In the Sacramento River Delta, tucked beside and below a levee, sits an abandoned single lane town established by Chinese laborers over 100 yrs ago. Only tourists stroll the empty walk ways now . . . someone has placed an enlargement of a historic photo in an 'out of business' store. The old Chinese worker stares into my camera with obsolete dreams and hopes for America.
Today we drove, drove and drove - from SD to Tracy. It was 103 degrees through CA's central valley . . . hot dusty rolling mountains topped with graceful sagging power lines. ~N
Today we shopped at bike shops for new more comfortable seats. By one counter, in a locked plastic case were the beautiful colors of Chris King components. ~N
Today was a perfect summer day - warm above the water, cool and clear below the water. ~N
Bright colored threads adorn purses, skirts, blankets and blouses. Long tables at the fair are full of festive, lighthearted carvings . . . but in a shadowy corner a gaunt watcher looks away. ~N
In the late afternoon a man scrounges through the trash can in front of a Starbucks. He finds coffee cups with small amounts of coffee and pours the leftovers into a single cup before he carefully walks away with it. ~N
The hour was early, the air was still and the water was like glass. We paddled for several hours on the lake and near the dam. Our new kayaks are awesome! ~N
On the walkway above the beach, a young couple stops and sits for a local artist. ~N
Across the street from the beach, between million dollar+ condos, an abandoned broken down wooden shack sits on a grassy lot behind a chain link fence. ~N
From across the parking lot the eyes caught my eye like a circus had come to town. It was just a delivery truck parked in front of our local Starbucks - an ad for the San Diego Wild Animal Park. ~N
We woke up early to loud heavy machine sounds. They had the street closed to raise this crane to level, on blocks - then they lifted 2,000 lb garden rocks, swinging them several stories high to put them in our neighbor's back yard . . . where they're building one big waterfall! ~N
Walking through Old Town this afternoon we found pajamas, clay pots and lots of shadows. ~N
We often find floaters (or sinkers) in the pool. My heart sinks when I find their quiet bodies moving slightly with the rippled water. Out of the corner of my eye I saw this hollow eye and gaping mouth, fresh - todays death - oh no.
Harsh lines and shadows embellish the porch of an Escondido nursery store in the hot noontime sun. ~N
Today we set up a canvas gazebo. B worked hard for hours and put together a patio furniture set too . . . then he relaxed in the sun. Maybe we'll sleep in it on hot nights - maybe we'll write the great American novel in it, in dawn light. ~N
Down at the beach she sat quietly behind a table draped with t-shirts for sale - no tourists were buying. Her face sagged with mood and boredom - another summer job not as fun as promised. ~N
With dust in her hair
Today I met Goliath and Turk at Balboa Park. Their security handlers were friendly, willing to talk and told me the horses are trucked in each day from stables in Lakeside. Just as I took my camera out Goliath really had to go. It splattered so much before his rider quickly moved him, I nearly got my sandals and legs washed! ~N
A segment of my windchime - after years the painted ladybug and her green leaves are slowly fading from the glass. ~N
