Gentle Rain!

I woke to a gentle rain.  I am guessing this will continue through tomorrow morning, if the 
Weather Channel is correct.  It is calm and peaceful though and almost feels comforting.  It can definitely be windy, cold and unsettling when a storm comes through, so this is very nice.

Still capturing succulents in the area.  I am still amazed with how many there are here. 





I also love the the Norfolk Pine trees, which are sometimes referred to as Star Pines.  They grow well outside here at the coast.  Some people get them for indoor trees during the Christmas holidays and are successful in growing them indoors. 

 I was never brave enough to do this and have just enjoyed them outside at the coast. 

These two trees are a little less dense than others I have seen here.  So I will keep my eyes open for ones that are fuller and appear more at home here.  

The rain cleared yesterday afternoon and it turned into a beautiful day, again.  There was little left of the storm clouds and the air was so clean and fresh.  

On the pier, I was able to capture a sea otter and gull.  When the otter comes to the surface to eat, it lays on its back and the gull looks as though it is sitting on its rear flippers.  The gull attempts to gather any food scraps the otter may drop or leave behind.  

Here, the otter is swimming away from the gull in the foreground.  You may have to pull out your magnifying glass to see them, but they are there.

Many gulls hang out on the pier so they can perhaps steal some bait from fishermen or maybe get a nibble from a caught fish.  Today they were just sitting on the railings and soaking up the afternoon sun since there are no fishermen around.  The water looks so blue here and the houses are so white.  This little guy (of girl) was very brave to let me get so close.

Woke up to 46 degrees this morning and the sun is shinning.  Another beautiful day here.  I heard on the news that the area I left was under tornado warnings yesterday.  They had hail, thunder, lightening and rain.  Quite a contrast to the gentle rain we had here.  

It is fascinating how the weather can be so different in relatively close areas.  I know there are people who can explain all of this.  Still, it is fascinating to me.

Most of the tourists have left the area now and this small community is quiet and peaceful.  Few people on the beach and in the shops.  It will stay this way until it gets closer to Thanksgiving.  This is a favorite hangout for tourists during most of the holidays and the summer.  Now and after New Years, the locals enjoy just each other.  I like it.

"Nature brings beauty to every time and season."

-  Author Unknown

Enjoy your season!

Earthquake!!!

Did you feel it?  There is little to compare to being awakened just before midnight by your bed being jolted.  According to the USGS site there was a 5.3 magnitude earthquake just northeast of King City, which is about 75 northeast of Cayucos.  Having experienced how an earthquake feels, this one was very clear to identify.  A heck of a way to be awakened.  There have been several much smaller after shocks, which I have failed to feel.  

Right now it appears as though the Ring of Fire is very active.  Some quakes have registered at 6 magnitude and above.  Even Japan has had some activity.  Depending on who's theory you read, these could be pre big quake events or theses smaller quakes could be lessening the potential of a big quake.   Since no one knows for sure, we can just relax and enjoy the ride.

The street antique show was in full swing by the time I got to it around 9 am.  It was foggy though everyone seemed in good spirits.  As I suspected, there was little that even caught my eyes.  So I continued to the beach and walked and walked.  

It wasn't long before I came across three young men raking the sand.  This particular area is often the home for couples getting married on the beach.  So they were preparing the site for the event later today.  The bright white items in the background are the chairs that will take their place in the sand for the guests of the bridal party.  There have been several mornings while walking the beach that there were lots of various colored rose petals in the sand in this area.  Such a sweet left over of a wedding  compared to the old rice and confetti days.  

The fog burned off around 10 am and the air temperature rose.  Glorious!  I walked out on the pier and talked with a couple visiting from Cleveland, Ohio.  They were on their way to Hearst Castle and the elephant seal beach.  They were also going to explore the area around Morro Rock.  Perfect day for all of it.  

While on the pier I had a perfect view of the pelicans diving for food and the dolphins breaking the surface of the water as they did the same.  There is no way to capture this on camera since it all happens too fast and I, of course, would have the camera facing the opposite direction than where they would appear.  So I gave up on the picture taking and just enjoyed the show.  Awesome...

Lots of birds on the beach, including one that was lethargic, at the surfs edge.  As I watched it, it was apparent it was near death.  A few gulls came cautiously to it and pecked at it.  I gather it was to check to see if it was still alive.  At times like this it is difficult to watch nature take its course.  Other beach walkers also noticed the almost motionless bird and gave it a wide birth as they continued.  I left and when I came back to the area after my walk on the pier, the bird was dead at the edge of some washed up seaweed.  I have noticed several birds washed up on shore this way and I always wonder about their cause of death.  I will probably never know.  I can only say a prayer.

