Sandi's Blog

2012-02-25T13:11:00.002-08:00

The moon became a setting sun. I was unhappy with the precious version and inspired by a sunset over Morro Bay from Windows on the Water. The setting is a cove north of San Simeon.

Blue Moon

2011-12-15T11:32:00.000-08:00

Blue Moon

Allied Arts in Cambria recently announced their new show: Blue on Blue. That inspired me to create a night scene in shades of blue. The show will run in Cambria from January 6 to February 5.

8X8 canvases

2011-11-13T12:35:00.000-08:00

Many of the local art associations have small canvas shows near Christmas. This poses a small problem for me, as pastel doesn't adhere to canvas. I usually paste my pastel paper to the canvas and paint on that, then coat with gel. However, after spraying with fixative this painting was really dark and even more so after the gel coat. So I decided to paint over the gel with acrylic paint, then coast again with gel.

The next painting was an attempt to paint directly on the canvas with pastel. The underpainting went fine as I used turpenoid to paint the pastel into the canvas, but then the pastel just didn't want to adhere to the canvas. So I again resorted to acrylic over the pastel, followed by the gel.

The last painting is pastel under gel. It is much darker than the original painting, but it still works.

Evolution of a painting

2011-10-13T17:02:00.000-07:00

This painting was from a hike in the Irish Hills Open Space in San Luis Obispo. The Toyon berries were abundant and the trail went from cool shade to bright sunlit Spring green.
Unfortunately, the painting just didn't capture what I wanted.

I started playing and used my new pan pastels to create a totally different look.

This didn't satisfy me either so I went back to a more traditional application of pastel.

In the end, I applied tissue paper, ribbon and stickers, more pastel, and spread gel over the painting. This mixed media effort was finally successful.

Pan Pastels

2011-08-07T17:53:00.000-07:00

Unfortunately this blog won't let me correct the position of the picture. But you can see how I used pan pastels with a sponge applicator to do the underpainting. The pan pastels are smooth and creamy. I have begun to outline the rocks and some of the dark values, as well as the sky and background.

The final painting.

Inspiration from Utah

2011-06-25T15:23:00.000-07:00

This spring we took a trip to southern Utah and I was inspired by the fantastic scenery. The first picture I painted was more from imagination and memory than from a photo.
I was working from the bright colors and I used pan pastels for the underpainting. Then I used a loose stroke with my regular pastels.

The next painting was closer to my usual style in that I copied the general form and colors of the photo while still emphasizing a more painterly approach.

New art blog

2011-04-20T16:45:00.000-07:00

I've decided to incorporate my artblog into my personal blog.

I had an incredible output of paintings (for me) this past weekend.
I was invited to demonstrate at the Paso Robles Home and Rec show and was given a 10X10 space to show my art and to paint in.
Terry and I set up on Friday and I went home inspired to paint, which resulted in the picture, Poppies on the Wall. This painting was inspired by a hike up the East Cuesta Ridge.

Saturday I painted the next painting, Buchon Spring, which was based on a hike we took recently on the Buchon Trail.

Sunday I painted Eucalyptus Dream, which was inspired by a scene near French Park, where we occasionally walk.

The last painting is one I did for a jersey for the Lighthouse ride sponsored by the San Luis Obispo Bike Club. It was in competition with other designs and won.

Our Roman holiday

2010-11-21T16:36:00.000-08:00

Day 1
We arrived late morning, bought our Roma Pass and made our way to our bed and breakfast.
First stop was the colosseum,
then the forum. We wandered around this for awhile, then made our way up the Campidoglia, where we saw the statue of the she-wolf with Romulus and Remus and the steps designed by Michaelangelo.

Then we went to the pantheon which was incredible. There are lots of charming narrow streets in that area which we wandered until we finally found the Piazza Navona.
The fountain by Bernini is of the four main rivers known at the time.
We then went to the Campo Fiori, where we had dinner.

Rome, day 2

2010-11-21T16:25:00.000-08:00

We were incredibly lucky to get into the Vatican Museum with lonly a short wait. The pope was speaking, so many people were at St Peter's to hear him. As many of you know, the vatican contains room after room of treasures, before you get to the Sistine Chapel, where no pictures are allowed.

Rome, day 2

2010-11-21T16:18:00.000-08:00

We only had to wait half an hour to get to the entrance to St. Peters. By the time we left, the line streched across the entire huge square.

