Skywatch Friday, Portal, Arizona, 2007

Howdee all,

I thought I would share some photos from two years ago.

We were in Portal, AZ

   Birding with Geno and Patti

We experienced this beautiful sunset

   I am hoping to spend some time in Portal again , maybe next March.

We are still in Sacramento spending time with our friend Geno.

Tonight we went to a local Audubon meeting and listed to Ron LeValley talk about his recent birding trip to Japan..Check out his website..nice bird photography.

And for more beautiful skies from around the world.

click on the photo below….

BwBTC Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge

Howdee all,

I always look forward to meeting other Birder. bloggers. Always an interesting and fun group of people.

This Saturday will be another treat…and we welcome other birders and want to be birders to join us.

BwBTC Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge

We will meet at 8am Saturday Nov 21st

That's right…this Saturday…

Larry will be arriving around 7am, Jeff, Geno and I will arrive around 7:30am.

We will meet at the small parking lot, 
next to the visitor center, at the entrance to the auto tour.

There is a kiosk on the road coming into the refuge where you pay the 
$3 for a day pass unless you have a Federal Duck Stamp or an America the 
Beautiful - Interagency Annual, Senior, Access or Volunteer Pass.

Check out the website for directions.

Bring a lunch and snacks. If we are still going strong after birding we may all want to have dinner together.

  Larry says “We can also check out the Llano Seco unit for Sandhill Cranes if we want to or stop at the Colusa NWR:  on the way back to Sac. Then of course there are the Burrowing Owls in Davis at the Wildhorse Golf Club!”

Dinner in Davis sounds good to me……..

❀✿❀ ✿ ❁ ✾❀✿❀ ✿ ❁ ✾❀✿❀ ✿ ❁ ✾❀✿❀ ✿ ❁ ✾

The Cast of Characters thus far

Jeff and Dawn   from Dawns Bloggy Blog twitter @DawnFine

Larry Jordon  The Birders Report twitter @soaringfalcon1

Scott A. and his wife Heather from JournOwl twitter @journowl

Cheryl Reynolds from  MartinezBeavers.org  and Bay area Wildlife Blog

twitter @martinezbeavers

  and 

Geno Masuda from Genos Blog

If there are others who want to go,Birders, Bloggers, Husbands, wives,friends etc…..either leave a comment here…or contact me on twitter…with your name and a bit of information so that I can add you to our list.

Read Larry's post about a recent visit to the Sacramento Wildlife Refuge

You will want to Join us after reading this!

Checkin out the California Gold Rush towns..

Howdee all,

Geno took us on a tour checking out a few Gold Rush towns..

“The Gold Rush started at Sutter's Mill, near Coloma.^[3] On January 24, 1848 James W. Marshall, a foreman working for Sacramento pioneer John Sutter, found pieces of shiny metal in the tailrace of a lumber mill Marshall was building for Sutter, along the American River.^[4] Marshall quietly brought what he found to Sutter, and the two of them privately tested the findings. The tests showed Marshall's particles to be gold. Sutter was dismayed by this, and wanted to keep the news quiet because he feared what would happen to his plans for an agricultural empire if there were a mass search for gold.^[5] However, rumors soon started to spread and were confirmed in March 1848 by San Francisco newspaper publisher and merchant Samuel Brannan. The most famous quote of the California Gold Rush was by Brannan; after he had hurriedly set up a store to sell gold prospecting supplies,^[6] Brannan strode through the streets of San Francisco, holding aloft a vial of gold, shouting "Gold! Gold! Gold from the American River!"^[7] With the news of gold, many families trying their luck at Californian farming decided to go for the gold, becoming some of California’s first miners.”

information via  wikipedia

First stop was the town of Coloma in the Coloma Valley

The Below statue is of James Marshall who found the first nugget.

He never did make a fortune.

American River..Where the mill was..RV resort across the river ..nice location, but a bit pricey Replica of the Original Mill At Marshall Park

We visited the Museum at Marshall park..it was very interesting and worth the visit what is this you ask? ..just wood with purdy colors me says…. There were lots of Acorn woodpeckers around..but they didn't cooperate for photos..

They do have a nice red head..

I am hoping a Sicksta might ID this shrub..with this lovely flower..Amador City 

..check out the website..

Several Historic buildings…… Garden art I wished I could bring home to my Sickstas..  Kennedy Gold Mine near Jackson

The Kennedy Mine, famous for being one of the deepest gold mines in the world (at 5912 feet)  Jackson

This giant wheel was once outfitted with numerous buckets to remove tailings and waste from the Kennedy Mine site, and transport them over a ridge to a storage reservoir. The tailings had been causing pollution in one of the sources of drinking water for the town of Jackson. .   Kennedy Mine seen thru the wheel…Back in Sacramento…  Dinner at Tower Cafe..

Very eclectic decor and  food.Very good and highly recommended by me

I had a green curry dish which was delicious.. We also came here for breakfast..the French toast is wonderful. We didn't have any of the desserts…but they sure looked good.

Today we took another walking tour of Sacramento..

visiting Sutter's Fort SHP 

I didn't take photos..but enjoyed the park.

Sacramento Art Walk

Howdee all

This past Saturday evening Geno and friends took us to the

2nd Saturday Art Walk

So here's a bit of what we sawI liked the colors and flow in this painting Sacramento Ballet performed Dancing sculpture and Dancing Live…I liked the sculptures in this gallery   And I forgot to write down the artists name…oh well.. Just enjoy the art..and if you want to purchase somethingI will go back to the Gallery for you and find out the artist and the prices  I believe this is the same artist that did the sculptures❇ ❈ ❅ ❄ ❆❇ ❈ ❅ ❄ ❆❇ ❈ ❅ ❄ ❆❇ ❈ ❅ ❄ ❆❇ ❈ ❅ ❄ ❆

Robert Glenn Ketchum

Check out his Website  And his Efforts to save this area of Southwest Alaska, from mining that would create a toxic area… He is asking for support and that we contact our legislators to stop this from happening..    

❇ ❈ ❅ ❄ ❆❇ ❈ ❅ ❄ ❆❇ ❈ ❅ ❄ ❆❇ ❈ ❅ ❄ ❆

Out and about we checked out where the Ice skating rink would be..they have pipes under the rink to keep it frozen.. 

❇ ❈ ❅ ❄ ❆❇ ❈ ❅ ❄ ❆❇ ❈ ❅ ❄ ❆❇ ❈ ❅ ❄ ❆❇ ❈ ❅ ❄ ❆

More Galleries..     A very interesting chair….

❇ ❈ ❅ ❄ ❆❇ ❈ ❅ ❄ ❆❇ ❈ ❅ ❄ ❆❇ ❈ ❅ ❄ ❆❇ ❈ ❅ ❄ ❆

Garage music at the Alfa Romeo shop   The band is West of Next

Listen to some of their Tracks here..

Enjoy the music!

and while you do enjoy these old motorcycles..

and cars…. 

It was a great evening topped of by a nice dinner at a local favorite restaurant of  Susan and Peters..and Peters home made muffins and ice cream from a local dairy..

Thanks everyone for a wonderful time!