Castle Crags, taken last week. I used to rock climb here with my brother and friends when I was younger, much younger.
It’s situated next to the Upper Sacramento River north of Northern California (Jefferson).
Castle Crags
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Monthly Archives: February 2017
Wild Wednesday … Spring Teaser!
The buttercups started blooming a little over a week ago. When they arrive it means Spring is beginning to tease us here.
But winter is still trying to wash California away. Here are some pictures of the Sacramento River in the Northern California.
Looking across the Sacramento River at Balls Ferry.
Jelly’s Ferry bridge in the high water. The river bank is normally out past the beginning of the first steel arch.
The river is wide. Looking across the Sacramento River in northern Tehama County.
Finally, I was able to get out in the woods yesterday and enjoy a little sunshine!
Photobomb Friday!
Leave it to Bliss to try to steal the scene!
Bliss and Phanny photobombed a puppy photo shoot. On the Hunt
We had some fun with the dogs yesterday!
Yesterday we celebrated three years with Sailor with a nice pheasant hunt. He was joined by Bliss and Phanny. Tasha stayed home with the puppies. We’ll have to make it up to her.
Auction Results … HOLY CRAP!
The Sierra Cascade Logging Conference is all over, but for the clean up. The Forestry Education Fund Auction was last night and it was a booming success. The final result of the entire fund-raiser was north of $100,000. Now if you’ve been following our blogs, you know that Mary (Sneaking Bliss) and I provide original art, which is bid in a competitive way. Both pieces of art are on the auction block together. The winning bidder gets to pick the painting of their choice and then bidding begins anew on the second place painting.
Here’s how things went down. Our paintings were items 18 and 19. This is a great place to be on the schedule, the early middle. There were fifty items to auction. Everyone was still there with plenty of money left for bidding. When our turn came they asked us to come up front and say a few words, but this auctioneer was a total pro. I didn’t have a chance to needle Mary with my witty comments when the auctioneer jumped right in and was talking so fast I could hardly keep up. The first bid opened at $1,000. This was a great start! Within seconds it shot up over $4,000. As it went above $5,000 things really got serious. A new bidder jumped in and one bidder got out. Then another dropped out and it looked like we had reached the end. Suddenly, the last bidder to drop out decide he wasn’t done and the bidding took off again. As it shot up to $7,000 then $8,000 I leaned behind the auctioneer and looked at Mary and she look at me with “what is happening here” looks on our faces. The auctioneer finally yelled “SOLD” and the bidding was done. One of our paintings just sold for $10,000! I was floored.
Now the moment of truth. The winner came up to claim his prize. We waited to see which painting it would be. Do you think he agonized over which painting to choose? Heck no! He beelined straight to Mary’s painting and snatched it off the display like he was rescuing a baby from a fire. Mary’s painting brought in $10,000 in support of forestry education! It was an amazing moment.
Off Highway Hauler, the winning $10,000 painting by Mary A Livingston.
At this point my painting was back into the bidding and the auctioneer began searching for a new price. Long story short it fetched $5,000. Don’t get me wrong, this was a fantastic price. Higher than I’d seen before, but … she crushed me! Mary absolutely annihilated me! Together our art brought in $15,000. We were thrilled at its success and what it meant for the education fund.
The Fellers, the loser painting…
Tonight I’m going to relax, lick my wounds and have a toast with my favorite competitor. Tomorrow will be soon enough to start thinking about redemption for next year. Congratulations Mary, you are an amazing artist!
“The Fellers”
Here it is folks, the final! It took me a bit longer to post because we were crazy busy, but it’s ready to go.
The Fellers
Tomorrow night it will be auctioned to raise money for the Sierra-Cascade Environmental and Resource Fund. This non-profit educates the public, students, and teachers about the wise management of our forests.They provide scholarships for local students interested in careers in the industry. Many of the programs supported are aimed at educating the urban regions of California, about practices that assure the health of our forests.
My painting will be auctioned in competition with Mary’s Painting. She also created a painting and you can see it here, Off-Highway Hauler. During the auction folks will be bidding on both paintings at once. The high bidder gets to pick the painting they want. The other is offered to the second place bidder who can take it or pass on it. Then it goes back to bidding. I beat her last year and now she’s back looking to take me down!
The Fellers … WIP
Just a quick update on the painting for the auction. I’ll have it wrapped up tonight to make it into the auction catalogue. Here’s my progress.
I’ll be back here tomorrow with the finished product. Now back to work!
Wild Wednesday … Green Heron
A green heron is one of our less common residents around the mill.
THE FORESTER ARTIST 