In Sacramento!!!

Sea of purple flower at Tideland Park in Morro Bay

I spent Monday and Tuesday at the RV park in Morro Bay with some kind of a bug.  Felt it was best to be there rather than travel being miserable and perhaps bring bugs to my son and daughter-in-law.  Yesterday I drove in the rain for about a third of the trip and then just enjoyed the beautiful fluffy clouds the rest of the way.  This time of year is rather nice when driving on I-5.  Since it has rained, the grasses are green and lush looking (which is not the case in the blazing summer sun) and with the shadows created by the clouds, it was a lovely drive.  Wednesdays must be a slow day for trucks as there were hardly any as I was driving.  It was great.

I dropped my RV off at my friend's (Millie) house and my son came and picked me up and brought me back to their home.  It is good to see them since it has been a couple of months.  I'll spend a few days here then go back to Millie's for several more days.  I am looking forward to spending time with family and friends here.
















It feels a bit strange being in a CITY again.  All of these people and cars and traffic and congestion.  Yikes!  After being in the cozy little towns of Auburn, Cayucos, Morro Bay and Arroyo Grande, this feels really big.  I think it would be a huge stretch for me to live in a big city again.  I love the small town feel where you know most of the people there.  And most people are friendly and happy.  Much more relaxed.  And now that I am retired, I can truly appreciate this.  I wonder sometimes if I will ever settle in one place again.  Sometimes I think not and other times it kind of appeals to me.  We shall see how the Adventure goes and where I gravitate to in this amazing country.

Today I have a few errands to run that I would be challenged to do on the Central Coast.  I collected mail at my son's and have a couple of things to deal with from that.  So far, though, things are going smoothly.  I am loving my life.

I would like to say a special "Hi" to my audience in other countries.  It is fun to know that people in Germany, Poland, United Kingdom, South Korea, Bulgaria, Botswana, Ireland, Russia, China, France, Italy, Israel, etc., are following along on my Adventure.  Thanks for being with me.  

All of the flower pictures here are of the flowers in Malcolm's Oak Park Flower Farm.  It was such a joy to walk among them every morning and feel the different energies of each variety.  I attempted to help him make bouquets, however, this proved to not be one of my better talents.  I had fun though.  Maybe I just need practice.

"Respect your oneness, 

and resist any pressure to be a conformist - 

be the being you came here to be."

-  Dr. Wayne W. Dyer

I really like this saying of Dr. Dyer's.  There is a reminder of this in the flowers, as they strive to simply be the individual variety they are, leaving all the other flowers to be what they are.  This is shown in all of nature.  All we need to do is be aware, take notice and pay attention.

Enjoy your individuality!!!

Morro Bay Lighted Boat Parade!

Prior to the lighted boat parade Mother Nature decided to put on one of Her best light shows.  The sunset colors were awesome and many people were on the docks and piers to capture pictures of the spectacle.  

It was too beautiful to even talk.

It was difficult to take enough pictures of the ever changing colors and cloud formations.

Just when one thought the scene was most spectacular, the next phase would catch your breath.

The temperature began to drop as the whole picture started to get darker and more intense.

So, one just keeps taking pictures.

The decision of which pictures to include int he blog was ridiculous.  There are still about a dozen that may grace a future blog.

I am unclear about the significance of a dragon and Christmas, but what do I know.  I do feel that all things are possible, so perhaps there were several dragons there on that one amazing night.  I like to think so.  This decorated boat was the hit of the parade.  It's neck moved back and forth and they somehow figured out how to give the illusion of red flames coming from it's mouth.  

There was an electric air about this event.  People listened to Christmas Music as the vessels worked their way from the yacht club to the rock and back.

There are piers and docks along the path and the boats would stop periodically and do a 360 degree turn to the delight of the audience.

I failed to capture the Santa in a canoe who was without a shirt.  He did have a hat on and his canoe was surrounded in lights.

The crowd turnout was less than it would have been last Saturday, when it was originally scheduled.  This Saturday night there was a Christmas function in Paso Robles as well.

These pictures were the best I could take with my phone.  Hopefully it gives you the idea of the magic that is a huge part of this parade.

All in all, it was a wonderful evening with much Christmas Spirit everywhere.  People who did not know each other were chatting and sharing the experience together.  Even several dogs were with their owners.  There were also some antlered creatures that I was unable to identified.

