Category Archives: California

Redwood

Sequoia sempervirens, Coastal Redwoods of California, can grow up to 367 ft (112m) tall, 22 ft wide ( 7m) at the base, the size of a 35 story building. Your kind has been on the earth for 22 million years, in the same location, from Big Sur to the Oregon Border. You receive moisture from the foggy ocean mists, you are resistant to insects and fire. You regularly live 600 years and can live up to 2000 years. You were around in the Jurassic Era, 160 million years ago. What did the dinosaurs call you? You ranged across 2 million acres and now your protected forests are down to 4% of that due to the logging that has occurred. I have walked among your groves and felt very small, felt like I walked in a prehistoric landscape of giant trees. What wisdom would you have to share? I will keep your secrets.

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Beautiful photos by National Park Service via Redwood National and State Parks, California, where you can find more great photos. Most of the Information for this post via the same website. I have visited these magnificent trees. 🙂

Stream of Consciousness Saturday and JusJotItJanuary hosted by Linda G Hill. Prompt words for today “wood/would.”

jjj-2017

Complete

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We are often seeking something outside ourselves but we already are complete.

“To be beautiful means to be yourself.You don’t need to be accepted by others. You need to accept yourself. When you are born a lotus flower, be a beautiful lotus flower, don’t try to be a magnolia flower. If you crave acceptance and recognition and try to change yourself to fit what other people want you to be, you will suffer all your life. True happiness and true power lie in understanding yourself, accepting yourself, having confidence in yourself.”

-Thich Nhat Hanh

JustJotItJanuary is hosted by Linda G Hill. Today’s prompt word is “incomplete” suggested by Cyn K of That Cynking Feeling, https://cynk.wordpress.com/. I decided to write about the opposite. Featured image is of the beautiful Redwood National Park, California via Pixabay.com.

Extraordinary

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“From outward appearances, no one can tell, the rich inner lives we lead.” ∼Notes Tied on the Sagebrush

Lucy Maude Montgomery

“There isn’t any such thing as an ordinary life.”-L.M. Montgomery

Today is Bessie Coleman’s 125th Birthday , First African American woman pilot,Google reminded me. JustJotItJanuary is hosted by Linda G Hill. Featured image (top of post) ‘Contemplation’ by Maurice Fillonneau on wikimedia. Photo of Lucy Maude Montgomery via wikimedia. Today’s prompt word is “extraordinary” suggested by Kelly of Forty, C’est Fantastique!(https://fortyandfantastique.wordpress.com/)

Mystery Mansion

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Sarah Winchester sought to be elusive to the ghosts who haunted her after the death of her husband and only child. She had married into a wealthy family and inherited a huge fortune on the death of her husband.* She spent a large part of her fortune and the major part of her life building onto her mysterious mansion. The workmen never stopped, working in continuous round the clock shifts. No expense was spared and many luxurious materials went into the construction. The house was built to appease the ghosts who haunted Sarah and possibly confuse them, with some doors that go no where or stairs going up to the ceiling. She would sleep in different rooms to elude the spirits and held séances to communicate with them. The number 13 is a recurrent theme in the house’s construction. Many rooms were constructed only to be torn apart. I have a memory of visiting there but now realize how little I knew about this mysterious house and lady. It is a disturbing story, a spooky Halloween tale. I hope she found peace in the end.

*heir to the inventor of the Winchester rifle. For a bit more history click on the links.

JustJotItJanuary is guest hosted today by Judy E. Martin of Edwina’s Episodes.

The prompt word “elusive” was suggested by Evelyn of Eclectic Evelyn (http://www.eclecticevelyn.com/).

Featured image of the Winchester Mystery House mansion via San Jose Library Archives on Flickr.

