Whatever Weds. A Coyote Tale

Copyright ©2026 Deborah M. Zajac. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

PLEASE DO NOT USE MY IMAGES WITHOUT EXPRESSED WRITTEN PERMISSION.

Saturday morning after I’d finished Wordle and Strands I shared my results with my sister. We trade results and talk about where we struggled or where we felt it was easy. We talked for a bit and then I got up to make a second cup of tea this was about 7A.M. I just caught out the corner of my eye out back a Coyote streaking by. I moved to the backdoor to see where it was going and here came another one streaking by following the first one! That was neat. I thought they were probably heading back to the den since the sun was up already.

Fast forward 50 minutes and when I looked up from reading there out at the edge of the golf course was a Coyote with its back to me gazing out across the flood plain. Oh! I raced to get my camera that was in my retreat. I wished as I was racing that it would still be there when I got back. It was!

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Coyote Gazing across the field.

As I opened the sliding glass door and screen it heard me and turned to see what the noise was. It soon realized I was no threat so turned its gaze back to the field. Above is exactly what I saw that had me run for my camera.

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Then I guess it decided there was nothing to worry about or going on so it laid down in the cold grass.

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I think my neighbor came out to look and as it seems to be looking that way rather than at me.

After a few minutes something caught its attention out in the field and it got up to look. I looked too. Oh! There out in the field further west was another Coyote! Perhaps these two were the two I had seen running by an hour before?

Here’s Number Two out in the field looking back at Number One. This is cropped in a bit.

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Next, Number One started making its way across the golf course closer to me! Curious perhaps or had it heard the birds?

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It kept coming closer then below me a Cooper’s Hawk swooped in low over the Sagebrush just behind my fence! The Sparrows and Quail all dove into the Sagebrush and got really quiet. The Hawk landed up on a branch in my neighbor’s tree. The Hawk was watching the approaching Coyote not the birds. I was watching them all.
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Cooper’s Hawk

Coyote Number One got to the bottom of the hill below me but, I couldn’t see him anymore. Then he started up the golf cart path headed east and soon was out of sight.

Number Two couldn’t see Number One I think, so came up to the edge of the course. It spotted me. Our eyes met. Then it turned to look east after its buddy, and off it went after it head down on the scent.

©Deborah M. Zajac | http//:circadianreflections.com Image

I watched it until it was out of sight then looked up and there out in the distance were 3 Hot Air Balloons rising. I hoped they’d float my way, but they never do. Prevailing winds tend to head east. This morning was no different they all floated east behind the mountains out into the great Nevada desert.

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I watched until the last balloon slid behind the mountains and out of view. It was my turn to turn away from the view. I went to get my forgotten cup of tea now cold then headed to the kitchen to make a fresh cup. Happy with the way my day started and counting my blessings. I was thinking how wonderful it is to have all this nature and wildlife here and I was very thankful to be home Saturday morning to see it all.

more to come…

Whatever Weds. Abstract Art in Nature

Copyright ©2026 Deborah M. Zajac. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

PLEASE DO NOT USE MY IMAGES WITHOUT EXPRESSED WRITTEN PERMISSION.

A couple of weeks ago I was birding with the group on a cold and icy morning. It was so icy I put on my spikes.

Part of the path we were on passes by an industrial complex and I found myself being distracted by the patterns in the ice in a parking lot.

©Deborah M. Zajac | http//:circadianreflections.com
I see a turtle with perhaps a Fibonacci circle on its shell.
©Deborah M. Zajac | http//:circadianreflections.com
I love all the circles like bubbles, and the swirl.

I’m birding with a friend this morning so I’ll be late getting to your blogs, and comments.

Happy Wednesday!

more to come…

Whatever Weds. Aurora’s Amethyst Sky

Copyright ©2026 Deborah M. Zajac. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

PLEASE DO NOT USE MY IMAGES WITHOUT EXPRESSED WRITTEN PERMISSION.

Monday I got an alert from my Aurora App that said it might possible to see the Aurora as low as Northern Nevada. There was a pretty large CME -solar flare on January 19th that I read about in Spaceweather and it mentioned the Aurora Borealis could be really good and perhaps wide spread. I was on a hike when my app pinged me Monday afternoon saying that it was looking good where I live to see some of the Aurora. When I got home I charged up my batteries, switched lenses, and got my gear ready. In the evening close to the peak KP index reading per my app I put on my thermals, coat, toe warmers, then gathered my hand heating pouch, tripod, gear bag, red headlamp, and walked out into the 35 degrees F night air. I headed down the street to photograph the sky over my neighbors ranch.

The stars were bright, and clear, and the air cold, and brisk. It was just me and a horse in the stall kicking and making that sound they make when the blow raspberries through their nose, and lips. I suspect it heard me and saw my red headlamp. Then it got really quiet.