This was a perfect evening.  My friends had a Christmas Party with friends in Cayucos so they dropped me off in Morro Bay so I could see the parade and picked me on the way back to their house.  I chatted with folks that have just moved to the area from San Jose and others that live in Cayucos.  I love these kinds of events where strangers come together to witness an event and share their friendship and kindness with others.  If there was drinking, it was a minimum and everyone was cordial with one another.  Thank you, Universe!

"During this season of lights 

may your home be bright and filled with joy."

-  Unknown

Enjoy the season's Lights!

Malcolm's Flowers!

Malcolm grows flowers on approximately one and a half acres of land.  Few varieties are blooming right now though the ones that are blooming are beautiful.  Rows and rows of plantings.  I am unable to name most of the flowers so Malcolm fills in my blanks.

He has a slower stand at the entrance to his driveway where he sells his flowers.  His neighbors are locals in buying his flowers regularly.  I met one of the neighbors yesterday who was getting flowers for a dinner party that evening.  People pay for the flowers by putting their money in a provided box.  

Malcolm sells most of his flowers to local florists.  After spending his morning working among the flowers, he makes his deliveries.  Check out his web site, Oak Park Flower Farm, Arroyo Grande, California.  Tell him I sent you.



Last evening Megan, Malcolm and I went to the San Luis Obispo Christmas Parade.  We had dinner first at The Natural Cafe and had a table right at the window which gave us a perfect view of the event.  There were one hundred entries, however, we left by the time fifty had gone by.  During that time there had only been three events with Christmas music.  Most strange.  The beginning of the parade consisted of Companies advertising their business.  Even a cement truck.  It was hardly something to help one get in the Christmas Spirit.  

When we arrived back at Megan and Malcolm's, the night sky was so clear that we could see stars for days.  It was stunning and beautiful.  I suspect I will need to start studying the star charts so I can identify what I am looking at in my adventures.  When I went to bed, I could hear the owls calling to each other.  I love the sound of their hoots.




This morning the hawks were very active and I heard several of them screech.  As I was walking through the rows of flowers I was unintentionally scaring the quail from under the cover of the flower bushes.  Suddenly a hawk came swooping down and attempted to snatch one of the smaller quail.  It startled me and I am certain scared the you know what out of the little quail.  And just as quickly, the hawk flew off into one of the nearby trees. Certainly got my attention.  






The frogs were also very noisy this morning.  They are in the undercover close to my motor home.  So as I am doing my thing, they are providing the music.  They sound as though they are huge though I think they are probably very little.  I have yet to see any of them.







This evening we are going to the Morro Bay Lighted Boat Parade.  I have been to this when I lived here, so I have no idea what to expect.  Hopefully it will have a bit more of a Christmas theme.  It was quite magical when I have gone in the past.  It was supposed to be held last Saturday, however, they had to reschedule to this weekend due to rain.

Today is another stellar beautiful day.  Thank you, Universe!

"Where flowers grow, so does hope."

-  unknown

Enjoy the flowers!

The Hills Are Alive!

Country Lane!

An early morning walk up the country lane to the property at the top of the lane.  There is a bold "No Tresspessing" sign.  It is property that the area locals venture onto to stroll and walk their dogs.  A beautiful day to see just how far away I can see.  It was unusually warm with a slight breeze and birds singing.

Pismo Houses and town with the ocean!

After I crawled through the gate I came across a group of locals with about 10 dogs all wandering around and checking out the smells.  The group was walking on the path and one man lagged back and talked with me about the little dog walking behind him that he is caring for that is blind.  It was a small terrier type dog that is about eleven years old.  She would follow the sounds of our footsteps, voices and the other dogs.  The trail is probably about six feet wide and sometimes she would travel from side to side and when she touched the grass at one side, she would work herself to the other side until she reached grass again and go back and forth.  A brave little dog that seemed sweet and trusting.

Stately oak tree on a hill!

The large group of people moved on and the man with the little dog turned back and returned to the gate.  I was on my own and I took several pictures of the area.  I could see the town of Pismo Beach and the ocean.  It was crystal clear with some scattered floating clouds that cast shadows on the hills and valleys of the land.  

