Paradise Skies and Wildlife

The weather is lovely in Paradise this summer, with no big fires and a little cooler than usual. I check my gamecams nearly every day and always take my camera with me. Please enjoy these seven pictures!

Winged Creatures Yesterday

The weather is growing cooler and the animals are about. Yesterday morning I spotted something different about a log in the pond. Not knowing what it was, I zoomed in and took a picture of a resting Mallard hen (see below), looking very much like a piece of wood. Also took pictures of an Acorn

My Latest Book, “The Science of Brahman: the Eighth State of Consciousness” Is Now Available on Amazon

My first book, Brahman – Learning to Thrive in Paradise, is a collection of essays on the innumerable characteristics of [Supreme] Brahman. This book, The Science of Brahman: The Eighth State of Consciousness, reveals the context of Brahman in terms of human consciousness, defining its place as the eighth state of consciousness, Totality, transcending the

Where Do We Live When We Live Brahman, the 8th State of Consciousness?

Where do we live when we live Brahman? In the transcendent – We live in the transcendental field of life. Our home is the interface between relative, ever-changing life, and the Absolute nature of Divinity that supports it. This is where we dwell. This happens naturally as the human physiology is purified through sadhana, and

Visiting with the Vultures

Today I saw a group of three turkey vultures standing on a log in the canyon. I moved closer and began taking pictures as more vultures arrived. Then my camera battery went dead, so I first just stood with all the birds, closed my eyes and enjoyed the silence with them for a few minutes.

A Jackrabbit Up Close

As I approached Nance Pond yesterday by walking through a break in the hedge, a black-tailed jackrabbit approached from the opposite direction. At a distance of about eight feet the hare saw me and stopped in place, allowing me to take several pictures before it hopped away. These jackrabbits are quite large, about 24 in/61

Fire Season in Paradise This Year

This year we are back to restful alertness. The huge fires of years past have eliminated many local and regional sources of fuel. It also appears Calfire has now modified its strategy to immediately jump on fires of any size, instead of the watch and wait policy of the past. Our largest fire of 2022,

The Doe I Met This Morning

I headed into the canyon around 7 AM today to change out my camera chips and take any pictures. As I came down the slope a black-tailed doe sprang out of her bed of grass to my left and began bounding down the hill. At the same time her fawn was doing the same to

A Day At The Office

Using four game-cams and a Nikon P1000 I am always gathering numerous and interesting photos of wildlife around Nance Canyon. Due to the late rain and absence of fires there is a lot of activity for this time of year. Here are recent photos of black-tailed deer and fawns, an acorn woodpecker, some of the

The Full Moon on the Evening of Guru Purnima

I had my tripod set and began shooting the moon as it rose ESE. The equipment is a Nikon P1000 with 125x optical zoom. The first photo of the moon, slightly larger than full frame, is at full optical zoom. Please enjoy these five shots from last night:

Cosmic Relief!

Today, July 11th, was extraordinarily hot. Gail and I were inside this morning glued comfortably to our PCs near the TV. Then just at 11AM sharp the TV spontaneously powered on unassisted, set to a channel we don’t watch with a movie just starting called, “The People That Time Forgot”. That got our attention though

Black-tailed Deer and a Grey Fox at Nance Pond

A few weeks ago I placed a new ground-level game cam at the pond. Here are six pictures of the deer, and one of a grey fox. Enjoy!

Sky, Moon, Red-Tailed Hawk and Vulture

Active skies during early summer. Enjoy these seven photos:

Two Letters to a Friend in Norway – ‘Once in Brahman, Always in Brahman’

[One] Thank you for the link to the interview with Vesey Chrichton. Very interesting. I had a similar experience (except for attending Eton, of course…), just sort of fell into training and networking protocols for computers, and I was quickly drawn to research, write and teach courses, later managing the process. Reading and listening to

Our Local Red-tailed Hawk

Some animals will stay in the local area for awhile – the jackrabbit is a good example. Recently I saw a family of three red-tailed hawks. Two have left, and the third visits the nearby snags for now. Here are six pictures of the hawk. Enjoy!

Landscapes and Water

Another collection of early summer pictures. Please enjoy these six:

Summer Arrives in Paradise

Beginning with the grass bed of a fawn, here are ten recent pictures of the season and some of the creatures enjoying it. Happy Summer! 🙂

A June Rainstorm Comes to Visit

These rainstorms move in for a few hours and then leave quickly. This one featured towering clouds, heavy rain, and clear skies afterwards. Please enjoy these nine photos:

Paradise Afternoon and Sunset

Please enjoy these nine photos from June 11th, capturing the sky, birds, and beauty:

My Letter to a Friend in Iceland

Note: My letter was written in response to several questions received, the gist of which can be understood by these answers. Please enjoy!=========================================================== Hi! Such a cornucopia of topics to choose from… Regarding the integration of BC, I was having almost daily revelations regarding all the aspects of Totality, and logically I thought, “Wow, the

Paradise Evening Into Night

Days are lengthening and I am enjoying lots of work outside. Please enjoy these six pictures of a recent evening 🙂

Today’s Walk Through Nance Canyon (Part 2)

At the pond after shooting the video, I took pictures of the turtle and bullfrogs, but the real treat was further up the canyon. As I was walking the trail, something to the right caught my eye. It was two black-tailed does about 50 feet away, always a quiet thrill to see. One was pregnant.