The Pieta.

Rome, day2

2010-11-21T16:12:00.000-08:00

We did the dome climb of St. Peters. By law, no building in Rome can be higher than the dome of St. Peters.
Close view of the dome, but still far from the top.

Looking down on the square. The figures on the roof below are in the next photo.
The round building at the end of the street leading to the river is the Castel Sant'Angelo.
Because of the curvature of the dome, you had to lean as you were climbing.

Rome, day 2

2010-11-21T16:05:00.000-08:00

After leaving the Vatican, we went to the Castel Sant'Angelo, which we really enjoyed.
The Ponte Sant'Angelo which leads back to the area with the Piazza Navone.

We had more good views from the top of the Castel. It was originally built as a mausoleum for Hadrian, and you start going up some very old steps, whose original marble facing is all worn off.
The popes added to it and made it a fortress where some of them hid out when the Vatican was under siege. So some of the rooms are quite ornate.

This was a giant crossbow.

Rome day 3

2010-11-21T15:57:00.000-08:00

We first went to St. Peter in Chains, which is where Moses by Michaelangelo is.

Then we went back to the Campidoglia to see the church Santa Maria Aracoeli. It had chrystal chandeliers, which you can see hanging from the arches.
Then we went to the Victor Emmanuel Monument, which is huge and very white. This is a view looking down on the Piazza Venezia.

Rome, day 3

2010-11-21T15:50:00.000-08:00

Trevi Fountain

Spanish Steps

Mandatory stops on a visit to Rome and definitely the most crowded. The streets in the area are fun to walk around though.

We took a much needed break at the Villa Borghese where we had a picnic lunch.

At the end of the day we went to the National Museum which contained whole rooms that had been unearthed when the metro was being dug.

Capri

2010-11-21T15:35:00.000-08:00

We took the ferry to Capri. We arrived at Marina Grande, pictured here, and took the funicular to Capri and then the little bus to Anacapri. From there, Terry and I hiked and Cathy took the chairlift to Mt. Solano, the highest point on the island.
Capri is famous for its Limoncello and tiles. The bench we're on is all tile.

We also walked along a narrow walk leading to a resort. It had great views and lots of tourist shops.

Italy

2010-11-21T15:26:00.000-08:00

On our way to Trastavere.
This was our last day. We had visited the Villa of Doria-Pamphilij, which was restored by the family and crammed with art, but no pictures were allowed.
Blue Ice gelato--the best we've ever had.

Teatro di Marcello near the Campidoglio.

Seattle

2010-11-21T15:17:00.000-08:00

In June we flew to Seattle for Evan's graduation. There we met Cathy, Karl, Erik, Jeff and Gwenn. We visited a variety of parks
and had some sunny days along with the rain.

We rowed across an arm of Lake Washington and along the waterways that border the Arboretum, which we visited later. That's where the Japanese Garden was.

Ethan's Graduation, Cal Poly 2010

2010-06-14T10:56:00.000-07:00

Cal Poly starts the celebration early at 6 AM with all the bars in town open and lines down the street. Kathy and Kent helped us celebrate. Shana and Heidi were getting a spot inside.
We had a house party with Jeff and Gwenn, Cathy and Karl, and Erik at our house, Kathy and Kent next door, and Shana at Ethan's.

The proud father.

Shana.
Kent.

Ethan's Graduation

2010-06-14T10:43:00.000-07:00

We were lucky to get a spot. By the time we left it was standing room only and a long line outside.

After breakfast it was time to decorate!
Cathy brought the chalk and Heidi, Shana, Gwenn, Cathy and I did the artwork.

Gwenn had great ideas.

Ethan's Graduation

2010-06-14T10:35:00.000-07:00

In line with the viticulture graduates.
Suffering in the heat.

Or hiding in the shade!

Ethan's Graduation

2010-06-14T10:27:00.000-07:00

After the ceremony.
Group picture. Erik, Jeff, Heidi, Kent, Kathy, Gwenn, Cathy, Karl.

Ethan's Graduation

2010-06-14T10:21:00.000-07:00

Jeff relaxing after the ceremony. We didn't relax enough; it took us an hour to exit the campus.
At Mama's Meatball.

