Oh, It's Just a Bear!

     So, the deputy mayor leaves the garage door open for the Mayor's arrival in a few minutes a week ago Friday.  Around 3pm, she hears some rustling around.  "It must be the Mayor!"  Then the side door is shouldered open and in walks/ambles/struts the Bruin!  He was looking quite proud of his own boldness, and also quite unafraid.  After a quick look around in the kitchen, he walks past the frozen stiff deputy mayor sitting on the sofa, and goes down stairs to the lower level.  The deputy then races outside to the car, and locks the car door(after propping the exit door open) and waits for developments.  About 10 minutes later, the bear emerges from the garage and walks away.
       No damage apparently, and no untoward calling cards.
     The Mayor arrived a few minutes later and heard the details of the encounter.  Oh, well, it must have been a case of wrong address.  Then, about 6:30 pm, the Mayor opened the garage door from inside and there was the bear, about 3 feet away, staring into my baby blues.   What a feeling: shock and awe on both parties.  After a good yell, the bear ambled off, and walked down the hill next to the house.  The Mayor found the appropriate sized stone and threw a strike at the bear and hit him square in the ass.  He leaped in the air and raced into the forest below.   He stopped about 100 yds away and dug up some roots to satisfy his hunger at the moment.
     He obviously has made several house calls in the neighborhood.  Locals confirm that he has been very bold in his foraging efforts around Meeks Bay/Tahoma.   He better be careful, not all residents are enamored of bears, especially the bold intrusive types.
   Be careful when walking about in the dark: you never know who might show up!

Early Summer Heat

     Tahoma locals are relaxing in the long, sunny summer days here lakeside.  Records are falling around the state, California and Nevada both.  Death Valley could go above 129 degrees!  Las vegas is opening shelters for those unfortunates whose AC failed for one reason or another.  It could top 110 degrees down there.

     Big doings at Sugar Pine Pt. State park: kayak festival, tours, and events centered on the lake itself.  groups of seniors were seen trekking about the trails w/i the park.  Downtown Tahoma is busy with Westside Pizza and Where WE Met gelato dealing with a steady stream of customers.
     The weather also looks good for the big 4th of July weekend next week.  The 4th is on Thursday, so most folks that work will make the effort to take a long weekend.
    Remember: NO Fireworks in Tahoma!  Yes, we had rain last week, but that was 5 days ago.  It's hot and dry again.
Next:
Bear Story

Waking up in the morning: on the Farm

     So, the word went out- we'd like some volunteers among the volunteers, to join the residents in a specialty harvest of root crops on the farm.   Seems that the first beets of the season are ready for pulling.  Also, several rows of vegetables need some hoeing applied in earnest.   This would take place after morning meditation, around 5:50am.
     Well, are you all in or what?  So, at the appointed hour, these noble souls gathered at the 'farm' shed to meet with Kyume for instructions.  The hoes were in place, and the crop supervisor gathered the stalwarts for the beet picking.  Off we went to find the rows.
     It was a damp morning, but the skies were clear and temps were not too low- a good day was in the offing.  With a quick demonstration of what to look for and how to proceed, off we went to our task: pull beets!!!!
    In what seemed like minutes, we had clusters of leaf topped beets ready for boxing.  Some rows held golden beets, those popular items found on the menu of many local restaurants.  Shortly thereafter, the sun found our backs.  What a great way to start the day.  After an hour or so, it was off to the dining room for our morning meal and a nice cup of hot coffee.  It tasted sooo good.
    All the volunteers enjoyed the experience, a rare one at that.  How often does one get to harvest beets- in volume?   Not very often.
     These vegetables will find there way into many local homes and businesses-direct from the field to table.  The epitome of "farm fresh" produce.
     After breakfast, it was back to our other work around Green Dragon Temple/Farm.

