Monthly Archives: September 2012

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As promised, here are a few more photos of the 10 13/16th inch Abalone Ken Bailey found while diving off of The Sea Ranch. It is uncommonly large for an area that sees abalone divers often during the season. It's an all-time record for Ken.

These photos were taken by Ken's diving buddy, Jack Likins. They are in the process of filming a sequel to their DVD "Hunt for Red Treasure" and caught this find on film. 
Thanks to both of these awesome abalone hunters.

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Last Thursday morning, Rick and I, along with our golden retriever, Huckleberry, took a hike at Gualala Point Regional Park. It was a breezy day and the fog had pulled back leaving us in sunshine.

This is the view from one of the trails. On the middle right is the Gualala River lagoon. On the bluffs is the town of Gualala. The rocky islands in the middle are Fish Rocks, where a large colony of Sea Lions live.

Something moved in the grasses that caught my eye. When I looked at my photograph, I found I had photographed a Praying Mantis!

Paying attention to things both big and small brings unexpected surprises!

To see one of the most popular photos on this blog, here's the link to Siegfried Matull's photo of a Praying Mantis with its wings extended: http://www.mendonomasightings.com/2011/10/07/two-photos-of-a-praying-mantis-from-coastal-photographer-siegfried-matull/

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Adrian Bennett entitled this photo "Love in the morning." I think you will see why.

Two Fawns with their necks entwined with the mother in the grass behind them. You can see a wave just about to break in the Pacific Ocean. A peaceful scene at Adrian's home on The Sea Ranch. I thank her for allowing me to share it with you here.

To see two of my favorite newborn fawn photos, here are the links: http://www.mendonomasightings.com/2012/05/26/a-tiny-fawn-was-sleeping-right-outside-ron-levalleys-front-door/
http://www.mendonomasightings.com/2012/05/28/another-precious-newborn-fawn-photo-i-wanted-to-share-with-you/

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Earlier this week a Monarch Butterfly visited my garden. A butterfly bush paid dividends when this beauty came to feed on it.

Monarch Butterflies are Mother Nature's stained glass creation - a vision of loveliness to brighten our day.

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Ken Bailey and his diving buddy, Jack Likins, were amazed at the huge Abalone Ken found while diving last Saturday.

That is an eleven inch gauge. Ken's abalone measured 10 13/16 inches. As his wife, Wendy, put it, "It was a BEAST!!!"  It weighed 9.6 pounds in the shell and 6.3 pounds out of the shell. That's a lot of good eating.

Ken and Jack were filming that day and caught this catch on film. They are in the process of creating their next abalone diving movie. It will be titled, "The Secrets of Successful Abalone Diving." Yes, they sure do know how to successfully dive for abalone!

Thanks to Ken for allowing me to share his photo with you here. In a few days I will show you a photo of Ken with this beast of an abalone.