o c t o b e r . 2 0 2 1

 birthdays!

    I've already been celebrating but I had a few more activities planned before sabbatical ends.  the highlights of birthday-day were sleeping in, crabcake Benedict for brunch including a mimosa and chocolate lava cake, and ending with Craig taking me to dinner at his fave seafood restaurant downtown. 

Mimosa!

Crabcakes Benedict
 

Chocolate Lava Cake 
 
... and for dinner

Cajun pasta 
 

Peach Sparkler 
 

    Joyce spent her birthday time in Southern California but we texted a few times across the weekend. 

    I had planned four years ago to go to Safari West but the horrible Tubbs fire changed that plan completely.  I finally made it out to the property and spent a delightful day outside and out of cell and internet range! 

their 40's and 50's era Power Wagons 
 

ours was from 1947, and her name was Rosy the Riveter
 

hyenas waiting to be fed raw chickens
 

boars 
 

warthogs 
 

white rhino
 

they had a film crew out getting footage for a documentary
 

this lake was so beautiful 
 

a view into the trees and over the rough terrain
 

 on one of our many stops, our guide, Danno, told us about the various antlers and horns that some of their creatures shed or no longer need when they've passed on 
 

this baby zebra is only four weeks old
 

 an oryx 
 

wildebeests - an animal "designed by committee"
 

cape buffalo family
 

this ostrich looked like she was dancing for us; then she came up to our truck and gave it a few pecks
 

they had several giraffes 
 

this one even approached us ... sort of 
 

this might be an addax 
 

just one of the many overnight accommodations that are available for hardy campers 
 

this baby giraffe is only eight days old! 
 

a mom and a junior giraffe
 

scarlet ibis
 

this black swan was widowed a couple years ago; she fell "in crush" with Danno when she saw his red kerchief, that reminded her of her late hubs
 

 roseate spoonbill 
 

this was a very friendly heron
 

an albino duck
 
after our nearly three hour drive around the property, I had a lunch reservation, and ordered the "everything platter" which had chicken, pulled pork, green salad, fruit salad, potato salad, mixed veggies, mac & cheese, ranch baked beans, and dinner roll - all for $20, and way more than I could eat.  only the bubbly cost extra. 

 this rooster was strutting around; he reminded me of the ones we see on Kauai
 

I took a LOT of pictures of the flamingos; here's only one
 

loved this view through the cannas into the giraffe compound
 

okay, maybe one more picture of flamingos, with another black swan
 

naptime for the fox 
 

lemur, grooming his tail
 

porcupine!
 

 
as I was leaving, I noticed this metal sculpture of a swan partially hidden in the pampas grass

 
 

    on the drive home I detoured to Groth vineyard and had a splash of wine and a quick tour of the property before they closed. 

I heard this delicious fountain before I saw it.
 

one of Suzanne Groth's paintings of the property

 

I tasted some wine there, and took some to go
 

a peek into the barrel room
 

 
 

    then I had a long winding drive back home through the less traveled back roads (the top line on the map).

 
 

    I finished out my final sabbatical weekend by going to the movies, and saw the fifth and final Daniel Craig Bond movie.  I will forever have a love/hate relationship with this one.

 

    on my first day back at work, I drove down to the bay area, in a torrential rainstorm no less!  but since I wanted to sing karaoke with my favorite KJ, it was the easiest way to get back to work and play too.  It was a small but enthusiastic crowd of regulars, and I got to sing three songs before I left around 11.  I worked the next morning from the hotel room, then hit the road before lunch so I could beat the usual hideous Friday traffic out of the bay area.