Black Crow for Halloween Weekend

I found some appropriate pictures to post relevant to the holiday, Halloween.   I do not know much about crows, but I do know we have many of them in Shasta and Trinity counties.  They are loud, big, and quite black.  If you have ever seen the movie, The Birds, you know that a flock of  large black crows gathering near you isn't always a good omen.  Additionally, in scary movies, there often  is a large black crow to represent an an evil character when they are not in human form.  Why is that?  Apparently, according to Wikipedia, the black crows and ravens have been known to represent death, due to their black color, shriek calls, and also the fact that they eat carrion, which is dead meat. 

These large foreboding birds are quite loud and are around all year long.  Interestingly enough, they are very susceptible to the West Nile Virus and can be an indicator of the deadly disease being present, if birds in that area, have died from it.

Blue Sky and Moon in the Morning

I enjoy seeing the moon in the day time, and against the blue sky it looks even better.  I took these photos late September. 

La luna es brillante contra la azul celeste.

Work in Progress, Trinity River Restoration, Trinity County

I took some photographs in September of the work on the Trinity River Restoration Project,.  It was a hot sunny day.  It seems they have made lots of progress.  Here are more pictures, of some heavy equipment, this was some type of chipper.  Let me know if you know what it is.

Heavy equipment being used for Trinity River restoration.

Trinity River restoring the river for the salmon.

Trinity River Restoration Project view from the river.

Lily we will miss you greatly!

About 8 years ago my mother went to the pound.  She found a pretty white dog.  The people at the pound said she was "euth approved".  My mom thought that meant she was "youth approved" and therefore, good with children.  No, it actually meant she was going to be put down.  Lily came home with my mom the next day.  Low and behold she was "youth approved" and just about the best dog anyone could ask for around children.  

Here are some of my photographs of Lily.  I hope she is doing what she loves and happy where she is, fetching sticks from the river, eating whatever she wants, and chasing cats.  

After camping at Mt. Lassen, lots of ash dirt.

Lily at Limantour beach.

Lily loved Helene Creek.

One of her best friends.

Leading the way at the dog friendly beach Limantour.

Flowers with insects, at the Sundial Bridge and Turtle Bay's McConnell Arboretum & Botanical Gardens

I went on another trip to the Sundial Bridge and Turtle Bay Gardens in Redding, California  This local attraction is free, that is the wonderful part.  The bridge is free, the walking and biking trails are free, and consequently they actually go through all the way to the Shasta Dam from the bridge.   It offers so much, exploration park, museum, cafe, outdoor playground for children, old monolith, animals, and a seasonal butterfly exhibition.  It is quite spectacular and you could easily spend a few hours there with your family or friends.

The bridge from a higher point.

http://www.turtlebay.org/

California Poppies, Shasta County

These poppies bloom in the spring and fall.