caucus99percent free-range politics, organic community

We're in the 80's already, but it's going to be down in the 60's again with lots of rain. We need the rain though and I don't like how quickly it's warmed up so soon.

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Scientists are concerned that conspiracy theories may die out if they keep coming true at the current alarming rate.

Submitted by janis b on Fri, 04/27/2018 - 9:14pm

The last three weeks certainly carry a hint of wintering.

In transition ...

Submitted by janis b on Fri, 04/27/2018 - 9:17pm

and I know how you feel about weather that doesn't make sense

and is concerning. This past summer was the hottest and most relentless I've experienced here.

Submitted by QMS on Fri, 04/27/2018 - 8:21pm

leaping leotards

dancing on the horizon. Any guesses where this is?

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question everything

Submitted by janis b on Fri, 04/27/2018 - 8:28pm

No idea ...

@QMS

but it looks more Pacific than Atlantic, with a European flair.

Submitted by Anja Geitz on Fri, 04/27/2018 - 8:42pm

I agree

I was going to say San Diego, or Del Mar.

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There is always Music amongst the trees in the Garden, but our hearts must be very quiet to hear it. ~ Minnie Aumonier

Submitted by QMS on Fri, 04/27/2018 - 8:45pm

Hey Janis B

@janis b Close, but no cigar. T'was Barbados. Tried sending you shots of ferns in Charleston, but file manager won't take them. Cheers anyway!

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question everything

Submitted by janis b on Fri, 04/27/2018 - 9:06pm

How 'bout a cigarette, at least ; ).

@QMS

Of course it's the caribbean. I did think for a second, maybe Cuba.

Submitted by QMS on Fri, 04/27/2018 - 9:14pm

of course a little butt might do

@janis b I have either hemp or clove, your choice

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question everything

Submitted by janis b on Fri, 04/27/2018 - 9:20pm

My sister was just here visiting,

@QMS

and she smoked my last clove cigarette I have been saving for 2 decades. So yes, I'll take a clove with the hemp, thanks.

Submitted by snoopydawg on Fri, 04/27/2018 - 8:32pm

Greece?

@QMS

Maybe the French Rivera? Before you answer, tell us what side of the pond it's on

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Scientists are concerned that conspiracy theories may die out if they keep coming true at the current alarming rate.

Submitted by janis b on Fri, 04/27/2018 - 8:36pm

Guessing games with images is fun.

Thanks for initiating that QMS, and to you snoopy for always being your curious self.

Submitted by QMS on Fri, 04/27/2018 - 9:29pm

name the Fresnel lens

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question everything

Submitted by janis b on Fri, 04/27/2018 - 9:40pm

Where?

@QMS

What a beautiful thing is a fresnel lens. You must have encountered many on your sailing trips. Nice.

Submitted by QMS on Fri, 04/27/2018 - 9:52pm

A first order lens built in 1874

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question everything

Submitted by janis b on Fri, 04/27/2018 - 10:03pm

Cape Hatteras, that is beautiful!

@QMS

More easily identified by google than the first image. Tell me where that first fresnel lens is, please.

Does anyone know an app that can identify images?

Submitted by QMS on Fri, 04/27/2018 - 11:35pm

OK, for a clove and hemp stogie

@janis b @janis b That is the St Augustine lighthouse. I climbed all the way up in December last. Scared the bejeebus outta me when I looked down. The fresnel has been removed twice. Once for protection from some invading force, and again much later to fix it after some dumb punk shot it. Used to burn oil, now it's electric. The lens is amazing. Weighs a couple tons.

Snoopy stumped me on the SF Bay locale.

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question everything

Submitted by janis b on Sat, 04/28/2018 - 12:18am

OK, that does it.

@QMS

Between your and Dylan's reference to St. Augustine I might plan a road trip from S. Florida this summer to St. Augustine.

[video:https://youtu.be/A6Ggihst8n0]

Sometimes the most obvious is also the most elusive ; ).

Submitted by snoopydawg on Sat, 04/28/2018 - 1:46am

Heh, I was surprised by that

@QMS

I thought everyone would get it so easily.

I love the Chesapeake Bay Area. I'd love to go back there with my digital slr and photograph the area. I have a book of that area in black and white. The lighthouses in that area are stunning and it's amazing how they were built with their limited technology. I bet if they were built today they wouldn't be so grand.

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Scientists are concerned that conspiracy theories may die out if they keep coming true at the current alarming rate.

