Category Archives: Beach

A Different View

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This does not look like my desert view from home because it’s not. It’s the view from a living room window of the cottage we’ve rented for vacation each summer since 2018. It’s a nice break from the heat to be in the cool weather by the beach. Plus a change of scenery isn’t so bad, either.

Here are some more views:

The living room is upstairs and has a view of the ocean. The kitchen and bathroom are upstairs, too. Downstairs is the master bedroom.

The kitchen may be tiny, but it’s full of charm.

The stairs are proving to be a challenge for my ankle. All the ups and downs to unload the car were something else! This photo doesn’t capture the steepness.

Then we went for a beach walk with friends. I made it with a little push and pull, plus encouragement, to get over the rocks and boulders to the sandy beach. Hopefully, I’ll manage it without help in a day or two. It’s a short trail, only a few yards, but with obstacles that were in my way!

One of my favorite things about the beaches in this area is they are not crowded. You almost feel like you have the entire beach to yourself.

My friend pointed out that Ashton Kutcher and his wife are remodeling their $17 million beach house. It had a small cottage in front, that they scrapped completely and they’re making the main house bigger.

Here’s a photo I took of their property last year. I read that the small cottage in front got damaged by a mudslide. So now they’re going to have a different view as well.

What do you like best about a different view than your normal everyday one?

Fear of Vacation

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A beach walk near Santa Barbara

I used to look forward to our beach vacation every year. Until this year, that is.

I literally lived for beach time. Especially when the kids were young and we’d go to Laguna Beach for two months — or even the entire summer. Living in the desert, I’d need to get out of the heat. The kids would have swim lessons at the city pool and we’d head to the beach for the rest of the day. They’d have hours of free play, using their imaginations building drip castles or building a restaurant and serving me assorted dishes made from sand and seaweed.

brother and sister playing at the beach
My kids when they used their imaginations to play in the sand.

Now that it’s almost beach vacation time, albeit much shorter than the vacations in the past, I’m apprehensive. Why? Because I have been on two trips the past few months. And they didn’t go well.

First, we explored the mountains and forests of Arizona. I tripped on our first hike. I thought I had a sprain, but I broke my ankle. Within a week of coming home, I was rushed into surgery. That put a damper on my summer.

Next, we flew to a friend’s daughter’s wedding in Northern California. We came home and got terribly sick with COVID.

Needless to say, I worry about what’s going to happen on our upcoming vacation. Shark attack? Car accident? Food poisoning? My imagination is going wild. This morning I asked my husband, “What’s wrong with staying home? I like it here.” After all, there’s no place like home.

Two summer vacations ago, we were worried about our Daughter-In-Law’s cancer. I was so worried about her tests, surgery, etc. It puts a harsh reality on our summer vacation — that everything is not beach mode and real life worries take hold — regardless of vacation or not.

FYI, If you think it’s a good time to break into our home, think twice. I have two neighbors watching out, plus a house sitter. Good luck!

I’m sure once I get to our destination, everything will be okay. At least I hope so.

Where is your favorite location for vacation?

An entertaining read

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I bought this book in Salt Lake City at a used book store for 75 cents. I was almost done with the book I was reading and wanted something fun to read on the plane. I ended up saving “Once Is Not Enough” for the beach. It was a perfect beach read.

After reading LA’s post Anatomy of a Story on Waking Up on the Wrong Side of 50, I instantly thought of my beach vacation book. In her post, she discussed four different categories of books and what makes some books good all the way to a classic.

Of course I read “Valley of the Dolls.” But that was the only Susann book I’ve read. I found this one a blast to the past with nostalgia from the late 60s and early 70s.

The characters were good, the story was faced paced. It was an entertaining read, and not a heavy book. Perfect beach book. The book was published in 1973 and I would have been in the sixth or seventh grade. Definitely not a book my parents would have allowed me to read at that age with all the drugs and sex.

It’s definitely dated, but I enjoyed looking back at the era in time. This book was Susann’s third best selling novel. I just discovered there was a movie made from the book. I’ll have to see if it’s available online or to stream on our TV.

What books do you remember from the 60s and 70s?

What Jacqueline Susann books have you read?

Knocking down the cobwebs

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Santa Barbara Harbor is where our friends keep their sailboat and I get the best fish tacos in the world. At least I haven’t found any that are better.

“Let the clean air blow the cobwebs from your body. Air is medicine.”

