Tag Archives: Mendonoma Sightings Throughout The Year

Mirka Knaster wrote, “Mother and kits were living under the ramp of my studio and playing like kittens, apparently without fear of me. I even had a ‘conversation’ with mama fox."

"They’re gone now but such fun when they were here.”

I must say that I'm jealous. I wish a Gray Fox family would be under one of my decks! I love Gray Fox kits so much that I picked a photo of one, taken by Craig Tooley, for our beautiful books, Mendonoma Sightings Throughout the Year.

Thanks to Mirka and Craig for allowing me to share their photos with you here.

Our short but intense heatwave is over, thank goodness. Cool breezes came with the dawn. It's just about perfect today. The Mendonoma Coast is calling you!

Michelle Welch was amazed to see a huge rainbow embracing the town Gualala. It felt like a blessing.

rainbow-over-gualala-by-michelle-welch-1024x576As rainbows goes, this is sure a big one! Below is a rainbow photo taken by Craig Tooley. It appears in our book, Mendonoma Sightings Throughout the Year.

rainbow-jan-by-craig-tooley

Thanks to Michelle for allowing me to share her photo with you here. And thanks to Craig too. To see much more of Craig's nature photography, here is the link to his website: www.ruffimage.com

It can be disconcerting to see California Sea Lions join together in a raft. But it is normal activity for them. They come together for protection and when they put a flipper in the air, they are either warming themselves up or cooling down. This is called thermo-regulating. Paul Brewer recently witnessed this.

Sea Lions rafting by Paul Brewer

And I am so pleased to announce that my book, Mendonoma Sightings Throughout the Year, has won a national award - a Benjamin Franklin Silver Award in the category Nature and Environment. Rick and I went to the ceremony in Austin, Texas on April 10th.

Jeanne Jackson with her book, Mendonoma Sightings Throughout the Year, wins the silver Benjamin Franklin book award, photo courtesy of IBPA

My competition was so awesome that it was a privilege to be considered with them. To see a list of the Benjamin Franklin award winners, here is the link to the Independent Book Publishers Association: http://ibpabenjaminfranklinawards.com/

Thanks to Paul for allowing me to share his Sea Lion photo with you here. To see much more of Paul's nature photography, here is the link to his website: http://www.capturingnatureswonders.com/

As their common name suggests, Stream Orchids grow near water. Holly McCarroll-Baker found some growing near a tributary of the Gualala River.

Wild Stream Orchid by Holly McCarroll-Baker

Their scientific name is Epipactis gigantean and they are also called Chatter Box Orchid. Why? Because the flowers are hinged. When a breeze hits them the petals move. Listen closely and you might hear what they are saying!

Holly is a caterer and owner of Peace of Nature Farms in Annapolis. She catered the book launch party for my book, Mendonoma Sightings Throughout The Year. Here she is with photographer Craig Tooley and me just before the doors opened.

Jeanne, Holly and Craig at book launch by Nan Brichetto (Large)

 

Along with quite a few appetizers, she made 1000 truffles, yes 1000 truffles! And not one remained.

Thanks to Holly for a great catering job and for allowing me to share her photo with you here.

Two years in the making, Mendonoma Sightings Throughout The Year, is here.

Book Cover - Mendonoma Sightings Throughout the Year (Large)

On Sunday April 27th the book will be officially launched at Gualala Arts Center
3 pm to 5 pm. The event is free. Craig and I will be there signing books.

Sightings Love Letter Page

The Four-eyed Frog Bookstore in Gualala and the Point Arena Lighthouse also has them in stock. They are also available on this website.

Sightings Jellyfish Page87

I hope you will enjoy this beautiful book that shows the beauty of this wonderful place - the magnificent Mendonoma Coast.