***  Gemstones and Terminology  ***

Birthstones:  Objects of beauty, power, mythology...
Since ancient times, the 12 gemstones that we attach to our modern calendar year
 have been worshipped as objects of great power...
 
Glossary Of Glassmaking Terms

Glossary Of Terminology
Used in the Jewelry Industry

Shell Lexicon
Revealing Sea Shell Facts
 
What IS the Color of Stone List
It's the Glossary of Stone and its' Color!

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***  A Town Called 'Gualala'  ***

Diverse Landscape Marks Vibrant Area
Edges, places where different land structures meet - forest to marsh, marsh to sea...

Gualala: The New Hot Spot
Mendocino town makes magazine's list of 50 best places in country to live as
'outpost of adventure lifestyle'

Gualala Name Puzzle...
Walahlee?  Walhalla?  What's the Source of the name 'Gualala'?...
Gualala, the name both of the river and the town at the river's mouth,
has long been a puzzler to newcomers to the Mendocino Coast...
 
I say 'Wallala' and you say 'Gwalala' --
How do you pronounce this place, anyway?

Where Waters Meet
You don't have to board a plane to get to the quaint seaside village of Gualala,
which offers a peaceful escape from daily chaos.

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***  The Northern Coast and its' Towns  ***

About The Redwood Coast
(with "Events On The Redwood Coast")
General, Housing, Climate, etc...
 along with Ongoing Events throughout the Year...

Beach Season
With less fog and wind, and more warmth,
Labor Day weekend showcases the coast at it's best...

Carved In Stone
The strange pocked rocks of Salt Point State Park on California's Sonoma coast
 might look like messages...

Mammoths May Have Scratched On Sonoma Coast Rocks
Texas university will test samples, which archaeologist expects to date back to Ice Age...

'Off Season' Still Busy In Mendocino
Winter months bring surfers, bird watchers, seal pups and more...

Outdoor Recreation In Mendocino County
Gualala and Point Arena are being discovered by travelers who seek a peaceful getaway
 in an unsurpassed natural setting with a casual atmosphere.
The region also boasts an active arts community, great food and interesting history.

OZ Farm Harvest Festival
For the sixth year in a row, the rustic,
and bucolic OZ Farm is opening up their yellow brick road...

Point Arena Lighthouse
The Point Arena Light Station may soon be recognized as a National Historical Landmark.

Roadside Distractions
So you thought all Wine Country had to offer was vineyards, beaches and big trees?
Think again...
 
Season by Season:  A year in the life of the Mendonoma Coast.
Which time is best to visit Mendonoma?  Each season has its special charm...

The Simple Life...Serenity By The Sea
At the Mar Vista inn near Gualala,
visitors can harvest and cook their own meals and experience peace and tranquility in a cozy cottage...

Try Redwood Coast For Romantic Trips
Winter on the Redwood Coast
(from Fort Ross in Sonoma County through Irish Beach in Mendocino County)
offers a remarkable variety...

Welcome to Mendocino County
Overview of the Region with South Coast Mendocino Highlights...

Welcome to Mendonoma!
Some visitors say it is a bit like Ireland, others like a part of Portugal,
 others say it is much like Scotland...

Whale-Watching Spots Along The North Coast
From the grassy hills around Valley Ford and Bodega Bay to the forested bluffs north of Jenner,
Sonoma County's coastline...

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***  Plants and Animals of the Coast  ***

*****Air*****
The Adventurous Gardener...Hummingbirds
Tiny, gem-like hummingbirds are fast, flashy, ferocious and fascinating...
With a little effort, your coastal garden can provide our hummers...

The Adventurous Gardener...Yellow Jacket Season
Those vicious black and yellow dive bombers are back again!

Tundra Swans'  'Perfect Habitat'
Stornetta ranch near Pt. Arena Lighthouse an annual haven for migrating waterfowl.

*****Land*****
The Adventurous Gardener...Gardening In The Extreme
Yes, along with "Extreme Homes" and "X-treme Sports," gardening can also be extreme...

Another Thing To Blame On Wet Winter:  Rattlesnakes
North Coast's 'healthy' snake population finally emerging; bites up statewide

Beauty Of Berries
Whether in pies and ice cream or eaten with them, berries are one of the best things about summer...

Berry Fan Offers Tips For Success
Berry plants can fit into surprisingly small spaces...

Burbank Imported Notorious Blackberry
It seemed like a good idea at the time...

California Black Bear Sighted Near Gualala
A California black bear has been reported to be making the rounds in and around Gualala...

