December Lake Reflections

Dec. 8  Lake slowly creeping up.

Lately I've been documenting the lake level each weekend.    I don't get to see my lake except on the weekend right now, because I normally leave my house before light in the morning, and return after light in the evening!   

Dec 14 Just the edge of the bath is still visible.

Dec. 22 The Soda Bath is gone.

 


Today it was gray and dark, but I could see the soda bath across the way is now submerged under the lake.   On the surface, I can see the roiling boiling water coming up from the spring.    






The next moment, the morning's view changed.  It all started with this picture:

 So I kept taking pictures to see where the rainbow would lead. 

A rainbow frame for my lake view!

The rainbow light went all the way to the water, in front of the island!

  

And then a Heron flew in across the frame, landing on the left island.

Flying under the rainbow.

 

Heron at island.

 

Heron with end of rainbow.

Now the lake looks like an ocean, covered with tiny waves. It's the color of wet jade.  In a few moments, it will change again.  The sun, clouds, rain, and lake make a panoramic kaleidoscope. Looks like today is going to be one of those days where nature fuels the soul.    :)   

It's a good morning to be right where I am.  Winter break has arrived, so I have the gift of two weeks to recharge and recalibrate.  I don't have to fix or change everything, I just need to shine my hope and optimism where I land.  I can't wave a magic wand and make every child at my school have their basic needs of food, clothing, and shelter met.   But I can do everything in my power to ensure that they feel safe at their school and that they feel the kindness and care of at least one person, every day. 

When I was in  5th and 6th grade, our school obtained a grant to have an art classroom.  During the two years we had that room, I spent every moment I could there.  The art teacher encouraged my ideas,and he played Beatles and Simon and Garfunkel, like my mom.  I felt safe and understood in that room; I felt like I could let my light shine and I didn't need to shrink from being me.  I made a series of ceramic fruits that opened to make a "box" for trinkets inside.  It started with seeing expensive fruit boxes at Hensel's Hardware in Arcata.  Soon I had a series of pears (Mama, Papa, and Baby), an apple, orange, banana, a bunch of grapes, and a series of raisins with arms and legs (inspired by a S&G song about cornflakes, I recall).  A couple times some students broke into the art room and busted up a bunch of things.  Only three survived: two pears and the apple.  

1978, Emily and her Fruit Boxes, and a "mask" for a Greek Goddess.

Though I no longer have those fruit boxes, I can still feel how special I felt in that room; I can feel the kindness and care of a respected adult other than my parents.  While I knew my mom and dad thought I was special, I, like most children, believed my family was a bit biased and perhaps didn't see me clearly.  I needed to know that someone else shared that belief in my value. 

The care and kindness of other adults can make children feel especially valued and important.  They carry that feeling with them for the rest of their lives, like a special lining of liquid silver reinforcing their hearts.  I think that is why I connected so strongly with Bob's  idea of a Culture of Hope.  Hope is not a tangible item, you can't weigh it or count it or wrap it up in a pretty bow.  Which means everyone can have it, and no one necessarily has more or less.  A teacher doesn't need technology, books, abundant classroom resources, or even the best teaching strategies to provide hope to students.  Attending with our focus, being present, truly hearing student ideas with enthusiasm and bright eyes... those actions are free and fleeting, yet powerful.

I may not be able to provide warm socks and shoes for every child who needs them. But I can provide warmth in their hearts and bring a smile to their faces every day when I see them. And in some respects, like my experience in that art room and the ceramic fruit I made, the feeling of belonging and being valued will probably last longer than the shoes and socks ever will. 

Have a happy holiday season, and I hope you have many opportunities to spend time with people you love.   
:) Emily

Solution Tree has it Covered

I've been working on this book with Bob since the week after I graduated from BSU.  If you've visited me during that time, you probably had to amuse yourself for a bit while I hammered away on one aspect or another of the manuscript!   Even when my dad and Connie visited over thanksgiving week, I was buried in revisions to the references and citations.

Well,  all the hard work is coming to fruition, in the capable hands of the Solution Tree folks.   This week, the cover for the book was revealed. Oh my, it is a stunner.   Solution Tree Press has done a phenomenal job of capturing the essence of what Bob and I were attempting to share.    I love it.

The publishers wanted a photo of me, just a clear head shot on a plain background, for the book.  One of my colleagues at school helped me out with these shots. (Thanks Pamela!)  I sent them all in so they could pick the best one. I figure with what they did with the cover, they know what they are doing, and they know what they are looking for.  My favorite is the second, with my hair up, because that's how I see myself.  Pamela did a good job with the photo shoot!  All the pictures are keepers.

It's Almost Clear Now!

Bananas,  for Ewan

Not sure about where you live, but it has been RAINING here.    The storm raged last night with such fury I expected the roof to come off, or one of my potted plants to be blown through the window.   Thankfully, any storm damage was easily righted or drained in the morning, and today was a brilliant sunny day.  

Today, 12-2-12

Nov 2012

Sept 2012

But oh my, the lake.  It's definitely almost clear, and deserving of its moniker, Clearlake.  Just a week ago, I was talking about how low the lake was.   It truly was at its lowest.  And now it is no longer a lower lake. However, it is not an upper lake, either.  I'd say it is a fair to middling lake.  :)   It's back to where it was in September when I moved here, I think.  What do you think?    Here are some pictures (above and below) for comparison...  Pick a rock or marker to compare.  In looking at these pictures, it surprised me to see how much the light changes on the lake.  I knew that every day was a bit different, but to see the clarity of light back in September, and how muted tones are now in December...  I love the lake.

