Month: June 2009

Calling For Stories — Where were you 6/21/08??!!

Many of us will never forget where we were on June 21, 2008, watching the incredible lightning that literally sparked what was originally the Gallery Fire, morphed into the devastating Basin Fire.

In commemoration of this life-changing event, I invite everyone to tell the story of that day, or a part of it, or the next day, or what you remember, or the year since it occurred, or what it has meant for you. You don’t have to live in Big Sur, but if you follow this blog, then your heart is here, and you were here in spirit when you first heard the news. You can either leave it in the comment section for this post, or send me a private email at kwnovoa@mac.com
I will keep it anonymous, use an aka, or not publish at all, whatever you choose.

All this week, until the anniversary of the fire, I will leave this post up at the top, so that we can all share what that day and this year has meant. Please join me in sharing your experience, publicly or privately.
Thank you, bigsurkate.

Still adding a few posts this week, immediately below this one, so scroll down to see Paul’s Memorial and other photos to be added.

State Park Rally next Sunday

Save Our State Parks
Rally Party in Big Sur
June 21 Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park

Join us Sunday June 21 beginning at 2 pm for great speeches, readings and the fabulously wonderful singing of Alisa Fineman, the much beloved recording artist. She is not to be missed !
We need volunteers and sponsors.
If you want to help please reply to:
CalParksAdvocacy@PelicanNetwork.net
or call Jack at 831 667 2025

You are invited to participate. Bring the whole family – Food will be available. The event is free. But there is a per-car fee for entering the park – that buys an all day pass for all state parks on the coast from Point Lobos State Reserve to Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park.

ED NOTE: THIS ALSO MARKS THE DATE THE GALLERY/BASIN FIRE STARTED ONE YEAR AGO. GREAT EXCUSE FOR A PARTY!

Nature’s Garden

BTW, it is RAINING up here on Saturday morning. Not pouring, just a nice soft, gentle drizzle, but rain, none-the-less.

It matters not how many times I come down my road, it is an ever-changing exquisiteness. This is some of the latest.
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And here are a couple shots of Pacific Valley Center’s garden. I love the rocks!
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Photo Shoot

Not a good day for photos, but I’ll be trying anyway, and if any success, will post here over the weekend. Have a great weekend, everyone.

And don’t forget State Park Day, on June 20th. Support your local and/or favorite State Park!

State Park & the Budget

I just got this email from a friend, and thought I should post this here.

“Hi Kate,
I was just listening to calchannel.com and the Budget Conference Session. The State Parks was on the agenda and a decision has not been made. LAO is all in favor of closing parks but there was quite a lot of support from the Assembly Members to not close all state parks. Would you be so kind as to put the word out there that they have not made a decision yet, but to get folks to write to the Assembly Members, Legislative Representatives and to the Governor to not close all state parks? Some of the ideas that were thrown around was to take some funding from Off Highway Vehicle Parks that are funded through three different sources. Another idea from Assembly Member Leno was to take $9.00 from DMV fees to offset costs (like Laird wanted to do). Anyway, I wrote and sent letters to Sen. Maldonado, Assembly Member Monning and yes, even the Governor.

This little community would be devastated if all parks on the coast closed.”

It would a be a nice time for all of us to do the same, and write to our legislature and let them know what we think.

A spate of winter-like weather

Normally, in June, I can look down on the fog. Not the last few days. Low clouds have been hanging over me as if it were winter. I want to put my comforter back on the bed, but alas, I packed it away for the summer. Of course, this will help delay fire season, so it is all good.

I have been trying to upload a photo all morning, and no luck. I give up.
New Shelf

Well, finally. Not one I would normally post, but …
This is my new storage shelf, 2 ft. deep. Soon I will have baskets, old trunks, and old suitcases to store stuff in up there. I’ll take another, once I have it organized as I want.

That’s my comforter up in the corner, out of reach, naturally. I had a tall person place it up there, and now need a ladder or another really tall person to get it down!! Any real tall volunteers? Just kidding. I’ll survive.

Now that I can post photos again, I just can’t stop.
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Maybe I should have replaced the lavender before I shot this? And dusted.

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Can you tell I am a knick knack collector?? It’s a addiction. I need an intervention.

Two Minor Fires — One Big Sur, one Santa Barbara

As of 8:30 pm last night, LPNF WildCAD is reporting this as 1/4 acre in heavy brush between Palo Colorado and Old Coast Rd. Nothing being reported this morning, 6/9, which is a good thing.

The second was about a mile from the Gaviota rest stop in Santa Barbara. As of 11 pm, Wildfire is reporting this one is holding at 15 acres.

I finally get around to posting new photos, and I am preempted by fires. Just look below.

JOY!!

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And here’s my fire clearance:

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And here is that trimmed up Oak tree I wrote about. Can you tell what came today??

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Then I looked around my cottage. And guess what I found?

This:
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My mom gave me the clown. Rose bought us all the little donkeys to remind us of the donkey trip up the side of the mountain.

I also found this:
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and this:
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So, does this satisfy our photography fix for a while?? Not mine. It’s just a start.

I’ve got to work, so the garden photos will come when they do.

State Budget & Legislator’s pay

Interesting article in the Sacramento Bee this am regarding what and how we pay our legislators. Currently, legislators make $116,208 per year. They also make $35,000 annually in tax-free per diem for living expenses, plus use of a leased vehicle, with gasoline and maintenance.

It is noted that while the state can cut their salaries, it can not do so in the middle of their terms. So a proposed 18% cut is not constitutional. The earliest cuts could be made is December 2010. The pay commission is exploring whether it can cut their per diem, car allowances, or other benefits in the middle of their terms.

Despite this, three legislators immediately cut their salaries by the 18 percent approved by the pay commission – Assemblyman Mike Eng, D-Monterey Park; Sen. Abel Maldonado, R-Santa Maria; and Sen. Alan Lowenthal, D-Long Beach.
If you want to express your appreciation to Sen. Maldonado, his website is:
click here.

Abel Maldonado represents Monterey County. Only three are doing the right thing. Only three.

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.