{this moment}

{this moment}

McCarren Ranch

 As a family this past weekend we participated in a Project Learning Tree/Sierra Nevada Journey outdoor education event. We went out to the McCarren Ranch which was rehabilitated by the Nature Conservancy. The before and after pictures are amazing, this is a beautiful oasis in a barren part of our area.

 There were a few other families which always make for a better adventure! This was when Jake was still keeping to the rocks instead of chest deep in the water fully clothed!

 Jen (our facilitator and a good friend) brought a great range of tool for our exploration. Leili enjoyed these dollar store strainers and the tweezers the most!

 Crawdads, mayfly larva, leaches, and many other creepy crawlies were explored!

We also had a great time learning about erosion and the kids got to experiment with that!

 Not only was there our river to explore but a great little pond with the life that that brings to an area.

 Then came the soil tests, the kids loved doing this feeling like real scientists doing lab tests in the field. Like Jenn pointed out, these soil test are just the inexpensive ones you can get at a garden center/plant nursery but they are a great learning tool.

 And the highlight! The boys caught the coveted toad! A California Toad to be exact! We also got to see a King Fisher dive into the river for dinner and a Brush Rabbit dart into the sage brush.

A friend recently blogged about their hike at McCarren Ranch too! She found a great video about the work that went into restoring this part of the river.

Why Not!!

Spring is in the valley! Which means it might snow tomorrow! So we'll enjoy it while we can!

I've been absent from this place. I think because sometimes time is the only healer. Nearly 7 years ago we moved to the yard of my dreams, salamanders, hawks, woodchucks, jack-in-the-pulpits, skunk weed and so this blog was born. Then painfully I had to leave my peaceful place. I found beauty in my new surroundings but it was painful to come here. So I left. But while I was gone I fell in love with this place. Not my yard. But here. And maybe just maybe I will tip toe back into this space. There is so much beauty to show you...

Spring is in the Air!

Just ask the birds! We have a very popular yard with really big, juicy worms!

Lake Tahoe

Although down here in the valley we are snowless there was plenty going over Mt. Rose summit! I was so surprised to see how blue the lake is!
There is some sandy beach but we mostly found rocky beaches (we did not want to $$$)!

The water was beautiful!

In amongst the brown of early spring the moss was beautiful!

And the litchen was neon!!

Shudder...

Western Black Widow