Lillian Russell

Sunday was my first morning waking up in my own bed. After a long drive home, it felt good to get home and see Olive. My cat sitter texted me Tuesday, Thursday and called on Friday. Olive was done with our vacation. She had quit eating and was constipated. I told the cat sitter where Olive’s RX laxative was stored. I was anxious to get home to Olive.

We got home Saturday afternoon and Olive gave me a long plaintive cry. She was obviously uncomfortable and unhappy. We gave her another dose of laxative and by Saturday night, Olive was feeling better. I have to hold Olive while my better half forces the laxative into her mouth and down her throat. I have no idea how the cat sitter managed it alone.

So what about cobwebs, you ask?

Waking up in my own bed with a dramatic sunrise, I noticed lots of cobwebs outside. After I finished my morning routine, I went outside and knocked them down. Then I thought about what else I wanted to do outside before it got hot. I kicked in the pool and enjoyed drying off in the sun and breeze on the zero gravity recliner. I felt so much better being outside and getting fresh air after packing, driving, and unpacking.

I’ve decided to add a few things to my daily routine to get rid of the cobwebs in my body. I can poke around the yard after our morning walk and see what little things I need to attend to like cobwebs and weeds. Then I can jump in the pool. No, it’s not the Pacific Ocean, but I should take advantage of it every day before the cold weather hits.

While it’s still hot, I’m going to take my second walk of the day on the YMCA’s elliptical machine. At the beach, we were walking in the morning and evening. Eventually, I’ll add lap swimming at the Y.

The best fish tacos are at the Santa Barbara Harbor at On the Alley, which is part of Brophy Brothers.

On The Alley (OTA) is a more casual, sister-venue to Brophy Bros., Santa Barbara’s wildly popular seafood restaurant. Serving fresh fish tacos, burgers and salads, On The Alley dishes up quick, quality lunch fare within the beautiful harbor. Included on the menu are a handful of Brophy Bros. classics like New England Clam Chowder and Fish & Chips. Breakfast is also offered, including Smoothies and customizable Breakfast Bowls. Enjoy the generous portions and wallet-friendly prices. Order online for fast and easy pick-up. Savor it outside at our tables or take your food with you wherever you go!  https://www.onthealley.com/

This sign is advertising Stand Up and Paddle under moonlight. I saw the joke when I took this photo. I wish I had read the full sign — I might have signed up for moonlight paddling.

What do you do to get rid of cobwebs?

Not again!

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A sea lion in distress at the beach.

The other day, we were on our evening beach walk when we first saw the sea lion above. I noticed a woman standing near the sea lion. The sea lion would alternate sitting up and lying down. (I first wrote laying down — but I fixed it. Lie and lay have stumped me for years.)

We sat and watched the sea lion struggle to get back into the ocean. She would bob her head up and down while sitting up. Two summers ago, we saw a number of sea lions on the beach in distress. They did the same thing as this one. I called the hotline for marine animals and told them the location of the sea lion.

Then there were three women standing by the sea lion. I walked to the water’s edge to tell them to keep their distance and not to get any closer to the sea lion. I had learned that people and dogs can stress sick sea lions to death!

When I approached the women, I noticed one was wearing a uniform from the Channel Islands Marine and Wildlife Institute. That’s who I had called. So, they were already aware. I asked the volunteer if the sea lion was suffering from the same issue that we saw a few years ago. She said yes, and that she was stationed to keep people and dogs away and to observe until sunset. She said they weren’t doing any rescues that night.

I wrote about sea lions HERE and HERE two summers ago. The second link has a video of a sea lion which shows you how they move when affected with Domoic Acid poisoning.

Here’s an excerpt:

The volunteer from the Channel Islands Marine Wildlife Institute explained that the sea lion was suffering from Domoic Acid poisoning, which is caused by algae bloom.

My husband said that algae bloom happens every year. Isn’t that a normal thing? Wouldn’t sea lions be used to it?

She said they were inundated with calls about sick sea lions along the coast and that the Domoic Acid poisoning could be fatal. The volunteers were out observing the sea lions from sunrise to sunset along the beaches. Apparently stress could make the illness worse. She was standing on the beach all day to keep people and dogs away from the sick sea lion.

The volunteer yesterday explained that Domoic Acid poisoning occurs when fish eat the plankton, which isn’t toxic to them. Then the sea lions eat the fish and they get sick.

It was sad to see the sea lion suffering. It was still on beach when we left with the volunteer standing near. On the bright side, she said they’ve had very few Domoic calls this year, unlike two years ago.

Do you confuse Lie and Lay? How about effect and affect? Any others?

