Jannie's PhotoBlog

California Wildfire ~ Fire Fight!!

2008-08-14T23:23:40Z

We live in Northern California, in the middle of a beautiful forest. We are in the heart of fire country and are having the worst fire season in recorded history. It is on my mind every day. I have an evacuation list made out in case we need to get out fast, and when we leave for a weekend we make sure someone is on stand-by to come get the kittys out should the unthinkable happen. (Thank you Patty!) So when we were coming home late Monday afternoon we saw a huge plume of smoke uncomfortably close to our house. We decided to go take some pictures & went to Rollins Lake about 5 minutes away. Thankfully, we also have one of Cal-Fires air attack bases located here in Grass Valley, CA. The air attack was on well before any ground crews could reach the flames. Cal-Fire threw everything they had available, including the huge DC10, several planes, and 3 helicopters. And lucky us, we had a front row seat to watch the 3 helicopters dipping their two 250 gallons buckets and one 500 gallon bucket into Rollins Lake, and then flying off to dump gallons and gallons of water on the flames. Wow!! I'm grateful to say that they beat it down in a hurry. It burned under their watchful eye for a day or two, but it was a catastrophe averted. Thank God for Cal-Fire! And thank you fire-fighters everywhere!

Caturday ~ Travel Cat

2008-07-22T22:04:49Z

We were packing to go away for 4th of July weekend. Spook evidently decided she was integral to the packing experience. It cracked me up!! Take me! Take me!!

Flower Power

2008-06-30T23:25:54Z

I love to grow flowers I have been a gardener for many years, growing just about everything you could grow. I eventually morphed into growing just what I love the most: flowers.... My boyfriend Neil (catdad) grows 12 foot tall tomatos, gargantuan zucchini, jalapenos, garlic, potatos, lettuce...pretty much all the veggies that we care to eat. So why duplicate efforts? I wandered around the garden today with the garden cat, and took these shots. The smoke from the fires has finally dissipated somewhat. I can finally open my windows & BREATHE

Caturday ~ Garden Cat

2008-06-23T21:03:54Z

Spook loves the garden. Here she is enjoying hanging out while I watered, sniffing the air and waiting for something to move! I hope to catch up with all of my treasured photoblog friends in the next week. I've been out of touch once again. Life gets in the way sometimes!

A Day to Remember ~ The Baroni Wedding in Mendocino CA

2008-06-07T02:00:35Z

Our dear friends Tim & Robin got married 2 weeks ago in an incredible cottage garden in Mendocino CA (see my last 2 posts for more of Mendocino). The weather had been horrendous for the 3 days before, but as if to confirm that this was meant to be, the winds calmed, the sun came out & the day was perfect! The wedding party consisted of 13 of us, including the bride & groom. The life of the party was Clydey, who is 90 & was best friends with Tim's parents Frank & Jackie, and Aunt Dora, who is 88 & was only on the walker until Monday when she expected to get her doctor's release to be done with it!! Clydey still drives thank you very much, and doesn't need any help navigating around on her home turf!! I only hope to be half as sharp as they are if I am lucky enough to live to be 90!! The stories they told at the reception had us all howling! And Dora apologized for leaving the party early saying "I have my little dog to return to, or I would stay, I am always up for a party!" I cracked up!! Bless her heart! We love you Tim & Robin!! We wish you many many happy years together, now that you have finally found each other! We loved being part of your special day. It was an honor. Jannie & Neil **Photo credits are to be shared with Neil, Marie & myself

Mendocino Getaway

2008-05-30T22:18:40Z

An incredible house by the sea... A coastal sunset... A few magical days with friends... Priceless!!!

Mendocino Botanical Gardens

2008-05-27T21:55:46Z

We finally got away on vacation last week. We spent a few days with friends in Mendocino CA on the California coast. These pics were taken at the Mendocino Botanical Gardens. We were lucky enough to be there to witness rhododendron season. These flowers are incredible, and grow to towering heights. My BFF PattyB was there 3 days earlier, and in much more miserable weather conditions. We got lucky.

ClayFest ~ Feats of Clay ~ (Part 2)

2008-05-15T22:58:02Z

Feats of Clay 2008 Part 2. Please see my previous post for more perspective. PattyB & I toured the Gladding, McBean Terra Cotta Factory last Saturday. These are some of the elite ceramic pieces chosen to represent some of the best ceramic artists in the world. Incredible! It makes me want to go throw some pots!!

Feats of Clay ~ (Part One)

2008-05-12T21:15:34Z

Last Saturday my BFF PattyB & I went to the 21st annual Feats of Clay ceramic competition at the GLADDING, McBEAN Terra Cotta Factory in nearby Lincoln, CA. This is a worldwide juried competition, and only the best artists get chosen to display their pieces. It runs during the month of May every year, and every year I want to go, and every year I've missed it... until now. I really went to see the ceramics, but upon touring the Gladding, McBean factory the artwork became secondary. The factory was fascinating. This is a living, breathing clay factory, in constant production since 1875. In 1875 Charles Gladding, who was a coal miner, was building a road through Lincoln for the purpose of reaching coal. He discovered one of the richest clay deposits in the world. Even today, Lincoln clay is the finest clay in the world. And the supply is enough to continue the factory's operations for at least another 400 years!! Their first product, and still one of their mainstays, is terra cotta sewer pipe. They also make clay roof tiles, piazza floor tiles, and garden pottery. But they are most renowned for their architectural terra cotta. Buildings all over the world are adorned by Gladding McBean masterpieces. Check out the link above to see their photo gallery. I will be posting more of the Feats of Clay pieces on my next post, and more of the factory after that.

Ride For A Reason

2008-05-04T23:11:26Z

My youngest brother Brian likes to ride mountain bikes. He rides with a race team called Mad Cat Racing. This weekend his team participated in a 24 hour race in Cool, CA. The Coolest 24 MTB These racers are insane! They ride a 12 mile loop over & over & over again, during a 24 hour period. I woke up at 4am thinking there are people in Cool riding their mountain bikes (with lights) all night long. And why do they do it? This is a total non-profit benefit to fight cancer. Wow!! We lost our Dad to lung cancer 21 years ago. He was only 64. Bri had an aweome picture of "Pops" pinned up in his campsite. When I saw it, it really brought it home to me, and brought tears to my eyes. I miss my dad every single day. The race organizers had a "Memory Hill" set up along the race course. They posted pictures of cancer survivors, as well as pictures of those who lost their battles with cancer. All of which are/were loved ones of the racers. I'm told there was not a dry eye in the house amongst those who passed by. Brian & his friend Joe raced in the solo single gear category. They did 8 laps each. That's 96 miles each. One of their team mates did 15 laps. 180 miles!! She got a 2nd place overall. Most people did this race as a relay, in teams of 4. The over-all winner was a 21 year old who did 20 laps solo. He had a single geared bike. Unbelievable!! **Updated** Adding shot #8 which is a picture of Bri on Memory Hill pointing to Dad's picture. It was the last time my Dad water-skiied at Lake Oroville & the whole family was there. It was an awesome day. I don't know who to give the photo credits to for this shot. B ut I am so grateful that he took it. I will always treasue it.