Happy Thanksgiving!



Happy Thanksgiving!, originally uploaded by wind_dancer.

“Life without thankfulness is devoid of love and passion. Hope without thankfulness is lacking in fine perception. Faith without thankfulness lacks strength and fortitude. Every virtue divorced from thankfulness is maimed and limps along the spiritual road.”

– John Henry Jowett (1864-1923)

I may not have time to blog for the next few days, and in case that turns out to be true, I wanted to take this moment in time to wish all of you a blessed Thanksgiving Day. May it be filled with love, joy, friends and family. Take a few moments each day to fill your soul with the gratitude you truly feel. Blessed be.

Don Case Fundraiser

Don Case Benefit
BIG SUR BAKERY presents : A Benefit for Big Sur Elder, Veteran, and Basin Complex Survivor Don Case

SEPTEMBER 27, 2009
at THE HENRY MILLER LIBRARY
6 p.m.
$50.00 per person with all proceeds to benefit the Don Case houseraising

Food Inc posctcard back

A screening in the redwoods of the movie : FOOD INC.
with guest appearances and q&a by Writer/Producer Eric Sclosser and Director Robert Kenner

and a SLOW FOOD BUFFET coordinated by Big Sur Bakery and Slow Food Monterey

Tickets available here or by calling 667-2574.

Big Sur elder Don Case lost his home in it’s entirety during the Basin Complex Fire of 2008.

Many community members are looking to help Don raise his home once again if funds for basic building materials can be donated. Donations can be made here and are tax deductible through The Coast Property Owner’s Association’s 501c3 non-profit organization.

To buy tickets, or simply to donate to the cause through paypal, go here:

Don Case house raising

On the announcement page, I moved the fundraiser for Chuy and Gloria for the 19th at the Grange, after giving it a few days front page space, and I posted the announcement for the meeting regarding Ambulance Service for Big Sur there as well.
Also, don’t forget the Health Center’s 30th Anniversary BBQ today, Saturday, at the Grange. And Sunday is the Lucia BBQ to benefit the Big Sur Volunteer Fire Department. Hope your weekend is filled with love.

Community Gathering, Patrols, and fires

Late this afternoon, I left the heat of the mountain for a sweet community gathering sponsored by John Handy of TreeBones. He roasted two pigs, had a band, and everyone brought something. It was so good to see so many of my neighbors. Neighbors here live miles from each other. Gatherings are the only way we get to see each other, sometimes.

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Our host, John Handy …

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The band …

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the roasted pigs.

On the way home, I found one F&G ranger (he said there was another, whom I did not see), and one LPNF ranger patrolling Plaskett. So many hunters were up here, I suspect this was the last weekend of this portion of the season. I am just astounded, frankly, that Plaskett is getting all this attention. AND, I am extremely grateful. I cannot explain my relief at seeing firefighters and rangers making this effort this time of the year. Just a presence helps to discourage so much of the behavior I’ve been watching build over the last few years. Thank you, guys.

When I got home, I found a voice mail from Kelly O’Brien, reporter from KUSP who lives in Jamesburg, of a wildland fire that broke out in Carmel Valley, 6 miles up Robinson Canyon Rd. from CV Rd. She left the message at 5:45 pm, and I did not pick it up until 7:30 pm. The CHP opened Robinson Canyon Rd. back up (it had been closed for 2 hours) at 8:11 pm this evening, so that probably indicates this fire is controlled.

There were a number of small fires that started in various places on the central coast, including one on Apple Pie Ridge in Big Sur. So far, they have all been picked up fast, including the local one.

Given the temps and the low humidity, our firefighters are doing an incredible job. Our thanks can never be enough.

BSVFB Muster Photos

I’m sitting in cool, wonderful Morro Bay, where not only is it cool, but the internet is SOO much faster. I remembered I owed you some muster photos, so without further ado … (no comments, or names, just photos. Okay, a few silly comments.)
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Okay, so the internet is only a little faster, and I don’t have time to load a whole bunch, so a few more now, and a few more later.
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And no editing on any of these. What you see is what you get. Some of us have to work for a living.
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We all know this guy, don’t we? He’s the guy behind our new fire chief.
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And here’s to the woman behind our retiring chief (not the one above, he’s got another fabulous woman behind him!)
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There she is, on the left.
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And food. Did I mention the food? Lots and lots of food.
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The man of the hour — giving an interview.
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That’s the line for the food. A long, l-o-n-g line. There were lots of us.
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And what’s a muster, without some mustering?
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Go to it, boys!!

