Enjoying the variety of landscapes on offer in our biosphere this late summer.

Had a nice father-son camping trip, the foibles of car camping notwithstanding (Disney movies?). More on that later, perhaps.

“A few minutes ago every tree was excited, bowing to the roaring storm, waving, swirling, tossing their branches in glorious enthusiasm like worship. But though to the outer ear these trees are now silent, their songs never cease. Every hidden cell is throbbing with music and life, every fiber thrilling like harp strings, while incense is ever flowing from the balsam bells and leaves. No wonder the hills and groves were God’s first temples, and the more they are cut down and hewn into cathedrals and churches, the farther off and dimmer seems the Lord himself.” ~John Muir

Here are several more photos from Jr’s 9th birthday nature walk.

This is what happens when you turn your daughter loose with a camera in the woods. See the whole set on flickr.

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Watch full screen. A Russian research ship on a supply mission to Antarctica. Some really surprising and amazing imagery.

In rainy December, it’s always nice to get the heck out of Puddle Town. Los Angeles is usually quite nice this time of year, but this year they got more rain than they know what to do with (as illustrated by this giant mud puddle on Mulholland Drive).

We did Disney (in a fever, on one of the busiest days ever)…

But also the way cool (and way less insane) Page Museum at La Brea Tar Pits.



We enjoyed the local fauna, too, and also a nice, intimate New Year’s Eve party, thanks to our extremely gracious hosts.

And of course, the drive is part of the vacation. We have a special place we like to stop at for dinner in Sacramento, and we love the Mt. Shasta area.

Many thanks to M & S for hosting us, and happy tree rat hunting to them!