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Winter 2007

    The winter of 2007 was odd in that it gave us the extremes of heat and cold.
California agriculture was hit with deadly cold that destroyed a large proportion of the crops.
We were hit especially hard, and were unable to keep up production while we waited for a few months for the plants to leaf back out.
   At the same time, in an incongruent display that is not that unusual in California
we were treated to periods of weeks of warm blissful summer-like days.
The sun rose warm and inviting from the desert and shone down on the sun-loving denizens of Cali, both flora and fauna.
   Warm tranquil days, and searingly cold nights were our lot.
Lack of rain caused reduced snow in the mountains and low reservoirs and water tables.
   But those days!!!   Everywhere I went everyone seemed so happy with the weather,
and the clear days and nights made for some excellent sights.
   Most of the winter-time poetry I have is full of cold iconic imagery;
nothing much I've got written about winter matched the winter I have had this year,
because in spite of the cold destroying our crops,
I have never had as much fun exploring around, travelling and meeting people.
This has been a winter of breaking habits and old ways.
So I have some poetry that for me reflects this last winter.
   The treasures of the world are all around most of us,
we need only open our eyes and realize.

 

WHAT A WONDERFUL WORLD
~George Weiss / Bob Thiele~

 

 I see trees of green, red roses too

 I see them bloom for me and you

 And I think to myself, what a wonderful world

 

 I see skies of blue and clouds of white

 The bright blessed day, the dark sacred night

 And I think to myself, what a wonderful world

 

 The colours of the rainbow, so pretty in the sky

 Are also on the faces of people going by

 I see friends shakin' hands, sayin' "How do you do?"

 They're really saying "I love you"

 

 I hear babies cryin', I watch them grow

 They'll learn much more than I'll ever know

 And I think to myself, what a wonderful world

 Yes, I think to myself, what a wonderful world

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The view from our driveway one night. The smoke from fires here and there made for some colorful sunsets.

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This is off of Hwy 101 north of Santa Barbara. There are many places one can pull off the highway, walk across the railroad tracks and find pathways down the cliffs to little secluded beaches.

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Off Highway 101, around the Buellton area.

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Santa Barbara County coastline, looking towards Santa Barbara to the south.
 

Jai om numah shivaya (prayer for change)
~Apache Indian~

Well everybody would you focus your mind
Search for the truth and you will find
Good spirit and strength from within
That fights against all sin

Jai om numah shivaya

I shall walk across the land that has been chosen
And I shall climb the mountain so high,
I shall go across the sea and ocean
And sing with the birds in the sky,
Its only Jah up above man who leads the way
Under whose shadow I abide,
Me say you’re running and you’re running and you’re running away
But from yourself you know you can't hide

Jai om numah shivaya

Well everybody would you rise and focus your mind
Search for the truth and learn to be kind
Everybody would you fight against the evil you find
Tell your people about the religion of your mind

Jai om numah shivaya

He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High
Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty I and I
Everyday I rise...rise up above their lies
But still them want fight I and I
Everyday I rise ...rise with my spirits well high
Cause you know Jah Jah guide I and I

Jai om numah shivaya

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These idyllic scenes were photographed in San Luis Obispo County. SLO County is still very rural.

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The scene to the left is looking south toward Santa Barbara. The haze in the sky is from the fires in Pasadena that were burning at the time.
The other image is a small seaside coastal village.

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As for me, I delight

in the everyday Way,

among mist-wrapped

vines and rocky caves.

Here in the wilderness

I am completely free,

with my friends,

the white clouds, idling forever.

There are roads,

but they do not reach the world;

since I am mindless,

who can rouse my thoughts?

On a bed of stone

I sit, alone in the night,

while the round moon

climbs up Cold Mountain.

~Han Shan ~


This is the 'Chimney Rock' of San Luis County. 
I must confess, if I owned this property,
I'd probably build some kind of small stone and concrete hut on the top of the peak. 
I'd also be mighty compelled to bore tunnels into the stone.




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