Today’s Walk Through Nance Canyon (Part 1)

I first walked down to Nance Pond taking my tripod and camera, then set my tripod on a flat spot near the edge of the pond. Next, I began recording a video with sound to capture the birdsong. Red-winged blackbirds are the melodic ones, with the cooing of doves in the background. Also a few

Visiting Nance Pond in May of 2022

For a small pond of about an acre, Nance Pond has a large watershed and stays full year-round. There is always a family of creatures there. Before the 2018 Camp Fire we even had black bears. I visit at least once a week to see who is around, take photos, change out my gamecam chips,

Flights Above Paradise

The Chico Municipal Airport (CIC) which includes a Cal Fire Air Attack Base, is twelve miles away as the crow flies. We are near many flight paths at various altitudes, so it is a great place to capture pictures of aircraft of all types. Please enjoy these recent photos:

The Full Moon and Beveled Glass Gardens

Please enjoy these eight recent snaps! 🙂

A Hummingbird Nest and Other Delights

Summer is on the way! Please enjoy these pictures from Paradise! 🙂

From CC to Supreme Brahman, the Distance From Liberation to Fulfillment

“We are not satisfied with peace alone. There has to be prosperity, there has to be affluence, there has to be fulfillment in life, not just peace.” – Maharishi Mahesh Yogi Cosmic Consciousness (CC) is our permanent awakening to our eternal, infinite nature. It is our eternal liberation, unchaining us from time and space, from

The Lunar Eclipse Last Night

I went out around 8:30 pm to check the sky for an ISS pass later at 10. I didn’t realize the lunar eclipse was underway. Here are seven pictures of the event – Enjoy! 🙂

Living With the Finest Levels of Creation

“You have heard the saying that all that there is in the universe is within man? And that is it. The subtlest strata of our existence, that state of glow, that we experience, is the field of God. And from there comes to us the direct communion with those celestial Gods. And this is what

Spring Pictures from Paradise

We have had a wonderful wet May to counter the winter drought – Here are eight recent pictures of Spring:

What Happens When We Die After Attaining Cosmic Consciousness (CC)?

I was recently contacted by someone wanting clarification around Maharishi’s statements that once Cosmic Consciousness (CC), the fifth state of consciousness, is reached, and we are enjoying the endless diversity of relative life supported by the deep continuous silence of the Absolute, that no more earthly lifetimes would be provided, and even the taking of

Happy Mother’s Day 2022!

It has turned out to be a great day for birds. All of these showed up in less than an hour, with the dove always roosting at the front door. Happy Mother’s Day to all! Please enjoy these five birds from today; a mourning dove, acorn woodpecker, Anna’s hummingbird, hooded oriole, and wild turkeys:

An Active Spring Day at Nance Pond

I went down in the canyon around noon today to swap out two gamecam chips, and took my camera. I was rewarded by several uncommon sights, notably a pair of turtles, a vulture, a starling feeding in the pond, and a red-tailed hawk. Please enjoy these 12 photos 🙂

Supreme Brahman Lives Eternal Fulfillment

‘Eternal Fulfillment’ is a phrase we don’t hear much these days, though it is our human birthright. What does eternal fulfillment even mean? It means being naturally fulfilled in every moment, waking, dreaming, and sleeping. No doing, just 100 percent fulfillment. Ironically, the biggest barrier to such a state is the success we achieve in

Purity, Divinity, Sattva – Enlightenment’s Key Ingredient

The three elemental components of relative life are motion, persistence, and purity, also known as the three gunas of rajas, tamas, and sattva. Sattva is a natural and balanced component of every living thing, providing the silent guidance and creative intelligence of Divinity. As human beings we are in a unique cosmic position, interpolated between

Inherent Sattva: Earth, Air, Fire and Water

Nature always reflects purity, reflects divinity. Please enjoy these three recent pictures:

The Heart of the Paradise Sky

Blustery weather in Paradise today – an ever changing vista shaping itself overhead. Three vultures soared above the canyon, and the sun broke out into a perfect heart. Please enjoy these six pictures: 🙂

Happy Independence Day!