What do you think about people approaching a sea lion on the beach? I watched it happen two summers ago, people ignoring the yellow crime tape and signs to stay away.

A Special Evening

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One of my friends who lives near Santa Barbara suggested we have dinner at the beach for Labor Day. And for old time sakes, have a bonfire and make s’mores. She’s the one starting to build the fire. We gathered small pieces of driftwood for kindling and used some napkins and paper plates from dinner to fuel the fire. One couple brought fire wood.

We had a potluck dinner with two other couples. One brought homemade pizza and pasta salad. I brought goat cheese brie with crackers, sweet peppers with hummus, and roasted cauliflower and zucchini. The third couple brought skewers, marshmallows, graham crackers and assorted chocolate bars including Hershey’s and Ghirardelli dark chocolate bars in different flavors including caramel and orange.

The s’mores and bonfire brought back memories when we visited these friends for Spring Break when our kids were young. We’d camp in our tent at Carpinteria State Beach and enjoy campfires at night. We always had s’mores.

camping at the beach
Camping at Carpinteria State Beach with the kids and Angus, a few years ago.

Here are photos from our Labor Day picnic at the beach:

It’s almost sunset.

The guys (hubby on the left).

The wives and my empty chair. Somebody had to take the photo and everyone was too comfy for a selfie.

Our friends set up a camping table behind the fire to hold our potluck dinner. The campfire brought back many memories with our family camping at the beach — even when I was a child. But also a memory of surprise one summer when my high school-aged kids planned a beach campfire with their swim team friends and I wasn’t invited!

The lights of Santa Barbara can be seen across the water. The train tracks are in the foreground. Time to say goodnight and goodbye.

Have you had campfires or camped at the beach? What are your thoughts on s’mores? What foods bring back memories to you?

Orchids, Dolphins and a Golden Retriever

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This is five-year-old Banner, who belongs to friends. We were hanging out on their patio waiting for dinner. Banner wanted food, too.

We visited an orchid farm a mile from our VRBO called Gallup & Stribling Orchids.

I found this information about the germination of orchids to be fascinating:

Fusing Horticulture & Technology

Gallup & Stribling Orchids has one of the largest plant tissue culture laboratories in the United States dedicated to orchid propagation. We provide full laboratory services to the hobbyist and commercial grower—domestically and internationally. Our investment in the laboratory has enabled us to maintain a scientifically pure and well-curated collection of beautiful orchids to share worldwide.

Fusing horticulture and technology in the laboratory has paved the way for hobbyist and commercial orchid production—Gallup & Stribling is proud to be at the forefront.

Laboratory services include orchid seed germination, cloning by mertistem-tissue culture of Cymbdium, Cattleya, and Oncidium orchids, replating of all orchid genera, and treatment for ploidy change.

https://www.gallup-stribling.com/laboratory/

Aren’t the orchids gorgeous?

We’ve been seeing lots of dolphins. Sunday morning there were dozens of dolphins. There were two types, which I’m trying to identify. Mostly the difference is the size and how they act. The “big” ones slowly swim through the ocean surfacing from time to time.

The smaller ones swim fast and leap into the air. I’ve looked up dolphins in Santa Barbara and I believe the two we’ve seen are Short-beaked Common Dolphins (the smaller sized). They are less than six feet in length and weigh up to 170 pounds.

Behavior and Diet

Short-beaked common dolphins are often active at the surface. These highly social, energetic dolphins commonly leap out of the water at high speeds, flip end-over-end, and somersault in the air. They will also swim alongside ships riding the bow for long periods of time. This “bow riding” behavior has even been observed alongside large whales.

https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/species/short-beaked-common-dolphin

The larger dolphins I believe are the Common Bottlenose Dolphins:

Common Bottlenose Dolphin

Common bottlenose dolphins are found throughout the world in both offshore and coastal waters, including harbors, bays, gulfs, and estuaries of temperate and tropical waters. They are one of the most well-studied marine mammals in the wild. In addition, they are easy to view in the wild because they live close to shore and are distributed throughout coastal and estuarine waters. 

Meet Our Cetaceans

I tried to video dolphins the other day and I accidentally clicked on Slo-Mo. You can try to watch the video, but if it’s too slow, I understand…Although it does speed up at the end.

https://videopress.com/v/VRgVqEU7?resizeToParent=true&cover=true&preloadContent=metadata&useAverageColor=true
Slo-Mo video of dolphins

What are your thoughts about orchids? Do you have any? Are you able to get them to bloom?

Did you know orchids can be produced in labs?

What are your thoughts about dolphins?