Savannah's beenie

As long as IM blogging, I figured I would keep up with the latest shots, since IM not as good as updating my web site.
Savannah's got her new hand made beenie on that her aunt so kindly made, all by hand.

Nojoki Falls: After the rains

This is a place that seems to stand in a world all it's own, just a skip away from the hustle and bustle of the busy coast high way, and a place I have always passed by in the past, not knowing of it's existence.
We usually do the same trip every year, to the little Danish town of Solvang, but this time we took a detour. A delightful detour indeed! This road leads to Nojoki Falls, where the water falls at its highest, 100 feet. It dances off the rocky walls and moss filled tree trunks, scattering a fine mist off the leaves, swirling down the curves of the hills, making peaceful songs and sights I have not seen in many years.
Call me sheltered if you want, but from now on, I will gladly take a detour, well, especially if the camera is at hand, as you never know what you might find along the way. Here are some of my favorites.

The girl next door

If you read my about me page, you might have laughed at the suburban chicken, but it's true. Who would have thought she would pick us, and God knows why, but we still don't! I have never raised chickens before or knew what the heck to feed her, but she just happened to be pecking around the back yard one sunny morning, like " Oh, this yard looks yummy. Think I will park it here!" So we finally one day went down to the feed store (after we discovered she was a "layer") and got some real big bird food.
Then we named her. What the heck, after all, we feed her and she brings us gifts, and frequently announces the fact right afterwards. We named her Ethel, and yes, she does come running when I call her from the back door. Well, as long as I have shredded cheddar cheese to show. She is the best girl next door we have come to know! She sleeps in the neighbors tree since we don't have a nice big one like they do. ( That's why she is the girl next door.)
What a trooper she is. She has lived through all of the CA. fires, 85 MPH winds ( which did blow down trees here right in our neighbor hood,)and patiently Wait's for pouring rain to subside, often just right under the patio furniture.
Just about a month ago she lost almost all of her beautiful feathers and we thought we were going to lose her. Our little trooper kept eatin and kept safe from what ever she was ailed by, and grew them all back. She is beautiful. Her eggs are wonderfully delicious, and she pleasantly awakens us most mornings by pecking on the glass door to ask for breakfast. I don't know why she picked us, but I am glad she did.
I have spent several days trying to get that perfect shot of her, but just the other day, and right after it had rained, she seemed to call out " Hey, the lighting is just right and I will pose this time!" She finally will eat from my hand ( as long as it's cheese)and well, I would be so sad if I had never took advantage of her presence in front of my lens. I don't have any idea how long chickens live free range, but she is a lucky, strong one, and we feel lucky to have this creature, Ethel, the girl next door.

Counting Blessings