Submitted by Keith Sauer – We’re back from three days in Yosemite with the Oakmont Hiking group. Perfect weather and great scenery. We saw some bears on the trail but too far to photograph. One group saw a bobcat. After a long five-hour drive, I led the hike to Sentinel Dome and Taft Point with the help of a pain ...
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The Gardens of Alcatraz
Cold, grey, foggy, grim, yes, but thanks to volunteer gardeners, Alcatraz Island is awash in color. Pat and I braved the Highway 101 traffic and toured the island. If you like flowers, this is the time to go. On Wednesday afternoons there are docents in the Officers’ Row gardens who are happy to talk to you.
Read More »The Wild Blue Yonder
Well now I’m photographing dog shows, air shows, concerts, plays, etc. instead of mountains and wildlife. The Oakmont News often sends me out on assignments. They put the photos up on their web site and in the bimonthly newspaper. No pay of course but I’ve been meeting interesting folks this way, like a friend who has published 22 books, mostly ...
Read More »Homemaking 101
Outside our North Fork home. How to raise a family. Mr. bluebird is looking good. (Apologies for anthropomorphizing. Can’t resist)
Read More »Now That's A Nature Photographer!
Keith Sauer was our first contributor on SierraNewsOnline. His ability to be in the right place at the right time continues to amaze. Keith’s advice for budding photogs – “The first rule of nature photography is ‘be there.’ This scene happened minutes ago…” Check out the end of this encounter between baby deer and squirrel.
Read More »Today In The Back Yard
Well, the rabbit ran off, the ravens dive bombed the squirrel and chased off the vultures, the finches chased off the chestnut backed chickadees, I didn’t even bother with the fawn and doe who live on the side of the house, but this morning at 6:30 when the quail was making a ruckus I snuck out and saw this pileated ...
Read More »Balloons Over Windsor
I got up at 3:15 this morning to drive to the balloon festival in nearby Windsor. At 5:00, in the dark, five of them lit up and took off.
Read More »Sturgeon's Mill
I took a little outing to an old mill in the forest near Sebastopol today. It only operates about three times a year, by old timer volunteers. I just glanced at the names on this photo list and did a nostalgia trip. So many old friends I haven’t seen in such a long time
Read More »Point Reyes National Seashore
It’s a beautiful drive from charming Victorian Petaluma to spectacular Point Reyes National Seashore, a great way to spend Easter on a glorious day. I picked today to try out my new hiking camera (Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS200), but forgot to put a battery in it. Fortunately I brought the Nikon along. We loved our former mountain area but Northern California ...
Read More »Funky Sebastopol
Florence Street in Sebastopol, my kind of town. Just a few miles and has lots going for it, including great wetland preserve trails, the Luthor Burbank Experimental Gardens, a great park, good food, interesting old homes, and a huge farmers’ market.
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