On The Beach

Memorial Day

"It doesn't take a hero to order men into battle. It takes a hero to be one of those men who goes into battle."
Norman Schwarzkopf

Day And Night

The day began with blue and orange.



And ended the same way. A perfectly calm evening, without even a whisper of breeze in the kentia palms, giant bamboo, eucalyptus or ginkgo trees.

Faces From The War Between The States

A boy named Carl.

As Seen From The Car

Old Advertising Posters

Above, a French bicycle advertisement from 1895, artist unknown. And below, another ad from the same era, this one featuring Mercury, by Paul Gervais.

Sunday On The Beach

There's always a lot to see on the beach - not just in the water, but along the shore and on the bluffs. Sunday was no exception.



All kinds of kelp and seaweed, rocks and shells.



Hundreds, if not thousands, of squirrels have burrowed into the cliff face. Most are bold enough to venture onto the sand, regardless of the presence of people.



This unknown California native wildflower was growing right along the handrail on the staircase that leads down the cliff, thriving despite the constant salt air.

Polar Bears

Above, detail from a French Cocoa-Cola advertising poster, circa 1940, and below a polar bear in a zoo, courtesy of buzzfeed.

Yesterday On The Beach

My daughter took me along for a walk on the beach while she surfed. We went to the Campgrounds, which was packed with tourists, eager to get in some beach time.



A local fisherman was working his line in quicksilver waters, while tie dyed tourists tossed frisbees and footballs.



This little guy was ready to give it a go in his pint sized wetsuit.



Up the stairs, a quick rinse to get the salt off and we were away.

On The Beach

The detail of an art deco Pennsylvania Railroad advertisement by Edward Eggleston, circa 1930, Atlantic City, New Jersey.

Faces From The War Between The States

A young, unidentified Confederate soldier.

Changing Seasons

As spring slips closer to summer, the last of the daffodils in my daughter's garden are bowing out, as the sun loving succulents begin their show.

Out The West Window

We had some surprise and welcome rain earlier this week. The sky started to clear right before sunset.

What's Blooming In Spring

That's a seed head from a gallardia flower, shown below. Some people call it a painted daisy. This type is called "Goblin".



It blooms all year here and reseeds profusely.



A closer look shows a wee bug, making a meal of the flower, and scurrying away from the camera as fast as he can.

Bounty

The first of this season's cherries have hit the market. They're small, but sweet!

As Seen From The Car

Out running errands, a quick snapshot of the passing terrain, with a coral tree just coming into bloom, framed by queen palms.

More On The Patio

A tile mural painted by my daughter and me, last century. And below, an old clay Mexican creche that stays out all year.

Faces From The War Between The States

The American Civil War started 150 years ago. Over the next few months, we'll take a look back. Above, a Union soldier and his family posed for a portrait.

On The Patio

A big coral head set in the flower bed has become home to random spiders.



The detail of a ceramic plaque.

The Latest Incarnation

The surfing statue down the road, keeping up with current events.

What's Blooming In Spring

As winter's camellias fade, the springtime nasturtiums are taking off, rambling over anything that holds still long enough to get entwined - in this case, a patio chair.

Flowers Galore

The trumpet vine on the front porch is in full bloom now, much to the delight of the bees and hummingbirds.

Great Graphics

A Brief History of Title Design from Ian Albinson on Vimeo.

With me an unofficial Keeper Of Odd Knowledge, Gerard's eclectic posts over at American Digest always strike a chord. This recent video he posted was no exception.

Mothers' Day

Mother and child, by American artist Mary Cassatt, 1900.

American Scenes In Black And White

In 1910, you could take a public transporation gasoline motor car from San Diego to La Jolla.

Below, the view of San Diego and its harbor, taken from the U.S. Grant Hotel, also circa 1910.

Afternoon Shadows

Seen from our car, late afternoon shadows fall on the lagoon at the north edge of town, while the Pacific Ocean beyond is still shiny, bright with spring sunlight.

Through Another's Eyes

A photo montage of our town came to my attention recently. It's interesting to take a fresh look at local scenes through someone else's eyes. All photographs are by Charlie Neuman.



Above, joggers make their way south on the bluff edge above the ocean, while below, bikers take a leisurely ride on the sand.



Dusk settles as people wend their way home along the coast highway.