HOUSES DOWN MY ROAD OR UP THE ROAD - I TOOK SO MANY PHOTOS YESTERDAY

In our area depending on which side of a hill or the lake or how many trees are blocking your property, that is what depends on the amount of snow.  Some areas probably got an inch or 2 and others more.  In parts of our yard we got at least 6" and yet a few houses away seemed to get less or more.  But, every house, every street, every road and corner turned was just so pretty!  Today we will head up to other towns higher up. 

When the snow covers the dirts everything is so clean looking, very deceiving when the snow melts, lol. 

The top one is looking at a side view of my house and the backyard, the back upper deck where the outside cats live and look through the window at us.  The black and white photo was taken more out toward the Rim of the mountain - an area I like to take snow photos of. 

I think more snow is coming by next Saturday so if this doesn't melt much we will have several more inches piled up. 

The rest are going down the road a block or two.

I DON'T PAY ATTENTION OFTEN TO THIS HOUSE BUT WHEN I DO

I think of DosEquis and snow.

This house is just down the road from us and we pass it every time we are out driving and coming back home.  It's old but there is something about it when the ground is white - it looks so much more cozy.

It my mind it's called the Bear House - not to be confused with the actual Bear House Restaurant in TopTown.  This photo was taken yesterday and then we got a little more snow during the night.  So, I think I'll be out taking more snow photos.  Hopefully a trip to Lake Arrowhead depending on the roads.  They've already plowed our road early this morning.

A sweet poem I found by Del Maximo

"..sneaks in stealthily
to palpable emptiness
takes a look around
ah, all the familiar sights
it's nice to see the old place

the stains on the walls
clean spaces once protected
shielded by portraits
decor of dust and cobwebs
the smell of yesteryear

peeling wallpaper
ageless soot on masonry
hearth tools left behind
creaking floors whispering names
echoes of her heritage

broken windows breathe
as she groans for visitors
she still has her charm
this old house out in the woods
this home built by rustic hands"

ARROYO GRANDE, CA

A must stop on my way home from the Central Coast - Arroyo Grande. 

I always stop to visit some favorite birds of mine and take a drive through town.  I am partial to small buildings on the main street of various  towns.  They always seem to have a special character to them.  In So Cal we have so many strip malls that it's a treat to also go to some of the smaller towns near where I live.  I always overdo it taking pics because I think I'm going to sketch them at some point.  I rarely do. 

Here are some buildings i saw before we got on the freeway to come home from the coast.  I will be back in this area again in May.

SOME PRETTY POTTERY FROM THE POTTERY BARN IN HARMONY

I could look at pottery all day.  I remember when we use to drive all the way to Laguna Beach  just to go to the Pottery Barn out there.  I still have a few pieces from the 70's. 

This place didn't disappoint - I loved browsing there.

RECENT PHOTOS FROM PASO ROBLES AND ATASCADERO

I always like walking through these areas. 

JACK KEROUAC LIVED HERE IN SAN LUIS OBISPO, CA IN 1953

I had heard his name in the past but never really knew much about him.  Several years ago I came across a blog and bookmarked it to return to over and over and read a little more of what he wrote and journaled about.  I loved what I read and always wanted to know more about him.  Then after visiting San Luis Obispo for many years and even walking by this place, I never knew this was where he lived for awhile.  I remember only seeing this building from the front and even have a photo of the front porch.

Here is an article I looked up after my sister told me he lived here in this boarding house.  LINK TO ARTICLE

I love his writing that I posted below the pic.


"THE GOLDEN ETERNITY"

I  have lots of things to share now, in case we ever meet, concerning the message that was transmitted to me under a pine tree in North Carolina on a cold winter moonlit night. It said that Nothing Ever Happened, so don’t worry. It’s all like a dream. Everything is ecstasy, inside. We just don’t know it because of our thinking-minds. But in our true blissful essence of mind is known that everything is alright forever and forever and forever. Close your eyes, let your hands and nerve-ends drop, stop breathing for 3 seconds, listen to the silence inside the illusion of the world, and you will remember the lesson you forgot, which was taught in immense milky way soft cloud innumerable worlds long ago and not even at all. It is all one vast awakened thing. I call it the golden eternity. It is perfect.

The world you see is just a movie in your mind.
Rocks dont see it.
Bless and sit down.
Forgive and forget.
Practice kindness all day to everybody
and you will realize you’re already
in heaven now.
That’s the story.
That’s the message.
Nobody understands it,
nobody listens, they’re
all running around like chickens with heads cut
off. I will try to teach it but it will
be in vain, s’why I’ll
end up in a shack
praying and being
cool and singing
by my woodstove
making pancakes.

PAPER PLANES JUST KNOCKS ME OVER WITH IT'S BEAUTY

HOUSES FROM OUR WALK THROUGH NEIGHBORHOODS IN SAN LUIS OBISPO

I love these neighborhoods -  I like how my sister describes old houses - Houses with soul.