The holiday of Easter celebrates transcendence, and transcendence is true independence, and freedom. Happy Independence Day! 🙂 Blessedly for the past fifty years, the knowledge and experience of reliable transcendence has again become available on a daily basis vs. only at physical death, per the Easter story. Once we begin the TM and TM-Siddhis programs,

A Hailstorm and Rainbow in Paradise

More dynamic weather today! This sequence of the hailstorm and rainbow took about 45 minutes – Divinity’s active meditation. 🙂 Please enjoy these six pictures from Paradise:

Hummingbirds and Rain

Our cold rain continues (51F now), with the hummingbirds unperturbed. They make themselves known to me when I step outside, flying nearby and making a loud hum with their wings. A russet-colored hummingbird, with an imposing brown beard showed up a week ago too. Please enjoy these five photos of the birds and wet weather:

Maharishi Describes Proximity to Guru Dev

The pouring rain outside reminds me of the pouring out of grace, love, support, friendship and compassion that comes from Guru Dev, Sri Brahmananda Saraswati. Though any view of Him is possible, these days He appears so brightly, so much light flooding out of Him that His physical form is evident, though mostly clear almost

“The Fantasy of the Free World”

Another article from Foreign Affairs magazine, this one confirming the reality that the Russian invasion of Ukraine is not universally condemned by the world’s democracies, most prominently India. Freed from the frozen postures of fear and aggression put in place during the Cold War, the world is remaking itself. An excerpt: “GRAND ILLUSIONS Many countries

A Sudden Change in the Weather

Last week was close to 90F(32C) during the day, yet today will be 60F(16C) for a high and 35F(2C) for a low (right now). Along with the rain, we even had one quick shower of hail yesterday and very high winds, 35mph(56km) to 50mph(80km). Countering the high winds, the moisture is preventing any fires. The

Hummingbirds and a California Alligator Lizard

With Spring underway, all the animals are active – Last Friday a hummingbird flew into the garage. At first I thought it had done so by mistake, so I left the doors open. But it had no desire to leave and just flitted around checking the place out, rested and groomed itself, and then left

Six Double-Delight Roses

This variety blooms both predominately white roses and red ones at the same time, hence the name. Please enjoy these six images:

The Stillness After the Flood – What Next?

The analogy of a flood describes well my last two and a half years. Just as the biblical flood washed the earth clean, so has the tsunami of knowledge I have been faced with recording over these last thirty months done the same thing with my consciousness, laundering it clean and clear. During these past

Jet Contrails and an Alaska Airlines 737

With the nice weather and pandemic restrictions easing, the skies overhead this Saturday morning were a web of jet contrails, spawned by commercial jets taking off from the Sacramento International Airport (SMF), 85 miles south of here. I also managed a good picture of one of the planes, an Alaska Airlines 737 flying at an

A Doe Comes for a Visit

The black-tailed deer enjoy feeding and resting in the small stand of redwoods next to the house. Here are three photos of one that was feeding nearby, just outside the window. It is remarkable how much their coat color changes with the angle of the light. Enjoy! 🙂

Our Decisions Made Towards Living Supreme Brahman

Viewing our spiritual evolution in the context of the three distinct realities or flavors of Brahman – Perishable, Imperishable, and Supreme (shown above on the map of human consciousness), we can see that there are formal introductions to each of these three realities. First, for Perishable Brahman, everyone on earth gets a ticket, as the

The Irony of Ukraine – We Have Met the Enemy, and It Is Us

All my adult life I have had an interest in global politics; how countries talk with one another and sort things out for mutual benefit, the objective being to do it as cooperatively and peacefully as possible. Unfortunately, my beloved country, the United States, has had a long list of failures in this regard. Here

Life Is Bliss – The Journey from Imperishable Brahman to Supreme Brahman

“Bliss becomes blissful with practice. In our own bliss the desire, desirer and process of desiring are united – they are one. Desire is fulfilled at its source.” — Maharishi Mahesh Yogi I remember hearing this expression, “Life is Bliss”, very early on in my practice of Transcendental Meditation (TM). I also found such a

Delivering Honey Bees In The Dark

Every year at this time the folks across the canyon have their bee hives delivered. I was up around three this morning and saw the lights, so I decided to try for some pictures. Also took a picture of the hives in place this afternoon, and have noticed a lot of bees in the lavender

Reflecting the Colors of God

As we know, the color of an object is determined by the color within the illuminating light that is not absorbed by the object. This color is then reflected back to us. For example a sunrise is seen as orange, because all other colors have been absorbed by the sunrise. Using this analogy, it is

Welcome to Spring 2022!

