We snapped this at the Marshall Gold SHP, but thanks to all the park rangers for their protection, education, and perserving the natural and cultural resources for all our use!
We visited the Marshall Gold State Historic Park in the town of Coloma, the site of Sutter's Mill where James Marshall first discovered gold in 1848. By the end of 1849 over 90,000 people came to California for the (beginning of the) gold rush.
Amy checked in using Foursquare at Lake Camanche Recreation Area on June 29.
We spotted many lizards at the Indian Grinding Rock SHP. The photo of Amy sitting and pointing to one that was laying in the sun was taken at the actual grinding rock.
We went to this beautiful state park called Indian Grinding Rock State Historic Park. It celebrates the Miwok and other Chaw'se native tribes that lived there before the minors came in 1849, and provides space for the current local Native Americans to play and have rituals. And it has a large rock with the most mortor holes (where in the past native women ground acorns and nuts with pestles) in all of North America (see photo of lizard in next blog post to see the rock). Of course, being an anthropologist, this was my most favorite state park so far. Unfortunately the museum was not open when we were there; we'll just have to go back!
Okay, so we saw this deer at our local Applegate Park Zoo and snapped a picture with the smart phone, so it's hard to see it but it's laying down in the sunny patch at the center.
My son said it looks like a sword handle, I say it looks like a hump-back whale.
This baby snowman was made in Yosemite in June. Yes, June. Best photo we could get before all the kids had fun destroying it.
The 2 red-tailed hawks behind my right shoulder are from our local zoo. The eagles are found in the wild in our county. We also have the privilege of going to the Merced National Wildlife Refuge just 8 miles south of our town to see other birds of prey (we usually see hawks and owls, not so much eagles).
If you look closely you will see this was not done by one of the kids. We should all be able to call ourselves artists.
My midwestern friends will be jealous to know that this is a common backyard experience in California.
Well, we don't live near the ocean but it's worth the drive to be in it.
We found the beach is a perfect location to watch the birds. Those silly gulls!
It's a good thing to get to know the history of our area, but sometimes it is sad and appalling. This is the Merced Assembly Center where Japanese-Americans were interned against their will during WWII.
Yes there are picnic tables at Lake Yosemite. No it is much more fun to spread the blanket down on the grass.
A big thanks to my son's friends for letting us bury them. I don't mind digging, I just didn't want to get sand in my face.
We went to the Happy Hollow Zoo and saw three kinds of lemurs (black & white ruffed, red ruffed, and ring-tailed). All three of these species are part of the Species Survival Plan, where threatened and endangered species are helped through breeding.
We went to the Happy Hollow Zoo in San Jose, but couldn't get a real good photo of the jaguar. It was just sleeping up on it's rock. BUT the carousel had a jaguar that I could get real close to!
We visited the mission of San Juan Bautista. While in the church my son announced to my mother that he's a pagan. Classic!
How many times have you gone over Pacheco Pass and not stopped at the top of the San Luis Reservoir? This is actually a great visitor's center!
Had a lovely day at Lake Yosemite, a Merced County park, playing frisbee with friends.
The perfect outdoor location for a wedding…
Over a year ago I attended an outdoor wedding in the Sierra foothills, Cathey’s Valley specifically, where my friends were married under a beautiful oak tree adorned with a green man. I believe the perfect location for an intimate outdoor wedding is anywhere in the foothills near Mariposa. Most wedding literature talks about how it’s nice to have nature as the backdrop to your beautiful wedding photos, but I say that being a part of nature is more important than just getting photos with some mountains or ocean in the background. To be barefoot on the sun-warmed rock, feel the wind blow on your check, smell the wild flowers, taste the fresh air, see nothing but green trees or gray rocks, and hear the sound of birds, is a privilege of being intimate with nature. While historical architecture is nice, and you won’t have to worry where your guests go the bathroom, in the foothills you can get the full body and soul experience of standing on the earth, being a part of it, while making vows to your soul mate and Higher Power. There are a few Bed and Breakfasts in Mariposa that could take away any worry you would have for your special guests, while you sleep under the stars.
