throwback thursday: Throwback Thursday - The Last Hand-cut Christmas Tree
- 12/21/23 02:01 PM
Throwback Thursday - The Last Hand-cut Christmas Tree
For years living in New England we had a tradition of getting a cut Christmas, hand-sawed down by yours truly. It was a fun activity which the kids enjoyed, despite dealing with the winter weather in early December that included cold weather and sometimes snow. There were plenty of tree farms in the Boston area to choose from, especially when we lived out in the suburbs in Bolton, Littleton and Stowe.
The tradition continued when we spent a couple of years in the Twin Cities in Minnesota with even colder weather. The second winter we … (26 comments)
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throwback thursday: Throwback Thursday: The Orioles are Back in Carlsbad
- 02/25/21 03:02 PM
Throwback Thursday: The Orioles are Back in Carlsbad
It seems a fitting Throwback Thursday topic since I saw my first male oriole for 2021 this morning at the jelly feeder. I knew the time was near as they reportedly migrate back from Mexico around the beginning of March and hang out in our area until September or so.
This photo was from a previous year but he was just as good looking - I was just getting coffee and wasn't exactly prepared with a camera in hand!
… (24 comments)
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throwback thursday: Throwback Thursday: Sabrage for the Sunset in Kauai
- 02/11/21 03:29 PM
Throwback Thursday: Sabrage for the Sunset in Kauai
Sabrage is a ceremony where a bottle of champagne is opened with a sabre, harking back to Napoleonic times in France (well, that's what Google says!). There is even a special sword - a Champagne Sword - often used for sabrage.
The St. Regis Hotel in Princeville, Kauai, celebrates the sunset every night with this ceremony which we enjoyed a number of times (most recently in 2017). The sunset, and views from the St. Regis, never disappointed!
… (33 comments)
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throwback thursday: Throwback Thursday: If You Are Not a Cat Lover, Beware
- 01/07/21 10:11 AM
Throwback Thursday:
If You Are Not a Cat Lover, Beware
I was scrolling through some photos from one of our trips to Italy (this was in 2014 I don't recall which town we were in but somewhere in Tuscany) and stumbled upon this photo of a doorway where the residents clearly wanted to let visitors know who the feline occupants were. I thought the tile signs were rather charming!
It's a little tough to read but the top says "Attenti a Acciuga" (Beware of Acciuga?!) and the bottom "Attenti a Brusketa" (not quite the same spelling as the classic antipasto, bruschetta).
… (19 comments)
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throwback thursday: Throwback Thursday: A New Kind of Graffiti
- 11/12/20 05:31 PM
Throwback Thursday: A New Kind of Graffiti
We were visiting Kauai in September 2017 and exploring the art town of Hanapepe.
There is a swinging bridge there that's pretty cool to walk over - that's another story. But close by the bridge we noticed quite a bit of graffiti on some of the plants, the leaves of which were apparently quite suitable for amateur artists.
It was sort of a shame to see them defaced, and the first time, other than seeing it on tree trunks, that I have seen plant leaf graffiti.
… (25 comments)
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throwback thursday: Throwback Thursday: I've Got My Eyes on You!
- 10/29/20 03:28 PM
Throwback Thursday: I've Got My Eyes on You!
The California Desert cities, such as Palm Springs, Palm Desert, La Quinta and Rancho Mirage are about 2 hours from our house in Carlsbad. We've enjoyed many visits - there's lots to do with some great dining.
On one particular weekend trip back in July 2017 we went from 75 degrees at the coast to 107 in the desert in just 2 hours. We had dinner our first night on El Paseo (often called the Rodeo Drive of the desert) in Palm Desert, then went for a walk to enjoy the sunset and the storefronts.
The … (23 comments)
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throwback thursday: Throwback Thursday: Rainbow in Kauai
- 10/22/20 03:29 PM
Throwback Thursday
Rainbow in Princeville, Kauai
Like many, we miss the opportunity to travel because of the pandemic...well, we COULD, but... and have recently been talking about our past trips to Kauai and Maui, and how nice it would be to just pack up and go. But it's nice to have lots of photos to remember those trips for now.