My voting ballot arrived!  Excited am I!  Now I can vote.   I was concerned this was not going to be possible with the timing of my move.  It has all worked out well.  Hooray.

Commitment

"Until one is committed, there is hesitancy, the chance to draw back,  always ineffectiveness.  Concerning all acts of initiation and creation there is one elementary truth, the ignorance of which kills countless ideas and splendid plans.  That the moment one definitely commits oneself, then Providence moves too.  All sorts of things occur to help one that would never have otherwise occurred.  A whole stream of events issues from the decision, raising in one's favor all manner of unforeseen incidents and meetings and material assistance which no person could have dreamed would come their way.

Whatever you can do or dream, you can begin it.

Boldness has genius and power and magic in it.

Begin it NOW.

  -   Goethe   1749-1832

The Weather Channel is showing a winter storm warning in Yosemite from tonight through Monday night.  Is it that time of year already?  I just checked for here and we have been given a 60% chance of rain Monday evening.  Otherwise, sunny, warm and wonderful.  Loving it.

Please say a prayer for a dear friends Mom who currently has several infections and is unresponsive.  "There is a time for every season."

Enjoy your season!

What A Difference A Day Makes!

Today is foggy.  Thankfully it is much cooler, as well.  Walking on the beach this morning brought the usual gulls and the fog seemed to amplify the sound of the surf.  There were some young college students romping in the waves and many dogs chasing whatever was available.

Morro Rock is hidden by the fog.  It is a rather drippy fog this morning and makes the day feel a bit lazy.  So I walked the beach back and forth twice gathering the usual items and again, one flip flop.  Such a mystery.

This is the first morning I went and got a mocha and just sat at the beach drinking in the yummy goodness.  People, dog and ocean watching is such a delight.  I could do this for hours.  And I did.

Everyone here is preparing for the antique street show tomorrow.  Part of the main street and several side streets will be closed to driving and the wares will be displayed throughout these streets.  I have been to this event several times in the past and it is amazing to me all the stuff that is available for sale.  And how some of the items are things I have either sold or donated.  Now that I am so downsized, everything is an extra that I can live without.  It is fun to walk through the isles and isles of tables and chat with all the various people.  And, of course, there will be food vendors, which makes it even more interesting.

Yesterdays ideas of things I was going to accomplish went by the wayside.  I will see about next Tuesday.  That is, of course, if I can keep track of the days.  I'm certain Hearst Castle and the elephant seals will still be there whenever I arrive and the rv shop should still be in business.  I am still adapting to being retired.  At times it seems so simple and at other times I get confused about what I am doing.  I wonder if I have to figure this out or if it will just resolve itself!

I obviously have a thing for purple flowers.  And they seem to be abundant here.  So many varieties are new to me.




The owners of the motel are making great progress in readying everything for their move.    It appears they have found their new landing place and will know soon if it is a done deal. I am so excited for them as they move forward with their new adventure in life.  I think theirs is much more dramatic than mine was.  

I thoroughly enjoyed the Dr. Oz show and his presentation of GMO information.  He gave each side the opportunity to present their thoughts and in the end he graciously gave his opinion with options people can utilize now.  I applaud his being vocal and public on this issue.  Perhaps the following is something worth considering, as we move closer to election day.  This especially applies to all of the candidates.

"Power is no blessing in itself, except when it is used to protect the innocent."

-  Jonathan Swift

So, I am on with my day.

PS  Meteor shower tonight and early morning!

Enjoy the difference!

Fog Banks

Yesterday my little adopted niece from China turned three years old.  It is amazing to realize she has been in our family for over two years now.  What a sweet and adorable girl, who captures the hearts of all she meets.  I am looking forward to seeing her again in the spring.  Wish we lived closer to each other.  It is a good reason to travel East. 

This was taken in May this year.  She is wearing our favorite color.

This morning I was awake early and was on the beach way before the sun came up.  Looking toward the north west is the Cayucos pier and a bank of fog in the distance.

Looking south west is Morro Rock and the fog bank hovering over  Los Osos.

And then, back to the flower thing, here is one very beautifully painted mail box.  It continues with the flowers and colors of those on the steps.  A lot of the flower pots themselves are also very brightly painted with flowers.  Such fun and happy adornments.

