Free Range Kids

Reminds me of the movie, Stand By Me, only these guys are heading to the skate park.

Colorful Characters

Dusting Off the Sidewalk in Mendocino

Airport Day - People

Christmas Skunk Train Debarkation

Smart Cookie

In a canny tactical move, this little business woman sets up her artisanal food outlet at the farmers' market in the park.

A Walk in the Woods

 In her younger days, my mom hiked down Ray Gulch from above, something I've never done. This time, we went in to it from the highway, just to stretch our legs for a few yards.

The redwoods here are stained with silt, left by regular winter flooding of the Navarro River on the other side of the highway. The rhizomes of sword ferns and redwood sorrel survive the inundations to emerge and flourish in the spring. In the middle of this picture, multiple trunks of relatively young redwoods sprout from the charred remains of one of the original giants, long ago cut, milled, and sent to San Francisco for building (most likely). River flats like these are prime locations for growing the largest possible coast redwoods. All it takes is a thousand years of being left alone.

Salmonberries are already ripening, near the edge of the forest. Yes, I ate the best one before I thought to take a picture. Sweet and golden.

Goat Milk?

Farm Fresh?

You never know what fresh things you'll find on display at the Farmer's Market.

Mayan Weaver at the Market

Today's farmers' market had some light rain, but some people still turned out to shop. The market manager wrote up a nice preview for the local paper, including this tidbit:

Special this week: Katja Grace will bring her friend, Albertina López Húmez, a Mayan weaver from the town of Santa Catarina on Lake Atitlán, Guatemala. Albertina will demonstrate Mayan back-strap weaving and show her work, along with that of other Mayan craftspeople featured in Katja's "Tomorrow's Traditions" fair trade business.

According to the resident vendor, Katja, this woman will be going back to Guatemala before next week, even though her home has been "wiped out" by the flooding down there. I wish her well.

Super Women

Each magnificent in her own way, these three sometimes include other seniors in their Friday breakfast gatherings at Ardella's Diner. They call themselves The Shirley Temples, and they always look like they are up to some mischief - secrets and giggles and knowing looks.

Not a Pretty Picture

I don't know much about it, but I think this happens every year. Middle schoolers gather for a long walk down to the far end of Commercial Street, near the city ball fields and the rodeo grounds, to witness a grim scene. They find an overturned vehicle with injured, or worse off, occupants. Emergency vehicles begin to respond; fire, police, even a helicopter flies in eventually to retrieve possible survivors. The rumor is that the driver was drunk. It brings tears to my eyes every time. It makes an impression on me, and I hope it makes an impression on these kids, well before they can get behind the wheel. It is staged, of course, but I weep to see the dedicated responders rushing to the scene, sirens blaring, and the pulsing of the medivac helicopter on its somber approach. The seriousness these professionals devote to caring that these young people stay smart, and stay alive, brings tears even now. Whatever it takes.

Winter Farmer's Market Duet

Meanwhile, Back at the Engine House...

People kept warm any number of ways at the Holiday Express event. I'm always amazed at folks who seem to have shirt-sleeve metabolisms no matter what the temperature, especially kids. The hot chocolate was the best I ever tasted.

Even in the cold, the homemade peppermint ice cream was irresistible.

Skunk Train Depot at Christmastime

Predictably, more trains. The Skunk line is running a full schedule for the Christmas season.