Post-Winter, Pre-Spring Skybeams

> The Outback is amusing. Our first major snow storm arrived about the same time as winter. Our second, and maybe our last, snow storm, dropped by on the skid end of the season. Our ski resorts are happily humming with action. The snow pack looks robust again, in some places too robust and keeping the avalanche guns booming. What happened inbetween? Nothing. Just weeks of warm, shirt-sleeve weather that caused animal and vegetable to wonder if something broke. I asked the Closet Crafters, keepers of the Outback's oral lore and traditions, if this meant we were now part of that broken global system. Aw no, hon, it's just life on the arse side of the Sierras...Don't let this place fool yuh dear...perfectly normal can seem kinda weird at times.

> Meanwhile Bob the trusty Wonder Dog takes no chances. Here he is on duty as my watchful copilot. Broke, robust, or booming Bob treats it all like coyote snooping where it ought not be. Ever vigilant and inexhaustibly intent on doing the job right, Bob insists on the front seat whenever the Other Big Dog is away busy. That I might venture the teeniest trip to the grocery store makes no nevermind in the summer to Bob. But once that cold white icy stuff arrives--the "snow" coyote--I do not drive alone.

> The "other" ruby. Had to put this picture in. I have no way of guessing the value of all these rubies. Each one is about 30-40cm long and 20-25 cm wide, and perhaps upwards to 45 carats each. These are are the Tanzanian rubies. My favorite. Value has no meaning here, nor what the number on the gem scale says. It is rather the profound beauty of Earth's treasure I find so eternally enthralling. Add some facets and a broad visible spectrum and that treasure emits a symphony of photonic music!! Each ruby's "music" is unique, taking in only the light it needs to sing its own particular song!