Howling Point

Waiting for victims

This is reedited from a 2014 gallery for that year's San Clemente Ocean Festival. The original caption read: "Rescuers in the rescue relay event waiting for their designated victims to reach the buoys."

Evening Surfer

One of my first shots of the trip, on an evening walk on the beach across from our hotel.

Randy took this

He even made me look cute, if I do say so myself.

Natural arch

While the tree was impressive in and of itself, really moved by the care the makers of the boardwalk took to go around it, even building a curved bridge over the creek to accommodate the tree.

The Rock

Not sure what I think about that wisp of fog, but the lighting was otherwise on point.

Squirrel

The little guy blended well. I saw him, but Onofre didn't.

Elephant Seals

A little posturing, a little shouting. All's normal at the elephant seal rookery at Piedras Blancas.

Otters

Raft of otters, rolling in kelp.

Otters in Action

This was actually a relatively boring raft of otters until the light one on the middle (blondie) swam up and started mixing things up

Otters

They were adorable to watch, and I spent way too much this day stalking them.

Locks of Love

I assume the background is similar to that in other cities, where couples in love leave a token of their affection. Not sure the relation though to the memorial bench right next to this section of fence though. The bench memorializes James Hayes, a Cal Poly SLO professor of journalism. Maybe someone can enlighten me in the comments.

Family Photo I

Loving the unique benches on the trails of the Fiscalini Ranch Preserve. Took some family photos that may turn up in future holiday cards.

Onofre at Fiscalini Ranch Preserve

Just enjoying the hike, and greeting every squirrel and rabbit he sees.

Seagull

Bird on a rock. Not much more to it.

Coastal Lighthouse

The road in to the light station was closed due to the Covid 19 closures, but the foot trail from the Piedras Blancas elephant seal rookery was open. This shot was from the beginning of the trail - note the elephant seal on the beach in the near cove.

Family Photo II

Still loving the benches. Still trying to be middle America normal.

Heading Out

Coast Guard heading out.

Piedras Blancas Light Station

Shot of the light station from the Boucher trail heading north from the Piedras Blancas elephant seal rookery. Light Station was closed to tourists due to Covid 19.

Pretty Colors

Just the colors. Pretty sure I wouldn't want to touch anything in this photo for any reason.

Standoff

Not just the two posturing elephant seals at waters edge, but the careful balance between the pelicans on the water and the seals on the beach. Every time one moved, someone else had to adjust.

How to celebrate a birthday

The original caption from 2012 read "Randy shows how to embrace the 5-2, riding into a new era on the back of a 71-year-old elephant." Since then I've used this photo many times as Randy checks out of school for the summer, and am moving if over here as he checks out of school for retirement and flies into the next phase of his life.

Saturday morning, May 30

Dusted off the cobwebs of social isolation and took the camera down to the newly (partially) reopened San Clemente beach this morning. Minimal crowds being very attentive to social distancing, and one judgmental bird wondering why all the people were back on his beach.

Ocean Festival 2014 outtake

Missing actual beach time during social distancing, and while going through the archives found this of two lifeguard competitors from the 2014 San Clemente Ocean Festival. Apparently this wasn't previously posted, so no unfortunately there's previous caption to rely on for additional details.

We're sitting here!

The original caption in September 2017 read "Sea lions pushing aside a late arrival on the rock."

Patio Fire

Fire Stick Cactus (Euphorbia tirucalli) on the patio. After nearly a week of heavy rain, I think both of us were fully appreciating a day of sunshine.

Our next Christmas card

The original caption from 2016: "WHAT DO YOU MEAN I HAVE TO SIT STILL. YOU CAN'T MAKE ME POSE! WE HAVE RIGHTS! One dog was bad enough. We may never again have a complete family photo." Truer words were never spoken. Diego passed away two weeks ago but is still in our hearts; this is reposted for National Pet Day.

Lemon blossoms

Lemon tree on our patio blooming. Necessary step on the way to making lemonade.

Randy with Loaner Puppy

This was taken on the June 2017 visit to San Francisco, and the original caption read "By the third day Randy was starting to miss our pups at home, so when the opportunity arose he quickly bonded with the Devil Dog guarding the Dragon Gate." He's happy, the Devil Dog is happy, so what's not to be happy about.

