Another tree gone 05-07-24

Yesterday morning when we walked there were tree trimmer at work. This house was the #1 model home when this tract was developed and stands at the "point" where Warren St. and Brain St. divide. So, the trees were planted in about 1970 pretty old and they haven't received very attentive  care.  The two California Sycamores also shed large leaves and, for some reason, homeowners in S.California do not like trees that shed leaves, or anything else.  Anyway, the guys were only taking down one of the two sycamores.   So sad. Maybe it was diseased, it looked pretty scruffy.   I miss all the trees that have been removed in  the 36  years  we have lived  here.   I  had to  take  out the melaleuca tree that we planted  when  we  first moved in because it decided to grow way over our neighbors driveway and inhibit his access.   There are no trees in our yard,  just the ficus in the neighbors yard which grows right against the fence, half shading both backyards.

 

Right in  middle is the guy with the chainsaw on top of the stump. 

Here he is cutting off another chunk which he let fall after looking and shouting for all clear below.  

That huge piece down, he adjusts to take another cut.  Notice his chainsaw dangling below his butt. 

Around the corner out of our tract there is a huge planting of Algerian ivy the length of the property.  This they could take out, if they asked me.   I am very allergic to it and get a horrible rash.  In the late 50s and 60s one could hardly walk  a  block  without seeing a sea of this ivy.  It is a foot to a foot and a half deep and shelters rodents and snails.  Take it out!   

 I was trying to take a picture of KoKo next to the ivy to show the depth, but he just wouldn't stand still and wanted to WALK,  Finally I got him to sit, but in my shadow. 

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Computer Problems 02-21-24

I tried to follow new instructions to access a site and have completely screwed up my laptop!  I'll try to see the Geek Squad tomorrow,

Meanwhile, here is our resident Mockingbird who sings constantly from the top of my neighbor's  coastal redwood tree, all times of night and day.  At least he isn't singing down my chimney.

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Not much to write about. 09-26-23

We go for our walks twice a day and sometimes that is  the only time we are outside. KoKo needs to go out back in the mid afternoon and due to  the coyotes who  roam night or  day, I go out  with him.   He only takes a few minutes, so there doesn't seem  to be much to write about.

I have been watching this fig tree growing on the next street. I had hoped the owners would share their crop. 

However, it looks like the birds are helping them selves.  Might not be anything left when they are  ripe  enough for people consumption.  There is also a  Fuyu tree  along our way and it is loaded, but still hard and green. 

This car was parked  nearby the other day  and I am  mystified what the black "tube" does, I've never seen such before.

 
It isn't a homemade  contraption, but seems to be made to fit the car. 

The vehicle  is a Toyota.  It is very shiny, so what looks  like dents is just reflection.

I guess the biggest news is that Halloween is just a month away and the decorations are going up.  Love these Shrek hands on the palm trees in this neighbor's yard.   They also have styrofoam headstones and huge fuzzy black spiders.  Brrrrrr!

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More construction in the park 09-07-23

 No workers  in the park today.

Here  is the cement they have poured at this far end of the park.

A closer view, but I cannot figure out what this will be.  The little bits of rain over the last week or so has started the grass sprouting.

The new cement path wanders off to the right to end at the small parking lot on  Palm Drive at the entrance to the park.  It is a small park - the width is about that of two house lots and  the length is about fourteen  housing lots.  I tell people that ours is the fifteenth house from Palm Drive.  

Warmer today.  The high was 84F and the low 62F.  Highs in the mid 90F until next Tuesday.  KoKo and I have enjoyed the autumn like temps for the last 3 or 4 days.  

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Construction in the park 09-06-23

Toward the end of July the city started the revamping of Parque de Arroyo Verde which we see from our backyard.  I searched through my  pictures to find  views over the years.  There aren't as many as I expected.

2011

This is sort of what it looked iike when we moved in 1986, but then the deodar trees were healthy and green.  By 2011 they were diseased  and dying and  the tree trimmers were taking them out.  

December 24, 2018

At the bottom of the picture you can just see the young trees that replaced the deodars and had been growing for about seven years.  They were just sticks when planted.    The trees  in the background had just been trimmed, they  are located in  the patio  homes beyond the perimeter block wall. 

February 14, 2019

Just a few months  later in a wet year the trees are still  rather  small, but the grass is green, very unusual for this area.  I have this picture in the wrong order, See the tall trees before they were trimmed.  Also notice that the vandals had been at  work in the flood control channel. 

Feb 26, 2923

One of the reasons for redoing the park was the city thought it wasn't being utilized enough.  There were never hoards of people, but it seemed to me that quite a few people used it for dog walking, running, picnics, and just  hanging  out.   

Notice  how much  those  little trees have grown  in four years. 

June 24,2023

We have had a drought for the last three years and the city stopped watering.   

But I guess the kids didn't  mind.  

