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365 days of images has been more than a challenge to me, it has become a lifestyle. I know that being in nature, taking images and breathing through the grief is helping me. Each day it takes me about 3 hours, sometimes a little more to walk and collect pictures. I then process, look at them and do an initial culling of the images. A second elimination process, then I line them up in the blog and another reduction in the number of photographs. Then I write whatever blurb comes to me, something that happened that day or feelings, whatever needs to come out. Writing is not my best suit, as I'm sure you can tell, but it is full of heart. I have been putting everything I have into this project - a project of a lifetime. I have been spending about 6 hours of each day on this, the discipline that it is taking is the biggest challenge and I'm doing my best to keep up.
So I'm becoming "that lady that calls the marine mammal center". Today it was a sea otter that I spotted laying on the rocks by the jetty. I have never seen one sleeping there and usually the sea otters are on guard around humans. This one was not paying attention to anything going on around her. I watched her for about 20 minutes and she moved every so often but her movements seemed odd. Understanding I'm not an expert by any means, but I have been watching the otters and have never seen one act this way. So I did it and called again. I feel like I might be sensitive to seeing and feeling illness because of being a care giver to Phil. This time the story worked out very well, it seems that she is pregnant and just was tuckered out. She is the otter I watched the other day and she was a wild one. Spinning, eating, jumping up and down off the rocks. The otters are all studies and this one had 2 tags which we could spot. Two members of SORAC came and told me that they would keep an eye out for her. They pointed out to me that she wasn't malnourished in anyway, her fur looked good and yes it was unusual behavior. After about an hour or so, she moved again, jumping off the rock and then back up again. I had help from a friend Marge who watches the sea otters and is a bevy of information. I now have the Marine Mammal Center and SORAC on speed dial....Ha, I'm going to try to not abuse it.
I started the morning with the harbor seals, watching the pups.
Swimming lessons have already begun.
Mom was keeping tabs on her pup.
The jetty is one of my favorite spots these days.
Sea Stars
Here is the otter that was too tired to stir.
When she got up, she showed her personality and was very cute.
She was back up on the rock and back to sleep.
There was a lot of activity on the jetty today. A young sea lion was resting with a larger sea lion.
Usually the sea lions occupy the end of the jetty, but right now the cormorants are nesting. They seem to be renting the space right now.
The most exquisite sight was a blonde sea otter with her pup. As you can tell from the amount of images, I was captivated.
What a cute pup. Mom would leave it alone while she was gone for a minute to gather food.
Mom, I need a bite.
What luck, at the end of the jetty another mom and pup.
I loved today! Flowers on the way home.
A good day!
For Phil
Life isn't the same without you. I know you would be proud of me. I miss you.
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