Dorothy, Joan, Lynda, Ross, Ira, Judie, Robin

Bob, Willie, Terry, Roger, Kent, Kathy, Mary, Gigi, Jan

Chris, Erik, Gwenn, Jeff, Ethan, Shana, Cathy

Ethan's Graduation

2010-06-14T10:14:00.000-07:00

At the end of the day the silly string came out.
Gwenn and Kent getting into it.

Shell Creek March 22, 2010

2010-03-22T20:57:00.000-07:00

Those of you in the area will have seen this before but I thought you can never get enough of Shell Creek. The goldfields and tidytips were most prominent, but baby blue eyes were mixed in as well and splotches of poppies.
Here the tidy tips are in the foreground.
It's interesting how they look creamy at a distance.
Baby blue eyes.

Buchon Trail

2010-02-22T14:39:00.000-08:00

We had only meant to hike the bluff trail but when we got to the Coon Creek parking lot we noticed that the trail was open on Mondays so we ended up going all the way to Windy Point.

The poppies were starting to bloom and there was also sand verbena covering some of the land with yellow.
There are wonderful rock formations all along the trail with natural arches.

Most of the hike is on the marine shelf so very easy walking.

Buchon Trail

2010-02-22T14:30:00.000-08:00

You can see the Diablo Nuclear Plant in the center of the picture.
This is windy point where the toilet door is held with a carabiner. Violas, Ranunculus and Blue Dicks here.

Lots of poppies and wild radish.
And an egret taking flight.

Montana de Oro High Tide

2010-01-14T12:46:00.000-08:00

Because high waves and a high tide were forecast we went out to Montana de Oro Wednesday, Jan. 13. The sky was just starting to clear as we drove into the park.
Those of you who have been to Hazard Reef will recognize how high the tide is. Normally you can walk out 100 yards onto the strange rock formations here, and easily walk around the cliff you can see to the right.

This is the view at low tide looking back at the cliffs. The trail to Hazard Reed is at the right.

We had climbed up a small sand dune to the left of the trail for a better view.
As we were coming down, a huge wave hit and kept coming, forcing us to back up quickly. It went at least 20 feet up the trail.

Montana de Oro High Tide

2010-01-14T12:36:00.000-08:00

The sky was colorful and a wonderful contrast to the sunlit waves

Flowers on the bluff trail.
Looking south.

Montana de Oro High Tide

2010-01-14T12:27:00.000-08:00

Because of the churning surf, some of the inlets had huge piles of foam. Here the wind has blown it up onto the bushes.

The foam looked like snow lining the rocks.
Here it was denser, perhaps, and formed a different coating.

Montana de Oro High Tide

2010-01-14T12:23:00.000-08:00

The birds were enjoying the puddles.

The blowhole was doing a double blow.

The Heller's Christmas Eve Adventure

2009-12-26T14:57:00.000-08:00

Who knew the Sespe Wilderness was so fantastic, or even that it existed. We can thank Ethan for introducing us to it. We actually started on the 23rd, traveling to Ventura to meet Heidi for dinner.

South of Solvang is Nojoqui County Park with a short hike to Nojoqui Falls.

The cliffs were sandstone and shale.

We had a great dinner at Fiore in Ventura with Heidi. On the way we got to see the Karl's Jr. test kitchen in Carpenteria where she works. Ventura has a nice downtown and a Moreton Bay fig tree that was planted in 1874.

The Heller's Christmas Eve Adventure

2009-12-26T14:44:00.000-08:00

Highway 33 out of Ojai goes through some narrow gorges as it follows the Ventura River, the N. Fork Matilija Creek and finally Sespe Creek, all in the Los Padres National Forest. We stopped near Wheeler Gorge for a short nature hike where the promised waterfall was not to be found and all the signs were missing. It was still a great view of the streamside riparian habitat going up the Matilija Creek and then around through the chaparral on the other side.

Then we drove to Rose Valley for a short hike to the fall. Since it was on the north side, there was still frost on the ground in the shade.

Ethan behind the fall.

The kids and I climbed up a steep trail for a complete view of the fall.

Here you can see the steep scree slope.

The Heller's Christmas Eve Adventure

2009-12-26T14:28:00.000-08:00

We drove to Lion Campground at the end of Rose Valley Road for a view of the Piedras Blancas. We decided to walk to Sespe Creek.

View of the creek over to the Piedras Blancas formation.

There was a subdued beauty to the mix of rock and vegetation from sage to pines.

This was a tributary to Sespe Creek. Ethan was the only one willing to dare wet feet to get here.

