Hot Air Ballooning in Temecula Valley

I moved to the Temecula valley of California in 1998. It was a very lucky move in that I loved living in Temecula and felt at home there after living my entire life in the Midwest. The surroundings are clean and beautiful and I met some really great friends. Staying in the midwest might have been better for my daughter and son, California is a crazy place! We’re still in So Cal, closer to San Diego now, but nothing is forever…

OPENING

RESTING

RISING

CONVENING

DIVERGING

Ballooning was one of those things that I just wanted to do. So, the whole family went, with friends visiting from Autstralia. It was a foggy day so we couldn’t stray too far. I will say that it doesn’t even come close to sky diving, which I tried in college and was easily the scariest thing I ever did. I think.

However Far My Eye

 May Wander

Thou Standest Before Me!

For The Heavens

And The Splendor Of The Stars

Are Thy Image!

Carefree Cabo

Cabo San Lucas is a city at the southern tip of the Baja California peninsula. Cabo is known for fishing, ideal weather, golfing, water sports, whale watching, nightlife and spectacular scenery. Originally a hiding place for English pirates, John Steinbeck wrote “Log from the Sea of Cortez” here.

When we went to Cabo, we stayed in the colorful, visual and peaceful Westin Hotel:

WESTIN HOTEL

THE WESTIN

There were so many super fun things my husband had planned for each day: swimming with dolphins, a sunset boat cruise with live music, a special family dinner on the beach with our own private chef and waiter, scuba diving with my son, getting a massage…

 I loved the sights in Cabo!

CABO SKY

EL ARCO DE CABO SAN LUCAS, LANDS END

ARCH AT SUNSET

CRAGGY ROCK

CABO CALM

SHADES OF BLUE

It was our 25th anniversary…

ROSES & KISSES

My daughter and son really are good friends! Bonding time:

SIBLINGS

 Enjoy the pleasure bestowed on you,

and bear the pain bestowed on you,

wait patiently for what time brings,

as does the farmer with the fruit.

– indian wisdom

 

Memorable Muir Woods

Muir Woods National Monument is a costal redwood forest located in Marin County, California – 12 miles north of San Francisco. Before logging, an estimated 2 million acres of forest containing redwoods grew along the coast.

By the early 20th century, most had been destroyed! Around 1907, U.S. Congressman William Kent and his wife donated approximately 300 acres to the federal government, thereby protecting it.

On January 9, 1908, President Teddy Roosevelt declared the land a national monument using the powers of the recently passed Antiquities Act. I’m so glad he did. It was Kent who wanted the woods named for naturalist and preservationist John Muir. Just look at the beauty still here in our world because of the foresight of a few individuals:

MUIR WOODS - REDWOOD FOREST

LOOKING UP

LOOKING DOWN - FIDDLEHEAD FERNS

LOOKING ALL AROUND - BURLS

See the two people on the path? How small we are…

Do you Need Proof of God? Does one Light a Torch to see the Sun?

oriental wisdom

Serene Seattle

I love going to Seattle. I remember first visiting there when I was in high school. I went to sleep hearing the rain fall and I thought to myself that I was going to live there when I was older. I’m not there yet (and may never be) but I love to visit. Of course, the fish market is a favorite!

I recently met Harry Paul, co-author of the book FISH. Harry is super personable and easy to talk to (not sure about his choice of jacket though). Just kidding, Harry, I loved it! Especially since it was your Dads.

“The FISH! philosophy is based on Seattle’s Pike Place Fish Market. Despite working 14-hour days in cold, wet and smelly conditions, the Pike Place fishmongers bring joy, enthusiasm and accountability to work every day and have a Thank God it’s Monday attitude.”

I love the rain in Seattle, the food, the Inn on the Market, Lolas, Nordstroms and check this out:

EXPERIENCE MUSIC PROJECT

What a cool building! Designed by architect, Frank Gehry, this building is a fabricated steel frame clad with shotcrete and sheet metal panels. It is “a “black box” in a voluptuously undulating musical form. Dedicated to Jimi Hendrix, commissioned by Paul Allen”.  I love all the Hendrix memorabilia!

I saw the POLICE in Seattle. A good memory.

And, of course, Seattle is not Seattle without it’s symbol:

SPACE NEEDLE

The Space Needle is a major landmark of the Pacific Northwest. Located at the Seattle Center, it was built for the 1962 World’s Fair. Not quite the Eiffel Tower, but I have those pictures coming!

Live Today, Forget The Cares Of The Past – epicurus

My Roots are in Nantucket…

It was a dream of mine to go visit Nantucket, Massachusetts.  I am a descendant of Tristram and Dionis Coffin, Tristram Coffyn (subsequent generations used the current spelling of Coffin) being an emigrant from England to this country in 1642 and among the first owners and settlers on the island of Nantucket. Other Nantucket family names in my history include Gardner and Starbuck. 

 

As I walked around Nantucket, the above post was in one of the yards… 

I love the old homes, the sense of history, the feeling of distant family. Here is the oldest house in Nantucket: 

JETHRO COFFIN HOUSE

And here are some of my favorite pictures of Nantucket doors

 (“Hunky Dory”, I love that!): 

"HUNKY DORY"

I was very fortunate to meet one my favorite authors while I was visiting, Nancy Thayer. Nancy graciously showed me around the island, including some her own special places. Here is one of her favorite places and it would be no secret, of course: 

NANTUCKET ATHENEUM

What a special library, full of history and many references needed to assist in a lifetime career of writing which Nancy has done. 

I also met one of Nancy’s dear friends, Pamela Pindell. She is a gifted artist as you can see: 

 

Personal favorites: 

BRANT POINT LIGHTHOUSE

SCONSET BUOYS

Unfortunately, I did not keep in touch with Nancy or Pam but I hold memories of Nantucket very dear and feel at home there. It is a gift from my Mother’s love of geneology that allowed me to know where I came from!

2010 … A New Beginning & Les Baux

This is my first blog! I see people have been doing this for quite awhile. It might take some time for me to figure this out and post what I really mean to post. So, be patient with me…here I go.

In 2010 I want to share some of my visions of the world and show you where I’ve been and what I’ve seen.

My header is a horizontal staute found in the Hotel de Manville in Les Baux-de-Provence, France. The Hotel was constructed about 1571.

Here are some ruins of Les Baux-de-Provence:

The village of the Baux-de-Provence is situated in the heart of the Alpilles and is one of the most beautiful and picturesque villages in the south of France. The name “baux” means a prominent cliff or elevated rock. This village rests on a rocky plateau 245m high. With it’s royal history, it became the seat of a powerful feudal lordship in the middle ages. The “Baux” family ruled from the 9th century until the 15^th century. Baux was integrated into the county of Provence, and then became part of France, along with Provence, in 1481.

I need tips on making my pictures larger without distorting them.

Never bear more than one kind of trouble at a time. Some people bear three – all they have had, all they have now, and all they expect to have.

Edward Everell Hale