
Up early for choir practice and was greeted by this beauty of a misty orange sunrise.
A place for my photos and thoughts and stuff.

Up early for choir practice and was greeted by this beauty of a misty orange sunrise.
On our way to a quick getaway to Palm Springs, we stopped in Riverside to have a look at the glorious Mission Inn.

Some of the Christmas decorations were still up.

The William Howard Taft chair, because he was a large guy and needed a tad more room.

Stained glass windows abound throughout the hotel.

The beautiful courtyard (taken up by an insanely overpriced Mexican restaurant).

It has loads of flying buttresses!

The “Anton clock.” It rotates through a series of five figures: a California Indian and grizzly (shown), St. Francis of Assisi, explorer Juan Batista de Anza, and Father Junipero Serra. No, we did not see it in action. It stayed on the Indian and grizzly the whole time we were there.

The outside of the St. Francis of Assisi chapel. I was hoping it would be open when we were there, but it was not. I played a wedding there once, and it was quite a sight, with its Tiffany stained glass, immense, 18th century gold-leafed altar, and enormous wood beams.

A portion of the Flyers Wall, which commemorates the visits of famous aviators.

The creche was still up.

Lots of lovely plaster-work throughout.
It’s a really spectacular place, with endless nooks and crannies full of surprising , quirky, and delightful details.
Highly recommended if you’re in the area.


I don’t mind an occasional sleepless night. This kind of thing is one of the reasons why.

It was so insanely windy, so we went for a walk.


These people were getting sandblasted, I guarantee it.


It was gorgeous.

It was a great day to be a bird if you wanted to fly inland at about 70 mph.

It was a flag-ripper of a morning!



Beautiful sights I saw on a walk.



But who am I to judge?

A tourist’s paradise!

The tower where the scary voice calls you out when you do something wrong on the beach.

Out to hook a surfer?

Hello, Saddleback!

When there’s actual waves to be had, there’s always far fewer surfers.

Can’t he read?

The palms are looking good.

I do. I always will.

The greatest patty melt ever crafted by the hand of Man.

Her last photo.
Alfie left us on the evening of October 23 after a full and happy day of walking and romping in the neighborhood, playtime, treats, mealtimes, and plenty of naps. We were blessed beyond measure to have her for 13 1/2 years.






They do not live long enough.
We miss her so much.

Riding out the accursed Great Pacific Airshow in a park far away.

Alfie, the aggressive picknicker says, “Make me a plate, human!”

A wee bit of fallish color.

She’s thinking this air show avoidance thing ain’t half bad.