Month: May 2010

Memorial Day

Remember, today, of all days, the members of our Armed Forces who have died in service to our country.

* Memorial Day was was first observed on May 30, 1868.
* Memorial Day was originally called “Decoration Day.”
* Memorial Day was originally created to honor Union soldiers who’d died while fighting in the Civil War. Because of this, southern states did not observe Memorial Day until after World War I, when the holiday was expanded to include soldiers from all wars.
* The red poppy is a traditional symbol of Memorial Day (many veterans wear them to commemorate the day).
* The poppy was inspired by (World War I-era) John McCrae poem “In Flanders Fields”:

In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.
We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved, and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.
Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.
* The “though poppies grow in Flanders fields” in the poem is thought by some to refer to the blood stains from shallow graves where soldiers were buried.
* In 1924, an artificial poppy factory was created in Pittsburgh, PA, and employed veterans who needed work.
* Memorial Day observance peaked in the first part of the 20th century, when aged Civil War veterans attended parades in towns across America.
* Memorial Day observances were at an all-time low in the 1960’s, then experienced a resurgence in the 1980’s.
* On the Thursday before Memorial Day, soldiers from the 3rd U.S. Infantry (The Old Guard) place small American flags at each of the more than 260,000 gravestones at Arlington National Cemetery. They patrol the cemetery 24 hours a day during the weekend to ensure that each flag remains standing.
* This tradition, called “Flags In”, has been in place since 1948.
* In 2004, Washington D.C. held its first Memorial Day parade in over 60 years. This coincided with the dedication of the National World War II Memorial.
* Memorial Day traditionally marks the start of summer, while Labor Day traditionally marks the end.
* “Memorial Day” did not become the holiday’s official name until 1967, when federal law declared it.
* In 1968, Memorial Day was moved from its traditional May 30 date to the last Monday in May in order to ensure a three-day weekend.
Happy Memorial Day to everyone…and thank you to all the troops and families that sacrifice so much for us.

The End of Winter …

Finally, the winter that would not quit is over. The last 3 days have been picture perfect, except the biting flies came out today. The grasses have turned brown, already, and the campers have filled the campgrounds, spilling into and up the hills. Campfires are seen throughout the hills, and guns are blasting, once again. My quiet time has ended, and I am grateful it lasted as long as it did.

I have changed my links from El Niño to 2010 Fire Season, as it will be here in no time with the hot weather and dry grass. It has already begun in So. Cal., but fortunately, the fires are being picked up rapidly and contained in short order.

The grass was green, 2 weeks ago!

Let’s have a safe fire season this year – for all of us. Namasté

The Opening of Tourist Season, Part II

I arrived early at Ventana, so I got to watch the chef meet with the staff and explain the night’s menu.

While I was waiting for the kitchen to open, I had a drink at the bar. I overheard a conversation (not an easy feat, as I am hard of hearing) down the bar. “Oh, you should contact Big Sur Kate,” she said to the new kid on the block. With all the social graces of the hermit that I am, I raised my hand. “I’m bigsurkate,” I said. And then, Pam, a local, joined me.

After a lovely conversation and exchange of ideas, including the new kid on the block, I ordered the pork tenderloin. It was divine! And the salad? Absolutely heaven!

I really need to learn how to photograph food, but frankly, I was so tickled I remembered to photograph it before I dug in. Usually, I am 1/2 way through the meal before I think of it!

This was the menu for the evening. It is often changing, so you may see different offerings when you visit.

I packed up 1/2 my dinner to take home for another night, said good-bye to my new friends, and wandered down to Nepenthe for an after dinner dessert drink.

There I meet a lovely couple from PG who had lived in John Soper’s house on Burns Creek for a year. They, too, read bigsurkate. So much for playing “tourist.”

Then, my home on the South Coast beckoned and I tackled the windy road home, behind more traffic than I had seen all winter!

It will probably be the last time I play tourist until summer is over, but one never knows!

Opening Day of Tourist Season

Today was what I refer to as “opening day of tourist season.” And so, I went out and played tourist today. THAT was an experience.

For those of you who have been following me for sometime, you know I write “off-the-cuff” so-to-speak. I do little editing, I just write what I am experiencing, with little to no thought. Sort of a stream of consciousness sort of thing. God knows my “paid” writing is staid, logical, and well-thought out. This is anything but. So tonight, I just tell what happened.

First, getting off the mountain is always a treat. The views,

the flowers, the beauty – another shot of one of my favorite wildflowers, the Calochortus albus, or fairy lantern:

First, I went to Ventana

where I met with author Janey Bennett (“The Pale Surface of Things”) with whom I have been corresponding about her latest book. I’ve read her first book twice, now. It is fantastic! It is about relationships, finding one’s self, and finding one’s place on this planet. (Rather simplistic overview, but I don’t want to give the story away, and that’s not what this post is about.) It takes place in Crete in current times, but weaves together the time of the Minoans and the resistance during WWII, into the fabric of today. It has won numerous awards, and is a great read.

Well, Janey is working on her second book, and it takes place during the Basin Fire. We talked about logistics, facts, and an ending that made me tear up. I can’t wait for it to be released. We met at Ventana, where the story will probably end.

After Ventana, I met friends in town, did the usual, and then headed back down the coast. Town was CROWDED!! (I wish I had thought to take a photo of all the traffic! I could not believe it!) I so wanted to get out of there! Well, Big Sur was crowded, too. Like I said, it was the opening day of tourist season.

So, I first stopped in the local pub. Nothing new there, and I did not stay long. Then I went back to Ventana.

Oh, the ambiance, the views,

the food, the people! I took photos of everything, including my incredible dinner!

