A perfect Sunday

Today was a perfect Sunday. It began with planting Monterey Pine trees in nearby Fern Canyon. Mike and I had promised to plant 12 trees to replace the 3 we had to remove (this is what the county requires). We had met some new friends at a fundraiser for the Friends of the Fisalini Ranch on Saturday night. They invited us to help them plant today. We selected a lovely little area where the trail crosses over the creek. We cleared out invasive ivy and poison oak (We took precautions and are not itching yet!!!). We planted our trees and some sticky monkey flowers. We have volunteered to tend them and will visit them often as this canyon is just a couple of streets from our house.

After a soapy shower we headed to meet our friends at Las Cambritas for good Mexican food and great music (A Sunday tradition). Some of us danced and the company and conversation was good. One topic at a break in the music - Do children have an instinct about what they will do when they grow up? Interestingly the men seemed to know eg: David always knew he would be an engineer, Chris wanted to drive trains and he did, another knew that one day he would play in a group and our friend Fred who is a falconer (works with birds of prey to protect the vineyards) always was fascinated with birds and things that fly. The women's answers were different. Ruth wanted to be a native American and was told by a teacher that she couldn't be one. Lin said that she wanted to be a Queen and again a teacher explained to her she couldn't ever be one. Both these women still remember the disappointment they felt. They grew up to be great women anyway and I relish conversations with them. The conversation began because we had heard a great interview of John Lennon and he said that even though he was very shy from a very young age he looked for his name in the art and music reviews and he knew someday it would be there. Instinct or self fulfilling prophecy? Food for thought while you enjoy my pictures from today.

   The engineer and "The Queen" dancing above and the train driver and Mike ordering from our favorite waitress below.

 The end of a perfect day- Mikes Taco soup by the light of the fire and our living Christmas Tree

On the ranch

While Cameron and the boys were here from Ohio we enjoyed many hikes on the bluffs at the end of our street. We climbed up high into the trees. The toadstools were fantastic.

Elephant seals

So the massive male elephant seals are beginning to arrive at Peidra Blanca just north of San Simeon. They draw Mike and I up there at least once a week to "touch base" with them. Then last Monday we continued up north to the little "town" of Gorda for pie and coffee. We stopped many times to check out future hikes and wait for the sunset.
 The male below had just arrived after weeks at sea coming from Alaska. He seemed exhausted and just wanted to rest. He will conserve his strength for his battles with other males to establish his harem. They don't eat while here in Cambria and will lose a great deal of their weight.
  I like Mike having a new camera because I am now in many of the pictures, unless he tells me to move aside so that he can get the scenery !!!

 Mom and baby from last year enjoying some time together before mating season.

There is one spot where discovered that you can get quite close to them. Of course we are always respectful of their space. The male below is beginning to grow his long nose. The older they get the longer. They make the most amazing noise as they snort through this nose.

Windstorm

Well, we have just gone through an exciting 2 days of strong winds and no electricity here in Cambria. We witnessed at least 6 of the magnificent Monterey Pines fall just in our local neighborhood. We reluctantly had 3 on our property removed just last month but now we are glad not to have to worry about them crashing into our house. They only live 40-60 years and are very shallow rooted as you can see in the following photos. Many in our area are at the end of their life and also have beetles infesting them. I must say that the emergency worker here (PGandE, Charter and Pac Bell and the Cal Fire) have been outstanding and working day and night. As I write there are still 2 crews on our corner fixing the wires in the dark. They told us that they are off to Santa Cruz when they are done to restore power there. Last night tree trimmers were working all night cutting the trees that blocked the roads. We have also enjoyed talking to our neighbors as we roam the streets. The sense of community here is amazing. Last night was "Hospitality Night" in town where all of the businesses hand out food, wine, etc and carols are sung to the locals who walk up and down the street. Even with no electricity it was a festive event.
So enjoy the photos Mike took all within a few blocks of our house in the mountain/beach community of Cambria in the Pines. The first house was saved by the wires. The second is "poor car", the next is the where the tree broke the telephone pole.The last picture is our deck strewn with pine needles which is minor compared to other damage.