Paths from Paseo Del Campo to Malaga Cove Plaza

At the western edge of Palos Verdes Golf Course, is a small wilderness area with many paths for hiking or biking. This path started at the edge of the golf course and leads to a creek and then up the hill. Now through March, if we get a bit more rain, is the only time of year that the grass is green.

The Lookout at Bluff Cove (Skywatch Friday)

Last Saturday afternoon, after a morning of rain, before an amazing sunset.

See all the beautiful skies around the world at Skywatch Friday.

Birds on the Rocks - Few / Many (2 things challenge)

Off the tip of Portugese Point (posted earlier this month), a few rocks are visible above the water. They looked quite pretty from the cliffs, with the waves coming up and washing over them ... and then I noticed the many pelicans and seagulls ... a real WOW moment.

Join the 2 Things Challenge hosted by DC Confidential.

The credit for the title goes to Babooshka and her recent rocky shore post of

Ramsey on the Rocks.

'B' is for Ballet ... (abc Wednesday)

... on land, at the Dance School on Silver Spur Blvd.

... on water, as seen from Haggerty's lookout point.
Join ABC Wednesday Round 4!

Just a bit of color...

... planted at the entrance to our townhome complex.
Addendum: The flower is a Field or Corn poppy (Papaver rhoeas).

John Updike (March 18, 1932 – January 27, 2009)
I read Updike's early Rabbit novels while in college. They were way beyond my maturity level or full understanding at the time, but I still loved them. I eventually read the other two, with the final being Rabbit at Rest. RIP, Mr. Updike.

Sailing in the sky - Llano, CA

That's our son!
On Saturday, we left the rainy LA basin and headed around those mountains to the desert at Pearblossom Valley where our son has been taking sailplane lessons, off and on, for about two years. We were greeted with clear, sunny skies and clear views that made for fun soaring even without much lift. The sailplane school has recently reopened as the Southern California Soaring Academy and offers sightseeing rides ... so for all you locals, come out and give it a try.

My husband, a veteran sailplane pilot, got to try out his skills also.

Local / International (2 things challenge)

House designed by Richard J. Neutra in "domesticated version of International Style of the late 1930s" found locally.
Beckstrand House, 1940 (Architectual Guidebook to LA, Palos Verdes North, entry 23)
Richard J. Neutra
1400 Via Monte Mar, Palos Verdes Estates
The house is very difficult to see as the foliage covers most of the view of the house from all accessible sides. Hopefully the spectacular view of the coastline and ocean from the house can still be seen. The architecture seems dated now but it was extremely innovative for its time and very unusual for Palos Verdes with mostly Spanish or Mediterranian style buildings.


Join the 2 Things Challenge hosted by DC Confidential.

Ready for Hibernation

The bear is ready for the winter ... I just wish I wasn't. So I've started to work harder on that New Year's resolution of "more fit, less fat".

The bear is an advertisement for a Candy/Chocolates store in Huntington Beach on Main Street. He sure is noticable, so I bet he draws customers to the store.

Water Tower (Sky Watch Friday)

Fountain at Night

I've posted the new Port of Los Angeles fountain before,

but it's a place that's hard not to photograph again and again.

'A' is for Art (abc Wednesday)

The wall painting of the Malaga Cove cliffs by Paul Roberts has adorned this doctor's office for many years. Dr. Yang is the third GP who has practiced here and has kept the warm, old-fashioned decor.

Join ABC Wednesday Round 4!

New Clock Tower in PV

New times are upon us in the US, and whatever our politics, it is time to celebrate this momentous occasion - the inauguration of our first African American president.

Soka University in Orange County

"What our world most requires now is the kind of education that fosters love for humankind, that develops character – that provides an intellectual basis for the realization of peace and empowers learners to contribute to and improve society." Daisaku Ikeda, Founder, SUA

Paper / Plastic (2 things challenge)

The recycling center on Crenshaw Blvd. sorts lots of paper and plastic. It is adjacent to an old landfill that's being converted for future use as a "green space" and is across from Botanical Garden that is already on a former landfill site.

From the 1964 Day Tours book: "An abandoned quarry is used for a dump, euphemistically called a land-fill, for it will be turned into a park when filled."

Join the 2 Things Challenge hosted by D.C. Confidential.

Alleyway

The back of the building at Malaga Cove Plaza, remineded me of photos I've seen of Irish streets with windows low by the street.

The posting selection process still puzzles me - I intended to post a lovely 1937 apartment building ... but right now this photo has the most pull. I think the experience is somewhat like that of a writer editing a work - selecting what remains is often not logical.

In the Miraleste Library Book Club, we read Kay Ryan's poetry for the January meeting. Here is her poem that describes the essence of editing... or is there even more meaning there?

Chemistry
Words especially
are subject to
the chemistry
of death: it is
an acid bath
which dissolves
or doubles
their strength.
Sentiments
which pleased
drift down
as sediment;
iron trees
grow from filament.

— Kay Ryan, 1997, Elephant Rocks: Poems

Starlings in the Sky (Sky Watch Friday)

The birds were perched on the trees by Rancho Palos Verdes City Hall.

See some fabulous skies at SKY WATCH FRIDAY.

