Happy Valentines Day!!!!

Waterfalls have always been a place of magic and mystery to me. I have always felt as if there was an amazing power and luminosity to them in each one that I have seen. But none as much as Yosemite Falls on a full moon in Yosemite. There is something that happens during a full moon at Yosemite falls it is called a Moonbow. It makes standing at night at one of the most beautiful waterfalls ever, even more incredible. You find yourself overtaken by the roar of the water, feeling the spray on your face, and then you catch the colors from the moonbow. It is different than a rainbow as the colors are muted but still dark and beautiful. They seem to reach inside and touch your dreams and your toes and come back to your brain to make you see in a soft light as you watch the colors shift and fade as the moon moves. It is best to see in the spring when the water levels are at the highest, and it can be cold to stand out there to wait for it, but it is a once in a lifetime experience and well worth it.
If you take someone you really care about with you, it is an experience that you will always share. The full moon tours are another romantic way to spend an evening in Yosemite with that special someone. So, I find that now that I am in the land of eternal green, and eternal rain, I now have a whole new set of waterfalls to explore.

We took the hike to Drift Creek Falls and it was a small but spectacular falls. I am planning to see the falls in Silver Creek State Park which has over 10 falls to see on the trails. Then in the Columbia Gorge there are several falls that are along the way that I am also going to get out and see in the Spring. Of course I have to wait for the snow to melt. Best that way as I don't like to be THAT cold! So I have lots to look forward to this year, and feel the spray on my face, and hope more magic fills me. It might be the positive ions, but I thing there is real mystery and magic that unfolds as crystal clear pure water spills over the edge and cascades down the sides of cliffs. Silly I know to be romantic over a natural phenomenon, but hey, it's February and Valentines Day is almost here. I for one, believe that there are many romantic things in nature that make me feel as if I can believe in magic. Even when things aren't going perfectly, we can find those things that can make us believe in the positive and good.
Happy Valentines Day to all of you.

New Year on the Coast

Happy 2012 everyone! I have spent the last week out on the coast everyday watching the magnificent Gray Whale pass by on it's annual migration to Baja California. It makes this trek every year starting in December to either give birth or to make whoppee in three different bays in Baja. You don't see much on the southern trip except spouting and maybe some tails when they dive. (no laughing girls!) but these third largest whales are a miracle to me as they were close to extinction not to long ago due to whaling. They follow the coastline and never vary. They give birth in the same bays each year, so it was easy for the whalers to go there and lie in wait for them. Now they are back to good numbers. Where I live now on the way back starting in March going through June the Mothers and babies travel closer to shore and we get a chance to see them right here. I got to stare at the ocean for three hours every day come rain, hail, wind, cold, fog or shine (not much sun this week). But I met some very interesting people and it gave me some very good new stories. They were all full of good intent some visiting the coast with children, some retirees that do this every year, some live here. All were different and full to stories to tell. You just have to ask.
In the spring the Whales in Depoe Bay and Whale Cove they come within a few yards of the sea walls and are easy to see. It is a glorious sight. Some people had stories of them coming in close contact and seeing amazing things. And to think man almost killed them all off. Hmmmmmmmm. Makes me wonder about us and our footprints on this planet. Cal says it would happen anyway. Some animals will just natually go away eventually, but I think if we can keep them around for a few more generations, well why not? Those people standing out in the rain to watch for them seem to think they are worth it.
I have been watching a couple of shows on History one is American Pickers that find all these antique things and they recycle and resell them? There was an old man on there not too long ago that said he had several children that didn't want any of the things he had saved from his childhood. His toys and pieces of history that told where he had grown up or about his life in the midwest, but he was selling it all off as they didn't want any of it. I was saddened by that. Everyone should know their family history, good or bad. I didn't get a chance to find out mine due to family fighting and still can't tell you where either of my grandmothers were born or what their childhood was like. I would have liked to have those stories. It is family history.
What type of history are we passing down for our planet? For the Gray Whale it is a good ending at least so far. Same with my favorite whale the humpback. They are also coming back from the endangered list. So is the wolf in Yellowstone and several other endangered species. This keeps everything in a fragile balance. I like that. Balance is my new year's resolution. I am going to balance my life with my work (if I find it) and I will balance my wants with my needs and keep my bad in tune with my good and hopefully that will give me balance.
I will be happy that I have a clear day and not grouse about the cold, I will wear my rain boots instead of complain that I am wet. Balance in all things is a something to strive for. Balance in my diet, balance in my thoughts, balance when I walk so I stay upright! Yes that is a good one! PH balance in my body. Balance.
Other than that, I have to root for the RAIDERS! Sorry no balance in that, and I have to root for Oregon in the Rose Bowl too. Go Ducks! (Really?!) Hey when in Rome.
So all of you have a happy new year and find your balance.