Enjoy The View

 As we say goodbye to 2025, may we pause for a minute to appreciate the view...

the view when looking back, for just a glance, before we turn our eyes towards 2026.

May we move into the New Year seeing not too far into the future, but allowing our eyes to rest in the present moment. 

Canyon Country Park, which we visited a couple of days ago has two main tiers, joined by a gentle, switchback path from one level to the next. Each level has lots of open grass and climbing equipment, which invites young children to play. In one of the grassy areas, a group of teens sat on a blanket, just hanging out. Memories of our teen years and the parks we visited back then were shared back and forth. The path has small training areas along the way. Things like a balance beam, bars for pull-ups, a space for push-ups and so on. Grand trees with bark that looked like bird feathers, fallen pine needles, carpeting with the scent of woods and benches to sit and enjoy the view. On this day, the wind was strong, almost blowing me over!

A strong wind makes for clear skies.

On the way home,  a drive up a canyon to see how much water was flowing. The last time we saw heavy rainwater flowing over this mountain highway, there was so much more. Even though there was not much water, there had been, there had been mud and debris and the road had been damaged...so the road past this point was closed. You can see why HERE!

How will you enjoy the view as the new year begins?

 

May you ring in 2026 with an open heart

May you ring in 2026 with small hopes

May you ring in 2026 with love for self

xo

Photos by NAE @pomegranatetrail ©2025

Lots of Photos

 

🌪  🌀  🌤   🌬

Morning drives this week were laden with fog. There were points I could barely see a half mile in front of me. The sun shrouded and glowing and headlights lit the way. It didn't help that there was also road construction and a closure, urging me to merge and watch my lanes closely and wind through a housing neighborhood, unfamiliar to me. It was a bit unsettling, especially after barely driving for 20 months.

The photo below looks like one of Dee or Deb's layered creations, yes? Instead it is a reflection captured in the windshield. Even in the thick fog, the city birds flew, swooped and landed in unison (roughly captured here).

~ Saturday ~

What a difference a day or so makes!

I have no idea what is reflected in my windshield below...perhaps a water bottle?

I was accompanied by amazingly delightful cloud shapes coming home. The fog finally cleared and the sun shone brightly through these white wonders. I love how the large one looks like a spine! 🦴 Bone clouds!

The second 'made for someone, but unable to gift it' bag went out into the community as a CMB on Sunday.

This recipient, like the last one, liked the idea of adding his to the CMB project.

He was very, very helpful to me recently by helping me get through some tech issues that I absolutely had to get through. Thank goodness he stepped forward to offer help, I really could not have completed what I needed to without him. I thought of the message below as I reflected on him.

We returned to Mentryville and I hung the bag very obviously on the sign near where you pay for parking.

There was a lot of action there today, so I'm really hoping someone noticed it.

I had to gently wedge it between the two parts of the sign, due the strong winds (note the blurry pic!).

🚗   🚕   🚙

Car radio music is often great on the weekends. There are programs dedicated to The Beatles, The Bob Dylan Hour (which we did not care for today as it was Dylan doing covers...I concluded by saying Dylan can do Dylan, not so much with others though!) and Tangled Roots, to name a few.

I listened to some of this program, hearing some of these songs while driving about taking care of things today. Some very fine music. With playlists like these, you can understand why I like this station. Plus, I've heard new to me music, that I really like, on this station over the years too.

I used to listen to Ann the Raven, while driving home from my sisters or from my friend's up north.

What excites me today is the fact that anyone who can go online can listen to this programing and more.

Isn't that amazing?

🥰 I'm listening now as I type ~ "Get Together" by The Youngbloods 🥰

Anyway, while driving to plant the CMB, the wind was so powerful, there were tumbleweeds and some sort of whirly-gig up on the power line pole. J.'s guess was that it was there to measure the wind through that part of the canyon, so the workers would know what tension to apply to the lines (we saw lots of bright blue rope where obviously work was being done). I never would have thought of that. For me, it is enough that it looks like a whirly-gig (as I love those) and has it's own 'contact' phone? and solar panel. Fascinating!

The Cottonwoods were shimmering in the windy sun.

I never tire of this.