Houses on the hills with an ocean vies!

I walked quite a while and sort of failed to pay attention of which paths I was taking and found myself wondering where I was.  I started to head in the direction I thought would bring me to my starting point and ran into a fence.  Unsure if I should follow the fence line, I decided to turn around and retrace my steps as best as I could.  I knew the general direction and was successful in getting back on a familiar path.  

A play of sunlight through an oak tree!

It was rather funny as I was thinking that if I was actually lost, what I would do.  I pulled out my phone and did a map search that failed to provide much assistance as I was not on any named roads, just paths on someone's property (1,400 acres).  I guessed I could call my friends but what directions would I give them?  I think for future walks I need to pay a bit more attention to landmarks so I keep myself safe and free of panic.  This area is completely beautiful and I could have sat and just enjoyed for hours.  As it was, I was gone for two and a half hours.  

Green hills and valley with shadows!

Later in the day Megan and I went to the beach at Pismo.  It was warm, sunny, free of wind and completely delightful.  We sat and enjoyed for a while and then headed off to Trader Joe's for much needed food supplies.  

The colors in the morning sky as the sun was starting to rise, was so awe inspiring.  It changed from second to second.  I love mornings.  It is a fresh new beginning and holds limitless possibilities.  The waking up process of each day is very magical for me.  



Belated, Happy Birthday, Miclele!  

"Upon awakening, decide to do something - anything - 
that will improve the quality of life for someone, 
without seeking credit for yourself."

-  Dr. Wayne W. Dyer

Enjoy your awakening!

Arroyo Grande Countryside Continued

So, here I am staying in Arroyo Grande with Megan and her husband, Malcom.
The weather has been in the mid 60's during the day and upper 40's at night.  There has been some fog in the mornings though it clears in the afternoons.  One of the things I am very aware of is the sounds of the song birds.  It is wonderful to hear them again.  They are scarce right on the coast.  And frogs and owls and hawks.  They are all abundant here.  Did I mention how peaceful it is here?  Each morning we sit out on the front porch, eating breakfast and looking out over the hills to the west, which is the picture at the top.  



Early in the morning I go for a walk between the rows and rows of various flowers that Malcom grows and sells to local florists, etc.  Few varieties are blooming right now but the ones that are, are beautiful!  I have a bouquet in my motor home.  He also has a stand at the entrance to their property where there are bouquets for people to purchase as they drive by.  Very sweet.




Before I left Morro Bay I mentioned the high surf.  Here are a few pictures of the spray from the waves hitting the rocks.  The pictures fail to truly capture the power of the surf and the force with which they crash into the rocks.  The sounds are tremendous and the mist is in the air.  

 

 

These stacked rocks are at the edge of Morro Rock rock parking lot.  Notice the small one off to the side.  One picture is looking toward the harbor and the other toward the bay.  Nicely done.

Rock Harmony!

Oriental Hideaway!

 The RV park where I stayed has this unique little hide away near one of the entrances.  Very oriental and charming.  And there are still flowers blooming everywhere.





At Megan's, the calla lilies are blooming.  Megan says they have pretty much bloomed all year.  They obviously love the climate, temperature and location.  The plants are huge.
I remember the ones my neighbor was attempting to grow in Auburn and they were so small in comparison.  Location, location, location.

Can you find the bees?  Don't miss the Rock!

I washed the motor home this morning and now I can see out of the windows.  It is amazing how dirty they got from driving in the rain and all of the road mist.  I wasn't sure if they were going to come clean.  My windows on the side of the RV over the dinette area and the couch look to the west and the hills. The fog on the coast is visible and because we are up high e3nough, we can see the layers of the clouds, fog, etc.  It is really nice.  

Notice the closing time on Sunday.  (Till we drop)

I just made chicken sausage and potato soup with green beans, wild rice, lentils, spinach and of course, garlic.  Smells good as it is cooking.  It is nice to have a larger kitchen to do these kinds of things.  The hawk is calling and the finches are munching at the bird feeders.  Seems as though everyone is hungry.  






I wish everyone a wonderful evening with yummy food and heartfelt people to share your time and meal.


Enjoy your views!

