SEEING STARS

in the night sky from the deck of the rental house in Morro Bay, California, I had a sudden inspiration to check the internet for constellations (other than Orion and the Pleiades).  I hopped right up from my semi-reclining position on the deck and went into the house for my laptop.

Online, I googled "constellations" and this is the site I came to first:  A mystery cloud is possible in the night sky.  Hmm.  I was slightly annoyed that I wasn't directed to a site showing star patterns, but I skimmed over this article and did some calculating in my head.  How interesting, the time frame for a possible sighting of this cloud (produced by fuel possibly dumped [by a rocket launched at Cape Canaveral in Florida a couple hours prior] before leaving the atmosphere) would occur about now (some minutes past nine-thirty p.m.)!

But what were the odds? I wondered.

 "The fuel dump is visible by virtue of reflected sunlight; if it occurs within the Earth's shadow, then no sunlight can reach it and the cloud would be rendered invisible."
And the odds of seeing it in the California sky? Slim to none, I decided, and dismissed it. I didn't even read to the end of the info.

I returned to the deck, where The Yard Man, His Sis and the Bro-in-Law were still lounging.  "I see something up there," announced His Sis, pointing toward the southern sky.  "Can you see it?  It looks like a small cloud.  I've been watching it, and it's been getting bigger.  What would that be?!"

Uh. Wait. What?!
I hurried back to look for a description of the mystery cloud, and found this:

"In the past, similar fuel dumps initially have appeared as a point of light that resembled a bright star seen through fog, or the moon  behind clouds. Quickly, it expands into a large circular or spiral cloud that gradually fades from view after a number of minutes."

The round cloud was fading from view as I returned once again to the deck.  Altogether, it was visible to our little group of star-gazers for perhaps four minutes.  It was exactly as described on the website!

There was no doubt as to what we had seen, we temporary Morro-Bayers peering up at the night sky from the deck of our rental house!
We saw this mystery cloud, and it was no mystery to us, in spite of:

...The uncertainty of the occurrence in the first place
...The slim odds of spotting it with our limited view (less than a third of the night sky in our vision from where we sat (facing only south and west; roof of the rental house impinging on our view)
...The fact of its relatively small size
... The fact of its very short duration

And the fact that (throat clearing) WE LEARNED OF ITS EXPLANATION ONE MINUTE PRIOR TO ITS VISIBILITY!
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Well, what do you think, Reader Dear
(You with the inside information)
Terrific Timing?!
Fantastic Fluke?!
Uncommon Coincidence?!*
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*I have to admit, I'm still marveling many days later!

SO HERE WE ARE

at Thursday afternoon in California!
(Okay, okay.  It's true I'm right here soundly on the East Coast again, but I'm pretending it's three days ago).
The plan is to return to our California home (I'm wishing it were about one-half-to-one-quarter less temporary), and relax, cook ourselves a bang-up supper on the grill, and watch the sun set over the Pacific Ocean.

We stop by a grocery store and stock up...following which, we spot a farmers' market!  Nothing to be done, of course, but to buy more food!
I marvel, Reader Dear, at the fact that these fabulous displays of edibles are all made up of (relatively) local produce!

Take a look, Dear Viewer!
The strawberries and blueberries, they say, are just entering their peak season (Ah, and they have them almost year-round! [Hmm, warmth and sunshine, flowers, fresh fruits and vegetables, wineries...I might be revising the "temporary home" wish!)!
 

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We bring our produce to the house (photo to the left; it is multi-level), and we set to grilling on the deck.  This is the first evening that we are able to watch the complete show in the sky as the sun sinks into the ocean.  It is so impressive!

I'll just show you:

After supper, we build a fire in the small fire pit, and are paying attention when Venus blinks on right before us in the night sky.

For hours we recline on the deck and study the stars while conversing.  Orion appears, and The Seven Sisters.  I think to myself that this is (yet another) highlight of my California vacation.   Things couldn't get any better!  I think.

And right about then, oh, my....
a fascinating coincidence !  (Reader Dear, please don't tell me you've forgotten how I love those!)
Keep watching...it's appearing soon...

THURSDAY IN CALIFORNIA

(I've got my camera.  And, oh, have I got [an abundance of] photos for you, Viewer Dear!)

It's a pristine day in Morro Bay!
Our little household makes a corporate decision to walk down to the Pacific Ocean.






And we do just that!
(The distance is less than a half-mile.)

On our return trip, I focused on the vegetation:

Back at our house, we gear up for the excursion of the day--hanging out in Morro Bay, and exploring the surrounding area.

First stop is the Top Dog Coffee Bar and Cafe, where some of us have coffee and some of us have ice cream.

 We spend the rest of the morning here in Morro Bay, and then we have lunch on an outdoor deck and watch whales as they spout in the ocean.

Our lunch conversation goes something like this:  "Look, I see another one way out there!" 

"Did you see that one?!  Right there to the left."
"Wow,  there were two more!"
(I wish I could illustrate this narrative with photos, Viewer Dear, but I'm having a hard time just spotting the plumes of water for myself.  They are far too distant and fleeting to capture on camera!)
............
Following lunch, we drive by a drugstore to stock up on cold medication.  Sadly, Reader Dear, a serpent has entered  my Garden of Eden in the form of a virus!  (I picked it up from the smiling Bro-in-Law, who earlier picked it up from his wife; but we are managing to stall the slimy slither-er in his ruinous endeavor by popping pills!)
.............
We drive along the coast once again, and stop at a small beach:

I spend a long time lying on my back in the sand, the warm sun pouring over me, dreaming that when I open my eyes the world will have changed.  Never again will there be "an icy mix" or war, anymore.

