New Floor

For the thousands of adoring fans clamoring for pictures of our new floor. . .  

The workers were amused by the ease with which the old tiles came off. "It isn't usually this easy," one

commented. This is the floor prepping stage. We waited four hours for it to dry, moving the fan every so often to hit the wettest parts. 

I applied two coats of an acrylic polish this afternoon. 

Pretty fast work, eh? 

On Redwood Fences and Vinyl Floors

 

The California redwood tree is one of the largest, most beautiful trees in the world. With some, the circumference of the trunk is so wide that over a dozen adults holding hands can barely circle it. Or as one individual suffering from dwarfism commented in a recent documentary, it would take thirty little people, with arms outstretched, to make a circle around one base of a redwood tree. 

We installed the redwood fencing about a year ago. We did not want the look or feel of vinyl, and we did not want treated wood, because of its poisonous qualities. For a natural, no-paint, termite-resistant result, our choices were redwood or cedar. We went with redwood for its beautiful colors and for its California character. 

The thing is, natural materials need to be properly maintained, and that is why we devote so much of our time to upkeep. Thanks to a borrowed power washer, we started our Sunday morning heartily cleaning our immense redwood fence. It takes some technique to prevent serious damage to the wood. We had to keep the wand constantly moving and gauged appropriate distance to get maximum cleaning with as little damage to the wood as possible. 

The fencing on the left hasn't been cleaned yet. 

This morning, we finished about 60% of the fence. Together, we washed eight panels. These five panels are what I have to do in the afternoon, after the most intense heat of the day lifts a bit. I stopped because I was becoming sloppy with my work, and found I had dragged the electrical cord into the pool a couple times. Plus my wand trigger hand was starting to ache, so I figured a break was due!

The job is far from over. In a few days, a handyman will help me construct what I'll call blockade fencing on the sides of these planter boxes, and along the top of the short wall behind it. We didn't need it before, but with Maggie the Terrier, we realize new needs every day. She loves her property and has no desire to leave, but she's also a chaser and hunter, and loves tearing after crazy cats. One of these days, she'll sail over the short wall, just behind these planter boxes. Also, you can see where I've stuck an outdoor small table into the gap to the right. That needs to be blocked off, as well. Luckily, I really didn't want to throw away the beautiful scraps of wood left over from last year's fence project, so I have enough wood to build little fences to close those gaps. That way, the terrier, whom we've determined is a cross between a Welsh terrier and a Wire Fox terrier, will be safe, and I'll not have to worry.

 I already have gallons of water-based sealer ready to be applied in the next few days. That should protect the wood from water damage and from the UV rays that gray the wood. The work is already hard enough, and while some purists might frown on the somewhat damaging technique of using a power washer, I think it's the most efficient way. This sealer should protect for a couple years until we do it all over again. 

As I mentioned before, Maggie is the great huntress, chaser, and, oh yes, champion chewer.

We had been planning to redo this floor for years. Almost every single tile in the back room is already loose and ready for the trash, or at least to be glued down again. Near the water bowl, you can see how so many of the tiles are warped and buckled. Well, Maggie is a lot more  decisive than we mere humans are, so she's decided to begin with the demolition project. Every couple of days, she plucks up a tile, chews on it satisfactorily, and invites the unwitting Velma to join her in the snack of vinyl, plaster, and glue. Both dogs love this hearty game, so it has become our priority to get this floor redone. Thanks to the canine contingent, we will have the floor properly leveled and prepared, then have much higher grade vinyl sheeting installed tomorrow. 

Either way you look at it, we really couldn't delay any longer. The dogs might miss all the fun of tearing it up. We've even suggested they could help us get a discount if they tear the whole floor up before morning, but they like to restrict themselves to one or two tiles a day! 

More in the past hour. . . Bone, shmone. There's work to be done! : ) 

Free Tuesdays, Balboa Park

Tuesdays in Balboa Park mean free admission to certain museums. The choice of museums rotates each Tuesday of the month. If I have any errands to run uptown or have any appointments during the summer, I try to book them on Tuesdays. I can walk over to the park and use my driver's license to prove residency and thus gain the free admission. 

My photographic victories are small but satisfying. Outside the Botanical Garden, I caught this dragonfly as it settled on the lily pad. 

Outside the museums there are numerous sculptures. Some I recognize. This one is Henry Moore's "Reclining Figure." 

This bird settled at the top of a modern art sculpture. I didn't care much for the sculpture, but I loved the bird!

The "Old Globe," where small stage productions are put on. A pseudo pub next door sells beer and chips.

