Moonstone Beach

I walked in a zigzag pattern along the waters edge, sand between my toes, eyes searching for moonstones. A semi translucent, polished white rock that once littered the shore and gave it the appropriate moniker, Moonstone Beach. Located near the quaint seaside town of Cambria, this unspoiled coastline offered the nature lover in me a picturesque marine environment. Armed with sunglasses and a wide brimmed hat, strolling leisurely along the edge of the pelagic realm I soon discovered a tiny yet sturdily built beach bungalow. Seeing it unoccupied, I decided to take a closer look inside this intricately crafted driftwood dwelling. A makeshift marvel, this well balanced shelter was intended to offer inhabitants relief from the blazing Summer sun. Landscaped with shells, shore birds, and seaweed, this was a beach bums dream come true and I found it to be the perfect seaside play house, if only for one afternoon.

Moonstone Beach in Cambria, California

Day Dream Inside Tree

Crawling inside this monumental sycamore tree was a gift of immeasurable stillness. Just my size, its interior became my playhouse and offered a peaceful diversion from civilization. The sturdy hardwood trunk is now charred and blackened with ash from a fire set long ago. Hard to imagine, this ancient 40ft tall relic was once a vibrant sapling tree. Planted over 100 years ago along the canyon creek it was helpful in slowing soil erosion and provided a shady home to birds, squirrels and rabbits. Beautiful in its final stage of decomposition the tree stands as an ancient guidepost to a secret waterfall. Huge boulders of blue green serpentine rock provide the falls stunning backdrop. Energetically flowing with liquid emotion a cool creek runs lively after the El Niño rains. Today Mother Earth seems reborn and refreshed after many years of severe California drought. Reservoir Canyon Natural Reserve is just off the 101 freeway in San Luis Obispo County. And the best thing is... Every time I hike this trail I find something new to explore. Every moment is the last moment. Its freshness is why it's wonderful. Its fleeting nature is why it's precious.

SanLuisObispoVacations.com

A Conservation Plan for Reservoir Canyon

A Dream of Trees

by Mary Oliver

There is a thing in me that dreamed of trees,

A quiet house, some green and modest acres

A little way from every troubling town,

A little way from factories, schools, laments.

I would have time, I thought, and time to spare,

With only streams and birds for company.

To build out of my life a few wild stanzas.

And then it came to me, that so was death,

A little way away from everywhere.

There is a thing in me still dreams of trees,

But let it go. Homesick for moderation,

Half the world’s artists shrink or fall away.

If any find solution, let him tell it.

Meanwhile I bend my heart toward lamentation

Where, as the times implore our true involvement,

The blades of every crisis point the way.

I would it were not so, but so it is.

Who ever made music of a mild day?

Hermitage

Alfred Tibor "FREE" 1993 Bronze

Beyond the bookish themed house lies a colorful off kilter world rarely seen by the public. An asymmetrical hermitage ruled by a crazy hermit genius with a unique angle on life. "Ted", who's gift for writing books (40 in number) is matched only by his whimsical lost wax sculptures and fanciful art collection. He sings the body electric... Or bronze in this case. Cleverly staging a bevy of cast metal nymphs joyfully dancing alongside busts of classical composers, great authors and U.S. presidents. They line the rough hewn paths and frolic in aqueous pools. Artfully juxtaposed within a clever fence of bicycles & VW Bugs, these creative sculptures will shock and surprise you. The guided tour meanders through a carefully tended 10 acre botanic garden of cycads, fruit trees, cactus, bamboo and tropical palms. When you find yourself chuckling over humorous quips etched on rocks, Congratulations! You are now happily under the creative spell of artist and founder Theodore Roosevelt Gardner II. A bona-fide hermit who graciously provided lemonade and dried fruit/nut snacks after our tour but was nowhere to be found.

Why did Ted build this secret wonderland? Where does he get his inspiration for new installs? What does it cost to tend a sculpture garden of this magnitude? Who will take over his legacy after he is gone? A poster in his museum gave the answer.

"Hundreds of years from now, it will not matter what my bank account was, the sort of house I lived in, or the kind of car I drove... But the world may be different because I did something so bafflingly crazy that my ruins become a tourist attraction."

Indeed, Hermitage Santa Barbara is well on its way to becoming a tourist attraction. The lush garden rests mostly on a hill top over looking Santa Barbara and the Pacific Ocean. Open two days a month, this rare collection can be seen free of charge but you will need a reservation.