Today I am off to Morro Bay to get a few needed items for the motor home and recheck on a few rv parks.  I may head north along the coast and visit Hearst Castle and see the behemoth elephant seals who call a particular beach their home.  This picture was taken in January with one of the mothers nursing her calf.  

If you have not seen these mammals, it is is impossible to relate to how large they are.  Nature shows on television have shown them, however, up close and personal, they are huge!!!  During late December the females start arriving on the beach and give birth.  By early January, it is total bedlam.  The noise from the pups wanting to nurse, the females declaring their space and the males battling to mate is tremendous.  Then you add in the gulls and their racket over any pickings available and it is difficult to hear your own thoughts.  I can stand and watch them for hours.  I did so once, many years ago, and came away with quite a sunburn.

This morning, as I was picking up trash on the beach, I became aware of many gulls gathering around me.  Kind of felt similar to the movie "The birds."  I then realized they thought I had something for them to eat in the bag I was carrying.  I relayed the situation to them and they wandered off.  A rather eerie feeling at first.  I was very grateful they understood my speak.

My treasure from the beach this morning is a tiny conical shell.  Lots of people have just as many names for this little Chinese hat shaped shell.  Anyway, it is very cute.  

Gift of the Seaguull!!!

A lonely seagull flies the winds

Majestic...soaring...gliding wings

A single screech sounds from the sky

Come fly with me...come here and fly

My spirit floats to be a part

I feel the beating of its heart

My soul, one with this bird of sea

Now knows the meaning to fly free

I feel the winds caress my soul

And soar the streams without a goal

My being trembles of delight

A treasure I received tonight

The seagull's flight of soaring high

The gift of what it means to fly

by Munda

Enjoy your flight!

Flowers!

Mid October on the Central Coast and flowers are blooming everywhere.  Geraniums, jasmine, succulents and so many more.  It is fascinating to have left an area where the flowers are in the late blooming season and arrive here and see so much color.  It almost looks as though mid summer is the season.

Almost all of these flowering plants are at local motels.  Some are in pots, some in flower boxes and others are part of their landscaping.  There is such a sense of pride and creativity with how the different owners present their properties.  It is truly lovely.

Millie let me know that Dr. Oz is discussing genetically modified organisms (GMO's) on his show today.  I am interested in what he has to say.  Let the truth be known.  I think the truth is all that the consuming public wants to know.  There are only weeks since the California voters have the opportunity to voice their wants on Prop. 37.  Great timing for this show.  If you miss it you can always check it out on his web site.  I would think it will be in the newspapers too.  

I have finally received all of the awaited papers and my vehicle license plates and tags. Thank you, Darlene.   I also had to fill out a form for the Post Office to add information on my new address which they left off.  This was part of the problem.  I wonder how long it will take them to do this.  I will cross my fingers, though holding my breath sounds too dangerous.  

I checked out the rv place in Morro Bay.  Looks good and the owner/manager was very nice and friendly.  The price is a little more than I would prefer, however, it is literally in the middle of town and within walking distance of everything.  Now it is just deciding how long I want to stay there.  

"For if one link in nature's chain might be lost, another might be lost, 

until the whole of things will vanish piecemeal."

-  Thomas Jefferson

Enjoy your flowers!

Warmer!!!

Being able to walk on the beach twice in a day is such a treat.  I stopped by the ice cream shop before walking back to where I am staying.  Definitely a warm and calm afternoon.  I am delayed in checking out the rv park in Morro Bay until Wednesday.  Other things came up.  I anticipate this is going to be a regular occurrence.

Finally located the long awaited papers and documents I have been waiting for from two sources.  I was beginning to think I have been lost to the world.  Which might not be a bad thing.  I also discovered that my voting packet will not be forwarded to me.  Thankfully they are sending another one to where I am.  The Placer County Elections Office was extremely helpful.  How about that!!!  Thanks Denise.

I decided to give you a sneak peak at the "had to have t shirt."

The colors are a bit off in the picture yet the idea comes through loud and clear.  It is too cute and too big, so I will use it as a sleep shirt.  Makes me feel happy.

One of the rooms at this motel is named "For The Birds."  There is a mural on one wall and all of the birds and bird houses are made of wood and attached to the wall.  Very cute.

Also there is a hanging mobile of hand crafted bird houses of various sizes.  And here there is a birdhouse plaque on the bathroom wall.  The shower curtain is too amazing.

The bird headboard with hanging houses on either side is adorable!

This picture didn't come out very well with the light and shadows.