Submitted by snoopydawg on Sat, 04/28/2018 - 1:59am

Oh goody, lighthouses

@QMS

Alcatraz with a full moon

I had to lower the resolution so I could post it on here. It looks much better than this irl

I didn't see the newest comments for some reason and I'm late to the party, darn it

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Scientists are concerned that conspiracy theories may die out if they keep coming true at the current alarming rate.

Submitted by snoopydawg on Fri, 04/27/2018 - 8:24pm

Still lots of colors here

Plants and weeds are in full bloom, but the blossoms on the trees have started to fade.

My lawn is covered with dandelions this year, but I'm not alone. Since we didn't have a cold winter and it warmed up so quickly everyone is having problems with dandelions. Sure I could have sprayed poison all over them, but they will go away on their own so why waste the money?

Thanks for hosting again.

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Scientists are concerned that conspiracy theories may die out if they keep coming true at the current alarming rate.

Submitted by janis b on Fri, 04/27/2018 - 8:34pm

Hi snoopy

A long time ago I read in a book the observation that if everything else disappears on earth, dandelions and ants will survive.

I wish you a good evening.

Submitted by snoopydawg on Fri, 04/27/2018 - 9:18pm

That figures doesn't it?

And probably flies will survive the end times. Oh and mosquitoes! Yep, definitely mosquitoes will be here when everything else is gone.

You too. Enjoy your fire and hopefully you are having a glass of wine?

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Scientists are concerned that conspiracy theories may die out if they keep coming true at the current alarming rate.

Submitted by janis b on Fri, 04/27/2018 - 9:26pm

Probably true

A planet of annoying or even likeable insects is very unappealing. Almost as unappealing as part of its current state. At least the dandelions will provide something bright.

Submitted by Anja Geitz on Fri, 04/27/2018 - 8:39pm

Always loved the pairing

Of yellow and purple flowers. Nice feeling to it.

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There is always Music amongst the trees in the Garden, but our hearts must be very quiet to hear it. ~ Minnie Aumonier

Submitted by snoopydawg on Fri, 04/27/2018 - 9:22pm

I see this grouping when I start my walk

I walk down an alley that has all kinds of flowering things, plus a few dawgs that I always have a little treat for. One dawg used to bark at me and seem so mean, but I can now feed him with my hand instead of throwing it over the fence.

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Scientists are concerned that conspiracy theories may die out if they keep coming true at the current alarming rate.

Submitted by Anja Geitz on Fri, 04/27/2018 - 9:31pm

Always good to make

Friends with dogs. Enjoyed your story.

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There is always Music amongst the trees in the Garden, but our hearts must be very quiet to hear it. ~ Minnie Aumonier

Submitted by TheOtherMaven on Fri, 04/27/2018 - 9:27pm

Dandelions have their uses

I found a good recipe for dandelion syrup here: http://naturesnurtureblog.com/homemade-dandelion-syrup/

Have made dandelion jelly most years since living here, but I'm a bit late on it this year so maybe syrup for a change. Yum!

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There is no justice. There can be no peace.

Submitted by snoopydawg on Fri, 04/27/2018 - 9:45pm

At first I read dandelion soup

@TheOtherMaven

And that sounded icky. Reading the article I see it's syrup. Why does she make syrup?

I’d already been making my own syrup because that “Aunt Jemima” nonsense they sell at the store is just gross –

Good reason. Have you eaten anything that is made with them? Thanks for the link.

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Scientists are concerned that conspiracy theories may die out if they keep coming true at the current alarming rate.

Submitted by QMS on Fri, 04/27/2018 - 9:57pm

tried some dandelion wine once

@snoopydawg back in the old country. Wasn't bad. Think it had honey in it.

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question everything

Submitted by janis b on Fri, 04/27/2018 - 9:46pm

Thank you for the dandelion syrup recipe.

@TheOtherMaven

I will try it next Spring!

Submitted by dystopian on Fri, 04/27/2018 - 8:35pm

just a little nature

Here's a few below

Shame something less than stellar (looney) got associated with loons, as they are spectacular birds - great shots... Fantastic calls they make too. Out in CA when Pacific Loons are migrating you can see thousands in a day go by seawatch points (any promontory), many Common and Red-throated in with them. Sometimes Pacifics can be 50 miles offshore.

American Goldfinch

Barred Owl

Claret Cup Cactus

Rocky Mountain Bigtooth Maples (Nov.)

Thanks everyone for all the great posts...