The Heller's Christmas Eve Adventure

2009-12-26T14:19:00.000-08:00

Last stop of the day was the Potrero John trail. It was supposed to be 2 miles, but Ethan lured us on with the promise of a waterfall. The maintained trail had 10 creek crossings, which were easy boulder hopping, but once we passed the maintained part we had mud (1 inch collected on our shoes), brush, downed trees, boulders and a short rappel. I saw some vegetation I'd not yet seen and fantastic faulting on the canyon sides.

Shana bore the brunt; a 2 foot slide in the mud with a soft landing and torn pants.

Finally reached the falls and declined Ethan's suggestion to go up the left side for an even better view.

Returned home via 33 to 166 (near Carrizo Plains) with great views of the sculpted mountains.

Cerro Cabrillo

2009-11-03T16:34:00.000-08:00

A week ago Lynda Pepper's hiking group hiked through this open space. Verena and I wanted to hike to the top of Cabrillo. You can just make out part of the steep trail leading up in this photo. My legs were sore for days after coming down this trail. I had forgotten my camera that day, so Terry and I went back this week so I could take pictures and also hike the Crespi Loop.
This is the view looking back down at the estuary. Compare this with the views of the estuary later in the blog.
This gives an idea of how steep the trail is.
The wonderful thing about this open space is the variety of eco systems. Here we're hiking through an ancient live oak grove. There were grasslands, chaparral, sage, and views of either the bay or the interior valleys.

Cerro Cabrillo

2009-11-03T16:24:00.000-08:00

We're coming down from the Crespi Loop.
Can you see the waterways below the water in the estuary?

The marina is in the background.

South Bay Boulevard bordering the estuary and Morro Rock

Umbrella Art

2009-07-17T16:15:00.001-07:00

This is my latest art project. It is a 9 ft. umbrella, painted in acrylic to be auctioned by the Visalia Assistance League. I'm working on our patio.

Big Sur

2009-07-17T15:53:00.000-07:00

Don't we live in an incredible state! We decided to meet Shana in Big Sur as a nice meeting point between SLO and Santa Cruz. We met at Nepenthe for lunch, then drove to Andrew Molero State Park. The whole drive was, as usual, incredible and the hillsides were covered in flowers, mostly Golden Bush.

We parked north of the regular entrance and took a path that Ethan knew about. It led past this old cabin build around 1880.

Then the trail led to the Big Sur river and along the river to the ocean.

There was a beach where the river met the ocean. Then we took a trail to the headland, from where this photo was taken. It was covered in flowers: Buckwheat, Goldenbush, Paintbrush, Monkeyflower and more.

Afterwards we drove to the Big Sur River Inn, which had Adirondack chairs sitting in the river. That gave me an opportunity to soak my aching ankle.

Australia 2009

2009-06-23T17:48:00.000-07:00

I was able to visit my sister in Australia for the first time on the occasion of Matt's graduation. She lives on the Gold Coast, about an hour south of Brisbane.
This is the view from her balcony. The whole area is filled with lakes and waterways, with housing developments frequently located around the lakes or on the waterways.

This is the view south from the Q-1 tower. The beach goes for miles in both directions. Many of the buildings are apartments, that can be rented by vacationers, but many are also permanent residences.
This is the view north.

Friends and Family

2009-06-23T17:42:00.000-07:00

Chris and Julie Kuchenmeister stayed with Bobbi the first week too. Here we are at the Outback Spectacular, an Australia Wild West show with dinner.

At the Honors evening for people who were first in their class. Matt took two firsts. Julie, Chris, Ruth, Kelvyn, Bobbi, Katrina, Matt.

The last picture shows us with Kerry, Bobbi's friend, waiting for the moon to rise over the ocean. Unfortunately, it rose over a hotel, but it was still a beautiful evening.

events

2009-06-23T17:33:00.000-07:00

Chris and Julie, Bobbi and I were often together. Here we are at the top of the Q-1 tower and have just enjoyed the view.

Then we picked up Ruth and Kelvyn to go to Matt's top of class award presentation. We all had dinner after that.
The graduation was the following night. Only 4 of us were allowed into the ceremony, but the rest were in a pub nearby where the graduation was broadcast on TV.
Following the graduation was a dinner for at least 24. In this picture are Matt, Katrina, Bobbi and Katrina's father.

fauna

2009-06-23T17:24:00.000-07:00

This is a water dragon, a giant lizard that lives in the lake where Bobbi lives. This was photographed just below her balcony. People who live on ground level have to keep their doors closed or they will come in.
The lake also contains fish and eels.

