Nevada – Circadianreflections Blog

Whatever Weds. The Tahoe Rim Trail

Saturday He-Man and I went hiking along the Tahoe Rim Trail. We heard the views were amazing, and I want to get back in shape and explore our new area. Since I feel out of shape and easily winded at this altitude still we opted for a 3 mile out hike and back.

We quickly discovered that Spring has sprung in the mountains at 7000 and 8000ft elevation. I was so excited!

Here are just a few of the flowers we saw.

Nuttall’s Larkspur with Bumble Bee. We took a side trip up the Vista Trail to the top of a ridge and found a view of Carson Valley and these wildflowers busy with Bumble Bees.

Wild Nuttals's Larkspur

Mule’s Ear was blooming all over the place and it was perfect blooming time!

Mule's Ear-Wildflower

Coast Paint Brush? I’m not positive this is what it is, but it looks like it.

Coast Paintbrush-Wildflower

There were thousands of Butterflies along the trail. I thought at first they were Painted Lady’s which I had heard were migrating through and there were thousands being reported but looking at them and my images confirmed that’s not what they were. It’s new to me called a California Tortoiseshell ( Nymphalis Californica). There was also White cabbage and Sara Orange Tips I believe but, those little guys were already warmed up and flying all over the place rarely landing and when they did they alighted almost as soon as they touched down.

Californ Tortoiseshell- Nymphalis Californica

We had a glimpse of Lake Tahoe about 2 miles into the hike. It was a great place to catch my breath too.

Lake Tahoe from the Tahoe Rim Trail

I have more images of flowers I need to identify, and two birds too.

There is a gorgeous view we’re told 5 miles in, so we’re going to work up to that. The Tahoe Rim Trail is 165 miles long going around Lake Tahoe. I’m hoping to do bits and bobs of it here and there, but I don’t think I’ll ever do the whole thing.

Our stats for the hike were:

6.5 miles total distance, 1000 ft elevation gain, and 3H:56 minutes…due to me stopping to smell the roses, watch butterflies, gaze at the views, and stopping to catch my breath.

It was a great hike! I hope I can get back up there before the butterflies flee, and the Lupine is in bloom.

I hope you’re all having a great week, and good Wednesday!

Panasonic Lumix FZ200| Lexar Digital Film| PS CC 2019

more to come…

Whatever Wednesday- Storm Clouds over Job’s Peak

Job's Peak under Clouds

The view from my backyard all week has been cloudy with some rain. In between He-Man and I have gone out hiking twice each time on a new trail. If you follow me on Instagram you’ve seen some images of the trail there.

Our hike on Monday was a 5.3-mile loop that wiped me out. In Silicon Valley, I lived 257 ft above sea level. Here I’m 4,750 ft above sea level and the hike took us up to nearly 6,000 feet. I was huffing and puffing and light-headed for most of it. I am out of shape and not used to this elevation yet. A sinus infection and plugged ears didn’t help, but I hope this summer’s hikes get me ready for snow-shoeing this winter!

The weather may be unsettled here this week, but we are settled and on the road to discovering new trails and sights. I hope you’re feeling settled in and finding some time to enjoy the outdoors this week.

Nikon D810| Nikkor 24-120mm f/4| Hoodman STEEL Digital Film| PS CC 2019

more to come…

Whatever Weds. Great-tailed Grackle

This bird was on the back fence competing for food with the Yellow-headed Blackbirds making rather lewd calls to scare them off.

He looks a bit grumpy, doesn’t he?

Blackbird

Since we’ve been pretty well settled in we’ve been having family and friends come to visit which is why I’ve been less active on the blog lately.

Baby Girl, the Handsome Surveyor, and the boys came for Mother’s Day and my Birthday, then a good friend stopped by for the night while traveling, and we’ve had Big Baby Boy home for 5 days. Sadly, he’s heading back to SOCAL today.

Both the kids said, “it feels like home!” at the new house and are happy, and like it here too.

The weather has been a bit gloomy lately and driving home from Baby Girl’s Sunday we had snow in the mountains. It was a gorgeous winter wonderland with the tall pines flocked in snow.

On the homefront- I’m still waiting for the countertop for the base laundry room cabinets to come in. The pantry cabinet I ordered arrived damaged and went back, and a wall cabinet got smashed in transit and I’m waiting for that replacement.

The closet shelving in the office and retreat are complete, and He-Man’s Master Closet is finished. He wasted no time filling it up!

The house in Silicon Valley went on the market Friday. Here’s hoping for a sale soon!

I hope you all are having a good week!

Nikon D810| Nikkor 200-500mm| Hoodman Digital Film| PS CC 2019 & iPhone 7 Plus

more to come…

Whatever Weds.

We’re settling into our new home. I can see the light at the end of the tunnel of boxes!

Sunday I went out with a local birding expert and guide for a morning of birding.

It was so much fun and a great birdy day with so many bird highlights. We saw a pair Great-horned Owls, some Owlets, a Barn Owl, Bald Eagles, lots of Red-wing Blackbirds, Yellow-headed Blackbirds, sparrows, Turkey Vultures, and a pilot practicing aerial loops, swoops, and dives!

I’ll share just two images today though.

A pair of Kestrels in a tree with breakfast. I didn’t notice the prey until I uploaded my images. I’ve never seen a pair together before so this was a real treat for me.

