To see the world in a grain of sand
And heaven in a wildflower
Hold infinity in the palm of your hand
And eternity in an hour
-William Blake
Sometimes all you need is to lie in the sand and breathe.
A Grain of Sand
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Category Archives: Beaches, Mostly Carlsbad
The Heart of The Matter
At the end of the day, there is nothing but love.
Such an amazing wave pic from Carlsbad. I can’t take credit for the photo, but I have the photographer’s permission to use it.
Here’s how he did it: he was swimming, not sitting on a board; simply in the right place at the right time to reveal a little love.
If you look really hard, you can see another, smaller, heart.
Do you see it?
For These Apocalyptical Times: Amazing Grace | Leon Russell
Did you attend a #NoKings event in your area? In my little beachy town, I heard there were 15,000+ attendees, which is amazing. I wish I could have been there but I wasn’t feeling great; hopefully it’s just seasonal allergies and nothing more serious, so I didn’t go this time.
I still can’t wrap my head around where we are in this country; how our liberties are being decimated and the rights of women are becoming more and more non-existent, almost to the brutal point of Sharia Law extremism, and there doesn’t seem to be a solution or an end to the loss of democracy–or any adherence to the rule of law.
Even though I’m not at all mainstream religious and never have been, there’s a certain yearning to search for a rational reason to explain a deep sense of foreboding and the meaning of this unholy collective evil, like why is this universal dark night of the soul happening NOW? Is Wetiko an answer to the question?
So… it’s time for a little Leon Russell. If you know, you know.
One does not simply “listen to” or “hear” Leon’s music, it’s something you FEEL, deep in your soul on a cellular level. And THAT is the essence of faith, right?
He is SO beautiful…those eyes! The camera certainly loves him, too… the closeups are so CLOSE, lol.
Energy is Powerful
There was a mysterious blackout in SoCal Thursday night, from North San Diego County all the way up to Orange County. More than 100,00 people unexpectedly lost power at around 7:40 p.m.
The electric company simply said it was “under investigation” with no reported reason for the outage.
Of course, there are lots of theories floating around on social media, including an attack on our power grid or an EMP (ElectroMagnetic Pulse), which is a sudden burst of energy that disrupts or destroys electronics.
“A high-altitude EMP attack could paralyze the power grid and communications”.
From Reddit: “Most likely someone hacked into the control/management system and brought down the entire system from northern San Diego to South OC.”
State officials, including Governor Gavin Newsom, have not issued any statements regarding the incident, more than 12 hours after two of California's most populous areas lost power - which is home to more than six million people. Moreover, the state's Office of Emergency Services did not even acknowledge a large-scale blackout had taken place, with the agency's website and social media accounts making no mention of the incident as of Friday morning. Despite the complete absence of communication from state officials, residents in the blackout zone captured frightening video of drivers speeding along pitch-black roads with no traffic lights or street lamps working.
'California is having a night straight out of a disaster movie,' one person said on social media. --Daily Mail
It’s a good thing I have so many candles; it was actually quite lovely to sit in silence and flickering candlelight until, suddenly, without warning, the power came back on.
Here’s the meaningless word salad response from the electric company:
“Early information indicates the event originated on the regional transmission system, which serves multiple communities across SDG&E’s service area. In response to grid conditions, built-in safety measures briefly interrupted service to help protect the larger electric grid.
We are supporting the California Independent System Operator, which manages the state’s electric grid, in their review of system performance. We know outages are disruptive, and the safety of our customers, employees, and communities remains our top priority.”
None of that really answers any of our questions, and as I wonder what the REAL story is, I suggest that we all stock up on candles and generators and power banks, just to be prepared for any future eventuality.
Word(s) of the Day: Sun Glitter
As someone who loves shiny, glittery things, I always wondered if there was a specific term to describe the sun’s sparkles on the ocean, and I discovered that there is, and it’s adorable!
The proper technical and descriptive term for sun sparkles on water is sun glitter or sun glint.
This phenomenon occurs when sunlight reflects off wind-rippled water waves, creating a shifting, bright path of individual glints known as a “glitter pattern”.
I love to be at the beach on a hot summery day, taking pictures of sun glitter.
Have You Ever Seen a Hummingbird Moth?
This is another post in my continual quest to NOT allow current events to cause mental and emotional distress. I don’t actively ignore the news; instead, I’m trying to manage my visceral reactivity, if that makes sense.
I didn’t get good pics of March’s full blood moon, but look who I discovered on the deck this morning! He didn’t look too perky so I put him near a flower and hope he rallies…
The White-lined Sphinx Moth, Hyles lineata, is a common “hawk moth” (Family Sphingidae) and gigantic at almost four inches! I’ve seen them around here on very rare occasions but have mistaken them for hummingbirds because they’re so big.
Hummingbird moths are excellent, beneficial pollinators, especially for night-blooming flowers, helping gardens and ecosystems thrive, though their caterpillar stage might munch on host plants like tomatoes, a minor trade-off for their adult benefits. They are harmless to humans, mimic hummingbirds, and are crucial for plant reproduction, making them a positive addition to any pollinator-friendly yard.
