Fowl line

Hey Alfred, who's the white guy?

Down, but not out

Don't know the name of this potted succulent in the backyard, but you've got to like its spirit. Somehow the fourth branch on it got knocked down. You can see its three kin are standing tall in the background. But once the drooper got a sense that the fence rail was solid, it regrouped and started pointing up again.

For Coot fans in Washington

Here's one from the Menifee Lakes back nine especially for faithful blog reader Seattle Sue. She's a coot fan, we're sure, so when we passed this flock on The Lakes No. 11 today, we immediately thought of her. Rains in Southern California have softened everything, including the greens, where a lucky shot can leave a deep ball mark. (We cleaned it up.)

Katie's Gardenia

This Gardenia bush, planted for Kathleen, covered itself with blooms last Spring. Not so during the winter months, but today the plant surprised with a solitary blossom, perhaps to honor a Minnesota visitor. It won't last long, perhaps a day or so, but its compelling fragrance hangs on a permanent memory peg. Today we squeezed garden-fresh peppermint into our green tea, perhaps tomorrow we'll go for a hint of gardenia.
Hai and his Mom are busy fussing and chatting over the garden today, giving special attention to the prolific succulents and to the Beverly tree. Haismom trimmed the older leaves away from it, thus forcing the tree to produce more new growth, which means blossoms, which create more fruit. It's a cycle of life repeated constantly in this philosopher's garden -- and everywhere else.
Cool and breezy today, not in a mood to hang the ceiling fans over the patio today. Who needs 'em.
There's time.

Today's encounter

A mass of tree stumps, dumped near the corner of Lindenberger and Newport Road, provided today's oddity for the daily walk. This massive stump, perhaps 10 feet tall, could be 300 years old. What is it doing in this urban setting? More for the hiker to ponder.

Dewy fresh morning

A moment of Zen this dewy fresh morning in the back yard. Then an odd experience: watching the Vikings and the Lions kickoff at 9:30 a.m. local time. 

Happy Thanksgiving to all!

Catch of the Day

Count only seven? Hai's cleaning on No. 8.

It's a mess of fish. It's not supposed to be beautiful. Beauty comes later when they're prepared and presented on a pretty plate.

After hanging and finishing the artwork at the Nails Shop, the artist/carpenter put on his lucky hat and headed south to San Diego harbor for an afternoon of ocean fishing.
He brought back these eight rockfish, averaging a couple of pounds apiece. He's cleaning them for a pre-Thanksgiving feast tonight.
A real Fresh Catch of the Day.

(Fun Fact: Hai loves to fish and cook them up in special concoctions, but he doesn't eat fish.)

Art is in

Final touches last night to the Nail Shop art work. Whadda ya think? Customers get the first look today.

Picture this

We screwed on a variety of patches and timbers to keep the frame rigid, then connected them to
the trailer. Hai will drive. Stan will cringe at the corners.

There was only a nine-foot trailer left at the U-Haul place today so it required some extra
 reinforcement to steady this home-built 16-foot by 54-inch picture frame bound for a hanging at the Nail Shop tonight.
The load is still legal, but just barely, right down to the red flag on the back, which is Stan's workshirt, zip-tied in place.
It's a few miles through traffic to the shop, we're leaving soon to avoid the rush. Your good thoughts and best wishes are appreciated. :)

Update: Traffic was light, with some drizzle. Rain apparently keeps Californians inside. It was also a quiet morning at the Nail Shop so we took advantage of the lull and hoisted the frame on the wall. Back tonight for final touches. Then the insertion of the artwork.