I took these images in Trinity County yesterday, on a work related journey into the mountains northwest of Redding.
Above, the Stuart Fork of the Trinity River. You can usually find some spots of riotous color in the Northstate. But for the most part, the forests around us are accented in Autumn with muted orange, golds, and browns. And this year is particularly dry, too.
Meanwhile back in Redding, we are still getting ripe tomatoes in early November. This may be last few for this year however. Another blessing of our mild Winters.
Greenish bird with red topknot comes knocking
I don’t know what kind of bird this is, but it really seems to want to come inside the house.
The red topknot folds down into a red spot when not in use.
Persistent bird has been tapping on the window for most of 2 days now. Click to enlarge.
Not getting much work done with bird tapping away. Maybe that’s okay.
Butch the cat votes for letting persistent bird in. I’m afraid his vote doesn’t count.
Persistent red topknot bird. It’s ReallyRedding.
Record Searchlight goes retro to celebrate anniversary
If you haven’t seen it, today’s local newspaper looks pleasingly retro. The Redding Record Searchlight is formatted to look like an older version of itself in celebration of their 75th year of publication.
Click to enlarge slightly. What they really needed to do to get authentic was put some kids on the street waving the issue around in morning traffic.
Our community needs a strong daily. Our civilization requires an informed citizenry. Happy 75th, Record Searchlight. Carry on.
A celebration of life at Redding Dragstrip
The words across from the Really Redding header says “Life and all in Redding California.” So, “all” includes end of life as well. This is a cross-post from the Redding Dragstrip website. I wrote of a memorial service for my friend Bob Lidell.
It was a picture perfect Fall day yesterday at the Redding Dragstrip, as friends and family came together to celebrate and reflect on the life of track President Bob Lidell, who passed away unexpectedly last Monday. And although I don’t usually take photos at this kind of gathering, I felt this was an exception. Bob was a community figure, as evidenced by the large turnout.
Click on these to enlarge a bit, if you like. Bob’s race car served as a metaphor, and Paul Warner spoke eloquently that none of us knows where or when the finish line to our race will come.
Bob was a Vietnam Veteran, and received all due respect.
It was a time for somber reflection. Bob’s immediate family offers a toast.
But it was a celebration too, and there were a few light moments. Somebody played Bob’s cell phone message over the P.A. It was good to hear his voice again.
But then the disembodied phone company message finished by telling us that Bob’s voicemailbox was full, and would be accepting no more messages. That sounded like Bob, alright. He was a perpetually busy guy. Going full blast, right up to the finish line.
I posted a bit of the ceremony so you can get the essence of it.R.I.P. Bob Lidell. You will be greatly missed. You were ReallyRedding.
Troxell’s Big Red Orchard – apples in abundance
Head out Highway 299 east from Redding for about 34 miles. Just past the Montgomery Creek School on the right, you’ll find Troxell’s Big Red Orchard. That’s the place to go to buy fresh apples. (530) 337-6699
Gerald Troxell will help you figure out which apple will work best for your particular appetite, or for what cooking plans you have in mind. They’ve got all the popular varieties. The Round Mountain/Montgomery Creek microclimate has always been well suited to apple orchards.
“A is for apple, shiny and round.”
Bag them yourself, a dollar fifty a pound.
(Edit) OMG You just have to try the King David variety!
Call for details (530) 337-6699
Get your Fall produce from the source. It’s Really Redding.
Redding style train song from Still Married
We are a train town in Redding. But if you want to ride out of town, the only passenger train leaves just after closing time at 2:20 am. That’s either pretty late, or awfully early, depending on your perspective. Cheer up. You can listen to a song about it by talented local music duo Still Married at this link:
http://www.stillmarried.net/whiskeytown
“2:20 is a lonely time for leaving
Plenty of regrets onboard this train
I know to every time there is a season
2:20 is the time to ride away”
2:20 may be the time to ride away, but 420 works for some too, evidently.
Redding bound train on a mural in nearby Cottonwood California. It’s Really Redding.
A Dutch view of bicycling in the U.S.
Worth your time. I’ve always been fascinated by Dutch bicycle culture. By contrast, California bicycling is nothing but hazardous. Witness this recent death of a bicyclist in Cottonwood/Happy Valley. See the pronounced problems here in this brief video, from a Dutch perspective:
“Mountain lion cub” sighting on the Sacramento River Trail
The woman in the white outfit looked both scared and excited.
She approached us on the trail in half steps, her hand held up in the universal “stop” signal.
She moved her finger to her lips. “Shhh. You have to see this.”
I looked down the trail, seeing nothing unusual.
“There’s a mountain lion cub, over in that pipe.”
Mountain lions are not unheard of, here on the Sacramento River Trail.
Okay then. That’ll be a good shot. I swung the camera around.
The woman in white beckoned us forward.
“Where’s the mother cat?” a practicality from my trail companion, the lovely Karry. Hm. Maybe that’s a good point. I look around more carefully.
Seeing nothing, we continue toward the pipe, camera ready.
“Look! There it is.” Nikon shutter snaps rapidfire.
Snik, snik, snik, snik.
“So cute.”
I fiddle with the display and then, “Uh, I think it’s a feral cat.”
“Ohh…?” The woman in white sounds deflated somehow.
“Yeah, pretty sure. Look here.” I zoom the display viewer for her.
She simply looks away.
“I thought it was a mountain lion cub.”
The brief spell of wonder is broken. We look around.
“Well, have nice walk.”
She offers a halfhearted, “You too.”
Do local acorns predict a rough Winter ahead?
I’ve heard that bit of Redding lore. If true, our backyard oaks are telling us to buy a new coat, and stack another cord of wood. Acorn production this season has become overwhelming.
We’ll collect these and put them out back for the wildlife that depends on the oaks. Native people would know what to do with this year’s abundance, but I don’t know any good acorn recipes. What wine goes with acorn?
They haven’t even finished falling!
Longtime readers will recall images I took of a squirrel harvesting our oaks. But this year, we’ve seen few squirrels. As for Winter, we’ll find out soon enough. Mornings are now quite brisk. A sure sign of the season’s approach.