Glass Of Wine

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On a lighter note, I have been looking for a good red wine for a moderate price. I do prefer California wine because it is local and I am in love with our wine countries. There has been an explosion of wineries in California and this makes it ~~hard~~ impossible to keep up with all the labels. So just doing some quick research (Google) and happy to see there are some wines that are affordable to me. ( $20 and under). I really like the richer flavored red wines, like Cabernet, and found out that some of the best are from Napa Valley. Here’s another list of red and white wines and some from other countries. And another list of California Cabernet, from different regions, under $4o. One more list of 100 wines from California and other countries for $15 and under. Hmm, lots to explore and my research may take some time…..

Glass of Napa Valley Red Wine by Ash Berlin

Stream of Consciousness Saturday is hosted by Linda G Hill and the prompt word for today is “glass.” Featured image is ‘Vineyard bathed in light [Sonoma]’ by torbakhopper on wikimedia.

Internal Light

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“Nothing can dim the light which shines from within.” -Maya Angelou

One Liner Wednesday featured image Santa Cruz [California] Sunset by Anita Ritenour on Flickr.

and

Drive Carefully

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I say “drive carefully” to my family members any time I know they are going off in the car. We do a lot of driving in California and I usually enjoy driving,but not in crazy rush hour traffic. I am not really keen on driving along narrow, winding roads that run along a high cliff like Highway 1 in California. Although, if I am the passenger, I work to tamp down my fears and enjoy the spectacular views. One place along that highway with a history of being particularly dangerous is Devil’s Slide. When I was a teenager I heard tales of reckless young drivers going over the edge. This section of the highway has been bypassed now and the old section has been converted into hiking and bike trails, a very good idea. Here’s a link to the history of Devil’s Slide and Highway 1, and “drive carefully.”

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This post is part of JusJotItJan guest hosted by Dan Antion at No Facilities. The prompt word for today is ” danger” suggested by Mathew at MWLange, you can check out his blog,too.

Winter Coat

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This year I definitely need a winter coat in California and a raincoat to boot, (and boots to boot). It has been a long time since I needed winter clothes here in Southern California because it never gets cold enough. We are expecting a real winter for a change after several years of drought. I am liking the change in weather here.

“California Rain Storms”

Rain on Saturday

Atmospheric rivers flow

Hole in my rainboots

This post is part of Stream of Consciousness Saturday and JustJotItJan hosted by Linda G Hill. The prompt for today is “coat.” Featured image “Paris Street; Rainy Day” by Gustave Cailebotte via Wikipedia. Girl in Raincoat image via Pixabay.com.

California Jewels

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Bangle, fandangle, spangle, sparkle,

Glisten, glimmer, glow,

Razzle, dazzle, bedazzle,

California Jewels.

California is pretty bedazzling. I am grateful to be a native and love so many of its beautiful natural sites and exciting cities. The LA Times is doing a Calfornia Bucket List series which covers many great places to see in California. Here’s a great little video on the San Francisco cable cars, “that climb halfway to the stars.”

And here’s a few more beautiful spots:

Big Sur Coast

Inspiration Point Anacapa Island

8273783340_94730e2374_z Point Lobos Headland Cove by Fred Moore on Flickr

Point Lobos Headlands Cove

Muir Woods Trail

El Matador Beach

California Coastal National Monument Point Arena by US Bureau of Land Managemnt

Elephant Seals at Piedras Blancas, California

640px-CA_254_Avenue_of_the_Giants by Adbar

Coastal Redwoods

Peachy Canyon Vineyard at Sunrise near Paso Robles by Macolm Carlaw

‘Vineyard bathed in light’ (Sonoma) by torbakhopper

Big River Mendocino via Jar [o] on Flickr

Half Dome Yosemite via LA Times Postcards from The West:

California Dream Orange Crate Label photo courtesy of Orange County Archives

california_state_coat_of_arms_illustrated_1876

The State Arms of the Union by Henry Mitchell 1876

This post is part of JustJotItJanuary guest hosted by Rosemary Carlson. The prompt word for today’s post was “spangly,” supplied by Judy B. Martin at Edwina’s Episodes.