Sunday, May 30, 2010
Friday, May 14, 2010
05-14-10 Crystal Cove
I gave you a break from Crystal Cove for over a year. Yes, I know it's hard to believe---you'd seen so many pictures of that little beach you probably thought my camera had become allergic to it. Actually, we were getting our "beach" fix on the sail boat. Now that it's gone we must revert to the old methods. Sorry.
So this is Mothers day at Crystal Cove. The wait at the restaurant was an hour and a half, so we passed on that feature, but still enjoyed taking a few pictures. Don had purchased a new camera that had arrived mid-week and wanted to try it out here. Those pictures are still in his camera though, so it may be awhile before they make their way here. Meanwhile, here's a few of mine. (Smile)
So this is Mothers day at Crystal Cove. The wait at the restaurant was an hour and a half, so we passed on that feature, but still enjoyed taking a few pictures. Don had purchased a new camera that had arrived mid-week and wanted to try it out here. Those pictures are still in his camera though, so it may be awhile before they make their way here. Meanwhile, here's a few of mine. (Smile)
Sunday, May 09, 2010
Chicago?
In my last post I promised a posting about Chicago, yes? Well, it IS posted, but not at So. Cal. Day Trippin', because, in case you were unaware, Chicago is not IN So. Cal.. (Smile)
Also, I went to Chicago for work, so it's on the "All in the Name of Work" page. There's not much there yet in the way of photos, but there are a couple, and there are links to the photos. Eventually I will get a few more on the blog though, because they look better with a black border. :-)
Here's the blog where it's (kind of) posted: http://all-in-the-name-of-work.blogspot.com/
Just to avoid any possible disappointment though, I'll post ONE here. (smile again).
Also, I went to Chicago for work, so it's on the "All in the Name of Work" page. There's not much there yet in the way of photos, but there are a couple, and there are links to the photos. Eventually I will get a few more on the blog though, because they look better with a black border. :-)
Here's the blog where it's (kind of) posted: http://all-in-the-name-of-work.blogspot.com/
Just to avoid any possible disappointment though, I'll post ONE here. (smile again).
Sunday, April 25, 2010
Before leaving Anza . . .
OK, it's time to move on from the desert to Chicago, but before we do...I just want to add a few more photos, lest you think that Anza is all about little stuff --i.e., Gnatcatchers, butterflies, beetles, flowers, sand grains, cactus needles, etc.
For some folks, Anza is about palm trees, streams, horseback riding, and four-wheelin'
For some folks, Anza is about palm trees, streams, horseback riding, and four-wheelin'
Sunday, April 11, 2010
Jumping Cholla (Cylindropuntia fulgida)
Looking up the identifications and locations of the plants we'd photographed our first time out, I happened to read that the desert was still in bloom, and expected to be through the coming weekend. Don was all for a return visit and read that many more of the Jumping Cholla, also known as Teddy Bear Cholla, were now in bloom, so off we went on April 3rd for another photo excursion.
According to Wikipedia, "It grows at elevations ranging from 300 to 1000 m (1000 to 3000 ft). While the name "jumping cholla" is applied especially to this species, it is also used as a general term for all chollas."
The previous weekend had also provided some good Cholla photo ops:
According to Wikipedia, "It grows at elevations ranging from 300 to 1000 m (1000 to 3000 ft). While the name "jumping cholla" is applied especially to this species, it is also used as a general term for all chollas."
The previous weekend had also provided some good Cholla photo ops:
Blue Palo Verde
According to Wikipedia "Parkinsonia florida (Blue Palo Verde; syn. Cercidium floridum) is a species of palo verde native to the southwestern United States (southeastern California, southern Arizona) and northwestern Mexico (Sinaloa, Sonora, Baja California). Its name means "green stick" in Spanish, referring to the green trunk in which the tree does photosynthesis." ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parkinsonia_florida ). When they bloom they are smothered in yellow flowers. It's rare for me to like a tree sans leaves and flowers, but I find this one very attractive through it's entire cycle.
Saturday, April 10, 2010
9:30 A.M. April 3, 2010. Approaching Anza-Borrego
These are a few shots of the Anza Borrego desert valley taken from the top of the "Montezuma Grade" on S22.
The route to Anza Borrego from Orange County (CA) that we take is the 22 Freeway East to the 91 East to the I-15 South to Temecula. Highway 79 is then taken South about 41 miles to the S2 where we turn left. Then another left in about 4.5 miles on the S22 which leads into the desert valley. Once on the desert floor, the first intersection is Palm Canyon Drive. We turn left here and follow our noses to the visitor center so that we can find out which areas are in bloom at that time.
The route to Anza Borrego from Orange County (CA) that we take is the 22 Freeway East to the 91 East to the I-15 South to Temecula. Highway 79 is then taken South about 41 miles to the S2 where we turn left. Then another left in about 4.5 miles on the S22 which leads into the desert valley. Once on the desert floor, the first intersection is Palm Canyon Drive. We turn left here and follow our noses to the visitor center so that we can find out which areas are in bloom at that time.
Aposematism
These too are photos I took in Anza Borrego a week ago. This little fella is called a Desert Blister Beetle (Lytta magister), so named for the effect of the cantharidin toxin he excretes that will blister skin or sicken any would-be hapless diner. Such beetles have proven fatal for horses who've inadvertently consumed them while munching alphalpha hay.
