Oxalis purpurea

I’ve shared these images before, but I was frustrated at not being able to identify the flowers, especially since I’ve noticed them in a few different places around my area lately. I finally solved the mystery today, but it was thanks to a trip to the Friends of Folsom Library’s annual book sale, where I filled a grocery bag with […]

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Sacramento Delta steam boats

The famous race of the Confidence and the Queen City, while not featured by gunfire, nearly ended in flames so far as the latter vessel was concerned. The Confidence, of California Steam, burned Philadelphia coal, imported at some expense; the Queen City, which belonged to the Marysville outfit, depended upon the cheaper and more plentiful local supply of wood. So […]

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Let it pour

As I write this, we’re getting buckets full of April showers, just because Mother Nature decided that this year is meant to make up for all the past years of drought. I’m not actually complaining! — but I have to laugh because I drove to the supermarket in slightly drizzly weather to pick up a few things, and when I came back outside the water works had been turned on full blast. Of course, I was parked at the far edge of the lot. So by the time I reached my car, my trousers were soaked, my shoes were soaked, and my hat was soaked. I’m just grateful I didn’t decide to walk to the store! Thanks to all the rain (and mountain snow) this season, the weeds as well as the wildflowers are busting out all over. It’s a pretty sight at the moment, but soon enough the foxtails will dry up and turn brown, creating potential fire hazards — and dangers for any dog or cat unlucky enough to get one embedded in an ear, or nose, or even a foot. My morning also got off to a bit of a crazy start today. I’ve been listening to Stephen King’s book Insomnia via the Overdrive app on my phone, and I knew my loan was about to expire; in fact, when I opened it up this morning, I had a mere 50 minutes left! I was very close to […]

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