Welcome to Tom's Pages - Here you might find photos and thoughts from weekend explorations
of California and Central Coast backroads - with a few furry felines added in just for the fluff.


You may see more photos at Tom Lott Photography www.catalott.com


Monday, March 29, 2010

Wildflowers



You're like the first wildflower in the spring
You're like a breath of what is new in everything
I'd like to build my whole world 'round you
It's sad illusion for I know just what you do

Wildflowers blaze in glory when they're born,
and fade as quickly in the early summer's morn
And if you pick them they're life is shorter still
So best to leave them as they're bloomin' on the hill

You're like the first wildflower in the spring
You're like a breath of what is new in everything
I'd like to build my whole world 'round you
It's sad illusion for I know just what you do

You'd steal my love and then you'd swiftly fade away
You'd leave me callin' at the end of winter's day
Though you are tempting as a flower full in bloom,
Still I can read you like a fortune full of doom.

You're like the first wildflower in the spring ...

Kathy Kallick, Good Ol' Persons, Anywhere the Wind Blows, 1989

Friday, March 26, 2010

On the Road - Wildflowers from East SLO County





Eating dinner on the picnic table by moonlight while an owl calls, the stream bubbles, bullfrog croaks, and the coyotes are just beginning to bark. Lights of the south San Joaquin are starting to turn on - it appeared rather empty looking down toward the valley until the lights gave the tiny towns away.

Wonderful wildflowers in Cottonwood Canyon, Elkhorn Grade hills, southern Carrizo Plains and Wind Wolves Preserve. Flowers are about at their peak this weekend.

It's a bit chilly out camping tonight, and maybe time for a warm cup of tea. I just hope that noisy frog shuts up before bed time.

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Saturday, March 20, 2010

Sunshine and Flowers

The flowers are lovely at Shell Creek on Saturday March 20, and with the fine warm weather, the visitors were nearly as numerous as the flowers. Picnics (complete with pop-up tents and portable picnic tables) were everywhere along the hillsides; photographers and picnickers all enjoyed the flower display and sunny skies. Note to self: remind me to visit Shell Creek next time on a weekday ...

The best flower display is likely in a week or two (but that is just a guess, and don't hold me responsible if you don't get out there to see the springtime colors).

Friday, March 19, 2010

Graceful



Gracie is a reluctant photo victim. "Why me?" she loudly purrs.

Glorious day in Morro Bay

Friday March 19. Calm, no wind, glassy waters, 70 degrees, sunshine, it just doesn't get much better than this in Morro Bay. Photo was taken with a cruddy cell phone camera from the roof of Morro Bay Power Plant.

Monday, March 15, 2010

Shell Creek, March 13

Shell Creek was gorgeous and green on Saturday March 13, but the peak wildflower bloom is still a week or two away. You can see the number of buds in the undergrowth that will be flowering soon. Fiddlenecks are the prevalent flower in bloom on the hillsides, painting the hills a light orange color.

Saturday, March 13, 2010

Lack of sleep

Sunday. Daylight savings time change. My least favorite day of the year.

Turn the clocks ahead and lose an hour of sleep. Yesterday, the sun was rising when I drove to work at at 0 dark 30 - now it's dark black night again. Guess I just don't appreciate the extra hours of light in the evening - esp. when I get up early.

Sleep well!

You need a little Fluff

Fluff was my furrst and favorite cat. Everyone should have fluff in their life.

Years ago, an old girl friend - a natural lady who wore jeans, work shirts and army boots - caught me eying those cute city kittens, sleek, sexy, on the prowl, out for the evening. "They're just fluff", she said. Girlfriend is long gone, but Fluff was top cat in my family for 18 years.