We’ve been having our share of gloom and/or rain lately. These Southern California cats didn’t know what to do with themselves. So as soon as a few rays of sun came through the office window, they were both on it.
Freddie decided to give Frankie a gentle washing which he often likes to do. It usually ends with Frankie enjoying it for a few minutes then turning around and biting Freddie. So I was waiting for it.
To my amazement, when Freddie turned away Frankie started to wash him. I was still waiting for that bite and Freddie running off. But it never happened. After a while they both finished up the job by washing themselves.
A few days ago it seemed the only sliver of sunshine in the entire house fell on these boxes of printer paper. Not to miss out, Frankie slumped over the boxes and caught those rays. Where there is sunshine, there you will find a cat.
The Melaleuca trees in the front of the building were trimmed last week. It’s made a huge difference to the amount of sunlight streaming through the living room windows… not to mention the view of people and dogs and cars passing by. Now everybody wants the window seat!
Between the shutters and the window is the best view.
But the carpeted pedestal is definitely the most comfy. Too bad there isn’t room for two at a time! But it’s just a matter of working out a schedule.
Another good sunny spot is in the bedroom in the morning on the shoe rack.
There are definitely too many shoes here. All those well-worn shoes with the holes in the toes and soles need to go in order to make room for the newer ones. But it’s hard to part with old comfortable friends.
The ironing board is a good place to hang out too to catch a few rays.
As the sun moves around the house you have to move with it. It’s a skill you have to work at… but the rewards are worth it!
My friend KL obtained two free tickets for the MetroLink train and after several aborted attempts over several weeks, we were finally able to use the tickets last Saturday. We decided to go to Oceanside, the end of the line, and hang out for a few hours with nothing in particular planned.
I took my little Canon G15 point & shoot camera to capture a few snapshots. It was a very glary day with the sun beating down on the white sand and sparkling water so I had a lot of problems controlling the exposure. But you get the general idea. Sometimes I just don’t want to deal with the DSLR.
Oceanside (population approximately 173,000,) is about 95 miles south of Los Angeles and about 40 miles north of San Diego.
As we had been riding the rails for a few hours all the way from Culver City we were both starving. A passenger on the train who was familiar with the area recommended “the restaurant under the pier.”
This turned out to be the Tin Fish and what a great suggestion it was!
My friend ordered the fish ‘n chips but (British blood notwithstanding) I am more partial to fish tacos. I figured there would be one small cut of fish in each taco so I went for the double order.
That was a mistake! Each taco was big enough to feed two people! And look at those waffle fries…
But trooper that I am, I managed to eat everything minus the second taco shell. Oh my, highly recommended if you ever find yourself hungry in Oceanside.
Southern California has been experiencing excessive heat lately. We thought we would cool off by the beach. But no such luck. It was a very warm day.
I cannot be exposed to the sun and I don’t use sunscreen (all those chemicals leaking into my body, no thank you) so I go to the beach covered from head to toe. People are always asking me, when the temperature gets up there, “aren’t you hot under all those clothes?” Actually no. I believe in the Bedouin approach to sun protection: the stronger the sun, the more clothes to protect me from it!
After our delicious lunch we strolled along the 1,942 ft (592 m) wooden pier. This is not an amusement pier, except for the entertainment provided by looking at the waves and watching the people.
Mostly it seems to be a fishing pier. And as you can see, these fisherman agree with me about sun protection… I’m not so dumb after all!
Although the fishermen were no doubt enjoying themselves, the fish, not so much…
Although I don’t eat four-legged animals, I do love me some fish… so what can I say? Fish gotta be caught in order to be eaten…
Nevertheless, I had to resist the urge to throw the poor creatures back in the ocean so they could frolick another day.
The fish were obviously prolific around the pier as they were being hauled up all the time. You would think the fish would learn. Pier = people = dinner.
The color of the water was really spectacular.
Like golf, fishing has never appealed to me as a past time. But I’m sure it’s more satisfying to catch your own dinner than to buy it at the supermarket.