Nature powerfully transcends four times a year, Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter, each changing the earth completely, and adding momentum to our intentions. Spring itself, the entire season, can be harnessed as the expression of Virya, or wholesome momentum, a primary component of Divine life, one of our six Divine gunas. So that every thought,

Two Doves and the Full Moon This Evening

Wishing everyone a happy and peaceful late Winter/almost Spring of 2022! Please enjoy these eight pictures from Paradise: 🙂

From Moon Ring to Sunrise in Paradise

Also, a hummingbird sipping in the shadows, and a butterfly gracing the lavender. Please enjoy these seven photos from Paradise today. Happy Monday everyone! 🙂

All Perception and Manifestation Is Structured in Consciousness – The Lifecycle of Brahman

As our access to consciousness, the lifeblood of the Cosmos, expands, our Reality expands too. We gain greater access to all Relative life, and through the regular and sustained daily routine of Transcendental Meditation and the TM-Siddhis program, a full picture of our Absolute existence, the foundation of life, becomes clear also, along with all

Paradise Under the Stars

Here are four photos taken the night before last, all thirty second exposures. Please enjoy! 🙂

A Recent Clarification from Maharishi to Me

I had an unusual but perfectly fitting experience yesterday – During all of this time from when I began TM in November of 1975, I have never gotten a feeling from Maharishi that I could serve Him directly. I didn’t know what this lack of support was, and the more I tried to show Maharishi

The Architecture of the Absolute Field of Life – Living Supreme Brahman

Having defined the content of the Absolute (the six Divine Gunas) in a previous post, what I am describing here are timeless and infinite structures within the Absolute, unchanging, eternal foundation of life. What appears initially as a completely still, unmanifest field of life, known as the Absolute field, supporting the Relative, ever changing manifestation

Daybreak to Sunset in Paradise

Often during dry weather in the foothills, there will be both a red sunrise and sunset, each quite brief. Please enjoy these five pictures of a day in Paradise, ending with a crescent moon following the sunset:

The Five Nights of Supreme Brahman – How Each of the Six Divine Gunas Is Established

Having become victorious over the ShhaDarivarga (the six internal enemies), we transcend the seventh state of human consciousness, Unity Consciousness (UC), and begin to live Totality or Supreme Brahman, the eighth state of consciousness. Supreme Brahman becomes established by fully manifesting each of the six Divine gunas in the Absolute unchanging eternal field of life.

Early March Skies in Paradise

It has been blustery and wet here, with views of the skies to match. Please enjoy these eleven recent pictures: 🙂

Red-tailed Hawks and Sunrise

The raptors here enjoy hunting from the tall snags in Nance Canyon, affording me some excellent photo opportunities. Yesterday I saw a pair of Red-tailed Hawks in the canyon, and also took pictures of yesterday’s and today’s sunrise. Please enjoy these six pictures:

Wintergatan – The Marble Music Machine

What are you doing in your spare time? I just found this on YouTube and had to share it. Please enjoy the show!

Winged Victory Arrived Today

I looked out to the canyon this morning and roosting on a large snag was a Red-tailed Hawk, poised for the hunt. A little while later, I heard the gentle flute-like sounds of the Sandhill Cranes flying high overhead. Please enjoy these two photos of winged victory 🙂

Blacktail Deer in the Front Yard

During this month of February, my gamecam recorded three times when the blacktail deer made their way across our front yard. Here are 11 photos, all the same view from the camera – each displaying the time and date. Please enjoy! 🙂

Bringing Coherence, Peace, and Orderliness

Coherence, peace, and order are established not by force or control, but rather purification – like dirty water, nothing is accomplished by spraying it violently, or keeping it contained. Only by filtering it does it become pure again, and fully life supporting. This is similar to the way peace is brought about, by the steady,

Peaceful Massilla Valley, Continued

Here are another six views of this lovely valley. Please enjoy 🙂

Driving Through Massilla Valley Yesterday

Massilla Valley is located in central Butte County, consisting mostly of cattle ranches and horse farms. Yesterday was a lovely day for a road trip. Please enjoy these twelve photos 🙂

Celebrating a Peaceful Morning

The International Space Station (ISS) was due overhead at 5:47am this morning, first visible at 27 degrees altitude, due West, heading Northeast. So I set my camera for a 30 second shutter, and began the exposure when I first saw the space station. Note: the ISS is traveling from left to right in the image.

Wishing Everyone a Peaceful Sunday

This morning, a red finch was scouting the bird feeder and I managed a picture. Enjoy:

Around Sawmill Peak in Paradise

Sawmill Peak (elevation 3,294 ft/1,004 m) can be seen from most of Paradise, easily recognized by the fire lookout station on top. Here are 11 photos from this morning, of the peak and areas nearby. Please enjoy!

Animals in Nance Canyon

These are all gamecam photos, of birds, the jackrabbit, me, blacktail deer, and a majestic one-antlered buck posing at night for the camera. Twelve in all, with a great photo-bomb at the end. Enjoy!

