Farewell!

Remember the Coffee Cart pictured several entries ago? Well, this is the very same cart, and there is a Mrs. Coffee Maker! Go figure!!! Well, before we left Monterey...before we said good-bye to our beloved California Coast...before we cried buckets of abandonment tears...Coffee Drinker decided to get one for the road.

The End!

Fisherman's Wharf

While at Fisherman's Wharf, we noticed a bit of a crowd holding up the line that just got off of a whale touring boat. It was a pelican, and he obviously was use to people coming and going. So, naturally everyone stopped to take a photo. I was a ways away, but wanted to get closer. I wanted a chance to take a photo of a pelican up close!!

But, there was this guy, Walter..."Walter, don't get too close to that bird!"

"Walter, hear me now! Do not, I say, DO NOT touch that bird!"

"Walter? Walter, can you see the tip of that bill? Walter, you are going to get hooked by that bill. Don't touch that bird!!!"

"Okay, Walter, you were lucky this time. But, never EVER touch a pelican again! Do you hear me, Walter? Walter??? That Walter is just like a kid." Personally, I think Walter was hard of hearing!!!

Last Stop...Monterey

I like these photos in a retro look...anyway, after we left the condo, as our getaway time was ending, Cliff and I decided to stop at Monterey one last time before going home. We made Fisherman's Wharf our last stop. As many times as we have been there, we never tire of it. the photos can speak for themselves.

Santa Cruz (Still at the Beach 020610)

On our way back from Pacifica...and El Granada...and Ano Nuevo State Reserve...we made a stop at Natural Bridges State Park. This was taken at a stop in between Natural Bridges and Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk. Although I could see the surfers on the point, in the distance, I was very delighted they showed up in the photo. Truly a beautiful area.

More Beach...

As we continue our journey back to the condo, we made a couple more stops. We enjoyed the visual here with the crashing waves.

And we stopped here...Ano Nuevo State Reserve where they protect the wildlife and the land...looking out to the island (in which once was connected to the mainland) is the Ano Nuevo Lighthouse. The lighthouse was abandoned in 1948 and is left to the sea lions and elephant seals.

We saw this sign as we drove into the reserve...endangered gardner snakes?? Really??? Cliff was sure to obey the speed limit law...

El Granada's Treasure

The next day (still at the beach), we drove north to Pacifica just for fun, and on our way back we stopped at El Granada for lunch. We had no idea where to go since this was our first time there, but we got close to the ocean and just looked for a popular place, because we were sure the locals knew where there was good food. Well, we found this seafood shack (Barbara's Seafood Parlor) that was out of this world delicious, and also out of this world pricey, but we were on vacation...must I say more.

I fell in love with this pooch that was patiently waiting for his masters to return from the seafood shack. It must have been torture for him to smell the savory, delectable, distinctive, seafood entree aromas coming from the shack. I wanted to console this canine. Then dognap him!!!

Coffee and Creation

When we arrived in Monterey, we first visited Lover's Point, and from there we traveled around the Monterey Peninsula stopping at one of our favorite areas. It was gorgeous, but a bit nippy with the wind blowing. The coffee drinker was delighted to see this...

It was the cutest thing and every cup was hand made fresh, so standing in line was not for the impatient...

Look at that beautiful view of the Pacific Ocean, and if you took the time to look, you'd see plenty of wildlife too. I totally believe that this little yellow delightful coffee cart was really a plan to deliberately slow people down so they would take in the beauty around them...it had nothing to do with coffee, really. Mark my word!

I think the coffee drinker was actually taking much pleasure in watching the coffee maker make his coffee...one cup at a time...so it was totally and completely fresh!! He missed the whole deliberate plan of attack, however. How could he be so single minded??? It's just a cup of coffee!

Finally! The wait was now behind the coffee drinker! He appears to be best friends with the coffee maker...beams of dialogue between the beloved coffee maker and the coffee drinker were well noted. Did they not realize God's fantabulous creation behind them??? Come on, people! Look around and soak in the goodness!!

"Slurp!" I discovered something that day, the coffee drinker can do two things at once...drink coffee and drink in God's goodness all around him! Brilliantly talented, that man is, brilliantly!!

Beautiful California Coast

Please click on the title "Beautiful California Coast" to watch the video of our weekend getaway and stay tuned for a couple of stories not featured in the video.

From Platinum to Natural

Lacee made yet another gutsy hair style change that I absolutely LOVE!! I can now see her beautiful face right to her beautiful heart!!

Photography Outing 1/31/10

Coming and going...

My friend, Cherie, and I like to go out now and again, on a photography road-trip. We don't have to go far to find something to take a photo of. We had stopped on one of the back roads through the foothills to take photos of whirligigs and a stream of bicyclers passed us by. It was rather fun taking their photo!

Roadtrip to Eastman Lake

Cliff and I got out of Dodge after weeks of the Central Valley damp blanket of fog and the recent storms. Saturday was gorgeous and it turned out to be a perfect day for a drive and photography!

First we had to travel through rich agriculture country...top and bottom photos.

Then through the foothills...

Reaching Eastman Lake looking onto the Sierra Nevada Mountains!

And, loving the gnarly oak trees!

Photographer in training...

Eastman Lake

Warm sunshine = nap!

Fisherman and puffy cloud reflections (you can click on the photos to enlarge them)

LOVE this lone oak high on top of a hill

Back to the rich agriculture valley

A Week of Storms...

With the storms that have come through the Central Valley, it's left a path of destruction...lots of down trees and limbs in Atwater...lots of rain and snow in the mountains!!! The photos above were taken on my way to work after my lunch break (I only live a mile from work).