I found this bird while I walked to the Museum of Man. I also visited the San Diego Museum of Art and the Timken Museum. Most did not allow photography indoors. 

The Timken has a display of Russian carpets woven in the 17th century and Russian Orthodox Christian icons, decorated in tempera paint and gold. 

The San Diego Museum of Art was lovely and housed paintings by Miro, among many others, and  simple wooden furniture by Stickley. There was a section of the museum that featured American crafts. At the gift shop, I bought myself a brown T-shirt (made in the Dominican Republic, with ink made in Maine)! YAY!

Another view of Henry Moore's sculpture. 

I visited the Museum of Man, which covers everything from Australopithecus to modern man. This is a Mayan pillar. The hieroglyphics on it depict their creation myth. 

Nearby, the Botanical Garden was open for business. 

Light on leaves.

I found the spiral effect of this plant intriguing, faintly Alice in Wonderland-like. 

Ferns

Inside the Botanical Garden

Lily pond

The lily pond was inspirational. Little children marveled at the plants and water, and they looked out for the odd fish swimming by. I like the reflection on the water. 

 Most of the buildings, whether the museums, restaurants, or visitor's center are decorated with elaborate detail.


This fellow resembles images of William Shakespeare, but a blowup of the photo reveals his name: He is Diego Velazquez, a Spanish painter of the Baroque era, in the court of King Philip IV. It makes sense that I thought of Shakespeare, since they lived at approximately the same time in history and wore similar dress. This is the part of the facade of the San Diego Museum of Art. 

This sculpture of El Cid, the Castilian military leader, holds a central position in the plaza. 

If you haven't seen the Hollywood blockbuster starring Charlton Heston and Sophia Loren, you need to rent it this summer! 

 I also visited the Japanese Friendship Garden, which offered free admission today. 

But first I bought myself a cool lemonade from this lady outside the entrance. She was talking on the phone and at first forgot to give me my change, then forgot to give me all my change. But I paid attention, for a change, and eventually received all that was due. $3.00 for a small cup of lemonade. Thank goodness admission was free!

Bamboo

Koi fish swam in the pond. That is what I enjoyed best at the Japanese Garden. 

Hot Day in Cuyamaca

We had a slow start to our Saturday morning and headed out a little too late to Cuyamaca Rancho State Park. It was easy to be mistaken about the weather; we live closer to the ocean and woke up to an overcast morning, as is the norm in June. Inland, however, it's a different story, and getting to the park around noon after a long drive made for a hot and dry experience. Although there were two families ready to hit the trails, most sat in the shade near their tents to wait out the heat. 

We paid $8.00 at the ranger station to enter the park. One of the rangers had lost her earring in the restroom, and though we tried to help, we could not find it. She continued to look for it outside and took it all in stride.

 I've been to this park before, on a week-long field trip in early spring. Back then, the weather changed each day of the week: the first day was summery; the next was spring-like and perfect for hiking; the next was chilly and overcast, and it snowed on the last day. 

Today, we enjoyed the brief walk in the shade under the oak and manzanita trees. 

What I didn't know was that most of the trails, some of which are absolutely beautiful and travel along cool streams, do not allow dogs. Some are strictly for hikers; others are horse trails. We saw about 30 riders and horses getting ready to go on one of the trails this late morning, but our dogs were limited to only one trail in the park. So, after the ranger gave us our instructions, pass, and map, we parked and headed out, not on the trail, but on the hot asphalt road that would eventually lead to the dog trail. 

Many of the trees bore the marks of a recent fire, and although the area was not as green as we had hoped, it still offered a rugged beauty.  

This particular area of the park also allows for camping, so we saw numerous tents and lots of families with young kids and their dogs. This was not so surprising, since it is one of the great American rites of childhood to go on a camping trip. It was all very sweet but a little crowded when all we wanted to do was walk in nature. We did see a few birds, including what seemed to be hawks flying high above the trees. 

The firehouse outside the entrance had a sign advising people that they were in the process of using control fires, and that we should not call the fire department if we happened to spot a fire. Thankfully, we didn't see any fires, controlled or otherwise.

Unprepared for the heat and the restricted access, we turned around, hiked the mile or so back to the car, and headed home, exhausted. Hiking in Cuyamaca is something we might try again in cooler weather. For the rest of the summer, though, we'll probably stick to coastal destinations, unless we are up and about very early in the morning. 

Summer Projects

This bird visited while I relaxed in the pool area. 