Plumeria

Taken on a June 2010 vacation in Kona, the original caption read "Traditional hawaiian flowers, taken on the grounds of the Hulihe'e Palace in Kona." I've had a print of this one on my office wall for years

Who?

The original June 2011 caption simply read "Owls roosting in the rafters of the Mission San Miguel Arcangel." This was just one stop on a road trip through California's central coast (one of many) at a time when my husband was teaching fourth grade and collecting Mission handouts and photos for classroom use.

Approach!

Original caption from 2/2018: "The High Cat, Guardian of the Succulent Throne, will hear your pleas for mercy." This is a slightly recropped and and edited version of the original posted, which was one of two from a morning walk in the canyon. From the caption of a related photo "These were part of a group of seven cats I saw walking on the Saturday morning. They later scattered when a couple came by to feed them. The couple explained they were from the Feral Cat Society of San Diego, which feeds and fixes the cats found in Balboa Park, and that there were part of a population estimated at 30+."

Making swimming look like flying

Grounded from swimming at the moment, and the zoo's out-of-bounds, so living life vicariously through my overdressed little friend. From the original 7/2017 caption: "Penguin showing everyone how it's done in the new Penguin / Leopard Shark exhibit at San Diego Zoo's Africa Rocks."

Beauty and the tiny little beast

From the original 3/2018 caption: "Blossom at the Japanese Friendship Garden's Cherry Blossom Festival, with nasty little friend."

The water is cold

From the original January 2018 caption: "Even the wildlife that's around the water every day of the year agrees that in January it's cold and when it hits your feet it's time to leave."

Supermoon Sunrise

From the original November 15, 2016, caption: "Caught this farewell image of the Supermoon the morning of November 15 from the balcony at Casa."

The Rotunda

Taken on one stop of a Spring Break 2015 road trip, the original caption read: "I couldn't get perfect alignment because the guards and docents seemed overly concerned with me climbing on the statue at dead center of the Capital's lobby, but still managed this view of the rotunda at the State Capital in Sacramento."

Hummingbird Garden at the Tilden Hotel

Shot on a 2017 visit to San Francisco, thought it appropriate to share for a zen moment on Day Five of our self-isolation. The original caption: "Our hotel's tiny reserve of inner city tranquility in the heart of the Tenderloin. Koi, plants, adirondacks all anchored with some repurposed construction materials (scrap marble, including tombstones) to create a little place of zen. Loved our stay at the Tilden - this was just the icing on the cake."

Cemetery Monument

This photo was originally taken during a Spring Break road trip in 2015. Pulled it up today searching through the archives for the husband's class on the anniversary of President Roosevelt's signing of Executive Order 9066, the order to relocate Japanese Americans to internment camps, in 1942. From my original caption: "This is the monument to the 150 people who died behind barbed wire and were buried at the Manzanar Relocation Center. According to the sign the kanji characters read 'Soul Consoling Tower.'"

California Condor

Enjoying the morning sun; waiting for the morning tourists to become carrion.

Bateleur Eagle

(terathopius ecaudatus). Enjoying the good lighting in Africa Rocks at the San Diego Zoo.

Sunday morning

Beautiful morning with shirtsleeve weather (for me) in February, shot this looking north from the San Clemente Pier.

Sandpiper on a Sunday in San Clemente

The sandpiper was out for a stroll on the southside of the San Clemente Pier on this sunny Sunday morning

When That Snack Is Just Out Of Reach

Polar Bear weighing its options; smug bird knowing it's just far enough away.

Steller's Sea-eagle

(Haliaeetus pelagicus).

Sumatran Tiger

Just a big cat lounging around. Shot through the glass wall from the Longhouse at San Diego Zoo's Safari Park Tiger Trail.

Western Burrowing Owls

(Athene cunicularia hypugaea).

Angry Ocean

It's understandable...grumpy this early in the morning should be a natural right.

Last Sunday Sunrise of 2019

One final early morning session at La Jolla Cove for 2019.