Vineyard~~Scenic Sunday 032909

Vineyard and quiet afternoon shadows on a spring afternoon in Paso Robles, CA. Scenic Sunday for March 29, 2009.

Paso Robles in the spring~~SkyWatch Friday 032709

When hubby and I visited Paso Robles and the wineries there last March, the wildflowers were blooming and the sky was a deep blue. I liked this tree against the blue sky with the yellow flowers in the field. Don't you? Skywatch Friday for March 27, 2009.

Spring break, Paso Robles March 08~~That's My World Tues, March 24, 2009

Paso Robles and the nearby coast is one of our favorite getaways. When we get tired of tasting wine, we hop in the car and drive out to the coast. It's a completely different world out there! The flowers were in bloom and it was much cooler! That's My World for Tuesday, March 24, 2009.

lines~barn, Paso Robles~Sunday Stills 032209

Don't you just love old barns? My parents owned a horse ranch in Vista, CA, when I was about 11 or 12. We never had any horses on it, but I used to LOVE to go there and hang out in the barn! All those delicious smells! I especially loved the old tack room...I can still smell the old leather saddles that once hung there and the manure...ooohhhhhhh!!!! What delicious smells! They sold the ranch several years later after my dad re-roofed that old, red barn and I still drive by it on my way to San Diego to visit my aunt and uncle. Now it is a thriving horse training and boarding center. Next time I go, I'll ask to take some pictures~So I have a love of barns! This one is at Halter Winery, in Paso Robles. Don't you like the lines in it? Sunday Stills for March 22, 2009.

Neighborhood walk

Last week I went for a walk around my neighborhood and found these things! Enjoy!

Nest

While hubby and I were out looking for barns last weekend, I spotted this huge nest in a nearby tree. I THINK it is a crow's nest because we had one similar to this up in the high desert and it was filled with baby crows squaking to be fed! Soon the young birds were taking short flights and they eventually left the nest to find mates and make their own. So, like I said, I think it's a crow's nest, but can anybody tell?

chair~~Wordless Wednesday March 18, 2009

Wordless Wed., March 18, 2009

Breakfast and fountain~That's My World Tues. March 17, 2009

We bundled up the grandson and his parents and hubby and I walked about two blocks to breakfast Sunday morning. BJ was a good boy~no crying the entire time! (He's only 17 days old!) It was a pleasant, warm, Sunday morning...great for getting outdoors! Here is the fountain at The Patio Cafe in Palm Desert, where we ate breakfast. That's My World for Tuesday, March 17, 2009.

African daisies~Mellow Monday for March 16, 2009

Here in the desert southwest, we have a year-round growing season. While my sweet peas that I planted last fall haven't bloomed yet, my African daisies, which I planted after Christmas, are in full bloom! They close at night and open when the sun comes up! But, they do get full sun all day. Aren't they cute? Mellow Yellow for Monday, March 16, 2009.

Oops! I'm SUCH a blonde! I forgot to include the photo!

yucca and moon~SkyWatch Friday, March 13, 2009

We saw this yucca and the full moon this weekend while driving back to the desert from our local mountains. SkyWatch Friday, March 13, 2009.

Inside the Monterey Bay Aquarium

We took our grown children to the Monterey Museum and they were delighted to visit it! That's our daughter, Jennifer, sticking her hand in the tide pool! You are allowed to touch! Be sure and look UP as well as around when you are there! Many interesting things are hanging from the ceiling! The aquarium is a great way to spend the day!

Monterey trip~~Watery Wed. for March 11, 2009

We LOVE to travel and several times now we've visited Monterey, CA. There's a lot of beautiful scenery there and, during our summer, the weather is mild and we enjoy getting out of the desert! Here are some pics of one of our trips to Monterey. Watery Wednesday for March 11, 2009.

Pinyon~~That's My World for Tuesday, March 10, 2009

Halfway up the mountain, between our desert and mountains, with their pine trees, is Pinyon. It's always cooler up there in the summer and is only a 10 minute drive from our home. Hubby and I stopped at an overlook on Sunday and took some photos during the afternoon light. That's My World for Tuesday, March 10, 2009.

Yellow flowers~~Mellow Yellow for Monday, March 9, 2009

My neighbor in the desert is a landscaper and Saturday morning I wandered over to her yard, camera in hand. She was out already (we're both early risers!) and we chatted for a while. I saw these pretty yellow flowers and asked her if I could take some photos. Aren't they pretty? Mellow Yellow for Monday, March 9, 2009.

Signs of Spring in the California desert (my yard)

I went outside yesterday, armed with hubby's old Olympus camera (which I now use) and went looking for signs of spring. These photos show what I found! There are wildflowers growing up in our mountains, but nowhere to pull over and photograph them! Too many curves on the road! Hubby and I will TRY to get some pics of the lupine today which is blooming in our nearby hills. It only grows in a very narrow elevation, which is a couple of curves up Highway 74, so getting a picture of it will be difficult.

More mountain photos!

This beautiful barn-style home is in Pinyon, CA, which is about halfway up to where I board my horses. I love the look of the house! It's across the street from the rail fence.

Moon, tree, and mountains~~SkyWatch Friday, March 6, 2009

I took this photo with the old Olympus camera that hubby gave me. I like that camera because it has a 10x zoom, which nowadays isn't much, but it is the most zoom that I have on any of my camera!s My birthday present will be a new camera with a 20x zoom and I can't wait to get it! Hmmm....my birthday was Feb. 14 and I still don't have the camera! (tapping fingers...) Oh, well! I still love my Olympus! It's the only camera I have that I've taken a halfway decent photo of the moon. What do you think? SkyWatch Friday for March 6, 2009.

rail fence in the mountains~~That's My World for March 3, 2009

Southern California doesn't have many wooden rail fences. Northern California does, but not in our desert areas. It's just too hot and sunny and dry! So, I was thrilled to find this one up in the mountains by my friend Barb's ranch! It is weathered, but still in fairly decent shape. I love to stop by Pinyon on my way to visit my horses. It's about 3,000 feet high and is a pleasant relief from the heat of the desert during the summer. And, this weekend was a warm one, so it was an enjoyable outing! That's my World for Tuesday, March 3, 2009.

Mellow Yellow 030209 flowers

I went for a walk around my neighborhood the other day and spotted these pretty yellow pansies! Aren't they pretty? Mellow Yellow for Monday, March 2, 2009.

Green hills~Scenic Sunday for March 1, 2009

Our local desert hills are very green this year! I don't ever remember them being so green! We should have a great year for wildflowers! In fact, several are already starting to bloom...still early, but with our continued warm days, by next weekend, they should be in full bloom. Here are our green hills in the desert. Scenic Sunday for March 1, 2009.