This was up Willow Creek. They thought they were on Nacimiento. Took them 3 hours to get out. This is a photo story. Photos by Rock Knocker.
Category: Living in the Wilderness
Mickey Muennig Book Launch at HML
Dear Friends!!!
We are thrilled to announce the book launch of Mickey Muennig: Dreams and Realizations for a Living Architecture!!
Saturday, July 5th, at the Henry Miller Library. 3 pm. This event is free.
This gorgeous book features the work and essays of Mickey. As many of you know, Mickey is a world-renowned proponent of organic architecture. He designed the Post Ranch Inn, reconstructed the Esalen baths, and designed numerous homes and other spaces here in Big Sur. This is a historic day for us, so again, please join us!
Bath with a view
Yes, that is a copper tub, and yes, this is my view from the tub, which is why I often take my bath before and during sunset.
Last night’s Blood Moon
Shot by the kiddo, Brendon Shave, at the Hermitage.
Here is another by Dan Danbom.
California’s Drought
I ran into a wonderful country lady at the Cookie Crock today (hi, Joan!) and we talked about water and the mountains and human interference. Her spring is doing great. No change in forever. My spring is great. No change in at least 65 years. Neither of us interfere. We catch what the mountains gives us, leave a little runoff for the birds, the critters, and the goddess, but don’t try to get it from deep below, or make it do what it wants not to do. As long as we let it run, it will always run.
All that as the precursor to a couple photos I took on Saturday, on the way to King City.
This was the reason I went to King City. It was at least 2 and 1/2 feet in diameter. This tree blocked Plaskett. Duke, of the USFS eventually dragged it out of the way. I love the drive to King City, although it is long and tough.
This is a creek-fed pond at Chalk Camp off So Coast Rd. I was shocked to see so much water in it.
And this is a creek that feeds into or becomes the Nacemiento River. We are in the third year of a drought, but there is water, in the mountains where no one interferes.
Nature’s Oddities
This unusual pine is on my property. Why I never saw it before, and how it got this way is one of the many mysteries of Mother Nature and Big Sur. That’s why I am here.
And here is a closer look.
Upcoming Week
While I completely LOVED the rain, and like everyone, I am praying for more, today was a nice change from the last four days. Sunny, gorgeous, summer-like – including looking down at fog on the coast. Our drought is the lead story on the CBS Evening News tonight, while the East and South are preparing for another horrific snow storm. Here, this week is expected to be warm and sunny. I’d like to get away from my computer, away from the Internet, and start working in a dreadfully, woefully neglected garden. So, if you don’t hear from me, check outside in the dirt!
And just for grins … Something I found on FB. 😉
BSK, checking in
Super Bowl Sunday, around noon, my systems went wacky. They are still not up to normal … even for up here in the wilderness, so I am writing from Cambria. While I have and had 4-5 bars, everything was connected, up and “running” – the phone didn’t ring, and people who tried to call were directed straight to voicemail, which then did not show up for 18 hours. I couldn’t get email, twitter, FB, OR TV. Wonderfully isolated from the world with my critters, a fire, and a book.
I have had a fire going constantly since Sunday morning – or was it Saturday? Time has not mattered. It stood still for me. I stayed warm and comfortable. This morning, heavy frost covered everything, causing the dogs to slip and slide as they escaped thru the front door. I had to go out in it to keep an eye on my blind dog as his now-absent scents could not guide him, but I stoked up the fire when we came back inside.
The photo below was taken Monday morning when SOME the clouds cleared for a few moments. Yes, snow at the higher elevations although I heard from a north-facing neighbor at 3000′ that they had snow. Not me.
If I don’t post tomorrow, know I am preparing for the next rounds of showers (varying reports on those) and keeping warm, puzzled by my systems.
Los Burros Mine, 1958
Gerald A. Doyle (front) and James B. Pauley at the Los Burros mine in southern Monterey County in the Los Padres National Forest. James B. Pauley and Gerald A. Doyle were prospecting the mine for gold. Photo: Peter Breinig, 3/4/58 (From The Herald Archives) While this is labeled as being The Los Burros Mine, it might be mislabeled and might actually be the Kinder Mine, which Doyle owned about this time. I know the current owner, so will try to verify. The Kinder Mine is in the Los Burros Mining District.
Per the current owner of the Kinder:
“Hi Kate…. No.. that is over on the Ancona on ______… Those two had a great thing going… Too bad they had to give it up…. Some of their ore was fantastic… ” Mining is no longer allowed in the Silver Peak Wilderness, EXCEPT for valid claims that existed BEFORE the creation of the wilderness and which have been kept up.
A quiet Sunday
It is a quiet Sunday morning, quite chilly. Would love to have a fire … Keep waiting for the rains. I am enjoying the peace and quiet of my particular spot on this planet. Each and every day I am astounded at my fortune in being able to sur-vive and thrive up here alone with my dogs and the rest of Mother Nature. It is not an easy life, but it is a blessed one!
One of my friends asked me yesterday why I wasn’t blogging about all the little fund-raisers going on for the victims of the Pfeiffer Fire. I had to think about it and ask myself if I was doing this, and if so, why? What I decided is that the fire took a lot out of all of us, including me. I was so very overwhelmed that I have been taking a bit of a break. I have been asked to promote this thing, or that, to notify sur-vivors of this meeting, this agency’s assistance, and what-not. The bigger this blog gets, the more people contact me with requests. So much, almost too much, after all. I rarely just post what I am asked to. I like to research it. Have I or someone I trust gone to this meeting, participated in this organization, etc. Who is this person, agency, organization that is making this request? Why are they wanting me to promote/post/support them, their agency, their organization? Will the majority of my readers be interested, or is this targeted for a very narrow sub-audience? There is a lot that goes on with some posts before they are made public.
The work that goes on behind the blog, so-to-speak, is usually not visible, but it does take time. It is what I need to do to make sure the information I post is accurate, truthful, helpful, and worthy of our time – mine and yours. Fortunately I retired in 2012, so have more time to devote to this entity we created. Some posts, like my Photo Fridays, I am able to arrange before hand, and the only work it requires is getting my Internet to cooperate enough to get the photos up loaded. Sometimes, even with all that time, there are other things I want or need to do. This morning it is coffee in bed in the quiet of my morning, cuddled up under my down comforter with one or more dogs by my side.
Have a great week! If you are attending the Fungus Face-off this coming Saturday at Ventana for the annual Foragers Festival to benefit our Health Center, look for me. I’ll be in my trademark hat!