Happy Rock Roses

With all of the rain we have had the Rock Roses are blooming their hearts out. They are drought tolerant plants but really put on a show when they get plenty of water.

Curry and Rice

This was dinner last night and it was GOOD!!

March Wildflowers

We took a ride to find wildflowers and with the help of the ranger at Santa Margarita Lake we found some beautiful ones.

 

We drove from the lake to Hwy 58 and then turned north on Shell Creek Road. I saw a sign that said we were about 4 miles east (I think) of Creston.

We were not disappointed! As an extra bonus, it was a spectacular weather day too.

We could only identify the California poppies and Lupins but there must have been eight or ten different varieties.

I need to get a wildflower book and try to look up some of these. It was a wonderful day.

Foggy Day at Pismo Beach

It was very foggy at Pismo Beach but some people can not accept that it is not a beach day. I don't claim to know any of these people...my family is smarter than this!

The sun tried hard to peek through but never really made it. There will be better days for the beach!

This was Not for Johnny!

I did some baking today and this time it was not for Johnny, the miniature horse. Hubby was happy. The carrot cake turned out great and I tried a new recipe for the frosting. It is a cooked frosting that has flour in it and I just had to give it a try. It turned out good...not so sweet and looks very much like whipped cream. It is easy to work with and holds up well on the cupcakes.

I bet I will use this frosting again!

Looking for Lunch

This little guy ran along the shore gathering his lunch. He was busy as could be and kept at it all the while I was watching him. I thought at some point he would get full but he never stopped and I walked on my way.

Sweet Patsy Girl

Patsy went to the vet yesterday. She was due for shots and a check up. We knew things were going downhill for her but the report was worse than we thought. She is completely blind and probably has something neurological going on. We have decided not to do all the tests and lab work it would take to find out what the problems really are. There most likely are no fixes

My folks adopted Patsy from the Humane Society in 2000 and they said she was 4 years old. So, that makes her fourteen. I know she has had a happy life here with us and the folks for the last ten years but I wonder what her first 4 years were like and why she ended up homeless. She has always been a sweet and loving little soul, seldom barked and dug lots of holes looking for gophers. She and Max periodically demolished the lawns in their quest. Occasionally they caught one but it was hard to tell which was worse, the gophers digging or the dogs digging after the gophers. It all ended up a big mess.

Now...Max is gone and soon Patsy will follow. She got no shots and no teeth cleaning. We will keep her pain free and loved as long as we can and she will let us know when the time is right. Sweet Patsy girl has been a good friend to us for lots of years and we love her dearly.  

Sorry...But They Made Me Do It

 

This makes me feel bad. It really does. BUT they were eating the roots of the blueberry plant. I found a big open run and I put two traps in it, one facing north and one facing south. I was thinking that which ever way he was going I would catch him. I never thought I would catch two!

Sad day for gophers...happy day for blueberry plants.

Weeds or Flowers

Are these bright yellow plants that show up in early spring weeds or flowers? The kids loved them and would pick the flowers and chew on the stems. I think they called it sour grass. Their brilliant yellow is  cheery and the blossoms so abundant.

These brave guys came up in the purple Lantana bed and that is OK with me...for now. However, when the Lantana gets it's new growth and is looking purple and plush after being nipped by frost, I just may consider these guys weeds. How fickle is that!

California Poppy

This California Poppy is absolutely the most beautiful shade of orange there is. I love it!

Umbrella Bird Feeder

 

I love to use things in ways that were not intended.

We feed a variety of birds and have the feeders up high in the sky to discourage our one cat that goes outside from trying for lunch. I came up with this idea as a way to have several feeders on this pole that was once a tetherball pole when the grand kids were young. I could never find the right replacement fabric for this teak umbrella so I just made it into something else.

This makes me smile and the birds are happy too.