SPRING THE RANCH AND A BLUE NOTE

A MORNING WALK

A VISUAL TREAT

        The Fiscalini Ranch is a 430 acre preserve with about a mile of coast line in Cambria.  It is place of wildlife, endangered plants and other fauna. A recent morning walk at the Ranch yielded a bonanza of spring blooms and pretty sights.  Here is a replay for you.  Enjoy.

The Lupine are looking good.

and there is a another variety of Lupine

The California Poppy is always a beauty

Even "stickers" have a beauty

The iceplant is vibrant and multi colored.

and closer to home-

the echium upate

FINALLY, FEELING BLUE ABOUT BUTLER

       The University of Connecticut won the national championship in what was called an ugly game. Ugly for a couple of reasons.  

          Both teams struggled with offense, but what many of the experts seemed to miss, is that  struggle was because both teams played hard nosed and in your face defense.  U Conn. was the better team last night because Butler had an off night.  They shot only an 18% on field goals and you can't win with that kind of offense.  U. Conn played a good defensive game to be sure, but Butler just had one of those nights when they were cold.  It happens to basketball players and teams and it is sad that it happened last night.  They are a better team than they looked or played.  Sad that Matt Howard leaves a great NCAA career with such an ugly loss.  Too bad that a team that had never won a national championship had to lose to a team that has won 3.  Too bad that in a Hollywood manner Brad Stevens could not become the youngest coach to win a national championship, along with another Indiana coach, Branch McCracken of IU. Instead the oldest coach to win, won another championship. Too bad that a small school that featured an academic All American and with a spotless NCAA record could not defeat a big school with lots of money and a coach and program that will be on NCAA suspensions, again. Too bad, but that is the way ball bounces.

        The Butler kids may feel terrible today, but with time they will look back on two back to back national championship games, their empowering of small or mid major schools to achieve the heights, VCU being a case in point, as an extraordinary accomplishment. They will find a pride in their improbable run with a team no one thought could make it as far as they did. No one but themselves!  That too is a victory.

 See you down the trail.