I got carried away writing the descriptions in Flickr so it you want the whole story with photos in sequence, you should go to my flickr site and check it out.
We were lucky to get over there early this morning to do the cutting up, as the rain came much earlier then anticipated and is really coming down now with more forecast thru the weekend.
I won't be driving over there this weekend, but will be very happy to walk around and see what it is like in the rain.
Thursday, October 30, 2008
Thursday, October 23, 2008
Disturbed Ground
I am getting ready to order seed to try to kick start some of the areas of land that have been disturbed. I need to take one of my UC books over and try to id some of the currently growing plants in the main field or meadow.
Today would be a good day to do that, as Stuart will be working away and I want to photograph the change as he goes about his job. This photo illustrates the urgency in putting up fencing and gates. During the winter, there is some collision between men, 4 Wheel drive pickups and common sense. They tend to seek out any open space, even though they can see that they will probably sink up to their axles in the clay mud. They launch themselves out and tear up the land, get stuck, have to be pulled out, which tears it all up more and more. I have witnessed this in Morgan Valley when poor pathetic people would stagger to my door, wanting to use the phone to call for a tow truck.
It always gave me great pleasure to tell them I didn't have a phone!
Somehow they always found their way home, and eventually got their vehicle out, but without any help from me.
I will do my best to save them from themselves now, by fencing them out...as well as their brethern, the quad runners.
Today would be a good day to do that, as Stuart will be working away and I want to photograph the change as he goes about his job. This photo illustrates the urgency in putting up fencing and gates. During the winter, there is some collision between men, 4 Wheel drive pickups and common sense. They tend to seek out any open space, even though they can see that they will probably sink up to their axles in the clay mud. They launch themselves out and tear up the land, get stuck, have to be pulled out, which tears it all up more and more. I have witnessed this in Morgan Valley when poor pathetic people would stagger to my door, wanting to use the phone to call for a tow truck.
It always gave me great pleasure to tell them I didn't have a phone!
Somehow they always found their way home, and eventually got their vehicle out, but without any help from me.
I will do my best to save them from themselves now, by fencing them out...as well as their brethern, the quad runners.
Monday, October 20, 2008
The Tree of Contention
I went hiking around the Land today looking for the downed tree that is blocking Copsey Creek. At first I thought it was this tree sticking out from the berries and brambles but alas, that would have been too simple.
Across the creek were two of my new neighbors who assured me this wasn't the tree they were concerned about. That tree was farther downstream. After declining a guided tour to the spot, I confidently set off on my own.
I finally came to very thick brush lining the bank for quite a distance, preventing me from even accessing a view of the creek much less getting down there. There are a lot of pools so a creek walk wasn't feasible and I was still a little leery of the giant buck. I was beginning to wish for Luke the Trail Blazer, when I found a tiny game trail, and with the help of my walking stick, and a semi flexible back, I got to the edge of the creek and lo and behold, I just happened to come out where the damn tree is. It really is huge and goes right across the creek. Looks pretty impossible to get out, but perhaps, it can be cut up in some way and taken out in pieces.
I hope Angie can come and look, though I am not sure what the Lower Lake Watershed Council can do...I am thinking big equipment. I will have Stuart take a look on Thursday, and in the meantime, I am trying to contact a live person at Fish & Game to see if I need some sort of permit. Looks like it would really tear up the place to move equipment in there.
Oh the joys of land stewardship!
I walked the circuit, including the western fence line and found two places where the neighbor is channeling water into my property...one appears natural, the other def. not. I am wondering if they are so hard up for potable water, why they don't capture that water off the roof of their house, instead of letting it come onto my property. Some day I will ask them.
I also met and talked with the man on Pebble who is supposed to have serious mental health problems, but he was perfectly friendly though paranoid about rising property taxes, esp. on my property. We shall see.
All in all, it was a good walk on a beautiful fall morning.
Across the creek were two of my new neighbors who assured me this wasn't the tree they were concerned about. That tree was farther downstream. After declining a guided tour to the spot, I confidently set off on my own.
I finally came to very thick brush lining the bank for quite a distance, preventing me from even accessing a view of the creek much less getting down there. There are a lot of pools so a creek walk wasn't feasible and I was still a little leery of the giant buck. I was beginning to wish for Luke the Trail Blazer, when I found a tiny game trail, and with the help of my walking stick, and a semi flexible back, I got to the edge of the creek and lo and behold, I just happened to come out where the damn tree is. It really is huge and goes right across the creek. Looks pretty impossible to get out, but perhaps, it can be cut up in some way and taken out in pieces.
