Cascades du Herisson

I had the opportunity to visit the Cascades du Herisson in the Jura Mountains of France when I visited there a couple of years ago. It was in early spring and the buttercups were in bloom - very beautiful. The entire area consists of multiple waterfalls - "cascades" in French - some small and some from dizzying heights, as this link from YouTube shows.


The idea was that my friends thought I'd like to get a good bit of exercise before I left for my flight back to the US the very next day. I agreed! Well, I had my exercise all right! If I recall correctly, the entire walk one way took a good 3 hours, taking time to picnic, take photos, and not hurry.

At times the path is very easy, at other times quite steep and strenuous. Because some of the pathway is stone steps hewn into the mountainside, my knees took quite a battering and it was a good couple of weeks before they felt normal (we walked BACK the same route!). Many of the stones at that season were also wet from rain and cascades mist, so they had to be walked carefully in places. But it was worth every ache.

The air was fantastic, the natural beauty breathtaking.

At the end of the walk, there was a gift shop and a small restaurant, where we sampled the local mountain cheeses and bread. Yum! Nearly every mountain village in the Jura has its own distinctive cheese, and sampling them is a wonderful pasttime.

So, after such hearty fare, we made our way back the route we came, thoroughly happy and satisfied - and very tuckered out.

I'd like to say that I slept like a baby on the flight back, but I never do sleep on these long hauls. Nevertheless I filled the time with memories of my dear friends - and the sights, smells, and sounds of all I experienced on this walk and many others.

Feathered Vistors.2

In addition to the usual birdfeeder species, we also have larger feathered visitors. Wild turkeys abound in these foothills. This family had a morning route that took them through my front yard and into the vacant lot next door.

They look a bit prehistoric and not very quick on the uptake. They start out with a dozen or so hatchlings, which dwindles to about 3 or 4 by the time they get big enough to survive a year. But it's always fun to see them casually moseying through the tiny police department parking lot in my town and see the reaction to tourists who come through on weekends.

There are the usual scrub jays also. These fellows were hungrily clamoring for food from their parents, who were flying themselves ragged to feed chicks as big as themselves. Ah, parenthood...

And what birdfeeder would be complete without the regular vistations by another sort of feathery-tailed species? Argh!

Well, squirrels are just doing what comes naturally: eating what's easiest to get first!

All the World is Charlie's Stage

All my parrots have certain activities they like more than others: Chipper likes to hang out/chew/have fun with his books; Pippin likes to nest or shred things; Sam likes to chew on his foot toys or forage for treats.

But Charlie! He likes most of all to SING!!!!! He came with about 5 "default" songs - mimics of wild bird calls very badly done - that used to drive me crazy. Fortunately, Chipper taught him better songs.

So now Charlie sings with zing.

Charlie also uses objects in his cage to amplify or "improve" the acoustics of certain trills - in this case a treat cup. When outside the cage, he uses the inside of stainless steel bells for special effects. Perhaps he knows these are special riffs that must be heard in the best way to be fully appreciated.

So, without further ado, heeeeeere's Charlie!

Feathered Vistors.1

My wildbird feeder sees a lot of traffic in all seasons.

This flicker, though, was a real surprise, since they eat insects and suet and are not known to eat at seed feeders. I had an opportunity to watch this fellow for a couple of minutes. What I realized is that he wasn't after the seeds - he was playing. He'd furiously dig his long strong beak into the seed dispenser holes and vigorously stir up the seeds inside. He did this for a some time and then flew away.

My returning annual black headed grosbeaks are a lot of fun. The parents in the spring from their migration from their southerly wintering grounds. Then they work hard while they raise a clutch of very cute babies. Here are two of them who have learned the ropes of eating out of a sunflower dispenser. They are not as flighty as smaller finches, so I usually can get a shot of them now and then.





And then there are the Stellar's Jays that screech and carry on loudly. They are strong fellows, whether adult or young. This fellow is a young one who is in the act of begging for food from his parents. The black headgear on the young looks really silly. They look like punkers with mohawks and you just cannot take them seriously!

Charlie Molts

Charlie has decided that it is a good time to molt.

Lest you think I never vacuum (admittedly, not my favorite pasttime, but I do it every week!) this pile of feathers is just a two-day accumulation.

Everywhere I walk in the living room, there are little drifts of creamy gray cockatiel feathers and down clusters.

