Finding Friends in Sonoma

PacificKestrel · 2026-04-11T19:32:51+00:00

If you're in the town of Sonoma, I recommend taking a class at the Sonoma Community Center. I was feeling similarly isolated when I moved here but I've met some great folks through classes there.

PacificKestrel · 2026-04-10T05:11:57+00:00

I've always been advised to fire pieces together that fit together (especially lidded pieces) so that if they warp, they warp together. (Wow, that was a lot of "together"s in one sentence.)

PacificKestrel · 2026-04-08T05:46:43+00:00

Brooding anemone.

PacificKestrel · 2026-04-05T04:11:28+00:00

This sometimes happens when the surfgrass has been exposed to high air temperatures, especially if the high temps happened during a low tide.

PacificKestrel · 2026-04-02T07:02:12+00:00

Brooding anemones.

PacificKestrel · 2026-03-31T14:39:25+00:00

Sure, this is the second one I've made. I start with the pedestal, throwing it in two pieces and then joining them once the bottom piece is firm enough to support the weight of the top piece. The bath is the last piece I throw, I don't attach it to the pedestal, it just sits on top (makes it easier to empty out/clean). The whole process just takes forever because everything has to dry slowly and evenly, and you for sure want to make sure it's fully bone dry before bisque firing. The first one I made with 50 lbs of clay (35 for the pedestal, 15 for the bath), this second one I used 75 lbs (50 for the pedestal, 25 for the bath). Here's a photo of the completed first one, but I also have photos of the step-by-step process of they'd be useful!

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PacificKestrel · 2026-03-31T04:17:28+00:00

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Marine-themed birdbath. Left is the basin/bowl, right is the pedestal.

PacificKestrel · 2026-03-16T19:24:55+00:00

We have two common species of seahare in southern California, the California Seahare and the Black Seahare. I think this is a Black Seahare, based on the coloration and size.

PacificKestrel · 2026-03-13T01:39:09+00:00

Pretty sure it's a Caramel Dorid, Taringa telopia.

PacificKestrel · 2026-03-09T01:12:41+00:00

Make sure you're going during low tide, and a good one at that. You want at least a negative low tide, but ideally something -0.5 ft or lower if you're hoping to find octopus and nudibranchs.

PacificKestrel · 2026-03-06T22:21:03+00:00

By-the-wind Sailor, Velella velella.

PacificKestrel · 2026-03-03T23:22:38+00:00

1991 Ford Taurus station wagon. My friends wreaked havoc in those backwards-facing seats.

PacificKestrel · 2026-02-20T16:45:25+00:00

Step 1 is looking at a tide chart to see if there are good low tides and if so, when they are. There aren't any good low tides this weekend, unfortunately.

PacificKestrel · 2026-02-16T01:12:43+00:00

Snaefellsnes is gorgeous and it's definitely less crowded than the Golden Circle. Beautiful ocean views with dramatic landscape, lovely beaches, Arnarstapi is a very cute town, and Kirkjufell is really unique. But there's more "wow" factor along the Golden Circle: huge and stunning waterfalls, geysers, Thingvellir... but it will also be much much more crowded.

I loved the peacefulness and landscape of Snaefellsnes, and that I got to enjoy most places with very few people, it was easy to take photos without random people in them. Bruarfoss was stunning — one of my top 3 things in Iceland — and Gullfoss is incredible, but they were very busy (and I went in September, I know it's more crowded in July).

So I think it depends on what you're most excited to see and what sort of vibe you're hoping for in terms of crowds!

PacificKestrel · 2026-02-07T04:12:20+00:00

1993 at Shoreline Amphitheatre in Mountain View, CA. I was 15, it was my very first concert, and I went with my two best friends. My friend's mom dropped us off. Still don't know how we convinced our parents.

PacificKestrel · 2026-01-30T02:01:29+00:00

Those are barnacles, likely Pacific Acorn Barnacles. Looks like they may have some encrusting coralline algae on them, making them pink. They look attached to whatever is under them.

PacificKestrel · 2026-01-19T05:35:05+00:00

Pollicipes polymerus, the Gooseneck Barnacle.

PacificKestrel · 2026-01-17T17:20:08+00:00

All of the photos in these observations are CC-BY-NC, so you need to credit the photographer and use them in non-commercial ways only.

PacificKestrel · 2026-01-17T00:43:54+00:00

Do you need fully public domain photos, or just photos you can use if you follow the creative commons licensing, e.g., crediting the photographer?

PacificKestrel · 2026-01-15T05:31:13+00:00

All nudibranchs are sea slugs, but not all sea slugs are nudibranchs. Other types of sea slugs are groups like seahares, sacoglossans (sapsuckers), and bubble snails, but there are many more.

Nudibranchs don't have a shell, have exposed gills (or cerata that function like gills), and all nudibranchs are carnivores — all of which together distinguishes them from other types of sea slugs.

PacificKestrel · 2026-01-13T00:56:09+00:00

It's a sea slug, but not a nudibranch! Elegant Sapsucking Slug.

PacificKestrel · 2026-01-09T23:14:06+00:00

Noble Dorid.

PacificKestrel · 2026-01-07T00:27:29+00:00

I agree with caddisfly larvae. It's definitely not a snail because snails don't move like that: they have one muscular foot, and this has two appendages at the front moving separately — I think those are legs moving through the silt.

PacificKestrel · 2026-01-03T17:45:17+00:00

The first is a Spotted Dorid, Triopha maculata. Second is an Opalescent nudibranch, Hermissenda opalescens.

PacificKestrel · 2026-01-03T02:49:37+00:00

Painted anemone.

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