Weather Break with Signs of Life

A pair of mallards. Trailside, American River Parkway

Moss

Ferns grow on rock too

This tree grows from between two rocks. I can only imagine that after germination, as it grew it pushed its way between the rocks.

Buckeye germination, above and below. Buckeyes drop enormous amounts of huge seeds. It's a strange tree, being the last to bud out and bloom, but the first to drop its leaves at the end of summer, well before fall.

Antique sluice

Ibizan hound (8 mo.old puppy). I just happen to run into an acquaintance on the trail, also enjoying the oh-so-brief respite from the much needed rain.

American river just below the Folsom dam and Folsom prison.

Beautiful greens after a rain. At the end of summer, this will all be brown and dried up.

School Dayz

I love working with kids, and they make me laugh all the time. Here is a short collection from the Forever Unknown Elementary School.

A special needs 4th grader's whispered reaction to me about another kid, a blowhard in training, pontificating on and on about nothing anyone is interested in:

"This guy is making me sick!"

Written by a 5th grader on a test in response to the question, "Do you think Doug could make it across the pass on his own?"

"I think that Doug could of made it across becaus if Charlie a coger (note: that's cougar) made it than a hummen bean could do it."

Overheard exchange between two 3rd graders:

"Your mom is fat!"

"Well your mom doesn't wear a bra!"

In first grade the teacher tells the kids her son turned 21 recently and one of her students (the Hellion, see below) says:

"Wow he can drink beer now!"

This is kind of sad. During Red Ribbon Week (Just Say No!), the second grade teacher was talking to her students about drugs and alcoholic. One boy raises his hand and says,

"My dad is an alcoholic!"

During a 4th grade discussion of geography, specifically the North American continent, a boy raises his hand to explain:

"My dad said we should take over Canada because there are very little people there and nothing but ice."

teacher: "Well I'm sure your dad was kidding."

kid: "No he wasn't."

Just in case you've lost faith, I witnessed an act of kindness yesterday between the current first grade Hellion (multiple suspensions, detensions, you get the idea) and a diminuative Down's syndrome girl in his class. She veered off the path to lunch and he gently put his arm around her and, speaking softly, he directed her back to the cafeteria.

Madonna Visits Northern California

Madonna was spotted hanging out with her BFF, Ignatia, in a posh little northern California town this past holiday season. Er, that would be Madonna the Iguana who needed a place to stay when her folks decamped to the east coast for vacation. Luckily Iggs (as she's commonly known) forgot about the last time Madonna visited and nearly bit her (and only was interrupted by long suffering hubby who received the slashing in her place, but we really shouldn't have mentioned that, ok?).

Madonna the Queen of the World

Ignatia the Sweet Hostess

Iggs heads for a morning drink

Madonna makes sure Iggs is only getting a drink

Jiggs the cat stops in for a snack

Madonna, Iggs and Jiggs all enjoy dark leafy greens

No one was hurt during this visit, unless you count Iggy's pride when Madonna jumped down from on high and climbed on top of her. Both Iguanas are used to cats drinking their water and eating their food (thankfully). The mitigating factor here was that it is winter and the girls are in a kind of slow motion semi-hibernation where they don't eat much and sleep a lot on their heating pads (and get covered up at night and generally spoiled a bit). Madonna left fully refreshed and ready to nap some more when her family picked her up.
Oh, the life of a celebrity...