You'd think he would look rather tatty and nearly featherless, but he's got plenty left. While he is out of step with everybody else's molting period, I think he's got good timing. What better occasion to shed some extra warmth than during a heat wave?

Sam's Going Green

Sam, apparently, felt he should do his part to help the planet by going green. It helps that he IS green to start with, of course.

He's checking out the bag of paper recycling here to see if he can re-use anything interesting.

Apparently he found something: a cardboard box that has a fun texture and an enticing interior.

Sam seems to approve the use of cold water and safe detergent without fragrances and dyes. But he really doesn't care to help me with hanging up the wet laundry - he gets bored with it. But he's hanging in there....cheering me on, maybe?

Well, it's all in a day's work - and it wasn't that difficult, really!

You Scratch My Back, I Scratch Yours...

I've noticed over the years of watching blacktail deer, that they often groom each other after eating. I believe this serves a practical purpose as well as a social one: removing parasites, ticks, and debris is a smart move. But I think it's also a strong bonding ritual - at least, among the does - that seems to be shared by many species.

The right doe is "Old Mamma," and you can see plainly where she broke her right hind leg 3 years ago.

Here she is slightly dazed, it seems, from how good her grooming feels!

You can also see how thin they are getting - as the good stuff dries up, so does the extra winter and spring fat on their bodies. The only green stuff that grows wild around my place is blackberry bushes and the very unloved star thistle that not many animals will eat.

Annecy.3

This is another view of Lac Annecy in March. (It's really hot here, so images of snow and coolness seemed in order.) The day I took this photo, the wind was very strong and made the water ripple. You can see how fast the water in the Canal Thiou was running into the Lac here.

There is another interesting landmark: The Basilica of the Visitation, and home base of the Visitation Order of nuns, founded by Saint Jeanne de Chantal and the more well-known (among Catholics) Saint Francis de Sales.

I enjoyed walking up a steep hill to get to the imposing church and the surrounding old buildings.

But that type of trekking does whet the appetite and makes for thirsty returns. So back to the creperie for a light repast. As I sat inside and watched the sun set through the windows, I loved how the light shown through these beer glasses. It summed up the end of the day: mellow...

Unexpected Vistors

I had three visitors come by early this morning. I would have missed them entirely, except that I had gone out of the house about 1/2 hour earlier than usual. I saw a furry something climbing up the plum tree....

What do you know? Three young racoons! I'm sorry the photo is so blurry - I didn't have the time to see if I was focusing near or far. But look closely and you'll see three masked faces staring at you.


And then a last look by the most curious one of the trio, before they all disappeared. (The other two were piled on top of this fellow.) I wonder where their mama was?

Summer Siesta Time

Another hot summer day. While I paint and try to stay cool, all the birds take naps.

Chipper is molting heavily, so even when he's not napping, he's in "energy-saving mode."

Hope you've had a good weekend and that you've had enough siestas to power you through another week.

Plum Blossoms on Stone

Plum Blossoms on Stone is now available on my website.

I have a few flat rocks in my front yard. The spring breeze had sent these delicate blossoms to land on the rock. In the waning late afternoon spring light, they seemed so beautiful that I felt compelled to paint them.

Now the fruits of these blossoms are just starting to ripen. Thank you, plum trees!

Vesancy Chapelle

Of all the marvelous places I’ve seen in France (limited to east middle of the country), so far I think this quiet little rural spot above the small village of Vesancy is my favorite. There is a small chapelle located on a steep foothill leading to the Jura Mountains. I just finished a painting based on a late spring storm swirling around the chapelle.

Except for a restaurant in the town, there doesn’t seem to be any other viable business except for the buying and selling of real estate, which is priced for the very well-off. But if you follow a track leading out and above the village, you wend your way through grassy meadows bordered by pine and deciduous trees. At the top is the chapelle of Notre Dame de Riantmont. Cows pasture here and wild hares and birds abound. There is a forested area near the higher slopes and invites further explorations.

I’ve actually never gone inside the chapelle – I don’t even think it’s open most of the time. But it isn’t necessary. Somehow, there is a comforting peace there, as if the chapelle provides a protective arm about all below and around it. And what views can be seen there! On one side you can see a large part of Lac Leman and the Alps with Mont Blanc; another viewpoint shows the city of Divonne Les Bains.

So far, I have been unable to find a history of the chapelle, and it’s obviously been renovated from the ground up. But it’s been there for quite awhile.

For me, this hilltop is a place to regroup and rearrange the mind.

