Mountain Lions Are Cowards

When I showed you the fence in Olompali State Park last week I deliberately left out one part of the fence - it's the same fence in a different area. I want you to look at the very right of the fence - yes, there is a sign. Two signs actually. A brown one and an almost white one.

Let's get closer. Those of you familiar with this kind of signs will recognize them. The brown one just tells you not to enter this area in order to protect natural features. That area is closed because they're restoring the habitat. So please don't climb over the fence.

The lower is a bit more severe, a warning that shouldn't be taken lightly. Those of you in the West know what I am talking about.

Cougars. Mountain Lions. Pumas.

Around where I live these signs are pretty common. We see them in every state park, every part of wilderness. Mountain lions live here. Sometimes they even come into urban areas. A couple years ago a cougar was seen by the security cameras at my husband's company's work site. One was roaming a golf course (it might have been the same one). A few more years ago a mountain lion was seen in the neighborhood where I live now. As they say - where there are deer there is a cougar. At least here in the West.

Notice that the sign advises to avoid hiking alone. Well, I often hike alone. So far I've never seen a cougar - but I'm pretty sure that the cougar has seen me. More than once, probably. I remember a few years ago, when I was hiking in Annadel State Park on my own I suddenly got this really weird feeling - like someone was watching me. The hairs on my back literally raised! When I saw mountain lion scat on the trail before me I knew that I better had to turn around - which I did, and after a couple hundred yards the weird feeling stopped. I'm pretty sure that a cougar had been close by, and it probably was wise to turn around.

I didn't really want to make the acquaintance of these paws.

Nor of those teeth.

One day I was talking to one of the rangers in the park, asking him how very likely it was to run into a mountain lion. He told me that they are around but usually don't get into the way of humans. I shouldn't tie my shoe under a tree - the cougar might rest up in there (after that I found myself scanning every tree next to the trail). Then he said "Mountain lions are cowards. They usually attack from the back".

Now that put my mind at rest!

These last three photos I took a few years ago in the Arizona Sonoran Desert  Museum in Tucson.

I'm linking my cougar fence to Theresa's Good Fences over at the Run Around Ranch.

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Interested in mountain lions?

I have a set of photo cards in my Etsy store.

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Rust

This rusty fence or gate I discovered in Olompali State Park near the historic buildings. Only when I came closer did I see all the beautiful detail that was hidden in the shade of the huge trees.

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When I saw all the rust I had to think of Knipsa and how much she would like this. I'm pretty sure she would have loved this place.

The gate must have been very pretty once, and it still kept some of that beauty long gone.

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Isn't this just beautiful? I loved it and spent quite some time looking for lovely rusty detail. I like how well it works with the green background.

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This is, of course, for Kim's Texture Tuesday!

Stately Fence

You are probably not surprised that this week's fence comes from Olompali State Park. This park doesn't only have beautiful trees and an abundance of Calla Lilies but also some fences that look quite nice. Knipsa will be delighted to learn that there will be a "rusty" post about the park in the near future as well!

From this fence you can see the view over to San Pablo Bay, and I imagine that from the hiking trails that are higher up in the park the view is even more fantastic. I will find out one day!

For now I just leave you with the fence and the beautiful trees in this park. In a few months, the green will be gone and the dominating color will be brown again. This is why I love winter so much - it turns everything green, in a wonderful fresh green.

Of course I'm linking up to Theresa's Good Fences.

Meandering Lilies

Last Saturday when I visited Olompali State Park, the first thing I noticed before even entering the parking lot were the beautiful trees and the Calla Lilies that grow here in abundance.

They follow the creek that you can only hear but not see. It's lovely how they meander through the meadow and past the trees.

Processed with Kim's texture "kk_evolve2"

There were many lovely spots that showed the wilderness of this place and where the Calla Lilies emerged.

I'm usually not a big fan of Calla Lilies, but here in this park, at this creek I loved them. They were perfect and belonged here.

I'm linking up with Kim's Texture Tuesday.

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Cattails are wonderful plants we find in nature as well,

often in wild places next to a lake or river.

They make beautiful photo cards, available in my Etsy store.

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Sunday Gratitude

After having read my blog this week, what do you think I am most grateful for this Sunday?

Yes, of course, the US citizenship that we received last Wednesday. It's been a big step, a long process with such a happy ending.

I am also deeply thankful for all the kind reactions I got, especially from you, my friends. You showed so much kindness and joy for and with me, it truly touched my heart. I feel so blessed because of you. Thank you.

This week was also our wedding anniversary - 17 years. I am such a lucky woman to have a husband like him. He is a good man, and I love him. I can't imagine my life without him. We went through some tough times together, but also some incredible happy times, and I still cherish his humor. He is the best companion I could ever imagine.

I enjoy our evening walks. Almost every evening after dinner we take a short or sometimes longer walk through the neighborhood. It's the time when none of us is busy with anything else, it's just for the two of us when we can talk or also be quiet together. It has become a beautiful routine in our life.

Yesterday I discovered a new state park, Olompali Historic State Park. While Kaefer was at German School I went to this park and explored it a little bit. Next time I'll take my hiking boots and hike up one of those trails! It's beautiful up there with lots of gorgeous trees. I love trees and this was some kind of paradise for me. How lucky we are to live in such a beautiful area.

I spent a lot of time in my front garden, redoing the garden path I had made two years ago. It was just a little bit too straight, and I wanted it more in a meandering way. The hummingbird sage is spreading out as well and got into the path which I didn't like either. Every time I walked along there I had to push the pink flowering currant to the side which isn't ideal either. It was just poor planning on my side. So I finally pulled out the path stones and laid them in a different way through the flowers. It looks so much more beautiful now. I'm still not done because I ran out of the path stones. I need to go to Home Depot and get some more. I also transplanted my coffeeberry bush since it clearly wasn't happy in the place it was and got crowded out by some salvia. This has been resolved now. And there's still a lot of trimming and pruning going on.

And last but not least, we got some rain yesterday on our way back from Novato. It was raining so hard that we could hardly see the cars in front of us. The sky had turned very dark, there was some lightning, and then the hail started. It was over after ten minutes.

How was your week?

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Spring means gardening.

Write down ideas for your garden in a journal 

available in my Etsy store.

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