In the summer of 2007, the Angora Fire burned 3,100 acres, destroyed 242 residences and 67 commercial structures, and damaged 35 other homes. At the peak, there were as many as 2,180 firefighters involved in battling the blaze. This human caused tragedy is a big part of Tahoe's history and landscape.

The scene is almost surreal.



And yet there is beauty amongst the ashes and we were happy to be out in it.

It was too beautiful of a day not to be outside and "look up". I can't believe how much I loved this day!

I was in Minden and drove by my favorite building there- The Minden Flour Mill. To my great delight, it is going to be restored and repurposed. I can't wait. I love being in history.

Brought to you by the Tahoe Institute for Natural Science, the Tahoe Big Year celebrates the hundreds of bird species that make the Tahoe region their home all year-round, during summer or winter, or while passing through to other destinations. Jenny and Bob are big birders and wrote, "Just sending a few photos from our Big Year so far.  We've spotted 33 species to date. Tahoe is an awesome place to see birds migrating through.  Changes week to week. Cool, huh?" These are just a few of their discoveries. Wow. 

The Big Year is an opportunity for the entire community to learn about and experience the Tahoe region's diverse bird community and rich birding opportunities.
These are a trio of baby Eagles frolicking on the Lake. Wild.





And here's Bob getting closer to the Tundra Swans. Definitely super cool!

Our AAUW meeting hosted the founders, Tom and Cheryl, of Lake Tahoe Wildlife Care. This amazing animal advocate organization is an independent, nonprofit volunteer group whose function is to raise, rehabilitate and release orphaned and injured wild birds and animals.

Today's lecture was in two parts: 1. to tell us what's been done 2. What the future holds. I was thoroughly impressed by both components.
Cheryl began with dispelling myths about many of our local animals and sharing their 37 year history. I learned so much. From a handful of people in 1978 with an idea to help wildlife in their area, LTWC has grown to an organization that now provides a service to more than nine counties in California and Nevada surrounding the Lake Tahoe region.

In August, I wrote about a movie, set to begin filming, about sharks in Lake Tahoe. According to all accounts, local actors were to be hired and this was to be a boon to our economy due to the acting jobs and tourism it would generate.

I was excited to receive this comment on my blog:

You will be thrilled more because as what I read that casting directors are looking for actors, models and other talents to audition for various speaking roles for this new feature film. Filming begins on the 21st of January and ends in mid to late February. I'm sure the locals are so excited to be part on this film and work with the best director and actors.- Cristina

According to the Jan. 7, 2015 edition of The Clarion-Ledger, brief filming may have happened in Tahoe (there is no where else to get our scenery) but the majority of it will be elsewhere.

A new Dolph Lundgren movie about a shark infestation at Lake Tahoe will be filmed this month on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. The film, referred to as "The Lake" and "Shark Lake" on the website projectcasting.com, tells the story of Clint, a wildlife trafficker played by Lundgren, who is in a custody fight with one of the town's best police officers, Meredith Hernandez. The pair have more than this on their plates when a trio of hungry sharks begin to chow down on swimmers and anyone else who ventures to the waters of Lake Tahoe.

Tell me again how having sharks in our water is going to help Lake Tahoe. I wait to be convinced.

This is my second year of attending this conference hearing internationally renowned experts discuss climate change.

Operation Sierra Storm is a leading National Weather Conference held each year in Tahoe. It is a cutting-edge meteorological forum and seminar for network television meteorologist from around that country that features leading scientists and experts discussing newsworthy topics, trends for today and the future. It is also a combination of on-going education, networking opportunities and live-broadcasts which make OSS an industry leader. One seminar, during the series invites the public and we were eager to attend.
The first speaker was Bernice Notenboom, a climate journalist, science writer, keynote speaker, and (most exciting to me) a professional adventurer. In 2008, she became the first woman to reach the North, South, and Cold Pole (in Siberia) and traverse Greenland’s icecap on skis in one year.

On assignment for National Geographic Traveler, she discovered the fragility of the arctic sea ice. Over the next five years, Bernice set out to report about the changing climate of extreme environments. Today, she shared with us what she found, her concerns and her hopes. She has made a movie, The Arctic March, that explains her last North Pole adventure and her findings. I'm glad there is someone like Bernice advocating for this far off frozen land that has such impact for us all.
The keynote speaker was Dr. James Hansen, formerly Director of the NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies, is an Adjunct Professor at Columbia University's Earth Institute, where he directs a program in Climate Science, Awareness and Solutions. He was designated as one of the 100 most influential people on Earth by Time Magazine in 2006. Dr. Hansen is recognized for speaking truth to power, for identifying ineffectual policies as greenwash, and for outlining actions that the public must take to protect the future of young people and other life on our planet
Dr. Hansen frightened, enlightened and educated the audience. In addition, he shared his belief that Oil Companies should become Energy Companies. I liked that idea. He expressed his concerns and his ideas for helping our planet. While I didn't walk away as optimistic as last year, I did gain knowledge and have faith in people, like Dr. Hansen, to do what needs to be done... for the future generations.

With weather in the upper 50s and brilliant sunshine, the outdoors beckoned Steve to get out and hike. I had other plans so he was on his own.

Departing from Upper Eagle Point Campground, the views were exceptional and he captured the allure of the Lake perfectly.


Steve did a great job documenting his four mile hike and the beauty of today.

As the five minute writing prompt for my AAUW group, Talking on Paper, the hostess chose to have us "write about a childhood activity you still enjoy". Mine is tree climbing.

My brother and I were born ten months apart so we were best buddies, doing most things together. Being as he was older, he dictated our activities, thus making me a tomboy.

One of my favorite childhood diversions was tree climbing. I would not pass a tree without imagining it calling out to me. In most instances I accepted the challenge gleefully.

My most recent tree climb, to my husband's chagrin, occurred in the fall of 2010 while living in Italy. Our friend needed help picking olives from her numerous trees. While most helpers would only grab from the reachable branches, I spied the ripe fruit at the top and climbed there. While at times I was perched precariously, this flashback to my childhood only made the harvest that much sweeter. 

One of my favorite things is a book and to actually make one myself... indescribably awesome.

The talented artist, Coco Foy of Co2 Kustom, led the class teaching us the very fabulous Crossed-structure paper case binding technique.

Kim Wyatt, of Bona Fide Books (who I call the instigator of camaraderie) hosts a book making session every first Sunday of the month. After three hours in her very 'conducive to productivity' work space, we all walked away with a complete book that we were very proud of and is as unique as each of us. My book is the green one, lower right, with the title Love Letters.

Our nephew is the hairiest guy we know and when we received this series of photos, we laughed out loud and had to share.

The moon greeted us, almost as soon as we parked at East Cove of Lake Tahoe. What a simple pleasure it is to wander with family and friends as earth's satellite casts a warm hue over all of us. 

What an incredible natural phenomenon to witness. During a windy cold spell, the waves washed ashore and were captured for us to see.

I've never seen an ice wave.
Since the Lake's level is so low, we walked out quite a distance on solid ice.
 It was as if we were suspended. It was a strange feeling.
We're not sure where all these ice 'balls' came from but they too were frozen within the surface of the lake.

Lake Tahoe keeps delighting us with its unique surprises and astounding beauty.