(to be continued)

Memorial Day Weekend

Today it begins. Memorial Day weekend is typically the start of the summer tourist season here in Big Sur. The day is sunny and beautiful and the gorgeous weather is predicted to continue all weekend.

Just a reminder (to myself, as much as to others), be patient, be kind, and pay attention on the road. One of my friends used to say that some tourists took their common sense, put it in the dresser drawer, and locked it up for safe-keeping until they got home.

I’ll be out and about to see what is happening on our fair coast today, pretending to be a tourist. 😉 Enjoy this wonderful long weekend, where ever you are!

Weather Watch, 5/27/10

1:00 pm – This report from a friend in town: “It’s absolutely pouring rain here in Carmel at the moment.” And here, I can look out and see the storm approaching. *sigh* My friend said it rained for a solid 2 and 1/2 hours, some of that heavily

And here is the latest NexRad:

I woke to glorious, wonderful, welcome sunshine this morning, but NOAA is predicting this may end by this afternoon. The early morning discussion has this to say:

“AS OF 2:45 AM PDT THURSDAY…IT IS A MILD EARLY MORNING ACROSS THE DISTRICT AS CLOUDS INCREASE AHEAD OF AN APPROACHING SYSTEM…WITH TEMPERATURES MOSTLY IN THE 50S STILL. THE UPPER LEVEL LOW IS CURRENTLY OFF THE NORTHERN CALIFORNIA COAST AND IT IS PROGGED TO EDGE OVER THE COAST BY THIS AFTERNOON. RAIN FROM THIS SYSTEM IS FORECAST TO SPREAD FROM NORTH TO SOUTH THIS MORNING AND THROUGH THE DAY WITH 0.25-0.50 INCH POSSIBLE FROM THE SF PENINSULA NORTHWARD WITH HIGHER AMOUNTS IN THE HILLS. A QUARTER OF AN INCH OR LESS IS EXPECTED ELSEWHERE ACROSS THE CWA WITH SIGNIFICANTLY LESS FOR THE INLAND VALLEYS AND AREAS SOUTH OF MONTEREY.”
*I’m* “south of Monterey.” Maybe the rain will miss me this afternoon!

Big Sur River

I took a drive through the state park the other day …

and ambled along the river.

I was amazed at how clear the water was!

And the redwood forest lining her shores …

majestic, is one word to describe the lofty redwood.

Sculpted by Mother Nature

And I ended the day at “the Dog,” looking at one of Cheryl’s many contributions.

Weather Watch 5/26/10

Today is expected to be mostly dry, but tomorrow, more rain predicted.

From NOAA discussion: “THURSDAY WILL BE A SHOWERY DAY AS THE UPPER LOW MOVES OVER THE DISTRICT. WITH H5 TEMPS AS LOW AS -26C IT WILL BE UNSTABLE. …IT LOOKS LIKE THE GREATEST INSTABILITY WILL BE TO THE NORTH AND EAST OF THE DISTRICT SUCH AS LAKE COUNTY AND THE CENTRAL VALLEY.THEREFORE…HAVE DECIDED AGAINST ADDING THUNDER TO THE FORECAST. HOWEVER…IT WOULD NOT BE A SHOCK IF THERE IS A CLAP OF THUNDER OR SMALL HAIL ON THURSDAY.”

Weather Watch, 5/25/10

As of 6:00 pm, the drizzle that started at 1:30 pm, and was continuous, managed to accumulate 1/4 inch of rain in my gauge.

Per NOAA discussion:

“…UNSETTLED WEATHER CONTINUES WITH COOL AND WET CONDITIONS THROUGH THURSDAY…FRIDAY STARTS A DRYING TREND WITH A WARM-UP MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND…

.DISCUSSION…AS OF 8:40 AM PDT TUESDAY…THE WEATHER STORY FOR TODAY WILL BE DEVELOPING RAIN OVER MUCH OF THE CWA. LIGHT SHOWERS CONTINUE TO FILL IN OVER THE NORTH BAY. EXPECT LIGHT PRECIP TO CONTINUE THROUGH THE MORNING HOURS OVER THE N BAY AND GRADUALLY MOVE SOUTH OVER SF BAY. MORE AMPLE MOISTURE IS WAITING IN THE WINGS AS NOTED BY THE PRECIPITABLE WATER LEVELS OF OVER 1 INCH OFF THE COAST. A COLD FRONT OFF THE CA COAST…AS SEEN ON THE IR SATELLITE WILL MOVE TO THE COAST THIS AFTERNOON.

STEADIER RAINFALL WILL DIMINISH LATE THIS EVENING AS THE FRONT PUSHES THROUGH. ONLY SCATTERED SHOWERS ARE EXPECTED BEHIND THE FRONT TONIGHT AND WEDNESDAY.

NEXT UP WILL BE THE UPPER LOW CURRENTLY SPINNING ITS WHEELS OFF THE BC COAST AND ITS IMPACT ON THE CWA. THE INITIAL 12Z MODELS CONTINUE TO BRING THE UPPER LOW DOWN THE COAST AND INTO CA ON THURSDAY. CURRENT FORECAST LOOKS GOOD WITH LIKELY SHOWERS THURSDAY WITH CLEARING ON FRIDAY.”

The Coast …

… or how to fill a memory card from just one location. I could have stayed and photographed from here, on this day, all day.

#1

#2

#3

#4

And last one. (I took dozens, whittled it down to 8, then had battery issues, so got it down to 5.)
#5

Okay, now the fun part. Vote for your favorite. If you feel like it, tell me why it is your favorite in the comments below. If not, then your vote is completely anonymous, even to me!