Ralph's Supermarket, 2001

The supermarket is in the city of Santa Monica, about 15 miles north of PV. The building's colors were just wonderful and I snapped the picture you see below from the car. Later, I went back and took more photos.
The building also caught the eye of the authors of An Architectual Guidebook to Los Angeles. "Ralph's Supermarket, 2001. Olympic at Cloverfield. ... impression ... of Charles Moore. ... the colors, ... suggest Ricardo Legoretta. But the provenance is local. Not great architecture, but it doesn't take itself seriously."

'Z' is for fuZZy (abc Wednesday)

The entry for ABC Wednesday is a stretch, but I could not think of any other Z's in PV. And I love 'Z' as that's the letter of my last name.
The spot for this photo is at Portuguese Point looking at the Abalone Cove. Even Amy, our Golden, enjoyed the view, although it's most likely a bird that caught her attention. The ice plant with flower is not native to this area, and is considered invasive as it spreads and overtakes the native plants.

I am very late posting this today, somehow the start of the year has been overwhelmingly busy. And now, I'm off to the gym, so as to keep at least one of the New Year's resolutions. How are you doing on keeping your 2009 resolutions?

Join ABC Wednesday - Round3 here. Or click on the side bar for this week's anthology. Thank you, Mrs. Nesbitt and ABC Wednesday team.

Shadowplay ... at Work

Full Moon & Waning Sunlight

From Saturday night at a turnout on the winding PV Drive East, with the side mirror reflecting the sunset over the Pacific.

Partial / Whole (2 things challenge) - Pt. Vicente Lighthouse

"The Point Vicente Lighthouse is located at 31550 Palos Verdes Drive, West in Rancho Palos Verdes, California. [MAP] The grounds and lighthouse are normally closed to the public. However, the tower and a small museum are open the second Saturday of month between the hours of 10:00 AM and 3:00 PM."

Join the 2 Things Challenge hosted by D.C. Confidential.

Reflecting at RAT Beach

Sunset at RAT (Right After Torrance) beach at the edge of Palos Verdes Estates, looking toward Torrance.This 1923 photo of the Palos Verdes Headlands points in the same direction. Note the "Hermits Castle" and another building perched at the base of the cliffs. (Courtesy of Palos Verdes Library Archives).

"The Peninsula actually belongs to the Channel Islands which were formed over 10 million years ago under the shallow seas of the California coast. An uplift caused the submerged area to become an island, terraced fromt he ocean waves. For millions of years it was a sister island to Santa Catalina, slowly rising from the sea. As the land continued to rise, it formed a peninsula, connecting the South Bay area to Los Angeles. Is also created a lake in the valley behind the headlands." - from the magazine "Palos Verdes Historic Publication", Daniel L. Teckenoff - Publisher, Carman Marinella - Historical Consultant, 1993.

Confused or Hopeful?

The pink hibiscus bush just keeps on blooming even with the chilly nights. But the common area pool is awaiting summer days.

The photo was taken on 'vibrant' color setting, without any additional post processing adjustements.

Invitation or Prohibition?

Do signs like this warn people away or give them ideas?

We walked along Portuguese Point which is thankfully the Abalone Cove Ecological Preserve. The view is of Inspiration Pt and the horseshoe shaped Protuguese Cove.

The surveyer's mark from 1936 is at the South-East corner of Portuguese Point.

'Y' is for Yellow-Billed California(?) Gull

... and don't forget to look BOTH ways before crossing.

Join ABC Wednesday - Round3 here. Or click on the side bar for this week's anthology. Thank you, Mrs. Nesbitt and ABC Wednesday team.

Surfing happens...

... even if the water is chilly and the waves are small. These surfers are on the north side of Will Rogers State Beach. Click here for a map of Los Angeles County beaches.

Illumination at the Library

Today was back to work & it is dark when I head home. But I enjoy seeing the lights at the PV Main Library on the last stretch of my drive.

I did add the color to the first photo, to make it look as interesting as the lights do when seen in person.

Hope your week is bright & cheery.

Priceless View for Free

Early winter is usually the time when the haze disappears from the Southern California coast, making possible the lovely, clear views across the Santa Monica Bay. This was taken on Sunday afternoon about 3:30 pm from the back parking lot of the Rancho Palos Verdes City Hall and the access point to a section of Point Vicente Park.

Although it is crowded with expensive homes, Palos Verdes coastline also has many locations where everyone can enjoy the views and get to the beach or cliffs. The St. Paul's Lutheran church in the foreground is one I posted last June. The streets are Hawthorne Blvd. ending at PV Drive West. Across the bay are the Santa Monica Mts and I think the peak in the back is part of the Santa Susana Mts.

New / Hope (2 Things Challenge)

The footprints are new and seeing them always gives me a hopeful feeling.
Taken at south side of Portuguese Bend bay, down from the Old Ocean Trails access point. It's one of the few sandy beaches at PV where dogs are allowed.
The post was inspired by Bibi of "A Yankee in Belgrade".

Join the 2 Things Challenge hosted by D.C. Confidential.

Sunset from RAT Beach (Sky Watch Friday)

Looking out over Pacific Ocean and Santa Monica Bay, a few days ago. Today, the whole of LA basin is foggy or overcast.

See some fabulous skies at SKY WATCH FRIDAY.

Theme Day: 2008 Favorite Photo

Point Vicente lighthouse is located at the most southwest corner of the Palos Verdes Peninsula. In the background, 26 miles away, is Catalina Island.

I previously posted this in May and selected it for CDP Theme Day since it is the quintessential Palos Verdes view.

Today is City Daily Photo's Theme Day.
Click here to view thumbnails for all participants