or through them. They are commonin the summer.

Beavers on the Trinity River

There are fresh water beavers and otters in the Trinity River. The beavers live along this patch of the river. These are current pictures of the latest fallen tree. The other day I actually saw a beaver in the river, well his head, and some branches he was moving also. I will work on getting a picture.

One more picture of the river, the beavers have not managed to dam it!

Swimming at beautiful Helena, Trinity County

Swimming at Helena is absolutely delightful! The water is pleasantly cool and refreshing. It is very deep in parts and people enjoy jumping off the rocks and the infamous rope swing which every rural area seems to have. There are small rapids that the children and adults alike enjoy floating and swimming in.