Chumash Pow Wow Oct.1 2016, Santa Ynez, CA

Love a Pow Wow! The DRUMS and the colorful energy is exciting!


Opening ceremonies:

Dancers at opening ceremony

The announcer:

Western NY beauty Sept. 2016

I enjoyed overnight trip to "the land" in Cuba NY with my family.  Loved taking 3yr. old Ryan on a morning walk to the pond and pointing out plants and animals. We had a good time.

Ryan touching the Queen Anne's lace flower

Apples on our walk to the pond

Lots of goldenrod in the country this time of year

the Pond

Barn on the ride to Cuba

Hearing Lynne Fredrick sing her blues on Niagara river one evening a big highlight.

Family Pics- Buffalo trip Sept 2016, back "home"

So good to see family for a few weeks.  My grandkids and daughters, and my 93 yr. old dad.
It was hard to leave.

My sweet Dad at Elderwood

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S.B Fiesta 2016 Pics

Enjoyed Fiesta Celebration very much this year in Santa Barbara.  The week long celebration of the city's Spanish heritage is filled with a variety of activities.  I wasn't able to attend the Horse and carriage parade on Friday, unfortunately. It's one of the largest equestrian Parades in the country.

The following pics are from the Noche De Ronde festivities at the Sunken Gardens. I love the Flamenco dancing best, but the Mexican folk dancers very colorful and talented.

Some pics from the Saturday morning Children's Parade also included:

The Children's Parade on Sat. morning.

 

Trip to Ojai, Taft Gardens and Lake Casitas, July 2016

My girlfriend Chris and I took a trip to Taft Gardens in Ojai last Sat.  It's about 45 min drive from S.B. on a scenic winding road through the mountains. We took the 101 freeway along the coast to Rt 150 past lake Casitas. The Gardens are 260 acres, privately owned with exotic garden plants from Africa and Australia.  It's very hard to find, even though I was given a map.   Directions at the bottom said "do not distribute this map".   The neighbors don't want lot of people disturbing the serenity of this rather isolated spot. We got there about 10am and there was only one other car in the parking lot!

I'm leading a field trip for our SB Camera Club (Channel City Camera Club) here next weekend. So far we have about 8 people signed up to go.

On the way we went by Lake Casitas (pics looking in both direction):

We came across this old "organic berry farm" building with a threatening sign:

Lots of Swallowtail butterflies at the Garden:

exotic plants:

 vintage truck in the garden:

Beautiful blossoms:

One of the buildings: