Something in Flight

 I spent a long time watching the birds at the beach yesterday. I was keeping an eye out for things that fell into the latest April photo challenge theme "flight." Today, I realized there are lots of different photo-of-the-month challenges streaming through facebook/twitter/instagram and probably other social media sights I don't have yet. I guess I'll go with whichever one suits my mood.

Laying in the warm sand on my blanket, I was prepared to delve into "A Storm of Swords" the third book in the George R.R. Martin's Song of Fire and Ice series. It is really good. HBO has a Game of Thrones series that is based on these books.  And I do adore those quality HBO shows.  I became so entertained by bird watching, I never cracked the book. Pelicans and gulls were carrying big strands of kelp and nest-building materials. They are funny creatures.

 The tide was low so I walked as far the beach would let me. I came to this lava rock at the end, which reminded me a lot of what you'd find at the cove-like beaches on Maui. There is no "coast" in Hawaii, just darling coves and daring cliffs strung together to make islands.

 Behind me were rambling staircases, with chains, blocking them off from public access. I bet the houses at the top of this cliff are pretty rad. I'd be game to house-sit, if you know who lives up there.

 I liked this one, because I was so focused on the seagulls above the pier, I didn't see the frolicking kid until afterwards. Children and dogs are immune to the chilly West Coast water.

 The fluffy, frosty, foamy sea reflects the bright sky. I miss my family in Hawaii a lot, these days. But it is true that I get way less homesick here than I did when I lived in Oregon. Sunshine and beaches really do provide comfort and happiness. Andrew knew what he was doing when he moved me here.

Heart Days

My favorite neighborhood beach. We surfed there today for Andrew's birthday!

A heart rock... today is our two year anniversary of getting engaged.

Happy heart month. My favorite month maybe.

This is my simple religion. There is no need for temples; no need for complicated philosophy. Our own brain, our own heart is our temple; the philosophy is kindness. Dalai Lama

Thanks for reading--and for all the encouragement to start blogging again.
Life has been very full. I appreciate having this space to share it.

Remembering Ashley

Photos from the Ashley Marie Smith Memorial Fund, by my sister Holly.

Click on people's faces in the photo to tag them. Chris will be asked to approve all tags before others can see them.

Click on people's faces in the photo to tag them. Chris will be asked to approve all tags before others can see them.

A collage my sister Lantana put together of her dear friend Ashley.  So many of these pictures make us smile.  It reminds me of the importance of taking picture and celebrating moments.

 Ashley's Hawaii ohana gathered at the beach to remember our ocean-loving friend's beautiful life.

 

 Paddling out for prayer and tossing loose flowers.

Click on people's faces in the photo to tag them. Chris will be asked to approve all tags before others can see them.

 You are loved and will live on in our hearts.   To learn more about Ashley and her legacy you can visit The Ashley Smith Memorial Fund page on facebook.

Cockle Shells

Whelks and sea urchins are welcome plant-box clutter.
There is something extremely complimentary about plants and shells.

William Wallace Denslow's rendition of the poem, 1901 (via Wikipedia)

The sunset reflects the iridescence of this shell.

Views from La Perouse

Hiking around La Perouse Bay on our last Maui trip. La Perouse was a French explorer who anchored at this site in 1786. This place is now a protected area. As the sign says, show the dolphins aloha.

I think this was the last place lava flowed on the island.

Oooh, don't silver, green, and black look sophisticated together?

 

Parking in the lava.

Wild billy goat in a prickly kiawe grove.

Elephant Seals, Central Coast

Staring us down with those innocent eyes.

Twins!

The pick of the litter.

The chest bump: males begin the dance for dominance.

Open wide!  They make the funniest sound. 

The California Central Coast and Highway One are definitely worth checking out.

October Weekends

Saturday began with a hike leisurely stroll in the foothills.  I appreciated the cool shade of the oaks, hop-skipped over streams beds that actually had a bit of water (!), and filled my pockets with acorns. Acorns were the food staple of the native people of Santa Barbara.  I think they're beautiful and have jewelry-making potential.  But really, I just like gathering things. I do the same with Job's Tears along waterfalls in Hawaii and seashells on any beach I land on.

After heating up in the mountain side we headed down to the beach. The parking lot was hot and sunny but as we descended the long wooden staircase a heavy fog crept in. The tide was up and the surf was pounding with clean, long perfect waves.  The sunny stretch of white sand I had expected was replaced by rocky shelf.  It looked a lot like Oregon to me but it was warm.  I swam in the waves then sat on the still-sun-warmed rocks and took it all in. 

