Olives

Olive Branch and Blossoms - Marin County  2018

Spraying Olive Tree - Marin County  2018

What a glorious profusion of olive blossoms! Too bad about that olive fruit fly, isn't it?

The last few years I attempted to spray with a growth regulator, with mixed success. This year we're trying a professional service to spray the tree in order to stop it from fruiting. We'll see how it works out.

Midtown Terrace Sightems

681 - San Francisco  2018

Stairs - San Francisco  2018

Midtown Terrace is a hilly San Francisco neighborhood located at the base of the famous Sutro Tower.

Someday I must do a Sutro Tower post.

Walking Uphill - San Francisco  2018

Hidden Garden Steps

Hidden Garden Steps - San Francisco 2018

Step Art - San Francisco  2018

Very nice. There are many staircases in San Francisco that connect one street below to the one above. This one has been enhanced with ceramic art. Wow! Located on Kirkham near 16th Avenue. (Parking can be a problem.)

Also, just a little bit strenuous!

Flowers - 2

Sweet Peas - Marin County  2018

Roses, Fence - Marin County  2018

Alas, during our recent trip to San Diego the drip irrigation system somehow didn't get turned on. Most of our plants look to be OK, but the sweet peas are now gone.

But we have this photo.

Flowers - 1

Flowers - Marin County  2018

Pansies - Marin County  2018

I don't know what the top flowers are called. I liked the way they were lit from the side, however.

The pansies were semi-volunteer flowers . . . holdovers from last year.

Monday White Fronted Geese Blogging

White Fronted Geese in Flight (Sacramento NWR) - Colusa County  2018

White Fronted Geese (Sacramento NWR) - Colusa County  2018

They were standing on the road directly in front of my car. I moved as slowly as I could, but eventually they took flight and slipped the surly bonds of earth.

I was surprised that my little Olympus E-M10 could maintain focus on the birds in the air!

Downspout

Downspout, Weed - San Rafael  2018

Downspout, Arrow - San Rafael  2018

Two iPhone photos of the same downspout, taken one week apart, illustrating a profound philosophical truth: that . . . um, that . . .

Fairfax Sightems

Dutch People - Fairfax  2018

Widowmaker - Fairfax  2018

"Go fast, Don't Die." My motto exactly.

[Blog note: at one point I created a separate label for "Sightems." But thinking about it, "Sightems" doesn't seem to be very useful. So no more.]

Invincible / Bugatti

Invincible - Monterey  2018

Bugatti - Monterey  2018

Top photo taken with an Olympus E-M10 equipped with an Olympus 75-300mm zoom lens. Pretty sharp! For the Bugatti photo I used an Olympus E-M1II with a 12-60mm Panasonic lens.

Highway One Sightems - 2

Grimes Ranch - Monterey County  2018

Sycamore - Monterey County  2018

I'm calling the tree a sycamore, but I don't think that's correct. Taken in Pfeiffer State Park.

Highway 1 Sightems - 1

Highway 1 - Monterey County  2018

Geese, Ocean - Monterey County  2018

Since my visit to Point Lobos was so short, I decided to head on down the coast on the famous Highway 1.

Point Lobos - 2

Leaves, Lichen - Point Lobos  2018

Stump - Point Lobos  2018

My Point Lobos visit this year was somewhat abbreviated - there's some sort of major work being done by construction crews at Weston Beach. One hopes that it's some sort of erosion control effort (no news to be found using Google).

Monday Seal Blogging

Seals, Bay - Monterey County  2018

Seal - Monterey County  2018

I walked over to this viewpoint, hoping to find some sea otters (as I had done last year), but no. A great quantity of seals, however.

Point Lobos - 1

Flowers, Ocean - Point Lobos  2018

Cypresses, Cliffs - Point Lobos  2018

Overcast. Very even light, so no dramatic fog/sunbeam effects.

Monterey Afternoon - 3

Pepper Tree, Courtyard - Monterey  2018

Lilies - Monterey  2018

I've been trying to print the top photo, with limited success. There's a certain look that the print should have, but so far . . .

Pepper Tree Prints - Marin County  2018

Monterey Afternoon - 2

Wooden Fence, White Wall - Monterey  2018

Door, Shovel - Monterey  2018

My second day. I took quite a long walk from my motel down to the bay, then around the plaza, in a vain attempt to burn off some calories. I can't exactly remember, but it's possible that I was thinking "black and white" when I took these two photos.

I used an Olympus E-M1II with a Panasonic Lumix 12-60mm zoom lens.

Monterey Afternoon - 1

Bougainvillea - Monterey  2018

Potted Plant,  Self Portrait - Monterey  2018

On the way back from L.A.: a two-night stay in Monterey at the Best Western on Munras. Interesting: the drive to Monterey via highway 101 takes almost as long as the drive to Fairfax via highway 5.

I posted a photo of the bougainvillea in 2014. It's grown!

Nojoqui Falls Park

Country Road - Santa Barbara County  2018

Oak (Nojoqui Park) - Santa  Barbara County  2018

Mike has stopped at this park before, but neglected to name it. He's postponed actually visiting the falls, however . . . saving it for later, perhaps.

L.A. Evening

Find Your Way Back Home - Los Angeles  2018

Movement - Los  Angeles  2018

Walking back to my motel after sunset, down Melrose, then south on Fairfax to Beverly.

Monday Cat Blogging

Sadie - Los Angeles  2018

Pat and Joe's new cat, Sadie. Very photogenic, but also a challenge for the camera's ability to capture her wide dynamic range.

I used a Canon G5X.

Also of note: while visiting, Joe and I always manage to avail ourselves of Bill Mundy's favorite drink, some Two-Buck Chuck red wine, appropriately chilled in the refrigerator.

Two Buck Chuck - Los Angeles  2018

Street Art: Melrose Avenue #63

Tetherball Art - Los Angeles  2018

Skateboarder Art - Los Angeles  2018

Interesting.

Bus Stop Benches

Shot at Acting - Los Angeles  2018

LA Story - Los Angeles  2018

On Beverly Boulevard and in front of the Farmers Market.

Melrose Avenue Sightems: Melrose Avenue # 62

House of Intuition - Los Angeles  2018

Butterfly Art, Palm Trees - Los Angeles  2018

"Your intuition led you here."

Alley Art: Melrose Avenue #61

Cheeseburger Special - Los Angeles  2018

Alley Art, Boxes - Los Angeles  2018

Yes, Melrose Avenue has its own special label (found on the right).

Melrose Avenue #1 was posted way back in 2009.