I NEEDED SOMETHING "COOL" TODAY - THIS DID IT.

REPOSTING A FAVORITE

I was at the beach  - at Venice Beach in Santa Monica when I took this photo of sea gull flying towards the pier - you can see the fun zone in the background.  I think next week we are heading to the coast again to hang around Laguna and on up the coast - I doubt it but I wish we had the time to go all the way to Santa Monica.  Our temps all over Southern California are really going to be hot again - not as hot as our last horrible heatwave that topped out about 120 degrees in some Inland Empire areas (below the mountains where I live)...but this time it says our high will hit 95 up here and probably  105 to 110 down in the valley.

POSTING MY FAVORITE PHOTO OF ALL TIME

The day was September 4, 2006 and I was up in the central coast area to wait for great niece Hannah who was trying to come into the world that day.  Her mother's labor was long and Mike and I decided to spend some time driving around the area and stopping at a few of our favorite beaches while waiting for the phone call that Hannah was here.

We stopped at Shell beach, a beautiful area near the Tri-City beaches and sat for awhile.  I noticed the pelicans on a cliff and zoomed in and got my most favorite photo ever.

I know I have posted this before but I think it's been a few years back.  Just seeing it reminds me of the happy day and also it makes me feel good looking at it.  

BROWN PELICAN AT PISMO BEACH, CA

I came across these photos that I took quite awhile ago and loved the close up view which I might try and sketch.


Pismo Beach is a favorite central coast beach area of mine.  My niece lives and works here.

SECOND POST TODAY OF THE EGRETS AT DANA POINT HARBOR

More egrets - We will be going down to the area again (the coast) after the July 4th holidays.  We didn't get to do nearly as much as we wanted to with our last trip down a few weeks back.  Travel time is about 2 hours if traffic is moving so it's not something we do often.  I'm looking forward to going again so soon.

We visit several beach towns when we are in the area which include Laguna Beach, Balboa island, NewPort Huntington and next time we hope to make a few quick stops here and there  - not staying long in Dana Point while we work our way up the coast.


Haiku by Magyar (thank you)

standing guard
egrets scan the crafts
rail watch

FROM A RECENT TRIP TO DANA POINT NEARBY TO DOHENY BEACH IN CALIFORNIA

These are some shots I took of some egrets perching on a few boats in the harbor.

I'll break up my post into two sections so I get them all up on my nature blog. 

Their black legs and yellow feet are so cute.

THE BLACK HEADED GROSBEAKS HAVE RETURNED A WEEK AGO FOR SPRING AND SUMMER

They will be here until after summer - and leave just before fall.  I always enjoy seeing them show up year and year.  I did this sketch the first year I ever realized what kind of bird they were.  it wasn't until we moved to the mountains that I saw my first one. 

Winds have died down and I think a walk is in store today.  We tried yesterday but it was way too windy at the lake.  Spring in the mountains is a little irritating sometimes because it seems like most days are windy or heavy breezes.  By the time we can walk then the heat and humidity sets in and the bugs come out at the lake but it's worth seeing the beauty of the forest around here. 

Weekend is upon us again.  Mine will be busy - how about yours?

(digital sketch 2012 - blackheaded grosbeak)

TWO YEARS AGO THIS MONTH I TOOK THESE PHOTOS OVER BY THE LAKE

The tulips at this house shown below didn't come up again.  The house was sold and the landscaping has changed a bit.  I remember when I took these photos I was amazing at how pretty it looked in the fog.  There is a little road that passes by the house in the background, very narrow and barely accessible by car but there are houses back in there so I've walked it a few times.  It's an interesting walk and good exercise.  The dogwoods are blooming now as shown in the last pic.  My goal during this time of year is to get out and photograph all the dogwood trees I can find...it keeps me busy.  Today there should be some beautiful blooms at our local arboretum up the mountain a ways.  I should see a lot dogwoods in bloom.

Magyar's haiku - thank you!

in the fog
someone touches the dogwood
counting blooms

BEAUTIFUL BIRDS

A sweet photo op appeared and of course I had my camera with me.

Happy Saturday.

A PRETTY LITTLE SCRUB JAY

So, we had about a 10 minute period of three snow events - all just slight with big fat snowflakes that melted when they hit the ground.  The clouds are attempting to clear out but having no success yet.  They seem to wantto stay around and act bipolar.  Lots of events in the next weeks here in the mountains.  It seems like each little mountain town around here has something going on over the weekends.  Where we live - ..the town will begin to start up its' first ever farmers market but I don't remember which day it will be so I need to look it up.  I'm anxious to get fresh produce there instead of the grocery stores.

Count down is ongoing for my road trip where I leave with my sister and her daughter on May 1st for a trip of the coast to Northern California and Oregon.

haiku by Magyar

bird on the hunt
one seed hiding en-la-mass
nourishment