PRETTY HORSE IN SAN SIMEON

We were taking a day trip up near San Simeon where Hurst Castle is located and when down a road to a unique little area with a snack shop and this horse was coming up to people to greet them and be petted.

BARN SWALLOW - Old Port Inn, Avila, Ca

I was walking along the pier and saw a flash of something orange.  I followed it down by looking over the pier and saw a Swallow sitting on a wood plank.  I've never seen one in person up close like this.  I saw a nest once up in the eves of a building at Fairmont Park in Riverside.

 This is an example of listening and being aware of what our "guidance" is telling us.   Immediately on seeing the bird I thought "swallow".  I'm not even sure why I thought that as I haven't even "researched" them or knew what they looked like.

Intuition saved me a good deal of research.  I knew it was a swallow - wasn't sure what kind.  When I finally got a hold of my computer I looked up "Barn Swallow" as the first attempt to identify it and there it was.





I like this quote on Dean Koontz

"Intuition is seeing with the soul."

CARMEL CALIFORNIA

Looking through old photos - i saw this one from 2007 in Carmel along the 17 mile drive.

RED WING BLACKBIRDS, BREWER'S BLACKBIRD MALE, FEMALE

Brewer's male is black, female brown.  Red wing blackbird in foreground.  I learned recently there is a tri-colored blackbird that looks just like the red winged but has a stripe of yellow and then a stripe of white beneath the red patch.  I photographed these three at "The Barn" in Avila, in a tree right above the donkey enclosure.

 FINALLY - I love to photograph starlings but rarely see them.  Here re two hanging on to the donkey's feeding dish and then a red wing blackbird in the dish.  The one's wings were semi opened and he looked brown underneath.  In certain light starlings are gorgeous - iridescent blues, blacks and light wing tips.

JONATHAN LIVINGSTON SEAGULL -

CLICK TITLE FOR MORE PICS


Always has been a favorite book of mine.

Photos from Pismo Beach.

Quotes from Richard Bach


“Your whole body, from wingtip to wingtip," Jonathan would say, other times, "is nothing more than your thought itself, in a form you can see. Break the chains of your thought, and you break the chains of your body, too.”

“Heaven is not a place, and it is not a time. Heaven is being perfect. -And that isn't flying a thousand miles an hour, or a million, or flying at the speed of light. Because any number is a limit, and perfection doesn't have limits. Perfect speed, my son, is being there.”

“He spoke of very simple things- that it is right for a gull to fly, that freedom is the very nature of his being, that whatever stands against that freedom must be set aside, be it ritual or superstition or limitation in any form.

"Set aside," came a voice from the multitude, "even if it be the Law of the Flock?"

"The only true law is that which leads to freedom," Jonathan said. "There is no other.” 

Why, Jon, why?" his mother asked. "Why is it so hard to be like the rest of the flock, Jon? Why can't you leave low flying to the pelicans, the alhatross? Why don't you eat? Son, you're bone and feathers!" "I don't mind being bone and feathers mom. I just want to know what I can do in the air and what I can't, that's all. I just want to know.” 

It was interesting to read the synopsis of the story - again - at Wiki

The book tells the story of Jonathan Livingston Seagull, a seagull who is bored with the daily squabbles over food. Seized by a passion for flight, he pushes himself, learning everything he can about flying, until finally his unwillingness to conform results in his expulsion from his flock.

An outcast, he continues to learn, becoming increasingly pleased with his abilities as he leads a peaceful and happy life.

One day, Jonathan is met by two gulls who take him to a "higher plane of existence" in that there is no heaven but a better world found through perfection of knowledge, where he meets other gulls who love to fly.  He discovers that his sheer tenacity and desire to learn make him "pretty well a one-in-a-million bird."  In this new place, Jonathan befriends the wisest gull, Chiang, who takes him beyond his previous learning, teaching him how to move instantaneously to anywhere else in the Universe. The secret, Chiang says, is to "begin by knowing that you have already arrived."  