"Aposematism" is warning coloration, in this case his bright red accents, that serve as a warning of the toxicity. If this little fella lands on your skin, you are likely only in danger of blistering if you startle him. So it's probably best not to scream or whack at him. (smile)
I haven't figured out yet what type of spider that little white fella is on top of that flower.
"Aposematism" is warning coloration, in this case his bright red accents, that serve as a warning of the toxicity. If this little fella lands on your skin, you are likely only in danger of blistering if you startle him. So it's probably best not to scream or whack at him. (smile)
I haven't figured out yet what type of spider that little white fella is on top of that flower.
Friday, April 09, 2010
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher and West Coast Lady Butterfly
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
2010-03-23
Yikes! Who'd have thought that jury duty would involve so much exercise? I feel like I've been to a gym!
The jury parking lot for the Santa Ana courthouse is a block from the courthouse. So I walk the length, get into line at window one to show my summons, and realize I've left my wallet with the jury summons and my id in the car. So, I set my purse, computer, and jacket down in a corner and jog back to the car and then back again to the court.
"Boy it's hot in here! Is anyone else hot?"
By 10:30 a.m. I have been assigned to a court room....on the 9th (!) floor. I don't like really crowded elevators, so I took the stairs...since we were already on the third floor. It's just as well we had no morning break --it would have involved choosing between a crowded elevator or the stairs again.
At noon, after eating the lunch I brought, I think I actually took the elevator down to the third floor, as I needed a spoon from the cafeteria to finish my lunch. From the third floor I still needed to get to the first, so took the escalator...which, because folks seemed to be in a hurry, I treated like stairs.
I walked back to my car...relieved to unload all the crap I'd brought to entertain myself, finished my lunch and then headed back, taking a few photos on the way.
Again the elevators were crowded by the time I was ready to return to the 9th floor. I had 20 minutes to get back still, so I decided to go ahead and do the stairs again, since I had time to stop every two floors and read awhile at each stop. That's what I did, but I was still exhausted when I arrived on the 9th floor.
I was thirsty be the afternoon break, so took the elevator both ways.
When we left I was ready for the stairs again...got halfway back to my car and realized my parking ticket needed validation. Argh! Oh, and guess what? I had to go all the way to the car to get it, as I'd left it there when I unloaded all my crap at lunch time.
So I walked back to the courthouse with my parking ticket, validated it, and walked back to the car.
I'm tellin' ya, that was exhausting! And I go back for more fun and exercise tomorrow!
The jury parking lot for the Santa Ana courthouse is a block from the courthouse. So I walk the length, get into line at window one to show my summons, and realize I've left my wallet with the jury summons and my id in the car. So, I set my purse, computer, and jacket down in a corner and jog back to the car and then back again to the court.
"Boy it's hot in here! Is anyone else hot?"
By 10:30 a.m. I have been assigned to a court room....on the 9th (!) floor. I don't like really crowded elevators, so I took the stairs...since we were already on the third floor. It's just as well we had no morning break --it would have involved choosing between a crowded elevator or the stairs again.
At noon, after eating the lunch I brought, I think I actually took the elevator down to the third floor, as I needed a spoon from the cafeteria to finish my lunch. From the third floor I still needed to get to the first, so took the escalator...which, because folks seemed to be in a hurry, I treated like stairs.
I walked back to my car...relieved to unload all the crap I'd brought to entertain myself, finished my lunch and then headed back, taking a few photos on the way.
Again the elevators were crowded by the time I was ready to return to the 9th floor. I had 20 minutes to get back still, so I decided to go ahead and do the stairs again, since I had time to stop every two floors and read awhile at each stop. That's what I did, but I was still exhausted when I arrived on the 9th floor.
I was thirsty be the afternoon break, so took the elevator both ways.
When we left I was ready for the stairs again...got halfway back to my car and realized my parking ticket needed validation. Argh! Oh, and guess what? I had to go all the way to the car to get it, as I'd left it there when I unloaded all my crap at lunch time.
So I walked back to the courthouse with my parking ticket, validated it, and walked back to the car.
I'm tellin' ya, that was exhausting! And I go back for more fun and exercise tomorrow!
Monday, March 22, 2010
2010-03-22 older stuff
A couple of people have asked me for pictures, so I need to be able to refer them somewhere. These were taken during 2009.
Me at the Christmas party at Professors Ronald and Kyndra Rotunda on December 12, 2009.
Don when we were at the Getty Museum:
Don when we were in the Beachcomber Restaurant at Crystal Cove
Don in El Segundo before a Toastmasters contest:
Me in El Segundo before Don's Toastmasters contest:
Me at the Christmas party at Professors Ronald and Kyndra Rotunda on December 12, 2009.
Don when we were at the Getty Museum:
Don when we were in the Beachcomber Restaurant at Crystal Cove
Don in El Segundo before a Toastmasters contest:
Me in El Segundo before Don's Toastmasters contest:
2010-03-19 Evening in L.A. to attend "Sacred Fools" Theater Co.
Don and I went to L.A. to attend a play called "Neighborhood 3" on Friday night. We arrived early so walked around town awhile. This was a little courtyard behind the Buddhist center where Don had attended a lecture the previous night.
Sunday, March 07, 2010
Friday, March 05, 2010
2010-02-28 El Dorado Nature Center
I took this picture because I loved the deep blue of the flowers. It wasn't until I was uploading the pictures to my computer that I realized it's the plant we were seriously considering planting in our front yard last summer.
It's common name is "California Mountain Lilac". It's complicated name is Ceanothus Concha.
It's common name is "California Mountain Lilac". It's complicated name is Ceanothus Concha.
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