NEED TO VISIT VENICE BEACH AGAIN DURING THE SUMMER AND WALK THROUGH HERE

I've only walked along the boardwalk area which is a fun place to be and see - ... and near here is Santa Monica Pier.

HUGE FIRE NORTH OF LOS ANGELES

Amazing beautiful to see but so destructive.  This reminds me of the fires we had in the mountains above our houses (my sister and mine) in 2003.  Burned down the mountain and into the homes mostly  east of us but some homes nearby and west of us.  Luckily ours was okay but we had to run like hell when the fire created it's own tornado and blew down the mountain and embers were landing on roofs.  I never want to experience that again!

THOUGH I'VE POSTED IT BEFORE - THE GARDEN IN FRONT LOOKS ESPECIALLY BEAUTIFUL THIS YEAR. - FRONT PORCH

This house is down the end of the street and we usually turn left to go down to town so I pass it a lot.

Couldn't help but notice the beauty here lately.

I don't think I've ever seen anybody out here and if I have I don't remember.  Her door is open with just the screen closed quite often.  I always wonder if she sees me taking photos.

GHOSTER IN THE TOASTER

SOMETHING INTERESTING ON THE STREET

I was looking through some photos from last fall taken in Atascadero.  I never noticed this particular thing until now.  Do you see it?

Something interesting from Wikipedia -...Atascadero is a Spanish word loosely translated as bog from the verb "atascar" which means to become stuck or hindered. Also, in the Chumash language, Atascadero translates into a place of much water.  

Can't quite figure out why the name is translated to mean a place of much water.  With the drought the lake their has been really in need of water.  I do think they got some finally this year after being dry for the last few years.  This is a beautiful town to visit in the fall - along with Paso Robles, Templeton, Santa Margarita - all of them up the 101 from San Luis Obispo where I love to visit my sister.  

A few more of colorful trees in town - and I posted one photo of the kitting store before but here's another one.  Kind of a cute place.

FRONT PORCH POST (not my photos)

I developed a hobby so to speak years ago after selling my house.  I started looking online for rentals (since we decided we didn't want the hassle of ownership anymore)....  Through the years it became a hobby more or less.  Every day I spend some time looking online at rentals in areas I would like to live.

I found this older house the other day and loved the outside.  It actually is three separate apartments and the one that is for rent is so cute and this 1 bedroom rents for 1250.00 a month.  It is in the town of Riverside which has the famous Mission Inn which is beautiful.

The rents just keep going up and up in Southern California - it amazes me how much a 3 bedroom in any decent area not even desirable area rents for now.  I saved off some pics because I love old houses but I thought whoever decorated this little (under 800 sq feet I believe) apartment used such pretty colors.  

That poor palm tree needs someone to take off the dead fronds.

I like  the retro look of the bathroom and kitchen.  It didn't specify whether the place for rent was upstairs or downstairs.

 I can't imagine living with two other families sharing a house.

This neighborhood is in one of the historical districts .  We drove through a few nice areas the other day when we were in Riverside.

FRONT PORCH CLAREMONT

A HOUSE IN RIVERSIDE

Yesterday we were in Riverside and I love driving or walking depending on the weather, through the neighborhoods.  It was hot - about 95 or so -...so we took care of business and then drove near the park we use to take the grandkids to.

I have photos in the past of this house and yesterday it looked exactly the same as it did 5 or years ago - maybe the bushes are higher now.

The neighborhoods around the park are beautiful and then there is the park where a lot of drug buying and selling use to go on.

FIRST HOUSE  is the one taken back in 2010 or so.

Heading into a heat wave next week and then monsoonal weather which means humidity.

These were taken 07/16/16/

PHOTO TAKEN IN RUNNING SPRINGS

For some odd reason this scene appeals to me on some level.  There is a story in this scene.

COUPLE CUTE CABINS I SAW YESTERDAY

I'm always drawn to the color red on cabins.  Ever since I've owned and also have been a renter I have only had drab colored houses.  I guess that's why these stand out when I see them.

THE HOUSE AROUND THE CORNER - FRONT PORCH

Is so cute.

I never see the people and only once in awhile I see a car in the driveway.  I don't know if this is their second home  where they come for vacation or whether they work and only show up at night.  I would definitely live here.

THIS WON'T BE THE LAST I SHOW OF THIS HOUSE- CLAREMONT

I take photos every time I pass by which is only a handful of times in a year. ...but the house and landscape seems to look different to me in every season and it's so worthy of having it's photo taken.  I'm just putting up one angle today - as I too lazy to find any more. I've probably posted other views in other seasons before of this one.

A BEAUTY OF A HOUSE - RIVERSIDE CA, AND HUMMERS ON MY MIND

I've been watching the hummingbirds at the feeders lately and remembered how much I enjoyed going to Keller Peak Fire Watch Lookout Station and seeing the hummingbirds from up high.  I think when fall comes and before they close the gates that allows people to drive up the roads to this area (they close them in winter due to snow and bad road conditions).... I will make another trip there.

There is some good hiking trails and the best part is a trip to the lookout point.  I know I've posted these before but not sure if I have posted them on this blog.  

PUTTING THIS HERE

I'm posting this video (another Kirtana video I love)....   posting it today to remind me to never forget to be thankful for the fact I have a lake to walk around and trails  through the pines to enjoy - and to never complain again  that it is the same ole path I take often and there is little new to see.

Church of the Pines

I bow my head
with love and awe today
for the Maker
and this mandala at play–
the colored sand,
the sleight of hand
that shapes,
then wipes it all away.

I bow to the sky,
seamless and blue,
the mystical sunlight
filtering through
my church in the pines
here by this creek
with rocks that can sing
and devas that speak
a secret language beyond sound
in praise of hallowed ground.

Gloria …………
in Excelsis Deo.

I bow my head with gratitude today
for everything that did
and didn’t come my way.
The hidden cost
of all I’ve lost,
and all I’ve gained, I gladly pay.

Here’s to this life,
eyes that can see,
a heart that can feel this reverie,
that can be slain by beauty or pain,
humbled and pummeled
like a stone by unknown streams,
tumbled and washed clean.

Gloria……..
in excelsis Deo.

Wasn’t I
the one who told you:
You can shake me
if you need to?

Today I praise the play
that I once panned,
this vast conspiracy
to force my hand,
the poker face of unseen grace
that leaves my mind
no place to land…

But here in my heart–
here I allow
the wafer and wine
of what is right now.
And I join the choir,
this baptismal creek
of rocks that can sing
and devas that speak
a secret language beyond sound
in praise of hallowed ground.

Gloria…………
in excelsis Deo

MORE HOUSES FROM CLAREMONT, CA

FRONT PORCH POST - ONTARIO, CA

Walking through a neighborhood I like - i saw these houses one day.

I call this house the Buddha house - very interesting what they have done with their yard.

A fast week it was - i suppose most people my age are dealing with the fact that a week is not like a week was when we were younger.  Already trash day again and that JUST happened a few days ago it seems.

And a beautiful western bluebird enjoying the day.  (We are still having cooler temps - it's been great!)

LOOKING FORWARD TO WALKING THE STREETS OF SANTA MARGARITA AGAIN

So looking forward to beautiful colors again - fall colors.

ALSO - I wanted to bring attention to a site I really like and thought u might enjoy it.

It is called  Human of New York and you may already know about it.

Here is the  LINK

TEMPLETON, CALIFORNIA

Some photos from walking through Templeton.