Ibis are common and hated. They are scavengers like our seagulls.
This wallabee was photographed at Currumbin. More pictures to follow.

rainforest

2009-06-23T17:15:00.000-07:00

Inland between Brisbane and the Gold Coast is Tamborine Mountain , which is a tourist destination, but also has a rainforest park.
The most interesting plant is the strangler fig, which begins part way up a tree and sends down growth that eventually reached the ground and strangles the original tree.
This is an old-growth strangler which is huge and has completely covered the original tree.
This one took a long way down.
The path went on railings and then paths down through the various levels to the stream at the bottom.

Tropical Fruit

2009-06-23T17:09:00.000-07:00

This was a multi-faceted venue. We got to taste about 10 tropical fruits, including dragon fruit. Then we were picked up in a golf cart and got to tour the orchards. Occasionally we got to pick and try fruit. We also got to crack and eat fresh macadamia nuts.

There was also a mini train ride and a ride on a barge. The wild poincettias were incredible.
This is a jack fruit, also known as breadfruit. They can kill a person if they hit him.
Besides feeding kangaroo, we fed a Clydsdale and some mules.

Currumbin

2009-06-23T17:00:00.000-07:00

At this animal sanctuary we saw many of the indiginous animals. This was a male koala, about 30 pounds. We also saw many in the trees, eating and moving from tree to tree.
This is a tree kangaroo, which we saw climbing.
See the foot sticking out? The joeys nurse until they are quite large.
We also saw wallabies, crocodiles, emu, lots of birds and a cassowary.
These lorakeets are wild, but come every day at feeding time. They line the trees until the keepers bring out the liquid. Everyone lines up for pie tins and the birds swarm around until they've finished, then move on. They land on your head as well as up your arms.

Retro party

2009-06-23T16:50:00.000-07:00

Bobbi's in-laws, Ann and Bill live in the country 4 hours from the Gold Coast. This shows the nearest town. They get together with Chris and Julie one a year for a themed dinner party, and this year Bobbi and I were invited.
Everyone wears costumes and prepares a dish for the dinner and an entertainment. We started at 4:30 and weren't finished until 11.
Bobbi's friend Kerry had done a lot of the preparation, including placemats, quizzes, lyrics, music.
I was Richard Simmons and did "Sweating to the Oldies."
Bobbi did the Minkler Stomp, with a verse for each person.

Ann and Bill arrived in the car he restored as parents of the bride. The car has actually been used in two of their daughters' weddings and will soon be used for their son.

Bill had several costume changes.

Opera in the Cane fields

2009-06-23T16:41:00.000-07:00

This was a fund raising event that took place at a sugar cane ranch. The house is a Queenslander, typically raised for ventilation and floor protection. People brought their picnic lunches and enjoyed the performance.
Four opera singers performed both opera arias and more contemporary pieces.There were also a local high school band and choir.
This shows how high the sugar cane grows.
The factory was opposite the house and was in full operation.

Sydney

2009-06-23T16:35:00.000-07:00

Sydney is an incredible city. The harbor is immense, with many coves and beaches. We traveled around the central area by bus and ferry and train.
I was able to do the bridge climb. It was fascinating to get rigged up, in jump suit with clips for everything from your glasses, earphones, hat, and jackets. The climb involves a series of ladders and walkways and you are always clipped in.
This is the view from the botanic garden over a cove to the city center.
I toured the opera house. This shows the concrete ribs that support the shells of tile. The whole construction can be created from a hemisphere. We were lucky to also hear the symphony practicing.

Sydney

2009-06-23T16:27:00.000-07:00

This is a Moreton Bay fig tree, prevalent in the area and throughout the botanical gardens, from where this was taken
The Queen Victoria building is a four story shopping mall now, but was originally built as a market and had animals as well as produce on the beautiful tile floors..
This is the elevator for the building.

The next picture shows the exterior and a statue of Queen Victoria.