The horse and I settled in for a bit. I set up my tripod, and camera then got my focus dialed in and made a few tests shots. Then I made this shot when it was supposed to be “peak KP index (6.67)” for my area.

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It was very light pinky purple with maybe a little green.

There’s light pollution from Carson City to the north.

Way out on the top of hills in the distance is a bright white light. That’s an ATV of some kind making its way to the top of the Pinenut Mountains. I wondered if they were going to a great view and maybe a darker sky?

I read the Aurora’s were spectacular in parts of Europe and some of the images I’ve seen are fantastic.

This Aurora wasn’t as strong as the one that we saw here in October 2024 see my post here , but anytime I get a ping saying maybe I’ll see an Aurora in No. Nevada I’ll be out with my camera.

Happy Mid Week Everyone!

more to come…

Whatever Weds. Coming to you from a Remote Location…

Copyright ©2025 Deborah M. Zajac. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

PLEASE DO NOT USE MY IMAGES WITHOUT EXPRESSED WRITTEN PERMISSION.

©Deborah M. Zajac | http//:circadianreflections.com
Legacy Couch T.V. Control Units

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Whatever Weds. Late afternoon Moon

Copyright ©2025 Deborah M. Zajac. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

PLEASE DO NOT USE MY IMAGES WITHOUT EXPRESSED WRITTEN PERMISSION.

I rarely photograph daytime Moons, but this one was almost true south and outside my window so had to go out and photograph it.

November 30, 2025. A Waxing Gibbous (74.8%) Moon.

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more to come…

Happy Thanksgiving!

Copyright ©2025 Deborah M. Zajac. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

PLEASE DO NOT USE MY IMAGES WITHOUT EXPRESSED WRITTEN PERMISSION.

I wish all those in the USA a Happy Thanksgiving and those living elsewhere a wonderful week and week-end.

Copyright © 2019 Deborah M. Zajac
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

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Whatever Weds. Happy Birthday Nevada!

Copyright ©2025 Deborah M. Zajac. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

PLEASE DO NOT USE MY IMAGES WITHOUT EXPRESSED WRITTEN PERMISSION.

October 31, 2025 was Nevada’s 161st year of Statehood. The celebrations started early in October with many events scheduled throughout the month leading up to the big Birthday Bash on November 1st.

November 1st started really early with Hot Air Balloonist rolling in at 6am to get their balloons ready for an 8AM lift-off. I was there.

I usually pick one balloon and stick with them until they lift off. This year I watched the crew that owns this balloon laying flat on the ground.

The crew pulled up to their spot on the street then they laid out a huge tarp, next they roll out the balloon. The crew is named Cloud Couture Crew. The Balloon’s name is Cloud Couture. It’s piloted by Eric Diamond.

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Next they hook up the basket, and gas, check all the lines, then they turn on a huge fan. See it next to the basket on the left? They use the fan to fill the balloon with air. The best part is when they have enough air in the balloon to start heating it up and lifting the balloon! Whoosh! It was warm standing here once they had the flame going.

©Deborah M. Zajac | http//:circadianreflections.com
That’s Officer Lorentzen from the Washoe County School Police department. He’s about to embark on his first hot air balloon ride.

By the way the balloon is piloted by his boss.

Now the balloon is just about ready to fly!

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Officer Lorentzen is invited on board as well as one more passenger, the owner- Delores Martinez. It’s almost Go Time!

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While they wait for 8AM and lift off the ground crew is holding onto the lines keeping the balloon from rising. Another crew member is on ground standing by to give the pilot directions with hand signals which way to maneuver the craft to miss trees, lamp posts and wires.

I turn my back on the crew a minute to see what’s happening behind me, and find Lift Off has begun!

©Deborah M. Zajac | http//:circadianreflections.com
This is looking north.

Let’s look back and see what’s happening behind the Cloud Couture Crew.

©Deborah M. Zajac | http//:circadianreflections.com
Looking south.

Did Officer Lorentzen and crew get off the ground?

©Deborah M. Zajac | http//:circadianreflections.com
Cloud Couture is airborne!

I waved good-bye and quietly wished them a great flight, and soft landing.

All in all I counted 18 balloons in the air, but I may have missed a couple.

My girlfriend and I went to breakfast and shed some layers before the parade started at 10AM as it was getting warm out.

Cloud Couture Crew-

Pilot-Eric Diamond

Owner-Delores Martinez

Crew Chief- Stephen Moore

Crew- Anthony, J-Bird, Alex, and Emma.

You can find them on Instagram at CloudCoutureNV

Cloud Couture, thank you for letting me and my camera hang out with you to see all it takes to get your beautiful hot air balloon off the ground!

Happy Wednesday!

more to come…