Fireflies

The brief, sporadic sightings of blinking lights on a warm summer night is something I absolutely love about Chicago. They are my favorite insect by far. I've learned there are over 2000 species of fireflies (who knew?) and they are also called "lightening bugs". Bioluminescence is so cool!

Simply magical! Thanks Google Images.

Treasure Island ~ not just a famous novel

To celebrate the end of President's Day weekend, we drove across the Bay Bridge to Treasure Island and took a walk. Treasure Island is one of three islands in the SF Bay, I've been to Angel Island, but still haven't explored Alcatraz. Unlike the other two islands, Treasure Island is man-made, built for the 1939 Golden Gate International Exposition, later used as a base for the U.S. Navy, often used for movie filming, and now the site of the popular Treasure Island Flea Market, which I previously enjoyed with my bff Shannon- it was great.

I hope you enjoy this shot from a beautiful sunset over the city yesterday. You can see the GG bridge on the right edge of the photo.

Condors

I forgot to mention in my last post, the most spectacular sighting of the trip. Andean Condors! I just couldn't believe it. I thought condors were super rare and never seen, but we saw 20 of them over two days! What luck and joy. I spent more time enjoying the birds than photographing them, but here is a short clip showing one soaring over the valley. 

Half Moon Bay

With Uncle Noel!!!!

Angel Island!

20 mile bike ride, climbing Mt Livermore with Steph and Scott, now enjoying the ferry ride back to SF! What a day!

Mini Blockie Reunion!

With an awesome picnic and walk in Edgewood Park!

Happy Earth Day

In an attempt to enjoy the outdoors on earth day, I drove to the beach. It's 80 degrees, picture perfect at Stanford today, but once arrived at said beach, it was cold, howling winds, no sun in sight. That's northern california beaches for you. I'll never be fooled again!

A quote from John Muir, the consummate naturalist, to honor Earth Day 2012:

"God has cared for these trees, saved them from drought, disease, avalanches and a thousand tempests and floods. But he cannot save them from fools"

Coyote sighting!

Awesome 3 mile trail run at Arastradero this evening. 7 deer and a coyote = one happy Julia! Terrific way to start the weekend. If only my iphone hadn't died this week, I would have a nice photo to post. My coyote wasn't as cute as this little guy:

Christmas Eve!

My flower arrangement. Merry Christmas!

Welcome to Telluride!

I'm in Telluride, CO for the next week for the 7th Annual Patient Safety Roundtable. All of the Patient Safety Scholars arrived last night and we had a group BBQ. This is a snapshot from our Gondola ride that we will be taking everyday to the to Telluride at the bottom! Had a great 2 mile run this morning- I definitely felt the 10,000 feet elevation!

Horrifying: State announces closure of 70 parks to save money

Portola Redwoods, Castle Rock, Henry Coe... Some of the best. This is a travesty for all Californians!!!!!

A story from AP Mobile:
State announces closure of 70 parks to save money

Cross country skiing

Snowboarding

Yosemite Valley Formation

 Everyone knows the beauty of Yosemite Valley, the shear granite rock, the open meadows, and the amazing waterfalls.  All the park signs explain how the Valley was sculpted by glaciers...Over 250,000 years ago, the Valley was full of a glacier. A glacier so big that only 900 feet of Half Dome emerged from the giant flow of ice. I always had a really difficult time comprehending this explanation.  No way a glacier could be that big!

That is, until I saw Glacier Perito Moreno. Instantly, I understood the formation of Yosemite Valley. Reaching 60 meters out of the water, and 440 more meters underneath, over 1 mile wide and 15 miles long, Perito Moreno is the biggest chunk of ice I've ever seen and could never have imagined. Seeing is believing, and now I have the utmost respect for the formation of Yosemite Valley.

Perhaps in another 250,000 years, it will be the Perito Moreno Valley that everyone visits...The next Yosemite, carved from a glacier. That's all I could think about as I traversed the slopes of the glacier, learned about the glacial rivers, pools, crevices. How this inspiring block of moving ice is shaping the earth, the climate and the world around it. I used to lack respect for glaciers, (its just ice right?), but after this experience, without hesitation I think that glaciers are one of the most awesome features of our planet.

Seasons

Living in Northern California the last 3 and half years, I've finally come to appreciate seasons. SoCal really never felt like 4 different seasons, Boston's winter was so scarring that I declared winter my arch nemesis. But here, in Menlo Park, I actually look forward to the rain, the change of leaves, the expected rainbow in the afternoon after a rainy day. I like that I hold my tea close and snuggle up under my blanket. I look forward to the verdent spring, green Stanford hills, and bright orange poppies filling the fields. Different seasons bring about different daily habits, different emotions, different wardrobes, and different meals. The selections at the Farmers Market has changed from summer squash to winter squash, from strawberries and peaches to sweet potatoes and root vegetables. I not only enjoy the seasonal change, but in a way I even look forward to it. I wouldn't even mind a little snow now and again, though I could do withouth the great Northeastern Blizzards I endured. Seasons are fun, in their own, unique way. With that said, I'll be spending Christmas at the beach. :)

Stanford has a lake!

Usually Lake Lagunita is nonexistent, but after 2 weeks of rain, it's back and beautiful!

A Saunter in the Woods

Yesterday I spent half the day sauntering through the woods, specifically the Portola Redwoods, abundant in banana slugs, mushrooms, newts, and deer. I specifically use the word saunter to describe our adventure, as I recently learned about John Muir's thoughts...

"Do you know the origin of that word 'saunter?' It's a beautiful word. Away back in the Middle Ages people used to go on pilgrimages to the Holy Land, and when people in the villages through which they passed asked where they were going, they would reply, "A la sainte terre,' 'To the Holy Land.' And so they became known as sainte-terre-ers or saunterers. Now these mountains are our Holy Land, and we ought to saunter through them reverently, not 'hike' through them." 

Big Sur Camping Trip

Just got back from a 4 day camping trip in Big Sur! Had some campfires, roasted marshmallows, had a great hike through the redwoods and relaxed on the beaches. So awesome!
The wildflowers were incredible!