Cloudy Days of Summer

Our mountain weather has been unusually humid lately, with clouds passing overhead during most of each day. The clouds have brought blessed relief from the 105+ degree weather; I can handle weather under a hundred without much trouble. But this is HUMID heat, not the dry heat to which we mountain dwellers in San Diego County are accustomed. Two-and-a-half minutes in the sun watering my garden means that I get to experience makeup sliding down my forehead and stinging my eyes. Joy. But I suppose I'll take the muggy high 80's, low 90's over the dry 107 degrees of early July. And I guess I'll take the clouds, too....

Family

On Saturday evening, we descended the hill to Keith's sister's place to celebrate the safe return home of her youngest, Steven, who just spent six months in Baghdad. Today Steven returned to Hawaii, his original deployment before he volunteered for six months in the Middle East. In the photo above are Keith's dad and nine of the fifteen grandkids present. (E was in Phoenix, spending the week with the three female Arizona cousins -- she needed "girl time" with three brothers.)



Three generations of Barrett men: Keith's dad Ken; Steven, Keith's nephew, and Keith's younger brother, Kevin.

California Tower, Balboa Park

The California Tower in Balboa Park is perhaps, besides the Pacific Ocean itself, the best-known landmark in San Diego. Almost all air flights pass by this beautiful tower, built for the Exposition in 1916. Family tradition states that my great-great grandfather help to design it; however, in my genealogical research, I have yet to corroborate that fact. But it's still a gorgeous landmark that now houses the Museum of Man right next to the magnificent Laurel Street Bridge that separates Balboa Park from downtown San Diego itself. I took this shot from the Skyfari in the San Diego Zoo -- a unique perspective that the boys and I very much enjoyed on our trip to the Zoo this week. See further photos from our Tuesday trip below.

Another Zoo Trip

After T's early orthodonic appointment Tuesday, we decided to not waste our gas for a ten-minute check up and to proceed on to Balboa Park. When we realized that the only free museums this Tuesday were ones we weren't interested in, we decided on a short trip to the San Diego Zoo. On our last two trips, the Zoo happened to be quite crowded, but this morning the Zoo was quite sparsely peopled. Finally, we had a clear shot at the Reptile House before making quick visits to the meerkats and otters in the Children's Zoo. T took the first three shots; I took the final one. Enjoy!


Iguana in the Reptile House


Desert Tortoise in the Reptile House


River Otter under water -- not easy to catch these guys in motion as they move FAST!


B sitting in the window welcoming a River Otter moving his way.

San Diego Zoo

With my sister and her family from Montana in town, we've made the rounds of the San Diego landmarks this week: Julian, the beach, the San Diego Zoo. It's rather tiring doing them all within a couple of days, but it's also been fun as well. T took the otter and meerkat photos as they are his favorite animals (and because E doesn't share the kids' camera well).

Beach...

We walked up the beach from Pacific Beach toward La Jolla, looking at the cliffs and watching the kids search for shells and rocks. It was an overcast day just along the coast, definitely not the most beautiful day for photography but it was the day we were there. The cliffs were especially intriguing; I loved the colors and the stripes of the layers. My brother went up to the cliff and examined the stripes: they are made up of a multitude of small clear crystals in the rock.

Julian and Cuyamaca

This area in Cuyamaca Rancho State Park is part of our "old stomping grounds" from our childhood. Almost every summer we stayed at the horse camp (destroyed by fire in 2003) and would walk up to the mine where I took these photos at sunset, watching for deer coming out to feed at dusk. Or we would ride our horses up through the mine on our way to ride around Lake Cuyamaca. We also used to climb Stonewall Peak (top photos) on every trip: two miles to the summit and two miles down of narrow pathways. Most of this area burned five years ago in the Cedar Fire of 2003, and the evidence of the fire is everywhere. We miss our camping trips to Los Caballos Horse Camp -- my mom camped there as a child, and my brother, sister and I camped there almost every summer, and even my own kids have camped there when they were very young.

Sweet Sixteen

E asked me to take a new portrait photo of her as she's starting a semi-private blog (only those who have been invited can read it -- just close friends and family) and wanted a new photo. This was taken in front of our apple tree, and she looks quite fresh depsite the 106 degree heat.

Yesterday at the Heritage graduation (see Meditative Meaderings for the post), I realized more than ever that my girl only has two more years here at home in high school before she graduates and starts college. Two years. Such a short time.

Spring Flowers at Summers Past Farms

I took these in mid-May at Summers Past Farms, and I simply haven't had time to edit the 150 photos I took there. Some are good, but these are the best, besides the sunflower photos I posted right after my trip to Summers Past. I love this place -- wonderful for photography, artwork, writing, visiting with friends over coffee, and, of course, shopping in the two gift shops and the small plant nursery. And the maze, whether covered with sweetpeas in the spring or morning glories in the summer, is always a miraculous place.

Fathers' Day on the Mountain

We spent Fathers' Day (and our anniversary) at my parents' little cabin atop Mount Laguna. For the events of the day and for a couple more photos, click here.



The cabin's chimney....



Fallen logs near the cabin....



Wildflowers each the size of my thumbnail....