SPRING SCENES-OTHER THAN BUDGET BATTLES

CALIFORNIA APRIL

       When spring broke in the midwest we'd take every opportunity to get outside and enjoy the blue sky and sunshine.  Each friday I'd take my news management team to lunch and in the good weather we'd opt for a place that featured outdoor dining. I can recall a couple of early spring days, emerging from the back of our studio onto the parking lot and being struck by the beauty of day. "This is what every day is like in California" I'd say.

        Now that we've been here four years, I recall how fleeting those nice days were back then and how this is the "land of continual springtime."  Seems as though there is always something in bloom.  Here's a look at some early April beauty.

BTW-the "geode" stone is a transplant from southern Indiana.

It will probably confuse a geologist someday. Might even lead to a

new theory eh?

DAY BOOK

THE ECHIUM UPDATE

       The echium bushes were "buzzing" as I shot these images.  They are bee magnets and continue to grow.

Look at the variance in color between these above and the bush below.

See you down the trail.

BLUE AND WHITE OVERHEAD & THE BIG SUR SAGA

NO PROBLEM, IT'S PARADISE MAN

       We've been in love with Big Sur since 1969.  It was our first trip to California and our friend Jim told us we needed to get an early start from LA so we could get up this "special place" by sunset.  It was the Lime Kiln campground, south of Big Sur. If ever a place can throw a switch in your brain, Big Sur did and still does.  

        Living only hour or south of Big Sur is one of the great joys in our life.

       It is one of the planet's most beautiful places.  As our friends who visit learn, there is a special charm to the region, and the drive is probably the best in the United States.

       If you've been paying attention you know about the slides and road collapse that has isolated Big Sur from the rest of the world.   
       Julia Prodis Sulek of the San Jose Mercury News has written a marvelous account of how things are going with that.

A FASCINATING AND ENJOYABLE READ WITH SOME MARVELOUS IMAGES. LINK HERE FOR A TRIP TO MELLOW!

WHEN YOU LOOK UP

       A joy of California living is the blue, the shades of blue of the sky, almost year around.  And there is usually something always blooming.

And sometimes those blooms are over head.

Clouds are another great show.  There is something special about clouds in a California sky.

Some look like they may have inspired movie makers.

Hmmmm.

And clouds and mountains are a great combination.

Keep looking up.

See you down the trail.

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.