American Kestrel Pair with Prey

and from my backyard, there are flocks of Yellow-headed Blackbirds enjoying the trees and my feeder. I never saw these in Silicon Valley. I love their vivid heads and lovely white pattern on their wings. I’m not sure if these are year-round birds or just spending Spring here. I’ll soon find out!

Yellow-headed Blackbirds

Yesterday the cabinets for the laundry room arrived so the contractor is going to open those boxes up and see what we got. I have to select and order my counter top still, and I think he’s going to paint He-Man’s closet. He textured the new framing for it yesterday. I’ve been taking photos of the project at each step. I’ll share those later.

I hope your week has been going well and continues to go well through the week-end!

Nikon D810| Nikkor 200-500mm f/5.6 top image and 300mm f/4 bottom image| Hoodman Steel Digital Film| PS CC 2019

more to come…

Whatever Weds. Night View

I’m still packing. I probably will be taping up the last box and running it to the moving truck as they’re pulling down the door and revving up the engine to take off for my new home!

We’ve been taking stuff over that we think we’ll need before the movers arrive, and spending the night when we can. I’ve been waiting for Milky Way season to be back in our Hemisphere. What is she talking about the Milky Way is always there, you’re probably thinking. It is, but the Galactic Center is only visible in the Northern Hemisphere April through mid-September. I’ve been anxiously waiting to see how it will look from my new backyard/patio since I have a southern unobstructed view.

I set my alarm for the wee hours of the morning to find out. Lookie there! I was doing my happy dance.

Milky Way from the Porch

There’s a lot more light pollution than I thought there would be, and the Moon while really low was 40 minutes from setting adding more light to the sky. The street lamps added our house and the neighbor’s shadows on the fairway below.

I’m already eyeing trails to explore for dark skies in the upcoming months.

The movers come in 9 days! I’m so ready to be moved and settled in.

Back to packing, and notifying those that need to know I’ve got a new mailing address.

I’m sure I’m forgetting someone.

Hope you all have a great week!

more to come…

Dawn over the 13th Fairway

I have news. After a little over a year of looking for a house in Nevada with a view toward moving there when He-man retires we finally found one we liked enough to make an offer on. There was a little counter offer negotiation which we all agreed to, so the offer was accepted. We started Escrow, inspections were done, some minor repairs were needed, negotiation over repairs were made and agreed to, and we closed on September 27th late in the day!

Our house’s backyard overlooks the 13th fairway of a golf course. I’ve read it’s Par 5 and Par 4. I think that depends on which tee you tee off of. This tee is a set up shot for the 14th tee which is supposed to be where the fun really begins on this course. Neither He-Man or I golf, but we’ve enjoyed watching those that come by to play.

The main attraction for us besides the house with its nice layout, features, and location is the view. I really wanted a house with a great view for our retirement home so, as we get old-old; as in the powers at be will have taken away our driver’s licenses and we are less active we will have lovely views of sunrise, sunsets, the night sky, and have a flat street to take a daily walk on. I hope I can still lift my camera to my eye and see through the viewfinder then! This house checked all our boxes. The house is only 3 yrs old, so it didn’t need a lot in repairs, and those it did need aren’t what would be considered major. It’s a 3 bedroom, 2 bath house and 2,031 sq. ft. It’s a little bit bigger than our house here, but it doesn’t have a separate living room, or 4th bedroom like our current house, so it feels like we’re downsizing.

We gain a walk-in closet in the master bedroom, but I do wish it had a reach-in too just for He-Man. I could easily fill the walk-in with all my clothes! He-Man has his own closet now. I’d like to keep it that way. There’s an in the house laundry room; my laundry stuff is in the garage now, double sinks in the Master bath, loads of cabinet space in the kitchen, and bathrooms, a deep bathtub with whirlpool jets in the Master bath, and a view that I don’t think I’ll tire of. EVER!

I’ve been relying on the Realtor’s images of the house so, haven’t taken any of my own! Now, I’m kickin myself for that. I didn’t even take a picture of the front door. (hangs head in shame) 😦

Naturally, the days we were there to close the loan, and finish up minor repairs the sky was clear, but Friday morning we got some clouds and a pretty Dawn. This is the view from the backyard patio. Actually that’s all it is to the backyard. Just a slab of cement making a patio. It really is all about the view on this side of the street.

The valley is flanked by the Pinenut Mountains on the East, and The Sierra Nevada Range on the West. The Carson River meanders through this valley though you can’t see it from here. I have a few more images from this patio I’ll be sharing.

Our plan is to rent it out for a year or two then make the move over. Getting the house is Step One. We’re undecided if we’ll sell our house here or rent it out for a bit. I guess we’ll decide after we find out if we can handle being Landlords. It’s our first time being one. We hope it’s a positive experience.

When we left the house Friday knowing the Property Mgr is in control now to find a tenant we were very sad. Neither of us wanted to leave and come back to California. That’s what’s new with me. What’s new with you? What have I missed in the week I’ve been out of touch?

I’m a few days behind with reading your blogs, but I’ll catch up!

I hope you all have a lovely week!

Nikon D810| Nikkor 20mm f/1.8G| San Disk Digital Film| PS CC 2017

more to come…

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