Every Sunday, my guy and I go somewhere for a hike. It’s a Sunday fun-day tradition that we work really hard at not missing. Every so often, though, the weather isn’t great or we get a late start or w…
Los Coches Adobe
I’m a born-and-bred Californian. I’ve been fortunate to have lived in every compass point of this state. The Salinas Valley, though, is without question my favorite spot. It has it all — a small town …
Migrating Monarchs Materialize
The Monarchs have returned to Pacific Grove. They do that about this time every year. They’ve become such a part of the town they have their own neighborhood, the Monarch Butterfly Sanctuary. It’s a b…
Jeffers Country
“Lend me the stone strength of the past and I will lend you The wings of the future, for I have them. — Robinson Jeffers, To the Rock that Will be a Cornerstone — I took a tour of Tor House and Hawk T…
Monterey’s Blue Grand Canyon
A couple of years ago, I hiked to the bottom of the Grand Canyon and back with my guy. It was in late June. It was hot. Really hot. At one point, the temperature gauge at the bottom read 146 degrees (…
Ode to Our Stinking Rose
O garlic, how aromatic, a bouquet that inspires — O garlic, how healthy, your cloves we admire — O garlic, how pungent, ward off those vampires — O garlic, how festive, our weekend desire!…
Crate Labels and the story they tell
I’m a gardener. In fact, the University of California Cooperative Extension Program certificate I have states that I’m a Master Gardener. As much of an accomplishment as that might be, I know that mas…
When the tide is out
You never know what you mind find hiding in the crevices in the tide pools along our rocky shore. Native residents include chitons, barnacles, periwinkles, turban snails, limpets and crabs. Look but d…
Happy Birthday
On July 14 in 1771, the San Antonio de Padua Mission was founded as the third in a string of missions that began in San Diego and ended in San Francisco. Located on Fort Hunter Liggett Military Reserv…
The Big Yellow Hats
When my kids were little, they loved to be read to. My son was a dinosaur fanatic. I read him every book that came out – fiction and nonfiction. He could identify a pachycephalosaurus or an ichthyosau…