I have always enjoyed having a summer vacation and can't imagine not having several weeks off during the summer. With home ownership, however, comes a long list of house projects to be accomplished during my  time off. I thoroughly enjoy working outdoors, so the responsibility is usually a welcome pleasure. Working on my own property provides a sense of satisfaction, and receiving visits from Earth's creatures while I work or take a break adds to that sense that all is well and good. 

I spent part of the day trimming back plants in the backyard, then used a cement mix to patch up part of the garden pathway that leads from the back door, past the yard to the pool area. The U.S. is a do-it-yourself nation: pump your own gas, mend your own fence, lay your own sod, and paint your own walls. The rugged individualist spirit is still prevalent here, especially with the economic downturn, which makes saving a buck imperative. 

My list of imminent summer projects includes painting the pathway with special red paint; reapplying a protective seal to the redwood fence; trimming back the hedges in the front yard; painting the wrought iron fence in  the front yard; removing the weed jungle on the side of the house--especially to keep rattlesnakes and skunks away; sealing and grouting the outdoor tiles; planting cacti and succulents in our giant planter boxes; and tending to the everyday upkeep of a healthy garden.  

These green tomatoes offer a glimmer of hope to our efforts to grow any produce. I wish I had paid better attention as a child to all the work with the land my grandparents supervised in the village. I was spoiled and never understood the effort or dedication involved. According to the season, my grandparents faithfully provided us with olives, olive oil, white grapes, red grapes, grape leaves for rolling and stuffing, pomegranates, green onions, sweet figs, orange cactus fruit, dried thyme, decorative calla lilies, molasses, dates, and almonds. 

Seeing how much work is involved in growing a mere handful of tomatoes makes me better understand how much our grandparents loved us and loved the land. 

Phoebe came to visit again after I finished some minor weeding around the tomato plants. She seems fearless and likes to get so close, she makes the falcons look timid.

Next time I am in Mexico, I think I will invest in a clay bird bath to put in the yard. There are classic, plain ones and others are painted in colorful patterns. I'll know which one to get when I see it!

Desert and Rose Gardens, Balboa Park

Balboa Park is the largest urban park in the United States. It lies in the heart of San Diego and includes the world famous San Diego Zoo. It hosts a variety of wonderful art museums, a play area exclusively for dogs, a village of "houses" that pay tribute to various countries, and a plethora of water fountains, shops, and restaurants. 

The park is vast and can be overwhelming for a tourist who might try to fit it all into one day. We, on the other hand, have the option to go and visit a different spot each time and make a casual outing out of it. So, when the sun came shining through this late morning, we gathered our dogs and headed for the cactus and rose gardens. 

We found an astonishing variety of succulents and cactus plants. 

This one strongly reminds me of glass artwork by Dale Chihuly, a renowned glass artist who creates such shapes for things like glass chandeliers. They sell for in the tens of thousands. I went to one of his exhibitions once in St. Petersburg, Florida. I wonder if this type of cactus was one of his inspirations. 

I will have to do some research to figure out the names of all these different trees. I found the shape of this trunk very interesting. 

Crowds appreciating the roses. . . 

Maggie was very interested in the wildlife, including the bird that made her look up in this photo. She pounced into several bushes and delighted in flushing out squirrels and lizards. 

I had thought that this might be a baobab tree, as described in Le Petit Prince, but it isn't. I'll have to find a site that identifies it for me! 

Bird, most likely a type of goldfinch, gathering material for a nest. It must be the right time of year for it. We have a couple sparrows at home preparing a nest in our hanging fern out in the pool area. 

Bizarre and interesting. . . 

We enjoyed the variety and surprise of the cactus garden more than the rather tame rose garden. 

More roses. . . 

Velma Olivia trotted like a champ and enjoyed the rose bushes. She is not afraid of other dogs or of people, but she did not like the water fountains. 

 Mexicans make a kind of fresh salad using the flat broad "leaf" part of the cactus. It is sold in some supermarkets in the U.S., conveniently stripped of its thorns. In Tijuana, roaming street vendors sell bags   of cactus, ready to be used in the salad. 

In Lebanon, my grandfather's favorite fruit was the prickly pear. In July and August, he would eat them by the dozen, even after the doctor told him he shouldn't have more than one or two. The fruit is laden with seeds, which can be a bit hard on the stomach if eaten in large volumes. I can't stand the taste at room temperature, but once refrigerated, they can be addictive!

It was always a trick to have the outer skin and thorns removed. I think I tried it once but was very unsuccessful and ended up with fingers full of tiny thorns. Gloves, newspaper, and a good knife are necessary tools. The flesh of the fruit ranges from yellow-orange to deep red.