Each room at this motel has a different theme.  It is quite fun to see how these owners have created great and unusual spaces for travelers to enjoy on their journeys.  These are completely out of the norm of the usual motels.  I like it, though I am sure for others the norm works better.  

Walking on the beach this morning was in flip flops, a short sleeved shirt and light weight pants.  I had a sweat shirt on which came off shortly after I started my trek.  This was at 7:30 am.  Even the butterflies were out because it was so warm.  The usual trash was picked up, along with two non matching flip flops.  How does that happen?  Yesterday I found a pair of children's shoes which I put up on the steps to the beach.  They are still there.  The whale skin is still around and a gull was attempting to have breakfast from it.

I am currently holding down the fort at the motel as the owners have some legal business to take care of.  Emmy Lu, the dog, is part of my responsibilities.  She takes a lot of attention.  (She is actually sound asleep on the floor.)  All the fans are on to keep it cooler in the office.  I can't imagine what it must be like to run a motel and have to be available twenty four hours a day, seven days a week, three hundred and sixty five days a year.  Not my cup of tea.  Especially since I am now retired.  No schedule.  Repeat, no schedule.  I am still getting used to this new aspect.  And that is OK by me.

It is amazing to realize I have been here since October 2nd.  Two weeks of retirement.  Wow.  It is difficult to even put into words how this feels.  I will work on this in my spare time (which I have a lot of now).  

The following saying makes me smile:

"Happiness comes into our lives through doors we don't even remember leaving open."

- Rose Wilder Lane

Enjoy your happiness!

Winnnndy!!!

Occasionally the Santa Ana winds blow on the Central Coast.  Sunday morning was one of those days.  There ends up being sand storms on the beach and sand gets into just about everything.  I still took two walks on the beach, saw the whale skin, picked up treasures and trash and collaborated with several dogs.  The birds were doing their usual things in the surf and children were laughing and screaming as they played in the water.  Such fun for them.

The gem and mineral show was held this weekend so I meandered through the boxes and boxes and displays and displays of rough stones and rock and handcrafted necklaces, bracelets and rings.  I haven't been to one of these events in quite a while and had forgotten the amazing energies they emit.  I came across several I would have loved to take with me, however, weight is a huge consideration on this adventure.  I am certain I may be over my weight limit, as it is.  I brought a few with me when I left on this adventure and gave many to my son and daughter-in-law before I departed.  Adding rocks at this time is probably a poor idea.

But wait!!  When I lived here in the early 2000's, I gathered quite a few flat lava stones that were dredged from the harbor entrance and dumped on the beach. (They do this every couple of years to keep the harbor entrance open for the boats coming in and out.)   I have had these stones, and used them in my work, all these years and before I left the foothills, they beckoned to be returned home.  They are in the motor home now, so I will be taking them back to where I collected them.  Seems to me that that could be an exchange of weight.  What do you think?  Rational thinking and logical, if you ask me.

While I was admiring some of the treasures, a former student, from when I lived here, came up and said "Hi."  I saw her last summer with another former student, and it was a nice surprise to see her again.  She lives in Santa Maria, about an hour away.  She gave me a sweet piece of Lapis Lazuli to keep in my wallet.  

I was informed it will increase my wealth.  I'm all for that!

For any of you who might have doubted the jade plant information in my previous blog, here are two more pictures showing just how tall they are and that they truly are chopped off.

This hedge is well over my head.  It seems to be about six plus feet tall.  Early morning shadows.

This is the same hedge taken from a different angle.  Look at the height of the street sign.  I may have underestimated the actual height.  (Cute fire hydrant.)  The almost white spots are where branches have been removed.

This morning I picked up two pelican feathers that were on the beach.  It is amazing to see so many feathers.  Some are stuck in sand at the quill end and others are feather tip end first.  Some are almost completely buried while others are completely exposed.  

One of these days I will expound on the similarities of feathers and leaves.  Thought about this several years ago and it keeps coming back to my mind.  Very interesting.

Today I will be checking further into the rv sites in Morro Bay.  I am aware of my need to thoroughly check the places I can take the motor home, as I am quite tall and wide.  Well, maybe not me specifically, though certainly the motor home.  A couple of inches can make a huge difference.  Also, the arms of the mirrors stick way out.  And then I have the awning arms that account for extra width.  Getting stuck or wedged is a picture I prefer to avoid.  My, my, my!

Definitely warmer today, even though it was again quite windy first thing this morning.  It is calm now, sun is shinning and I am on with the day.  Big sigh.

Enjoy wherever you are!