One storm was moving out before sunset last night, leaving us with this beautiful sight.
The last storm for a while moved in today and we have received a solid inch of the wet stuff, and it's raining as I write this. Mushrooms are appearing as if by magic. And it's such a blessing to have early rains.
I originally presented these photos, more than 140 of them, in late October of last year. It was thrilling to show them on the huge screen at the Gualala Arts Center. So many people told me they couldn't make the October event that I was asked to do a repeat performance. Something new this time: there will be a segment of drone photography showing the beauty of the coastline from a bird's eye perspective.
The Four-eyed Frog will also be there with an array of books on nature and photography.
To learn more, here is the link to the Gualala Arts Center: https://gualalaarts.org/2025/01/mendonoma-sightings-redux/
Hope you can come and by doing so you will be supporting local journalism. We're trying so very hard to save our beloved newspaper, the Independent Coast Observer Community News!
Here's a critter you don't see every day - a Long-tailed Weasel. Mike Petrich and Karen Wilkinson found this fellow or gal on the Sonoma Coast recently.
These weasels are awfully cute, but they are fierce hunters! I did a feature article for the Press Democrat on them which you can read at this link: https://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/lifestyle/cute-cunning-long-tailed-weasels-thrive-in-sonoma-county/
Thanks to Mike for allowing me to share his photo with you here.
Another spectacular, warm day on the Mendonoma Coast. The weather people say it's going to be 20 degrees cooler tomorrow with rain coming in late Friday night into Saturday. April showers...
Our local bookstore in Gualala, the Four-eyed Frog, is a treasure. It's a community owned, independent bookstore. I will be there on Friday, Nov. 24, signing books. Or just come by and say hello! The last two Sunny books about nature, beautifully illustrated by Genny Wilson, have turned out so well. In each season we "hide" something for children of all ages to find. In Autumn it's butterflies. In Winter it's mushrooms. They are coloring pages at the end of each book of the flora and fauna found in each season. And there's a page for a person's own nature sightings. These are books to treasure!
And photographer Craig Tooley,and I are so proud of the success of our 'Mendonoma Sightings Throughout the Year.' The Four-eyed Frog alone has sold over 2,500 copies of our coffee table book, an astounding number. They will also be available for purchase. They've been given as Christmas presents, wedding presents, graduation presents, birthday presents...well, you get the picture. Here's a look at the cover.
Here's a link to the Four-eyed Frog Books: https://www.foureyedfrog.com/
And you can see more about my books at these two links:
http://www.mendonomasightings.com/the-book/
Hope to see some of you Friday! You can also call in an order. I'll inscribe it as per your instructions and the Frog will mail it. 707 884-1333.
We had a lot of unsettled weather for a few days, and it continues today with rain showers now and then. On Sunday morning, I looked out and saw this rainbow.
About fifteen minutes later, I saw this beautiful fogbow.
Amazing, but true!
As I write this post this afternoon, the sun is shining brightly on the wet ground.