Riders in the Storm

north of Tonapah
Originally uploaded by JuliMil

Heading north between Vegas and Reno, crossing the vast high desert, we got into a thunderstorm and heavy rainfall -- something we've never encountered in the desert. Amazing and exciting. The rain came down so hard it sounded like hail. More photos on Flickr.

Desert Diversion

If you yearn for a change of climate, try the Las Vegas valley. Sunny and dry and it cools down to 93 at night!

Back in the Kitchen Again

Dumping old pickled carrots into the sink caused this little seductive still life to take form. Do you ever put carrot sticks into the pickle jar when the pickles are all gone?





Fresh clams sauteed in butter -- treasure from the sea! We dug these horse clams at a minus low tide. The "gooey ducks" (geoducs) got away. Special equipment is indicated, a tubular thing called a clam gun. (Does that come with NRA membership?)

http://vault.sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1076720/index.htm

That's a link to a nice piece on the geoduc and Puget Sound.

Sights of a Stormy Spring

Submarines, battleships, an aircraft carrier, hydrofoils, sailboats, fishing boats, tugs pulling barges loaded with all sorts of cargo, including layers of smashed cars -- we do see a lot of water traffic, but never before a section of floating bridge. The oldest parts of the Hood Canal floating bridge are being replaced, so they do have to go somewhere else. I wonder where this section will end up.

Today's storm messed with our long distance phone service, right when I needed to call dozens of opera-associated people about the cast party. Thanks to my dear brother they all got a call. It rained so hard our lane was like a creek. During a lull, I did get a bit of gardening in. Oh, a bald eagle just swooped down against a backdrop of a big rainbow. Just a few minutes ago, the sun broke through the clouds and I shot this after missing the cautious flicker that briefly visited the deck.



So far today, I've only had two tiny pieces of the most excruciatingly delicious cake I've ever made. It's not at all photogenic so no photo, but believe me, it is beautiful in the mouth. Very dense and moist and a taste that you just want more and more of. Totally pre-orgasmic. Link to the recipe is up there to the right.