Headwaters of a Mini Urban Stream

The newly renovated pumping system pumps the water from the base of the pond at Averill Park at Weymouth Avenue to the top of the stream at Dodson Avenue, where it begins to flow with this waterfall.

I took the one less traveled by...

The Road Not Taken

I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I-
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.

Robert Frost

(and Wilson)

Pretty Betty

In April I planted a Betty Boop Floribunda Rose in my garden.
No flower arranging skills necessary, snip off a stem and place in a vase.
It doesn't get much prettier, does it?

Happy Birthday Father Adam!

Wishing a very happy milestone birthday to my dear dear friend Father Adam, and to everyone else whose birthday is June 26!

This chocolate cupcake is for you!

SkyWatch Friday - Jacaranda Blooms

Here in Southern California, blue jacarandas can bloom twice a year, in the spring and the fall, the springtime blooms are much more showy however.

With its bell-shaped flowers and fern-like leaves, the blue jacaranda can grow up to 40 feet tall.

Every week over 350 websites from all over the World share their Sky images here.

Single-Story Cape Cod

Cape Cod #6

In my quest to document all the Cape Cod style architecture in San Pedro, here are links to:

Cape Cod #1 - Classic Style, Detached Garage

Cape Cod #2 - Near Averill Park

Cape Cod #3 - Unusual Front Garage

Cape Cod #4 - Charmer Near Beach

Cape Cod #5 - Nostalgic, Grandma's House?

Lace and Old Paint

Nostalgic Cape Cod

"Grandma, are you home?"

Number 5 in my San Pedro Cape Cod series,

this darling home has many features

of traditional Cape Cod architecture

with the exception of a chimney!

Traditional, Colonial-era Cape Cod houses had many of these features:

• Steep roof with side gables
• Small roof overhang
• 1 or 1½ stories
• Made of wood and covered in wide clapboard or shingles
• Large central chimney linked to fireplace in each room
• Symmetrical appearance with door in center
• Dormers for space, light, and ventilation
• Multi-paned, double-hung windows
• Shutters
• Formal, center-hall floor plan
• Hardwood floors
• Little exterior ornamentation

The first Cape Cod style homes were built by English colonists who came to America in the late 17th century. They modeled their homes after the half-timbered houses of England, but adapted the style to the stormy New England weather. Over the course of a few generations, a modest, one- to one-and-a-half-story house with wooden shutters emerged. Reverend Timothy Dwight, a president of Yale University, is credited with recognizing these houses as a class and coining the term "Cape Cod."

Much later, in the late 1800s and early 1900s, a renewed interest in America's past inspired a variety of Colonial Revival styles. Colonial Revival Cape Cod houses became especially popular during the 1930s. These small, economical houses were mass-produced in suburban developments across the United States.

Twentieth century Cape Cod houses often have dormers. The chimney is usually placed at one end instead of at the center. The shutters on modern Cape Cod houses are strictly decorative; they can't be closed during a storm.

from about.com

Links to:

Cape Cod #1

Cape Cod #2

Cape Cod #3

Cape Cod #4

LIVE LAUGH LOVE

CUTE

GARDEN

SIGN

Wildflowers Brighten the Day

After yesterday's gloomy photos the lovely wildflowers from my neighbor's yard help brighten the day!

SkyWatch Friday - June Gloom

June Gloom over San Pedro

June Gloom is a Southern California term for a weather pattern that results in overcast skies with cool temperatures during the late spring and early summer in the mornings and afternoons.

An offshore marine layer of stratus or stratocumulus clouds are persistent year-round off the coast. In June they move ashore and create the cloudy, cool effect on land.

Early mornings during this period are typically foggy, with an occasional drizzle. The fog turns to low clouds by late morning and early afternoon. Finally, by afternoon, solar heating is sufficient to evaporate the clouds. Often the overcast will evaporate ("burn off") quickly in inland areas, but will linger most of the day along the coast. (from wikipedia here)

June Gloom at the Entrance to the Port of LA

I hope your skies are sunny and bright! Every week over 350 websites from all over the World share their Sky images here.

Goose Poses for Photo

Grape Vine, Two Ways

Mini Adventure in a Mini Forest

After living here for almost a decade, and walking my dog Wilson around the neighborhood daily, I discovered a mini secret urban forest one and a half blocks from my home!

The Mini Secret Urban Forest Story

At the Bottom of the Half-Alley

We usually walk on the sidewalk, but this day we walked in the alleys for a change. As we walked down one alley, I was curious about what used to be a perpendicular alley planted with fruit trees and finished with stone work. The neighbor living next door noticed me and advised, "The figs are not ripe yet."

"Oh, I'm just taking some pictures," I said. I learned from him that the alley was so steep here that decades ago the city closed it off worried that someone might crash into the house at the bottom. It was neglected and became an eyesore. The neighbors asked the city to maintain the area, but that never happened. So this man got together with his neighbors and planted the little half-alley with fruit trees and vegetables, and flowers, and built a nice stone wall by hand. After thanking the older gentleman for the explanation, we walked up the next street and circled around to find the top of the half-alley.