Not satisfied with his new life, Jonathan returns to Earth to find others like him, to bring them his learning and to spread his love for flight. His mission is successful, gathering around him others who have been outlawed for not conforming. Ultimately, the very first of his students, Fletcher Lynd Seagull, becomes a teacher in his own right and Jonathan leaves to teach other flocks

THIS AND THAT

(CLICK on post for additional pictures inside the post)


The coots at the lake - I love the wild grasses behind them.  This is one of hundreds of photos I've taken around the lake but it would be boring to put them all up.  I will try to get a lot of them up before spring really takes hold.  Most of my photos are from the fall and winter since we have lived here starting in October last year.

One day my sister and brother in law were visiting and as we were walking along the path this dog was playfully jumping in the water and coming up on the path to say hello.  I thought he was cute but a man who was walking an aggressive dog on a leash was not too happy with the situation.  Can't blame him.  Letting dogs run loose is not a good idea as there are so many dogs that walk along the path with their people and some of them like to scrap. 

I always wish I could have a dog once more in my life - but with liking to get on the road and travel I wouldn't want the responsibility.

So instead of having a dog I take photos of each and every dog I pass along the trail.  I have SO many dog photos!  I've hardly posted any of them but eventually they will get posted. 

My most recent trip to the coast photos will be posted randomly along with photos from around here. 

 Here he is greeting us as we pass.  It seems like for a little bit he wanted to walk along with us.

It is raining today - a soft rain and when we got home my tree outside my bedroom window was blooming - beautiful clumps of tiny purple flowers, along with new leaves.  I have no idea what kind of tree this is.  I took photos and will post them later and hopefully be able to identify it.  The tree is so pretty right now.  I'll post those photos later today. 

The only thing we might do today, after being gone for five days, other than sitting around inside will be to make a trip up the mountain to Running Springs to the Feed store to buy some finch food.  I'm out of bird food and the birds need to be fed, so they won't go looking elsewhere and not come back;( 

I'm not too worried about that - they know I take good care of their nutritional needs;)

A WARM DAY AT HESPERIA LAKE

This house sparrow was a second away from jumping in the water - I missed the jump but caught him contemplating it.  This is a male house sparrow.

Not sure if this bottom one is a female blackbird - it was surrounded by male brewer blackbirds.  It also kind of resembles a female house finch but larger

WHAT CAN COMPARE TO CUTE SEAGULL FEET

I can't think of a thing (aside from babies, or dogs, or kittens...

But seriously - these feet are so cute.

I enjoyed photographing seagulls and their feet while on visit to the coast.  Click post for more seagull feet.

Look at the cute feet below as they come in for a landing!

 And the adorable way they look when walking quickly away from a predator.

A BEAUTIFUL FLOWER

Today, one of the places we went was the Avila Barn where I saw this pretty flower.  I have SO many photos, I barely know where to start when it comes to posting.  I decided I will put up a random one here and there.

 My sister cooked us a great meal and it is now 10:20 and I'm still too full to think I'll even be able to sleep tonight. 

WHITE CRESTED DRAKES

That's what I think these cute ducks are.  We saw them recently when we were at Tom's Farms in Corona, with our grandkids.

I'm enjoying being up at Central Coast area and look forward to going out for the day  to some of my favorite areas.

BEAUTIFUL PANSIES - hello spring!

I think these are pansies.  I planted some annuals the other day in pots and decided to photograph some.  I only have the interest to post a few photos tonight as I'm tired and I know I'll have time in the evenings once I go on a little vacation up the coast ---- to post more.  I also have lots of photos from when we were watching grandkids this last week that I need to update elsewhere.  Wish I had more interest in my blogs than I have right now. 

First day of spring is tomorrow I believe.

I think the one below is raniculas.

BOTTOMS UP

Geese at the lake.


The day was beautiful and there were lots of geese, ducks, and pelicans.  We've been busy with the grandkids but there's always time to photograph the birds!

Only have time to post one photo as I have to get the kids moving along toward bedtime.  Tomorrow is another busy day, Monday is also, Tuesday might be depending on whether my other son comes up and brings our grandson.  Wedenesday it will slow down somewhat and the Thursday on to another adventure. 

