Every week, they head up the short canyon towards Mentryville. It has become a nature drive ritual. They roll down the windows and let the scents carry them far away from their daily life, the city, the events of the world. For weeks she has coveted this large log, oak they think. She dreams of her old home and front porch or small patio as the perfect place for this end table. It's beautiful. The purple thistle calls to them, especially now that the lupines and poppies have disappeared. Mustard is noticed everywhere. Over the bridge that crosses the little stream...down the length of the small parking lot - pausing to sit at the wilderness end, with a path that leads to who knows where...and back again. Down the narrow road, past the cottonwoods, the wild tobacco, the walnut trees. Her eyes fall to the wildness, to the edge of the mountains and their rough rocks...her eyes leap over the construction of a new housing development, looking instead to the skies, searching for hawks. We can find the goodness if we look in the right places.
We have kinda run out of free "Brokenwood" you tube videos to watch, as we've seen all of those that are currently available. So, we are back to "Sidetrack Adventures". Hi Steve.
Searching for the Quietest Place in California
LINK 33:29 minutes
While out running errands, I noticed that the Circus is in town! Oh, how many years it has been since I went to a circus. I think my children were 3 and 6 at the time and they still used elephants in the act. From what I read online, this one is all tricks, no animals and I am grateful for that. I'm so glad some things have changed. When the 3 of us did go to that old circus, I took them up the day before to watch them raise the tent. They had advertised this event, inviting the community to come and witness it. It was hot and a very, very slow process. The kids and those of my friend who went with us, fidgeted, sitting in the dusty dry dirt. Not exactly the thrill I thought it would be, but an experience nonetheless.
I passed by the new Yard House restaurant where a large group of new employees were lined up to go in. Their line reached the whole length of the building and then some. There all were in their all black outfits, chatting and preparing for something new. I could feel their excitement a parking lot away in my car with the windows up! haha I immediately felt happy for them, as it is hard for folks to get jobs these days and there they all were, so many of them! I tried to steer away from the assumption that there was so many new employees so they can have them work part time and not pay benefits for them, but I obviously was not successful in that. Anyway, good for them!
Back at the bridge, 5 lizards between the car and the bridge (where we usually only see one maybe). One had been hit on the bike path. We've noticed that they have not been skittering away quickly on our past few visits. The ones on the bridge have practically refused to move, digging in their little lizard heels. as J. tries to encourage them out of harms way. Oh you lizards you. As I sat on a rock in the rock circle, I noticed the orange butterfly, or "an" orange butterfly flying in the same place, near the same flowers as yesterday. How curious.
There were great clouds rolling in over the mountains from the north. I love seeing this. We are supposed to get some rain Sunday morning after two partly cloudy days.
The crows were not home, but Owly was. I wonder if Owls recognize certain faces the way crows do. Ya know that old experiment with the mask and the crows? Yeah. I talk to her and tell her I won't hurt her, that I love her. She sits up there staring me down with pure 'stink eye' expression on her broad face. I hope stink eye does not mean I am stressing her out. The dangling feather was gone.
I saw a young woman arrive with her big, zoom lens camera. I told her about the owl and she tried to get a photo. Later as we were walking towards leaving, very slowly that is, she told me that her camera does not zoom as well as she thought it would. This was valuable information for me, as I sometimes wish for a camera that could capture what my eyes see. I'm not looking to spend money for that...not looking to embrace a learning curve for that...not looking to carry around the actual weight of that...but sometimes I dream whrn I am not thinking 'good enough' about my wacky wildlife photos.
Anyway, I shared other information about what she may see at the bridge and other places she could hike out here & where to find information about that. She repeated my words as if making a mental note. Ambassador to the trails, that's me. I figure I am able to share what I've learned over time, even if my pace has slowed. She works at a local pizza place. Maybe J. wants pizza for his birthday? heehee
I wonder if the river will flow all year long again in 2026? The fallen tree with its root ball is not even near the water today.
What kind of weather excites you?
May you float with the clouds
May you flit with the butterflies
May you and be still with the lizards and owls
Photos by NAE @pomegranatetrail ©2026
