Picture of the Day - Cactus of the Cthulhu

I do not know the common name or scientific name for this plant but I prefer Cthulhu Cactus for obvious reasons to those who are "Cthulu Aware". I captured this image on the grounds of Dallidet Adobe & Gardens today. Read more about my day at Dallidet HERE. 
Photo by Kim Patrick Noyes (all rights reserved).

My First Dallidet Day

Today I finally had the privilege of working a wedding at Dallidet Adobe & Gardens near downtown San Luis Obispo. I had seen it on the Vino Vice work schedule many a time but others always got the job... until today... and it was well worth the wait. Being a history buff and history major I was delighted to be working 5-1/2 hours on such a historic site which I have not even known existed before this year. The history of this site is actually rather fascinating... and unexpected. The staff on-site I worked with today were delightful, both venue and wedding. By the way, be sure to check out my photo of a "Cthulhu Cactus" I encountered on the grounds here today.

I have been driving within a block of this gate for years and had no idea this place even existed.

I would love to do a history internship here... and someday get married here.

These are actually old mill stones from the 19th Century... or even perhaps the 18th.

That structure is an old train station... but that Ramona is not the one in Southern California.

What a quintessentially California sight: an orange tree, date palm tree, coast redwood, and whatever that thing is to the right whose name I am not drawing a blank. Anywho, only here will one likely see such a mix.

This coast redwood is my favorite type of tree and this individual is about 130 yeas old.

Here is the reason I was here today: a cute and quirky little wedding with plenty of charm.
All photos by Kim Patrick Noyes (all rights reserved).

Special 17th Street Gang Family Feast

This evening my church family got together for a special meal out at the home of my church home group's leader couple (Ted & Janet) up Hog Canyon Road in the Estrella area northeast of Paso Robles, CA. I have affectionately christened my adoptive family the "17th Street Gang" since the regular host couple (Kevin & Heather) live on that street here in Paso Robles. Below are several images I captured before dark.

Note: I wish to convey my deepest thanks to Ted & Janet for most graciously hosting us and to everybody there for their contribution to our collaborative feast, but especially those who brought main course type things or made something themselves. Special props go to Janet's most amazing lemonade which had it been alcoholic I would now be in a blackout. I also thank Marty & Karen for allowing me to join their carpool. Also, thanks for all the food all of you sent home with me. I'm set for days now!

This is the view south and down-canyon from the hillock upon which we spent the evening.

This was the greater part of the 17th Street Gang in attendance this evening (+ 2 guests) although we were missing several pieces.

This was the start of a splendid sunset sequence this evening.

The clouds this evening had a subtly autumn appearance which combined with my noticing the change in the angle and intensity of the Sun in recent days in the context of my mild S.A.D. sobered me just a tad.

I used to photograph more sunsets in my "lost years" when I was oft driving home at dusk from an adventure whereas nowadays I'm usually not in position to capture a sunset from an unobstructed viewpoint given I live downtown Paso Robles.

Gary & Terry (of Gary's Original Sandwich fame in Atascadero in the 1990's) joined us tonight although they are not regulars but after tonight's vittles that might change I hope. Ted is working his grill magic.

The crescent moon combined with the clouds and setting sun made for an exquisite sunset.
All photos by Kim Patrick Noyes (all rights reserved).

Nights Of Wine, Quakes & Power Flashes

Just now and while up again into the middle of the night I found this remarkably interesting and badassedly cool collection of security camera footage from the Napa Valley Wine Train showing the effects of the South Napa Earthquake earlier this week upon not only that rail facility but also the general area within view of the cameras. The coolest feature of this footage (to me) are all the power flashes mixed in with power outages captured in this remarkable series of video recordings.

Facehugs For Everyone!

I had seen this before on Facebook and had forgotten it until I saw it again yesterday so this time I'm sharing it with you and now it will be someplace I can easily reference it when I wish to do so. If you do not "get it" it is a reference to the Alien movie franchise.

A Wacky Kiler Canyon Wednesday

This morning I joined my Kiler Canyon Farm family for the weekly harvest after missing it last week. Below is a photographic record of today's harvest morning.

