Starting to be Autumn 09-06-08

Up in the hills above San Juan Bautista it is beginning to look like Autumn.

The first trees to lose their leaves are the Buckeyes. The fruit stays on the bare branches, elongating and slowly turning tan so they look like small pears. These are California Buckeyes - more info at: http://www.cnr.vt.edu/dendro/dendrology/syllabus/factsheet.cfm?ID=188

The fruit is toxic, except to squirrels who eat it when there is nothing else.

These red leaves are lovely, but don't get too close - it is Poison Oak, the variety that grows on the US Pacific Coast. Very poisonous.

It is quite easy to identify when the shiny lobed leaves turn red/orange/yellow/gold, but the rest of the year the three leaves grouped together is a common identifier. There are other varieties of the plant in other parts of the country.

I don't know what this vine is, but it makes a nice pattern with the dried sepals.

Here is the Lombardy poplar which grows across the road from the gate to the houses up the hill. In a few more weeks it will be a pillar of bright yellow.

The road down the mountain curves and goes up and down with trees all along the way. There are a number of houses and livestock, mostly horses, but a few cows, buffalo, sheep and goats. There was a time fifty+ years ago that I lived on the outskirts of town in Oregon and these sights were familiar. It is like a trip back in time whenever I drive this road.

In the woods and in the fields and the stream beds and ... well, anywhere it hasn't been cleared out, is the poison oak.

Quilt Shop Stop 09-05-08

If you have been reading this blog you know I don't need any fabric, but I do enjoy stopping at quilt shops just to feel the fabric and see what is new. When possible I stop at Creation Station in Buellton on Hwy 101. You may have seen their booth at quilt shows, their main business, or you can visit this little shop full of quilty things.

There are charming decorations outside and inside the shop.

This sewing lady is made of scrap metal and has been trying to thread her needle since I first saw her years ago.

Naturally a stop anywhere along the way requires a visit to the facility and in this case there is a lot to see while 'visiting'. It isn't really an "out" house, but is located inside the shop with full plumbing. This sign gives you an idea what to look for.

The little mouse is close by and easy to spot.

And frog and bug await your departure.

It is a fun place to stop and stretch your legs, pet some fabrics (you can purchase some at reduced prices), and enjoy the facility!

Lunch in Montecito 09-03-08

I am writing at home, my Computer guru is ordering a part for the laptop and I am using an external monitor until he can install the part. I drove home from San Juan Bautista via Hwy 101 and stopped for lunch at Jeannine's in Montecito - my favorite foodie place along the way.

There are tables on the sidewalk and the porch, but the exhaust from vehicles bothers me so I always sit inside.

Where each table has some reproduction California pottery and a few flowers.

After ordering at the register the cashier hands out a number to place on the table to guide the server. It is very difficult to look at all the wonderful pastries and gorgeous mile-high cakes in the glass cases and even more difficult to not buy anything for dessert.

However, my Chicken Pesto sandwich on cibatti bread w/blue corn chips was more than enough lunch and I brought home half of the sandwich for lunch today.

I've posted about Jeannine's previously on 09-16-07 & 12-27-07.

More Figs and SJBautista chickens 09-02-08

On the way home from Pacific Grove Mary and I stopped at the market in SJB to get veggies for dinner. Lucky me - they were selling very nice figs at $2.50/basket, the basket I selected held 21 small, but delicious figs. I may have to stop there in the morning to buy another basket.

When we got home I tried some arty fig photos - this is the one I think this is the best of about 24 shots. I have made an album of seven photos with different backgrounds which I will post if I can stay awake long enough to search out the URL! http://picasaweb.google.com/DELQLTS/FigsSJB090208?authkey=iYETdWn5P_s#

San Juan Bautista is known for it's chickens which run loose all over town, especially near the Mission. Apparently many of the chickens are named by the townspeople,
this cock with feathers on his feet is Bob.

This is one of two "girlfriends" he chases around with and rules.

Here is Bob with the other "girlfriend" and, as you see, Bob is a banty rooster and his gals are full grown regular hens. He must really be something to have such a deal, especially since there are so many very large, handsome cocks running around loose.

Like this colorful fella. I took seven pictures of him and didn't get a single one showing his face! Guess SJB roosters are camera shy.

I'll be heading home in the morning, so I can be there on Thursday to have my laptop checked out. I don't know if I can find a computer to borrow sometime in the evening, if not, I will blog again on Friday.

September 1, 1938 09-01-08

There are seventy years between the two dates above and today I am 70 years old. Hard for me to believe - where do the years go, anyway? I'm not much of a party gal, so I am spending my birthday quietly with Mary and Joe. Joe's birthday is tomorrow, but he has a half dozen years on me. It is nice to be here in my 'home away from home', I always feel welcome and loved. It has been a sort of lazy day and the weather is perfect. I'm so lucky.

This beautiful orchid is a gift from Mary and Joe. It is so unusual, I don't think I have seen one like this before. Not only an abundance of blossoms, but lots of buds of different sizes. I'm sure there will be blossoms for six months or more.

An additional gift, almost as wonderful....

Mary helped me hem the two new pair of slacks I bought Saturday at the outlets in Gilroy. If I stitch fast I'll have pair hemmed to wear home. I'm so lucky!

Around San Juan Bautista 08-31-08

San Juan Bautista is a very small town in the valley that grows most of the leafy greens in America. Spinach, lettuce, celery, cauliflower, broccoli, chard.... I can't even name them all. The next town north is Gilroy, garlic capitol of the world and Salinas. of John Steinbeck fame, is on the south. It is sad to see any of the land growing houses - where will our food come from then?

The road winding down from Mary and Joe's house to SJB levels out just before reaching this farm. The barn is in bad shape, the house roof is covered with plastic (for a long time) and there is only one remaining sister. There were two who spend their lives on this farm, they were very elderly and becoming increasingly frail. The other sister died this summer. I hope someone is keeping an eye on this lonely resident of the valley. By-the-way, that is not the moon, but a spot on my windshield. I'm still taking pictures on-the-fly.

Just before reaching the highway there is a fenced pasture occupied by sheep and one goat. Even though I actually stopped and got out of the car, I found it impossible to get a good shot. This one goat was cropped from a larger useless picture. Love that goaty beard!

Turning right on the last little farm road before the highway I parked and walked across the road to photograph this oh-so-green celery field. Highway 156 goes east/west where the utility pole is in the background on the right.

This is a field of different lettuces - the kind we buy in plastic bags as "Spring Greens" or some such name. The fields are striped light green, bronze, bright green, dark red, etc.. The lettuces are actually mowed and the plants left to grow some more leaves. The mowed crop is picked over on a conveyor belt, washed, packaged and sent all over the country - maybe all over the world, for all I know. The packaged salad idea originated with a produce processor near San Juan Bautista.

This is the 366th post on this blog - I'm starting another year! My laptop is probably DOA and I have my fingers crossed that the backup has actually backed up everything. My computer guru will check it out on Thursday, but he doesn't hold out much hope. Woe is I!