When your husband insists on taking you to a Hole in the Wall...

It was Thor's birthday so he got to choose where we went for the day:

Hole in the Wall.

A great road trip out through the Eastern Mojave National Preserve. I've been to a few of the places we drove to/through that day, but never out to Hole in the Wall. It's a favourite of the kids, but somehow, each time Thor and the kids went out I had to work or was otherwise occupied. The drive was fabulous, the day was warm (YES!) and we headed out through 29 Palms, Kelso Junction, Old Route 66, and on to Hole in the Wall.

Hole in the Wall is beautiful and interesting HUGE rock formations made from volcanic activity. The colours are amazing!
According to the USGS Geology Parks Guide:

"Hidden Violence!

Visitors to Mojave National Preserve are fascinated by the brightly colored, fantastically sculpted rocks at Hole in the Wall. Little do they know that these intricate forms hold the key to a devastating and violent episode in Mojave's geological past.

About 18.5 million years ago, a powerful volcanic eruption blasted outward from the nearby Woods Mountains. Propelled by the force of rapidly rising and expanding gasses, a ground-hugging cloud of ash and rock fragments spread out at near super-sonic speeds across the countryside. Some of the rocks thrown out by the blast are 14-20 meters (60 feet) across - the largest ever documented!

Hot, suffocating ash buried every living thing in the path of the blast. An area of over 600 km² was covered with ash and rock fragments so hot that they welded together after they reached the ground. The toasted and fossilized remains of birds, mammals, and plants lie entombed beneath the volcanic tuff that forms the colorful cliffs of Hole in the Wall.

Records of many more catastrophic volcanic blasts can be seen as you drive through the Preserve."

So the moral of the story here is: If your hubby decides to take you out on his birthday and suggest you go to a Hole in the Wall, GO!

More photos to follow tomorrow.

Oh What Do You Do In The Summertime...

When all the world is green? Do you fish in a stream, or lazily dream on the banks as the clouds go by?
Do you swim in a pool to keep yourself cool, or swing in a tree up high?

Do you march in parades or drink lemonades, or count all the stars in the sky?
Oh what do you do in the summer time, when all the world is hot? Do you drive with Grampa, pet a bear with big claws? or pretend to be Dan'l Boone? Do you you to the park before it gets dark and see the log cabin there? Do you eat M&Ms, and make cool new friends and wish that the day never ends? Is that what you do?

So do I.

review of yesterday

Thor and I started out with breakfast and then we headed out to the city for a day of fun. We drove out to Laguna Beach and drove the coast south gawking at the zillion and two beach goers, knowing we would never find a spot to park.

We had a great time checking out the crowds and made our way into Dana Point where amazingly enough we entered the bay parking lot just as someone else was leaving and snagged a space near the docks.

Thor and I cruised a bit, took in the boats, the kayaks, and all the people in the water on all kinds of craft! It looked so inviting! Across the water at the yacht club there was a piper playing all manner of patriotic songs on his bag pipe. The music made its' way across the bay and out along the grass and jetty.

While we were at the jetty we saw two boys jump in between the sea rocks trying to get out to a larger rock in between wave sets. They were successful, but more on that story tomorrow.

We headed inland and ended up going through every variation of "Laguna" there was; city, Meadows, Niguel, Woods, Highlands, Heights, Valley, you name it, we hit them all. Finally we called #3 and asked if she knew how to get out of the Lagunas and onto the 5. We met her at P.F. Changs in the OC Spectrum, ate dinner and then headed back home.

About 8:30 we were in Fontana/Rancho Cucamonga and the fireworks started out. Still dusk the booms and sparks were against the lavender skies. Once one went off the whole city lit up for about an hour. Small neighborhoods, about three or four blocks big, set up their own shows all over the city. Wherever you looked you could see fantastic shows that rival any I have seen in a stadium or small city show. If you look closely in some of the photos you can see the rooftops... those houses are in a cul de sac and the fireworks are set off on the street! Amazing!

We watched for an hour or so and went back home exhausted but happily entertained.


