#NorCalWinter

Berner Dad for EquALLityMsAnthropist@sfba.social
2024-03-18

Enjoy your last day of winter, and this #fritillaria Lap dog provided for scale. #bernese #Berner #BerneseMountainDog #dogsofmastodon #mendocinocounty #norcalwinter

2024-02-15

Managed a walk between rain showers today, just around the neighbourhood.

The City shrouded in a very dragonish mist, with Sutro Tower very faintly visible.Another view of the hills and the fog/mist/cloud.  Not quite raining, but definitely threatening.
2024-02-14

I've been away for a few days; life got a little complicated. If you know me offline you're welcome to ask for details by any of the usual methods. I was mostly able to walk, but lacked the spoons to pick out photos to post and link up. So here's my neighbourhood walk for today.

Small puffy cloud dragons hanging around above the locate "mountain" (really more like a big hill.)Cloud dragons and some of the local evergreens, doing their daily wind dance.
2024-02-10

A little shorter than usual today; it was brisk out and I got started late. But the photos were still pretty good; Old Sol was painting the clouds orange in signature style.

The big ball of plasma taunting the cloud dragons on the horizon.  The game of Hide the Shiny Thing is on!Sol itself is no longer visible, but th eorange is all over the sky; very difficult to hide.The orange makes a lovely contrast with the dark blue waves below.And we close with hte traditional four elements: fire, air, water, earth.  Thanks to all of you for the warmth and beauty of this day.
2024-02-09

I have spent entirely too much of this week away from home due to power outages and stormy weather. I have mostly managed to get daily steps, but my routine was significantly disrupted. So today I took an extra-long walk at one of my favourite beach spots, and took as long as I needed to get the photos I wanted.

The water was calm and soothing and lovely today, and the blue almost matched the sky.  So different from the rainy grey of the past few days.Old Sol was hiding out behind the rocks today, but the orange dusk-glow was still there.  I love the way it highlights the village just before sunset.I have seen more rainbows in the last week than I think I have in tghe past couple of years.  I am choosingf to take this as a good omen; heaven knows we can use all the good omens we can get.
2024-02-02

The weather dragons are seriously indecisive today. Sunshowers! Cold rain! Blue skies! Big splashy waves! No wind at all! But I'm glad I got the walk in now, before things get colder and wetter.

Big Shiny Thing up in the sky,  just daring the cloud dragons to try to hide it.Dragon ambush!  Quick, hide the shiny thing!Old Sol turns orange, determined to glow in spite of the cloud dragons' best efforts.
2024-01-30

Taking in the sunset tonight with a friend who had a rough weekend. We've got to take care of each other; it's the only way we get through.

Fully a half hour before sunset, the orange glow appeared on the horizon and persisted for the next hour or so.Cloud dragons doing an exceptional job of Hiding the Shiny Thing.Old Sol doing one of its Eye of Sauron impressions, with some assistance from the local cloud dragons.  The view is just breathtaking.
2024-01-29

It was a glorious warm evening down at the usual walking spot. Dogs frolicking, people smiling, no sign of imminent rain, just enough breeze to keep the air fresh. And I was lucky enough to get some photos I am really, really pleased with.

A grand opening, with many swirly puffy clouds in a bright blue sky, with darker blue water down below.Old Sol doing its shiny-fiery thing.  What looks like a cloud quilt up above, and a few people on the beach below.The floor-and-celing effect here makes me think of those swooping shots of high-speed maneuvering where the top and bottom of the frame are intentionally blocked off.This one also looks like something out of a matte painting for a science fiction landscape.  Pale orange afterglow and rocks in the ocean in the foreground.
2024-01-28

Nice leisurely walk along my usual beach: lots of friendly dogs, and enough friendly people. Many clouds at the horizon, but enough sunshine/glow to make some pretty fabulous photos possible.

Some of my favourite rocks, with lovely orange skyglow behind them.  No Shiny Thing immediately visible, but it's clearly there behind the scenes.Here Old Sol is a little more directly visible, and the blue colour of the ocean is clearer.The afterglow was fierce tonight, cloud-painting and just enough breeze to keep things moving.
2024-01-27

The cloud-painting was pretty much out of this world tonight; I set out a little early, and went slower than usual, trying to be steady and serene. I think I mostly succeeded, and it shows in the photos.

There was a little show from our Esteemed Shiny Thing; golden rays well before sundown, shining over the fluffy clouds to warm us all.Once Old Sol got closer to the horizon, the white clouds and blue waves started to assert themselves a bit more.I love the blending of colours in this photo, all four classical elements with the colours in remarkably smooth transitions.
2024-01-26

It often looks colder outside than it is; in this case, the sun was already going down, so I figured a sweatshirt and the windbreaker were probably called for. I should have opted for a t-shirt under the jacket -- with no wind, it was warm enough for short sleeves.

Just the beginning of dusk; lots of ambient light and a whitish pale-blue sky.The cloud-painting tonight was a study in blues and whites with the occasional suggestion of Old Sol's orange.The cloud dragons were having a grand old swirly time of it tonight, dancing and celebrating their success at the day's game of hide-the-shiny-thing.No, this is not a publicity shot from Doctor Who.  Just the last remaining trace of afterglow, Old Sol having dropped below the horizon a while ago.
2024-01-25

Did completely without the windbreaker tonight; there was a little breeze out, but not enough to be uncomfortable. Cloud dragons were almost completely successful at hide-the-shiny-thing; the most I saw was occasional patches of blue sky with orange streaks behind the grey clouds -- no big ball of plasma at all. But it felt good to walk, and stretch, and greet my neighbours and their dogs.