I couldn’t get over all the hoards of people elbow to elbow on the beach soaking up the dangerous UV rays from the sun. In my twenties I lived at the beach, literally, and paid my dues with sunburns and heat stroke.
As we left the pier and walked along Pacific Street, we saw several young men driving up in their tricked out classic cars. I can’t remember what model this car is. Not a Chevy Malibu but a….. oh well, whatever it is I thought it was tastefully painted.
The walkway and bicycle path leading to the downtown area. The train station is just a hop and a skip from the beach.
A mural in downtown depicting Mission San Luis Rey, Oceanside Harbor and pier.
The main drag through Oceanside. It’s a very cute little town. My friend is thinking about retiring there. If so, I will be visiting. But I’m a big city girl myself and all things being equal, I intend to stay put.
Some beach front properties.
We discovered the pink cottages have a senior citizen rate if you stay for three months. Sounds tempting but I would go nuts after about a week!
Bikes, pedal cars and pickup trucks all share the Strand.
Sand, sand, sand and then water, water, water.
I was watching the PBS three-night series Big Blue Live. It is crazy how many animals live out there off the California coast (albeit the show was concentrating on Monterey). Then multiply that by all the oceans in the world. And we humans are solely responsible for polluting those oceans. Oh well, another story entirely.
Another day, another adventure. As we rode the rails, we followed Interstate 5 which was backed up with traffic all the way down. Going home it was still backed up. The train is the only way to go by land. I don’t know why people would want to sit for hours all cramped up in their tiny cars when they could travel in the spaciousness of the train, looking out the window and not having to worry about whether the car behind you or next to you or in front of you is about to do something stupid. I really don’t enjoy driving anymore.
And besides, I’ll take a train over any other kind of transportation, any day! Paul Simon was right!
With the sun still shining brightly in the background it was time for us to walk the few blocks to the train station to catch the 5:45 back to LA.
I’ve been gallavanting about a lot recently and when I am home I’m working on a myriad of projects. So I’ve fallen behind with my blogging duties. Not enough time for everything!
All photos and content copyright roslyn m wilkins. Please feel free to pass along this post via email or social media, but if you wish to use some of our images or text outside of the context of this blog, either give full credit to myself and link to One Good Life in Los Angeles, or contact us for proper usage. Thanks!
Not to be left out of the deck photos I took on Saturday, Pharoah, my champagne tabby, wanted me to post these pictures of him enjoying the early morning sun.
The cats have access 24/7 to the roof deck through a pet door. This is Pharoah’s bench and his favorite time of day to be basking in the glorious warm sun, even if his towel is a little damp and messy from an overnight sprinkling of rain.
If the sun doesn’t cooperate, Pharoah will be found indoors curled up on the daybed in my office.
As I have mentioned before, he has the uncanny ability to sleep in this almost standing position totally oblivious to anything going on around him.
These were taken Wednesday and Thursday mornings at 7:45am and 8:00am respectively, right after breakfast.
Pharoah is a cat of routine and I always know where I will find him at any given time during the day.
All photos and content copyright roslyn m wilkins. Please feel free to pass along this post via email or social media, but if you wish to use some of our images or text outside of the context of this blog, either give full credit to myself and link to One Good Life in Los Angeles, or contact us for proper usage. Thanks!
As a southern California cat, my friend Friday the Tuxedo Cat enjoys stretching out in the sunny spots. Some mornings, even in sunny southern California, the sun does not stream in through the windows. Friday, rightfully so, blames me for this with loud meows as it is my job to see to all his comforts.
But usually by late morning or early afternoon the sun is out and all is well. I don’t get the credit for that, but as long as my friend is happy, that is all that counts!
Two of Friday’s favorite spots to catch the rays: on the ironing board and on the first stair leading up to my office. I always have to look before I step as you never know who might be lurking there.
All photos and content copyright roslyn m wilkins. Please feel free to pass along this post via email or social media, but if you wish to use some of our images or text outside of the context of this blog, please check with us first for proper usage. Thanks!
RMW: the blog 