Peculiarities

         The double rainbow, as seen from our deck last evening, was the beginning of the rain season on the California central coast. Rain season ends and begins in July, so our August .2 of an inch is an early start and a bit peculiar.

        And so is this. The other evening as I walked back from taking out some trash I spotted and and then was buzzed by the "smallest hummingbird I've seen" as I said to Lana.

        "Really?" she said, going back to what she was reading.

        Well, she saw it the next day, with our granddaughter and she was a bit more excited about it.

        It is not a hummingbird, but it has a wing flap rate as high as the hummers. It is a White-lined Sphinx Moth and grows to 2-3 inches. Speedy little creature.

        These we found on a lupine bush. They were interrupted long enough to be inspected by granddaughter and Nana, and photographed before being returned to their bliss on the lupine.

        

        This was a sunset cocktail companion the other evening at a Camp Ocean Pines fundraising event. 

        I frequently hear some of his cousins as they observe their nightly vespers here on the ridge.

        Time to cue the frog. Actually as I opened the spa cover yesterday a little dude had taken to napping next to the control buttons. Granddaughter and Nana got a chance to spot it, before his spoiled nap led him to leap to the step and then to dash under the spa.

        Sorry Kermit...so I'll vamp and quote your song, that Jim Henson helped you 

pen....

        "What's on the other side?

        Rainbows are visions, but only illusions.

        And rainbows have nothing to hide.

        So we've been told and some choose to believe it

        I know they're wrong, wait and see.

        Someday we'll find it, the rainbow connection,

        the lovers, the dreamers and me."

        See you down the trail.

        

WHAT ARE YOU GONNA DO?

FEELING THEIR PAIN

     From what some of them are saying, the skies are less 
than blue for Young Republicans.  I've read a few pieces over the last week that hint some of the junior members of the GOP are doing what their moderate seniors have been unable to do, put some distance between them and the far right tea party mind set that has taken over the steering wheel of the Republican party.

     Many of the young politicians have different views on social issues and believe the party elders have acquiesced or become strident.  In an article written by Susan Saluny of the New York Times a young GOP member is quoted as saying "when it comes to what you do in your bedroom, or where you go to church or where you put your tattoo, we just couldn't care less."

      I have long time friends in both major parties as well as long time relationships with political operatives on both sides.  Democrats are delighted that fewer young Americans want to associate with the Republican party.  A Republican friend says it is no wonder when the current crop of house and senate republicans have become so ideologically "narrow" (his word).  

      Women's health and rights has become a huge dividing line for young women. Young Americans, according to polls, are more accepting of gay rights and same sex marriage. Any organization that seems to balk at, contend or challenge on those issues stands to loose millennials as well.

       It's a bit like the old Kermit song..."It hard to be green"

or a young republican.  As a long time political junkie it is

weird to see sitting republicans bad mouth policies that were once put forward by "radicals" like Bob Dole, Richard Nixon, George H.W. Bush, and even the old Gipper.

    DAY FILE

COOL SCENES

HERE'S AN EXERCISE IN PATIENCE

SUN SET TO FULL MOON RISE

See you down the trail.