But when they’re ripe, they will be delicious. Let’s hope I get to them before the squirrels or raccoons.
Not Quite Ready
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Tag Archives: California
Winter Surf at Tourmaline Beach
On a more positive topic than local murders, here’s a quiet day at Tourmaline Beach, located between Pacific Beach and La Jolla. I haven’t been here in decades. It was a balmy seventy degrees and sunny, barely an hour before the foggy marine layer rolled in.
Sadly, no seashells or whales or dolphin, but I’m always looking for the magic. Also…no gems at all including zero tourmaline. What a disappointment!
The waves were a little blown out and not very big, in case that’s something you care about.
And nope, I didn’t surf, although I wish I had that Chanel board. I don’t go in the water. The last time I tried to surf, I got hit with the board, so it’s not the sport for me.
Badlands
Forbidding and embracing at the same time. Stark and pure, I love it.
In the Anza Borrego Desert, there’s an area known as the Borrego Badlands. Once undersea, today it’s a maze of hills and arroyos which reveal a hidden treasure of native palms, remote springs, and mysterious concretions.
Crazy California: Vote NO on the Recall
If you don’t live here, have you heard about the recall of our Governor Newsom? I got my ballot in the mail. Personally, I think he’s done a great job to keep us safe during the pandemic. That’s one reason why I’m voting NO on the recall to keep Newsom in office.
It was conjured up by a partisan, Republican coalition of national Republicans, anti-vaxxers, Q-Anon conspiracy theorists, and anti-immigrant Trump supporters.
Remember Bruce Jenner? Well…now as Caitlyn Jenner, he’s thrown his/her hat in the ring to become governor of Cali. Years ago when he was Bruce, I met him and was appalled at the horrible way he treated people. Running very fast is NOT a qualification to govern. That’s about all there is to know.
Here’s what stupid Larry Elder is promoting: minimum wage should be $0. No Medicare or Medicaid.
The other idiot who gets some press is the guy who brings a bear with him. Yes, you read that correctly. A BEAR. I guess because the state animal of California is a BEAR, but we animal activists have launched an investigation–anyone who thinks that bear isn’t abused has their head in the sand.
Lastly, there’s Angelyne, Here’s her pic. She’s known for her billboards and other assets, but we’ve learned that she’s close to 70 years old. ‘Nuff said but I’d love to meet her plastic surgeon!
According to the Los Angeles Times, the candidates are comprised of “peddlers of Q-Anon doomsday conspiracies; ‘patriots’ readying for battle and one organization allied with the far-right extremist group, the Proud Boys.”
POLITICO reported how one of the co-founders and chief organizers of the recall suggested it would be a good idea to “microchip” immigrants, and anti-immigrant rhetoric has been central to recall organizers’ appeals to supporters.
Instead of fighting COVID-19, Republicans are pulling a page from the Trump playbook and attacking Californians. From https://stoptherepublicanrecall.com/about/
This stupid and unnecessary pollitically motivated Republican recall will cost California $100 million – money that could be used to help vaccinate our communities.
Here’s what my hero Stacey Abrams said about the recall: “Governor Newsom has courageously led California through a global pandemic — putting health, science and equity at the center of the state’s response. Republicans fought him every step of the way. Now, they are trying to overturn his election. Californians must stop the Republican recall.”
My other hero, Rep. Katie Porter: “From the start of the pandemic, Gavin Newsom has taken swift action to keep families safe and help them recover financially. That’s what makes this Republican recall so dangerous. It’s not just a waste of time and money that could be used to fight COVID-19 — a successful recall risks slowing down our state’s efforts to end the pandemic as quickly as possible.”
There are literally dozens of candidates. There’s nothing to see here, folks.
Let’s keep it simple.
Vote NO on the recall and let the idiots sort themselves out with their negative and toxic energy.
Dove Love
In my garden, this Mourning Dove family and I peacefully co-exist.
According to All About Birds, this is a graceful, slender-tailed, small-headed dove that’s common across the continent. Mourning Doves perch on telephone wires and forage for seeds on the ground; their flight is fast and bullet straight. Their soft, drawn-out calls sound like laments. When taking off, their wings make a sharp whistling or whinnying.
However, this fact is really upsetting to me: Mourning Doves are the most frequently hunted species in North America. Who could possibly want to murder these gentle creatures? Once again, humans suck.
Open for Business
After fifteen months, California is open today, June 15! For the most part, the mask mandate has been lifted.
Will you continue to wear a mask in public or in stores? Do you think we’re safe or should we still be cautious? Are you ready to go to a bar or restaurant?
I’ll continue to wear a mask in stores, not only because it kept me safe from Covid, but I didn’t get a cold or the flu at ALL.
There’s still a mask mandate on public transportation: buses, trains, and airplanes.
At the end of the day, I am really happy to wear lipstick again!
In my county, here’s the details:
- Aquariums Open indoors with modifications
- Bars (with no meals) Open indoors with modifications. Max 25% capacity or 100 people, whichever is fewer. Capacity may increase to 37.5% if all guests show proof of negative test or full vaccination
- Breweries (with no meals) Open indoors and outdoors with modifications. Max 50% capacity, or 200 people, whichever is fewer. Capacity may increase to 75% if all guests show proof of negative test or full vaccination
- Cardrooms Open indoors with modifications. Max 50% capacity. Capacity may increase to 75% if all guests show proof of negative test or full vaccination
- Carwashes Open with modifications
- Child care Open with modifications
- Cultural ceremonies Indoor ceremonies permitted with modifications. Max 50% capacity recommended.
