Country Home, Escondido

Today, I squeezed out the last remaining hours of my three-day weekend and seized the opportunity to wish a friend a belated happy birthday. The couple recently bought a beautiful home in Escondido, so this was also my chance to take a look at their new place. 

The views are breathtaking and very much worth the drive, approximately 30 miles northeast of central San Diego. The farthest mountain, the blue one in the background, is part of the Cuyamaca Mountains. It is home to the Cuyamaca forest and to a little town called Julian, famous for its apple trees and apple pies. We weren't sure what the mountains in the foreground are called. The flowers are a kind of poppy. Little yellow birds alighted on the flowers, but much too quickly for me to grab the camera. 

Dozens of elated swallows circled high up in the sky overhead, singing and chirping vociferously. 

Escondido can become very hot in the summer, but it was a very pleasant day and perfect in the shade. A cool breeze played through the trees and through the open doors of the house. 

Shade under sprawling green trees, and more shade under the dramatic awning. Wind chimes played gracefully in the breeze, as well. 

The property is a nature-lover's dream, with abundant fruit trees and various flowers and plants. This is a picture of mustard flowers. There were orange, grapefruit, apple, avocado, and loquat trees, grapevines, macadamia trees. . . you name it, it was there. 

Avocado

Macadamia

Grapevines

Loquats

 I can't remember half the names of the different trees, but the majority need to be watered regularly. Only the palm trees can survive without extra watering in this more arid climate. 

The plant in the foreground is the agave plant. Indian tribeswomen used to chew this plant and mix it with their saliva to begin a fermentation process in the making of pulque. It would then be offered to the men of the tribe. John Steinbeck's The Pearl, set in La Paz, Mexico, describes the character Kino drinking this beverage, but the agave plant is also made into a kind of syrup that can be used to sweeten desserts, such as homemade ice cream. 

I am convinced that all my future dwellings must provide a connection to the earth, generous natural light, and if possible, a fantastic view. 

 Every room in the house has several windows, some even have a second row of windows closer to the ceiling to let in additional light. The result is an airy, light atmosphere inside the home. 

A Santa Fe- style home, with solid wood doors. The clay lion's head is from Mexico and over 100 years old. The home is built from stone, wood, tile, and clay materials, resulting in a very earthy, warm, and inviting space. 

Sunny Day in Las Gaviotas

Las Gaviotas Emblem

I don't know whether it was busier in the sky, in the water, or on the land. Las Gaviotas was hopping with activity this weekend. It is Memorial Day weekend in the U.S. and many people who ordinarily don't travel down here were present. Many had rented some of the available beachfront houses. They were tanning, surfing, playing volleyball, eating, drinking, and playing games. Normally, a crowd like this would make people frown, but Americans have been staying away from Mexico because of ongoing drug-related violence. This time, the droves of visitors were a welcome sight. 

A local fisherman has permission from the residents to set up shop every Saturday. His fish is fresh and his prices are good. Halibut sells for $5.00 a pound.

 The fisherman was busy preparing ceviche, which is the Mexican version of sushi. It consists of finely chopped raw seafood, "cooked," by having straight lemon juice squeezed onto it. Place on a tortilla chip and munch away. 

Fish heads and entrails tossed over the side attracted many seagulls, who were happy to act as clean-up crew. 

They were so fat, gorged, and content that they allowed me to sit right by them while I chomped on my mustard-lined hotdog. 

These two gulls were friendly, but I saw several others fight over scraps. Seagulls are very bold birds. In the past, I've had one pluck a scoop of ice cream right off my cone. 

Younger seagulls have a brownish color. When this one grows a little older, it will develop white and blue-grey feathers. 

This home has put up the U.S. flag for the holiday. The Mexican flag is there, too. I learned yesterday that a light must shine on the flag at all times, unless it is folded away. Nighttime usually means the flag must be put away. 

 
I walked out to Pelican Point, hoping to get a shot of a pelican actually resting still on a rock, but the many beach-goers sat on the rocks that jut out into the ocean. The pelicans, unlike seagulls, usually shy away from humans.

On this day, I did not find a single pelican on land, but there were dozens and dozens of them flying back and forth in the air. 

Las Gaviotas has so many beautiful homes, and as an enclosed community, provides a safe and beautiful environment for residents to walk, play tennis, and the like. 

I could sit for hours (I do when I am down there) just watching the waves and the birds. Certain times of the year, dolphins and whales are part of the scene, too. 

My last pelican shot of the day. I had given up and was just relaxing when this opportunity arrived. 

You wouldn't believe how loud, crisp, and clear this little house finch was singing. Some have red breasts and others yellow. 

At the end of the day a hummingbird came to sip from the feeder provided on a neighbor's balcony. 

Baja Malibu

Baja Malibu is a small beach community in Mexico, a short drive from San Diego.

It was a misty, overcast morning, but we found our way down to the beach. This was a mission of seek and find because the usual stairs down to the beach collapsed during the storms of last winter. So, we trekked a bit up the road towards San Antonio, and eventually found a way down.

I like the light coming through the clouds in this picture. That's the silhouette of a seagull. 

Sea Kelp

 Playa Blanca condominuims we passed on our way to find a path down to the beach.

Two ladies were walking this cinnamon-colored poodle. He was very friendly and posed for the photo. 

 A flock of whimbrels settled on the beach. They use their long bills to dig out tiny crabs and other treats from the sand. 

They are skittish birds and would not let us get too close. 

A man with two rottweilers came jogging past and these birds took off! 

It is a holiday weekend in the States, so many fun-seekers have come down to enjoy the waves. 

Many of the houses on the beach are derelict and in serious neglect. The walls facing the ocean are a favorite canvas for graffiti artists.

Some areas are more well-cared for than others. 

About twenty swallows darted in between the houses and trees. Swallows are identifiable by their split tails. They are very hard to capture in flight because they do not fly in a predictable path. Their movements remind me somewhat of bats, but a bit faster and less jerky. 

Beautiful back of a sparrow. It was time for us to head down to Las Gaviotas for a BBQ. 

How Does Our Garden Grow?

These are probably the only $100 cucumbers in the world. After weeding, tilling the soil, mixing in nutrient-rich soil, watering religiously, and fending off various pests, a very dedicated city farmer holds the fruits of her labor in the palm of her hand. 

We've tried radishes, spinach, avocados, and now, cucumbers. Three for us. Thirty for the garden bugs.

Urban Falcons

When I first moved to central San Diego, I lived in a house that faced a canyon. One of the greatest pleasures I had was viewing the peregrine falcons that frequented the canyon. It so happens, that the falcons also love to hang out above the swimming pool at my current place. It's not as natural as the canyon setting, but it's still a thrill to spot these magnificent birds of prey. 

Two falcons, probably mates, visit nearly everyday. This afternoon, each one perched on a different pole, across the swimming pool from each other. It was a breezy afternoon; their feathers ruffled in the wind. This one was in the nearest corner. I stood somewhat under it to get this pic. 

I can usually tell when they are around before I even look. The reason is that they shriek and declare themselves. 

 Today, they preferred to give me their business end. They were on the lookout for mice or other edibles. I'm hoping that means the little critters they want for dinner are outside the perimeter of my property. At any rate, I'm glad these guys are around to control the rodents. We had plenty of problems with mice about six months ago.

 This one was quite a distance away, preening.

See that electricity pole beyond the fence, at the top of the photo? That is where the preening falcon was perched. Just to give you an idea of the distance involved.

Anytime I try digital zoom to go beyond the 18X optical zoom, the results are fuzzy.