I’ve got lots more photos, but I rarely seem to get around to Round 2. There are always other things to report, other photos to take. But I’ll try. No promises, but I’ll try.
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A group shot I meant to include. Photographers shooting photographers, again.
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Those of you who know me, know I am a hat lady. I cannot resist a good hat, or a photo of it.
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And red hats are my favorites!

I shot in both jpg and raw. Those close-ups of people in jpg were too saturated, and the skin tones not right, so I posted the raw ones. Of groups or the muster, the saturation was just about right, so I used the jpg ones. You can tell the differences. As I said, these are straight out of the camera, I didn’t have time for editing, and one can tell. I am always learning.

Honoring & Celebrating

Such a sweet gathering yesterday of north and south to honor and celebrate the life of Paul Vieregge. Seven years ago, I remember attending he and Penny’s 50th wedding anniversary at the same spot. I have lots of photos, and hope to upload some at some point to this post, but I really have a tremendous amount of work over the next few days, PLUS my son is down from Oregon, staying in Monterey for a few days, so I need to get up there to see him. Few “dull” moments in my world right now.
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And two of my most favorite ladies: Penny & Peggy.
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Josh Vieregge
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Penny Vieregge
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Peter Harding
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Paul’s Friends
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Dualing cameras. Okay, I give. His is bigger than mine!
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Kirk Gafill

Full Moon & Girlfriends

I continue to believe and experience the Magic that is Big Sur.

In 1989, I turned 40 down here on the South Coast of Big Sur. That night, walking home from work in Dogpatch, I had one of my incredibly magical moments. The Full Moon had just risen over the Santa Lucia Mountains. The sun was getting ready to set. One was directly in front of me, the other, directly behind. I spun to witness both, and said, “Okay. I get it. I’ll stay.” I had just arrived on the South Coast, and knew at that moment that it was my home.

Tonight, I drove home on the Coast Road, and was led by the Full Moon. I was coming from my 60th birthday party with my incredible group of girlfriends. I had turned 60 on Santorini in Greece, but the girlfriends would not let it go by without honoring this milestone, here, in Big Sur, my home.

Another magical moment in Big Sur. Thank you ladies. You are all so special in my life.

*Poppies, close-up

*Poppies, close-up, originally uploaded by wind_dancer.

This is dedicated to long-time Big Sur local, Paul Vieregge, who passed over yesterday at home at the age of 87. Blessings to you, Paul, from the beloved hills of home. My heart goes out to Penny and Josh.

Missing Man Formation

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From Jim’s memorial yesterday. Such a moving experience. There are  six I will be uploading as the internet connection allows. I will be uploading them in sequence, and directly to the blog, so that Cheryl, the girlfriends, Jim’s kids, and the pilots can download these, if they choose.

Sunday Brunch at Deetjen’s

 

Sunday Brunch at Deetjen’s, originally uploaded by wind_dancer.

Wonderful day, yesterday, out and about in Big Sur. Still a chance of rain today, but it is definitely feeling as if we are shed of winter, and spring is here. Got a few shots of some of the native wildflowers that are showing their colors I will upload when I can. I love the way the light spotlights some of the flowers. Great brunch with a couple of great friends!

Doris informs me that Caroline Provost created this wonderful arrangement!

Jim’s Moon

Tonight, as I drove up Plaskett, the Moon was big and fat. It shed an orange glow that was just magic as it rose over the Big Sur mountains of home. This was Jim’s Moon.

When I got to my gate today, just before noon, I got a phone call from a girlfriend. One of the girlfriends I was meeting today in town watched her 67 year-old partner die in their bed this morning, of an apparent heart attack, and obviously, wouldn’t be meeting me. That was Jim. Tonight, Jim shined and smiled on me from the full moon over Plaskett.

I wrote and re-wrote this blog in my head on the way home tonight, and did not like anything I came up with. Then I saw Jim’s Moon, and it all became clear.

Jim was a pilot. He flew the skies in helicopters…in Viet Nam, in Air Shows, on the Big Sur Coast, and throughout this nation. My girlfriend went with him on one cross-country trip. He loved the skies. He loved my girlfriend.

I bought the ex a helicopter trip over the Big Sur Coast for his 65th birthday with Jim. It was an expensive birthday present for an ex, but he deserved it, and I knew he would love Jim. Both served in Viet Nam. The ex had been in several helicopter crashes in Viet Nam, and held a special reverence for these warriors. He loved Jim.

Jim left us today. He left his partner, my girlfriend. He left his kids, his family, and so many friends. But he left us with our memories, his gifts, his love. 

And tonight, Jim’s Moon shone down on us from the skies. Reminding us of the gift that is life.

Added latter: article about Jim in the March 12th Herald here: http://www.montereyherald.com/local/ci_11894208?nclick_check=1