There are actually several people hidden in that amaranth in the middle distance...

...there were four to be exact.

The flowers were out in full force today.

I believe I am starting to fall in love with amaranth.

View back at the farm structures from the amaranth patch.

Sunflowers

Dan, guest Randall, and Kaleen.

From left both farmers and guests alike: Genevive, Randall, Quill, Claire, Kaleen, and Chaponica.

The packing shed.

Partially-filled share baskets.

Now with carrot bunches added.

Salsa baskets

Dan putting the finishing touches on breakfast with Tequila conducting quality control operations from the floor.

Dan The Man around the time he said I was an easy mark... but forgot the man with the camera has the last word.

The harvest congregation congregating.

From left: Chaponica, Claire, Quill, Genevive, Elsie, and Kaleen.

Tequila being Tequila

Back to work after breakfast.

"Where we going next, Daddy?"

Getting the lids on at the end can get interesting given how much gets crammed in the share baskets.

Claire and Chaponica bringing baskets for Kaleen to load inside while I do nothing to help.

3/4th of the core crew from left: Kaleen, Chaponica, and Quill.

Tequila was all over the place today.

Basket case veggies were fed to the pigs....

... by guest Elsie.

This is the stud pig of the farm... and he knows it.

Three species here: porcines, bovines, and McNuggets.

Quill's legendary SideGlanceStinkEye.

Before today I had never seen a treehouse suspended by straps.

The harvest posse unwinding at the end.
All photos by Kim Patrick Noyes (all rights reserved).

From Canada With Love

In light of the fact that Russia is today allegedly invading Ukraine (perhaps a bit of an exaggeration, BUT...) and a lot of the news media don't seem too excited about reporting it perhaps because it exposes the abject fecklessness of the President they helped elect and reelect the image below is particularly humorous and comes courtesy of our Canadian neighbors to the north by way of their NATO delegation and appears on its Twitter page along with the following Tweet:

"Geography can be tough. Here’s a guide for Russian soldiers who keep getting lost & ‘accidentally’ entering #Ukraine"

For more about this funny side-story check HERE.

Songs For When The World Falls

It has been a month and a week since last I shared music here so this feels overdue given how prevalent music is on this blog. My own personal discovery of these two trance tracks occurred earlier this summer or sometime in the spring. "I Will Be Here" by Tiesto and Sneaky Sound System (Wolfgang Gartner remix) is by far and away the better song both in lyrics as well as vocals and sound being an exceptionally awesome trance track. It was love at first hearing for me and it is good to know Tiesto still pumps out some good music despite his transition on to other things which is to be expected of any good artist. He has been slammed for selling out and not holding to his hey-day sound of the late 1990's into mid-2000's but in all fairness temptus fugit and were he to still sound the same it could be fairly said he was artistically "stuck" and living in the past and beating a dead horse. Artists are people, too, and need to grow. 

There is a particular section of the lyrics to this which really capture my attention:

"You know when the moment comes
To be strong, your resistance
And that's what we're led to believe

When the big world falls apart
And you think that the feeling will linger
You need somewhere to start
I will be here (I will be here)

And when it all seems to fall apart
You can't breathe
You don't know what you're thinking
You need somewhere to start
I will be here (I will be here)"

The other song entitled "World Falls Apart" by Dash Berlin is a very good song although the vocals by Jonathon Mendelsohn are a bit too soaring in sound and some of the base & drum elements feel too clubby and yes, I realize it is a club mix but the elements to which I refer are also in the radio edit of this trance track. Anywho, I nonetheless really like this song which features lyrics that also capture my attention for touching on the same theme which as you by now know has haunted me my entire life: the End of the Age. This is basically the entire lyrics which are repeated twice in the trance track:

"When the world falls apart
I will hold you in my arms like a friend

When the world's unkind
I will make you smile
I will stay right by your side until the end

Through the dark of night
When no hope's in sight
When the walls start closing in, I'll be your friend

When the world falls apart
If you should ever feel so broken that you can't go on
If your world falls apart
I will hold you in my arms like a friend

When the world falls apart
If you should ever feel so broken that you can't go on
If your world falls apart
I will hold you in my arms like a friend
Until the end..."