Rinconada Mine Trail and Little Falls Trail

2009-04-13T18:16:00.000-07:00

Terry, Ethan and I did this connected set of trails recently. The clouds were just clearing as we ascended the Rinconada trail and we had a view back to Pozo Road.
We saw incredible numbers of wildflowers, including this huge peony. Clematis and buckbrush covered the hillsides.
This was the top of the climb, called the saddle. Goldfields and a white clover are visisble, but there were also chocolate lillies and shooting star in large drifts.
From here the trail went down from 2400 ft to 780 ft.
You can see the trail in this picture as it follows the ridge. Here it was very eroded and we moved from side to side of the gully or straddled it.
You can see the canyon it descends. Once we got down to the stream, it was shaded and often lush, but the trail was faint and overgrown with poison oak.

Rinconada, Little Falls

2009-04-13T18:00:00.000-07:00

This was the first time I have ever seen this flower, the Wooly Blue Curls.
This was our goal: Little Falls. We missed the trail to it at first, because it was well hidden and required some bushwacking and wet feet. We had thought to have a rest here, but ants and ticks caused a sudden change of mind.
This was on the Little Falls part of the trail. Much of the lower part had poison oak drooping over the trail. Thankfully, we were wearing long pants, but we're still waiting to find out if we'll get it. It's hard not to touch your shoes or pants, and it probably even touched my backpack where I ducked under it. But it was still a beautiful hike and we saw incredible numbers of flowers.
Ethan holding a newt. There were at least 11 Ethan counted hanging out in this pool, which we think was also a spring. It had a peculiar color and a slight sulfur smell.

Avenales Ranch

2009-03-23T18:04:00.000-07:00

We took a hike with the local Sierra Club group to a ranch that has 14,000 acres, but is not usually open to the public. It is in the hills southeast of Pozo and was reached by a long drive on a dirt road. We did a loop on ranch roads and cattle paths. The weather was overcast and cool, but the sun came out later in the day.
Here you can see part of the group with shooting star in the foreground.

We also saw violas, fiddleneck, ground lupine, ranunculus, and the first baby blue eyes.
This was our lunch stop.

Avenales Ranch 2

2009-03-23T17:56:00.000-07:00

This was a very old adobe on the ranch.
We established that this was a nectarine tree. There was an old orchard on the other side of the creek
This was a bit disconcerting. These horses came running right at us, and I was in front. Once they established that we weren't going to feed them, they left.

Avenales Ranch3

2009-03-23T17:51:00.000-07:00

Sycamore on stream. Terry is in the distance, at the gate
You can see the drifts of shooting star. I was amazed by the white, although they were also purple and magenta.
Coastal live oaks and blue or valley oaks.

Tour of California

2009-02-21T20:21:00.000-08:00

Terry and I volunteered to be course marshals for the Paso Robles finish. We decided to take the posts outside the city to avoid the crowds and be able to drive ourselves. We took a friend, Kathy,with us who had also volunteered. After we got in place on Creston Road, another couple pulled up to work as well. A CHP patroman then asked two of us to cover some nearby driveways, so Kathy and I walked down the road. She took the first, which was for a tasting room hosting a viewing party, and I took the second, which turned out well for me.It was another winery hosting a private viewing party and I was invited to join in tasting some very good wine from Clavo.
I drew some words in chalk, but this put mine to shame.

The breakaway is approaching, so everyone was waiting, including the baby.

Notice the photographer in the ditch.
The breakaway
The next morning Terry and I left early for Buelton, to join San Luis Obispo Bicycle Club members on a ride into Solvang and then along the time trial route to Los Olivos and back. It is such beautiful terrain and there were large numbers of riders doing the same thing we were, so I stopped to take a picture. I only saw one actual tour rider, who, of course, went by as if I were standing still.

Tour of California

2009-02-21T20:06:00.000-08:00

After riding the time trial route, we left our bikes with the bike valet in Solvang. Glenn, Gayle, Sandy, Judy, Ross, Ron and Kathy.
George Hincapie warming up.
The line of motorcycles ready to proceed each rider. The logistics for the event are amazing.
Can you tell who is coming? Lance brought out a tremendous crowd.

Tour of California

2009-02-21T20:01:00.000-08:00

This was a small group of bike club members doing a ride Saturday, after the Tour. Terry, Maureen, Sandi, Joan, Pete and Judy. This is the top of the climb out of Los Olivos on the time trial route.

Tour of California

2009-02-21T19:57:00.000-08:00

This is Lance going up the hill at the beginning of the time trial. We're standing near the start, after the first turn. The motorcycles with the names of the riders pulled up here and waited for the riders. Last year this area only had a few people.
This is Levi Leipheimer!
Now we've moved near the end of the race, about 1 Km from the finish.

