The Great Smoke Out 2015

Looking Out Over South Lake Monday August 24, 2015

For the first time ever, we had to abandon a reconnaissance trip to the Eastern Sierra due to fire…Fire and smoke cover the Sierra this August, but it was the Rough Fire in Sequoia National Fire that got the best of us.
Here is what the area looked like last year…

This year…

As of  August 29th, the fire is 25% contained. 

Click here for current information

Serenity Now..Ojai California

Remember the Jerry Seinfeld episode with George's father wanting…"Serenity now!". Well I think we found a little of it in Ojai this June...Wanting to explore more of California, Dave and I picked on Ojai as our anniversary destination. I had relatives who lived there back in the 1960's and wanted to see what had changed and what had stayed the same. So, we found a beautiful cottage by a river and surrounded by the 40 acre Taft garden as our home for a week. Here goes a look at the beautiful gardens we got to walk in everyday of our stay..it's a long drive into the property but once there, you feel a total sense of peace…hopefully El Nino will fill the river up again….

My favorite succulent blossom

Leukadrendron, a native of Australia

Bottle Trees from Australia

Pathway lined with trees and succulents

Evening shot of palms

Squirrels busy as work putting acorns in these trees!

huge trumpet vine blossom

Art gallery item in downtown Ojai

Ojai Farmers' Market on Saturday…wonderful small town atmosphere

A day in Ventura

 Our anniversary cards and bouquet.

The famous downtown arcade

Local pottery maker has designed these gorgeous tiles all around town…
you can visit their workshop and purchase tiles

To see photos of the cottage, click the link below

River Cliff Bungalow