Delectable Wild Mushrooms --- On the Mendocino Coast
This time of year many coast residents add to their usual dinner entrees...

Hunt For The Wild Mushrooms
It's prime time for flavorful fungi in the North Bay

Mountain Lion Kills Sheep On Gualala Ridge
On Saturday night, a mountain lion visited the ranch home of...
Follow-Up Story...
Mountain Lion Kills More Sheep
A hungry mountain lion revisited the DiMaio ranch near Gualala and attacked and killed...

Mushrooms - Delicious - De Lovely - Deadly
Wild Mushrooms can be found on the menus of local restaurants...

Naked Ladies...
Dress Up Gardens And Roadsides

Ranger's Log...Striped Skunk Squad
The cheering section was in place and each face was focused on the events about to transpire...
Follow-Up Story...
Ranger's Log...Young Striped Skunk
Ever since the birth of a bunch of fuzzy white-striped little stinkers...

Wild Turkeys Gobbling North Bay Land
Fish and Game aims to boost flocks, biologist urges study...

*****Land / Sea*****
California Sea Lions Love Our Coast
Use the parking for Shell Beach on The Sea Ranch, then take the public access trail...

Sea Lion Raft Congregates Near Point Arena Light
A flotilla of sea lions found themselves unusually close to shore at the Point Arena Lighthouse...

*****Sea*****
A Fish Story...Monkeyface Prickleback
(For Prickleback & Fennel Cakes Recipes...)
Pricklebacks are slithery, elusive and ugly as sin, but their taste is little short of divine.

A Unique Fishery...Abalone
(with "Stalking the Wily Abalone"  and  Recipe)
The Mendonoma Coast is famous for its abalone, a succulent mollusk...

About The Gray Whale
Gray whales can be differentiated from other similar looking whales by the lack of a dorsal fin...

Coho Salmon Return
Local Environmentalists Celebrate Coho Salmon Return to the Garcia River...

Crustacean Sensations
(For Crustacean Recipes...)
Peak season is winding down and now is the time to grab some crab at festivals in SF and Mendocino...

Fascinating Facts About Gray Whales
(with "2nd Annual Redwood Coast Whale & Jazz Festival)
The northern phase of the migration of the gray whale began in mid-February...

Giant Abalone Spills Out Of Its Huge Shell
A giant abalone, taken off our coast in early August...

The Grays Are Coming!
Annual migration brings Gray Whales and whale watchers...

Have A Whale Of A Time
The second half of Mendocino's annual tribute to watery migrants of the Pacific...

Jumbo Squid Influx In California
Many California anglers have been catching something that resembles a sea monster...

Local Sea Urchins Face Tough Competition From Russia
"How Long Will Urchins Last?" asked the August 21, 1987 ICO front page headline.

Meet The Abalone Named After The Town Of Gualala
I am wondering how many folks reading this know that our town, Gualala,
 has a species of abalone named after it?

North Coast Sport Ocean Salmon Season To Open
The recreational ocean salmon season between Horse Mountain and Point Arena...

Shark Estimated At 16-18 feet;
'it was over in five seconds'...

Sonoma Coast Salmon Fishermen Optimistic
Despite undercurrents of mercury and PCB contamination and the prospect of tighter regulations...

Winter Is Best For Seeing Wildlife
Winter is the best time for seeing wildlife in the North Coast counties...

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***  Tidbits Of Information  ***

2 Professors Go Fishing For Phishers
Barriers erected to protect against password-theft scams

The $100 Million Scam
And why Americans keep falling for it...

The 'Green Flash' --- a surprise at sunset
Many people have never heard of, much less seen, the "green flash"...

How To Handle Summer Hazards
Bug Bites, Ticks, Rashes.
Family fun needn't be cut short by poison ivy or other summer bummers...

How To Spot An Online Scam
The Internet is rife with schemes that start with an e-mail and end up emptying your bank account...

Ocean Safety Guidelines
Be swept away by the beauty, not by the sea...

Organized Crime May Be Behind Phishing
Fraudulent e-mail scams show more sophistication...

Pests Of Summer
Don't want to be bugged by mosquitoes, yellow jackets and ticks?
 Repel insects, protect yourself with a few simple steps.

Secrets To Good Wood
When fireplace season starts, it's often the consumers who get burned...

Tidal Factors
Many people know to check the tide tables before going...

Tips On Serving A Meal Of Lobster
Lobster may be considered a delicacy, but cooking one requires only the most basic of techniques...

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And MORE to come!!!.