April Showers

Spring has had some false starts around here, coming in spurts between showers and colder weather. The few warmer, sunnier days got me out into the garden, planting vegetables, weeding and repotting worn out plants from the winter, but then the cooler days came slamming back causing me to huddle under blankets with a good book.

But, another trip to the coast, ala Pismo, Oceano, Avila, San Luis Obispo and Cambria finally convinced me that spring really is here.

I've never seen the hills so green and slathered in wild flowers.

And, the ocean views from atop Hwy 46 from Cambria were magnificent.

Of course, the ocean is always beautiful.

A few weeks ago, when blossoms opened on our ornamental cherry tree out front, I hounded Fred into taking me for a drive on the Blossom Trail, so starved was I for the colors of spring.

Even though the day was cloudy, I got a few nice shots of the San Joaquin Valley coming into bloom.

Since I've been blocked from writing fiction for quite a while now, I decided to swing my artistic tendencies back into painting, while still maintaining the photography, as amateurish as it is. (Nature is not easy to mess up, even in a bad photo taken while driving by at 65 mph, on a cloudy day, through a dirty windshield).

Inspired by the trips we’ve taken lately to the coast, I dusted off my old brushes and bought some new acrylic paints. I found a photo I’d taken in Tulum, Mexico a few years back and painted that.

Spring spurts of sun and warmth in between the darker, rainier days, remind me that there are always moments of beauty around us to celebrate and enter into.

Have a great spring.

A Day at San Simeon

More about Milton:

Through the winter I dealt with his health issues (he had a few) but he's been a treasure, every bit of his 4 lbs. His unceasing attempts to bring out Buddy’s playful side has finally worked, and they now rough and tumble (Buddy being surprisingly gentle with the little guy).
Back to traveling off the cuff:


We visited Hearst Castle in San Simeon on Feb. 13. The weather was beautiful and since neither Fred nor I had ever visited the Castle, it was a real treat—one I want to repeat again on a different tour (there being four).


We took tour #1 which included the downstairs and some of the grounds. This picture is a detailed view to the entrance of Hearst's main house. It is reminiscent of churches in Europe.

The outside pool is familiar to most people but did you know that the pillars holding up the "temple" on the far side of the classic Neptune swimming pool, are fourth-century Roman columns (the one on the right being fatter and shorter had to be built up to fit in the structure).

The inside pool was the last room we got to view. Lovely.

(More about the tours at: http://www.hearstcastle.org/tours/ )

This picture of the coast was from the balcony in front of the front entrance.
After finishing the tour, we visited the ocean and the dock where Hearst had his treasures delivered from around the world.

The surf seemed higher than usual that afternoon. As it turned out, there was a surfing contest up the coast in Half Moon Bay that afternoon and the waves became so strong that spectators were knocked over.

To watch the video of that event go to: http://www.dipity.com/timeline/Mavericks-Rogue-Wave

Never underestimate the power of the ocean, both to inspire and to devastate.