Sadhu Tom

Sadhu Tom. (Tanya photo, 2010)

Yes, it's me.

Sadhu Tom snapped in our apartment in a moment of clownitude.

(Would you buy a used car from this man?)

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Tanya's Hands

Tanya's Macrame. (Tomasito photo, 2010)

Macrame is a peaceful craft--tie a whole lot of knots in pretty cords and you have something creative and special.

You don't see a lot of macrame done these days, but when you do--it is refreshing and beautiful!

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Pig and Cat

Pig and Cat (Tanya photo, 2010)

We were out for a little stroll of our neighborhood the other evening and managed to snap this surprise photo.

Yes it IS a pig and a cat--and this is NOT a farming community but a fairly urban part of our town.

We've seen a few CATS during our ramblings, but this is the very first PIG! This was just a few blocks from our apartment and we don't know WHERE the PIG came from, but guess it is one of the "pot-bellied" race which are sometimes kept as pets.

UP, URBAN CRITTERS!

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Time Out

Tomasito (Tanya photo)

Dear Readers,

I am going to take a few weeks off from blogging--a short vacation is due.

(In Arnold Schwartznegger voice.) I'll be back!

Catch ya' later!

Tomasito

asd

Paradise

Waving Tanya.

Our Escondido one-bedroom apartment from down below: running hot and cold, new carpet and floor tile, electricity, garbage pick-up and landscaping, sparkling pool--fairly quiet, safe neighborhood, covered parking for one car and like that--not exactly cottage small with picket-fence and rambling rose, but just as good for us.

Paradise is where you are.

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Garden Variety Warning

Daley Ranch Rock. (Tomasito photo)

There is a beautiful book in our public library which I have read recently: "Japanese Gardens" by Gunter Nitschke.

The book has excellent photos of some of Japan's finest gardens and interesting commentary regarding the historical development of those very typical Japanese art forms.

I was kind of surprised to see that the gardens of our present era have dropped the living component completely--no more plants or trees or even raked sand--the modern "Japanese Garden" is a construction of concrete, steel, plastic and other man-made products.

But in summary Mr Nitschke says: " With our present knowledge of the catastrophic environmental disasters ahead it is tempting to speculate upon the possible shape of a future garden prototype..." (My italics.) And he suggests some sort of jungle environment might be suitable.

He also suggests that without some profound change in consciousness there will be no future Japanese Gardens and he recommends meditation as the only possible way to avoid annihilation.

A pretty scary note from a Japanese garden specialist!

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Old Green Road

The Old Green Road. (Tomasito photo, 2010)

We have had some very good spring rain this year here in Southern California--and up north, our friend in Redding reports that the huge lake behind the Shasta Dam on the Sacramento River is up to the brim--and this us the first time is YEARS that that has happened.

The old road in the photo above is in the Daley Ranch Park--one of the nicest walks in Escondido. (It is NOT always THIS green!)

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