What Happened?

Hmmm. There were pictures of the Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Gardens on that last post up until today. Now there are only empty little rectangles. That's annoying. I think I'll leave it alone for a day or two and see if it "heals" itself before trying to reload the pictures since it took me at least an hour the last time--probably more. Sure hope they come back on their own--like Little Bo-Peep's sheep! If you were a little curious and wanted to see them, come back later because if they don't return soon I'll re-load them. I recently moved to the upgraded version of this program and it was the first time it offered for me to load the pictures as large images--that might have something to do with it, but I hope not because it would probably mean that I will have to re-load them and probably as smaller images.
With fingers crossed I bid you adieu for now.

Rancho Santa Ana Botanical Garden

Now, you'd think that a place called "Rancho Santa Ana Botanical Garden" would be in Santa Ana, yes? Well, perhaps it used to be. The literature does say it was moved from Orange County to Claremont in 1957.
And it's too bad, because it'd be wonderful to have this place in Santa Ana. But, then, it wouldn't be the same. It was a bit of a drive (57 N. to 10 E., off at Indian Hill, turn N. to Foothill Blvd. Right (East) on Foothill and then look on the left for College Ave.--It's more of an alley than a street and the sign is a little stone monument sort of thing on the meridian--very easy to miss--twice!) but the drive (38 miles one way) was worth it. We had a fabulous time, between the great garage sale we stopped at while there, and the garden.
Before I load some of the photos I took though, I'd like to mention the trip you missed. Don went to Las Vegas in March and took a few pictures there, and several on his way back when he stopped at the Mitchell caverns in the Mojave National Preserve, http://www.desertusa.com/mnp/mnp_mc.html. Don's photos can be found at http://www.flickr.com/photos/twobears2/
OK, meanwhile, back at the Ranch(o), here are some of the photos from yesterday at the Botanical Garden in Claremont (http://www.rsabg.org/)

The docent asked Don if he was expecting rain. No, he just likes a little shade.

Nice day for the beach

Perhaps you're someone who favors sunshine and crowds. They have their place, but I often prefer drizzle, and almost always, given my druthers, seek locations that offer an ambiance of intimacy. So this morning's briefly gray sky prompted Don and I to indulge our wanderlust, in hopes that it was discouraging the majority of our community from venturing outdoors.
Where did we go, you ask? You didn't ask? Ohh, but-ja-gotta ask.

I'm waiting.

Thanks! Well, actually, you might be disappointed, because we've been there before. Which means you've been there before. Well. You've been there if you've read earlier posts....and you count mental excur----Get on with it?
OK, OKay.

At about 9:15 a.m., under heavy drizzle, we headed down the coast a short piece to Crystal Cove. We parked on the North side of PCH and took the van, for a dollar each, to the "Beachhouse" on the South side of PCH.
Where the van dropped us off, we were met by a lady draped in a bright blue hooded cape piloting a golf cart. The couple we'd shared the van with hopped in so Don and I said we'd walk. The driver insisted we climb on, as the going would get muddy. There wasn't room on the jump-seat for three of us, so I sat in Don's lap....in my raincoat...ducking under the golf sized umbrella in Don's hand. Picture not included.

Prices are a little steep at the Beachhouse, but having already had breakfast, we contented ourselves with shared servings of sausage and fruit, accompanied by a large warm cup of steaming Mocha.

Mocha

Intimate wasn't exactly the ambiance we'd landed in, but still, it wasn't as crowded as other times we have been there. There is in and outdoor seating. In case I didn't post all of my previous photos of the place; the outdoor seating is generally under large umbrellas, which, not being closed up for the night, can drip mercilessly on unsuspecting diners. (If you go, bring a hat.) This morning, however, the entire outdoor patio was covered by a large tent (with pales dotting the patio to catch the leaks). Heaters were strategically placed, but the one in the corner we'd been ushered to was reported to be there but not functioning. Don commented on this later, "Why'd she even announce it was there, only to succeed the declaration with the disappointment that it doesn't work?" I agreed. Did she think we'd like pretending that it was on, or that it was like an attractive fireplace that didn't have to be lit to be enjoyed? (Not).
So we took a comfortable booth inside this time. We took a few pictures for you but despite the cloud-dimmed sky, the contrast between in and outdoor light was still too great for my small camera (today I was carrying the smaller Nikon, the "Coolpix L6") so I hope it's not too challenging to get the feel of the place.

Oh look! A pale indoors too (upper right)!

Yes, that's one of those attractive heaters in the background that you might like to sit near even when it doesn't work.

Nice high ceiling--I was trying, actually, to encourage the flash to trigger by aiming at the dark ceiling. I should have just turned the flash on. Oh well.

A little blurred without flash.

A little contrasty with flash.

It wouldn't be fair to post a soggy Don without posting a soggy Tracie.

As we prepared to leave we noticed a line of people forming at the exit, waiting, apparently, for the golf cart. We decided to brave it and take the scenic route, by foot, up to the restrooms around the corner. We stopped along the way a few times to take a few more photos for you.

After visiting the restrooms we headed toward the tunnel that goes under the Pacific Coast Highway, leading back to the parking lot....

"Uhhh . . ."

"Errr . . ."

"Let's take the van back to the parking lot."

"Yeah, OK. Lets."

After taking the van, we are safely back on the parking lot side.