To visit Hermitage Santa Barbara - A Whimsical Sculpture & Botanic Garden.
info@hermitagesb.org
www.hermitagesb.org

If you would like to read more about founder, Theodore Roosevelt Gardner II, or about Hermitage Santa Barbara you can find his books on Amazon, at your local bookstore, or the local library or visit http://www.knollpublishers.com/

Sculpting a Wacky Life

Photo by John Wiley

When the Levee Breaks

Santa Maria Riverbed - Dry as a Bone

Mr El Niño
Hopefully you will arrive as predicted and fill this riverbed with water. Precious water. Much needed water. As much of a hoped for event, the perils remain to be seen. Can this levee and sandstone cliffs hold the expected deluge? Or will the levee break?

In January 1969 this humble riverbed in Santa Maria, CA was brimming over with water. Breached by a magnificent 100-year storm who's downfall lasted 10 days straight. One for the records books. Soon water was overflowing and threatening to expand its containment area. Mud and debris flowed bank to bank. Farm lands so desperately in need of rain were flooded and crops destroyed. Nearby houses normally high and dry were flooded. Families and businesses were displaced and daily life disrupted. The seasonal cleanup was huge and county resources were stretched to capacity.

Recent draft maps from the Federal Emergency Management Agency showed that much of Santa Maria, including 20,000 parcels and 17,000 structures, would be designated as in the flood plain, triggering a flood-insurance requirement for many property owners. Fortunately mistakes were learned and infrastructure improved in a critical 2009 federal/Santa Barbara County project that rehabilitated approximately 6.3 miles of the 50-year-old structure. Five years and $47 million dollars later the old bridge that crosses the river has been retrofitted and the levee re-engineered. Now it stands ready to take on this Winter's expected heavy rain storm. Assuredly, one day, Mother Nature will test this levees structural ability to hold back water. So come on...My sandbags are ready. I dare you Mr El Niño! Give me all you've got! Let's end this drought!

Slide Show Santa Maria Levee History

Santa Maria River Levee Trail

Rocky Nook Park

Mosaic Reptiles Turn 20

Just when you think the day is over and you've seen all there is to see in town, suddenly you spy Ethel. A six foot long, brightly colored, red mosaic alligator lizard staring back at you from the banks of Santa Barbara's Mission Creek. She's nestled in-between the natural river rocks giving you a wink and a whimsical grin. Upon closer inspection you notice more toothy creatures just past the footbridge at Rocky Nook Park. Shocking at first, a second blue tiled reptile named Harry comes into view. These beautifully crafted mosaic sculptures are the work of Dan Chrynko, a unique local artist known for his intricately embellished boulders. Perfect for climbing, children of all ages will adore exploring these fanciful tile works of art. Pack a picnic basket and enjoy a day hike amidst ancient oaks and sycamores in soothing natural surroundings. This is what happy memories are made of.

Creek Lizard at Rocky Nook Park

Visit Rocky Nook Park

Alligator Pear

Zutano, Topa Topa, Hass, Mexicola, Rincon, Bacon, Spinks, Lamb, Fuerte, Pinkerton, Anaheim, Creamhart. These are not exotic travel locations or decadent libations, they are names of avocado cultivars. Pear shaped fruits who's pebbled, thin, blackish-green skin hides an edible buttery textured flesh around a single ovoid seed. Prized as natures super food, high in monosaturates, studies show avocados help to reduce blood cholesterol. You can accelerate the ripening of avocados by placing them in a brown paper bag along with a banana at room temperature. Avocado oil is a favorite among cooks who desire its health benefits as a salad dressing or for high-heat cooking. What do you call an avocado that's been blessed by Pope Francis? Holy Guacamole!

Avocado Health Benefits

California Rare Fruit Growers

I Love My Prius!

H Y B R I D 

H A I K U 

Zoom past gas pumps smile
More money in my pocket
I drive a Prius
 - Andra

Toyota Dream Car Art Contest

Reservoir Canyon Natural Reserve

Can you find the Hairflipp? 