Squashophile

What's a "squashophile" (my very own word)? Someone who absolutely LOVES squash. In this case, the harder winter varieties. My favorite of all of them is kobucha, also known as the Japanese pumpkin. It has a densely textured deep orange meat that is sweet and nutty - delicious baked or steamed. I eagerly look for it in September when the winter squash starts appearing in my local co-op. It seems everyone else does, too, because they disappear rapidly on market days.

I thought I'd try growing a few plants myself in containers. Well, the plants were magnificent, with lush leafy, draping strands with curling tendrils and gorgeous huge yellow blooms that the bees loved. Eventually, the plants produced about 4 small fruits. But the growing season was too short and I had to harvest my little fruits before the frost ruined them last fall.

I became quite captivated by the plants as they grew, and found them so beautiful and graceful, thus inspiring Squash Blossom Ballet.



By the way, the tiny fruits were consumed and found delicious!

Annecy.2

I mentioned Lac Annecy in my last post. Here is a photo of a very small part of the beautiful alpine lac. To the right and far in the distance one can see the higher peaks that are often shrouded with clouds.

I also mentioned window shopping. There are so many lovely and unique storefronts that it's hard not to include more than I have in this post.

This one was taken just after the Easter weekend and the shops were still full of chocolates in all forms - animals, shells, lobsters, ships, dolls - you name it.

The second one, full of natural objects, is one of my favorites.

















The town of Annecy thinks of everything for the tourist, don't you think?

Annecy.1

One of the places I most love to visit whenever I see my friends in France is Annecy, between Geneva and Chambery, in the French Alps. It is a most beautiful ancient place with its own impressive castle on the heights. The oldest and medieval part of town is built of battle strong stone with small many-storied buildings jammed up against one another.

In this photo you see the most famous canal of Annecy, the Thiou, which empties into Lac Annecy. The building in the middle of the canal is a small prison called Palais de l'Isle, built in the 12th century. It is one of the most photographed landmarks in France. The accommodations look extremely cold, dark, and hard... Just opposite the Palais on the right is a most famous - to me - creperie. I highly recommend the chocolate banana combination. Wow! In fact, here is a photo of the very item.

Mosty I love just wandering the lake paths and also I love window-shopping. There is much to see, including artisan work: local pottery, paintings, carvings, etc.

I bought a print from a sidewalk artist of the Palais as a memento. These are some of the images the artist was offering.


The castle is built on a grand scale overlooking the town and the lake and on into the far distance to the high Alps.

This view is what the king might have seen from one of the castle windows, overlooking the old town:



When I visited the castle, there were all kinds of very weird arty displays that didn't seem to relate to the castle at all. So we explored in all the other ordinary nooks and crannies and found it quite fascinating.

Here is the portal of the castle to give you a sense of the size.

I will say this: I am heartily glad I do not live in such a time, for many reasons. And just look at the toilets they had to contend with. Imagine it in the winter. Eek!

Can Anyone Identify This Fellow?

This used to be some insect before he decided to do a Clark- Kent- in- the- telephone- booth move. What did he become? Who was he to begin with? I found his old form on the trunk of a fruit tree today.

I will send the first person who emails me the correct answer a free notecard of your choice. Contact me by going to my "Contact" link on my website, or by clicking here.

Location: Southwest Oregon, near the California border, 1800 feet. Size: about 1 inch long.

Here is profile view to help identify the fellow (he still looks alive, doesn't he?).

Thank you!

Is It Hot, or What?

It's the upper 90s F and even the deer are panting as they walk through my yard.

Then there is the smoke wafting up from the ongoing California fires, casting a yellowish haze to the sunlight and making walking outside difficult.

The wild grasses have long since turned brown, as has my postage stamp-sized lawn.

The good news is that the plums on the trees are fast ripening - I'm ready for a plum feast!

So are the deer...

This little fellow came through my front yard while the sprinkler was on during the last bit of sun for the day. I like to imagine that when I have my back turned, this little fawn and his/her sibling might race through the water and kick up their heels. But they really do not like falling water or rain on their backs. They don't know what they're missing in this heat!

The Cocky 'Tiels Go to the Vet

I take all of my birds to a wonderful avian vet, about 45 minutes away from where I live (no avian vet nearer). This vet also donates veterinarian time, surgical expertise, and advice when injured birds and other animals arrive at Wildlife Images.