That evening we were invited to a barbecue given by Dave and Debbie Albrecht at their motor home. There were probably 30 club members there.

Hazard Reef

2009-01-15T17:22:00.000-08:00

I recently went on a camera walk with a marine biologist to Hazard Reef in Montana de Oro. He took us to a part of the park that was new to me, although we had been to the area north of here with similar rock formations.

This shows the sea grass exposed, with a pelican and gulls feeding.
This is a many armed sea star on its back so we can see the feet move. They have from 20 to 28 arms.
This is a bat star.

Hazard Reef

2009-01-15T17:18:00.000-08:00

Because of the low tide, the ledges containing sea urchins were exposed.
There were also sea anemones and chitons.
Star fish and I also saw crabs, but they scuttled under cover as soon as they detected anyone near.

Art Events

2008-12-01T20:02:00.000-08:00

This was my first art event ever. It was at a nursery in Arroyo Grande, but was not well attended. However it did help me get started with some items I could use at the open studio.

This year was my first open studio. We turned the garage into a gallery and I added cards and tiles to my art.
Terry's sister Cathy and her husband Karl came to give some invaluable help. I also had help from some local friends. Although other artists thought it was slow this year, I did sell one original to complete strangers, and added to my mailing list, so I thought it was worthwhile.

My latest venture is at the Marina Gallery in Morro Bay. I'm paying for a small wall space and some shelf space for bookmarks, tiles, and coasters. Terry helped me get everything set up.

Backpacking 08

2008-08-07T17:24:00.000-07:00

We had planned to go to Pear Lake and on to Alta Peak and Moose Lake but on arrival at the permit desk found out the quota was filled. The friendly ranger (whom we met the next night and invited to dinner) suggested Twin Lakes. It turned out to be a great suggestion.
Cahoon Meadow. Shana, Ethan and Heidi.
Heidi and Ethan at rest stop.
Shana. We saw leopard lillies, among many other flowers.
Setting up for dinner.

backpacking cont.

2008-08-07T17:17:00.000-07:00

Shana and Terry enjoying the sunset.

We had a visitor in the morning.
Absolute luxury: outhouse with a view.

backpacking cont.

2008-08-07T17:14:00.000-07:00

This is a view of Twin Lakes from Silliman Pass
We've come down from this ridge on our way to the far side of Mt. Silliman. It's all cross-country.
Looking down on lakes below us. The drainage contiunes up to Crescent Lake, but we stayed high above.
We climbed up the far chute, after crossing the snow field.

backpacking continued

2008-08-07T17:09:00.000-07:00

Shana on top of Mt. Silliman.
Shana, Ethan, and Heidi with register. We were amazed by the number of entries, but realized there is a much easier approach than the one we took.
Now we're looking back up the way we came down. We ended up going back up to the ridge to find a way down to the other side.
This was the scree chute we found to get down.

Backpacking continued

2008-08-07T17:04:00.000-07:00

View back to Mt. Silliman.

The triumphant women, finally getting back to a trail after a whole day cross-country.

End of the trail at Lodgepole.

Waterloo, Canada, Lisa's graduation

2008-06-16T16:51:00.000-07:00

Waterloo, Canada.

My sister Bobbi's daughter Lisa graduated from Wilfred Laurier University this June. My sister Kathy and John's sister Julie and her husband Chris were able to come to the graduation.
Then Annette and Becky Davie also joined the party.

Kathy, Julie, Bobbi, Chris and Lisa. This is a park very near our lodging.

The three sisters. At the graduation. Kathy, Sandi, Chris, Andrew,Bobbi, Julie, Annette, Becky

Proud mom with Lisa after graduation.

Waterloo has some wonderful old buildings that have been renovated. This one has offices and large reception space and commemorates the cooperage industry that was once a mainstay here.

We had some outings in the countryside. This former quarry was in Elora, where we also saw Mennonites with horse and buggy. We explored this river. We had many great meals together.

Julie, Lisa, Bobbi, Kathy, Chris, Annette, and Becky.

This is a view of the American Fall. Below is the Canadian Fall.
We also rode the Maid of the Mist.

Lisa's party with friends at a brew pub.

View straight down from the CN tower in Toronto.

