the trip report

Three hats, one book, kind weather gods. The last picture was an attempt to capture the intense draw the east side of the Sierra has for me. The east escarpment is steep, and I find myself getting drawn into the mountains, while sitting in warmer, drier, climate. We ate lunch on Thursday, back up Big Pine Creek, at the end of the road. It was sunny at our picnic table, and snowing. We were on the edge of the weather. We added Hot Creek to our fishing this year. Not exactly sure why we haven't done this before. It's a rich stream, almost too easy to catch fish. Supposedly it's the most heavily fished stream in the state. But late April, midweek, there were others, but not too many. I do so like that Mike wears his Metropolitan Museum hat fishing. What would Christo think? The orange color represents what the Gates probably would look like if they'd been left up. I like the color because it helps me keep track of the fisherman.

leaving for the eastside

Hope to be standing in this spot tomorrow. Time to take off for some serious fishing, knitting and reading. And maybe a little photography. The house at Tom's Place is reserved, a pleasant escape with no internet or phone. The car is in the process of being packed, no easy undertaking. Have to remember the table cloth, napkins, tea lights (never forget the ambiance), thermos, binoculars, yoga props, oh yes, food, wine, and music. We do not travel lightly. But the time spent now is worth it to lay in bed in the morning reading, cup of coffee in hand. We have our rules, our jobs. I don't do coffee, but I am in charge of lunch, and the afternoon snack.

This was me last year on the upper Owens, wearing a good many layers of clothing. The weather prediction for this trip, at least the first few days, is warm weather. I hope to have shorts on. But you never know about this time of year.

This view was 2010. We couldn't even leave the parking lot at June Lake where we were staying until noon, when the lovely owner plowed away the snow. I am hoping the 10-20% chance of thundershowers produce the cloud formations we love to view, but don't amount to major precipitation. I'll give a report in a week.

if you buy the woodpecker mix

You will get the woodpeckers. We have our very own acorn woodpecker who seems to quite enjoy the special blend in the suet feeder. As the persimmon leafs out we are loosing the view of the feeder, and sometimes we wonder if we are feeding the squirrels rather than the birds. But we both seem to enjoy the visitors. Mike gets the credit for this photo.

our own lightning field

Grant took this last night from the shop. He spent at least 30 minutes trying to be patient, taking at least 20 videos with his phone. He then edited the videos to get this frame. It didn't occur to me until morning what a perfect viewing spot Building 14 would be for this show. Mike and I spent much time with glasses of wine in our hands peering out the windows. It reminded me of laying on your back waiting for shooting stars, just when you blink or close your eyes, one will go by. But what a night for free entertainment for those of us who like weather.

a piano to weep for

This is a fully restored 1913 Steinway B. It sounds and looks beautiful. The lovely creature has been living in the shop in this state for 4 and half months while the poor owners have been dealing with a construction project that just won't end. Playing it, has literally caused weeping. Joyful weeping. While all of us have been enjoying it, we really do hope it can finally get to go home.

an interesting artist

Louise Philbrick was visiting a friend in Sonoma and they both came down to visit the shop.

She has this in depth knowledge of piano parts from her disassembling of "dead" pianos into her art pieces. We bonded on the fact that delving into their depths is like uncovering history. Revelations in the form of signatures and serial numbers, stories to be told of their past lives. I made us all cappuccinos and it was a good afternoon diversion.