It was the two cockatiels' turn this time: just a toenail trim for Chipper, and a check-up for Charlie who had the luck of the draw in getting a periodical blood test to establish that his health continues as good as it's been. It's truly amazing how tiny the syringe needle is - it would have to be, to get into the tiny veins of a small bird.

They both appear to be in fine shape, weight is steady for both, and all survived just fine. But - whew! It's just as traumatic and exhausting for birds to see the vet as it is for us to see a doctor. As you can see, poor Chipper flaked out on the tree after he got home (it was an exceedingly quiet afternoon).

Getting Charlie to the vet requires a specific tactical maneuver. He was never hand-tamed as a baby - I think he was an aviary bird - and my attempts to hand train him failed when he first showed up. He's missing a toe, so there may be issues about hands and toes here. I managed to get him on my fingers consistently when his wings were clipped, but he was always scared spitless in the process and seemed traumatized after each session. He has a strong phobia of hands, though when he feels relaxed and excited to see me, he may even fly to my head, my hand, even occasionally on my fingers - IF Chipper is there also. And he will now take treats eagerly from my hand. (This is Charlie after the vet scene - he's a tired boy too.)

He will follow Chipper anywhere and will cry with distress if he's parted from him even across the room. So I use Chipper as my "Pied Piper," and once Chipper is inside a travel cage, Charlie ends up there too.

But I'm not really fussed if Charlie never ends up hand trained. He's very happy, free-flighted, dependable, and cheerful as they come. Hey, hands aren't everything, anyway.

Rogue River.2

After the Rogue River meanders down from the Cascades to lower elevations, it slows considerably, especially in the summer months. This is a photograph taken near the small town of Gold Hill, Oregon. There is a wonderful island in the middle of this stretch of the river, attainable by a metal foot bridge.

In August last year, I had a blackberry feast, eagerly sampling the offerings from each bush. There were still some unripe ones in the shadier parts of the river's edge. There were also these pretty (but invasive and non-native) Common Teasel plants in bloom.

During the summer months there are also raft rides up and down the Rogue. Rafters can encounter anything from pretty exciting white water to a very lazy flow.

This fellow below was becoming acquainted with the fish of the Rogue River. Looks like he had a good time, but I'm not sure how the fish felt about the encounter...

Rogue River.1

One of the most notable and enjoyable rivers in Southern Oregon is the Rogue. It begins as snowfall in the Cascade Mountains near Crater Lake and travels nearly 300 miles to the Pacific Ocean.

Not too far from Crater Lake on its downward and westward trek, the Rogue River travels through a narrow gorge called "The Chasm." The signage nearby tells visitors that enough water passes through this gorge in one minute to fill an Olympic-sized swimming pool. The water's course is thunderous and powerful. The only way to be heard by someone else is to shout loudly - but you better not be more than a couple feet away.

These two photos show part of the chasm. In the horizontal photo, you may be able to see the faint outlines of a rainbow caused by sun passing through the fine mist that is constantly rising from the turbulent waters. It's really a great experience to stand so near this part of the river and feel its tremendous power!

Beady Little Eyes

I have four pairs of beady little eyes always watching to see what I'm doing, what I'm up to.

Sam keeps watch intently, and like a little watch dog, will alert me with growls at anything he feels is threatening - such as a small stuffed dog half his size that was sitting on top of a shelf.

The other reason alertness is good is that Sam is ever hopeful I will walk into the kitchen and bring back some tempting morsel that is not a pellet. Ahem! (This shot of Sam also shows that he is soliciting a head rub, looking really cute and irresistible - and it always works...)

Chipper, on the other hand, often is more subtle in his watching.

If you look closely, you will see that Chipper's eye is right on me. Behind the basket is his favorite perch on the tree. He has purposely chewed a hole through the basket so that he can keep an eye on me - and anyone else.

Sidewalk Art

Here is a man of mystery, perhaps a distant more modern relation of those fellows found on Easter Island?

He's far from home if he is, but I found him guarding someone's front yard on my walk the other day. He sure doesn't seem to be scaring any birds, though!

I never know what I'll find from one walk to the next!

Chipper and His Favorite Objet d'Art

On my living room wall is this framed display box, containing all kinds of natural treasures: flicker and raven feathers, Chipper's baby feathers, Pippin's eggs, seashells, eucalyptus pods, cacti spines, fossilized seashells found 2500 feet on top of a desert mountain, pretty moss, etc, etc.

For some reason, Chipper just loves hanging out on top of it and around it.