Hummingbird moth symbolism often centers on luck, transformation, peace, prosperity, and longevity, appearing as a messenger for change or a sign to look closer at life’s illusions, blending butterfly themes (change) with hummingbird traits (joy, flexibility) as they are mimics of hummingbirds and symbolize a spiritual connection to nature’s deeper messages and joyful living.
The Last Photo Taken
Here’s the most recent photo I took while I was out and about enjoying this beautiful sunshiny Southern California morning.
What is it? Is it a contrail or a chemtrail? Whatever it is, it totally ruined the absolute totality of the blue sky.
What was the last photo YOU took?
Cloud Art
These clouds are works of art.
I like what Bob Ross said about painting clouds: “Let’s build us a happy, little cloud that floats around the sky.”
(Photo credit to Enchanted Seashells)
New Year Greetings With a Fling of Sandpipers 𓅪
And now we welcome the new year. Full of things that have never been.
Rainer Maria Rilke
We’re getting ready for another storm but yesterday it still was sunny and warm. Check out these south-facing sandpipers, all looking in the same direction. I wonder what they’re thinking about…
Maybe they’re hoping 2026 will bring peace and harmony and love to the world. That’s my wish, too.
Do you know what a group of sandpipers is called?
There are many recognized collective nouns for a group of sandpipers:
𓅪 a bind
𓅪 a cluster
𓅪 a contradiction
𓅪 a fling
𓅪 a hill
𓅪 a time-step
My personal favorite is a “fling” of sandpipers.
𓅪 Happy 2026!
Hauʻoli Makahiki Hou
Is It Rude To Dispose of Your Dog’s Poop in Someone Else’s Trash Can?
Yes. It’s rude. It’s disgusting and stinky and gross and can be left behind when the trash is emptied.
Somebody keeps throwing their dog poop bags in my trash can. It occurs after I put the cans out before our regular pick up day.
THIS time I saw who did it only they ran away and I wasn’t able to follow them, but that proves they were obviously aware of their stupid action. I didn’t recognize the neighbor OR his dog, so I don’t know who it is.
I fished the VERY FULL bag of poop out of my trash can and left it on the curb.
I can’t understand why it’s so hard for someone to just take THEIR poop home. It’s not mine and I don’t want it. Don’t get a dog if you can’t handle carrying a poop bag. It’s poor etiquette as well as being lazy and RUDE, perhaps illegal.
While not explicitly a separate criminal offense in all cases, putting dog poop in someone else’s private residential bin in Carlsbad without their permission is a form of unauthorized dumping or theft of services, and it could lead to legal fines or civil action.
- Unauthorized Use: Trash collection is a paid private service to the homeowner, so using their bin without consent is essentially using their property and services without permission. This can cause issues for the homeowner, such as the bin reaching maximum weight limits, which could result in extra fees.
- Carlsbad Municipal Code: Carlsbad, like many California cities, requires dog owners to immediately clean up and properly dispose of their pet’s waste in a trash receptacle. The law emphasizes that disposal must be done appropriately.
- Illegal Dumping Statutes: Under California Penal Code § 374.3 PC, it is a crime to dump “waste matter” on private property without the owner’s consent. While this is usually an infraction with a fine, repeated offenses or significant amounts of waste can escalate the penalties.
- Nuisance and Trespassing: The act of walking onto a private driveway or property to deposit waste without permission can also be considered trespassing or a public nuisance.
In short, it is considered inconsiderate and can be illegal. The proper disposal method is to use your own trash bin or a public pet waste station.
It’s not just about me. This behavior tells me you don’t care about our public workers at all. You’re fine with the trash folks having to handle bins that are lined with excrement.
In the summer time it turns into a shit soup that reeks to high heaven. It disgusts me that some of my neighbors have no respect for ME or the people who literally do your dirty work.
A little Googling reveals that this seems to be a frustrating and RUDE problem everywhere, not just in my community, as it’s essentially illegal dumping and disrespectful.
Here are some solutions that are offered online:
Simple and Non-Confrontational:
- Signs: Place a clear sign on the lid saying “No Dog Poop” or “Not a Public Bin”.
- Relocate Bin: Keep your bin in a garage or fenced yard until collection day to make it less accessible.
- Physical Barriers: Use a heavy brick on the lid or a bungee cord/strap to keep it shut.
More Direct Solutions:
- Talk to Neighbors: Politely explain the issue; they may not realize how bothersome it is.
- Bin Locks: Invest in a lockable strap or padlock for your bin.
- Security Camera: A camera can deter offenders and provide evidence if needed.
Last Resort:
- Check Local Laws: Some areas have ordinances against using private bins for public waste; contact your local council.
- Document & Report: If it continues, you can document it and report it as illegal dumping to local authorities.
Is this a problem where you live? How do you deal with it? I’d love to hear any suggestions…
Enchanted Seashells | Princess Rosebud 