Winter turns to Spring - Northern California Style

We just got through the rainiest wet season on record here. According to The Mercury News: "Between October 2016 and February 2017, California averaged 27.81 inches of precipitation, the highest average since such records began being kept in 1895, according to data released ....by...the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration."

Of course, there were the usual gorgeous sunsets, rainbows, and cloud formations. We even had some "snow".  Most of the plants around the house and on our decks and balconies fared well.  And, as the rains tapered off, we added some new ones.

Among what's growing here, we can include our 3 month old grandson, Stanton. What a difference a couple of weeks can make at this age!

Weather

The rains took care of our drought, but left some messes behind,
such as these landslides on the Montclair RR Trail 

Rocks and trees make this part of the paved trail impassable 

Snow - granular and short-lived, but still snow

Mt Diablo with a dusting of snow on top

We spotted a wisp of smoke across the canyon.
Fortunately, we found out it was from a controlled burn by the
East Bay Regional Parks staff.  It was finally wet enough to risk one.

Flora

We discovered that when we changed to drought resistant plants in our front yard
a few classic spring bulbs were left behind and the rains brought them out

One lonely daffodil

A very healthy, many-stemmed lupine that has the fragrance of grapes
Grown from seed every year

These yellow flowers spring up like dandelions in grassy areas 

The carnation and geraniums seemed to like the cooler, wetter weather 

Double blossom primroses potted and ready for a home on the deck

A short walk from our house is a home with a wonderful
stand of magnolias. They're just starting to drop their blossoms. 

Fauna

California Scrub Jay at the peanut dish

Finally, some decent photos of one of the Steller's Jays

About to take off and hide its peanut

Stanton

Loves to be propped up to see the world like big people

He's found his fists 

Off comes the sticker

A new exercise and entertainment center
for a new phase of growth - the Jumperoo

The Rest of Us

Erika's paczki for Fat Tuesday

At the International Women's Day rally in Oakland, CA 

Jigsaw puzzle #6 finished

Erick made a planter for morning glories.
They should be sprouting soon.

And to wrap up:

Sunset on the evening of the full moon

March full moon

Around Home with a Fast-growing Grandson

Getaway trips are fun, but every day here at home brings its own satisfactions. From chances to document our grandson Stanton's growth, to the ever-changing scenes in the Oakland hills, we enjoy them all.

Stanton was born December 7, 2016.  Here are some early photos:

Ready to come home from the hospital

At 3 days old

At 5 days old

At 8 days old

On Christmas Day

On January 7

And some more recent ones:

On February 7

On February 13 - having fun watching Grammy eat lunch

On February 18

Jigsaw puzzles are now among our favorite rainy day activities:

Erick & Erika put in the last few pieces of a 1000 piece puzzle

Here are the 5 we've finished so far:

The winter rains have made for some fascinating cloud patterns and sunsets:

Rainy, windy weather

Hail on the deck - an unusual site

Rainbow after the storm

Canyon clouds

Disappearing ridge

Morning clouds over Mt Diablo

Sunset between rainy days

What does this cloud look like to you?

Clouds in late afternoon

Pineapple Express day sunset 

Popcorn clouds

Some recent rainbows:

This one is a double - a faint one above the more visible one

This is the first rainbow we've seen that appears close to and  behind the ridge 

Northern California is currently on pace to have the wettest water year on record.  The "atmosphere river", aka "Pineapple Express", phenomenon is doing it's thing. Quite a change from the drought conditions in 2014 when we moved here.

Update: today, February 26, we hiked along Palo Seco Creek in Joaquin Miller Park. The white water in the creek was evidence of the recent rains. The trail we took starts out close to the creek and goes up hill from there.

Erick near a stand of Redwoods and sorrel ground cover

Recently uprooted tree along the trail

Views from an outcropping above the creek

The creek would have looked quite different last summer when we were still in drought conditions.