I hope Angie can come and look, though I am not sure what the Lower Lake Watershed Council can do...I am thinking big equipment. I will have Stuart take a look on Thursday, and in the meantime, I am trying to contact a live person at Fish & Game to see if I need some sort of permit. Looks like it would really tear up the place to move equipment in there.
Oh the joys of land stewardship!
I walked the circuit, including the western fence line and found two places where the neighbor is channeling water into my property...one appears natural, the other def. not. I am wondering if they are so hard up for potable water, why they don't capture that water off the roof of their house, instead of letting it come onto my property. Some day I will ask them.
I also met and talked with the man on Pebble who is supposed to have serious mental health problems, but he was perfectly friendly though paranoid about rising property taxes, esp. on my property. We shall see.
All in all, it was a good walk on a beautiful fall morning.
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
The Water View...
Paddling over to the land was just a matter of moments, but as I set out, I realized that there were many more dead carp caught up in debris and brush at the waters edge, than I had realized or smelled. It was pretty intense at water level.
But there was live wildlife as well, Western Pond Turtles sunning on logs, a Great Blue Heron up Copsey Creek who was very annoyed with me and took off before I could get a shot. Sounded like some wood ducks who took off then too.
On Cache Creek, there was a huge carcass which we had notice hung up mid stream...the stench was enough so that while I took a few shots, I just kept going...it didn't bear closer inspection that is for sure.
The ramp area is very rocky and drops off very fast. I was glad I had my stake in the kayak as firmly planted it helped me haul myself out without touching the ground. The ground was just covered with fecal matter, I am guessing otters, and lots of fish parts, some almost whole. It was pretty gross, but I clambered out and up the ramp to gaze about for a while. On Sunday when we had our picnic...the ramp was the first place KOKO ran to, and then threw herself down to roll on all the fish skeletons ...Sheer heaven for choco lab.
I think the idea of getting a small pontoon boat to transport myself and the dogs back and forth is a great one, and when Luke gets here, we will go out looking to see if something suitable is available at a reasonable price.
A doggie barge.
But there was live wildlife as well, Western Pond Turtles sunning on logs, a Great Blue Heron up Copsey Creek who was very annoyed with me and took off before I could get a shot. Sounded like some wood ducks who took off then too.
On Cache Creek, there was a huge carcass which we had notice hung up mid stream...the stench was enough so that while I took a few shots, I just kept going...it didn't bear closer inspection that is for sure.
The ramp area is very rocky and drops off very fast. I was glad I had my stake in the kayak as firmly planted it helped me haul myself out without touching the ground. The ground was just covered with fecal matter, I am guessing otters, and lots of fish parts, some almost whole. It was pretty gross, but I clambered out and up the ramp to gaze about for a while. On Sunday when we had our picnic...the ramp was the first place KOKO ran to, and then threw herself down to roll on all the fish skeletons ...Sheer heaven for choco lab.
I think the idea of getting a small pontoon boat to transport myself and the dogs back and forth is a great one, and when Luke gets here, we will go out looking to see if something suitable is available at a reasonable price.
A doggie barge.
Monday, October 13, 2008
Lessons Learned
Yesterday, Sunday, Kathee and Shirl helped me load up the dogs for their first trip to the Land. (I have to come up with an unique name). We made one circuit which included Ms. Quiz going down into Copsey Creek and then not being able to come back up the steep bank. Kathee had to climb down and give her a butt boost up! I will have to watch where I take her. I think it will be much easier to take her on her own, otherwise she tries to keep up with Koko the running dog.
But our adventures weren't over yet!
After our delicious picnic to celebrate Kathee's birthday and the Land, we decided to do a clockwise circuit of the property. As good friends do, they had the dogs on leash when suddenly out of dense brush, rose a huge buck! I have never been that close to a buck that size, and when it reared up it was a shock. Even to Koko who at first lunged causing Shirl to spill her wine!!! (Yes, this was the lesson learned...don't walk around with wine glasses) Koko didn't persist however when she scoped out the size of that buck. His rack was huge and his neck enormous. Both dogs retreated right back as he walked, or rather limped out.
He had some sort of injury and he limped off to the northwest corner of the property. I am sure this is the same deer that slightly injured the Spriet's boxer Daisy on Wednesday. He must be hiding out to heal. At least I hope he heals.
I won't take the dogs over for a while and believe me, I will steer clear of the thickets too. Bucks in rut are very unpredictable and I would think injury might make that worse.
Other than all that, it was a beautiful day. The dogs were in heaven, wading into the creek, rolling on fish skeletons, exercising their legs and getting a bite of salami as well. What more could these darling dogs ask for????