Rainbows are pretty common there, and always fun to see, especially when you are just sitting around relaxing by the pool overlooking the ocean, as we were here before dinner in Princeville, Kauai.
… (30 comments)
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throwback thursday: Throwback Thursday: Halloween Parade Dog
- 10/15/20 07:00 PM
Throwback Thursday
Halloween Parade Dog in Oakland CA 2015
I was in Oakland for Halloween 2015, across the bay from San Francisco, visiting my daughter and her husband and helping them with their move to LA (I drove the U-Haul truck). We took some time to go to the Halloween Parade on Piedmont Avenue a few blocks away on the 31st which was great fun.
Lots of adults and kids participated (the street is closed down for blocks) and there were abundant fun costumes. I thought this dog was pretty cute.
… (34 comments)
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throwback thursday: Throwback Thursday: The Apple of my Eye
- 10/08/20 04:29 PM
Throwback Thursday: The Apple of my Eye
We had a wonderful package arrive in the mail today, a shipment of 20 Haralson Apples from Aamodt's Apple Farm in Stillwater, MN.
We lived in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area of MN for about 2 1/2 years, quite a few years ago, and often went to the charming town of Stillwater, on the St. Croix River between MN and WI. There were some neat shops and restaurants there and we also discovered the area orchards.
In particular we grew to love Haralson apples - they have been hard to find elsewhere, even when living in … (19 comments)
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throwback thursday: Throwback Thursday: Do What Ya Gotta Do!
- 10/01/20 05:42 PM
Throwback Thursday: Do What Ya Gotta Do!
I was scrolling through some old photos on my phone from 2017, and stumbled across this ground squirrel, clearly not confined to the ground, and using a bit of skill to reach the bird feeder in our back yard.
Sometimes you do what ya gotta do to get what you want.
… (12 comments)
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throwback thursday: Throwback Thursday: The Yellow Brick Road
- 09/24/20 02:10 PM
Throwback Thursday: The Yellow Brick Road
I was touring some homes for sale for clients way back in December 2014 in Valley Center, a rural community about 30 miles inland from my home in Carlsbad, and stumbled across The Yellow Brick Road, an area I was not at all familar with.
Yes, there IS a a street by that name, along with Dorothy Lane, Wizard Way, Ozland Avenue, Emerald City Drive, and perhaps others I missed.
I don't personally know the history of the area but there is an interesting story on Hidden San Diego about the producer of the original silent … (23 comments)
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throwback thursday: Throwback Thursday: Carlsbad Flower Fields in September
- 09/10/20 12:38 PM
Throwback Thursday: Carlsbad Flower Fields in September
The Flower Fields in Carlsbad are a beautiful sight every year, open from March 1 until Mother's Day in May, with 50 acres of brightly colored ranunculas.
The fields were gorgeous again this year, but sadly closed soon after opening, with events canceled due to the pandemic and the state Shelter in Place order issued on March 19th. Thankfully they are readily viewed from Armada Drive overlooking the fields and the ocean beyond but no doubt revenue suffered tremendously.
The field undergo quite a transition every year, from dirt to green plants to beautiful flowers and back … (13 comments)
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throwback thursday: Throwback Thursday: Tuscany 2014
- 09/03/20 02:10 PM
Throwback Thursday: Tuscany 2014
We had a wonderful trip to Tuscany in October 2014...but how could you not?!
This was part of the view from the villa we stayed in on the hills looking west, near Montespertoli (45 minutes or so from Florence). I was moving some photos from my iphone to my laptop and stumbled across this pic which immediately made me want to return. Probably not for a little while, given what's going on, but it was fun to reminisce.
… (17 comments)
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throwback thursday: Throwback Thursday: Sunset Memory from Maui
- 07/09/20 05:40 PM
Throwback Thursday: Sunset Memory from Maui
I was sitting with my 2 younger granddaughters and was scrolling through photos of our 2 most recent trips to Maui and stumbled across this photo. We were pretending be in Hawaii, including beach chairs, a "beach" by our small pool,and of course a picnic lunch. They even did some Hula dancing after I found a video to watch, then some Hula music for them to dance to.