Just now, as typing that last sentence, it came to me that the things that speak to your authentic self, always do...you never tire of them...certain sights or scents or folks, they are a part of you. I sit here thinking and figure I could name one of these authentic things for each of you too.  Right now, I am truly grateful for this thought, for the things that are real, for each of you...and those for me too.

The crows were out in force today. They love the wind. I know this because on windy days there are so many more crows out and about, flying and frolic-dancing in the currents. Perhaps this is one of their authentic things?! In the two photos above, they came to perch, just for a moment, before taking off again...one after the other.

🍁 The leaves did some dancing of their own! For some moments, the large, crunchy leaves were free-falling and coming straight at me, like some surreal amusement park ride. It was hard to capture those moments, but you can imagine. Woosh! 🍁

I'll end with some humor and a good idea!

First off, I wondered what part of these shoes WERE NOT vegan in the past? Boy, oh boy...jumping on the bandwagon with both feet on this one! I saw this tag a lot!

Secondly, I saw this tip from someone's Granma on my niece's twitter feed. What a clever idea! Perhaps I could create neat seams like Liz's if I did this!! 😉

May you hug the meaning

May you double over with the humor

May you skitter, dance, fall and do it all again

xo

All photos NAE @pomegranate trail ©2021

Brian Reed - The Craft Of Storytelling

Today, I heard Dee's wind

Tonight, I've been listening to mine

It's strong and loud and constant

It whistles down the corridor 

It whooshes

It swishes

It roars

I lay completely still in the blackened bedroom,window open to the night air.

I couldn't not listen if I wanted to, which I don't.

I'm mesmerized.

In my shut eyes, I don't see these trees in the wind outside my walls,

but, I instead see "my trees" from the duplex, where I last lived.

My trees, five on a property line

rugged in their age and wildness 

home to Hawks and my heart

Not these trees, also old and tall,

but hugging the sides of a city buildings

Then I hear the clanging metal clunk
of something blown over
I'm distracted away from trees in the wind
as I try to sort out what it could have been.

The machine begins upstairs once again
as I try to 'mind over matter' back to a place of relaxation,
and hopefully, sleep!

I consider the multitudes of tiny house videos I've watched on YouTube
I put myself in my own mental tiny house loft,
where the trees in the wind
are visible from my skylight
I always wanted a skylight over my bed

At last, I give in and come here,
to write and record
until sleep will come.

Below is an interesting listen on storytelling, which made me want to have a story to tell, instead of the midnight ramblings of a sick and sleepless old woman during a pandemic
Also, the language link, where we can imagine what our own languages may become while home self-distancing
May may you be well, entertained and able to love the trees and wind
xo

language

Little Things Mean A Lot

I'm finding it interesting how folks react to

being at home

What folks find to do, how they feel...

you know.

Personally, I like being home and find things to

not only keep me busy, 

but to entertain, teach, comfort, connect and remind me

of who I am, what and who I love

and just how special our world is.

It is breezy here today, which is mostly lovely,

but hard on my asthma.

I experimented with taking a little video on the ipad from the porch.

Please excuse my lack of skill and raspy breathing!

I hope it plays and has sound.

We have the most beautiful songbirds, many crows and sometimes

a hawk!

If this works, I'll try to capture some of that.

Yesterday I noticed it was Huell Howser time on our local PBS station.
As I sat watching him explore old barns in Oxnard, CA...
I thought well now, I've don't recall posting a Huell video here!
I may have, but I don't recall.

Did I post the very old photo from when I met him for a brief moment?
A brief moment to capture a photograph and create a lifelong memory

Anyway, instead of the barn segment I was watching,
I thought I'd share an old favorite about the "Lint Lady",
so I searched and found the one below. What was amazing was,
I had only seen and remembered the first portion shown, the original episode.
Here though, in this follow-up video, filmed some 20 years later,
the story goes deeper and becomes so much more real,
more nuanced, important and human.
What a remembered as a short bit on a quirky artitst
is really so much more.

It led me to think, isn't that the truth about all of us?
Aren't we discovering our own deeper stories as
we shelter at home, allowing so much more time for an inner life?
This video is a longer that the songs I've been sharing,
but well worth it in my opinion.
We have the time for more than a two minute sound bite, right?
I know I do.

