Whatever Weds. The Tahoe Rim Trail

Copyright ©2019 Deborah M. Zajac. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

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…

 

 

 

 

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Thursday Doors: Nº3555

Copyright ©2019 Deborah M. Zajac. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

The sunset colors were stunning the other night and luckily He-Man and I were out for an evening walk in the neighborhood when I admired not for the first time this lovely corner green door with a wreath and the gorgeous sky above it. I had to snap a photo for Thursday Doors!

Green Door

This is part of Norm Frampton’s Thursday Doors series.  Click the link to add your own Door find and check out some other participants doors from all over our planet.

iPhone 7 Plus| PS CC 2019

more to come…

 

 

Whatever Weds. This and That

Copyright © 2019 Deborah M. Zajac.  ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

I thought I’d share several images I’ve made in the last few weeks and have been working on to share.

Golden Hour over the 13th Fairway, the Eastern Sierras, and the marsh as seen looking southwest from my patio.

Golden Hour on the Eastern Sierras and Neighborhood

A new bird for me! A Rough-winged Swallow with lunch.  If I have not made the correct ID for this one please let me know!

Roughed-winged Swallow with Lunch

Last Friday a friend came up for a Doctor’s appointment and spent the night, but after her appointment, we went out exploring my area looking for some Nevada Wild Mustangs; we had Lady Luck with us b/c we found a small band!  Doing a little research we discovered that this  Black/Blue Stallion is called Zorro.

Zorro

Here’s one of Zorro’s band members with some Hitchhikers.

Wild Mustang with Birds out for a ride

I’m looking forward to getting to know the Wild Mustangs of Nevada and this band.

To close out this week’s post I’ll share a sunset from last week. This was made while I was on my patio.

Sunset from my Patio

 

I hope you’re all having a great week so far, and as they say out here in the Valley, let’s get our Hump Day Dance on and bump those hips! 😂

Nikon D810| Nikkor 200-500mm and Nikkor 50mm| Lexar and Hoodman Digital Film| PS CC 2019

more to come…

One-Liner Wednesday: Zippers

Copyright ©2019 Deborah M. Zajac. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

 

Open Zipper on Blue Jeans

#1 Grandson spent last week with He-Man and I and while here he got to see two of his cousins, and his Paternal Grandparents that he hasn’t seen in a while. We took them all to an indoor play park here in town and I noticed his fly was open and asked him to zip it up. He belted out nearly at the top of his voice this reply,

“Hey, it’s free air-conditioning!”  He was so proud of himself and his answer. He thought it was hilarious. 😂😂😂  Okay, it was cute and very unexpected!

I did get him to zip it up, but it took a couple requests; 6-year-olds! 🤷‍♀️

This post is part of LindaGHill’s One-Liner Wednesday weekly series. Click here to see all the entries, or join in if you have a One-Liner to share.

2019-20-1linerweds-badge

Nikon D810| Nikkor 50mm f/1.8G| Hoodman STEEL Digital Film| PS CC 2019

more to come…

Whatever Wednesday- Storm Clouds over Job’s Peak

Copyright © Deborah M. Zajac ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

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

Copyright ©2019 Deborah M. Zajac. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

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.

Copyright ©2019 Deborah M. Zajac. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

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…