Back to Maui...Seems like the Maui sunsets were pretty awesome most every night we have been there, but some were better than others. And you really had to spend … (27 comments)
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throwback thursday: Throwback Thursday: Canyon Animals at our House
- 05/07/20 08:31 PM
Throwback Thursday: Canyon Animals at our House
Our house backs up to a canyon, which not surprisingly means plenty of wildlife. Perhaps not as exciting as what some of your might have near where you live.
This roadrunner was back the other day and for the first time we actually hear the sound it makes. No, NOT meep meep, or beep beep, but a series of coos. According to Google the coos mean the male is calling its mate and marking its territory. It was fun to see it again running around and up on the fence cooing.
The skunk, alas, has returned … (23 comments)
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throwback thursday: Throwback Thursday: The Royal Wedding 2011
- 04/30/20 04:49 PM
Throwback Thursday: The Royal Wedding
It's hard to believe it's been 9 years since the Royal Wedding of Prince William and Catherine Middleton. Yesterday, April 29th, was the anniversary. I'm sure that made your day knowing that!
I took this photo ON April 30th in 2011 of the Cardiff Kook, a popular 6' tall bronze surfing statue in Cardiff by the Sea, that was all dressed up for the occasion. It's located on the Coast Highway at the light at Chesterfield (the downtown area of town) on the ocean side.
The statue, officially named the "Magic Carpet Ride", was installed in 2007, and over … (14 comments)
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throwback thursday: Throwback Thursday: Soon to be a Throwback
- 04/23/20 09:21 PM
Throwback Thursday:
Soon to be a Throwback but When?
The Encina Power Station along the Coast Road in Carlsbad (viewed from above the Carlsbad Flower Fields), about 1.5 miles south of the Village, is soon to be a throwback.
Whether you like it or not - and opinions are mixed - the plant is due to be torn down very soon (I have seen a variety of dates but some of the demolition was due to start in December 2019 with completion sometime in 2021).
The power plant tower is visible for many miles up and down the coast, and from many points inland, and … (26 comments)
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throwback thursday: Throwback Thursday: The Local Yolk in Manhattan Beach CA
- 03/12/20 11:17 AM
Throwback Thursday: The Local Yolk in Manhattan Beach CA
I first enjoyed the Local Yolk in Manhattan Beach waaay back in 1999 and it's been one of our favorite breakfast places since. There are a number of other popular breakfast eateries in the same area, but this is my fav.
My daughter had started at USC in 1998 and found out about the place from her friends, so on visits from Boston to CA to see her this was the eatery of choice for breakfast. Manhattan Beach is such a charming beach town to explore...but it gets crowded...and we have spent a bit … (18 comments)
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throwback thursday: Throwback Thursday: Sedona Holiday Snow
- 12/19/19 11:52 AM
Throwback Thursday: Sedona Holiday Snow
We drove up from Scottsdale, while spending a few days there, to visit my Aunt in Sedona on December 3, 2011, a few months after my Uncle passed.
It was snowing in Sedona, and cold - my first drive in snow since leaving it behind in New England in 2005 - but the snow on the red rocks and on all the trees was stunning (no doubt our resident Sedona expert Sheri Sperry - MCNE® can attest to that - but my photos are nothing like hers).
It was beautiful in town with the light snowfall and all … (17 comments)
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throwback thursday: Throwback Thursday: A Holiday Dog
- 12/12/19 07:38 PM
Throwback Thursday: A Holiday Dog
This is a cute pic of a dog all decked out for the holidays, at last year's Holiday Tree Lighting Celebration on December 2; sadly, the event was canceled this year due to the weather.
My wife and I enjoy the celebration, festivities, music, and seeing a bunch of people and their pets all dressed up for the holidays.
And yes, I did ask permission to photograph this cutie. His owner, I think, was flattered and said he had been well photographed all afternoon. He was pretty excited, though, and not particularly interested in posing for the camera.
… (18 comments)
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Throwback Thursday - The Last Hand-cut Christmas Tree
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