Picture of the Day - Under The Oak

During a break from participating in Steve Shear's wake yesterday and went out to clear my head and watch my dog explore around and found myself under the oak. Photo by Kim Patrick Noyes (all rights reserved).

Wonder's Wake

Today I attended the wake for my friend Steve "Wonder" Shears. It was an honor even being there given how selective Steve was in regards to whom he allowed inside his inner circle and for the most part only those Steve "let in" were invited to this gathering. It was yet an additional honor that I was asked to kick off the official gathering with my own extemporaneous comments regarding Steve. I did my job and the family seemed delighted with what came out of my mouth and by what they felt it engendered, to wit, the opening up by others whom followed me of what was in their hearts not to mention were some wonderful Wonder stories. Pictured above are Steve's two brothers Brett and Brice as well as Steve's daughter Evangeline each of whom gave poignant testimony of Steve's life. Also note that all members of this assembly wore yellow in honor and tribute to Steve to whom this color came to symbolize. Photo by Kim Patrick Noyes (all rights reserved).

Picture of the Day - Low Tide In Morro Bay

Tranquil Morro Bay at low tide this morning with distinctive Morro Rock in the background. Photo by Kim Patrick Noyes (all rights reserved).

Dining With Project Surf Camp

I was in Morro Bay this morning and visited Miner's Hardware to pick up some T-posts for signage banners for the upcoming Cayucos Gem, Mineral, and Jewelry Show.  Unbeknownst to me they were conducting a store-wide sale and thus their parking lot was jammed with cars and pedestrians. I also noted that there was some sort of food-serving operation. Typically I ignore these but this morning I had not eaten anything and hungered. I elected to stop by the booth of what turned out to be Project Surf Camp holding a fund-raiser in front of Miner's Hardware. On the menu were..... hot dogs..... and that was it! In any case I didn't care and ordered three which I consumed with various condiments..... I always use a condiment! I wish to thank the good folks at Project Surf Camp for the wonderful service they provide youth with special needs as well as for feeding me hot dogs for breakfast this morning. Photo by Kim Patrick Noyes (all rights reserved).

Picture of the Day - Size Envy

Yes, this photograph accurately shows my friend's cat Munch is larger than my dog Tequila and she feels insecure about it. Photo by Kim Patrick Noyes (all rights reserved).

Generals Incident

This afternoon while doing weed abatement by way of weedwacker and McLeod tool at a friend's ridgetop home upon emerging from lunch indoors I heard the sound of an air attack plane circling nearby then I noticed a grass fire to my north. This lent additional impetus to what I was doing as I wondered for a time whether my day would get a whole lot more interesting given the raging winds at times. I was working west of Paso Robles, CA, off Nacimiento Lake Drive (G14) while the Generals Incident as it was called burned on-post at Camp Roberts and burned about 200 acres. I felt naked without my scanner which chastened me into getting that fired up for this fire season.  

My first view of the fire.

The smoke was blowing directly at my location so my ridgetop view quickly became hazy.

Wind appeared to be the primary issue with this incident.

The fire was burning through grassland with some nearby oak woodland.

For a time I worried that it might squirt through between some vineyards and make it to my location driven by wind.

Ultimately, it appeared it was herded into a plowed field while the flanks were worked by tankers and mobile attacks by engines.

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

Picture of the Day - A-Town Quake Repairs

Photo taken today of ongoing repairs to the Atascadero Rotunda Building as a result of the 2003 San Simeon Earthquake.  Photo by Kim Patrick Noyes (all rights reserved).