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We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them.
Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better.
both - Albert Einstein

Submitted by Anja Geitz on Fri, 04/27/2018 - 8:40pm

Gorgeous photos

How did you get the owl to look at you?

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There is always Music amongst the trees in the Garden, but our hearts must be very quiet to hear it. ~ Minnie Aumonier

Submitted by dystopian on Fri, 04/27/2018 - 9:50pm

@Anja Geitz

Well we were having this conversation ya see... The trick with owls, and this works with lots of birds, but outstanding with raptors, is to squeak like a mouse. make kissy noises and they usually key in, until they figure out it is that wanker down there... With many others, especially smaller birds, making small bird sounds often gets them to look, like pss pss pss, chidit chidit, psssss, pssh psssh psssh, like a scolding event.

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We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them.
Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better.
both - Albert Einstein

Submitted by Anja Geitz on Sat, 04/28/2018 - 9:21am

Mouse sqeaks?

That's really interesting. I never knew mice even made those kinds of sounds. Ya learn something new here everyday!

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There is always Music amongst the trees in the Garden, but our hearts must be very quiet to hear it. ~ Minnie Aumonier

Submitted by janis b on Fri, 04/27/2018 - 9:01pm

Are barred owls diurnal? Is that a Spring thing?

Thanks for all the colourful photos.

Submitted by dystopian on Fri, 04/27/2018 - 9:53pm

@janis b

Barred Owl are fairly diurnal. Owls nest very early in the year, often getting underway in February, so they have lots of mouths to feed by April and May, and consequently are out lots in the day when not too hot or sunny. Hawk, Burrowing and Snowy Owl are all very diurnal, more so than Barred, but most owls are fairly nocturnal, and so hard to photo in general. Though when with young, they often have to hunt in the day.

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We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them.
Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better.
both - Albert Einstein

Submitted by janis b on Fri, 04/27/2018 - 10:24pm

Thanks dystopian, for the info.

Whenever I see your name I think of one of my very favourite novels, The Road by Cormac McCarthy. It's a 'dystopian novel', but really it's more about the love between a father and son.

Submitted by snoopydawg on Sat, 04/28/2018 - 2:02am

Ooh, I love to see a photo of a baby owl

Has anyone ever seen one in real life?

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Scientists are concerned that conspiracy theories may die out if they keep coming true at the current alarming rate.

Submitted by snoopydawg on Sat, 04/28/2018 - 2:08am

Oops, dupe

How cool would this be?

This really happened. I found this on the guardian

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Scientists are concerned that conspiracy theories may die out if they keep coming true at the current alarming rate.

Submitted by Anja Geitz on Sat, 04/28/2018 - 9:24am

Very very very cool!

Awesome picture!

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There is always Music amongst the trees in the Garden, but our hearts must be very quiet to hear it. ~ Minnie Aumonier

Submitted by QMS on Fri, 04/27/2018 - 9:09pm

the goldfinches have become a flock

@dystopian on the back deck, since putting out thistle. They sing so joyfully. Now they are getting into the sunflower seeds as well.

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question everything

Submitted by snoopydawg on Fri, 04/27/2018 - 9:24pm

I love owls

I have only seen one in real life and that was decades ago. In fact I haven't heard any for a long time. Are they going extinct or have their environment changed?

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Scientists are concerned that conspiracy theories may die out if they keep coming true at the current alarming rate.

Submitted by TheOtherMaven on Fri, 04/27/2018 - 9:28pm

Most owls are nocturnal

@snoopydawg
which means they're out and about while you're asleep.

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There is no justice. There can be no peace.

Submitted by dystopian on Fri, 04/27/2018 - 9:57pm

@snoopydawg

TOM hit the nail on the head. Most of them are out when most people are not. Spring is the best time to see them as they are feeding young so much more active than when they are without the extra mouths. Almost any good woods have owls, they are far more common than most think. Any foothill canyon, riparian corridor, and open forest will have them. Usually they roost in dead clumps of leaves (small types) or holes, or the densest part of the tree where they are very hard to see. Walk windbreak rows of junipers in winter looking for pellets on the ground to locate roosts.

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We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them.
Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better.
both - Albert Einstein

Submitted by Anja Geitz on Fri, 04/27/2018 - 8:36pm

My apologies for my gratuitous contribution

But i'm home sick today with a 101 fever and I needed to cheer myself up. This is Aidan Turner of Poldark for any of the women following the series.

Thanks for hosting. Love all the colorful pictures (and the black white one of the train. Love trains!). You guys are awesome!

