Goodbye Fall, Hello Winter

Southern California weather is quite mild. We are the land of palm trees, sunshine and convertibles. Around here the change of season is barely discernible. Even in December, you still find people walking around in tank tops, shorts and sandals. Just last week, I came across pool toys floating in the water that weren't there the week before. Did they REALLY go in? Right now, the pool water temp is about 58 degrees. And, it costs a bloody fortune to heat a pool. Maybe they need to join the Polar Bear Club.

I realize that 58 degrees is The Tropics compared to some areas, but we Californians are quite spoiled. We pride ourselves on being able to go to the beach, the mountains and the desert in one day. We barbecue year round. And, we don't know how to drive in the rain.

I know we are not "officially" in Winter yet, but I saw an unofficial sign that Fall is over at my first pool on Friday morning. I was tossing my net contents in the yard waste bin and I looked in and saw "Fall" had been chucked, in order to make way for "Winter". It was kind of sad and beautiful at the same time.

Still Life

Even Garbage can be Beautiful

Gorgeous Gourds

Today it's in the seventies and beautiful.

Tree Ornaments

 Our trees decorate themselves

A pretty color combo

 And, there's those palm trees

 

We like to mix things up  

 I thought I'd throw in a couple of Fall pics, just because I can!

Oak Leaves

I love me some pumpkins!

Spiky Things

This was taken in October, but after I played with it in Lightroom, it looked so wintery.

In the shade of the old Oak Tree

Now, it's time for the cold. We actually had a little cold spell back in early November.

Brrrrrrrr

 I took a brisk morning walk that day.

Frosty Grass

Icy Carpet

Frosty Fence

Ice Crystals

A chilly soccer match

Good thing they have cleats

About three years ago, I found a puddle of water that had collected in one of the lids on my truck that had frozen solid.

Now this was cold!!

Frozen Disc

I welcome the cold, California style.

It Must Be a Sign

I'm sitting here with no idea what today's post is going to be. I'm distracted by reruns of "How I Met Your Mother", and thinking, if I'm going to post something, I better snap out if it and get on the stick. I can't seem to tear myself away from the television. I'm reeling myself back in at the commercials. Oh, this is going to be a great blog!...she said sarcastically.

Obviously, my brain is elsewhere, but that doesn't seem to be stopping me from babbling about what's NOT on my mind, in hopes of stumbling onto an interesting subject that I can tie into some fabulous pictures. This could be a long night.

I finally turned off the TV so I could concentrate and then Billy puts a Chicago concert on in the living room and cranks up the volume (it's his Friday)...and there goes any chance of serious thought process. I guess I will just pour myself a glass of wine and go with the flow. Lucky for me, I got a special wine shipment from my Kalyra wine club today...yippee!!

I was toying with a couple different topics today and nothing presented itself to me that nailed one down. So, since I did not see a "sign", I will make that my mission for the evening.

There are signs everywhere...should we believe everything we read?

Wish I would have known earlier

Maybe I need this service 

No, I think I'll keep him.

 This was a fun sign

Tee Hee

Here is a confusing sign

Don't mess with me, I'm the PTWWW!!!!!
???????

 This was along a riverbank in Boise

I concur!!!

Another sight to see in Boise

Love her anyways!!!!

Maybe she's....

Poor Baby!!

Hey, I found a sign for me!

I need one of these

 Fixer upper signs

Good Advice

Cute signs

They ARE good barkers!

Shut the Front Door

Not a comforting sign

Will do

Don't these signs mean the same thing?

Or Not a through street

Maybe this one is "politically incorrect"

Just like my thought processes tonight

I found this one sad and mysterious

I didn't know you could post something like this

And to lighten the mood

Quite Cheery

And, finally, a nod to my liquid sunshine of the evening.

And my other sunshine!!!

Well, my brain is frazzled so I will take that as a "sign" to call it a night.

Field Trip!!!

I love a good field trip! Monday, I got to go to the Huntington Library. When I was little, my dad used to take us all the time. He was fascinated by the Japanese garden and the Bonsai section. I have very vague recollections of a red arched bridge over a koi-filled pond. I also remember running around through the botanical garden. Last time I went I was single digits...a long time ago. Let's just say, this time was like going for the first time.

I went with a gaggle of girls and we had a nice leisurely lunch at a Pasadena eatery and then cruised the park from open to close. I snapped away all day. I was bushed, but happy! Even though it's not spring and "flower season", we still saw pretty blooms and great landscapes. We weren't able to get to all the buildings or the botanical garden, but that will be for another time.

A Friendly Flyer

Fall Offerings

  

Grape Leaf in Fall

Pretty Petals

 We recruited a passerby to take this one...

Me and My Posse

The Japanese Garden's red bridge is no longer red, but it still brought back memories. Who knows, maybe it never was.

Serenity Now

Bamboo Pathway

A Tender  Flower

 

BONSAI!!!

The Chinese Garden was beautiful and tranquil.

A Room with a View

Peaceful Pagoda

Tranquility

Such Beauty

Reflections

 Oh, yeah, and this crazy lady...

My Sister took this one

Pink Pretties

 I got some cool flower pics in the Conservatory (a hot house with rain foresty plants).

The Conservatory

A Giant Terrarium

A Strange Bucket-Like Flower

So Delicate

Just Cute!

The Children's Garden had some fun little paths and cool mist and fog special effects.

Into the Mist

Fall Colors

Bottle Brush

Erupting Volcano

Little Sprouts

I will not wait another forty-plus years to go again. I think the early spring will do.