June 24, 2023

This picture shows further south with the  wandering  path that had been there since at least  1986.

August 18,2023

The  end  of July the trees that didn't fit the  new  plan were removed.  Forms  for cement were put in.  It was very hot so they erected an awning over a table to hold the plans they were working from.  

August 21, 2023

When we had our "hurricane" that didn't amount to much, but it brought strong winds and lashings of rain  The awning and the table went flying and I guess the workers were dealing with fallen limbs and debris in other city parks because they didn't work here for most of last week.  The broken awning is still broken  and will probably go in the landfill.

I thought I had a picture of what it looks like today, but guess it didn't take.  So, I will go out in the morning and do a few shots and add on to this post.

NOPE.  I posted more pictures on the next post - 09-07-23

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Miscellaneous 07-21-23

I have recovered from my three week coughing cold.  Two doctor visits, a Z-pack, an inhaler, lots of water and two boxes of Fisherman's Friend cough drops.  It wasn't bronchitis,  "just a cold".  Doc says to take it easy  for another week or so.  Actually, I can't do much of anything because I have no energy, she says it will come back.  Soon, I hope. 

No matter what, we do our two walks a day.  Sometimes it is just  around  the cul de sacs,which is probably less that half a full loop. Here we  are out one morning rather early.  Our evening walks  are now usually after 7pm and sometimes after 8pm.   Walking when the temp is over about 82 is  more than I can manage.  

The first picture was taken across the street from this towering ghost gum  where it appeared the tree trimmers were getting ready to climb.  I asked them if I should say goodbye to this lovely tree, but they said no, just trimming. 

Later in the day when I drove past they had finished their work!  I wonder if the tree can survive this butchering.  I had talked to the lady of the house recently and she was  talking about taking it out because it drops leaves!  I told  her what a beautiful tree it is and since it grows on the "point" as everyone enters the neighborhood it is a landmark, planted about 50 years ago in front of the model home where she now lives.    The other two trees are an olive on the right and a Chinese elm.  Both of which I am allergic to, but I wouldn't have them removed. 

My gifted day lily is blooming.  Nice color, but still wish it were the solid yellow variety.  There are several bulbs planted close to each other, but I suspect they are all this color. 

We are having hot weather, but not as bad as some parts of the world.  Yesterday  was 102F, but today didn't hit 90F..  And it does cool down at night  - 65F or so. 

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Another easy day 06-09-23

Sunshine all day and 70F.  Maybe the morning drizzle is over.  But the weeds are still running amuck and I haven't had any luck with a new gardener.  They just don't show up!   The redbud trees are all  leafed out and some leaves  are almost black. I cannot take a photo that shows how dark they are, but here are a few that I tried to edit. The newer leaves come in red which shine in the sun.  KoKo checking out the possibility of lizards. 

The older leaves are the size of my outstretched hand. 

Soon the small pink  blossoms will appear, but the large leaves rather cover their  glory.  Still a lovely tree, to bad I didn't take a picture of one.  

Not a happy dog because Froggy has been crunched again!  

Sciatica  pain is much less and we did two full walks today.  The nurse did a good job and there is only a small bruise from the puncture in my arm just above the wrist, high enough for my sleeve to cover it.  Not that I am going anywhere!

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Return from San Diego (06-03-23) 06-05-23

The drive to San Diego on Friday afternoon is always slow and I expected it, so I didn't get uptight and other drivers seem to take it in stride.  There are always one or two maniacs that just jockey from lane to lane to get ahead.  All that does is slow traffic even more.  My average speed was 24mph, but, of course, that was an average between dead stop and 80mph.  It took three hours.  

I  checked into  HIE-Old Town, my usual stopping place, and Beth  picked me up to go to dinner at Jimmy's Famous American Tavern right on the water, but we sat  inside out of the wind.  The French Dip was delicious, the first  I have had in years, it came with house made chips (no sulfites), and an Arnold Palmer to drink.   Interesting  to watch the customers, I just don't get out much any more!   

Ouside in the breeze  way was  this  wonderful  fully blooming vine.  Looks like  honeysuckle, but I've never seen such huge blooms or leaves.  Not terribly fragrant. 

I was  early to bed in the firm center  of the king sized bed with my earplugs in.  Can never sleep on either side of those big beds because they are all broken down.  My other option is to sleep crosswise across the foot part of the  mattress.  My preference would be a recliner and I understand  that some motels offer rooms so equipped.  I'll have to check around. 

On Saturday morning off to pick up Andrea and Deb and drive to Jamul, which is southeast of San  Diego, for the Art Stream meeting.  There were only five of the eight members, but that gave us all more talking time!!  We do an "assignment"  at each  live meeting and this month it was trees.  I didn't ask if I could post anyone's work, so I am just showing mine.  It is obviously not finished - just the fusing is done.  It is an abstract of a forest and I am still debating how to add some foliage.  The color in this image is rather darker than  reality  and  I don't know how to fix that.  Sorry. 

