Something in Flight

 I spent a long time watching the birds at the beach yesterday. I was keeping an eye out for things that fell into the latest April photo challenge theme "flight." Today, I realized there are lots of different photo-of-the-month challenges streaming through facebook/twitter/instagram and probably other social media sights I don't have yet. I guess I'll go with whichever one suits my mood.

Laying in the warm sand on my blanket, I was prepared to delve into "A Storm of Swords" the third book in the George R.R. Martin's Song of Fire and Ice series. It is really good. HBO has a Game of Thrones series that is based on these books.  And I do adore those quality HBO shows.  I became so entertained by bird watching, I never cracked the book. Pelicans and gulls were carrying big strands of kelp and nest-building materials. They are funny creatures.

 The tide was low so I walked as far the beach would let me. I came to this lava rock at the end, which reminded me a lot of what you'd find at the cove-like beaches on Maui. There is no "coast" in Hawaii, just darling coves and daring cliffs strung together to make islands.

 Behind me were rambling staircases, with chains, blocking them off from public access. I bet the houses at the top of this cliff are pretty rad. I'd be game to house-sit, if you know who lives up there.

 I liked this one, because I was so focused on the seagulls above the pier, I didn't see the frolicking kid until afterwards. Children and dogs are immune to the chilly West Coast water.

 The fluffy, frosty, foamy sea reflects the bright sky. I miss my family in Hawaii a lot, these days. But it is true that I get way less homesick here than I did when I lived in Oregon. Sunshine and beaches really do provide comfort and happiness. Andrew knew what he was doing when he moved me here.

The Brilliance of Cloudy Days

The thing I love about cloudy days...

Is the incredible dimension added to the world.

I have a healthy obsession with film grain mode.

And the moon.

Please remember to look up.  

With Silver Bells and Cockle Shells

Last season I purchased a pile of tuberose bulbs (something I had written and posted on a Things To Do list）at the Farmers Market. I was so happy to harvest my very first of these fragrant flowers. I grew up with them in leis but never had actually seen one growing.

This sassy hummingbird kept frolicking about in my pineapple sage and flirting with my camera. The sun had already dropped so low-light didn't make for any good shots. I love that tuberoses also suit him.

I planted milkweed, since it's the only food source for monarch caterpillars. These caterpillars are enjoying it and will eventually pollinate my plants as lovely butterflies. Though I think they are also pretty charming as chubby caterpillars, don't you?  Our community garden is an official monarch waystation on their seasonal migratory path. You can see them clustered together in the branches of the nearby eucalptus.

Film Recommendation

I recently watched a lovely documentary called "The Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill." It follows the journey of a flock of wild parrots living in San Francisco but the main focus of the film is the man who befriends and attempts to protect these cherry-headed birds. He's a quirky, harmless fellow, who reminded me of how much I appreciate California for its tolerance and draw for such non-conformist types.

Other pluses of this film include fascinating animal behavior, the excellent film footage, the gorgeous San Francisco setting, and a spark of romance.

I saw it in the "watch instantly" section of Netflix and have also noticed it at the public library.