He will spend minutes at a time on my hand, looking at the contents of each square, sometimes commenting, licking the glass with his funny round tongue.

Chipper is on the frame here, to the right, and Charlie - never to be apart from Chipper for long - has joined him on his left.

After spending quality time with the frame, both boys decided to visit with Pippin while she was working on her sleep nest (inside a boutique sized tissue box). It's quite cozy in there with shredded seagrass fibers, and shredded paper. She quite an industrious little girl.


And so, another birdie weekend afternoon passes: mellow, hanging-out time had by all.

It's a Fawn's Life

We're waiting for Mamma to do her grazing rounds.

We wait patiently till she signals us to come for a milky snack - though we're big enough now to do some grazing ourselves!

But, well, waiting is sometimes kinda tiring and boring, so we also take little naps to foritfy ourselves for the next activity.


Boy, a bit of shut-eye does wonders.

And a really good stretch after a nap makes the day ahead even better. Wow, that felt good.







Well, Mamma's ready for us, so here we go. Where are we going anyway, Mamma? Can we have a snack first? Please?

Lac Leman.3

When I visited Geneva, Switzerland in the spring, the banks and lawns bordering Lac Leman were stunning with tulips and poppies of all colors. There are borders upon borders of flowers, each of them slightly different in color combinations.

Along the city banks, you will see cyclists and walkers of all ages - the weekends are jammed with what seems half of Geneva's population.

On one side of the Lac, there is the Parc Mon Repos. It's gorgeously beautiful and very peaceful.

This shot was taken there, specifically because a magpie was rooting around for grubs amongst the grass. He was quite industrious (and quite hard to see, bottom right). In the far distance, you can see the Alps and Mont Blanc.


Not far from the Lac, close to the heart of the old town of Geneva, is the Parc des Bastions, next to the Universite de Geneve Uni Bastions. It is a lovely tree-shaded park and promenade, filled with faces from every part of the globe. One of the landmarks of the Parc is the life-size chess set. You will find people constantly at the game here. It's fascinating to watch them so focussed and dedicated to the game. But chess is not for me!

Ride 'em Cowboy - and Other Capers

Chipper has a way of exploring all the nooks and crannies of the house. He, like Pippin, loves to find boxes and be nesty. He has to have a job every day, and chewing paper and wood - and exploring - suit him fine. He discovered this ceramic horse on the fireplace mantle and kept returning to it. Ride 'em, Cowboy Chipper!

On another front, Sam loves to get in his wooden play bowl that is kept on top of his cage. I will often hear him scratching about, look over, and find him bottom up.


Speaking of bottoms up, Pippin does a fine job of that too.

Then there are the times when the cockatiels take their baths. This comes in the form of a spray bottle with warm water. They love to take their bath on the big tree in the living room.

Here you will see them in the middle of becoming sopping wet, after which they will preen for quite awhile until they're fairly dry. They especially like sitting in the sun on such occasions (Chipper is bottom up in the background in this photo).

I wonder what it is about bottom up that is so appealing? Maybe seeing a different viewpoint is what it's all about. Hm. Good idea!

Small is Beautiful

During my walks one of my great joys is to find and photograph small things that might otherwise be passed by.

These discoveries feel like little surprise gifts - but I have to be observant and look closely.

Deer tracks are plentiful here, but when they're so well-defined and we share tracks, then I can picture a buck or doe on nightly grazing rounds. I wonder if they bother noticing human tracks? Probably not - no hunting here to cause alarm.

Now this little beetle seemed to be standing on his version of a soap box, ready to make an important announcement. Or maybe he was just showing off his fine red markings for a lady friend...





Another surprise is seeing these bright red manzanita leaves on the new growth of very young shrubs. This photo doesn't do the color justice. It can be brilliant and deepest maroon red, but usually these bits are only a couple of inches in height - easily missed.


One of the weirder finds on the cooler, shadier forest floor is what is called a Ground Cone (Boschniakia strobilacea). At first glance, they seem like dead pine cones, but if you look closely, they are quite something else.

I read that they are parasites that feed off roots deep below the surface. What we see on the ground is the head of a fleshy flower stalk with very small purplish flowers when in bloom. On one of my walks, they are everywhere beneath the pine trees.

I've had to postpone walks for the moment: We're having very hot weather and terrible, thick yellow smoke blown into our mountain valley from the large California wildfires. It's very hard to breathe outside. So for now, I continue to find photos of small treasures in my computer files.

I hope you find some interesting small things too.