Thanksgiving ... okay, a bit late

I know what you're saying, and you're not wrong. "Old Ken," you're thinking. "Where in the world have you been? News has come and gone—from Julian Assange and Wikileaks to the mysterious awarding of the 2022 World Cup to Qatar. Yet, Nicebird has been entirely silent. Why haven't you been writing anything?"

Let me assure you, friend, that I have been writing plenty! Old Ken just ain't too sure if you want to be reading a bunch of lectures on Chardin, Gainsborough, Courbet and other protagonists of 18th and 19th art on a fine blog such as this one. But, as all of that is thankfully now in the past, why don't we open our hearts and minds together in a spirit of holiday gratitude in recalling a celebration now a month behind us? Thanksgiving!

As you may surmise from the photograph above, "turkey day" for the Dr. and Mrs. Digby was a low-key affair in which sweet potatoes, corn bread, cranberry sauce and vegetarian chili (still waiting to make its grand entrance when this picture was taken) took starring turns.



After the meal, we headed out for Joshua Tree National Park. As you'll recall ....



... the little lady and I have been to the JT several times now. Why not? It's only two hours' drive from LA and it never gets old. There you are, walking amongst these craggy piles of boulders ...



... and then you're surrounded by these wondrous, anthropomorphic yuccas called by the Mormon settlers (supposedly) Joshua Trees because their reaching, gesticulating branches suggested the arms of the prophet Joshua.



However you want to slice it, they are pretty incredible to look at.



And it's certainly not hard to find inspiration in such a place. As we approach the solstice-season and some other festivals of light, Old Ken hopes y'all are feeling inspired, rejuvenated and excited too. (Well, not too excited!)

Seed-pod fun

While out hiking in the San Gabriel foothills last week, I came across this seed pod. It grows on a creeping, morning glory-like vine and, when discovered, it was fully sealed.



After keeping it at home in a dish for three days, the bottom split open (as suggested in the image) to reveal four massive brazil-nut-like seeds. When the seed pod dries (more images to follow!), it resembles a luffa.



In fact, looking online, I find this image of a species of wild luffa native to subtropical regions like Vietnam, which certainly resembles our specimen. But, how have they preserved the skin of this specimen so that it doesn't rupture? Possibly, this specimen was picked before it grew the thorns so perceptible in my object? In any case, if anyone can help with the identification of this curious beast, Old Ken would be most grateful.

Yellowstone

"No more does man know Yellowstone than he knows himself." That is what Sigmund Freud said when he visited one of America's most famous national parks during a whistle-stop tour of 1905.



Okay, you're right. Freud didn't really say that. Bertold Brecht did. Anyway, the point is that the Yellowstone is a darn strange place.



It is filled with wildlife ...



... and geological features that seem to be alive. This, I believe, is called a travertine mound, formed of calcium carbonate projected upward in water from geothermal activity below. The colors are produced by algae that love this curious chemical preparation.



Here we see another such accretion masquerading as a Jean Dubuffet painting.



But, if we riff on the mud, dirt and other humus-like materials used by that painter, then we might say that—like Dubuffet—Yellowstone is a geography buff's delight.



Check out those basalt columns!



Take a gander at these towers flanking the frozen waterfall! Well, all Old Ken can say is that seeing crazy places and tall towers like these make me want to tell some equally tall tales. Fun times!

Big Sur!

"You're going to stay in a what? A yurt? In Big Sur?" Some of the questions you might be asked if, IF, you tell people that you are going to spend the Christmas holiday at Treebones in Big Sur.



Well, Old Ken and this one here are here to tell you that it can be quite something. The yurts are very commodious—probably ten feet high inside, with running water and a skylight. Although the food there was not the most incredibly exciting thing in the world ...



... how can you really complain about Big Sur? An incredibly scenic five-hour drive up the coast from Los Angeles, you get mountains ...



... and redwoods ...



... the ocean ...



... and some really serious montañas.



We even saw monarch butterflies - - on Christmas day!



One of my favorite geographical features, though, were these high mountain meadows that I was calling "pampas."



Here is an intrepid hiker in said pampas. Fun!

Mount Lukens Hike

Up the 2 from Echo Park is lovely Glendale where you can find the Deukmejian Wilderness Preserve. Named for a former California governor, this preserve includes the 5,000 foot plus peak of Mount Lukens.



Although I don't have any pictures of the mountain, above is a sample of images taken from the summit looking west. Los Angeles looks like a tiny spring of trees in the middle distance and the bright glare of sunlight in the far distance is the Pacific.



We set out from the parking lot a little after 11; it was pretty hot - - over 80 degrees - - and hiked this loop trail for about two and a half hours to the summit where we found snow underfoot!



The wind was gusting incredibly at the top, which made for some slightly precarious hiking, but great for photographs as the famous LA smog is much abated here. This view is looking north into the San Gabriel mountains; beyond lies the Mojave Desert. Pretty cool!

Views from the Angeles National Forest

We've gone for walks several times in the Angeles National Forest. Yesterday, though, we took the Sundown trail up to the top of a waterfall, which is just beyond view here.



It was an incredibly foggy day ...



but as this juxtaposition suggests, the blue sky was at times visible beyond the mountains and through the veil of mist.



At other times, the mist would return.



Here is a view down the waterfall. What was awesome was that we discovered a way around the waterfall and down to its base, thus allowing us to make a complete loop. Very fun!