Old Sol may not have been directly visible, but it was still doing a bit of cloud-painting.  This was a lovely setup for dusk and twilight.The waves were quite soothing; not a lot of splashiness or chop.  The contrast wuth the almost-black sand of the beach is always striking.This came out almost abstract; it was difficult to capture the last of the colour in the clouds.  See you tomorrow, Old Sol.Blue and cool and comforting, with a few lights against the onset of dusk.  Thank you for the warmth and beauty of this day.  We hold hands when we can, and we try very hard not to leave anyone behind.
2024-01-24

Went out early and was successful at not getting rained on, although the overcast was pretty fierce. Not much of a breeze, though, and again I ditched the windbreaker in the first ten minutes. Not a lot of people out; what a childhood friend of mine would have called "tourist-proof weather."

The water was very green today, as opposed to the usual blue.  Combination of refraction and temperature, I suspect.One of these days I'll go up into the village and walk around for a while again.  Beach is flatter, though ... but the village makes pretty pictures.
2024-01-23

Surprisingly warm and not raining out at the beach; we've had steady pouring rain over the weekend, and the cloud dragons are still looking pretty fierce overhead. But I ditched the windbreaker after less than ten minutes, and the flags were barely waving at all. So the walk was cool enough that I wasn't drenched in sweat, but warm enough to keep the blood flowing.

The cloud dragons have clearly set up their strategic positions at the horizon, letting Old Sol get in some shiny-thing antics early, but planning the ambush for just before sundown. Rocks and afterglow, two of my favourite things.  No matter how many times I take variations on this shot, it always comes out like a pretty postcard.  If I were ever to make a book of these photos, this is a likely candidate for the cover.Moon among the high-flying cloud dragons; they haven't decided to hide her completely, yet.
2024-01-19

Much better walking weather today; just on the verge of too warm with the windbreaker. Cloud dragons and Old Sol were engaged in a vigourous game of hide-the-shiny-thing; the dragons were winning but they were getting painted pretty often with streaks of gold and silver. All in all, very enjoyable to watch.

Just a glimmer of a spot for Old Sol to shine through, with silvery waves below.Not so much Eye of Sauron as just a very mellow dusk into twilight.The cloud dragons did not escape Old Sol's cloud-painting, but I don't really think it was that much of a hardship.  Certainly it was pretty to photograph.The waves doing their thing; lovely soothing sounds and just the right temperature for a little splashing.
2024-01-18

Late and short tonight, but I got the steps in, and saw some lovely afterglow, even though I missed the main event.

Orange afterglow above a dark blue sea, with yellow/white/pale blue sky over all of it.Rocks in the twilight afterglow, with gentle waves lapping around them.The moon was brilliant and lovely tonight, the night air crisp and just on the edge of cold.
2024-01-10

Walk was a little early today; it rained hard this morning and it's forecast to rain some more after sunset, so I took advantage of a break in the weather to put on my boots and stomp around. I feel a little less Godzilla-like now.

Lots of chop in the water today, as you might expect with the storms this morning.  Whitecaps and crashy waves, it's all very dramatic.There is just a sliver of blue out there, potentially enough for a Shiny Thing to glow through, if its trajectory is correct.  We'll see how it goes.Another of my favourite rocks, shot from a different side than my usual.  The rock is unimpressed by either the game of hide-the-shiny-thing or the bluster of the storm.Ah, there's a shiny thing back there.  But the cloud dragons are doing an excellent job of hiding it.  Well done, dragons.
2024-01-10

Wow, the wind was up this afternoon; there's an old Canadian saying, "Walking to school uphill and against the wind both ways." I was grateful for the windbreaker and the wool mittens that a friend lovingly knitted for me a few years back.

Old Sol the Shiny Thing looking imperious and fiery -- less orange and more yellow this afternoon.  The water was a wonderfully placid blue tonight, and the waves were just as soothing as they always are.Good night, Old Sol.  Thank you for the light and warmth of this day.Shiny Thing successfully hidden!  Cloud dragon sneak attack.  Lurking at the horizon seems to be a good strategy for them.
2024-01-09

Slightly different spot tonight, on the other side of the village: Walking the reverse of my usual path, but plenty of friendly dogs and the occasional friendly human. A few photos didn't come out the way I wanted, but I got a couple I'm quite proud of.

As is traditional, we open with Old Sol being mighty and shiny and bright.  The water is also exceptionally blue tonight.Waves much calmer than last week; no crashy-splashy-sneaky stuff.  And their soothing magic is very much intact.Getting more orange as it approaches the horizon; the deep blue of the water contrasts with the lighter blue of the sky, with layers of cloud visible but not obscuring the sunset.Afterglow of twilight in the neighbourhood.  I'm really pleased with the way this one came out.
2024-01-08

Inclement weather yesterday, but the Shiny Thing was out in full glory today. Did a little trail and a little beach; it was a nice mix, but I got tired early. So no afterglow shots tonight.

Great way to start a walk: Old Sol is well above teh horizon, shining like a big old shiny thing.  Very little cloud cover, and the sky is a brilliant blue.  The trailhead is visible in the foreground; one kilometer to the beach, a little wander, and one kilometer back.The water was gorgeous and blue, as usual.  I did not get splooshed today; part of that was my caution and part of it was that the waves were not as crashy.More gorgeous waves with blue sky above.Sunset over the trailhead; it took a few shots to get this one right.  But it was a good end to the day, and I was just tired enough to make it worth it.  I hope that wherever you are, you are similarly rewarded for your efforts.

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