Rumfish revisited

I must say that in addition to Rumfish y Vino growing on me as a culinary destination, I can't deny the impulse to plunge head-first into their halibut fish n chips with coleslaw and garlic fries. I'm not saying I should over-indulge this impulse, but just acknowledging it is there.

King Protea

I've seen my share of Proteas but I think this was my first encounter with a King Protea - the national flower of South Africa. Seen at the Ventura Botanical Gardens.

Mrs. goes to Ojai Saddle Trails

...and this is what it looked like.

ladybug paraphernalia

In addition to ladybug season and ladybug habitat, one can speak of ladybug paraphernalia.

ladybug habitat

In addition to ladybug season one can speak of ladybug habitat. These guys were exactly where I thought they might be, in the scruffy hills above the botanical garden.

a sea of Ceonothus

Sometimes while taking a mid-March stroll through the Ventura Botanical Gardens it's obvious that the Ceonothus is in bloom.

more early poppies

These were seen at the Ventura Botanical Gardens.

St. Patrick's Day potatoes

Technically they were  Peewee Dutch blue, red and yellow potatoes.

 

acorn woodpeckers

On my way out of Arroyo Verde Park I noticed at least three acorn woodpeckers turning one of those tree trunk-turned-wood sculptures into a granary. Probably not what the sculptor had in mind.

first poppies 2024

At least the first I've seen, up in the highlands of Arroyo Verde Park.

verde Arroyo Verde, part 2

a very verde Arroyo Verde

Sometimes after getting your hair cut you hike up the most insanely steep trail in Arroyo Verde Park, and there are flowers and vistas galore.

Sir Shaggy McDuff

I used to think Eucalyptus trees were a west coast vs. east coast thing, but in fact they can only grow in Hardiness Zones 8-11, which means the west coast plus the southernmost latitudes of the U.S. So while I don't recall seeing them in Texas or Florida, supposedly they can and do grow there.

Art City in flux

Supposedly Art City has moved to a new location, but by the look of this sign and all the activity going on around the old location, it seems to be hanging on in some way, shape or form.

vinyl records, part 2

What's interesting about this group is that John Cale produced the debut Modern Lovers album, seen here; David Bowie produced the debut Iggy Pop album, seen here; then both Cale and Bowie covered the song "Pablo Picasso" - a track that first appeared on the Modern Lovers album, seen here.

vinyl records

Vinyl records aren't worth very much, even the ones you'd think would be. Take for instance the top two - an original UK edition of XTC's debut album, and an original US edition of Generation X's debut album. Billy Idol of course achieved the very heights of international stardom. But no, when I showed these to record dealers on both coasts they would shake their heads and offer me pennies - exactly like the Seinfeld when Kramer and Newman tried to sell vinyl records at Bleeker Bob's in NYC.

north side of the bridge

While I've taken many photos of the Ventura River from the south side of the Main Street bridge, this may be one of the first I've taken of the north side. As you can see it was a gloomy day but the river was flowing nicely.

Ojai Saddle Trails, round 2

lawn decoration

Why not have this one get ground up by a lawnmower? 

p.H.s. revisited

grumble-free Scrabble

The grumble-free, voucher-induced Scrabble game of 3-2-24.

the luckiest man in the world

Annie Chun's

As a man with a history of predictable lunch habits, Annie Chun's noodles have been admitted into my Hall of Fame.

straightaway, part 2

Wherein someone kindly made a narrow passage in the mud.

a big shroom

 

more solar-powered coffee

straightaway

straightway: "a straight section of road or racetrack" (or in this case, bike path).

Asiatique revisited

Very happy with the pineapple fried rice here.

golf course food