My Recent Reply to a Norwegian Friend

Author’s note: My paternal grandmother was from Norway, so I feel very warm towards this country and have made many friends there. 🙂~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ [Beginning the Journey to Supreme Brahman] “…You are welcome! Once we begin to inhabit the manifest Absolute, it begins with the purification of the heart and the intellect. The intellect crystalizes into

[Guest Post] The Surprising Way a 22 Second Hug Can Change Your Life

Welcome to my first guest post on Winged Victory! Alexia has some excellent content to share that compliments mine, adding a light and direct touch, enhancing the photos and descriptions of cosmic living. Please enjoy her first post shared here: Alexia Zilan Fan is an awakened spiritual life coach and conscious creator. She empowers people

‘Jai Guru Dev!’- Devoting Ourselves to Sri Brahmananda Saraswati We Quickly Gain Supreme Brahman

[This post was originally published on January 12, 2022] First, A Very Happy Holy Birthday to Maharishi Mahesh Yogi Today!————————————————————————————————– “Jai Guru Dev!” – All glory to the remover of darkness! So many times have we heard Maharishi and ourselves proclaim, state, and write this Vedic expression – Jai Guru Dev. Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, during

Four More Views of Butte Creek Canyon (UAV)

This flight sequence approaches the mid-ridge of the canyon from Bille Park, with the last photo taken from the drone heading North. Enjoy!

Nance Canyon Gamecam Photos and the Bat

A few months ago, I moved my gamecam from the back fence down to the property line, further into Nance Canyon. Here are seven photos, including one of me, and the final shot of a bat just now feeding under the eaves of the house. Enjoy!

Our Bright Future

An analysis of education, healthcare, prosperity, and safety in the USA from 1960 to 2020: Look at almost any headline in the news and things seem grim, except for an occasional rally from some embattled political initiative. All seems on a razor’s edge, with our safety and prosperity as a country threatened at every turn.

Looking WNW Across Butte Creek Canyon (UAV flight)

Here is another still from yesterday’s flight into Butte Creek Canyon from Bille Park in Paradise. On my return, the full sun was coming up and I couldn’t find my landing zone through the drone’s camera, so I began the auto-land sequence. This can be tricky, as all obstacle sensing is disabled for this function.

Looking Southwest Down Butte Creek Canyon

I took the UAV (DJI Mavic 2 Pro) over to Bille Park (Elev. 1,700 ft.) in Paradise, and flew it out about a half mile and up a few hundred feet in the canyon. It was a great day for flying, and I took this screenshot from the video. Enjoy!

Bringing Heaven On Earth Through Character Development

Heaven On Earth means a world that reflects the values inherent in the six Divine gunas; Truth, Immortality, Wealth, Wholesome Momentum, Divine Energy, and Cosmic Sovereignty. A world that reflects the Divine gunas is one that has established victory over the ShhaDarivarga, the group of six internal enemies: greed, anger, jealousy, intoxification, lust, and delusion.

The Living Absolute: Aligning to the World of the Six Divine Gunas

“The purpose of life is to enjoy bliss-consciousness and evolve to the eternal state of liberation while accomplishing and enjoying the maximum in life, achieving the greatest good for oneself and for others.” – Maharishi Mahesh Yogi Once Supreme Brahman, the eighth state of consciousness is lived, all of the six Divine gunas, governing both

January 2022 – Views of Paradise, California

Please enjoy these 11 photographs. The name Paradise comes from the sanskrit, para desa, meaning ‘transcendental place’. First, a winter’s sunrise. Then several pictures of a flock of turkeys wandering through the neighborhood, followed by a few views of Nance Pond, and concluding with a plaster cast of Gail’s hands in prayer (c. 1992).

Living Supreme Brahman – Manifesting the Six Divine Gunas

“Be without the three gunas” This is the expression uttered by Lord Krishna, and captured in the Bhagavad Gita, to bring His devotee Arjuna first to the partial Absolute value of life, by partially transcending the three ordinary gunas of manifestation, the motive forces of relative creation, tamas (inertia), rajas (motion), and sattva (purity). The

Enjoying a Recess

The weather is dry and moderate, and I have stuff to do outside – remember that cabana that blew down about a month ago in a 70 mph wind? …still there… and now is a great time for extending the steps down the side of the canyon – with the soil damp it is much

Why Brahman as the Eighth State of Consciousness Was Not Presented Publicly Until Now

Looking at my recently published map of human consciousness, many practitioners of Transcendental Meditation (TM), including those in the TM Organization, may be surprised to see that what they thought of as integrated full enlightenment, Unity Consciousness (UC), is only about two thirds of the way up the ascending tree of human consciousness. Living Brahman,

24 Hours of Paradise

From moonlight to sunrise, to sunlight, and to sunset, here are 11 photos taken over the last day. Please enjoy!

Paradise at First Light

As the sun rose this morning, I took the UAV out to get some pictures at first light. The flight was brief due to high wind warnings, though quite a beautiful time of day. Please enjoy these five photos:

Paradise Dawn – Early 2022

A lovely early morning today, so I captured views looking both East and West. Please enjoy these five pictures of the dawn:

Juice!

