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Getting to Big Sur

We camped for most of the two-week trip except when we stayed with my aunt and uncle in Napa. From Napa we drove to Big Sur. Looking at the maps, it seemed like a pretty easy half-day drive. As with most of the trip, it took much longer than we expected. We finally arrived at a campsite in time for sunset and a very late dinner. I know it’s too many sunset images but how can I decide what to cut?

The Golden Gate
Alcatraz
San Francisco
The dogs were not impressed
Sand Dollar Beach
Paintbrush
Field bindweed. It was everywhere

When in California …..

It just seems natural that you must visit a winery even though we come from a big wine-producing state ourselves. My aunt and uncle live in Napa and they took us to one of the grander wineries I’ve ever seen – Castello di Amorosa. It is in an authentic castle built specifically to house the winery. This building was a labor of love that took several years to complete with bricks and rock and fixtures shipped from Europe. I cannot begin to imagine how much it cost. Much of the winery is underground in a labyrinth of tunnels and arched rooms. I had to fight off my claustrophobic tendencies in order to enjoy the tour. Thank goodness we had a guide. I’m quite sure I could not have found my way out on my own. At the end of the tour, we were treated to tastings and we did take home a little bit of California wine to enjoy in the future.

Every castle needs a moat
And the moat needs ducks
The farm yard for goats
Ken likes goats
Gold-crowned Sparrow in a rosemary hedge
And a castle needs some gargoyles. Ken thinks we should consider them for our house too.
A castle needs a drawbridge and an iron gate
So many interesting touches
And terrific views
Lovely flowers
And murals!
This great hall can be rented out for parties.
The murals were very interesting.
Two brothers did the mural painting but one quit early so his brother painted over his signature.
Such tidy grounds
More great flowers
A mixture of high tech industrial wine making with traditional looking castle
Many hallways like this one
Often lined with oak barrels full of wine
A place to taste wine out of a barrel
Lots of animals on the grounds.
Chickens in the vineyard

Tiny Wildflowers

We have been away for two weeks on a road trip to California. There are many, many photos from that trip to edit and I have yet to get started. Lots of images of dogs playing in the surf. Prepare yourself. But for the moment I thought I’d share a few flower photos.

When we left, most of the ground on our hillside was covered with snow. Now it’s all gone. The ash-covered dirt is ready for spring and in some places it is already covered with a fresh blush of new green grasses. And if I look closely I can find tiny wildflowers. Some of them seem to be flourishing after last year’s fire. It’s a relief to see color on our landscape again.

Lomatium – maybe gormanii. Salt and pepper
Fritillaria pudica, Yellow bells
More yellow bells
A clump of tiny seedlings. I wonder what they will be?
Claytonia lanceolata. Spring beauty
Currant emerging from roots of a burned shrub
Lewisia rediviva. Bitterroot. I found more of this than usual. It must respond positively to fire.
Balsamroot just emerging from the ground.
Balsamroot

Bluebird Morning

The Western Bluebirds returned last month. They were a couple weeks earlier than usual. We still welcomed them with open arms. This one is perched on the neighbor’s nest box above our house. They have been checking out our boxes also. Hopefully a few pairs will settle in for the season.

Last Night’s Moonrise

Not many sights prettier than the full moon rising.

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