(Does that rock look like a shark fin or what?)

happy weekend!

I have no idea what this flower stalk is, but dang! I love it!

My daughter in law has a theory. She says she thinks that one day in the creation God grabbed a group of little kids and gave them the elements to make all kinds of things. This, she reasons, explains all the really weird creations out there; bioluminescent fish, carnivorous plants, and the blue ringed octopus, (o.k., so I really like the ocean weirdness) - that can kill you in 26 seconds!

Perhaps these plants are also included in the list.

Momma's every where!

While driving through Joshua Tree National Park I saw a bright pink blossom off the road and in about 50 feet.

Thor pulled over, I popped out of the car and went in search of the elusive bloom.

As I walked I heard the excited call from another photographer. "Hey! Hey! I got a Lizard! And he's posing for me!" I walked towards the voice and saw a man with a huge camera lens balanced precariously on a tripod, nose to the lens, snapping away.

Not knowing who he was shouting to, I quietly approached him, announced myself and asked if I might snap some photos as well. "Sure! He's just standing there. He loves the camera!"

So I took a position and began to shoot. In my opinion, this is a mommy guarding her nest. Another photographer came to shoot and the lizard just scurried about five feet and then circled back. She dug in occasionally and then would pop her head up to see if we were still fascinated.

Just look at that belly. Have you ever seen such a "full" tummy on a guy lizard? I think I can even see the egg shapes in her belly. Look closely at the photo far right in the first two rows and center on the bottom. Can you see the "baby bump" too?

To see these (or any of my photos) in a much larger size, just click on them.

Joshua Tree Mosaic

Taken on a ride through Joshua Tree National Park last Saturday. Incredible. I suggest it to anyone who can get there within the next week or two. This is a feast for your eyes, a miracle of sorts, and a testament to the Creator. Truly amazing.

Please! Do your self a favour and click on the mosaic to see these gorgeous flowers a little bit larger.

The Palace of Fine Arts

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Originally uploaded by S'mee.

One of my favorite places to visit in San Francisco is the Palace of Fine Arts. Built by Bernard Maybeck in 1915, it stands near the bay in a terrific neighborhood surrounded by elite homes and green gardens. Land obviously is at a premium in the Bay Area, and to see the green lawn and the reflection pools is a treat.

The pool is actually an ancient wet land used by Maybeck purposely to reflect the structures beauty. Unfortunately Maybeck could not or did not see the future and the the pool is has begun to sink into itself, taking the surrounding flora with it! There is danger of the entire grounds being destroyed and evidence that the structures themselves are already pressured and stressing.

The solution? A bake sale. Well, not exactly, but the city of San Francisco has designated a committee to oversee the reconstruction and repair of the entire park. The city has also approved and set aside $4.9 million for the project and asking for another $16 million in donations! The work has already begun with the tagging of trees and structural reinforcements. In the mean time it takes some of the beauty away from the park, but not much - it's still so peaceful and thought provoking to walk these grounds and listen to the birds and water while seeing a new piece of the monument you missed the time before.

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Originally uploaded by S'mee.

This photo demonstrates how the trees' roots are unsupported and the weight of the plants, trees, and foliage pull into the lake. Trees all along the edge of the water have already been swallowed whole, exposing their root balls to the sky as if a giant reached down and plucked them out of the ground like an errant weed; tree tops under the water and limbs reaching out like a drowning victim. It is sad to witness and one hopes that it can be saved in time.

The walkways are also in danger; some have been blocked from use. The black asphalt border that surrounds the perimeter looks as if it has been melted and rolled under the surface. Chain link fencing has been put up as a safety precaution. One cannot walk near the water's edge as in years past. It it an enormous sink hole.

If you are interested in the history of this edifice or would like to contribute to it's restoration, please visit the link in the title of this post. (All private donations up to $500,00 will be doubled thanks to Maurice Kanbar.) There are so many facts, interesting tidbits, and many photos- that I would be here all day repeating what has already been written. Click here for a virtual tour, enjoy!