Muir Beach and Green Gulch Farm

     The Mayor had an interesting week last week.  He had signed on to volunteer his time at the Green Dragon Buddhist Temple and Zen Center in Muir Beach, a seaside community in southern Marin County, CA.   Being somewhat familiar with the locale, the mayor assumed cool, foggy days, with a hint of sun late in the afternoon.   The sheltered location in a verdant valley, traversed by little Redwood Creek, is a world unto itself.   Home to about 50+ practitioners of Soto Zen Buddhism, the residents maintain a cloistered lifestyle, but not in total isolation.
     Their programs reach out to the community in the form of classes on meditation, philosophy, and intensive agriculture which they practice on site.  They also provide access to their communal buildings, making them available, for a fee, to groups who wish to hold meetings in an isolated, but easily accessed location.   The guest facilities, dining room, and gardens offer ample space for mid-sized groups(20-40).   Trails abound that cross the farm leading to the beaches and view sites in the Golden Gate National Seashore which surrounds the property.  Of course, Mt. Tam is also on the perimeter with its many trails and hiking avenues.
     The past week involved 22 volunteers of all stripes: retirees, students, grad students, artists, and a few types on "vacation".  Many had done this program before, coming back for a renewed effort, giving freely of their time and effort.
     Most of the work focused on exterior maintenance of existing buildings, much of it having been deferred for awhile.   Fortunately, the weather cooperated, and after a night of light rain on Sunday night, the days warmed up and on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, the sun shone brightly, and gallons of iced tea were in order!
more later

The Longest Day

The Summer Solstice is sneaking up on us.  That longest of long days is the beginning of official summer, but not necessarily of the summer "season" which begins, tentatively on Memorial Day weekend.
     Will the fun seeking hoards descend on the basin to frolic in the blue waters of Tahoe?  It seems that fewer visitors have the time or the money to take a vacation in June, excepting weekends.  Some families will have their children in school all this week.  Amazing!   The theory goes that more hours means better outcomes(I hate that word) for students.   But we know from experience that many more factors affect "outcomes", not just more time in the classroom "learning".
     None the less, the longest day will come and go, and with it, many extra hours to enjoy the outdoors, when winter is a distant memory, and thoughts of swimming, hiking, beach time, and a good book fill our days.   Depending on the latitude, it could mean 14 or more hours in these parts.   Day break shortly after 5am and sunset after 8pm, almost 9pm will seem somehow extraordinary.
    Enjoy the daylight and enjoy the Summer Solstice.

NOLA, end of May

     The Mayor and a delegation traveled into Delta Country to walk the ground and revisit the Crescent City and examine the post-Katrina efforts since the hurricane of August, 2005.   Things are getting better.   There was little evidence on the surface of the damage inflicted on the city.   Locals insist that overall, the situation has improved considerably from the dark days following the disaster.
     The large Mercedes Benz logo on the Superdome roof testifies to a resurgent interest in the economy.   Many visitors were seen walking through the doors of Harrahs Casino off Canal St.   Moderate temperatures and low relative humidity combined for a comfortable daytime experience.
    As always, the World war II National Museum was better than ever.  The new Boeing Aviation Pavilion was a big hit.   Hanging from the ceiling is a complete B-17 4 engine bomber.  nearby, a B-25 bomber is also hanging.  A P-51 Mustang and an F4-U Corsair complete the scene.
     On the main floor is an interactive exhibit that features the story of the submarine USS Tang, the most successful of all US Navy subs during the war.   It was lost with most of her crew after one of its own torpedoes went wild, striking and sinking the doomed ship.  It causes all to reflect on the tragedy and triumph of the event.
more later.....

Breaux Bridge,LA

        Where is the typical Southern town?  What does it look like and who all lives there?  The mayor and the Deputy made  an attempt to answer these pressing questions on a recent visit to southwest, Louisiana-Cajun Country!
      You've heard of Cajun Country or maybe not.   It is that small corner of the South that became the refuge for forcibly displaced Acadians, those French citizens who had immigrated to Nova Scotia in the 1700's.   When the British government asked for their complete allegiance, they balked, and the Brits retaliated by confiscating their land and homes and forced them into exile.   Many of the 6,000 found a home in southwest Louisiana, where their root name, Acadien, was twisted into Cajun.
It is now the home of crawfish, crabs, and seafood in general, wrapped in oil and gas production.  Small towns surround the city of Lafayette, the heart of the regio
        Many visitors find the area unforgettable because of its unique characteristics: a cultural mix of Caribbean, Creole, Native American, Whites, Blacks, some Latinos, and others.   All of these project a personality steeped in Delta history.   The Acadien experience wraps the entire mix and  makes the southwest an attractive destination.
more later.....

