Grass Fire

We had a grass fire about 3/4 of a mile from us this afternoon. We just happened to have turned on the television to check the weather when we heard the report of the fire. Like moths to the flame we drove over to see what was going on. By the time we got there the fire crews were in a mop up operation.



The video shows that several homes here in Trilogy at Rio Vista were in some danger. The golf course grounds crew turned on the irrigation system to help quell the flames before more damage was done.

Thanks to several city and volunteer fire departments for a job well done. They included the Rio Vista Fire Department, the Montezuma Fire District and the Isleton Fire Department.

Let's keep the summer fire free.

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Changes in Our Local Bird Life

This year our spring rainfall was near normal. That's been good for the human urban dwellers and particularly the farmers but we've noticed a change in the activity of local bird life. This year there have been more robins and robin fledglings than normal. Over the past several weeks, we have seen the adults searching for food in the grass, returning to the nest to feed the young. The adult robins have become quite courageous, coming to within 15 feet of us. The chicks have fledged and have been following their parents on their food forays. Many of the young birds are now on their own.

Things appear to be different for the killdeer. The two previous springs were very dry, and by this time of year we would have seen two or three clutches of killdeer chicks. This year we have seen signs of killdeer nesting, egg laying and parent protective behavior but no chicks. I first thought it might be the wet spring causing the lack of chicks but that should not disrupt the nesting success of these plovers entirely. Then a possible answer occurred to me. We have noticed an increase in the number of feral cats in the area. This can prove very detrimental to the success of any ground nesting bird. I hope our community can tackle this situation soon and painlessly.


Clutch of four eggs found by Suzy and myself.

Last year, due to a bridge replacement, the cliff swallows lost their long time nesting location and relocated to the eaves of nearby homes. Please see 2 May posting for video. This year the majority of the birds have returned to the new bridge. Below they can be seen collecting mud for their nests on the sixth fairway during the spring of last year.


Swallows collecting mud 23 Apr 2008.

Also, we have seen fewer egrets and green herons at Watson Hollow this spring. Hopefully the wet fields have attracted these birds with a larger concentration of insects and small vertebrates than years past.

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Killdeer Discovery

On a very blustery day, Suzy and I discovered a killdeer nest while walking behind the fourth green on the golf course.


The sound of the strong Delta breeze.


Not too close Suzy.


Such pretty eggs.

Let's hope they survive the grounds keepers and golfers.

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Relax - New Chairs

Bought some new Adirondack lawn chairs, made of recycled plastics, to relax with Suzy in the front yard.


Helping the economy and environment.

Suzy loves to lie in the shade all afternoon and explain to me what she wants to bark about on her blog. One reason we don't get much done. :-)

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THE 2009 WATSON HOLLOW OPEN

The race is on at Watson Hollow Gastropod Course. Call your own race.

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The Swallows Of Watson Hollow

Due to the replacement of an old bridge where these swallows nested, the birds have begun to build nests under the eaves of nearby homes. This was filmed 27 Mar 2008. Home owners have resorted to nest destruction and hanging strips Mylar under the eaves. The swallows have returned again this year.

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Suzy, Our New Family Matron

Over the past several weeks we have winnowed through hundreds of online profiles of needy dogs in California, even Nevada. After reading many appeals from shelters and foster agencies, we decided to apply for adoption by a senior dog. Many times they are not given the second chance they deserve. Many humans want a puppy or young dog. Yes, they are cute and may be a family member for a longer time. But a senior usually is housebroken, knows the basic commands and is ready to settle down and enjoy life with their new family.


Sort of a fluffy Freda Mini-Me

Suzy was taking care of her former guardian until they passed away last January. With no one to care for, she ended up in a shelter. Shortly thereafter she joined a wonderful foster family about an hour away from us. She has taken very good care of them. We filled out our human quality papers and emailed them to Suzy and her foster family. After several days of worrying if we were dog worthy we received an invitation to visit Suzy.


We found her online profile last week.

This weekend we meet the wonderful little lady and extended a request to be her new family. She thought that we could be her final forever family but that she needed to have a physical before she could make the commitment.


Suzy passed her vet check today
and we are finally a member of her family.


You lookin' at me?

Suzy weighs 31 pounds, a little heavy, and is about 16 inches at the shoulders. Her pedigree has been stated as 'Sheltie mix', 'Australian Shepherd mix' and 'Spaniel mix'. Suzy is working on her genealogy and would appreciate at least a general consensus as to what her family background might be. She would give many licks and snuggles. (Any suggestions would be much appreciated. Thank you.)

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Where the Heck....?

...have I been? I have been floating rudderless the last several months. The loss of Freda in November really knocked the wind out of my sails. Then came the holidays. Then during January and February we planned a two week whirl wind trip to Europe and London during March.


Everyone has a video of tour Eiffel right way round.

Upon our return we spent two weeks recovering from colds and jet lag. Oh what fun.

And we had a great visit from the kids and sweet Tule...


Beautiful Tule...

After all that excitement, we began a search for a new family member. We found Graeme, aka Frank, alas, it was not to be. Two days after he adopted us it was found that he had a very serious illness and we had to return him to the shelter. We did get him meds for his kennel cough but his prognosis turned out to be very discouraging.


He is a wonderful friend.

He is now in rescue getting the daily if not several times a day care and treatment we could not give him. We feel he is getting much better care than we could have given him but I feel we failed him miserably. He is so handsome and gentle. Another hard decision to be made. Don't how the Decider did it.

Mañana we will visit another pup who wants to check us out for adoption. She is a senior lady of Sheltie ancestry. We are hoping that she will like us enough to accept us into her family.

P.S. More photos and videos of our trip will appear in later posts, if anyone would like to see them.

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Bridge Video Twit

During the past two weeks, one of my videos and two of my Twitpic photos have been selected for 'presentation' on two web sites.

Vimeo's Bridge Group (Bridges on Vimeo) selected one of my bridge videos for inclusion in their site. It shows the Rio Vista Bridge (aka Helen Madere Memorial Bridge) over the Sacramento River rising to let a small sailboat pass down river. The bridge is said to be raised and lowered even when there is no boat traffic to keep the cables and pulleys lubricated.


I think I can. I think I can.

TwitSaver captured two of my recent TwitPic photos to use as screen savers on Windows based PCs.


Back cover, sleeve and record of the Bee Gees' 'Cucumber Castle'. (1970)


Blooming Tulip Tree in nearby park

Thank you Vimeo Bridge Group, TwitPic and TwitSaver for all your support. I also want to thank..... (Cue music...)

Fleeting web fame. Guess one should take it when one can.

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Freda and Skeeter

Freda playing with her friend Skeeter. 2 Apr 2007

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