At The Top of the Half-Alley

We've walked this alley before, it dead-ends about halfway down...or so I thought.

We walked over the grassy area and found a short cement pathway leading into the mini forest.

Look, a trail!

Fig Trees

Squash

Secret Gardens

Rooftops through the forest.

Follow me!

The trail ends back at the stone wall.

I waved to the gentleman as we walked by a second time!

The Lady's Chariot Awaits

In what did you ride on your 15th birthday?

Becoming A Lady

The Quinceañera, Quinceañero, or Quince años ("fifteen years" in English), in Latin American culture, is a coming of age ceremony held on a girl's fifteenth birthday. The term Quinceaños refers to the birthday of the celebrant, and the term Quinceañera refers to the celebrant herself. Like many other coming-of-age ceremonies, the Quinceaños is associated with the Quinceañera "becoming a lady."

(more from wikipedia here)

Cape Cod Charmer

Cape Cod #4

I'm always on the lookout for Cape Cod homes, that is the style of my own home. There are not many in San Pedro as it is an East Coast design, with its steep sloping roof, chimney with fireplace, dormers, multi-pane double hung windows, and shutters.

I think the color they chose to accent this house is charming, especially since this home is located very close to the beach. What do you think?

The first Cape Cod style homes were built by English colonists who came to America in the late 17th century. They modeled their homes after the half-timbered houses of England, but adapted the style to the stormy New England weather. Over the course of a few generations, a modest, one- to one-and-a-half-story house with wooden shutters emerged. Reverend Timothy Dwight, a president of Yale University, is credited with recognizing these houses as a class and coining the term "Cape Cod."

Links to:

Cape Cod #1

Cape Cod #2

Cape Cod #3

SkyWatch Friday - GIVEAWAY & Matilija in the Sky

My food blog, Taste With The Eyes, just turned 3 years old.

In appreciation, I am giving away a copy of Charlie Trotter's Vegetables, one of the most inspired vegetable cookbooks ever written. For a chance to win please stop by Taste With The Eyes and simply leave a comment on my "Blog is 3!" post here. And thank you for your continued support, it is a pleasure to get to know you!

Wishing you blue skies! Every week over 350 websites from all over the World share their Sky images here.

TaStE WiTh ThE EyEs is 3 Years Old!

Taste With The Eyes

where the image is meant to titillate and inspire the cook

Please stop by and help me celebrate!
Thanks for all your support!

Go Fish

Cabrillo Fishing Pier

Weenie Roast @ Cabrillo Beach

Romee's Weenie Roast

Cabrillo Beach Picnic Area

Ice in Paradise

Delicious dessert by our friend Sanam

of My Persian Kitchen blog.

YAY for Romee!

The gang who joined Romee Romero (center, white t-shirt) as she completed her amazing goal of walking every single block of our town down to the very end of the Cabrillo Fishing Pier. Her entire journey is documented on her marvelous blog San Pedro Block by Block.

Sweet Success! Congrats Romee!

Walking back to the weenie roast picnic that Romee hosted for her supporters.

Gosh, how we love our town!

Happy Birthday Sally!

Mini Sherry Almond Bundt Cakes

for your party!

recipe here

Love, Your Friend,

Lori Lynn

We're Headed To Cabrillo Beach...

...to join Romee on her walk out to the Fishing Pier!

I've been following Romee's blog since she began in August. Here's a link to her first post and her blog philosophy. Wilson and I walk the blocks of San Pedro almost every day. But we usually stick to certain areas like Averill Park, Paseo Del Mar, Friendship Park, Cabrillo Beach, South Shores, Royal Palms, 22nd Street Park, Harbor Avenue and the Port. Romee on the other hand had this brilliant idea to cover the entire town by foot. Every. Single. Block. And take awesome photos, document it daily and share lots of interesting information about our town. She even has a section on local restaurants called San Pedro Bite by Bite. If you are looking for an expert on San Pedro - a historian, an aficionado, you will find that in Romee and her blog! It was my pleasure (and Wilson's) to get to know her and join her on two of her walks! We'll be there on June 6 at noon at Cabrillo Beach when she completes her goal of covering all of San Pedro with a final walk down to the end of the Fishing Pier. Romee says, "I was telling someone about my plan to have the weenie roast at the beach to celebrate the end of SPBXB. I want to get everyone who comes to walk to the end of the pier with me as a group, but then this someone likened it to Forrest Gump’s cross country run. So if you want to get your Forrest on with me at the pier, eat some hot dogs and win some prizes then come on down to Cabrillo Beach Sunday June 6th at noon." (more here) Congrats Romee! You ROCK @ San Pedro Block by Block!

SkyWatch Friday - Overlooking Royal Palms State Beach

Tidepools. Swimming. Surfing. Diving. Picnic Area.

Promenade. Restrooms. Showers. Playground.

And a view of the beautiful blue Pacific!

Every week over 350 websites from all over the World share their Sky images here.

Table Setting

At our Sunken City Supper Club event here.