Red Hills

On Sunday, Bruce and I took an afternoon drive to Red Hills.  It's only about 45 minutes from Frogpond, but I'd never been there.  It's not exactly a state park, but it's a protected area.  This trip we only drove and stopped here and there to take pictures.  There are trails going through, though, and next time we'll do some walking.  Bruce (who's been here before) said that the hills are full of wildflowers in the springtime.

This old barn and windmill against golden hills embody the essence of the old ranches of California.  

The holes in this old fence post were drilled by acorn woodpeckers.  Look closely and you can see the acorns that they stashed away for later.  The fences on both sides of the road were held up by these wooden posts -- and every one of them was being used as an acorn cupboard.

It was good to get away, if only for a little while and not even that far from home.  Actually, it felt like I'd gone on quite a journey.  Sometimes it doesn't take much!

There are only 3 days of the Summer Institute left.  I'm finally pulling all of the pieces together and this is turning into the affirming experience I'd heard (and was praying) it would be.  It just took longer getting there than I thought.  Another sort of journey...