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The beauty of Hearn Gulch is something to be savored again and again. Eric Duff visited the lovely pocket beach just before sunset, and you can see the sun shining through the sea tunnel.

There is also a blowhole on the north side, and when the ocean swells begin to build, that's the time to see if the blowhole is in action. Here's a photo I took last month.

Parking for Hearn Gulch is found at mile marker 10.0, near Iversen Road in Mendocino County. To learn more about the several treasured places the Redwood Coast Land Conservancy has brought to us, here is their website: http://www.rc-lc.org/

There is a convenient "Donate" button on their site. They are actively fundraising at this time.

Thanks to Eric for allowing me to share his beautiful photo with you here.

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Marcelia Fosse was the lucky forager when she found Chanterelles, Cantharellus cibarius.

Marcelia was inspired by her find and she created this poem.

"Silver Bells…

Golden Chanterelles…

Friends, holidays, and fairy tales."

Thanks to Marcelia for allowing me to share her photo - and her poem - with you here.

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Mel Smith went to see if any of the beautiful white Tundra Swans had returned to the Garcia River area. He first looked at Hunter lagoon off of Biaggi Lane, and then at Brush Creek lagoon but found no Swans. The last big storm had washed away the sand, and drained the wetlands in both places, at least for now.

Mel then went to Hathaway Creek, which is found on the Point Arena-Stornetta Lands and found the fields flooded. There he saw four Tundra Swans, the first of many, we hope.

Here's a photo from a few years ago of two Tundra Swans in flight, taken by Anne Mary Schaefer.

In years past, there have been hundreds of these swans in the floodplains of the Garcia River. We hope more will return to overwinter on the southern Mendocino coast.

Thanks to Mel and Anne Mary for allowing me to share their photos with you here.

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Cathleen Crosby photographed another beautiful sunset. With the light reflecting up into the sky, it does look like a spotlight.

spotlight-sunset-by-cathleen-crosbyThanks to Cathleen for allowing me to share her unique sunset photo with you here.

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Amy Ruegg recently photographed stormy weather, which is what we are having today.

storm-clouds-by-amy-rueggAfter a wet storm earlier today, we have what I call a "wait five minutes" kind of day. Brilliant sunshine, quickly followed by showers, maybe a little hail, and then more sunshine. It's a fun day to prepare for the holiday!

Thanks to Amy for allowing me to share her photo with  you here.