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There is always Music amongst the trees in the Garden, but our hearts must be very quiet to hear it. ~ Minnie Aumonier

Submitted by janis b on Fri, 04/27/2018 - 8:49pm

Looks like that series

could be good medicine.

Get well soon, zoe.

Submitted by Anja Geitz on Fri, 04/27/2018 - 9:26pm

It helps

Thanks for the well wishes, Janis

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There is always Music amongst the trees in the Garden, but our hearts must be very quiet to hear it. ~ Minnie Aumonier

Submitted by snoopydawg on Fri, 04/27/2018 - 9:26pm

lol, Zoe

Well if he makes you feel better, then go for it. Hope you feel better soon. You're the second person who said that they are sick.

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Scientists are concerned that conspiracy theories may die out if they keep coming true at the current alarming rate.

Submitted by janis b on Fri, 04/27/2018 - 8:44pm

???

Submitted by QMS on Fri, 04/27/2018 - 8:50pm

Haven't been there in awhile

@janis b Sure has grown, tho. Needle, Arizona

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question everything

Submitted by janis b on Fri, 04/27/2018 - 8:56pm

It's exploding up and out!

@QMS

The same photo today would include cranes everywhere you looked.

Submitted by snoopydawg on Fri, 04/27/2018 - 9:33pm

???

This is probably too easy

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Scientists are concerned that conspiracy theories may die out if they keep coming true at the current alarming rate.

Submitted by janis b on Fri, 04/27/2018 - 10:07pm

West Coast, somewhere?

Submitted by snoopydawg on Fri, 04/27/2018 - 10:30pm

Ayup. See the brown spot by the bridge?

@janis b @janis b

The bridge then the water and then there's that brown circular spot. This is a dog park where they get to play off leash. The dawgs got to swim when the tide was in, but, yuck when it was out. I'd see people going back to their cars and the dawgs had mud all up their legs and bellies. I kept Bailey out of it

I'd take Bailey to it when I had to go to my doctor. She didn't like how aggressive some dawgs played so she'd sit on the bench with me and we'd watch the others play.

This is Beagle Bailey. I was taking a Beagle break.

This should give you a hint on what city that is

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Scientists are concerned that conspiracy theories may die out if they keep coming true at the current alarming rate.

Submitted by janis b on Fri, 04/27/2018 - 10:44pm

She's beautiful snoopy,

and looks so self contained and wise.

Submitted by snoopydawg on Fri, 04/27/2018 - 10:55pm

Bailey had an old soul

She was the sweetest and kindest Dawg I've had and our connection with each other was so incredible. She didn't care what we did as long as we were together.

I would wait until the traffic cleared before I drove home and so I'd find a road and take it. Can't tell you how many times I got lost somewhere after taking a wrong turn, but with Bailey by my side and my camera I never worried about it. I'd always find my way home again. This brings back great memories.

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Scientists are concerned that conspiracy theories may die out if they keep coming true at the current alarming rate.

Submitted by janis b on Fri, 04/27/2018 - 11:07pm

That is so touching snoopy.

It's the perfect image for me to sign out with. Sweet dreams.

Submitted by Anja Geitz on Sat, 04/28/2018 - 12:38am

Love the eyes

They just stare into your soul

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There is always Music amongst the trees in the Garden, but our hearts must be very quiet to hear it. ~ Minnie Aumonier

Submitted by QMS on Fri, 04/27/2018 - 10:15pm

guessing Berkley or Sacramento

@snoopydawg looking west? Used to sail out on the Bay, but don't recall that vantage.

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question everything

Submitted by snoopydawg on Fri, 04/27/2018 - 10:32pm

Close. Berkeley is warmer though

@QMS

One more guess?

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Scientists are concerned that conspiracy theories may die out if they keep coming true at the current alarming rate.

Submitted by QMS on Fri, 04/27/2018 - 10:31pm

Hmm, looking like

@snoopydawg Oakland or Alameda

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question everything

Submitted by snoopydawg on Fri, 04/27/2018 - 10:43pm

Do you want me to tell you or one more guess?

@QMS

You're closer than Berkeley

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Scientists are concerned that conspiracy theories may die out if they keep coming true at the current alarming rate.

Submitted by QMS on Fri, 04/27/2018 - 11:12pm

Alameda or Main St. dog parks

@snoopydawg @snoopydawg fit the description, but the photo is taken inland of the bridge. I give up!

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question everything

Submitted by snoopydawg on Fri, 04/27/2018 - 11:21pm

This is San Francisco from the Marin hills