“… blogging about life, travel, books, food and the outdoors”
Wildflowers popping well before spring arrives
The last day of February had to be earliest hike I’ve been on where the intent was to seek out wildflowers. Foothill Regional Park in Sonoma County was more than accommodating. While clearly still early in the season, it was amazing to see so many different types of...
SCOTUS knocks vote by mail option
In a truly democratic society it would seem like the powers that be would make it easier for people to vote instead of taking rights away. The regime in the majority in the United States is hellbent on taking away rights. It makes me wonder if this is even a democracy...
Autumn colors beginning to show
Fall is in the air, or at least on the leaves, and it’s only August. November seems to be peak foliage season in Chico, but it might be earlier this year based on seeing hints of color in the last couple weeks. Chico is spectacular in the fall with all the trees...
Fishing captures another side of Lake Tahoe
Music. It’s what makes a fish bite. Just ask Tyler Chia. While everyone else had dinner chilling on ice, he didn’t have so much as a nibble. Then Capt. Zach Gordon asked Chia what tunes he wanted to listen to. The country got eighty-sixed, as it wasn’t helping anyone....
Giants honor players from World Series era
When Brandon Belt, Brandon Crawford, Joe Panik, Buster Posey and Pablo Sandoval took to the field at Oracle Park magic happened. If only history would repeat itself. For a brief moment earlier this month the five returned to this San Francisco ballpark. All were being...
Book review: ‘The Secret of Secrets’ is a page-turner
The Secret of Secrets (Doubleday, 2025) is a whodunnit that will keep you coming back for more. This is a long one. So long that I needed to get it twice from Libby in order to finish listening to all 23 hours. Author Dan Brown is known for his detailed novels. He...
Volunteers keep Tahoe trail system functioning
Lopers, picks, shovels, mallets, McLeod’s, saws, carts and other items dotted the hillside. Instead of this lineup of tools being employed to build something, they were used to decommission 1,300 feet of social trails in Van Sickle Bi-State Park in June. Finding a...
Giants games starting in 2027 will sound different
Next to being at the ballpark, listening to baseball on the radio is my favorite way to experience a game. I’ve never met Mike Krukow or Duane Kuiper, but I feel like I know them. For the last 36 years they have been the voices of the San Francisco Giants. Krukow is...
No snow melts Vail Resorts’ coffers
Winter came and went in a blink of an eye. For Vail Resorts it was a black eye. During the third quarter earnings call in June “challenging” was one of the most used words. Lack of snow translated to fewer people hitting the slopes, which meant challenging sales of...
Russian River Brewing Co. blends beer, sustainability
If you’ve heard of the beer Pliny the Elder, then you know Russian River Brewing Company. What you might not know is this Sonoma County brewery was founded in 1997 by Korbel Champagne Cellars in Guerneville. Vinnie Cilurzo was hired 40 years ago as the first brew...
U-pick peach event at Chico State a sweet endeavor
I figured out the best thing I can do with 23 pounds of peaches is to just eat them. No cutting, no cooking, no canning. OK, so while that is the best way to enjoy a peach, it’s not the only way. But first, why are there so many peaches in the house? Because I finally...
I had the boosters and have had covid three times and had "long term covid" after my return from Baja…
Good for you and your Mom. I've had COVID twice and it was like the worst flu I've ever had…
I'm with you. I have been spared and have kept up with the boosters. No telling if I am just…
With you - I've been spared & want to keep saying that!