A rusty teepee formed of corrugated scrap metal and spray painted with a big number five greeted us as we arrived at the mountain top. Glad to have found something so unique this far from civilization was a treat! So I invited myself in to have a look around. Yes, it would provide adequate shelter from a sudden rainstorm but luxury teepee it was not. Breathtaking views of the surrounding canyon and mountain slops make this 520 acre open space feel like you have the whole world to yourself. Only a half mile hike from the creek trail, steeply elevated switch-backs open to peaceful flat grasslands with astonishing views of Cuesta Grade and the Santa Lucia Mountains. You are now entering the Twilight Zone set amongst an odd collection of scrap metal sculptures once inhabited by humans. Just when you think you might be lost and this arduous journey is going nowhere, a wonderful swing appears hanging from an ancient eucalyptus tree. Time to kick off the hiking boots and swing! Wheeeee!! I haven't swung in years....This is really great!... Gee, I feel like a kid again!!! After an hour of playing and exploring the rusty artifacts we meander back down the 5 mile round-trip trail towards the dribbling creek hidden among oaks and dense sycamores. We happily call it a wonderful family day and promise each other we will revisit this San Luis Obispo open space after the winter rains.

Tips for Hiking Reservoir Canyon

Lost Lake

Have you ever heard of losing a lake? I know. Me neither. I can see losing a creek but never a lake. So it's was really special to be hiking to a lake in Whistler, British Columbia by that name. This isn't just any old lake. This lake, local lore reports was occupied for centuries by the Coastal Salish Indian Tribe. In 1877 this area was officially opened to trappers and prospectors seeking their fortunes amidst the snow laden mountains. The day we visited, the forest trees had an almost lite-brite, yellow green, fertile glow; a vibrant color pallet combo of wheat grass and asparagus green hues. The soil gave off a musky smell like soggy dinosaur remains, spruce, and cedar. Mother Natures healing energy and aroma therapy... just my style. We even spied a bald eagle sitting in a nearby tree waiting for an opportunity to catch a fresh Squamish River salmon. How fortunate we are to be able to hike these surroundings with family and friends and still remain in close proximity to modern comforts. Whistler/Blackcomb Mountain and Olympic Village make for memorable times. Offering year-round sports adventures, gondola lifts and a wide range of dining and lodging venues, this mountain is perfect for any age outdoor lover. Numerous trails meander around the lake and offer cross country skiing and snow shoeing during the winter and walking, rollerblading, and biking during the summer months. Experience life, step out in nature and make memories.

Finding Lost Lake

Reservoir Creek Falls

This spot was a wilderness retreat for me. Today my chakras screamed for green energy and this hike supplied. Blue green serpentine rocks lined a lush riparian oasis under oak, bay, sycamore, and willow trees. Low water levels made for remembrance of years past when heavy rainfall filled the creeks many pools. A lush winding wooded trail led first to a 50ft waterfall that felt refreshing and peaceful. Then through a chartreuse painted landscape with an abundance of feathery horsetail ferns. This living fossil is the only surviving genus of an entire class of spore reproducing vascular plants over one hundred million years old. Beautiful and tranquil I sat awhile and enjoyed my stunning surroundings. Being careful when I left to not trample the precious "Equisetum" plants who beckon seekers to rest and recharge among its natural wonders.

Health Benefits of Horsetail

Felt Summer Today!

Now that I'm in this thing 
I'm not coming out! 

Sonnet 18
by William Shakespeare

Shall I compare thee to a summer's day?

Thou art more lovely and more temperate.

Rough winds do shake the darling buds of May,

And summer's lease hath all too short a date.

Sometime too hot the eye of heaven shines,

And often is his gold complexion dimmed;

And every fair from fair sometime declines,

By chance, or nature's changing course, untrimmed;

But thy eternal summer shall not fade,

Nor lose possession of that fair thou ow'st,

Nor shall Death brag thou wand'rest in his shade,

When in eternal lines to time thou grow'st.

So long as men can breathe or eyes can see,

So long lives this, and this gives life to thee.

Make Kombucha Iced Tea Recipe

 

Lizard's Mouth

Grey and white thunderheads floated overhead and rung bombastically their schedule for the day, while pea sized balls of hail rained down as if to remind us it was still winter. Umbrellas in hand we braved the chaparral towards our favorite rock. This area, Lizard's Mouth is known for its natural rock art sculptures that bring strange shapes to life in sandstone. Free form hollows create cozy places to nestle while exploring; other rocks hold rain water or frame a majestic view of this West Camino Cielo landscape. Offering a mountaintop view of the ocean and the town of Santa Barbara this hike reminds one to take time to rest and recharge in mother natures wonders.

Bouldering at Lizard's Mouth