Lyrics courtesy AZLyrics.com


Something to note about these songs is that when I hear them and think about their lyrics I am unable to not think about how much these lyrics express my devotional thoughts and feelings to the amazing woman with whom I will hopefully someday be partnered, God willing.

My Mission, Indians, & Hacienda Jaunt

Today I accompanied my friend Marty on a short expedition to Fort Hunter Liggett to see Mission San Antonia de Padua and the Julia Morgan-designed Milpitas Ranchhouse a.k.a. "The Hacienda" as well as visit Indians on the Monterey District of the Los Padres National Forest all of which we accomplished. What follows is a photographic account of the high points of the endeavor which was my first visit to this area since prior to the 2008 Indians Fire which consumed 80,000 acres during which time the nearby twice-as-big 162,000-acre lightning-caused Big Basin Fire burned into it and they merged. There was evidence of this fire to be seen everywhere we were within the burn area. There was also notable evidence of recent wildfires from earlier this year which burned exclusively within the boundaries of FHL.
*Note: all day people in the area were telling me it was just called "The Hacienda" and not what I was calling it, to wit, "Milpitas Ranchhouse". A most cursory investigation online confirmed I was not losing my mind and both names are appropriate as are a couple of other variants.  

Front entrance to Mission San Antonia de Padua where a new traffic pattern was discovered and seismic retrofit construction fully underway now three weeks into a $15 million project.

My friend Marty trying to track down a roof tile memento... which he scored shortly after this image was captured.

View from the courtyard.

I had forgotten this fountain was here.

Despite the changes I found here the courtyard at least was unchanged.

The roses here gave off a wonderful fragrance which caused me to temporarily forget I don't especially like roses.

This fountain "makes" this courtyard.

This is located in front of the mission.

We visited the most excellent little museum located at the front of this mission.

As those who know me know this sort of thing is right up my alley.

These roof rain drain pipes are most cleverly-designed as noted by Marty.

Most Californians don't know the economy of the California region was once dominated by the hide and tallow trade.

Pre-electricity the only preservatives of note were cool, dry cellars and fermentation.

Note the notches on the wood beams.

Manos and matates are a common sight in the mission museum.

One of my favorite artifacts are these mano and matate combinations.

It is slightly jarring to first notice this symbol on these old pre-Third Reich baskets.

The second thought to come to mind seeing these swastikas with the eagle is some sort of pulp fiction serial storyline with Nazis going back in time and influencing ancient cultures.

I can't help myself from photographing these things.

The east wing of the main mission structure was never rebuilt and never will be, but makes an excellent archaeological site.

Salinan bedrock mortar in bedrock in Arroyo Seco headwaters creek.

Despite the severe drought there are vernal pools in the headwaters of the Arroyo Seco.

This is Indians and the open area here features a most desirable vibe and view.

View southeast from the probable camp or village site.

View west-northwest into the Ventana Wilderness Area of the Monterey District of the Los Padres National Forest. Note the bedrock mortars in the foreground. This was undoubtedly a Salinan camp or village site at some time.

I could easily imagine this overhang being used for shelter in conjunction with a lean-to.

Junipero Serra Peak behind the Indians meadow.

Me being the dork I am I always notice that white layer on the mountain in the background and wonder what formed it.

Closer view of the curious geologic feature on the nearby mountain and of the lean-to friendly overhangs in the foreground.

The fire lookout atop Junipero Serra Peak is no longer visible so I assume it burned in 2008.

The up-lifted sedimentary layers at Indians always give me pause to think about the earthquakes that are still uplifting them.

The Hacienda

In the summertime sunlight this building literally glows in a very Mediterranean-style fashion.

I fully intend to spend a night here someday... preferably in the company of a woman.

No, that is NOT an Islamic dome.

I love this hallway/corridor.

The restaurant no longer functions... the artwork on its walls was lovely and charming not to mention quite historical.

They just don't build things like this anymore... certainly not with the charm of places like this.

All photos by Kim Patrick Noyes (all rights reserved).