I noticed our blood orange tree was dropping oranges yesterday, which doesn’t happen unless they are ripe, so time for harvest today! Couldn’t tell by appearance this year, as there was so much rain just as the fruit was coming in. The blood oranges need a lot of sun during their final two months on

Winter Views Above Paradise

I took the UAV up on the morning of January 3rd, above Paradise. It was a clear Winter’s day, with views of the Cascades, Butte Creek Canyon, Chico and Paradise. Please enjoy these four vistas:

First Skies of the New Year – 2022 – Above Paradise, California

Happy New Year, All! Close to the stroke of midnight here in California, after ringing in the New Year, I went out with my camera and took some first pictures of the New Year’s sky. The creative shot (photo #4) was a result of having the shutter set for 30 seconds, and pressing it by

Happy New Year 2022! Fire and Ice from Paradise

All the continents have now entered the New Year, so close enough! Happy New Year, 2022, to Everyone on Earth! Promises to be a real corker! 🙂 Today, I first photographed the sunrise over Paradise, and later took pictures of the Mendocino Range, 70 miles or 112 kilometers west of us, across the Sacramento Valley.

A Paradise Winter’s Night

I took the Nikon 950 and tripod outside just now, to take some time-lapse photos of the winter night. About 40f/5c. Please enjoy these eight pictures:

A Doe and Fawn Walking by Nance Pond

I changed out my camera chips in the game cam by Nance Pond this morning, and saw pictures of these two deer walking by the pond when I returned home. I had also raised the camera for a better view. Please enjoy this sequence of four pictures from the morning of December 26th:

Paradise Sunrise and Starlight Today

It is briefly clear between storms up here, so I was taking pictures very early this morning, and later as the sun rose. Please enjoy these four photos:

Happy Holidays! The End of 2021 and Beginning 2022

This is a favorite time of year – reflecting on 2021, and setting sights on 2022. Another year closer to Sat Yuga, Heaven On Earth, for all of us. Congratulations, and Happy Holidays! One of my objectives in the coming year is producing more UAV photography and video. I have five locations chosen in a

Inside the Cloud Layer

Here in the Sierra-Nevada foothills we are at an elevation of 1,320 ft/402 m. This means that a layer of clouds at this height can drift in, engulfing us in thick fog for a few minutes before dissipating. Here are six pictures from yesterday during such an event, taken at about 2:30 PM:

The Full Moon Last Night in Paradise

The moon gets so very bright up here when full, I took several pictures of the moon and landscape last night. Please enjoy these nine photos:

A Red-tail Hawk and a Cloud Pushing Up Nance Canyon

We had a second mostly clear day after all the rain. I was taking pictures of a hawk circling above the house, then noticed a high cloud, looking like fog in the canyon. Please enjoy these four pictures:

A Blustery Day in the Foothills

Winter is on the way – We had up to 50 mph/80 km winds yesterday, and snow down to 2,500 ft/760 m. Our metal and fabric cabana, now on its second frame, and fourth cover, bit the dust after a particularly fierce gust of wind, so now it lays near the pool, looking almost like

Nance Pond in the Rain Today

We will be experiencing an atmospheric river of rain for the next five days, including an expected ten feet of snow in the Sierra-Nevada. I went down to the pond today and took a few pictures of the wet. Please enjoy these five pictures:

Night Vision in Paradise

I took pictures of the thick fog tonight, including several by shining a flashlight beam into the cloud. Please enjoy these six:

Aerial Views of the Sacramento Valley Fog Today

Happy Sunday. I took my UAV aloft today to get some pictures from Paradise of the extraordinary sea of fog in the Sacramento Valley below us. The fog tops out at about 900 feet/275 meters. Please enjoy these four photos, moving from SSE to WNW:

A Quiet Saturday Morning in Paradise

Just two and a half weeks away from winter, and it is clear and brisk this morning. Please enjoy these eight photos of the day in Paradise so far: 🙂

A Paradise Evening in Late November

There are many scenes to capture just after sunset – holiday lights across the canyon and a few jets headed south. I also managed Jupiter and her four moons, and my first of Venus’s crescent. Please enjoy these six photos:

A Young Buck This Morning in Nance Canyon

A slight fog began forming in the canyon behind the house this morning, as the sun rose. I went out to the fence to take some pictures, and then noticed a young blacktail buck just outside the fence, to the right. Please enjoy these ten photos, taken as he made his way down our hill

One Hundred Seconds of Sunrise

The stunning colors of the sunrise often come and go so quickly – I notice, grab my camera, find a good vantage point, click away, and done. Less than three minutes, start to finish. The sunrise was briefly spectacular this morning. Please enjoy these seven pictures from Paradise:

Living in the Clouds

During a wet autumn like the one we are having, we also get some heavy fog, morning and evening, even all day. Please enjoy these six photos from last Monday:

Three Days in Paradise

My camera is always nearby, and I take pictures throughout the day, and night. Here are eleven recent favorites. Please enjoy!

