This guy!
Full service for all models of spiders!
If you are ever in Weaverville, California and your giant black widow breaks down, you can call this guy. He can tow and repair all makes and models of spiders. Only in Weaver-ville, as in orb-weaver-ville. Seriously, I don’t make this stuff up. You really can find anything on the interweb!
The girls and I are on the coast today. This is part of Humboldt Bay.
Waiting……
In his vigil, he sits on the tower waiting for his mate to return. He looks so lonely. He won’t work on the nest until she returns. Occasionally he leaves and comes back with a fish. Then, he sits and waits. He’s been here for five days waiting.
She is late….
On top of the tower with only an empty nest.
Bald Eagle
I bet you didn’t know it’s Eagle Week. The fact is that I didn’t either. It just turns out that it was for me anyhow. Here is how it came to be. One morning early in the week, I was driving by the boat ramp along the river when I spotted this huge bird. It was a juvenile bald eagle and it was scanning the river for breakfast. I took some pictures and went on my way.
A juvenile Bald Eagle. It is starting to white up on the face and tail.
The next day, while driving through the foothills West of the valley, I came around the corner and lo and behold another huge bird. This time it was a golden eagle. I don’t see the golden eagles nearly as often. So I stopped and took some pictures.
The Golden Eagle
Advance ahead to yesterday, I was up in far Northeastern California. I was passing through the Ash Creek Wildlife Area when I came upon this beauty, a mature bald eagle. I immediately stopped in the middle of the highway, since there is no place to pull off, to take some pictures. Fortunatly, it is a lonely road and I could see for miles in both directions.
The Bald Eagle.
Sitting high on the power pole it had a commanding view of its hunting grounds.
Up close and personal, and giving me the stink eye.
This eagle wasn’t here by accident. It was here for the enormous congregation of prey. The wildlife area was absolutely brimming with waterfowl.
Waterfowl congregating in huge numbers in the marsh.
It wasn’t until I started to leave that I realized that there was a pair of eagles. The second eagle was sitting on the very next power pole.
Bald Eagle number two. It think this one was a young bird. Note the dark smudge on its face.
So you see, it was Eagle Week. Who knew?
The Liebster Blog Award nomination came some time ago from my good blog friend Divya. Her wonderful blog is Divad’s Blog. Thank you Divya. She did a beautiful drawing of two of my golden retrievers, Artist’s Pets. It was so very touching.
I also received the Liebster Award from Flora’s Table. Thank you Flora. You are the hostess with the mostess.
Liebster Award Nomination-(modified) Rules are:
Those who get nominated must answer 5 questions asked by the person who nominated them… and tell 5 random facts about themselves. Then, each of them is supposed to pass on the award by nominating 5 blogs with under 200 followers and ask them 5 questions. I have over 200 followers now, but I’m way over do posting this.
5 Random facts about myself:
I am an optimist, no seriously.
I’m the youngest of 6 brothers.
I used to make ceramics (a long time ago.)
I share my french fries with my dogs (I don’t need all the fries.)
I really like working with the loggers. They are a great bunch of folks and they keep me entertained.
Answers to the questions asked by Divya:
1. What makes you happy? When Mary picks gold nuggets out of our sluice box.
2. Which is one country you’d love to visit? Australia, Iceland and South Africa, I know, that’s three.
3. What is your favorite quote? “Don’t live in regret”, by me.
4. Who is your hero? George Washington, a man of true character.
5. Which song do you hum the most? Mamas Don’t Let You Babies Grow Up To Be Cowboys, this week, but I sing it.
Questions from Flora (She had eleven questions):
1. What’s your dream job? I love what I do, so I’m not sure how to answer that.
2. Would you like to live somewhere else? If yes, where? Not yet…..
3. You would never… Be unfaithful.
4. What’s your next project? Which one? I will go with, illustrating my next children’s book.
5. Do you read before falling asleep? Not usually.
6. What’s your favorite form of art? Easy, watercolor….no wait pen and ink, now you’re just confusing me.
7. You are obsessed with… Not obsessed.
8. What’s on your list for Santa? I don’t do lists just ask my wife.
9. Do you play any musical instruments? I started learning harmonica years ago, but never became proficient.
10. What’s the best gift you have ever received? My grandchildren.
11. What’s your biggest regret? You can’t change the past, but that is not a regret just a fact.
Now for my 5 victims….I mean honored recipients:
Lightly Spiced Photography This is a wonderful young blog by an excellent photographer who also happens to be a witty writer. Check it out.
Poppytump Poppy I don’t know how many followers you have and I don’t care. I’m nominating you anyway. 🙂
Gunslinger Poet Christina does some of the most unusual poetry I have ever seen. She also live on top of a mountain in the Summer as a fire lookout and she is practically my neighbor. I think that’s pretty cool.
Kodiak My Little Grizzly This inspiring blog is by a Mom raising her deaf blind son, and his brother and sister. A touching view of her life.
Galeriaredelius Gunilla is a creator of some of the most unusual jewellery that I have seen. What she does is really cool, so check out her blog.
Now for my five questions:
There you have it! 
You want to know what happens at my house after dark. Check out Mary’s post, The Backdoor Artist, and you will see!
Early in the night, just after dark, a raccoon visited the turkey vulture nest tree. It climbed up the backside and over the top. Paused a moment at the cavity opening, then was on its way. I worried when I first saw the intruder, a nest raider for sure. I wondered if the vulture eggs would be safe down inside the tree cavity? Will this night bandit be back?
Related Posts
Turkey Vulture Rendezvous
Spying on the Vulture Nest
Vulture Turf Wars
They’re Back
Wings of Autumn
The almond orchards are blooming in the valley and the buttercups started blooming yesterday in our yard. Today, the long anticipated harbinger of Spring arrived when the first osprey was in the nest at the electrical tower by the mill. We are still watching for its mate to show. Spring is unofficially here!
The first osprey has returned to the nest.
This one looks a little cranky.
I wasn’t planning another post today, but I’ve been waiting for the ospreys. https://theforesterartist.com/2013/02/15/the-birds-of-spring/ Welcome back!
I see trouble on the way.
Appearing out of the mist was this large rusting hulk. A tree growing through its roof as it imperceptibly melts into the ground. These strange structures were once as common in the forested West as family owned bookstores, and like the bookstores they are slowly fading away. They have been replaced by newer and better technology. In a few decades most of these old relics will be gone. No longer a reminder of a past lifestyle. I suspect that most young folks won’t recognize it, but does anyone else?
Tree branches pour through it like smoke. How oddly appropriate the tree chose this as it’s home.
This just in. The sun is shining, the trees are green and the snow is fine.
Blitz signing off .
Whoop…..Whoop!
THE FORESTER ARTIST 