Today, 12-2-12

A week ago!

When I first moved here.

Today, 12-2-12

A week ago!

End of Sept.

Today, 12-2-12

Last Week.

September 2012

Mt. Konocti`

Last week was Thanksgiving break from school.  I had the good fortune to have two sets of visitors!  And the weather was just perfect for it.  The lake was putting on quite a show, from the fingers of fog in the morning to the brilliant stars reflected at night. The birds are migrating, and one morning I looked out on the dark water--it was before the sun came up--and saw the white tail-ends of about 30 geese, quietly bobbing.  They had arrived at some time in the night, and they left by mid morning.

Dad on the Lake.

 
On Thursday morning, my friends Davena, Will, Ewan, and Monty (adorable dog). stopped over on their way to dinner.  I toddler-proofed my living room so Ewan would have a place to play.  Being an accomplished runner now, he loved being able to run and fall without worry.  The whole room is carpeted, and then all my rugs scattered everywhere made double cushioning. One funny moment was when he caught site of my drawing of bananas. Apparently they are quite life-like because he was reaching for them and calling out "Nanas!  Nanas!"   :)   Not sure how I managed to not get any pictures of their visit!  So sad. Luckily the memories are indelible in my mind. 
  

Great Blue Heron caught in mid-flight, headed to chase off the egret.

We went to a park so Monty and Ewan could play. There was a pond there, with a large log in the pond. When I first walked down the trail to the pond, when I came around a bend and into view of the pond, I startled about 12 turtles sunning on the log. They all plopped into the water and Davena thought I'd perhaps fallen into the pond!   We had a fabulous dinner at one of my coworker's.  Turns out her sister-in-law works with Davena and Will.  Small world, indeed.   That night, Monty was my guest while Will, Ewan, and Davena were doing a trial run of sleeping in their new van, out in the cold. But Monty and I were cozy under our respective blankets!! I had forgotten how much more of a home a home is when a pet is there.

My Dad, amidst rosy light on the lake.

After the Bagnall family left Friday morning, Dad and Connie arrived in mid afternoon. I enjoyed sharing my new home and view with them.  On Saturday, my dad and I went on a docent led hike up Mt. Konocti.  My pedometer said we walked about 7 miles. Half of that was uphill, and half of that was downhill. I thought I'd be very sore the next day, but other than a slight knot in one calf, I was fine.   It was probably the electrolytes I chugged.  Emergen-C makes an electrolyte mix that has no added sugars, just all the minerals your body craves.   And I have these capsules that are filled with electrolytes, too.  Those, combined with lots of water seems to have done the trick. 

The Cal Fire Tower on Wright's Peak.

At the top of the mountain there was a fire tower, now abandoned, that we climbed to get clear 360 view of the surrounding area. We could even see Mt. Lassen!  Just a perfect day for viewing everything.  We also went through the first homestead on the mountain, and found "Lake County Diamonds."   I have a teeny tiny one that I brought home.

Tiny Lake County Diamonds, in the round rock I was sitting on in the next picture.

On a very round rock, in a spot of sun, on the way back down from the mountain.

Dad and Connie left Sunday morning.   It was such a treat to have them around, cooking and eating good food and talking.  I was working on the book manuscript, fixing references/citations and correcting a few writing habits that Bob and I had which the editor (who's name happens to be Ed!  How cool is that?) wanted changed.   While I got caught up in my work, Connie explored my educational library (she's a teacher, too), and got immersed in reading, while my dad was doing his own reading and bird watching. Sunday morning, my dad is patiently waiting while Connie finished reading and taking notes from the one book that I couldn't loan to her.  :)

Lovely to have people around. My life now is either extremely full of people (work) or completely devoid of people (non-work).  It is odd.  I know someday I will have the presence of people in my home life again.  Right now I'm enjoying the alone time, or rather my down time from the intensity of this job that I love and am so grateful for.   But the Bagnalls and my family reminded me how much I treasure the company of people (and pets!).

I hope you are all well and enjoying the presence of people and animals and nature in your life.  :)

A great and gnarly old maul oak. Named because they made splitting mauls from them, that's how hard they are!

Emily at the top.

 

Dad at the Sign Post on top. 

Mary Downen's cabin, built in 1903.

Mary Downen's orchard. Beautiful light.

Looking north, across the narrows of Clearlake.

Looking east towards Lower Lake and my school.

 

Sutter Buttes, to the north-east. An uplift if ever there was one!

Looking south toward Cobb Mt. and Mt. St. Helena.

Looking west/southwest. The red circle is where Ber and Gio are living. The white structure is the indoor arena.

Arrow shows where we were on Mt. Konocti, looking from where Ber and Gio live.

 

Looking north-west toward Lakeport, with  a view of the pear and grape orchards showing color.

Looking west downhill through the walnut orchard to the pear orchards on the valley floor.

Looking north to Buckingham Peak.   If you could look through the mountain you would see my house, sitting right on the lake.  When I look up to Mt. Konocti from my house, I see the cell tower on top of Buckingham.

Looking north to Mt. Lassen.

Close-up of Mt. Lassen.

Wow, Mt. Lassen is over twice the height of Mt Konocti.  :)

Purple circles denote where my house is (the X in Soda Bay) and where the fire tower is.

Topographical map of Mt. Konocti.