Picture of the Day - Dam Fine Parking

This afternoon into this evening I worked a four-hour shift parking and concert security shift at Castoro Cellars (home of "Dam Fine Wine") on the west side of Paso Robles. I was the primary parker as the other two guards fed cars my way and I parked them. Above is my handiwork. Four-hundred people were expected tonight and it appeared attendance got close to that as the two bands who performed were rather phenomenal. Photo by Kim Patrick Noyes (all rights reserved).

Picture of the Day - God Is.....

Today into tonight I worked an 8-hour shift at a wedding at Avila Beach Golf Resort. The wedding party set this home-made lighted sign out on the lawn with the ocean as a backdrop. Photo by Kim Patrick Noyes (all rights reserved).

Picture of the Day - Smoky Train Wreck Sunset

Tonight I worked the Pomar Junction Winery Train Wreck Friday wine and music event for the first time in a number of months. As the Soberanes Fire continues to churn through the Los Padres National Forest it generates interesting and at times either ominous or beautiful sunsets. Tonight's sunset was more beautiful as much of the smoke hanging over the North County was blown out by the sea-breeze this afternoon. When I awoke early this morning and first stepped outside under an overcast sky covered in coastal stratus which had surged inland from the coast overnight, I was overwhelmed by the aroma of brush fire smoke that permeated the air despite the coastal stratus. Apparently, smoke from the fire and moisture from the coast were mixing right over Paso Robles creating a pungent smoke odor. The sea-breeze was also a welcome respite from recent seasonable hot temperatures which made this evening sublime to be outdoors in working and watching the sun set in the western sky. Photo by Kim Patrick Noyes (all rights reserved).

Graphic of the Day - Anthropomorphizing Pluto

I've wanted to share this funny graphic since I saved it last year soon after NASA's New Horizons probe passed by Pluto and snapped many amazing images.

Picture of the Day - Sobranes Smoke From HR

This evening I was out at Heritage Ranch cutting down an olive tree for a friend/client. The wind shift about 30 hours ago back to a northwest flow has brought smoke back to the Central Coast in a big way. However, the source of the smoke, which is the Soberanes Fire in Monterey County, is now notably larger than when last the wind brought the smoke directly here and thus now it is much smokier. In fact, it was essentially overcast with smoke when I left this place about an hour after this image was captured. Photo by Kim Patrick Noyes (all rights reserved).

My Top Ten TV Series To Watch

I got to thinking about this list lately and not altogether in relation to trying to think up some content for this blog. It occurred to me that it is remarkable how many great TV series/miniseries exist at the present and it seems the 2010s are even richer in worthwhile TV viewing options than the 1980s which seemed like the gold standard to me until recently. Below is what I am currently faithfully following with the caveat that it is acknowledged that some of these are much better or worse than others on this list.

1. Game of Thrones
2. The Walking Dead
3. Better Call Saul
4. True Detective
5. Fargo
6. Stranger Things
7. The Night Of
8. The Detour
9. Vice Principals
10. Fear the Walking Dead

Amongst Elfin Pigmies

For many years I've heard about the Elfin Forest in Los Osos adjacent to the Morro Bay Estuary. I've driven by some of its trailheads on previous occasions, too, but never took the time to stop there and walk. That changed today as I visited it with my friends Kameron, Blake and his girlfriend Krystal. It was overcast with a thin veil of coastal stratus which gave some measure of respite from the harsh August sun and heat battering points further inland. I was in this area last week looking for a place to walk my dog which I was unable to do given California State Park's open hostility towards dogs or anything else non-native aside from people. This locality is under the management of San Luis Obispo County Parks and allows dogs on leashes which means I'll be back soon I hope with my little monster Tequila.

This tragic fiery head-on collision on Highway 46 East near Shandon is still seared in my mind. I was rather surprised that it was in any connected to this place but it is a most appropriate tribute.

I'm glad I visited this place before it might burn given the ongoing drought cum new drier normal and how heavy are the fuels here. A fire in here would really change the place in a way that it would take longer than my remaining lifetime to return to its former state.

I love the artistic patterns created by the Creator on this mudflat.

That is Morro Strand in the distance capped with sand dunes.

This was my first encounter with a dwarf forest of pigmy oaks.

Although not present in this image, there were patches of ferns growing scattered throughout this preserve.

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