Arroyo Grande Countryside

Pictures tomorrow.  I am currently in Arroyo Grande staying at my good friends, Megan and Malcom's, home .  Megan and I shared an office space together ten years ago when I lived in Morro Bay.  Now they are growing flowers and all kinds of things on several acres.  It is so calm here and very peaceful.

I drove here on Sunday in the rain.  It was an interesting adventure going up their driveway in the dark and doing my best to get parked and sort of level.  Considering the conditions I did rather well.  Though I did get it more level the next morning.  Yesterday and today were lovely.  She showed me the property at the top of the hill where we walked and are able to see the ocean and the town of Pismo Beach.  Stunning.  We didn't see the cows that roam the one hundred acres however, saw many signs of their presence.  There are some spectacular homes in the area.

I finally was able to get a scrub brush to clean the motor home and had to get a newer and higher amp extension cord so my RV would function at its best.  I seem to learn something new every day about this new home.  I am loving it all.  Now tomorrow I will clean the RV and add pictures to the blog.  I am currently on Megan's computer so it is not easy  for me to get the pictures to the blog.

I miss the high energy of the ocean.  The two days before I moved on it was raining and the surf was super high.  It was sending major waves over the breakwater rocks that were so beautiful.  It was funny though that every time I would go walking in full rain gear, it wouldn't rain.  If I just wore rain repellent gear, it rained.  And when I wore the rain gear I would be wet on the inside.  So, I have decided that no rain gear because I am going to be wet anyway. 

Found a new cookie company in Cambria.  The Red Moose Cookie Company.  They are good though I still prefer the cookies from the Brown Butter Cookie Company in Cayucos.  I have to remember to get some gluten free cookies to bring home for my Daughter-In-Law.  I am sure there must be some special cookie company here in Arroyo Grande so I shall check with Megan. 

Megan and I have had some great quality time together.  Her mother passed the day before Thanksgiving and we have shared stories and such.  She is doing well.  Usually when I visit this area, we only have a few hours to spend catching up and now we have several days and I am very excited for this.  We had a lot of experiences the two and half years I was here.  So it is always great to spend time talking about all that has changed in our lives.  A good friend.

So, be well, all of you out there is blog land and hopefully I'll be back on track with pictures and stories soon.

Enjoy your special space!

Bushy Hair Days

Early morning sunrie!

This morning my walk was early due to the incoming storm.  It was windy and the Coast Guard had two red flags flying in the Harbor.  All the fishermen are hunkered in for the day.  The water in the Harbor is very choppy and active and I could feel the energy as the weather changed. 

Getting Ready to Rain Soon!

So when one knows the day is going to be a weather day, what is a person to do?  Go to the French Bakery before it all happens and buy some comfort food.  (This is way too simple, since it is on my way back home.)  That would be some cookies and a danish.  I will ration them.  I think!  I was only about a block from my motor home when it began to drizzle.  Thankfully, the bakery goods arrived home safely.


When people are out in the elements, such as today, with wind and dampness, hair can be an interesting phenomenon.  Some of us have hair that simply goes wild.  Totally uncontrollable.  And sometimes almost scary.  This morning was one of those days for me.  I finally pulled my hood up so people wouldn't be frightened and therefore kind of disguised myself at the same time.  I call these days my bush woman days.  Very similar to the few days just before my next hair cut.  


Bumper sticker in the window of a local shop:  "Destination Unknown"

Beautiful Geranium at Morro Dunes!

This morning was also a great dog fix day.  As one gentleman put it, "Getting your dog fix without all the other stuff."  Works for me.  For the moment at least.  It has been a long time since "Sunshine" passed on and I have been waiting for the next four footed friend to arrive.  So, for now, I enjoy all of the dogs that are with others.  Little ones, big ones, white ones, black ones, friendly ones, not so friendly ones and all the rest.  Maki and Annie were along my path this morning.  Awesome!!!

"Sail Away From The Safe Harbor

Catch The Trade Winds In Your Sail,

Explore, Dream, Discover....."

-  Mark Twain

This is a plaque on a park bench near the center of town which is in remembrance of someone who had lived and died here.  I think it is also a subtle message for me to venture forth from this beloved place and see what I see.  I have walked past this bench almost every day since I have been here and this morning is the first time I actually looked at what the plaque said.  Hmmmm!

Enjoy your Exploration!