Furman Park romances

Furman park has several old trees that have names, hearts, and endearments carved into their barks. The carvings, known as "arborglyths," tell a story.

I just read an article about a grad student who was studying carvings made by soldiers from WW1 and WW2 throughout Europe. She has been able to track people down from the carvings and uncover stories of loved ones separated by wartime. The stories she shared in the article had many happy endings.

It made me wonder about the carvings in this tree.  Who are Patti & Miguel? What is their story? As a born romantic, I imagine it represents two who have pledged their love for each other and are still together today.

"For it was not into my ear you whispered,but into my heart. It was not my lips you kissed, but my soul."
~ Judy Garland

A pair of doves

Not only was Wilderness Park filled with people yesterday afternoon, it was also filled (as usual) with birds. This is a pair of of rock doves (also known as rock pigeons).

I know, you see them everywhere. Pigeons are so common in parks and public places that they are sometimes considered a scourge to public health. (They have been called "rats with feathers.") And feeding them is nearly always discouraged.

But they're not all bad. Rock pigeons carried messages for the U.S. Army Signal Corps during World War I and II, saving lives and providing vital strategic information (http://www.allaboutbirds.org).

And did you know that pigeons mate for life? I had fun watching this happy couple.

The fountain of youth

Our summer weather while it's still winter brought out the crowds to Wilderness Park this Sunday afternoon. These kids were having a great time playing in a drinking fountain with a slight malfunction.

Trumpeting lilies

I'm still stuck on my flowers.  I love spring! Everything is in bloom. These calla lilies are growing so beautifully, and the gift is that they just come up every year. Looking at them, they remind me of bold, white trumpets growing out of the ground.

This native of African marshes can make itself at home in moist garden soils in the warmer parts of the United States. Interestingly, they are also called trumpet lilies or pig lilies. I just love how full and vibrant they have become.

"I perhaps owe having become a painter to flowers." 
~ Claude Monet

The view from the mountain

Directly to the north of Downey lie the San Gabriel Mountains, topping out at just over 10,000 feet. When we show you a view of the snow from Downey (Magical snow), you're seeing the San Gabriel Mountains.

But the mountains that typically receive the most snow are the San Bernardino Mountains, further to the east. With elevations at around 11,500 feet, these mountains hold the ski resorts that people most often head to.

So with last weekend's snow in mind, four of us (and two dogs) played hookey on Monday and headed for the San Bernardino Mountains. After driving up the mountain through a thick blanket of fog, we found enough snow to play in at Running Springs (6,100 feet). We had fun, we got wet and cold, the dogs caught snowballs—and I didn't take a single picture until we headed back down the mountain.

So here is the spectacular view of San Bernardino, from the San Bernardino Mountains, at the end of our snow day.

The pirates are in town

Currently, one of my favorite places to go in Downey is the Downey Gateway. It is full of great-tasting, inexpensive places to eat. When my son was visiting us recently, we drove by there on our way to the airport for his return flight and his comment was, "Look at all the great places I haven't eaten at yet."

There's a new place there that I need to try out soon. It's called the Stinkin Crawfish. The pirate above is their calling card to passing drivers and pedestrians. I haven't eaten there yet, but the night I took this picture the place was packed.

It's easy to cry that you're beaten—and die;
It's easy to crawfish and crawl;
But to fight and to fight when hope's out of sight—
Why, that's the best game of all!
~ Robert W. Service

Winter is still here

This past weekend we went to a cabin in Frazier Park, which is a little west of Gorman and 88 miles north by northwest of Downey, for a birthday celebration. The storm that passed through during the weekend dropped a couple of inches of snow on us.

So what better way to enjoy snow for people that grew up in the basin of sunny southern California but to catch snow flakes on your tongue. So, no matter what Joan said yesterday, winter is still here and fun.

What did you do during the recent storm?

Spring has come!

The weather has sure been unpredictable lately. We had pouring rain just yesterday and hail in Huntington Beach! And, this weekend we are supposed to have sunny 82 degree days. But the ever-changing weather has not stopped my garden from coming to life. The morning after a heavy rainfall brought such beauty. My tulips and nasturtiums have started to take over....not to mention the morning glories.



"And Spring arose on the garden fair,
Like the Spirit of Love felt everywhere;
And each flower and herb on Earth's dark breast
rose from dreams of it's wintry rest"
~ Percy Bysshe Shelley