But our adventures weren't over yet!
After our delicious picnic to celebrate Kathee's birthday and the Land, we decided to do a clockwise circuit of the property. As good friends do, they had the dogs on leash when suddenly out of dense brush, rose a huge buck! I have never been that close to a buck that size, and when it reared up it was a shock. Even to Koko who at first lunged causing Shirl to spill her wine!!! (Yes, this was the lesson learned...don't walk around with wine glasses) Koko didn't persist however when she scoped out the size of that buck. His rack was huge and his neck enormous. Both dogs retreated right back as he walked, or rather limped out.
He had some sort of injury and he limped off to the northwest corner of the property. I am sure this is the same deer that slightly injured the Spriet's boxer Daisy on Wednesday. He must be hiding out to heal. At least I hope he heals.
I won't take the dogs over for a while and believe me, I will steer clear of the thickets too. Bucks in rut are very unpredictable and I would think injury might make that worse.
Other than all that, it was a beautiful day. The dogs were in heaven, wading into the creek, rolling on fish skeletons, exercising their legs and getting a bite of salami as well. What more could these darling dogs ask for????
Thursday, October 9, 2008
From my house to the land
As promised, here is the view of The Land from my house...right up creek just behind the fishermen. They are just about off the boat ramp which is currently littered with the skeletons of dead carp...I guess from the current die off. Thank goodness that we aren't inundated like the communities around the lake, though we could use the fertilizer, and at my new place, apparently the raccoons and otters are having a feast.
Osprey Nest
This Osprey nest has been on the land for at least seven or eight years and probably longer. The power line is not active at this time. I will be calling PG&E to see what options are there for power. Solar Panels or some other solar solution might be the ticket if the need for power arises. 
Osprey Nest
Originally uploaded by Rexfree_99
Osprey Nest
Originally uploaded by Rexfree_99
Found Feather
This beautiful feather was lying on the ground on Toad Hill...Does anyone know what kind of bird left it behind?
I don't think it was a turkey, though they are on the land, as are deer, rabbits, otters, raccoons and a huge assortment of birds.
I don't think it was a turkey, though they are on the land, as are deer, rabbits, otters, raccoons and a huge assortment of birds.
From Toad Hill looking at Copsey Creek
There is a slight rise in the land, and I had to name it Toad Hill...actually, I think it qualifies as a hill by any measure. This is view from up there looking to the eastern boundary which is Copsey Creek sometimes known as Herndon Creek...which I thought was farther east...maybe there are two.
All The Turmoil...
Amid all this economic turmoil and political electioneering, it is some how very reassuring to once again have a substantial piece of land.
Since my full blog title got cut off, I should add it here so it makes more sense in the context of the day.
Back To The Land, AGAIN, or what else can you do when everything goes to HELL? Or something like that.
Being raised on a ranch, listening to my Uncle Edward always ranting about taking a last stand, I do often tend to think in those terms. Kind of an optimistic hedge against all the worry and concern in these very difficult times.
This calm and peaceful view is only matched by a photo soon to be posted from my house of this spot...photo in reverse.
Since my full blog title got cut off, I should add it here so it makes more sense in the context of the day.
Back To The Land, AGAIN, or what else can you do when everything goes to HELL? Or something like that.
Being raised on a ranch, listening to my Uncle Edward always ranting about taking a last stand, I do often tend to think in those terms. Kind of an optimistic hedge against all the worry and concern in these very difficult times.
This calm and peaceful view is only matched by a photo soon to be posted from my house of this spot...photo in reverse.
Dry Pond with Oak
A typical view of oak woodlands...this is what I just bought on the Lower Lake side of Cache Creek. It is a beautiful piece of property, 15 acres plus three additional lots or parcels, so size is probably closer to 18 acres.It has three access points, all at dead ends on three different roads, and has two creeks on the other borders.
I am thrilled on the 32nd anniversary of moving to Lake County and buying almost the same size parcel then, to be in somewhat the same situation. It isn't virgin land by far, it has been inhabited over almost two centuries, but it is as close as I am going to come at this point, to a rare beautiful piece of land in an almost urban setting. My dream is to keep it as pristine as possible with perhaps a wildlife viewing platform, and maybe a small home. Both of those options are far down the road. Right now, I want to secure access, so no motorized vehicles enter and further disturb the land. I know some driving will be necessary as there is work to do, but keep it to the minimum is my idea.
I will keep posting photos for different aspects as I discover them. Right now, with the kitchen remodel going on, and life in general, I have fighting for time to get over there. Saturday I will kayak over in the morning. That is the fastest way to Toad Hill.
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