- Day camps Open with modifications
- Dine-in restaurants Open indoors with modifications. Max 50% capacity. Capacity may increase to 75% if all guests show proof of negative test or full vaccination
- Distilleries (with no meals) Open indoors and outdoors with modifications. Max 50% capacity, or 200 people, whichever is fewer. Capacity may increase to 75% if all guests show proof of negative test or full vaccination
- Doctors and dentists Open with modifications
- Family entertainment Open outdoors only with modifications for kart racing, mini-golf, batting cages. Open indoors with modifications for naturally distanced activities like bowling, climbing walls. Open indoors for activities with increased risk of proximity and mixing with modifications. Max 50% capacity. Arcade games, ice and roller skating, indoor playgrounds
- Food banks, gas stations and convenience stores Open with modifications
- Gyms Open indoors with modifications. Max 50% capacity. Saunas, spas, steam rooms and indoor pools open. Capacity may increase to 75% if all guests show proof of negative test or full vaccination
- Hair salons and barbershops Open indoors with modifications
- Higher education Capacity for indoor lectures and student gatherings must be limited to 50%. Some courses conducted in certain indoor settings, like labs and studio arts, may be open at regular capacity. Conduct student activities virtually when possible
- Hotels for tourism and individual travel Open with modifications. Fitness centers max 50% capacity. Indoor pools, spa facilities open
- K-12 schools Schools may reopen fully for in-person instruction. Local school officials will decide whether and when that will occur. Check with your school district.
- Landscapers Open with modifications
- Libraries Open with modifications
- Movie theaters Open indoors with modifications. Max 50% capacity. Capacity may increase to 75% if all guests show proof of negative test or full vaccination
- Museums Open indoors with modifications
- Nail salons Open indoors with modifications
- Nonessential business offices Open indoors with modifications. Encourage working remotely
- Pet groomers Open with modifications
- Places of worship Open indoors with modifications. Max 50% capacity recommended
- Professional sports Can open with modifications. Check with the venue for additional guidance.
- Racetracks Open with modifications. Permanent venues with live audiences outdoors only. Max 25% capacity. Regional attendees only with reservations and assigned seating. In-seat concessions only.
- Recreation Can open with modifications
- Retailers Open with modifications
- Shopping malls Open with modifications. Reduced capacity food courts
- State and local government Open with modifications
- Takeout restaurants Open with modifications
- Tattoo parlors Open indoors with modifications
- Theme parks Larger parks open with modifications 25% capacity. Reservations or advance tickets required
- Wineries Open indoors and outdoors with modifications. Max 50% capacity, or 200 people, whichever is fewer. Capacity may increase to 75% if all guests show proof of negative test or full vaccination
- Zoos Open indoors with modifications (Zoos suck and I don’t approve of them FYI)
(Info curated from the LA Times)
Memories of Joshua Tree
#ThrowbackThursday
One of my favorite places to camp and hike.
Love the rocks #JoshuaTree
Hiking Mount San Jacinto
There are amazing all-season hikes to the top of Mount San Jacinto near Palm Springs high above Coachella Valley.
San Jacinto Peak is 10,834 ft. and was known to Cahuilla Indians as I a kitch (or Aya Kaich), meaning “smooth cliffs”.
The Palm Springs Aerial Tramway hike is the less strenuous option. My son and his friend climbed all the way up and it’s not easy, but taking the tram (which is SUPER SUPER scary) is a perfect way to enjoy what John Muir referred to as “The view from San Jacinto is the most sublime spectacle to be found anywhere on this earth!”
We see beauty all around.
I especially love the contrast of these stark white branches against the blue sky.
(Some) Creatures Great and Small
With a nod to All Creatures Great and Small by veterinarian James Herriot, this is what my Sunday looked like.
We started off the day at the beach and I’m beyond sad that I didn’t have my good camera with me so I couldn’t capture the magic of a school of dolphin jumping and splashing in the water. I’m sure this paddleboarder was happy because they seemed to follow him wherever he went. Trust me, there are about six dolphin in this photo.
On the way home, we saw a bit of an odd sight…check out these seagulls that shouldn’t have been this far away from the beach. They usually only fly inland when there’s a storm, so I have no idea why they were flying around in circles and then perched on the telephone lines.
Today was a work project day in the garden, cleaning up around the rosemary and lavender. I sat down for a minute for a wheatgrass break and this little alligator lizard stopped by to say hi. I scratched his back with a stick and he allowed me to take these pics.
All in all, a great Sunday for creatures great and small.
“Look at the sky!”
It was one of those days where everyone was looking up and toward the horizon.
For me, looking back provided a fresh perspective of tonight’s magnificent sunset.
The sky beautifully metamorphosed all day, culminating in this fiery red-orange sunset. The beach was packed at sundown with people taking pics. I found a place to park, looked in my rear view mirror, and decided THAT was the money shot.
The rest of the day spoke to me, too, in colors and textures.
(All photos by Enchanted Seashells)
Enchanted Seashells | Princess Rosebud 