There will be smooth outside edges, probably faced.  

After the meeting and lunch I headed home in medium traffic, some  fast, some  slow and picked up KoKo at Nancy's about 3pm. Then another hour home.  Of course, we both needed a nap before putting things away.  And the  discovery that I don't have my datebook/calendar.  It has disappeared and I am  completely  in the dark about any dates or appointments I have for the rest of my life!!  It  is  a horrible feeling to not know what tomorrow, or tomorrow, or tomorrow or.....   will bring!  I have started a list as I remember things (like my 3pm doctor visit tomorrow, which I called to confirm), but there are notes and phone numbers I will not be able to recall.  I have never switched to keeping a calendar on my cell phone - in case I lose it!!!  This has been very stressful and I feel unconnected to my own world. I have never been one to lose things, but guess I screwed up this time.  Woe is I!

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Trees in TCQC 05-07-23

Our current challenge in the San Diego group is trees.  I have done a lot of tree quilts over the years and there are quite a few in the Thomas Contemporary Quilt Collection.   I looked through the 12"X12" pieces in the Collection and picked out these six to post tonight.  As you see they are mostly parts of trees; roots, leaves, fruit, and whole trees.  Everyone sees the subject in their own way and I am always delighted to see someone's vision.  The bottom quilt by Caroline Higgs is an amazing fused applique which is machine quilted around each leaf, twig, and trunk.  You can find the artist's name on the sidebar and click to find more information about the maker and the quilt.  

Village Series #7 Kristin La Flamme  2007

Evergreen  Brenda Gael Smith - Australia  2011

Rainbow Trees  Nikki Wheeer -   2011

Gingko with Fruit  Aileyn Renli Ecob - California  2014

Lake in the Woods   Sandra Hart -   2011

Essence of India  Caroline Higgs -    2018

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Tree Hugger for life! 01-03-23

Trees have always held a place in my heart, perhaps because I spent my childhood mostly in Oregon where there were oh-so-many-trees.  I do take pictures of trees wherever I go. 

Some trees are "decorated" like this one in Santa Nella, CA, with a flock of blackbirds.  

Or maybe in flower like this one in Tustin, CA, at a Starbuck's drive-thru. 

The almond trees along I-5 in the Central Valley of California are usually blooming when I drive up to Pacific Grove for the Empty Spools workshop in March/April.  They soon won't be so plentiful as many orchards are being torn out because almonds take an excessive amount of water and water is just not available since the drought started.  Lots of tumbleweeds piled up against the wire fence.  

I do love palm trees and there are so many different varieties.  These grow along Pacific Coast Highway (101) along my route to San Diego. 

I have made a few tree quilts, among them some palms.

This is only 8" X 11" and was part of the Journal Quilt Project some years ago. 

These palms are more recent - made for a small exhibit at PIQF 2019.

But perhaps my favorite trees are the shaggy, irregular Douglas Firs that grew on almost every lot in Portland and covered the forested hills all around.  This one above the Clackamas River at Oregon City.  

But nothing is as serene as the cedars in the large lot of my late friend Mable's house in Mt. Vernon, Washington. 

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Online again this morning. 12-01-22

It is 10am and I am able to access the Internet - HURRAH!  Don't know how long it will last, but I will try to get this posted before I fall off again! 

Here is the KoKo dog zoning out in my lap.  He is very cuddly these days, I suspect because the weather is cooler.  Today we are supposed to have a little rain, but right now the sun is shining brightly.  

Froggy is still with us.  He needs more surgery and some replacement stuffing.  KoKo is very hard on him, but Froggy is a durable little guy.  They are the same age - 8 1/2 now. 

The temperature has not dropped below about 49F, so we have very little autumn color.  The crepe myrtle leaves just turned brown instead of the bright scarlet we have with colder weather.  The liquidambers and coral trees contributed this mild color. 

First decorations were up the day before Thanksgiving and now there are quite a few.  This olive tree is decked out solidly, but our neighborhood is not abundantly lit up.  Ours is one of many undecorated houses.  I don't DO Christmas anymore, just a wreath on the door.  

My garage is in terrible shape, stuffed with useless things and boxes of books!  I hired a young man seeking work to support his college fees to help me do a cleanup.  He was as nice as he could be, but only 19 and he didn't know how to work.  He couldn't quite get the hang of vacuuming!   I did manage to get rid of some stuff, but only cleared about half of the garage.  Dumb time of year to be doing this as it is cold and (sometimes) damp.  But I will persevere and find someone more mature to help.  

I am off to see the podiatrist for a complaining ankle.  I had hoped to just wrap it and try resting it, but it doesn't seem to get any better.  Sciatica just gives a twinge now and then so the epidurals are still working.  Fingers crossed.  

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