Before the foursome climbs back into the car and heads out for our last good sights of the Pacific Ocean washing onto the shore, I gather mementos off the beach, and ponder how many will be making a transcontinental  journey.

....to be continued, Viewer Dear.  It's still Thursday in California.

WEDNESDAY MORNING

the plan is to check out an olive grove or two, and perhaps more wineries.  In the evening, of course, we'll go to the musical.

We don't usually rush breakfast, it's a leisurely affair.  Each of us helps oneself to coffee, cereal, eggs and toast, fruit, pastries, fudge...whatever it is we have on hand. This morning, as I'm having my coffee and fudge, I announce that I'm plugging my camera into an outlet to re-charge.  "If I forget it," I say, "we'll have to come back for it!"

Reader Dear, you are no dummy; you know what follows.  We finish up breakfast, gather our gear for the day, and exit the house.  We are only five miles up the road when I heave a big sigh, and my heart sinks like a camera in the ocean.  There is no way the other three in the car are going to happily make a turn-around.
"You can use my camera," says the generous Bro-in-Law.
And so I do.

But, oh, the problems with the transfer!  Here, Dear Viewer, are the only three photos, and the video clip, that manage to make the journey from camera to blog:

Alas, I've got none of the other interesting sights to show you, Viewer Dear, of our olive-oil-tasting adventure.  Nor the winery we visit in the afternoon. 

What you do get to see is the lovely lunch I have:
a tasty salad with butternut squash soup.  It's not the photo I'd have chosen, if I could only pick three, but...does it not look yummy?  Eaten in an open-air courtyard next to James Street.


And..aha, you also get to see the smiling man whose camera I am using!  You get to search for a clue, Viewer Dear, and guess his name.
One guess.

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Back at the house, late in the afternoon, I have my own fully-charged, handy blogging tool to use.  I photograph The Yard Man relaxing on the deck, and Morrow Rock relaxing in the pink of the setting sun.

Soon we head for Poly Cal.

The musical is terrific!   At intermission, I find my way to the orchestra pit and say a quick hello to Charlie.  He greets me warmly, and verifies that, yes, Barbara has yet to appear on stage. (When she does show up, in the final acts, we are tickled to watch her perform!)

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Thus, Dear Reader, ends a delightful Wednesday in California!*
*In which, we set out to find some place to get a bite to eat, after the show.  But it is late.  We go "home" and eat fudge.

HERE WE ARE

at the first winery of the day. (Yes, it's still Tuesday)


The place is Saucelito Canyon, with vineyards planted in 1880!
Out of a list of wineries that the Bro-in-Law put together,
I wished to come to this one because it is so old.

The man in the pink shirt tells us stories from

the vineyard's history.

And then, along with a few other guests, we taste the wine.
 

Reader Dear, much as I enjoy hearing the history and seeing the old photographs...even more, I relish tasting the wine!

We take our time, and savor it.  The Bro-in-Law and I, of our foursome, we are the twosome who do most of the tasting.  Even at our relaxed pace, before I know it  we are off through the beautiful countryside to find the second winery we have chosen to visit.

It is Wolff Vineyards,
where I am delighted to find that a Wolff is our host. 

There are other things that delight me here, as well:

The garden!

The bluebird in the garden!*

And once again, the wine, of course!

Then, too, high on the list, I am delighted to meet Charlie and Barbara, our fellow wine tasters!  I must introduce you to them, Dear Reader, (as they shall [happily] be a part of our day tomorrow!)

When I chat with them, they tell me they are touring with a Broadway musical, Nice Work if You Can Get it.
Charlie is the Musical Director, and Barbara has a non-singing role.  "You wouldn't want to hear me sing," she laughs.

They are friendly and charming, and as soon as our foursome has left the winery, we make a unanimous decision (with only a little cajoling) to attend the performance, scheduled for tomorrow evening at Cal Poly (most official name: California Polytechnic State University.  It is located in nearby San Luis Obispo).

We are so eager to make sure we get tickets, that we drive by the University on our way back to our rental house and purchase them.                        

Also enroute to our house, we make a stop for supper in SLO (you know, it's San Lois Obispo, Reader Dear; I'm learning the acronym, so you can too.)

I sort of hate to say it, but our little group makes fools of ourselves by walking in, being seated, and walking out of two restaurants in SLO before we end up at this very nice one, where we stay long enough for me to take a photo and order food (not to mention receiving and leisurely consuming the food)!  Lots of details could be elaborated upon, including scampering out a side door, vehement scolding of the Bro-in-Law, and extensive, hilarious laughter; but I fear, Reader Dear, you'd have had to have been there (though perhaps you do not relish playing a fool).

Thus ended Tuesday, another VG day in California!**

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 *It seemed to me like the Bird of Paradise, but it did not fly up my nose, Reader Dear.  Nor did the Elephant (seals) caress me with their toes, it rather goes without saying (though I couldn't resist saying it).

**This acronym you saw on all your grade-school papers, surely, Reader Dear!?