The Tough Mudder Race: July 13th,2013

      Summer must be here:  the local events are starting to pile up.  The Cross Tahoe Paddle board race is just around the corner.  That's the race from north-to-south(about 22 miles).  Not for the faint of heart.  It could take one 8 hours, especially if there's a head wind.
    In July, at the Northstar Resort, an event called the Tough Mudder will take place over a weekend, the 13th and 14th.   This is a crosscountry affair, with obstacles.   Now at first glance, the obstacles look to be a variation on the military O course for recruits in basic training.  But on closer inspection, one can see that they are a bit more challenging, a bit more devilish, a bit more  doubtful as to outcome.  They all bring to mind a question: am I up to it?  Will I fall off one or the other?  Why am I doing this?   And of course, at various obstacle points, getting down and dirty in the mud is part of the obstacle.
     There is an entry fee: $145 for Saturday, and $135 for Sunday.   These prices will hardly deter a serious mudder participant.   These events are held at many different locations around the country, and Tahoe is just one of the many.   One can participate as an individual, but it seems that the team concept is the way to go.  The Minister of Transportation and Manufacturing will participate with a team of select athletes who have trained for the event.   Good luck Team Tahoma!

A. Hays Town: Architect of Louisiana

      The reputation of architects is grounded in their work: signature designs translated into remarkable structures pleasing to the observers' eye.   In the South and in Louisiana in particular, the classic style is recalled by many with an appreciation for the location and the history associated with the agricultural traditions of 19th century America.
       A. Hays Town, a 20th century architect, developed a style of residential design that became a modern classical version of Louisiana's past, especially in the south of Louisiana.  Mr. Town began his career in Baton Rouge in 1939, but in the 1960's, turned to his passion: residential design, to make his lasting impression.   He incorporated the essence of the Acadian cottage: a raised front porch and front stairs.
     He produced over 500 homes that included his signature elements: Spanish courtyards, exterior French doors and Creole-influenced full length shutters, tree alleys, pigionniers, 13' foot ceilings, and the extensive use of cypress and heart of pine.
     The mayor had the good fortune to stay in a home in Breaux Bridge, LA, that incorporated many of theses features, no doubt copied from A. Hays Town.
     A recent publication displays many examples of his work, including his own home.  The book was published in 1999 by LSU Press.

Book Review: Goodbye to all That

      A good classic read makes up for a lot of dogs that have crossed the table for any regular bibliophile.  Amazon makes classics available any time-just look and there they are.   One in particular caught my eye by the esteemed author, Robert Graves, from the UK, vintage early 20th century.
      Robert Graves, a Brit, born in 1895, wrote this autobiography at age 33, when most of us are still trying to figure it out.  At this stage of Graves' life, he had already published acclaimed poetry and an account of T.E. Lawrence and his Arabian adventures.  He had completed studies at Oxford and most significantly, had survived the First World War.
      Much of his biography focuses on that experience, an infantry officer in the trenches on the Western Front, not the most enviable positions for any man.  His insights rang a bell, and his thoughts were similar to many of those who shared that type of experience.  As often happens, writing of that time during a life, helps to heal the psychological and physical wounds.  His book is filled with episodes from his military service across the English Channel, his wounding, his recovery and hospitalization, and his redeployment.   The book also includes his analysis of contemporary poets Siegfried Sassoon and Wilfred Owen, both participants in the war zones of France and Belgium.
      His insights into the behaviors of officers and enlisted men are excellent, describing uniform characteristics of men in battle, before and after.
     He was a prolific writer up until his death in 1957.  My first introduction to his work occurred at an early age, 15, when studying Greek classical poetry and Graves' translations of the Greek myths.    
     He could easily be classified as one of the great authors, genius really, of the English language.   

         A thorough telling of his life, a modern biography, is in process, by author Jane Moorcroft Wilson, (2019).

Big Weekend Forecast

      Seems like summer will be launched this weekend around Tahoe and the state in general.  Our good friend and advocate, Tom Stienstra the columnist, predicts fantastic conditions for outdoor recreation.   First, the temps will be high, with some in the valley soaring over 100 degrees.  Second, most lakes, natural and dammed, will be near capacity-excellent for boating and fishing.  Third, camp sights have openings, although many have been booked full.
       So, children, get out there: enjoy these early days of summer,2013- not too crowded, not too hot, and definitely not too expensive(gasoline is under $4./gal!)

      Local businesses are looking for redemption from meager winter results.  Despite a resurgence in visitors from earlier recession seasons, the overall climate is guarded as reports of late indicate the recovery is modest at best, and causing concern at the highest levels of government.
     See you at the Lake!