Aren't They Lovely?!?

Morsels of joy!

Habitat For Humanity

And I thought the 12 mile hike in my attempt to conquer Half Dome was hard work. Dang!! Spent yesterday in Long Beach with fellow Locos working on a Habitat for Humanity project. Two houses. At one point was chuckling as I tried to remember when was the last time I'd used a shovel. Last century was the realisation. I live in an apartment. Why would I need one?  Anyway, great stuff.  Can now include ditch digging in my skill set.

  

1495 Chestnut Avenue, Long Beach, CA

Sonia in the green. She, husband Enrique and 3 sons will inhabit the 4 bedroom home. Quite a difference from the small one bedroom apartment the family has lived in for over 9 years. They've lived in Long Beach for over 24 years. Sonia is a child care work for Long Beach Unified School District and Enrique is a housekeeper at a local hospital.

Hugh was our project manager. This the backyard at Martha's house.

Fruits of labor

Hugh laying pipe.

Tim Hillman

Making a plan

JJ Levine

Measuring.

Wondering.

Laughing.

Fun and frivolity.

Hammering.

 Dumping, spreading, raking.

Biding good wishes!

I plan to return for the dedication to see the final result.

Chill in The Air

It's lovely. Not cold enough to stop me from trekking in sandals, shorts and tee shirt but cool enough for an early morning layer of fog atop Mt. Hollywood. Yesterday couldn't even see the Observatory lights.  Eerie and wonderful at the same time.  Made for fun photos.

A bit darker this morning as the moonlight has all but disappeared. More flashlights on the trail. Ramona and I are either stupid or brave and trek without one. Coyotes were yelping like mad this morning. Reacting to the barking of a yipper yapper dog on the trail. Those little ones think they're tough. A couple bark at Ramona who ignores them. Given their 3 lbs. and her 67 if she had a fighter's disposition we know who'd win. Instead she's focused on the trail. Nose to the ground. In search of critters or a morsel of something edible that a hiker may have dropped. Relentless. As we neared the bottom of the Mt Hollywood trail I liked this look, stopped and snapped.

Another day in LA.

Golden Hue

Climbing the Charlie Turner Mt. Hollywood trail before the sun rise offers up hues of gold. Abundant lights twinkle and glow. The glimmer eases into infinity.

It's the only time I like Los Angeles.

Busy Morning

Many things happening this morning above the Griffith Observatory.

A production copy was setting up on top of Mt. Hollywood. The Code I think. They'd already camouflaged the fenced off tables and benches and were unloading other items as Ramona and I were heading backdown the trail. At the bottom there was a gathering of folks in the parking lot.  Didn't take me long to see what the hubbub was all about. "Ladies and gentleman, in this corner, pound for pound the greatest welterweight champion of the world, Manny Pacquaio!!!" Guess he's toning up to defend his title and making a video of the process.

Yes, a very busy morning in Griffith Park.

Yosemite

I arrived in Yosemite before everyone else. Why isn't that surprising?! Having spent the night in Sacramento, my route was going to be 120 via Oakdale into the park.  The route I'd taken many a time when I was in Turlock.  It was raining when I left but I had chains.  No worries.

Not much traffic. Great. Nothing worse than getting stuck behind a tractor trailer, camper, tour bus or Winnebego!!!

Laughed when I passed through Oakdale. In a previous life sat in that bar for hours with the local color drinking while waiting for a friend's car to get repaired.

The notes of Deliverance are faint but the memory isn't.

Still only rain but soon that will change as the elevation gets higher.

Road was clear all the way. Easy peasy.

Pretty.

Tourists were stopping and snapping pics, throwing snowballs, etc.

I enjoyed the simplicity.

As I headed down into the Valley I stopped to gander at a spot I never grow tired of visiting yearly.

Nearly there.

Did some preliminary exploring before my friends arrived.

The path from the Curry Village parking lot to the beginning of the Mist Trail. I would not be able to relocate this place in the dark the morning of the climb.Flashlight not withstanding things do look different in the dark.

Ramona and I then backtracked and walked over to see Yosemite Falls.

Then a stroll into Tolkein forests.  Ramona thinks she sees Frodo.

It was probably John Muir's ghost.

The rain didn't dampen the lure of wild for this couple and their young children.

Bar opened at 4pm. Friends were due around 5pm.

Got to people watch, catch up on baseball playoff scores, keep an eye on Cal at Oregon, have a drink and a nosh.  Perfection. 

Yum.

This was taken on the morning following my attempt to reach the top of Half Dome. We were on our way to breakfast and these dear were out for their morning constitutional.  That's Birch in the background, it's where we stayed.

Sun was out. We were headed to the Ahwahnee Hotel for a cocktail on the patio. We'd stop at the Post Office and the Ansel Adams Gallery along the way.

See the snow atop it!!!

Fun in the sun.

Gearing up.

That's Adrienne returning from putting all our post cards in the mail.

Also another hound and owner, so I wasn't the only soul with her dog. 

"Honey get off the DAMN cell phone!!!"

Stunning as usual.

Cozy fireside

Pretty damn spectacular!!! So gorgeous that wedding parties were everywhere.

Outside.

Inside.

Even Ramona got red carpet treatment!

 Strolling back we watched these folks...

and I'm crazy for trying to hike the Half Dome cables. Ha!!!