A BEAUTIFUL SUNSET AND SOME PHOTOS OF MR. FLUFFYBUTT GRUMPY PANTS

We were rounding the curve coming back from Rim Forest where we had dinner at the "Cottage" the other night ....when I caught my first glimpse of the sunset.  We aren't usually out at this time of day/evening - on the mountain highway.  We are usually at home and just too lazy to get back in the car to go see the sunset.  It would require driving to town (a few blocks), driving to the other part of town - the high part or rather the top of town another few blocks or so and on up the mountain road to where we could see the sunset - so...probably two miles.  Evidently we are lazy-ier than I ever thought as at 6 o'clock we're almost ready for bed.  Retirement wears us out;)  I do exaggerate - but it seems as if the option of staying home just wins out.   I will be getting more photos of the sunset soon as I noticed one evening I can actually see some of the sunset from the lake.

 Earlier in the day we had gone over to ArrowBear to check out their lake which had been empty and we were happy to see that it had filled up somewhat.  Along the way we saw these pretty snow covered rocks. 

While eating at the Cottage (Our normal pizza and salad deal which is the best deal in town price wise and quality wise) I was thumbing through a realtor magazine and saw this room.  I took a photo of the fireplace as that could be when I win the lottery - the style of fireplace I would have built.

I waked outside the other day and noticed that we have really warmed up here in the mountains.  It was time to put out my cactuses.  They have been inside because of freezing temps at night but now they are ready to start spending quality time outside.  This is about the extent of my gardening.  I came from a house we owned which had over an acre and lots and lots of plants (where we lived 28 plus years) to a much smaller house and only indigenous plants around which is fine with me.  We have lots of forest trees around and some oaks.  I'm debating on whether I really will plant more pots of flowers or just tend my little garden I already have - it only takes about a half minute to pull the hose over and water them - how much better can life get.  I have very little responsibilities any more so I don't know if I want more.  I noticed I said a half minute to water them - I really exaggerated - probably 10 seconds, more like 5.

Mr. Fluffybutt Grumpy Pants made a visit the other day.  This is one bird that is hard to photograph as he is always quick to swoop down, grab a nut or bug and fly back off.  It was cold the day I got this photo - he had put on his fluffy butt pants.

You silly bird!

He even landed on the feeder for a moment.  He didn't see me hiding in the kitchen taking his picture out the window.

A PRETTY BARN/SHED IN GREEN VALLEY LAKE

A couple weeks ago we drove up to Green Valley Lake.  The weather was beautiful.  We hung out around the lake for awhile, walked a path that circled the lake and went up into neighbhorhoods and then ended up at the Malt Shop where we re-met Roger and Cathy who were once our realtors who sold us our cabin which we have since sold, in that same area. 

I loved this little barn/shed structure and think it will make a good sketch which I might work on later, after we get back from a walk.  There are heavier breezes today (Santa Ana condition) so not sure how the walk will go.  We may end up coming back to the house or taking a ride somewhere.  A Costco trip is in our near future and today might be the day.

PRETTY GURL

It's really been fun walking the lake lately - these gurls love to swoop in and wait for us to feed them.

Getting a later start walking that we wanted today but will leave in a few minutes and i'm sure the
birds will be waiting for us.  Santa ana condition is developing today but so far the breeze is mild.

WATER WAS CLEAR - AFTER RAIN IT IS MORE GREEN

We have enjoyed the walks around the lake.  This was taken on 02-12 and after the rain storms - there is a lot of mud and dirt that washed down the banks into the river.  It looks greenish brown right now.

I hate to say it but i have quite a few seagull photos that will probably get posted.  My hobby at the lake it seems, is to try and catch these guys in flight. 

We bought a water fowl mix of food and they love it.  We tried it out yesterday and not only the gulls but the coots were going crazy for it.  Some coots even ate out of Mike's hand.

I've been on the net way too long this morning - trying to catch up a little bit on the kids' blogs.  Time to get out for a walk.

CANADIAN GEESE HAVE ARRIVED

This is the first time since we moved I have seen geese at the lake.

Yesterday we went up the mountain to pick up a 20 lb bag of duck food that finally arrived to the store.  I love making the trip up as the mountain is really greening up from the rains.  The fog and clouds below were so thick it looked like an ocean down below. 

These were taken two days ago on our last walk around the lake.  Today we will walk the lake and I plan on working in the yard later.