Climbing Junipero Serra

2008-04-22T14:47:00.000-07:00

This is Junipero Serra, the highest mountain in the Los Padres National Forest. We did the hike April 19, and were lucky to have great weather. We went with the Sierra Club;15 hikers carpooling. You drive through Hunter Ligett Army base to get there. From the start it is 3,800 ft to the top in 5.88 miles.(someone had a GPS)We started and ended with beautiful fields
of flowers on the drive and the lower parts of the climb.

Then we hit the chapparal and the trail was through dense chapparal and poison oak. They called the climb to the saddle "the wall". Towards the top we hit snow, left over from a storm a month earlier. We hiked through sugar pines and coulter pines, which have huge cones.

My foot next to a coulter pine cone. At the top we had lunch.

We went through groves of manzanita and the trail doesn't get much maintainance as it is so remote.

I really love the oak forests, especially with all the flowers, which you can't see in the grass.

Our condo

2008-04-14T11:00:00.000-07:00

This is the front
View from dining room into living room.
Kitchen.
Den. This room opens off living room.
We enjoy eating on our patio. We now have planters with vines on the formerly blank wall, and colorful pots on the pillar. Shana and Heidi.

Bike Club

2008-04-14T10:48:00.000-07:00

Joan is in the middle
Snack time at Leffingwell Landing, Cambria
Robyn, Pete, Willie, Joan, Terry

We've made some good friends with the SLO Bike Club. Here are some pictures from a recent outing arranged by Joan Peterson to celebrate her 74th birthday. She rode 74 miles up the coast, We met at 7:30 in Morro Bay and rode up to Cambria, where her husband had coffee and coffee cake, muffins, etc. Then Joan and some others rode on, but Terry and I and Robyn, Willie, Pete, Joan, and Verena headed back. It was a beautiful day, but we had head wind going back which left us all exhausted. It was a total of 44 miles, the longest Terry and I have yet done, but the others have gone much farther.

Life on the coast

2008-04-07T20:52:00.000-07:00

We've started docent training to lead hikes on the Pecho Coast trail to the San Luis Lighthouse. This was a hike to Rattlesnake Canyon, where we had lunch. Beautiful open pastures along the coast, but no rattlesnakes.
We drove to Shell Creek road and rode bikes to Shandon. Georgeous fields of flowers. Here you can see Baby Blue Eyes and Goldfields. We also saw Tidy Tips, poppies, lupines etc.
We go hiking fairly often. This is a picture of Lopez Lake.
The first picture shows the beginning of the Urban Adventure we sometimes do on Sundays. We start on this hill, cross through town to Cerro San Luis which you can see in the background, and come back through town, have coffee and buy the Fresno Bee, and go back by way of the bike path. The second picture shows the view from the ridge east of town, looking at Cerro San Luis and Bishop Peak. We can see the beach at Pismo from here as well.
This is the schooner Lynx. The crew dress and talk as they did in 1812, when the original was built. They fired the guns as they came into Morro Bay, and we toured the ship later.

My 60th

2008-04-07T17:33:00.000-07:00

We had a great time on my 6oth. First Shana came to visit for 4 days, which was wonderful. Then our friends Jan and Terry Moran and Roger and Gigi Sackerson came for the weekend. We drove to Morro Bay to show them the chocolate lilies off the Chumash Trail, then had lunch at Bayside. After a windblown walk on the new boardwalk we headed home. Had a nice dinner and played Cranium until midnight.

On the hill with the chocolate lilies. Very windy

Lunch at Bayside Cafe

Shana with Cafe Cat.

Terry, Terry, Shana

Jan, Gigi and Roger. .

Sunday was the party Ethan and Heidi (his girlfriend) and Terry planned. We had 23 at Mama's Meatball, which we had to ourselves. They set it up beautifully, with sparkling wine while we mingled, then appetizers and more mingling. The kids kept the sparking and then regular wine flowing and cleared and served the main courses and desserts. After the salad course, I had alternate people move tables, to make sure everyone mixed. Terry's trivia questions led to hilarity, as couples quickly figured that a true/false question would elicit a win for at least one of them. Dessert was tiramisu and creme brulee, which Ethan and Heidi had made the night before.

Terry, Jan, Ira, Robyn, Sandy, Judy, Harvey

Shana and Terry

Sandi, Willi, Jim, Dorothy, Terry, Arlene, Bev