Signs

How many signs can we really read and pay attention to at once?

Our oldest grandson recently got his drivers license. His process has made me more aware of  how complex the activity of driving really is. There are so many things to process as we drive down the road. Look at all the signs we see in any given glance.  Plus, now we have the distraction of cell phones.

I just got a renewal notice for my drivers license... new picture, eye test and 31 bucks. Even after all these years just going to the DMV still makes me nervous.

Eyes on the road and hands on the wheel!

BFF's

Callie and Lunkpin (Lummy) taking a nap and they brought the rattie with them. How cute!!

Best Friends Forever. 

Callie Up High

Somehow at this time in our life we have ended up with several cats. Now, we didn't plan it...it just happened. They all needed homes. So, I have been able to study cat personalities. They are all so different, just like us people, I guess! Katie. the black one, insists on going outside. I've told her all about the coyotes, bears and mountain lions out there. Not to even mention the raccoons and skunks! But she insists...and so we reluctantly let her go sometimes. Lumpkin is a scaredy cat, Patches is a cuddle bug and Callie, the calico, is the cat that likes to be up high!

This cat is wacky!!! She find the most unlikely places to go. I've been collecting pictures of her.

" I saw a bug flying around up here somewhere...don't make me get down, please!"

"Ummmmm...I wonder what's in the attic?"

"Whoa...they are moving!"

"I'm as high as the bird feeder out there! I think I could catch one."

"How could I get up there!!!"

"There must be a toothbrush in here somewhere."

"One foot in front of the other. Oh..."

"Nice View."

"It's cozy up here."

"Nap time."

There's more folks... but you get the idea!

Rewards

After working the afternoon at the Butterfly grove, we decided to treat ourselves to dinner at our new favorite Thai restaurant. What a great reward.

And when we came out this was what we saw! It was just an amazing evening after a beautiful afternoon in the grove.

Universal Message

I was scrolling through my pictures... and look at the moon shot I found. I don't remember seeing it before! It must be a special message of love from the universe just for us.

Pismo Monarch Butterfly Grove

From October through February we have Monarch Butterflies wintering in the Pismo Monarch Butterfly Grove. The Western Monarchs leave their summer spots in the Northwest part of the US and travel South when the days start getting shorter. They arrive here in October and this generation spends about five months just hanging around. As the days get longer and warmer they mate and start to fly North.

I have become a volunteer and spent time in the trailer that sells postcards and books about the Monarchs. It's a joy being down in the Grove and I meet so many people from all over the US and beyond.

This female is laying eggs on the Milkweed plant that we have on display.  Usually the Monarchs start heading North to the Central Valley or Sierra Foothills before they would find Milkweed to start laying eggs. This is the first of the 4 or 5 generations that make the trip North starting around the end of February to Washington, Oregon and sometimes into Southwestern Canada.

These insects offer a wonderful winter delight for us to observe and enjoy. The Grove is a happy and joyful place, with lots of smiles and laughter. I love to be there!

Thank you Monarchs!

Up, Up and Away

The Delta IV Heavy Rocket was launched yesterday. We didn't hear a thing but saw the trail in the sky about four minutes into the flight. Vandenberg Air Force Base is about 50 miles south of us and we had thought the noise would remind us to look for it just after 1 PM.

Back in the 60's when they first started launching Atlas rockets from Vandenberg, Hubby was in The Air Force and was one of the photographers on site to record it. The whole world stopped and was glued to the TV. It was a major news event! Hours and hours of pre-launch programing went on. They filmed the Command Center and we could listen to all the conversations and then the count down... 10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1... we have lift off!

Now we are lucky if they interrupt the day time soaps for a minute or so.

It still sends shivers up my spine and is an awesome sight!

P.S.         January 23
While I was working in the Butterfly trailer yesterday, I talked with a young man from Vandenberg AFB who worked on this rocket. I asked him why it was so quiet. His response was that they have engineered them that way unlike the Atlas and Titans.