Hummingbird Update

It's been about 10 days or so since the babies hatched, and every day brings new developments. Their eyes are open, downy fluff has appeared on their heads, their wings are getting feathers, and their beaks are growing longer. Mama bird leaves them alone in the nest most of the day, while they sleep.

Sometimes they get restless and flap around a bit, eager to fly. It's been such a joy to watch them grow!

Hatchlings!

Our dedicated little scarlet-breasted hummingbird, who has braved severe winter storms, rain and extremely cold nights, became a new mother this weekend when her two tiny eggs hatched successfully. 

She's been busy feeding her chicks by foraging for nectar and tiny bugs several times an hour, then returning to the nest to feed them to her hungry babies.

The hatchlings are still blind and featherless and can barely lift their heads up. But when Mama comes home with food, they eagerly crane their necks and beg to be fed.

We're hoping for more sun and warmer weather to make these little guys more comfy for the next few weeks until they fluff up and learn to fly. Until then, they're completely reliant on Mom to feed them and keep them warm. 

Ah, Nature!

San Mateo Canyon Wilderness Hike

After many weeks of welcome rain here in SoCal, we finally had a sunny Saturday, so we decided to hike the San Mateo Wilderness park. This is the walk about a mile in from the Morgan Trailhead. Everything is green and lush and wet! Yay!

On the drive back on the Ortega Highway, we stopped an overlook to see a canyon that has become a giant waterfall because of the rain runoff. If you zoom in, you can also see that someone (wearing orange) is highlining across the gorge on a tightrope!

Here's a close up:

In other news, a hummingbird has built a next in the tree outside my office, and she appears to be sitting on some eggs. More news soon?

Santa Barbara overnight

John and I drove up the coast for a short visit and walked to the Santa Barbara pier this afternoon to do some people watching, and it turns out, some birdwatching, as well. A storm had just passed through town, making the sky and the light spectacular.

A pelican about to alight.

The giant palms are very Seussian.

View from the beach looking north to the pier.

 The requisite selfie at the end of the pier and...

... a rainbow. A good omen for 2019?

Home for the Holidays

Fall Food

I always post when we're "somewhere more ________ than home," but in my effort to appreciate home as much as being on the road, today's post features two fall food photos: Pomegranates from a surprise tree I found in the empty lot near our Laguna house, and homemade challah loaves.

Craftiness

While I've been working at the theatre, John's been busy improving the cabin and building things. A few pics of his handiwork.

A bench and tables for enjoying the views from the porch.

New stair rails made from local wood. (Thanks, Matt!)

A garden bed. (Chipmunks ate the flowers though.)

 New doors and screen doors, painted and varnished. 

We hung this light fixture that is a family heirloom.

And, of course, a rack for our fishing rods.

Seeds of Change is almost open

This week found me in final rehearsals and production meetings for the Young Audience Outreach Tour. Here are some candid, less-than-flattering shots of what I hope to be a great tour to 30,000+ students, each one eager and attentive to learn about the environment and themselves.

Production meeting includes Mac on props, Harry designing lights, tour managers Heidi and Aaron, Ian the composer, Natalie on sound and our director Melissa, plus...

puppeteer Anna, producer Johamy and wardrobe mistress Elly.  

Below, Nick poses as Nanny Goat, dressed here for the top of the show. 

We rehearsed several times at the Creede gym to get a feel for what some of the venues will be like on the road.

Touchstone's hat features a tiny bird.

Costume designer Kate works with Elly to help Lyndi get into her sleeping cap.

Nick and Lyndi are eager to get started.

The tour hits the road on Monday, with Aaron, Nick and Lyndsi headed to the Southwest. Look for them in Laguna Beach in November!

PS For pics of the opening show, go to: www.lojosimon.com/seedsofchange

Shallow Creek Trail

Hike along Shallow Creek on a picture-perfect day-off:

The water is so clear and the aspen bark so white against the blue sky.

The alpine views never disappoint.

 
Wildflowers are still in bloom along the trail...

... but here and there, aspens are beginning to turn as the weather gets colder. 

This morning, temps were in the high 30s. 

By the time we went out around 10 am, it was 57 degrees on the car thermometer, 

and by the time we finished hiking, we were stripping off our sweaty shirts in 75-degree sunshine.

Evidence of wildlife is abundant here. Giant beaver dams cause stream water to pool and quiet alongside picked-over elk carcasses.

 

With less than three weeks left before we head back to Laguna, we're already feeling a little nostalgic about having to leave behind all this beauty.

Seeds of Change

What brought us to Colorado? Rehearsal for Creede Repertory Theatre's Young Audience Outreach Tour of SEEDS OF CHANGE by me, with music by Ian LeRoy. Here are a few early rehearsal pix, starting with Michael and Nick. Since we have two tours, we have two casts: Michael and Ezinne ("Azy") tour Colorado and Kansas, while Nick and Lyndsi tour the Southwest.

The artistic team, led by Melissa Firlit, gathers for the first read-thru.

Azy and Lyndsi both play the role of Rosey Kate.

Ian, composer and music director, offers notes.

Costume designer Kate Mott shares an image of Rosey Kate's birthday dress.

And we have puppets! Puppeteer Anna shows the actors how to manipulate Ferdinand, the swordfish.

Azy and Michael practice choreography.

Lyndsi and Nick have a moment.