Newest Ramshackler

Our dog Trudy told us about this development long ago. She would camp out underneath the olive tree, hackles raised, barking like mad. I would peer up and search but see nothing. Perhaps a squirrel? Not likely. Not with Trudy's raised hackles.

On Sunday, we all became acquainted with Trudy's nemesis...eyeball to eyeball on the front porch. This raccoon is one of three to claim Camp Ramshackle as home.

First Newt of the Season

Our after school canyon adventure with classmates marked the first catch (and release) of a newt this season.

Other wildlife sightings: juncos, one raven swooping low through the canyon & many squirrels. None held.

From fellow adventurer Julie Desmond on the newt (thanks, Julie!):

It was a California newt. They go through a terrestrial phase (non-breeding, where their skin is all bumpy) and an aquatic phase (breeding, where their skin becomes smooth and they develop a swollen 'vent' (what we were noticing on its underside) and rough 'nuptial pads' on their hands each year once they reach maturity (after 2-3 years). They tend to return to the same breeding spot every year, sometimes traversing miles over land to get there (they're often seen in large numbers after spring rains heading to breeding spots). Their skin secretes tetrodotoxin, 'a potent neurotoxin which can cause death in many animals if eaten in sufficient quantity' (but note that the poison can also be ingested through a mucous membrane or a cut in the skin, so care should always be taken when handling them). Tetrodotoxin is the same toxin that pufferfish produce.

A Walk Around the Yard

leek blossom

Funnelweb spider, web & olive tree leaves

tuft of rabbit

Skunk Visitor

Early Monday evening, Eric and I caught sight of our dog Trudy barking madly in the yard with little rushes at something. Eric went outside & found the source of Trudy's consternation, a very young skunk. I ran out with the camera to snap this rather timid shot. What a beautiful creature with such an incredibly fluffy tail. The skunk's tail was practically larger than the entire animal. My distant shot doesn't capture the bright white of the tail with the last two inches of the tufting fur dramatically colored black.

I watched this skunk for about twenty minutes. Thankfully, no dog or person was sprayed. If we were, we would have resorted to the quasi-miraculous skunk spray remedy.

Local Summer Hike

The boys and I headed out with a picnic in hand to adventure in our local Arroyo Seco. Despite the dry southern California summer, the river still holds water. We discovered flame skimmer dragonflies investigate the water in search of lunch if you throw a stone or drop a leaf. My oldest son spotted tadpoles. As he ventured over the rocks, he found hundreds of tiny frogs each delightfully teeny.

I'm amazed how grounding a simple hike can be and how the important things, like sticks and water...

...and mud can enlist the powers of imagination and unleash delight.

Sleepy Squirrel

Yesterday morning I was up and back from my shack a few times to get set up for the early part of the day (later it was too hot to stay in there) I noticed this sleepy baby squirrel in the crotch of a tree inches from where I put my hand each time I climb down the ladder. I was about 3 feet from it and it just looked at me as if to say "Are you going to make me get out of bed?"


Here's the scene from a distance with the sleepy squirrel in the tree near the ladder. Your only chance of seeing her is to click the picture.


Here's a close-up from the ground where you can see she's barely able to keep her eyes open. At one inspection from the shack balcony she was so unconcerned she had covered her eyes with her tail. Pretty cute.

I'm glad we built that shack.