  

May we find new within the old
May we find ourselves within the whole
May we shine!
xo

Stay Safe ~ Wash Your hands

Photographs/videos by NAE ©2020

New Day ~ New Fire

Monday morning

Fire burns in many places

Now in a major pass, from Sunset towards the coast

My sister on the edge of the yellow - standby area

Winds towards the ocean, as of now

As of now 400 acres, several homes burned

Our firefighters are amazing and exhausted

Resources being moved and used

Whatever you believe in doing

wishes, prayers, positive thoughts and energy...

Please do it!

I'm already so tired of the phrase "new normal"

Tired of the worry and stress level for those I love or don't even know

CALIFORNIA needs a break

On the Wind

I went out late this afternoon to run a couple of errands.

Stepping out after most of the weekend being in,

was a delightful surprise.

It was only 69 degrees, winds were slight and there was some moisture in the air.

The back power tree was positively  filled with tiny (finch?) songbirds,

singing to their hearts content!

I have never, ever heard so many at once!

I tried to get photos, but it was tricky.

Here is my offering of the moment.

You'll have to also use your imagination.

 ~ AS ALWAYS CLICK ON PHOTOS TO ENLARGE ~

 These power lines are reason for concern these days.

But, what can we do?

 Way at the top, every tiny dot ~ a singing bird!

So many of them!

 The view headed back home.

The clouds to the right, so refreshing.

Those clouds and the view straight ahead, 

where the fire lives.

 You can imagine why it is that I miss a view of Sky these days.

I'm a big sky kind of gal.

I need it.

 The moisture is due to disappear again this week.

Leaving us with wind.

I certainly enjoyed the change today.

⟲     ⟳ 

 As I prepared to write this post, almost an hour ago,

the winds had picked up again. 

Loud and concerning.

26 mile per hour, sustained as of now.

Picking up during the night.

Each siren heard, alarming.

I tell myself that there are many kinds of emergencies,

many not connected to flames at all.

 ⟲     ⟳ 

A friend up North is hanging out in hotel where there is power.

A new week.

To be continued.

⟲     ⟳ 

May your week bring you all you need

food, water, housing, power

and security

xo
Photographs by NAE ©2019

The Next Hike

This hike is from last weekend.  I'm still compelled to 'catch up'...I have so many things to share!
This was a hike to see if there were any of the fat-round acorns to collect.  While at Ojai Day, I had heard that the season was 'late' this year and many acorns were still in the trees.  So I went looking.  I didn't find any.  The guy was right, squirrels and birds beat us to it.  I did get to enjoy being outdoors though, so all was not lost.
This area is across the valley from the previous hike.  It is right off a major freeway too.  One time, a few years back, we hiked to the very top of one of the mountains on the trail.  It was a very hard hike, filled with switchbacks.  I kept thinking we were almost there, ready to wrap around the mountain...when the trail would lead up some more!!  I was not in the best shape (much heavier back then) and I was quite excited to get to the top!  Then to only make it back down again.  Oh my!
While we stood on the top of the mountain, looking around and being amazed at how high up we were, three turkey vultures began to circle right over our heads...and I mean RIGHT ABOVE our heads.   I kept telling them, "Wait, I'm not dead yet!!"  I didn't stick around too long up there!

Anyway, last weekend I was alone on my hike.  I have to admit that I am always a bit wary when alone or out of eyesight of the guy as these hills have rattle snakes, mountain lions and coyotes among other wildlife.  The coyotes are OK by me, but the others...well, I don't want to meet them out there alone.  I met a couple coming back out as I was heading in and they told me they had seen a bear cub, but didn't stick around to meet it's mother!!
Needless to say, I didn't hike too far in!  I was inspired to think of Valerianna of RavenWood Forest and how brave she is as she wanders her woods!!

Do you see him? (Click on photo to enlarge)

I almost missed getting the picture as he ambled up the hill.  This is the very beginning of the trail, so I was surprised to see him so close to the road.

The trail in...and later back out!

 The sunlight was dancing on the trees.

A light sprinkling of fall was evident.

Moss and dryness residing together

Trees & a flag lined up on the ridge

Eco-dyed leaf!

Paused to listen to the wind in the trees.

(((sigh)))

Then paused to hear the song of the woodpecker

Every time I've been here, this gate stands open.

I like that.

It's nice to know we're always welcome.

Thank you for hiking along with me again.

PS I hope the video plays, this is rather new for me!

Photos by NAE @pomegranatetrail ©2013