A Perfect Day to be at Sea

Snapshots from sailing the SB coast last July.

Isn't this great?

The salty sea air, 
the wind blowing in your face...

a perfect day to be at sea! 

A fine strong wind and a following sea.

King Triton must be in a friendly-type mood.

--The Little Mermaid, 1989

View of UCSB through the porthole.

About Oahu

I really admire strong, athletic people. Brilliant dancers and skilled surfers amaze me. I had fun watching the start the of the surf season in Hawaii. Here's a shot of my sister aka Lany Tany Bad Girl surfing the North shore.

Random shot from sitting under surfboards in the backseat.

Waikiki Aquarium: up close and personal with the fishies.

Baby Cousin Jove (aka Jovenstein). He is a serious little guy with an irreverent streak, a lot like his dad. I could be biased due to shared DNA but I think he's great.

Avocado is the Aztec Word for...

testicle.

Really, go ahead and google it.

Santa Barbara County has its share of festivals...Lemon, Summer Soltice, Fiesta, French... I'm noticing a pattern--same vendors, food stands, different title. Today was the Avocado Festival. Avocados are definitely worth celebrating. So are testicles (healthy remaining ones especially).

The best part was it was in the adorable, dinky little town of Carpinteria (or Carp).

Carpinteria happens to be right on the beach. The water was a comfortable temp. Bouncing around in the waves cleared up any crowd exhaustion I felt. Hawaii restoked my desire to be in the water, not just at the water.

Two outgoing elderly ladies stopped me in the crowd to tell me I was making quite the fashion statement. This camo hat, the avocado necklace I made ages ago, and a ruffly green beach dress? I'm still not positive if this was a compliment...

Roses are Yellow

Today was hot. The tomatoes and squash plants are inches bigger each time I check on them, but it is the bounty of roses that thrill me. Now that serious bloomage has started, my house (and garden teaparties) will be prettier than ever.

A and I finally broke in the 8 ft board peaking into the background. We got away with paddling around sans wetsuits. It was surprisingly not-too-cold, though getting tangled in the kelp beds was a different matter.

California Coastal Ramblings

The weather has been decidedly warmer, the kind that makes you break out your shorts and tanks and want to be near the water. It's always a few degrees cooler along the coast which made this 5 mile round trip walk between two of my favorite beach especially pleasurable. A few highlights:

*I got a kick out of the old-school glass insulators on the electric poles. I know collectors go nuts for those things.

*When I first moved here, I was hugely surprised by how much pristine coastline is undeveloped in California. I feel fortunate it's so nearby.

*Multi-hued nasturtium flowers have naturalized in the bushes along the coast. I love their peppery taste and vivid patterns.

*We watched a pod of dolphins sun themselves and play in the ocean.

*Wildflowers are still blooming and the hills are still more green than brown.

*Bells mark El Camino Real, The King's Highway, (along the 101) which was originally established by the Franciscan as a footpath between Missions.

Beach Ride

I live near the beach so I make an effort to find myself there often. It is really an all-ages-playground. No matter how I feel, I always feel better after a stop by the ocean. Lately I've been biking along the coast. So much more fun than the treadmill.

Family Affair. SUP (Stand Up Paddling) training. On Maui I see the pros out doing this out on the rugged north shore. There are almost always glassy conditions here, so it's pretty popular in SB.

My trusty bike. Needs some TLC but it makes me feel free and happy, like a kid. It's been so nice out, I'm getting tan. I appreciate sunshine on my bones.

Isla Vista through palm fronds.

SB Photo Journal: Beaching It

Looks like pahoehoe lava flow, like you'd see on a Hawai'i beach. Nope. It's naturally occurring beach tar. This is the reason you may avoid going barefoot on the luscious white sand beaches around here. It was treasured by the Chumash Indians for its waterproofing ability and it's the reason for the brightly-lit pirate ship-esque oil platforms stationed off the coast. It also did a good job preserving the bones of the mammoths that lived on the Channel Islands across the way.

Bigger waves bring out better surfers, rather than the typical scene of Midwestern folk flailing about in whitewash... I am so pleased with this lucky shot! I love that the Island is visible behind him. Wish I knew who the guy was so I could give him some extra bragging rights.

Storm surf casualty-looks like it may have been worth it!

Rainy cloudy days make for better sunsets. Thank you sun! See you soon.