Bats at Dawn in Paradise

About twenty minutes before the sun appears, the bats dart about, feeding. They also show up at evening dusk. One of my projects now is to get some clear pictures of them, easiest in the morning when they are flying against a lightening sky. This morning I tried both taking a video and extracting screenshots,

Picking and Juicing Limes Today

The citrus is beginning to ripen here, and the limes are always first. An excellent crop this year. I’ve juiced a little more than a gallon so far, which I mostly freeze for making limeade. My limeade recipe (makes one gallon): Add to a one gallon pitcher:4 cups ice3 cups (24 oz.) simple syrup (2

Another Foggy Dawn in the Foothills

Raining heavily all night, making for a misty morning again. I am really enjoying the cleansing wind and water. Please enjoy these five pictures from our last storm a few days ago:

A Beautiful Day in Paradise

So much color yesterday! The sky was full of changes beginning at sunrise, and the birds were active in the cooler weather. In addition to my beloved hummingbirds, I saw a pair of starlings in the skeleton oak. Haven’t seen them around here before. Also found another late blooming rose, and some distant wispy clouds

A Colorful Sunrise in Paradise

Autumn hues paint the dawn. Please enjoy these three pictures of a recent sunrise:

A Brief October Hailstorm

Accompanying our recent deluge, the weather has grown colder. Last Monday I heard cracks of lightning and thunder outside, so I walked out with the camera. There were a few more bolts, each one releasing a sheet of hail. It all lasted about 15 minutes, and melted away just as quickly. Here are eight pictures

Rain!

Listening to the same song by the Beatles just now – “…Rain, I don’t mind…”. After a big fire around here (which is every year since 2017), there is a big rain, earlier than normal too. Apparently all the particles sent aloft in the smoke then seed the clouds, and produce heavy rainfall later on.

Our Hummingbird and Jackrabbit Buddies

I was taking pictures of the hummingbirds a couple of days ago – they always let me know they are around when I go outside. Then yesterday near the house, a jackrabbit and I nearly ran into each other. We stopped with just a few feet between us, and the jackrabbit was shaking with fear

The Andromeda Galaxy

Please enjoy these seven photos of our nearest galactic neighbor, the Andromeda Galaxy (Messier 31). It is 2.5 million light years from Earth, so this is how the galaxy appeared two and a half million years ago, with the light just now reaching us. All of these are tripod shots with a timed shutter to

Mostly Hummingbirds In Paradise

There is a local flock of hummingbirds here year ’round, feeding and roosting around our home. With the cooler weather, they were active yesterday. Please enjoy!

October 4, 2021 Paradise Sunrise

First the crescent Moon hung in the eastern sky, then was replaced by the Sun rising through low clouds. Please enjoy these five pictures of sunrise this morning:

Natural Paradise, Autumn 2021

The weather is cooling off, and the big fires nearby are winding down. Here are five pictures of our early Fall season. Enjoy!

The Vultures Returned Today With a Merlin Falcon

Five vultures were here this morning, roosting briefly again. This time a Merlin Falcon came to see them, and stayed for about 15 minutes. Please enjoy these eight pictures of the birds:

A Visit From The Turkey Vultures Today

The wind often blows north here, up Nance Canyon, creating an updraft above our property, which is used by the vultures, hawks, and eagles to rapidly gain altitude. We had an unusual number of turkey vultures roosting here today, for about an hour. Two perched on the fence, with four more on a nearby tree

The Harvest Moon Over Paradise

Here are two pictures of the lovely full Moon tonight. Please enjoy!

A Trine of Heavenly Bodies: Jupiter, the Moon, and Saturn Tonight

A beautiful sight, on a clear night! Please enjoy these four pictures, including one of my clearest of Saturn’s rings:

Our Local Herd of Blacktail Deer

My best guess is there are about a dozen Blacktail deer in the herd, total. From my gamecam at Nance Pond in the canyon, here are six snapshots of the local deer:

After the Rain Last Night

What a blessing! We got just enough water to wet things down, and turn the air so sweet – fresh and grassy now. The clouds are spectacular. Here are seven pictures from dawn this morning. Please enjoy!

A Day of Pictures, September 9, 2021

Today we began having some clouds, and a chance of rain tonight. A sunny day with many opportunities for pictures, including a late summer rose, and a brief roost by a turkey vulture in a large snag nearby. Please enjoy!

An East and West Sunset Yesterday

When there are clouds to the east and the sunset is brilliant, the light will reflect off the eastern clouds too. Yesterday, it grew to a brilliant pink. Here are three photos of the eastern ‘sunset’, and two of the actual end of the day, due west. Please enjoy!

A Journey of Consciousness Through the Sky

From my pictures last night and this morning, here is a sequence of four photos, each reaching further into the heavens. The first picture shows daytime clouds, streaming west to east. Next, one of a jet shooting south to north, towards the Sun. Third, a plane flies at night across the edge of our Milky

From Fullness to Fullness: From Night into Dawn

When I went outside last night around 9 PM the sky was already dark, and the Milky Way was very clear, and colorful. First shown are two pictures of the Milky Way – Rising behind the redwoods, and another, straight up. Next, before dawn, I saw the crescent Moon. At 6 AM the Sun rose,

Deer Resting in the Shade Today

We returned from shopping around noon, and found these three beauties, a doe and two fawns, resting under our redwoods. Enjoy!

Saturn, August 26, 2021

My pictures of such a far away planet are slowly improving. This is the best clear orientation of the rings I have achieved so far. Enjoy!

Milky Way and Satellite, August 26, 2012

The cooler weather and reduction in smoke are allowing me to get much clearer sky pictures. I took this one last night as a satellite was transiting past the Milky Way. The yellow in the atmosphere is from the Caldor Fire, near Lake Tahoe. Enjoy!

Delight From the Heavens – Saturn and Jupiter Last Night, August 24, 2021

Before the Moon had fully risen, I was able to take two excellent pictures of Saturn (836M miles/1.3B km), and Jupiter, with its four main moons visible (374M miles/778M km). We are mostly clear of Dixie Fire smoke for the time being. When there are too many smoke particles in the air, the camera cannot

Deer in the Front Yard Today

There is a small local herd of six blacktail deer: one buck, three does, and two fawns. They are quite comfortable on our property, and except for the buck, came onto the front and side yards this morning, as I was trimming the lavender. I swear the doe in the last picture was smiling at

A Great Horned Owl, Nearly Full Moon, and Hummingbird

I was sitting outside yesterday evening, and first saw a bunny, and then a grown jackrabbit, among the lavender near the house. Very unusual to see rabbits this close by, as they usually stay out in the yard. Then one rabbit ran down by the side of the pool, and an owl swooped in for

Dixie Fire Sunrise Today and Last Night’s Moon

‘Orange’ is the operative word. We are smoky again today, though the forecast for tonight and the rest of the week, is for south and southeast wind, which blows out the smoke. Our power shutoff was cancelled, though the backup generator is all set. Please enjoy these unusual pictures of our celestial neighbors:

Discovering a Family of Blacktail Deer Near Nance Pond Today

I was walking near the pond down in the canyon today, and decided to explore a small stream that runs from the pond. This area was impassable before the fire, and now has a far lower profile of mostly berry brambles. As I approached the stream, a family of blacktail deer emerged from a copse

A Local Blackout Across Nance Canyon Last Night

A car hit a power pole last night, on a road just across the canyon from us, and blacked out that neighborhood in Paradise. There were generators and lights on during the repair, which was completed in a few hours. The Dixie Fire smoke gave it an eerie quality. Here are three views from our

Just Picked Yellow Cling Peaches

Here is pretty much our entire crop of yellow cling peaches, picked just now from our dwarf tree – the first time in six years we have had fruit from this tree. Works out to half for us, and half for the critters. The sky looks tan and smoky today, but it doesn’t smell bad

Saturn and Jupiter Last Night

The smoke in the atmosphere can be useful when photographing distant planets, as it filters out the glare. Here are Saturn (800M mi/1.3B km) and Jupiter (450M mi/745M km) from last night. Jupiter has three obvious moons showing, though it looks like the outermost one may be two, orbiting close together. Enjoy!

The Dixie Fire Yesterday and Today

Clear yesterday, and smoke haze today. Our southern wind is supposed to clear things out later. The Dixie Fire is now 322K acres, and the active fire front is about 50 miles away from us now. Here are four pictures of 1) the fire front seen from Paradise, 2) a tanker helo, 3) the sun

Finding a Satellite in Geosynchronous Orbit

Last night I was taking pictures of the Milky Way, and decided to zoom into the center and see what it looked like for a 30s. exposure. Of course the star trails all became quite long as their position shifted relative to the camera lens, over the 30 seconds of the exposure. Except for a

International Space Station and Saturn Over Paradise

The ISS hit a peak of 80 degrees last night, almost directly overhead, and I captured a very clear shot. Then I took some good pictures of Saturn, also brightly visible last night, and made a composite of the ringed planet and the ISS for the second photo posted here. The ISS travels at 18K

Smoke Clouds and Water Clouds at Daybreak

The lightshow was magnificent this morning! The smoke clouds from the Dixie Fire have a different density than water clouds, and when they mix it is beautiful. Happy Saturday, and please enjoy these three examples of nature’s transient wonder: